He walked over and greeted his father's image, lingered awhile and asked for his help with his mother's latest shenanigans. By the time he turned the corner, Michael had fixed his face into a polite expression. It quickly turned to surprise. “Alison?” As they hugged, he remembered the conversation from a couple months ago, when Jackie had mentioned Alison's divorce and return to California. “How have you been?”
“Getting better every day since I left some no good baggage at the curb for the trash man to pick up.” They laughed. “It's good to see you, Michael. You look better than I remember.”
“You look good, too, Alison,” he said, stepping away and for the first time noticing another woman in the room.
Jackie continued the introductions. “This is Alison's friend Diane.” Michael nodded, and shook the other woman's hand. His eyes quickly swept over the women, who were attractive, but seemed a bit nervous. Alison had always been a pretty girl: curly brown hair, slim physique, and dimples. Diane, whom he assumed his mother had snagged for Troy, was tall and wore glasses. She too was attractive, and he immediately felt sorry for her. Because knowing his brother, she'd get tapped real good tonight and then more than likely turned out tomorrow.
“You know Mary's in Africa,” Jackie said, seeming quite satisfied with herself as she looked from her sons to the guests.
“No, Mom,” Michael said, sitting down and resigning himself to the fact that he'd be entertaining his ex-girlfriend for the afternoon. But maybe that wasn't all bad. It could be fun to catch up with a woman he'd grown up with but hadn't seen in years.
Shortly after Michael and Alison began catching up, Gregory showed up. Unbeknownst to the other two brothers, he'd told his mother he was bringing a date and had thereby been relieved of the blind hookup. Lakshmi Privrata was an OB-GYN doctor at UCLA Med whose husband and son had traveled to India two days ago. Due to a conflict with the schedule, it was going to be next week before she would be able to join them. Thus the impromptu holiday invite from Gregory, an appropriate one since they were both on call and even more appropriate for Gregory, who was tired of his mother trying to provide him with a wife.
The Morgans enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings and Jackie was especially excited to not be the only woman in the room. Michael had been correct about Troy, who offered to take Diane and Alison out for a night on the town. Alison boldly stated that she'd rather spend her time with Michael, maybe take in a movie or head to the beach like they did in the old days. But Michael declined, citing work responsibilities. It was only a partial lie. The old days were gone. And his mind
was
on a client. He only hoped that surrounded by memories of her “old days,” Shayna's mind was also on him.
36
It wasn't, not at this particular moment anyway. At this moment, Shayna's mind was on trying to figure out what cards her partner had in his hand and of which suit she should lead. It had been a while since she'd played spades, though she remembered it being one of Big Mama's favorites.
“Just show me some love, baby,” Jarrell said casually. “Show me some love.”
“Stop talking across the table,” Beverly said with a girlish laugh. She'd been in a good mood ever since announcing her pregnancy and having Larsen's reaction be one of true joy.
“Who's talking?” Jarrell asked, trying to remember what innocence sounded like so that he could put some in his voice. “I'm just looking for some love.”
“Shayna, if you put down a heart, we'll know y'all are cheating.”
“It doesn't matter, love,” Larsen said, eyeing his hand. “Because I can dig us out of wherever we end up.”
“He's holding spades,” Jarrell said with a shake of his head. “And probably the jokers.”
“Yeah, whatever, man. Come on, Shayna. Hurry up and play!”
And for the next hour they laughed and joked and sold “wolf tickets,” as Big Mama would say. In the end, Jarrell had been right. His brother had been holding enough spades to dig up an acre of land. He and Beverly had won easily, but what was really a miracle was that they'd gotten through dinner, a pregnancy announcement, and an evening of cards without anyone getting cursed out, beaten up, or dying. As they got up from the table Shayna thought,
So far, so good.
“All right,” Larsen said, walking over to Beverly. “Me and Jay are going to the club to have a quick drink.”
“Why do you have to go out drinking when we've got a full bar right here?”
“Come on, now, you know we boys have to go do our thing. Besides, you know you don't like me smoking, and after that delicious meal, I need my cigar fix.” Beverly pouted but did not argue. Larsen kissed her on the cheek and then the mouth, first a peck and then a little longer smooch. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. Whatever he said must have placated her because Beverly laughed as they broke the embrace. “Don't keep my husband out too late,” she said to Jarrell.
“I won't,” Jarrell answered, walking over to Shayna with arms outstretched. She hesitated for only a moment before giving him a hug. “We almost got them, partner,” he said, referring to the card game. “Next time, okay?”
“Y'all be careful,” Shayna replied. Next time, in reference to family gatherings, she hoped that Michael would be there.
After the men left, Shayna and Beverly got something to drink and then settled in the living room. It was the first time mother and daughter had been truly alone since Shayna had arrived in Nevada and the first time they'd enjoyed time in each other's presence all year.
