All That and a Bag of Chips (29 page)

Venice was trying to get her shoes back on when he caught up with her. He sat on her and tickled her until she was almost in tears. Crimson tried to help Venice out by jumping on Craig's back. Instead, he held them both down.

They finally screamed, “We give up!”

He let them up and told Venice, “That was cold blooded, girl. I'll get you back later.”

Venice just laughed. “I'm really scared.”

It was getting close to game time so they went back inside. Venice's dad was awake, but her mother was still asleep.

Venice hugged her dad and said, “We're getting ready to head back over to Bryan's, daddy. I don't want to wake Momma up. Tell her that I'll call her later or see her tomorrow for church. Can I get you anything before we go?”

Mr. Taylor said, “No, baby. Your Momma and I are just fine. Make sure you call when you get there so I'll know you made it safely.”

“We will.”

He got up to see them out. Crimson was holding her granddaddy around his waist as they walked. “I love you, Granddaddy. Tell Grandmomma I love her, too. Okay?”

“Okay, shorty. Here's a dollar for your piggy bank.”

“Thank you, Granddaddy!”

Craig thanked Mr. Taylor again for his hospitality, shook hands, and went to buckle Crimson in the truck.

Venice said, “Daddy, are you sure you're feeling okay? I can stay over here tonight, if you want me to.”

“I'm fine. Go on and enjoy yourself. I'll see you tomorrow, and Venice?”

“Yes, sir?”

“I like him. I like him very much.”

“I love you, Daddy. Tell Momma also.”

Venice made him go inside the house before they drove off and before they'd made it two streets away, Crimson was sound asleep.

Craig said, “I had a good time and your mom can really cook. I really miss that mother's touch. Bernice can cook okay, but it's not like Momma's was.”

“I don't think any daughter can cook just like her mom. I don't care how many times I've tried; I just can't get my dressing like my mom's. I don't expect anyone to ever figure that one out.”

Craig laughed and made his way around town until they made it back to Bryan's neighborhood.

When they arrived, Craig pulled into the garage as instructed by Bryan. He was home and so was Sinclair. Craig carried the sleeping Crimson into the house because she was too heavy for Venice. Bryan met them in the den and took her upstairs. He told them that his friends should be over shortly and to help themselves to the snacks and drinks.

Venice said, “I'm going to take a shower and if those fools get here before I get out of the shower, don't pay them any attention. They don't have any sense. I'm going to call Daddy and let him know we made it.”

Craig jokingly asked, “Can I come?”

“Sure.”

He laughed, sat down, and started scanning the channels. Bryan came back down and joined him on the sofa and they popped opened their beers.

Bryan asked, “Where's Venice?”

“Taking a shower.”

Bryan held his beer up and said, “Let the games begin.”

Venice laid out her clothes, which consisted of a T-shirt and some jeans. She remembered she had forgotten to call Monique. She laid across the bed to call her and as the phone rang, her mind wandered back to the poor girl who had that baby in the dorm. “Hello?”

Venice said, “Hey, Miss Thang! Do you miss me?”

“It's about time your tail called me. Chanelle has been down here asking if I'd heard from you. How's your Dad?”

“He's doing really good. He doesn't even look like he's been sick.”

“Is Craig holding up all right?”

“He's doing fine. He's sitting in the other room with my brother waiting on the game. My niece put a frog on him today. It was hilarious. We're going to church with my mom in the morning. Tell Chanelle to hang in there. Hopefully she'll cross tomorrow.”

“I hope so. I'm tired of her sneaking around. Oh! The girl who had the baby is okay and so is the baby. It was a little girl. They said she'd kept it hidden from her roommate and her parents.”

Venice said, “That's so sad. I hope whatever issues she has will get worked out. What else has been going on?”

“Well, we went to this house party last night and some fool pulled out a gun. You know we started stampeding. I knocked a few people down myself trying to get out.”

“Who did you go with?”

“This guy I met the other day.”

