Damsels in Distress (15 page)

Portia didn't just shut the door, she slammed the door.

On the Wednesday evening before Celeste's baby shower, Ginger and Portia were standing in a very long checkout line at Walmart. They were waiting their turn to pay for everything they needed for Celeste's big event.

The two of them didn't share with Celeste that they would be out shopping. Ginger and Portia decided the evening would go smoothly if Celeste wasn't with them. Had Celeste known they were out shopping for the baby shower, she would have insisted that she tag along. After the drama she caused two weeks ago in the parking lot of Baby World, Portia and Ginger vowed to do the rest of the baby shower planning on their own, in peace.

Ginger glanced through the light blue paper plates, cups, forks, and spoons, among other items, they had piled high in the shopping cart. They spent more than two hours choosing games for the guests to play. “You think we have everything, Portia?”

Portia picked up the blue party favors and examined them. “I hope so, girl. We just gotta make sure to order the large helium balloons tomorrow.”

“Celeste better appreciate what we are doing for her. The closer that baby is due the more evil she gets. I don't see how Tony puts up with her.”

“Girl, Tony is so excited about this baby, he ain't thinking about Celeste. He's been sleeping on the living room sofa for two months because she says his scent makes her throw up.”

“Well, if you think that's cruel,” Ginger started, “listen to this one. Yesterday she told Tony if he wanted any more kids, she would happily divorce him so that he can marry someone else because not a nam notha baby will pass through her vajayjay.”

Portia laughed out loud. “No, she didn't say ‘not a nam notha.'”

They moved forward in line when the cover of an
Essence
magazine caught Ginger's eye. On the cover was a picture of Bishop T.D. Jakes. Underneath his picture, Ginger read: A
POPULAR MINISTER EXPLAINS WHY SISTERS HAVE TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR, NOT AT THEIR MAN, IF THEY WANT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BY
B
ISHOP
T.D. J
AKES, PAGE
78.

Ginger picked up the magazine from its rack and turned to page seventy-eight to see what Bishop Jakes wrote. The title of the article read, N
O
M
AN
C
AN
M
AKE
Y
OU
H
APPY.

“Listen to what Bishop Jakes wrote in
Essence
this month.” She read the article to Portia. “‘Many women enter into romantic relationships hoping that their partner will somehow make them happy. This is not only unrealistic, but it's also virtually impossible.'”

“I believe that to be true,” Portia said.

Ginger read more from the article then looked up at Portia. “Bishop Jakes said that good men are not so much hard to find as they are hard to receive. I believe that to be true, Portia.”

Portia shrugged her shoulders. “I couldn't care less.”

Ginger read more in silence. She understood that Bishop Jakes was telling women to not take the trash from their pasts into the brightness of their futures. In the article, Bishop Jakes encouraged women to do an honest self-evaluation. Ginger understood that she should move ahead and trust Joseph. Then and only then she could look forward to her happily ever after.

Portia snapped her fingers in Ginger's face. “Hello?”

Ginger was so engrossed in the article she didn't notice that Portia had already taken the items out of the cart, placed them on the conveyor belt, and paid the cashier. She looked up from the magazine. “Huh?”

Portia stood with six full heavy plastic bags in her hands. “I could use your help with getting this stuff out to my truck.”

Ginger wanted to finish Bishop Jakes's article. She paid for the magazine and followed Portia out of Walmart.

Outside in the parking lot they loaded all of the bags in the hatchback of Portia's Escalade. They secured themselves in their seat belts. Portia started the engine and blasted the heat.

“Man, this is the coldest winter ever.” Ginger shivered while blowing into her balled-up fists.

“The seats are heated,” Portia said. “Your toosh will be nice and toasty in a few seconds.”

Ginger wondered if David's wife, Latricia, drove a luxury vehicle and if her seats heated up.

As if on cue Portia's cellular telephone rang through the interior speakers and Ginger saw the dashboard light up. The name
David Hall
and the number he called from appeared on Portia's display board.

Portia pressed a button on the flat-screen panel. “Hey, lover.”

Ginger rolled her eyes at no one in particular.

His masculine voice filled the interior. “Whatcha gettin' into tonight?”

“Well, I'm just leaving Walmart. Had to pick up the finishing touches for Celeste's baby shower this Saturday.”

Portia hadn't alerted David that she wasn't in the Escalade alone; therefore, anything he said wouldn't be a secret. Ginger took that to mean that Portia wasn't even trying to hide her affair. Apparently the word “discreet” was nowhere to be found in Portia's vocabulary. In Ginger's eyes, Portia not informing David that she was present proved that Portia was without a doubt not ashamed, almost flaunting the affair she and David were having.

“Okay. That's cool, that's cool. So, uh, you wanna get into a li'l somethin'?”

Ginger looked at Portia's face and was disgusted to see the mischievous smile.

“Where is your wife?” Portia asked.

“Bible class.”

Humph, humph, humph,
Ginger commented silently. She was so disappointed in Portia. David's wife was in church learning about Jesus, probably getting her praise on right then as Portia made plans to have sex with her husband.