“That went well,” Shayna offered, sipping the cranberry juice she'd poured. “Larsen seems happy.”
“For now,” Beverly said, a slight scowl on her face. “Wait until I start growing and can't give it to him like he wants it.” Shayna wasn't going to touch that statement with a ten-foot pole vault. Before conceiving, her mother had been beautiful and toned and, if Beverly's suspicions were correct, that hadn't stopped brothah man from slipping anyway. Shayna only hoped that this baby on the way would bring her mother the happiness she wanted. “Jay was happy,” Beverly continued. “He was almost beside himself just having you here. I know,” she hurried on when Shayna would have stopped her. “You're in love with your manager. Jay had already told me that, by the way. Told me all about how he was rolling in the big leagues. Girl, if you think I've got problems with Larsen, I can only imagine the witches who are after your man. Fine and rich and with a high profile? Shit.” Beverly drew out the word until it was almost three syllables. “You might want to take a page out of your mother's book and get you an eighteen-year insurance marker.”
“It's true that Michael was a player,” Shayna offered. “But he's stopped all that. We've decided to see only each other.”
“Ha! Is that what he told you? Girl, you'd better get your head out of the clouds.”
Her first thought was to get defensive, but she went with her second thought instead. “Mom, what happened with you and Big Mama? I know you don't want to talk about it, but maybe if I understand that I'll understand why our relationship is . . .”
“Is what?”
Shayna shrugged. “I don't know. Not like other mother/daughter relationships.”
“Ours might be better than mostâyou don't know. Besides, you didn't need me. You always had Big Mama.”
Again, the attack, and again, Shayna almost took the bait. But she was using the same skills here in her mother's living room that she did on the track. Focus. She remained silent, kept looking at her mother and waiting for an answer.
“Oh, girl, I don't know why you want to bring up the past anyway. I chose Daddy,” she finally said.
Shayna's brow furrowed.
Huh?
“Right before I got pregnant with you, Mama and Daddy got divorced. He married the woman he'd been cheating on Mama with and I asked Daddy if I could stay with them. I chose him over staying with Mama. I don't think she ever forgave me for that.”
“I always got the feeling that Big Mama and her husband divorced a long time ago, like when you were a child.”
Beverly shook her head. “No, they divorced when I was sixteen. Me and Mama pretty much didn't speak until a year or so later, when I got pregnant with you. By that time Orsellaâthat was Daddy's wife's nameâhad talked Daddy into moving back to St. Louis, where she was from. He got killed in a car accident a few years later.”
Shayna absorbed this news, more confused than ever. Why had her mother been so hesitant about sharing this, and why had Big Mama skirted around it as well? Something wasn't right, something wasn't adding up. “I don't get it, Mom. I can understand your feeling guilty about abandoning Big Mama, but why was that such a secret? I thought it was something horrible like incest or something.”
“It was close.”
Her mother had spoken so softly that Shayna almost didn't hear. “What?”
“Daddy's brother. My uncle. He sexually assaulted me when I was ten years old.” Shayna stared at her mother, not wanting to believe the words coming from her mouth. “When Mama found out she wanted him arrested, but Daddy, your grandfather, didn't believe it was true. Even after my uncle admitted what he did, Daddy continued to interact with him and this infuriated Mama. Orsella was the woman who Daddy went with, but his and Mama's marriage was over long before she came along. Anyway, the fact that Daddy didn't defend me after his brother's assault made my going to live with him all the more traitorous in Mama's eyes. But I always was a daddy's girl. Me and Mama never had that closeness.” Beverly looked at Shayna. “Maybe that's why I don't have it with you.”
Shayna and Beverly talked for two hours, until Larsen and Jarrell returned from having drinks at the club. Larsen and Beverly went to bed shortly after and then, perhaps because the day had gone so well and perhaps at one time it had been the most normal thing to do, Shayna and Jarrell sat up talking, laughing, and reminiscing the way they used to do. For Shayna, it was a sign that the family could and would survive her and Jarrell's breakup. But later she'd learn that, from that night on, Jarrell believed that getting back together was just a matter of time.
37
The beautiful people were out and the party benefiting the Pediatric Society of Greater Los Angeles was in full swing. Shayna sat in the back of the limousine, satiated and satisfied after her and Michael's marathon sex session. Michael had been right, Shayna's mind had stayed on him during her visit to Vegas, and the night's endless loving had proved just how much they'd missed each other. She'd always viewed her mother as a sex kitten, having been embarrassed by the sounds coming from her room on more than one occasion. But who knew that Shayna possessed an inner freak, one that Michael brought out full-force? She laughed at the thought.
“What's funny?” Michael reached for her hand as he fiddled with his bow tie.
“Nothing. Just happy is all.”
