39
YANCEY WALKED through the automatic doors at the airport and smiled to herself at the thought of being back in New York City. The gust of wind felt cold and refreshing, a welcome change from the heat of Las Vegas. The coolness caressed her face like Basil’s strong hands. She pulled a floral silk scarf from her bag and wrapped it around her neck, thinking she couldn’t take any chances with allowing the change in temperature to affect her voice. She had to be careful, especially since Lois had promised lots of auditions, mainly because of the rave reviews Yancey had received in Vegas.
She moved swiftly across the walkway and noticed an overweight African American man holding a sign with her name on it. Yancey walked right up to the car and, without a word, the driver opened the back door. In fact, Yancey didn’t say a word until she was standing at her front door and murmured, “This is for you,” as she placed a folded ten-dollar bill in the man’s hand.
“You have a nice day, miss,” he said as he politely tipped his hat.
Yancey had a busy afternoon planned on her first day back home. First stop after dropping off her luggage was a hair appointment at Scissors New York, the favorite salon of Broadway’s divas. Then she had an appointment for a massage, and was ending her day by trying on wedding gowns at a tony dress shop on Fifth Avenue that Ava had located during her visit. Ava had wanted to pick out the gown herself, but when Yancey had been firm with her denial, Ava had sent beautiful four-color photos of gowns and possible bridesmaid’s dresses. Yancey had to admit that the dresses looked beautiful, and she was grateful for Ava’s scout work since she was short on time with the wedding less than a month away.
YANCEY
was savoring the last sip of her wine as it rib-boned down her throat. She was inspecting her wedding invitations, which had been sitting on her desk when she arrived home from her successful day of errands. She moved her hands across the thick, cream-colored cards with her and Basil’s names embossed in gold lettering. She picked up a matching envelope lined in gold foil and thought how absolutely beautiful they were. The only problem she had was that Ava’s full name was on the top line, but that was okay, since Ava had offered to pay for everything. Yancey studied the names closely to make sure Ava’s full name wasn’t bigger than hers. She then admired the picture of the beautiful ivory tulle and lace gown she had picked.
The house was quiet and Yancey was relieved it was Windsor’s night at Hale House. She was on her way to the kitchen for another glass of wine when the phone rang. She figured it was Basil calling to make sure she had arrived home safely.
“Hello.”
“Yancey.” It was Ava, clear as crystal, without the echo and static of her cell phone.
“Oh, I’m so glad you called. I found the most beautiful dress, and the invitations arrived. Thank you so much for ordering them. I’m getting so excited. And you were right, the shop on Fifth Avenue was just wonderful,” Yancey said.
“Are you sitting down?” Ava asked flatly.
“No.”
“I think you better. I got some news that might make you cancel your wedding.”
Yancey lowered her body down slowly to the bed, wondering what Ava was talking about. Had her newest husband left her with his money in tow? So now she couldn’t afford the dream wedding she had promised Yancey.
“What are you talking about?” Yancey asked as she set the empty wineglass on the nightstand.
“I just got back some information from the detective I hired,” Ava said.
“Okay. Is Basil not as wealthy as we thought?”
“No, it’s not that. But he gave me some information that is a showstopper.”
“What? Tell me,” Yancey said as her voice suddenly went higher.
“Did you know he was seeing a shrink?”
“Is that what you’re calling me about? Yes, I knew he saw a doctor to help him deal with the issues about his father not telling him about his mother. He told me about that when we met,” Yancey said. Her heartbeat resumed its normal pace.
“Did he also tell you that he was a woman-hating bisexual with anger issues?” Ava asked.
“What are you talking about?” Yancey’s heart began to race.
“I’m looking at it right here. My guy was able to get the information right from the doctor’s office. I’m looking at the notes right now.”
“How could you get doctor’s notes?”
“When you got money and the right guy you can get anything. Trust me when I say that,” Ava boasted. “The P.I. got the info from the lady who transcribes his notes.”
“Are you sure the information is about Basil?”
“Yancey, I’m sorry, honey, but your husband-to-be admits to hating women, has an uncle who molested him, fell in love with some guy named Raymond . . . I mean, he doesn’t like women at all. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on this. Most gay men I know like women. He talks about using a call-boy service for sex and how his career would have been ruined if anyone found out. Matter of fact, he even talks about killing his uncle.”
“His uncle is dead,” Yancey said.
“Well, you better check the death certificate and make sure he died of natural causes.”
