Can't Stop the Shine (18 page)

“We thought we'd have a real Christmas breakfast this morning,” said Elaine. “Would you like some coffee?”

“No…uhh…no thanks,” he said, grabbing his keys off the rack. “Elaine, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Kalia and Mari watched their mother wipe her hands on her apron, following their father into the entryway. They stood still, trying to make out their parents' urgent whispers over the Temptations' “Silent Night” blaring on the radio. When they heard the front door slam, they quickly resumed their cooking activities. A moment later Elaine came back into the kitchen. She stood in front of the sink washing utensils silently.

“So, Ma,” said Mari warily, “are we putting the pecans in the mix or are we just going to sprinkle them on top?”

“Do them however you like, Mari,” Elaine said quietly.

Mari looked at Kalia for help.

“Ma, where did Daddy go?” Kalia asked, taking the pan of sausage off the stove.

“To work,” said Elaine.

“But it's Christmas,” protested Mari.

“That it is,” said Elaine.

“Is he coming back soon?” asked Kalia.

“I don't know. He didn't say,” said Elaine. She wasn't doing anything, just looking out of the kitchen window.

“Well, what did he say? The Frys aren't even open on Christmas, are they? I mean we're up here cooking breakfast, and he's gonna miss it,” shouted Mari.

“Oh, who gives a damn about this mess,” Elaine said, grabbing the pancake mix from Mari and emptying it into the sink. “Your daddy would rather be at his precious Fish Frys than he would here with his family on Christmas Day.”

Stunned, Kalia was still holding the pan with the sausage. She put it back on the stove and walked over to her mother.

“Ma, it's okay,” she said, motioning Mari over.

“It is not okay,” shouted Mari. “What the hell is going on in this house?” She looked at her mother. “How come Daddy's sleeping in the guest room, Ma?”

Kalia looked at her sister, horrified.

“What are you talking about?” asked Elaine, her eyes growing wide.

“Okay, let's stop the pretending. Everybody in this house knows that Daddy has been sleeping in the guest room since this summer.”

“Mari,” Kalia hissed through clenched teeth.

“What?” shouted Mari, looking at her sister. “You're trying to tell me you haven't seen Daddy sleeping in the guest room?”

Kalia didn't say a word. She just stood against the counter holding her sobbing mother around the waist.

“So what's up, Ma? Are you and Daddy separated? Are you getting a divorce? Is that why he's going to work on Christmas Day, because he can't stand to be around you?”

Elaine stood up straight, walked over to Mari and slapped her in the face. Mari slumped down into a chair. Elaine looked down at her and seemed at a loss for what to do next. Kalia burst into tears, then Mari started whimpering. Seconds later all three Jefferson women were crying their eyes out. Kalia walked over to her mother and gave her a hug, then Mari joined in for a group hug, and they all leaned on one another.

“I didn't mean any of that, Ma,” said Mari, drying her eyes on the back of her sleeve.

“I know, sweetie,” said Elaine, giving Mari an extra squeeze.

“You don't have to talk about anything that you don't want to,” said Kalia, eyeing Mari.

“Yeah, Ma. You don't have to tell us what's going on between you and Daddy,” said Mari.

“Well, no, girls, we should have said something to you earlier,” said Elaine, sitting down. “You live in this house, and you're old enough to notice when something isn't right.”

Kalia turned the radio down and both she and Mari sat at the table across from their mother. Elaine reached out across the table, taking one of each of her daughters' hands.

“Listen, your daddy and I have been going through a very rough period,” said Elaine. “You know I've told you before that a married couple is just two people who decided they have enough in common and love each other enough to want to spend their lives together, but they're still different people who are always growing and changing.”

Kalia and Mari both nodded.

“Well, your father and I have been wanting different things for some time now, and we're trying to figure out how to work out what each of us wants, and it's hard.”

“Can we help?” asked Mari.

Elaine smiled at her younger daughter. “I wish you could, but it's really up to me and your daddy to figure this one out.”

“So you are going to figure it out, right?” asked Kalia, squeezing her mother's hand.

