Soulmates Dissipate (4 page)

Candice had been Jada’s best friend since elementary school. She was the one person—outside of Jada’s parents—who knew almost everything about her.

“What kind of question is that? Am I interested? I’ll have Karen reschedule with Darryl. Pick me up at seven.”

“Seven-fifteen.”

“Great. Bye.”

“See you later. And Jada, be ready when I get there.”

Jada put her salad in the refrigerator and pressed the intercom button.

“Karen.”

“Yes?”

“Would you please call Darryl? Ask him if we can reschedule for next Friday at the same time.” Jada gathered the photos and put them in her desk drawer.

“You mean you want to reschedule with Darryl Williams?”

“That’s right.” Every woman just loved Darryl. Although he was no longer on Karen’s speed dialer,
Jada knew Karen had his number etched in her brain.

Jada checked again. Her makeup and hair still looked impeccable. After Jada’s tenth grade makeover, image became everything. With all the fine men in her building, she refused to check her mailbox unless she looked good. The ginger-colored pantsuit she wore replaced the tea-stained pale-yellow dress she’d worn to work. She always kept a pair and a spare—shoes and an outfit—at work. Jada sashayed out of her office.

“Ms. Tanner, Mr. Williams said he’d call you next Thursday to confirm.”

“Oh great, thanks, Karen. You’ve worked hard today. Don’t work the extra hours. I’ll pay you for them anyway. Go home. Enjoy your weekend and tell Damien I said hello.”

“Gee. Thanks!”

Karen’s son was her pride and joy. For eleven years in a row, Damien had earned a 4.0 grade point average. Two more years and he’d become valedictorian of his senior class. Karen’s GPA had been closer to 0.4. She’d graduated by the skin of her … But once she had Damien, she’d strived for perfection.

Jada headed straight for her stereo. Popped in Will Downing’s
Mood
CD. Went to the kitchen. Poured a nice cold glass of Moët. She hung her imported designer suit in the closet. Left side. Everything on the left had already been worn and needed to go to the cleaners. Everything on the right was ready to wear. She pulled out a fuchsia silk minidress. Put it back. The black satin dress
with pearl straps was too formal. The choices narrowed to her red double-breasted pantsuit with matching bustier or her leopard diva dress with the split that just wouldn’t quit.

Long dresses with high splits were her trademark. She treasured the way they showed enough but not too much. Men noticed her long sexy chocolate legs. Her seductive walk—stride—with hips swaying methodically from side to side drove them nuts.

Jada couldn’t thank her mother enough. Mama taught her a long time ago that all women were sexy. Mama would say, “Simply accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. God gave each of us talent and beauty. Never apologize for your heavenly gifts.”

Jada showered and napped for twenty minutes, so she’d look refreshed. Not refurbished. Slipped into her exotic leopard dress with spaghetti straps, front split, and backless swoop that stopped right above her ass.

It was seven-fifteen. Jada greeted Candice in the lobby.

“Hey, girl! I have one question for you,” said Candice.” Are you ready to have fun tonight?”

“Hell, yeah!” Jada put her hands in the air like Diana Ross and blew kisses to the wind. When Jada masked, even Candice couldn’t tell. Deep inside she’d grown tired. Countless men. Rich. Sexy. Fine. Unattached. But where was her soulmate? She figured at thirty-two surely she should have found him by now. If it took much longer, her knight in shining armor would need Geritol and ginseng.

Candice had recently bought a white Lexus sports car dipped in gold. Jada strapped on her
seat belt.” I have to be in L.A. at seven in the morning. This new guy, Terrell Morgan, is fresh. I’ve already heard through the grapevine, he has a body to die for and a face to match.”

“Well, if he’s all that, let me know. Maybe I can throw some action his way.” Candice commented and shifted into fifth gear.

“No, you are not trying to throw your thirty-one-year-old coochie on a twenty-one-year-old guy.” Jada laughed so hard her stomach ached. Her thoughts instantly reverted to having a family.

Candice turned down the radio.” Women have always had the advantage over men. In this day and time our position has improved. Think about this. When a woman is twenty, she can have any man she wants from twenty to one hundred and twenty. When a woman is thirty, she can still have any man she wants. When a woman is forty, younger guys are impressed because they know she’s experienced and older men are blessed because she’s still younger than them. There is
nothing
finer than a physically fit fifty-year-old woman because
she
can have them
all.
And girlfriend, when a woman is seventy and older, she can buy that new drug on the market overseas. You know the one that’ll make a man faithful
forever.”