“That's my job, babe. Making sure you stay that way.”
“Oh, really? I thought your job was to make me rich and famous.”
“Ha! That, too.”
They arrived at the Beverly Hilton and joined a long line of town cars and limos carrying a veritable who's who of not only LA's medical field but also the movie and music industries. This was a popular fund-raiser, one that was known for having stellar music, a decadent buffet, and gift bags valued in the thousands of dollars. Since becoming Michael's client, she'd attended many high-end functions, but this was the first one where she was doing so strictly as his guest. She was nervous, not so much because she didn't feel in her elementâthough that was part of it as wellâbut mainly because Michael had warned her that she was more than likely going to come face to face with one or more of his exes. Shayna ran a hand down the front of her silky Chai original, set her red-bottomed shoes on the pavement, and pulled up her big girl panties. It was showtime.
Ironically, it wasn't one of Michael's exes they ran into first. It was hers.
“Jay?” They'd not taken two steps from the town car when Shayna saw her tuxedo-clad ex-lover coming toward her.
He stopped just two feet away. “Hey, Shayna,” he said, though his eyes were on Michael.
Okay,
Shayna thought as she felt Michael stiffen beside her.
This is the epitome of an awkward moment.
But then again, maybe not. She and Jay had not only been civil in Las Vegas, the word
cordial
could have even been used to describe their interactions. He'd behaved, for the most part, and seemed ready to acknowledge that the ex-lovers were now just in-laws and casual friends. Jarrell rose up to his full five-feet-nine and squared his shoulders, reminding Shayna that it was the first time these men had been face to face.
Uh-oh.
Though no introductions were needed, she still spilt them into the awkward, tension-filled silence. “Michael, this is Jay, Jarrell Powell. Jay, Michael.”
“I'd say it was a pleasure, but I'd be lying,” Michael said, his low calm voice a stark contrast to the instant anger Shayna felt emanating from his six-foot frame.
“I don't give a damn what you say to or about me,” Jarrell countered before finally turning his eyes back to Shayna. “You're looking beautiful, Shayna. It's good to see you again.”
Michael took a step toward Jarrell, and Shayna quickly placed herself between the pissing contest that was well underway. “Michael, I see your brother. Let's go inside.”
“You should call your mother,” Jarrell said as Shayna passed him. “She hasn't been feeling too well.”
Shayna kept a firm hand on Michael's arm as they entered the ballroom. “Was that necessary?” she hissed as soon as they rounded the corner.
“Look, you may have a history with him and a cause to be friendly, but I don't. I don't like him, and I don't care if he knows it.”
“Let it go,” she whispered, noting the coiled muscle beneath his jacket arm. “I told you that during my visit to Vegas we'd agreed to bury the hatchet, let the past be the past. And then here you go being an asshole.”
“Oh, you're defending him now?”
They reached Gregory, who was standing with a stunning brunette.
Just in time.
“Hi, Gregory!”
“Hello, Shayna,” he said, bending over to give her a hug. He introduced his date and then turned to his brother. “What's up, big man?”
Michael gritted his teeth and remained silent, though he had given a curt nod and handshake to Gregory's companion.
“Uh, excuse us for a minute,” Gregory said, and then began walking away from the women without waiting for a reply. “What's going on, man?” he asked Michael, as soon as they were away from the hubbub.
“We just ran into the punk who beat up Shayna,” Michael spat, hands flexing into fists as he searched for Jarrell's whereabouts.
“Here?” Gregory asked, obviously surprised.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I don't know,” Michael said, spotting the back of a familiar-looking tux beneath a head covered with close-cropped swirls. “But I'm getting ready to find out.”
“Michael!” Gregory turned to catch up with his brother, who was making fast tracks out of the ballroom and across the lobby. “Damn,” he hissed under his breath. He'd just purchased his tuxedo and would hate to get it ruined in a fisticuff.
Michael reached the lobby doors and exited. He looked around just in time to see Jarrell getting into a limousine. He was driving it.
“Ah,” Gregory said as both of the men watched the limo leave the circular driveway. “So he's a limo driver.”
“He's a brother who's going to get his ass kicked if he bothers my girl again.”
Gregory cast a concerned eye in his brother's direction. Troy was the hothead of the family; Michael, though not one to back down from much of anything, was normally the objective one in the bunch. Gregory was cool, calm, and collected. Which was a good thing because that's exactly what Michael needed right now. “Come on, brother. He's gone. Don't let that chance meeting ruin our evening. Let's get back in before they begin the silent auction. I've got my eye on a painting I want you to buy me.”
“Oh, is that right?” Michael asked, visibly relaxing after taking one more glance toward the front of the hotel. He smiled. “Your birthday isn't for another month, man.”
“It's for a good cause, Michael. Let's spend some of that money you and Shayna have made.”