“I hope so, baby.” Elaine let their hands go and stood. “Go turn up the radio. We're going to have our Christmas breakfast, then we're going over to your aunt Cheryl's and help them open their gifts. Oh, that reminds me,” she added, hurrying into the dining room. “I've got something special for you girls.”

Mari turned up BoyZ II Men singing “Let It Snow” on the radio and came back into the kitchen. Elaine returned with beautifully wrapped gifts in both hands.

“I know that we've been just giving you girls money for the last few years, but I wanted you to have some real gifts this year,” she said, handing them both packages. “Kalia, with you graduating, we don't know what's going to be going on this time next year. Christmas might not be the same.”

As they opened their presents—mp3 players, digital cameras and gift cards to their favorite stores—both Kalia and Mari couldn't help but think that the reason Christmas might be different next year had nothing to do with them. Neither said a word about their parents' strained relationship, but it stayed in the back of all three of their minds for the rest of the day.

Kalia stood on her front porch waiting for Malcolm to come pick her up. It was nearly eleven, and she was afraid the new year was going to get there with her sitting at home if he didn't hurry up. She stamped her feet to keep warm. Wondering why she was standing outside in the first place, she stepped back in the entryway, but didn't close the front door all of the way. She took in her outfit for the one thousandth time in the large mirror in the hallway. More than satisfied with her blue asymmetrical strapless dress and her blue heels, she picked up the black fitted shearling her mother was letting her borrow and slung it around her shoulders.
If this outfit gets wasted, I'll kill him,
she thought, just as she heard a car door slam.

She grabbed her keys and her purse and hurried outside. Instead of seeing Malcolm, she saw Dewayne getting out of his mother's beige Lincoln. For a split second she thought about ducking back inside, but her indecisiveness got her caught out there. Before she knew it, Dewayne was in the front yard and at the bottom of the steps trying to act like he wasn't pressed.

“What's up, K?” he said, looking up the steps at her. “Long time, no see.”

“Hey, Dewayne,” she said, trying to muster as much enthusiasm into her voice as was humanly possible.

“So whatcha been up to? Practicing?”

“Yep,” Kalia said, checking her watch and pulling out her cell to send Malcolm a text message.

“Oh, happy new year, you know, early,” Dewayne said, moving up a step.

“Yeah, same to you.” She was eyeing Dewayne's approach, text messaging and straining her neck, looking back and forth up the street.

“So, I guess you're going out. I mean you sure are dressed…kinda…you know…nice.”

“Umm, hmm…thanks…I guess.” She wasn't sure if she was thanking him for the compliment or answering him about going out.

“Well, if he stands you up, I can step in if you'd like…it would be cool…like friends just hanging out,” he said.

“Oh, he'll be here,” Kalia said quickly enough to hurt Dewayne's feelings. She wanted to take it back, but it was already out there. She needed to cut this conversation short because Malcolm might drive up any minute.

“Hey, I left something in my room. Can I catch up with you later?” she said, stepping back into the house.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” said Dewayne, stepping down and starting across the driveway. “Cool. I'll just get up with you later. It's all good. Have a great time tonight.”

“Okay, you, too,” she said, but he was already on his doorstep. Walking back toward the kitchen to get something to drink, she wondered if Dewayne was embarrassed. She'd just opened the refrigerator when she heard another car drive up.

This had to be Malcolm, she thought, abandoning her thirst. She stepped outside, and there he was. Malcolm stood next to a silver BMW 6-series, looking unbelievable, she thought, in black slacks, a black large-collared shirt and a tan camel-hair coat. He walked up to the steps and escorted her down.

“I'm sorry, baby,” he explained, kissing her on the cheek, “but I just had to pick up the car. I got your message just now, but I was right up the street.”

“That's okay. You're fine. I just got ready anyway,” she lied, walking around the car.

“Damn you look
good.
Hold on. I have got to get a picture of you,” he said, pulling his camera phone out of his pocket.

“Thanks, baby. You look pretty good yourself.” Kalia grinned, posing for a few shots by the BMW, then letting him help her into the passenger side.

