The Countdown to Thirty (25 page)

“That’s perfect Mr. Chase, thank you for the opportunity.”

“Oh you’ve earned it.” He said as he walked me to the door.

Trying to contain my joy, I waited until I got outside of
the building to hop, jump and skip in excitement about my new promotion. I felt
like I was floating, but I couldn’t float too far. I was scheduled to meet with
Joanna in the next ten minutes and didn’t want to be late.

Even though I was in the middle of a bidding war for the
house on Mountain Glitter, Joanna was hard at work securing my future home.
We’d met up at the nearby Subway during my lunch break where she suggested we’d
offer to pay two-thousand dollars towards closing costs to sweeten the pot and
finalize the deal today – or we walk.

“I’m not playing games with these people anymore Kaia.” She
admitted, “If they don’t accept this deal we’re walking and I’ll find you a house
ten times better.”

She took her business seriously and this ongoing foolishness
from the owners brought out the fire in her eyes. Her competitive instinct came
out like a lioness on the prowl ready to kill anything that got in the way of
her pride’s next meal. No wonder she’d been referred to me as one of the best
in the real estate game, she was fierce.

After Okaying Joanna to submit the new bid she promised me
she’d have an answer within a few hours then sped off in chase of her
commission check. I remained at Subway and ordered a six inch Italian BMT on
wheat, light on the Mayo, heavy on the onions. While I ate I thought about
calling Christian but instead reached for my phone and dialed Riley. I hadn’t
heard from her in a month and I was beginning to get worried.

“Hello?” she answered on the second ring.

“Hey girlie I haven’t heard from you in a while. I miss your
voice.”

“Hey Kaia,” She responded in a somber tone.

“What’s wrong? You don’t sound good.”

“It’s been a lot. Mama didn’t tell you?”

That very question scared me. My mother hadn’t told me a
thing especially since we haven’t spoken since my trip to Cali. This is what I
was afraid of, that low-life had gotten her pregnant. I knew it! “Tell me what
Ry?” I asked anxiously.

She hesitated for a moment, “I...I...I-“

“You’re pregnant!” I interjected no longer able to wait for
her to spill the beans. God, how was I ever going to help her now?

“No! I ain’t pregnant!” She exclaimed, “We use protection.
Well we used to use protection. Me and Derrick broke up and I’m not sleeping
with anybody else.”

“Oh,” I said hiding my relief that she wasn’t preggo and
that that idiot was out of her life one way or another. I just prayed it wasn’t
one of my “break-up then make-up” moves. I did my best to sound empathetic to
her situation, “I’m sorry. How are you holding up?”

“I have good days and bad days,” she said in her baby voice,
“but that’s not what I was talking about.”

“Oh, okay. Go ahead, I’m sorry. I’m listening Ry.”

I was thrilled she’d broken up with Derrick and even more
thrilled that she wasn’t pregnant. But knowing that there was more news to
uncover I hoped for the best but prepared for the worse.

“Whatever she says, you can deal with it. Be understanding.”
I coached myself.

“Well, Ce Ce took me to the club and I danced.” She admitted
before telling me she’d never do it again for as long as she lived.

“I just felt pressured but I thought I could handle it. I
didn’t like it though. All those nasty niggas watching me with my clothes off,
I didn’t feel safe. I don’t know how she can do it cause I didn’t like it, at
all. So I never went back. I’m never going back.”

Of course I was angry that she’d been talked into this crap
by Mama and Celeste. In so many ways she was still a baby, my baby. I shook my
head in admonishment at those two while fighting back the urge to call them
both and cuss them out worse than ever. But when I looked on the bright side of
this travesty, I was happy she’d made her final decision even though it meant a
night on stage. She was learning to find her voice, like me. I was grateful
that at eighteen she’d found hers instead of at twenty-eight, there may be rays
of hope for her after all.

“Are you okay?” I asked her.

“Yea I’m okay. Ce Ce doesn’t understand and Mama’s still
complaining that I haven’t found a job, but I’m trying Kaia I swear I’m putting
in applications and resumes everyday but nobody’s calling me back.” She said in
frustration reminding me of my dear Sonya only a month ago.