Jada laughed on cue. Her psychological noise drowned out Candice’s words. But the cool breeze, full moon, and bright stars did not go unnoticed.

The express elevator doors closed. Candice pressed the button for the forty-second floor four times.

For a split second, Jada’s forehead wrinkled.” Why did you do that?”

“You won’t believe who I just saw.”

“I probably would. Try me.”

“It was Mr. Darryl, B-ball six-nine, superfine Williams and he is looking good tonight!” The ears of the women on the elevator stood like dogs listening in the night.

That was good Darryl had come. Maybe she’d bump him up to
Active
if she didn’t get a better offer. Jada didn’t bother to respond.

When the doors opened, Jada and Candice stepped into a room filled with partygoers from just about every nationality imaginable: Asian, Caucasian, African American, Puerto Ricans; you name it. Jada appreciated the cultural diversity in the Bay Area.

At five feet eleven inches, Jada definitely stood out in the crowd. Five inches shorter than Jada, Candice still held her own. Her peach lace minidress showed off her soul-sista track star thighs. Most people had to request three feet of space but not Candice. Her
butt
demanded it.

The three-foot-high brass rail separated the dining, dance, and stage areas. Not quite front and center, but Jada and Candice could see almost everything from their seats. Jada’s eyes viewed outside the window. The Golden Gate Bridge twinkled over the San Francisco Bay. The Oakland Bay Bridge dazzled with thousands of lights shining as bright as a million stars. The full moon illuminated the sky between the bridges.

Jada scanned the room for prospects.” Damn! Don’t look now. But there’s a handsome brother that just stepped in the room.” Her extraterrestrial senses told her he was with the guy walking behind him.

Candice automatically turned.

“I told you
not
to look now.”

Candice faced Jada. Gave her a devious diva wink with her big brown eye. Flashed a cynical smile. And immediately took a second look.

“Damn! He
is
fine. Why do they travel in pairs? His friend is a dud.”

The hostess escorted Jada’s prospect. Jada’s eye trailed him from the door until he was out of view.” No. Come back.”

Candice sang.” He can’t hear you.” Then very matter-of-factly, she said, “But if he resurfaces, he’s all yours. I’ve already booked my reservations for tonight.” Candice was a confident woman, most of the time.

Jada inconspicuously glanced around the room.” Great! You can have his friend.”
Where did he go?

“He’s not my type! And no. I won’t double date with you if ya’ll go out. Not for all the tea in China. Now the guy with Darryl, he’s all that and a bag of chips.” Candice put the tip of her acrylic nail on the edge of her tongue.

Candice had a good point. After Jada became popular in high school, she’d hook Candice up with blind dates. One guy had halitosis. Another couldn’t speak English. And the last dressed like he was stuck in the seventies. How was she to know? Jada always met them at the same time.

“Double date or not, I’m going to get noticed by Mr. Wonderful before he sets his eyes on
anyone
else.”

“Strut your stuff, girl.” Candice flicked her peachy cream nails twice.

Jada orchestrated every move.

Plan A. Jada ran her well-manicured fingers through her hair. Men parted like the Red Sea. She heard one woman say, “Bryan. Bryan. Bryan!” Mr. Wonderful was nowhere in sight.

Plan B. She ordered a drink at the bar, even though she already had one at the table. Before she could pick up the tab, an unidentified stranger had already paid it. She perused. Took a sip. Searched again. Then sat the Tres Generaciones tequila on the counter.

Plan C. The line in the rest room was long. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t there to use it. She required a temporary haven so she wouldn’t seem like a raven. She teased and fluffed her hair. Refreshed her favorite fragrance, Zahra. She washed her hands and did a quick check in the mirror. The women acted as if they weren’t watching. She departed and resumed her hunt.

The band had started. Couples held hands. Jada heard Will Downing’s voice fill the room. At first she couldn’t believe her ears. How ironic. His first song was “Don’t Wait for Love.”
“I know you’re sad …”

The men parted again. Jada smoothed her hands over her hips.

“Give me the four-one-one,” Candice said.

Jada sat.” How about nine-one-one?” She sighed.” But all is not lost. I still have three hours to find him.”

At that moment,
the rose man
put a red rose on the table. Jada and Candice’s eyes met.

