At Last (19 page)

“What?” I asked taken aback.

“You heard me.”

“New York?
For what exactly?”

“I’m going for a visit.”

“What about the shop?”

“What about it?  I’m the boss, remember.”  He smiled, “You need a day off?”

“Who’s gonna watch the shop?”

“Damn Ma, you worry too much.  It’s taken care of. I ain’t just pickin’ up and leavin’.”

Picking up and leaving. It made me think about Atlanta and Durran. Maybe that’s why I was a bit hesitant about Cliff’s invitation. It was a major step. And I knew he was serious. 

Cliff was the type that wouldn’t ask me to go out of town with him if he wasn’t serious about it. I wanted to so bad, but I had been down this road so many times before.  I just kept thinking it was too good to be true.

“So…?”

“Well, I guess so.”

He walked towards me.

“You guess? Don’t sound so happy,” He said sarcastically, “Yes or no?”

“Yes, Clifford.”

“Cool.” He replied.

“That’s it? Cool?” I asked before punching him in the shoulder.

He began to laugh, “Oh my fault. I’m so happy you’re coming, Queen Morgan. That better?”

I laughed as I began to put the rest of my things in my duffle bag.  I just kept thinking about the events that had just transpired. I was in a whirlwind of emotions.

Cliff came up behind me and kissed me on the back of my neck softly. “I love you.” He whispered.

I turned around quickly damn near in shock.  I couldn’t believe those words had left his mouth.

“What did you say?”

He turned his back to me again as he zipped up his coat.

“What do you want for dinner?” He asked me ignoring my question.
He grabbed my bag off the chair and took my hand into his and kissed it.  I studied his face to determine what was going on in his head.

I loved him too.  I truly did.  It was just hard for me to even understand myself through all the drama and heartache how I could still find room in my heart to love another man.

We walked out of the shop; Clifford pulled down the gate and locked up.

“What about salmon?” I finally answered.

“Sounds good,” He replied simply before kissing me on the lips, “I’ll meet you at your crib baby.”

“Alright.”
  I replied getting into the car and watching him drive off.

Clifford Andrews.  He was everything that I wanted in a man. So why the hell was I so scared of where this was going?

My concentration was broken when my phone vibrated.

Chapter Fourteen

“Hey, Vette.
What up?” I said picking up the phone.

“Nothing.”
  She sounded like she had something on her mind.

“So…you called me for ‘nothing’?”

“Yeah…”

“Uh, okay. Guess what, though?”

“What?”

“Clifford told me he loved me and asked me to go to New York with him.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah.”
  I said beaming from ear to ear.

“What did you say?”

“To the ‘I love you’? Nothing, but I think I feel the same way.”

“What about New York?” She asked.

“Yeah, I’m going to New York with him.” I replied.

“You want me to keep Taylor for the rest of the night?”

“Nope.
”
  I’m on
my way over to your place
now,
There was a moment of silence, “Yvette, what’s up for real?”

“Please don’t be mad, Keisha.” Yvette pleaded.

“Yvette, what is it?”  I was down the street from her house by now.

“How far are you from the house?” She asked. She was making me nervous.

“I’m pulling into the driveway now.  Here I come.”

             
I hung up the phone, went to the side door, and opened the door with my key.

“Taylor?” I called.

She ran up to me and I picked her up.

“How was school today?”

“Fun!”
She yelled.

“That’s what I like to hear.”

I patted her butt and put her back down.  She ran back into the living room and watched TV.

“Yvette?” I called out.

“Yeah, I’m in here.”

I walked into her bedroom.  I still didn’t understand how she had a white ass room.  She was sitting in her bed.

“What’s up?” I asked sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

“I saw Durran today, Keisha.” She revealed.

My heart skipped a beat, “What you mean you saw Durran today?”

“I saw him at the mall today buying something for you.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Yvette…”

She hesitated, “He said he didn’t have your number so I gave it to him.”

“What the hell!?
Why would you do that? You know what he did. What is with you and Momma?”

“I just thought maybe y’all could just talk.”

“I don’t have anything to say to Durran. I can’t believe you.  You know how much he hurt me.”

“I know, but I thought you kinda left things unresolved.  I thought it would be for the best.”

“For the best?”
  I asked standing up, “How do you know what’s best for me?  That’s bullshit. Worry about yourself.”

I got up and started to the door.

“Let’s go Taylor.”  I said handing her her coat.  She began to pack up her little supplies.

Yvette walked towards me. “C’mon Keish, don’t be that way. I was just trying to help.  I didn’t know you and Cliff was like that.”

“Yvette, you crack me up. It ain’t about Cliff. It’s about me. You were trying to live through me like you always have.”

The tension was thick as hell. She scoffed, “You ungrateful little wench.  My whole life I’ve always sacrificed for you.  I went without so you could have a piece of something.  And you think that I would intentionally do something to hurt you?”

“What you sacrificing now, Yvette?” I asked. She just stood silent. I needed to go. Taylor didn’t need to see this or hear it, “You
was
out of line.  This wasn’t your business.  I’m not thanking you for thinking somehow you know what is best for me.  Come on Taylor.”

I grabbed her bag and headed out of the door.

“Bye Auntie Vette.” Taylor said sheepishly.

“Bye baby.”

I put Taylor and her bags in the backseat and we made our way home.

“What’s wrong Mommy?”