“Shush, you don’t need to explain it to me. I know finding a
good job is hard.” I said before a brilliant idea came before me. The most
brilliant idea I’ve had all year, I just hoped she’d hear me out.

“Listen baby girl, I want you to come and live with me, out
here in Vegas. I’ll give you all the help you need. I’m in the process of
buying a house and hopefully if this deal goes through I’ll have one very soon.
You’ll have your own room, you can go to school and I may even be able to get
you a job at my firm as an admin or receptionist. It’ll be a new environment
for you. You can start over…fresh.” I plead hoping she’d take me up on my
offer.

She paused momentarily like she was mulling it all over. God
I hoped I wasn’t too excitable when she replied, “Yes. You’d really let me come
and stay with you…in Vegas?”

“Yes of course! I would have offered sooner but I know you
had things…well Derrick holding you back. I’d love for you to come. I miss my
baby sis anyway, it’ll be fun.”

 When she agreed my mind did a flash forward of where she
could be in the next two years if I were able to work with her alone. Get her
on the right track and be a good influence on her. She could have her AA and
getting ready to transfer to my alma mater with a savings and self-respect
under her belt. When I told her the news about me and Christian she dropped the
phone then nearly had a heart attack. Her happiness for us however, couldn’t
contain the nervous hesitation in her voice…she knew big brother would be
watching her.

Forty minutes into my lunch period I gathered my things and
abandoned the discreet flavorful smell of Subway for my Cherry Berry scented
Avalon. I cruised back to the office peacefully with content thoughts of the
house, the promotion, my Riley and of course my Christian. God was good. By the
time I made it to Christian’s apartment after work, the orange sun had gone
down officially calling it a night on its reign over the valley. Two hours
prior, Joanna informed me in a victorious cheer that my offer had been accepted
by the sellers.

“Congratulations, you’ve bought your first house!” She’d
exclaimed. “I flat out told them we weren’t going a penny higher and if they
don’t take this deal not only are they crazy but were walking. All their other
offers backed out so they had no choice!” She laughed releasing a cutthroat guffaw
when she described their meeting.

With the news, Christian and I skipped our home cooked meal
and drove to the Mountain Glitter house located only ten minutes south from
where I currently live. Christian eased his Navigator up the steep and hilly
streets of my newly gated tract home community; all with the same soft peachy
color stucco creating a real “Leave It to Beaver” looking neighborhood. We
turned right on Prancing Horse then another right into a cul-de-sac where my
home sat at the end of the block. Mountain Glitter was wide but only played
hostess to nine houses in total; three on opposite sides of the street and
three (including mine) that outlined the circle of the cul-de-sac. I led
Christian across the driveway while walking around the perimeter of my neatly
cut green lawn. I wanted to see if we could get a peek into one of the living
room windows. After giving that an unsuccessful try we got lucky when Christian
did a little snooping on his own and discovered the side gate to the backyard
was unlocked.

We walked in, hand in hand as I released a heavy exhalent
breath of air. I finally did it and it felt, great.

“Wow, its nice baby. You did a good job, look at that view.”
Christian complimented as we strolled to the long brick wall at the end of the
yard. The entire Las Vegas Strip was lit up from the Stratosphere to Mandalay
Bay. From here it appeared simply stunning; there were no indications of slot
machines, nightclubs or drunken tourists, just peace.

“Riley’s going to like it here.” He said as he stood behind
me and wrapped his arms around my body.

His warmth felt good, “Yes, I think she will.”

“And maybe with a little time, I will to.”

I turned to him and planted a sweet kiss on his lips
considering the idea that had also been bouncing around in my head, “I think
I’d love that.”

v
 
 

That weekend the four of us; Sonya, Kyle, Christian and I,
celebrated at Town Square’s Blue Martini just south of The Strip. Kyle bought
the first round of drinks and Christian bought the second. While the boys
talked sports – a subject they were both crazy about – Sonya and I agreed that
if we were moving in the right direction…thirty was looking pretty damn good.