Kalia rubbed her hand along the wood-grain dashboard. “Where did you get this?”

“You won't believe this but Jimmy let me hold it for tonight.”

“Jimmy? The guy who owns Atlanta Live?”

“Yep. Ain't it sweet?”

“It sure is,” she said, adjusting her seat and looking into the back of the car. “He must really trust you. Hey, my butt is hot. What's that?”

“Oh.” He laughed. “That's the seat warmer. You know I can't let your fine ass freeze tonight.”

Kalia laughed and moved her behind around in the seat. “I love it. Everyone should have one of these.”

“Drop eighty grand and you can have one of these babies fully loaded, including the warmers.”

Kalia pulled down the lighted rearview mirror and puckered her lips. “Maybe after my first album drops, you know, I can have my assistant pick me up one of these to go with my Jag and my six other cars at my mansion.”

“Oh, so you're gonna be doing it like that? Can a brutha get a ride?”

“Sure, baby. I'll hook you up with a ten speed or something.” Kalia grinned.

“That's all right. When the Feds come and take all your cars away for not paying your taxes, at least I'll have something to get me back and forth to the store.”

“What are you talking about? I'm not going broke.”

“It's inevitable, baby. Just like Mike Tyson and MC Hammer, the more you make, the more you spend, and the less likely it is that you're going to want to pay those taxes,” said Malcolm, grabbing her hand in his. She noticed his watch. The diamonds in it almost blinded her.

“Hey, where did you get this?” she said, lifting his arm to get a closer look. “Don't tell me Jimmy loaned you this, too.”

“Nope. That was a gift.”

“From who? Jay-Z?”

“Naw, baby. Just someone who's taking an interest in my career.”

Kalia dropped his hand and looked at him. “So who? How come you're not telling me this person's name?”

“Oh, no reason. You just don't know them.”

“Is it a girl?”

“Well, yes it is,” said Malcolm, stroking his chin. Kalia could swear that he was enjoying telling her that the watch came from another woman.

“Okay…”
she said.

“Okay what?”

“Do I have to ask?” said Kalia, folding her arms across her chest. “If a dude had given me a watch like that, wouldn't you wanna know who he was?”

“Nope.”

“Umm, hmm. Well, I wanna know who gave you that watch and why.”

“Her name is Sasha, and she works at Fire.”

“Fire Records? What does she do there, and why is she giving you a watch like that?”

“It ain't really no big deal,” said Malcolm, flipping open his cell. “She's like one of the VP's cousins, and she does some production and other stuff.”

Kalia just looked at Malcolm, wondering what he gave this Sasha for Christmas. She had yet to receive even a card from him.

“What? I'm trying to get signed, and she says she can help me get hooked up.”

“I bet she can.”

“Look, I'm here with you, ain't I? I'm taking you to the hottest party in the city because she got us in, okay? Gimme a break.”

“So she's gonna be there?”

“Uh,
yeah,
” said Malcolm sarcastically. “Didn't I just say she's the reason we're getting in? God.”

Kalia wanted to jump out of the car, but they were already at the Swissotel where the party was happening. They left the car with the valet and walked into the lobby, looking almost like they weren't together. Malcolm was walking so fast in front of Kalia that she was having a hard time keeping up. Annoyed, she slowed down to a stroll and smirked at him, having to wait longer than he wanted holding the elevator doors open. The ride to the penthouse was a long one in the glass elevator. Standing on the other side of the elevator, Kalia took in the hotel's opulence as they climbed.

“Look, I don't want to argue tonight,” said Malcolm, looking at his watch. “It's like eleven-thirty, and I really want to have a good time.”

Kalia didn't want to fight either, but she wasn't going to make it easy for him. She didn't say anything. He reached in his coat pocket and handed her a small box.

“I was saving this for later on tonight, but I think I need it now,” he said, walking over to her side of the elevator, just as they reached the penthouse. He hit the stop button.

Kalia's hand trembled as she took the black velvet box from his hands. No man had ever given her a gift in a jewelry box before. When she opened it, her name spelled out in crushed diamonds gleamed back at her. “Oh my God,” she said.

