Body By Night (18 page)

D’Andra laughed to herself as she hummed along to Chuck Berry’s
Rock and Roll Music.
The CD was a gift from Frank, who’d joined her and Night at Jewel’s BBQ to review the proof sheet of D’Andra’s photo shoot. It turned out to be an evening filled with loud laughter and rich history, as Frank shared stories of his time as a professional photographer in the fifties, sixties and seventies—when along with Chuck Berry, James Brown and other singers, he’d met famous politicians, athletes and actors. The dinner lasted three hours and D’Andra had spent the night in Night’s arms.

This Sunday morning started out as beautifully as her Saturday night ended, waking up to Night’s incredibly tender lovemaking. He had a client so instead of fixing them breakfast, she drank a protein drink, showered, dressed, and was now speeding down La Cienega Boulevard on her way home.

Her vibrating cell phone indicated an incoming call. D’Andra turned down
Maybellene
and quickly put in her hands-free earplug.

“Hello?”

“Hey Dee, it’s Connie.”

“Hey girl, what’s your prerogative?”

D’Andra automatically used the phrase the Fabulous Four had chimed when calling each other.

“Nothing much. Just got off the phone with Nelly and thought about you. We promised to keep in touch, remember?”

There was a brief pause before D’Andra answered. “I’ve been busy, plus I’m getting ready to move.”

“Where are you moving and what’s his name?”

D’Andra laughed. “You know me too well, don’t you? I’m moving to this complex in Culver City called Palatial Apartments, and his name is Night.”

“Night? What kind of name is that?”

“His real name is JaJuan but everybody, except his mother, calls him Night.”

“Well, I’m glad you’ve got a warm body in your bed, but that’s still no reason not to make time for a friend.”

The conversation continued for a few more minutes, with Connie filling D’Andra in on mutual associates who’d married, divorced, gotten pregnant or moved. Fortunately no one else they both knew had died. When D’Andra hung up with Connie she noticed she’d missed a call.
Probably from earlier this morning, when I was otherwise occupied with Night
, she thought with a smile.

She checked her messages and was both surprised and delighted to find out she’d been approved for the apartment. It happened so fast D’Andra wondered if they’d really checked her credit report and references. And why was she being called on a weekend? She believed the check she left for deposit and first month’s rent may have had something to do with the application being accepted so quickly. She’d barely had time to think about it and now it was happening—she was moving to her own place.

If Night was less than thrilled about it, her family was downright upset.

Arriving home began as it often did, with little hands and feet greeting her at the door.

“Hey, Aunt Dee. Where have you been?” Kayla asked inquisitively.

“You gone all night, Aunt Dee,” Antoine added, as if D’Andra didn’t know.

“Were you with your boyfriend?” Kayla questioned.

“Can you fix us something to eat?” Tonia interrupted. She couldn’t care less about D’Andra’s previous whereabouts. It was eleven o’clock and she’d only eaten cereal and a candy bar. When she saw her aunt she saw the beginnings of a home-cooked meal.

“Let me get in the door good, you guys.” D’Andra laughed as she noticed Tonia and Antoine vying for position behind her. Kayla’s attention was quickly drawn back to the video game she’d been playing while Antoine grabbed his Transformer and followed Tonia and D’Andra into the kitchen.

The twins had just finished helping D’Andra whip up an egg-white omelet when Mary came into the kitchen. She walked to the coffee pot and began preparations for her required three cups a day.

“Where were you all night?”

D’Andra hesitated. “Over at Night’s house.”

She was not ashamed of sleeping with Night and wondered why she suddenly felt as if she were sixteen and had just been caught sneaking home on a school night. Cassandra often spent nights away from home but if D’Andra arrived with the morning sun on her face, it was because she’d had a date with Heavenly Haven.

Mary sauntered over to the stove and helped herself to a crispy piece of turkey bacon. “This man giving you any money?”

“I haven’t asked for any, Mama.”

“Humph. Girl, you better learn how to get what you want from these men. They’re not always going to be there.”

D’Andra took the English muffins out of the toaster, and began topping them with low-fat margarine and Pure Fruit grape jam.