Yancey was silent for a moment, before an adrenaline rush of anger flooded her body as she thought of Basil sleeping with another man. Her lips parted in disbelief as her mind began to reel into a state of shock. Was he with men all the times he had said he was with Cade? Suddenly, a disturbing thought entered her mind and she screamed into the phone, “I bet that mutherfucker is fucking his nephew!”
“What are you talking about?”
“His nephew. I told you how attached he is to his sister’s son.”
“Yes, but there’s nothing about him being a child molester,” Ava said.
“But don’t most children who are molested become molesters?” Yancey asked.
“I don’t know, but I’ve read this report about five times.”
“I still don’t believe this,” Yancey said as her eyes suddenly moved to a photograph of Basil sitting on her dresser. She picked it up and threw it across the room. Tears pooled in her eyes at the sound of the frame shattering.
“How are you feeling? I started to jump on a plane and tell you in person, but I figured you should know this as quickly as possible. Have you ever seen any signs?”
“What signs? Basil is one of the most manly men I’ve ever been with. There is no way, no how, he doesn’t enjoy making love to me. If he doesn’t, then Denzel got some competition in the acting department. Basil loves pussy!”
“Did you hear what I said? He’s bisexual, and he might enjoy sex with you, but what if this Raymond guy comes back in his life . . . you could be there looking like a fool. I say cut your losses and move on.”
Again Yancey became silent, and then she said, “Maybe this is a sign.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Maybe this is a way of somebody telling me I need to marry Derrick and be a mother to my child.” Her voice wavered between disappointment and fear.
“Are you crazy? I thought you told Derrick no deal. And we don’t have to do any kind of investigation to know he will never make the kind of money to provide you with the life you deserve.”
“Maybe I don’t deserve to live a good life,” Yancey said.
“Stop talking like that! Of course you deserve a fabulous life, and I’m going to make sure this mutherfucker makes a huge down payment toward that life.”
40
WITH YANCEY back in New York, I decided to leave. I wanted to give her enough time to reveal her true self. She didn’t seem to mind when I told her I had to leave for Florida on the day she returned from Las Vegas. I wasn’t exactly lying. I needed to check on some players we were after in Gainesville and I stopped to spend a couple of days with my dad.
Even though I blamed my dad for a lot of the things that happened in my childhood, I still respected the way he managed to raise me almost single-handedly. Do I wish there were some things he would have done differently? Yes. But I now realize he made what he thought was the best decision regarding my mother. I also know he wasn’t totally responsible for what my uncle did to me.
When I arrived in Jacksonville my dad was happy to see me. Even though I spoke to him regularly, my visits had become more infrequent. I had a wonderful time with him. We went fishing, drank beer, and caught up on each other’s lives.
My last night he barbecued, and we started talking about women. He was between women but had several prospects. When he told me he would be sure to bring a great-looking one to my wedding, I told him about some of the doubts I was starting to have about Yancey. He looked at me with his narrow face and big, widely spaced eyes and said, “Be very sure about this, son. Marry the wrong woman and you can ruin a whole lot of lives.” I didn’t answer because I didn’t want my voice to give away the emotions I was feeling. I just looked at him, trying to force a brave smile. I left Jacksonville for Miami confident that whatever I decided my dad would support me two hundred percent.
I visited with a few players at my alma mater, the University of Miami, and then headed to Fisher Island for some more rest and reflection. I thought a lot about my love for Yancey. How it had become the type of love that rearranges your life and the way you viewed love, like it’s the first time you realize love has power that could make strong men suddenly weak.
I spent a lot of time walking on the beach wondering if spying on someone was the way to start a marriage. The ocean seemed restless, like me, the sun hazy but hot. Did I really need to know everything? I realized there were certain things I kept from Yancey, like my past with men. How in the past I used beautiful women only to make me feel better about my manhood. Was I doing it again with Yancey or was this love different? But what secrets was Yancey keeping from me? When I spoke with her it was always brief; I didn’t want to seem suspicious. I sent her flowers every other day and she seemed immersed in getting back into New York’s frantic pace and preparing for the wedding.
The week ended with only more questions. I was getting on the plane for Washington, D.C., and smiled to myself at the thought of something Nico had said when we lost our first money-making client to a bigger agency. “Life is a bitch, my friend. Always wear boxing gloves and a metal jock.”
41
YANCEY WOKE up with her mind made up. She picked up the phone next to her bed and dialed Ava’s number.
“What do you want this early in the morning?” Ava asked when she picked up the phone. Yancey had forgotten the time difference.
“I’m sorry. Can you talk?”