“Let me help you put it on,” said Malcolm, taking the name chain from its case. Fastening it around her neck, he kissed her deeply. Her hands went around his neck, and she forgot where she was. The elevator buzzed, scaring them both. Laughing, Malcolm hit the stop button again, and the doors slowly began opening.

Kalia was still looking into Malcolm's eyes when the thundering sounds of JD's new song snatched her attention. She turned to see what looked like the scenes in every over-the-top Diddy video ever made—and she and Malcolm were the center of attention, since the elevator opened directly into the suite.

“Come on, baby. We're on blast in here,” said Malcolm, shielding his eyes from the light, taking her hand and leading her into the beautiful crowd. Holding Malcolm's hand, Kalia tried not to stare at everyone and everything around her. Every woman was statuesque and striking in what had to be designer clothes. Their shoes—Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo and Gucci—made her gasp. Every man was clean and suited down. Kalia had never seen so many ears, necks, wrists and fingers weighted down with carats and carats of diamonds.

It took a minute for her eyes to become adjusted to the dim light of the corner Malcolm had steered them into. She sat on a bar stool and took in the scene—the hundreds of guests milling and dancing, talking on cell phones and two-waying; the ice sculpture of a phoenix rising from flames in the center of the floor; the huge spread of sushi and decadent desserts in one corner; the numerous waitstaff passing through the crowd with champagne-filled glasses; and DJ Fly Girl working it out in the front.

Malcolm had taken their coats and disappeared for a moment, but returned before she even knew he was gone with two flutes of champagne. She took one and put it on the bar, not sure if she was up for any alcoholic beverages.

“It's eleven-fifty,” Malcolm said in her ear. “Do you wanna go out on the balcony?”

Not even having noticed there was a balcony, she nodded and grabbed her glass. They stepped out into what she expected to be brisk night air, but found she was warmed from above. Looking up she saw ornate fire-shaped heat-producing lights were warming her bare shoulders.

“You look beautiful tonight,” Malcolm said, kissing her neck. He put their champagne on a tall table to their left and led her to the balcony's edge. Looking out over the lights of the city, Kalia knew she was dreaming.

“This is incredible,” she said, taking Malcolm's hand. “Thanks so much for bringing me tonight.” She turned to him. “I'm sorry about how I was acting earlier.”

“Please,” he said. “It ain't no thang.”

The music stopped, and DJ Fly Girl started the countdown. Malcolm grabbed their champagne, and they counted down together.

“Happy New Year,” they said to each other, followed by a kiss and a quick sip of champagne. After hugging for what seemed like an eternity, they heard the deejay get the party started again, and Malcolm dragged her onto the dance floor where they stayed for the next thirty minutes.

Kalia excused herself to go to the ladies' room, telling Malcolm she'd meet him back on the balcony. The ladies' room was crowded with women adjusting their dresses, filling in their lip liner and fixing their hair. A woman who Kalia guessed worked at the hotel showed her to a little room, which turned out to be where the actual toilet was. Kalia marveled at all the products lining the counter as she approached the sink to wash her hands. Before she even got there the bathroom attendant squirted liquid soap in her hands and was waiting with the softest paper towels she'd ever used when she was done. She took a peppermint and was about to leave when she noticed women leaving money in a tip basket. She smiled at the attendant and took a dollar from her bag and dropped it in the basket, too. The attendant nodded at her in the mirror.

She turned to leave and collided with an extremely tall woman who was so well endowed, Kalia bounced off her breasts.

“Damn, watch where you're going,” said the woman.

“Oh, I'm so sorry,” said Kalia. “Are you all right?”

“I would be if you hadn't stepped on my Manolos.”

“Oh, I'm
so
sorry,” Kalia said again, looking down at the woman's silver open-toed stilettos and not knowing what else to say.

“Aw, girl, you're okay. Leave her alone,” said another svelte woman in a tight gold number that had shimmering beads all over it. She turned to Kalia. “She's got like four hundred pairs of shoes in her closet. She probably wasn't ever going to wear those again anyway.”

“Oh, okay,” said Kalia. “I'm still sorry.”