“Nothing, baby.”

I was lying through my teeth.  Everything was wrong.  I was just solidifying my relationship with Cliff, and just as usual Durran was trying to muscle his way back into my life. How could Yvette do that?

“Are you mad at Auntie Vette?”

“What did you say baby?” I said avoiding the question. I knew she’d ask again.

“Are you mad at Auntie?” She repeated.

“Yes, baby.” I replied hoping she would leave at that. I knew she wouldn’t.

“Why are you mad at her, Mommy?” Taylor asked.

I sighed, “Auntie Vette broke one of my toys, baby.”

“You have toys, Mommy?” Taylor asked.

“Yes baby and Auntie Vette broke it.” I replied.

“Are you going to forgive her?”

I remained silent for a moment. I pulled into the complex and parked before looking back at her, “You always forgive, okay baby? Always forgive. Even when you know someone is wrong.”

Taylor nodded before looking out the window, “Look Mommy, Mr. Cliffy’s here!”

I looked to the right of me and sure enough it was Cliff’s black Navigator sitting next to me. It made me feel good that he was waiting for us.

“Yeah, baby.  It sure is.”

We both hopped out of the car.  I grabbed her little hand as I walked up to my apartment. Cliff was smoking a cigarette in front of it. He quickly put it out when he saw us approaching.

“Hey.”  I said with a smile.

“What the deal?
You aiight?”
He asked. I knew I wasn’t wearing my emotions well.

“Yea
h, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,
I’m just kinda tired.” I replied.

“Mommy had a fight with Auntie Vette about a toy.” Taylor revealed.

Cliff looked down at Taylor with a smile, “Thanks for tellin’ me, Lil Mama. Maybe I can cheer your mommy up.”

I opened the door to the apartment and let everyone in. Taylor ran straight to her room when I turned the lights on.

“About a toy?”
Cliff asked, “What type of toy?” he asked leaning up against the wall.

“Shut up…
me
and Yvette just got into it. I had to tell Taylor something or else she’d ask for the rest of the night.”

“So what
was
y’all really arguing about?” He asked.

Uh-oh
.
I couldn’t tell him about Durran
yet
, “Just some random stuff. It really wasn’t a fight. We just had a disagreement.”

I think Cliff knew I was lying, but he left it alone anyway. I sat on the couch and laid my head back. I didn’t understand why Durran wouldn’t leave me alone.  He knew he wouldn’t or couldn’t do right by me.  Suddenly I felt fingers going through my hair.

“Tired baby?” Cliff asked.

“A little.”

Looking up at Cliff I smiled.  He had taken off his sweater and Timberlands.  He was just wearing a white T-shirt and his brown sweatpants.

“You sure you okay?” He asked again.  He had so much concern in his eyes.

“I’m fine, baby.” 
Still lying.
  I caressed his face.

“You still hungry?”

“Yes.”

“Go relax.
I‘ma make dinner.
I’ll keep an eye on Taylor too.”

“Thank you, baby,” I said standing up, walking around the couch, and embracing him, “You so sweet to me.”

“Go relax, Ma.”

I went into my bathroom and turned on the bath water.  I put some Amber Romance bubble bath in the water and lit some candles around the tub.  My phone vibrated.  I glanced down and saw an unknown number.  I knew it was Durran.  I sent it straight to voicemail.

Once I went to put it down, it began to vibrate again. This time it was my mother.  I wasn’t in the mood for her either.

I removed my clothes and looked at my nude body in the mirror.  My full breasts were still perky, my stomach
was flat, and my twenty-seven inch waist was tapered to full hips.

I pinned up my hair, tiptoed into the tub and sunk into the warm water.  It felt so good.  I began to think Cliff cooking for me was a bad idea. I’d rather have him in here with me.  I could just imagine him running his hands all over my body. My mind began to run wild.

I began to wonder if Cliff’s family would like me.  I was so nervous.  I had never been to New York before. This was a major step.  I was excited but yet apprehensive.  It was just so hard to wrap around the fact that I had a new person in my life.

Gazing at the clock, I realized I’d been in the tub for over an hour.  I got out, dried off, put lotion on, and slipped on my purple bathrobe along with my matching house slippers. Coming out of the bathroom, I smelled something good.

“What you burning?”  I teased.

“Got jokes, huh?”

“I’m just playing.”

I looked over to the couch and Taylor was laid out sleep.  I entered the kitchen and Cliff had a plate of salmon, broccoli, and rice sitting next to a glass of White Merlot. Candles rested on opposite sides of the table.

“Aw, baby...” I said beaming from ear to ear.

“I’ma put Taylor to bed and
jump
in the shower.” He told me before kissing me on the neck from behind.

“Alright,” I said before sitting down to eat.  I began to eat and it tasted so good. I was surprised.  Just as I began to really enjoy it, the house phone began to ring. I left the table and picked it up, “Hello?”

“Why are you so ungrateful?” I heard. Damnit, why didn’t I check the caller ID?

“What are you talking about, Momma?”

“Your sister was just trying to help and you go off and make her feel bad for trying to get you a good man.”

Yvette was such a tattletale. It made me sick, “I’ll talk to you later, Momma.”

“I know that street trash is over there.  You don’t have a lick of good sense.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

“Oh! Excuse me! Since you moved into your apartment you think you can talk to me any old way.”