“Sure, darling. Did you get that information I faxed you?” Ava asked. She was talking about the notes from Basil’s doctor visits.
“Yeah, I spent half the night reading it over and over. Can you believe some of the shit he told his doctor? Like pussy being a truth serum. And love being for punks, suckers, and females? When I get through with John Basil Henderson, he’s going to be sorry he ever licked my pussy.”
“So do I call the people in New York and tell them to put a hold on our plans?”
“No, don’t do that. Full steam ahead. I’m going to marry Mr. John Basil Henderson,” Yancey said.
“Are you sure you still want to marry this jerk?” Ava asked.
“Yeah.”
“But why? Are you that much in love?”
“I didn’t say I was so in love. I just have a plan.”
“Oh, this sounds wicked. Talk to me.”
“I plan to marry Basil and let him hang himself. Surely he’s going to slip. All men who think with their dick do. And then I’ll divorce his ass so quick that he’ll think he’s been punched out by Evander Holyfield,” Yancey said. “He’ll be seeing stars.”
“Looks like I taught you well,” Ava giggled.
“I’m going to make Robin Givens look like Mother Teresa. If he doesn’t give me half of what he’s worth then I’m going straight to the press. You don’t know how badly he wants into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this will certainly stop that train.”
“You’re so right. And he hasn’t brought up any prenup shit, has he?”
“No, and he better not or I’ll reveal his secret before the wedding.”
“Oh, this is going to be so much fun. You know, we should get the guy I hired to start following him right now. I bet he’s going to hook up with his boyfriend before the wedding,” Ava said.
“Yeah, maybe we can catch him in the act. Film at ten!” Yancey’s laugh floated in the room like a hot-air balloon.
“You read in the report where one of his girlfriends caught him. Aren’t we lucky she kept her mouth shut?”
“You got that right. This way I get to play the beautiful jilted wife whose macho husband got caught with another man. Everyone will feel so sorry for me and I’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. Hollywood will make a movie about it.”
“I hear you, but I’ve got a question for you.”
“I’m listening.”
“How are you going to avoid sleeping with him?”
“Why would I want to do that? I told you he’s a fantastic fuck.”
“Aren’t you worried about HIV?”
“Ava, listen to you. We got the medical information. He’s not HIV positive and we always use condoms. Besides, I plan to hook up a couple of commercials anyway, so I’ll be busy. If not, I can always tell him I am on location or something. Since I won’t be around it’ll just give him more chances to get busted.”
“Yancey, sounds like you have this under control, but be careful. He really sounds like a sick one.”
“You know me, Ava. I’m like you. I’ll survive.”
42
I CHECKED INTO the Four Seasons hotel in George-town. When I handed the front desk clerk my credit card, she told me there was an urgent message from my office. I quickly called Kendra on my cell phone and she told me Yancey was looking for me. I wanted to go to the gym for a quick workout but I decided to call Yancey first. She picked up after only one ring.
“Hey, baby, you miss me?” I said.
“Of course I miss you. I couldn’t remember where you were going when you left Fisher Island. Do you miss me?”
“Now, you know I miss you.”
“Tell me how much,” Yancey pleaded.
“I don’t know if I’m lovin’ you ’cause I’m missin’ you or if I’m missin’ you ’cause I’m lovin’ you.”
“Oh, that sounds so sweet. How long are you going to be in D.C.?”
“Well, I’ve got a couple of Howard players I need to see, and I got to get my monkey suit fitted,” I said.
“I can’t wait to walk down the aisle and see you standing there looking so good,” Yancey said. “Who’s doing your tux?”
“Everett Hall, this brother who does suits for some of the biggest stars in the NBA and NFL,” I said.
“I can’t wait to see it and I can’t wait for you to see my gown,” Yancey said.
“In two weeks.”
“Two weeks,” Yancey repeated.
“Yep! Two weeks from Sunday I will be all yours,” I said.
“Forever and always?” Yancey asked.
“And you know it. But I need to warn you: The next couple of weeks are going to be brutal,” I said.
“How so?”
“It’s coming up on Christmas and the bowl season and all my top players expect to see me at some of their practices. Especially those going to the Sugar and Rose bowls. Since we’ll be on our honeymoon, I need to explain to them why I won’t be at their games,” I said.
“I hope they won’t get mad.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle my young pups. All I have to do is show them a picture of the beauty I’m marrying,” I said.
“You’re going to make me cry.”
“I don’t want to do that, so let me get to the gym,” I said.
“I love you,” Yancey said sweetly.
“And I love you back,” Basil said as the words caught slightly in his throat.