“Why can’t you just be happy for me, Mama? Night’s a good guy. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Who said I wasn’t happy? I’m glad you found somebody to spend time with. But I still can’t understand why a Black man would ask to be called Night, actually introduce himself with that name.”

Mary took one of the English muffins D’Andra had fixed for the kids and took a large bite.

“Mama, do you want an omelet?” Another day Mary’s antics would have bothered her but the smile Night had put on her face would probably last three days straight.

“It does smell good.”

D’Andra placed two more English muffins in the toaster and put the kids’ plates on the table. “Y’all want orange juice or milk?”

A mixture of answers followed. D’Andra filled the “orders” while pondering how to break the news that their cook was moving out. She decided to wait until they were well into the breakfast, the kids’ chatter filling up an otherwise silent room.

“Do you like that omelet, Mama?” she asked.

“Uh-huh. Even though I know the yolks aren’t in here. But with the vegetables mixed in, I don’t miss them much.”

“See, you can eat healthy and have it still taste good.”

Mary simply grunted and took another bite. “You are slimming down, I can see that. But when you come off your diet, you better hope those pounds don’t creep back on you, and then some. That’s what always happens to me and why I don’t diet anymore.”

“That’s just it; what I’m doing is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. Yes, I’ve been using some diet foods, but my long-term goal is to make eating healthy and exercising a way of life.”

Cassandra came into the kitchen still dressed in pajamas even though it was close to noon. “Something smells good.”

“You just get up, Mommy?” Antoine asked.

“Mommy ain’t up yet,” Cassandra replied with a yawn. “But the smell of this food got me out of bed.”

Cassandra took a plate out of the cabinets and put the remainder of the omelet and two strips of bacon on her plate. “Where’s the bread?”

“There are some muffins in the refrigerator,” D’Andra answered.

Cassandra sighed. “Why didn’t you fix enough for everybody?”

“I fixed enough for everyone who was in here when I started cooking. And you’re welcome for the food.”

The sound of Cassandra’s slippers sliding across the tiled kitchen floor was the only reply. The next sound was that of the upstairs bedroom door closing.

The short but somewhat snippy exchange with her sister reminded D’Andra of what she wouldn’t miss. Unfortunately moments like those outweighed the lighter, good times. It gave her the push to break the news to Mary. Hoping for the best she got up from the table and began gathering the dishes.

“I’ve been looking for a place,” she said casually as she stacked the dishes in the dishwasher.

“A place for who?” Mary asked.

“Me, Mama.”

“Why do you want to move? What’s wrong with here?”

D’Andra started the dishwasher then turned and leaned against it as she continued.

“Mama, I’ve been sleeping on the couch for months. And while I love the kids, they are really cutting into my being able to get good sleep. But more than that, I’m just feeling the need for my own space. I found this cute little place over in—”

“And just what am I supposed to do when you take half the rent with you? Did you stop and think of anybody but yourself? You know my disability payments stopped and I still have to help Cassandra with these kids. Did you stop and think about that?”

This conversation was going exactly how D’Andra thought it might, but hoped it wouldn’t. She joined her mother at the table.

“I did think about that, Mama. But that on-the-job injury happened more than a year ago. It’s more than healed now. It might do you good to get back out there, back in the workforce, to be productive. Plus, Cassandra gets child support; enough to cover my part of the rent and more. Cassandra could find a job if she really wanted one.”

Mary put down her coffee cup and crossed her arms. “This is about your father isn’t it? This is about your being mad that I want to let the past stay in the past.”

“I’ve been thinking of moving out for a while now,” D’Andra countered, not feeling it necessary to admit that the who’s-my-daddy fiasco did play a part in her desire to move quickly. “And since I’m dating,” she added, “I need more privacy.”

“How come we’ve never seen this man you’re dating?” Cassandra asked as she entered the kitchen and walked over to the refrigerator. She wore a pastel, multi-colored halter top paired with light yellow jeans that fit her curvy figure like a glove and complemented her golden brown hair and bronze skin. She didn’t wait for the answer.

“Can you watch the kids for a couple hours, Dee? I’ve got an errand to run.”

“D’Andra’s moving out.” Mary intoned the words like a funeral dirge.