Venice said, “Monique, you'd better quit hooking up with those street thugs. Next thing you know, you're gonna catch a bullet or something.”

Monique laughed and said, “You're a party pooper, Venice, but I hear you. I'll be more careful. Thanks.”

Venice yawned and said, “Well, chick, I'm getting ready to hit the showers before Bryan's buddies get over here to watch the game. You'd better behave yourself.”

Monique answered, “You know me.”

“That's why I said it. Don't be down there tripping. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, Momma, and next time, take me home with you.”

“If you weren't going home for Thanksgiving, I would have invited you.”

“I know, girl. Anyway… Next time. I'll let you go. Tell everyone hello and I'll see you when you get back.”

Venice said, “Peace out!!”

Venice took her shower and changed into her jeans. She could hear that Bryan's friends had arrived.

When she entered the room, Gator said, “There's my girl!”

He came over and gave her a big hug, picking her up off her feet. Craig was watching out of the corner of his eyes while he took a sip of beer.

Venice said, “Hey, Gator. You can put me down now.”

As he put her down, he asked, “Oh, what's wrong? You're too big for me to pick up since you're a college woman now?”

“I guess so.”

“I bet if your boy wasn't sitting over there, you wouldn't care.”

Bryan and his other friend, Tate, laughed and looked at Craig.

Tate also came and gave Venice a hug and kiss. “Nice to see you, Venice.”

Bryan laughed and said, “Craig, you're going to let them kiss on your woman like that?”

Gator asked, “What happened to Jarvis, Venice? Ya'll was kicking it big time.”

The room grew silent for a moment before Bryan said, “Damn, Gator!”

“What? I just asked what happened between them.”

Craig was cool, but watched Venice squirm in her seat.

She said, “Chill, Gator.”

Gator went over to Craig at the bar and said, “I didn't mean any harm. It's just that we didn't expect to
ever
see Venice with anybody except for Jarvis. I was beginning to think that fool had some type of voodoo spell on her. I should've kicked his little ass when I found out he was hitting it. “

Venice screamed, “Gator!”

Craig didn't appreciate Venice's private life being exposed, but wanted to avoid drama in her brother's house so he said, “No offense taken. Thanks.”

Venice put her hands over her face in disgust and listened as they continued to discuss her business in front of Craig.

Gator said, “Craig, you have to excuse us. We've been around Venice since she was Crimson's age.”

Bryan grabbed some peanuts and said, “He's right, man. You might as well get used to it. It's our job to screen Venice's friends. Jarvis caught hell for a long time, but he's cool now.”

Venice hollered, “Hey! Nobody's going to check anybody out tonight.”

Tate opened his beer and said, “Be quiet, girl, and let grown men handle their business.”

Venice jumped up in disgust. “I don't believe this. Bryan, you need to get your boys.”

Bryan got up to adjust the lights. “Sit down, girl, and don't tell me to get them. I've never been able to control them anyway. You know how this works.”

Gator said, “Craig, don't get us wrong. When you look at it, Venice, being the only girl besides Crimson and my two babies, has about five daddies. We've always been like that with her. My girls are gonna catch the same hell when they get old enough.”

Craig said, “I understand. I'm glad Venice has people looking out for her. I'm looking out for her also.”

Venice was sitting on the sofa listening to them discuss her like she wasn't even in the room.

Tate said, “We're always going to be in Venice's corner. It never hurts to have reinforcements.”

Venice stood up and said, “I don't believe you guys. Stop!”

Bryan hugged Venice around her neck. “Hush, girl! We have to get that business out of the way. Okay, Venice?”

The guys all laughed.

Craig joined in and said, “I was kind of expecting this from you, Bryan, being on your turf. But, I didn't expect you to have a posse.”

Venice didn't find their little game funny anymore. She figured she had out grown all of that when she left high school. Bryan and his friends always tried to intimidate the guys she dated. Craig saw that Venice was a little upset, but he knew she was fighting a losing battle with them. He probably would've done the same if he had been much older than Bernice.