“The rose is for you,” he said, pointing at Jada. His Puerto Rican accent was heavy.

“Why, thank you.”

“No. It’s not from me.”

Rows of flesh buckled along Jada’s forehead.” Then who?”

Will Downing started to sing “Just to Be with You.”

“I gave my word. I can’t tell you. This rose is for you too.” Another long-stem red rose.

“Wait. Don’t leave,” said Jada, reaching out to the stranger. But he kept walking.

“I think it’s Darryl,” said Candice.

“I have no idea.” Jada hadn’t seen Mr. Wonderful since he walked in. She doubted if Candice was right. Darryl had class and pizzazz, but he lacked creativity outside the bedroom.

When Will sang his last song, “Fall in Love Again,” a yellow rose was delivered. During Kenny Lati-more’s “For You,” and Gerald Albright’s “Mr. Right,” red roses were delivered.

“Stop!” Jada’s fingers wrapped around the rose man’s wrist and tightened.” Either you tell me who’s sending the roses or stop bringing them.”

“Sorry. I told you. I gave my word. Julio Ramirez’s word is his bond.”

At a snail’s pace, Jada’s fingers gave weight. With each remaining song, Julio delivered a red rose. From that point forward, Jada and Candice pretended it was part of the show.

Candice sucked cocktail sauce off the same shrimp all night long. The waitress brought Darryl’s friend’s business card to Candice. The name on the card read
TERRELL MORGAN
. He also asked the waitress to replenish Candice’s sauce.

When Rachelle Ferrell announced the last song of the evening, Jada heaved.” Finally. Now maybe he’ll reveal himself.” “With Open Arms” had everyone grooving in their seat.

“What if it’s a woman?” Candice laughed.

“Hardie-har-har-har. Candice, you play too much, girl.”

Out of the blue, Mr. Wonderful appeared holding a sterling silver platter covered with rose petals.” So, I take it you didn’t like the drink?” he asked Jada.

His Barry White-like voice sent chills through Jada’s body. He was handsome. Thick eyebrows. Dreamy eyes. Bald head. Goatee. Jada gasped. Swiftly she composed herself. His upper lip was slightly larger and darker. Sexy. He kneeled before her. Yellow and red petals floated to her feet.” May I have the last dance?”

Jada’s lips mouthed yes. She tried to move her feet, but couldn’t. He reached for her hand. His was warm. Hers cold. She froze.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Wellington Jones.”

Faintly she said, “Hi, I’m Diamond.”

Darryl walked up behind Wellington.” She saved the last dance for me. I’m Darryl Williams of the NBA.” Darryl extended his hand.

This is not
happening.
Jada stared at Darryl. Candice sat back and crossed her legs as if she had a ringside seat to see Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holy-field.
Not now, Go away! Disappear!
Jada shouted silently.

Wellington grasped Darryl’s hand and didn’t let go.” I’m Wellington Jones of Wellington Jones and Associates, financial advisor. Here’s my card. Call me. I’m sure you could benefit from my expertise.” He released Darryl’s hand.

Then he turned to Jada and said, “Perhaps
there’ll be another opportunity for us to dance. Here’s my card.”

Oh hell no! He was not the one leaving. Jada eased to her feet. Wellington’s bicep was solid. She squeezed gently.” Give us just a moment, please.”

“I like a woman who’s not afraid to take control.” Wellington smiled captivatingly. Winter-green freshness escaped his kissable lips.

Darryl looked at Wellington, then at Jada.” Call me next week if we’re still on for Friday night.
Baby.”
His lips traveled in slow motion toward hers and landed on Jada’s cheek. Not tonight. Darryl walked away with his shoulders squared and chest stuck out. Damn! What bad ass timing.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Rachelle announced.” It’s been our pleasure to perform for you tonight. This
was
the last song but I am making a special dedication. This is for the gentleman who showered the lovely lady with roses
all night long.”

As Rachelle began to play “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This,” Wellington escorted Jada to the dance floor. He held her so close, the creases in their stomachs fit like pieces to a jigsaw puzzle. His hand traveled down her spine. She laid her head on his chest and melted in his arms. For the first time in Jada’s life, time stood still.

A
week had past. Nine days to be exact. Jada undeniably concluded that Wellington Jones was Mr. Right Now. Probably another spoiled rich guy who strived for attention. Fortunately Sunday morning church service was only an hour away. She needed all the prayer she could get. Jada picked up the phone and dialed Candice’s number.