“Why? Where are you going? Are you moving in with the man you met?”

D’Andra couldn’t gauge whether Cassandra’s incredulity was because she was moving or because Cassandra thought her overweight sister might land a provider before she did.

“I found an apartment in Culver City,” D’Andra replied. “I didn’t expect it to go through so soon but since it did, I’m going to move out right away. So, no, I can’t watch the kids. I’ve got to pack my stuff and don’t worry; I’m not taking any of my furniture, just my clothes and personal items. Oh, and the computer.”

“Well, Dee, the kids can help you. Since this is the last time I’ll be able to ask you, please help me out.”

“You going out with Anthony?” Mary asked with obvious pride. She had her eyes set on having this professional ball player for a son-in-law and often fantasized about the house she’d live in with them and the kids, or the condo he’d buy her.

“No, I have to drive to Santa Monica and meet a prospective employer.”

“On a Sunday?”

The truth was, Cassandra didn’t know how much longer she’d be in Anthony’s life. She’d heard it through the grapevine that he’d been cheating on her for months with at least two other women. Her rapper boyfriend Hollah had hollah’d at someone else, a Latina and Black drop-dead gorgeous model he’d met on his debut rap video. Cassandra hadn’t been without a boyfriend since she was fifteen, and was already wondering about the availability of the man she was getting ready to meet.

Cassandra shrugged. “He’s a businessman looking for a personal assistant. He asked if I could see him today and I said yes. So can you watch them? Mama, will you help? I’ll leave some money for pizza and movies; they’ll practically watch themselves.”

“Oh, all right. Go on, girl. And remember you said a couple of hours.”

“Thanks DeeDee!” Cassandra placed a half-empty glass of orange juice on the table and ran out the door.

“I don’t want you to move,” Mary said. “I’m not ready to go back to work and I can’t take care of San’s kids. Why don’t you wait a couple months, until she and Anthony get together? Then we’ll probably move anyway, into a bigger house.”

“Because I’ve already paid a deposit and the first month’s rent. And I want to move.”

“Well when you run into trouble and can’t pay your rent, don’t think you’re going to be able to come back here. If you move out, it’s for good!”

With that, Mary heaved herself from the kitchen table, went to her room and closed the door.

So much for you helping to watch the kids
, D’Andra thought as she walked into the living room where Kayla and Tonia were watching cartoons.

“Where’s Antoine?”

“Outside.”

“Y’all get your shoes on, you’re coming with me.”

Two hours later, D’Andra returned home with a supply of cardboard packing boxes and other packing supplies. She worked steadily for two more hours and was surprised that even though she wasn’t taking any big items, she still had a great deal to pack: books, DVDs, CDs, toiletries, and all the other odds and ends that one accumulates over time. She planned to pack her clothes tomorrow. They would be the last thing she picked up.

Sitting down to finally eat a salad and take a break, D’Andra had just reached for the remote when her phone rang.

“I am so pissed,” Night said as soon as she said hello.

“What’s the matter?”

“Brad! He just called me with some lame excuse about a delay on closing escrow and the deal going through. I told him if there were any problems to let me know before now. I planned to have the contractors start working next week!”

D’Andra had never heard Night this angry. Her first instinct was to comfort him, her second to keep him from losing his dream.

“I’m sorry, Night. But stay positive; everything will work out.”

The sound of her soothing voice brought immediate solace. Night took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

“I’m watching my nieces and nephew right now, but why don’t you come over? You can tell me all about what Brad said while you help me pack.”

“Pack? Where are you going?”

“I’m moving, remember?”

“Of course, I just didn’t think it would happen so soon.”

“So…are you going to come by?”

“What’s your address?”

“You told me to dress casual; I hope I’m okay.” Cassandra settled into the large black leather chair in a well-appointed corner of the plush hotel lobby.

“You’re a very attractive woman,” the businessman replied. “I hope you don’t mind my saying so.”

Cassandra smiled coyly, happy she was having an effect on this handsome, brown-eyed blonde. She’d taken his full measure in an instant: about six feet tall, athletic, strong legs, expensive clothing and no wedding ring. Memories of Anthony were already starting to fade from her head.