Venice got up and stormed up the stairs. Bryan asked, “Where are you going?”

She didn't answer him. She just continued up the stairs, pissed off.

Bryan laughed and turned to Craig. “Man, she's pissed! But, she'll be all right.”

Tate added, “She should be used to it by now.”

Craig smiled. “I'll go check on her.”

When Craig got upstairs, Venice was in the kitchen slamming things around and fixing a sandwich. She leered at him and asked, “Do you want one?”

“No thanks. Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. They're a trip! I'm starting to get sick of their intimidation games. They practically had me in tears on prom night and thought it was funny. Jarvis quit paying any attention and started retaliating against them. They started respecting Jarvis more, so they eased up on him. After that, they started looking out for him. Through it all, I knew they really liked him. That's why they did it. I'm sorry they treated you like that.”

“Venice, they didn't mean anything by it.”

Venice took a Coke out the fridge, slammed the door, and said, “They knew what they were doing. They were testing you to see how you would handle yourself.”

Craig handed her a paper towel. “How do you think I did?”

“Fine and I'm glad you didn't let those fools rattle you. I think you surprised them. I've dated some guys who never took me out after my brothers and his silly friends got a hold on them. I really love those guys, but sometimes they can go too far. You wouldn't believe what they gave me for graduation.”

Craig sat down and asked, “What?”

“Well, Bryan bought my car for me, Tate paid for my senior trip to the Bahamas and Gator, bless his heart, bought me some mutual funds and told me not to touch them except for an emergency.

Craig said, “I wish I had friends in high places. That was cool.”

“I guess. I still hate it when they do what they do.”

Craig laughed and said, “Come on back down and watch the game with us.”

“I might come back in a while. I'm going up to look in on Crimson and holler at Sinclair.”

Craig got up from the table, gave her a hug, and told her that he'd see her downstairs. Venice sat in the kitchen and finished her sandwich. She could hear that the game had started. The fellows were hollering on every play.

Venice finished eating and went upstairs. Sinclair was on the phone with some friends. Venice knocked on her door and heard her say, “Come in.”

Sinclair told the person on the phone to hold on. Venice stuck her head in and said, “I'm sorry. I just came up to look in on Crimson.”

“No problem. I'll see you in the morning and, Venice; it's good to see you. Goodnight.”

Venice told her goodnight and closed the door. Venice made her way down the hall to Crimson's room. She eased in and saw that her room was as neat as a pin. Sinclair had Crimson's Sunday dress laid out. It was red trimmed in white satin. Crimson had kicked the covers off, so Venice covered her back up and gave her a kiss.

When Venice came back downstairs, she went into Bryan's office to use his phone. Even though Jarvis had a game that night, she wanted to leave a message on his voice mail.

“Hey, baby. It's me. I'm sorry about freaking out earlier. I'm glad you called me. I hope you had a good game tonight. I'm heading back
to school tomorrow and I'll call when I get in.” She paused for a moment and then added, “Jarvis…Baby…I
do
love you. Goodnight.”

Venice made her way back downstairs to the noise. The game was in full swing and Galen was playing a good game. She wished Joshua would've been able to come by, but he had to go out of town for some type of training class. Sadly, he wouldn't be back until the middle of the week. Venice would just have to catch up with him the next time.

Venice found her a seat next to Craig.

Gator asked, “You cool, baby girl?”

Venice pulled a blanket over her and said, “I'm all right.”

Craig leaned over and whispered, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I'm used to them.”

They continued to watch the game and Galen made two touchdowns. Bryan called their dad to see if he was watching the game and to make sure that he was fine. They talked for a few minutes before hanging up.

After a while, Venice fell asleep leaning against Craig's chest.

Bryan laughed and said, “Craig, you might need to wake Venice up and tell her to go to bed.”

Craig chuckled and said, “All right.”

Craig woke Venice up and helped her up from the sofa. He started to walk her to the bedroom. When she looked around, Bryan and his friends all had smirks on their faces.