“Wow,” Ginger said but only Portia heard her.

Portia glanced at Ginger then focused on the dashboard. “Okay, well, I should be home in a half hour and you better bring that good lovin'
and
your checkbook.”

Ginger almost choked.

David's laugh ricocheted all around Ginger. “I'm gonna make it do what it do, baby.”

Portia pressed a button on the dashboard. David's name and number disappeared. She looked at Ginger's face and saw that she had her lips pursed as though she'd eaten a lemon. “What's your problem?”

Ginger stared straight ahead. “I ain't the one with the problem, sis.” Ginger left it at that. Trying to convince Portia that she was living foul was like talking to a brick wall. The only thing Ginger could do was pray for her best friend.

Portia knew exactly what Ginger meant. Her lust for married men was indeed her problem. She put the gear in reverse and backed out of the parking space. Portia couldn't care less how Ginger felt or anyone else for that matter. The first of the month was approaching and Portia was going to make sure her rent would be paid.

* * *

On the day of Celeste's baby shower, the hours of 4:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m. couldn't come to pass fast enough for the hostesses. She had been working on Ginger's and Portia's nerves since eight that morning. That was when Celeste had called them on the three-way and said that the shower was off because she didn't want to be bothered with a bunch of heckling hens that day.

Portia advised Celeste that she had better take a chill pill and a nap because she and Ginger had put a lot of time and money toward planning the baby shower and, without a doubt, the afternoon was going to go on as planned. Between the two of them, Portia and Ginger had spent close to seven hundred dollars for the shower's food, decorations, games, and invitations. They put their monies together and purchased the $350 crib with Big Bird accessories from Celeste's registry at Baby World. Ginger told Celeste to pull herself together because, whether she was present or not, there would definitely be a shower.

“Make sure to come to Ginger's house fashionably late at four-thirty,” Portia told Celeste. She wanted the guests to arrive before Celeste so they could greet her and make a big fuss when she walked in the front door.

“I don't want anybody grinning and laughing in my face, Portia.”

Portia was two seconds away from cursing at Celeste. She understood Celeste was three weeks away from her due date and miserable. And it was true what everyone said, that misery loved company. Celeste was gifted in making everyone around her miserable.

“Look, Celeste. I don't care what you want. That's what women do at baby showers. They laugh and grin in the new mother's face so you may as well get ready for it. You knew weeks ago Ginger and I were planning your shower for today so don't trip. Ain't nobody got time for your mess. Get your mind right, boo.” Portia wasn't going to tolerate any of Celeste's nonsense.

“Did you get any sleep last night?” Ginger asked Celeste.

Celeste exhaled loudly into the telephone. “A little. The baby was doing somersaults all night long.”

“Have you eaten anything this morning?” asked Portia.

“Tony made me a bowl of oatmeal but I could only swallow about four spoonfuls.” Celeste exhaled loudly again. “And he's been getting on my nerves, y'all just don't know.”

Ginger knew better. If anything, Celeste was the one getting on Anthony's nerves. “What is he doing, Celeste?”

“First of all, he woke me up at six this morning to take my medicine when he knew I had been up all night tossing and turning. He purposely waited until I was good and asleep before he woke me up for nonsense.”

“That's ridiculous,” Portia said. She reminded her of a very important fact. “Celeste, you have a high-risk pregnancy. You are scheduled to take your medicine every six hours, no matter when the hour falls. You should be grateful that Tony cares that much.”

Celeste's emotions got the best of her. “Why are you taking his side, Portia?” she screamed into the telephone. “You're supposed to be my girl. You and Tony got something going on? Are you screwing my husband?”

Ginger sent the loudest gasp into the telephone line. “Celeste!”

Enough was enough. Right then Portia dismissed Celeste's emotions. “What the heck did you just say to me, Celeste? Are you losing your darn mind?”

Ginger heard the crap hitting the fan. “Okay, y'all, calm down. Please let's not do this. Portia, don't say another word and, Celeste, you need to apologize to her for what you said. You were way out of line.”

Celeste took a moment to collect herself. Ginger was right. “Portia, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to say something like that. Forgive me?”

Portia was pissed and was never one to hide it when she was. “Heck no, 'cause that ain't the first time you've said that. That was cruel and evil.”

“Portia, Celeste has been cruel and evil for almost nine months but this is the first time she has apologized for acting crazy.”

“I don't care, Ginger. The heifer was wrong and you know it.”

“Oh, I'm a heifer now?” Celeste asked angrily.

“Yes, you are,” Portia stated firmly. “And a big fat one, too. I'm not feeling your weak apology.”

Ginger needed the baby shower to go off without a hitch. Afterward she would allow Celeste and Portia to kill each other. “She said she was sorry, Portia.”

“I know what she said, Ginger. I also know what she meant. Just because you're bloated and irritated, Celeste, doesn't mean you can just say whatever the heck you wanna say. People have feelings.”

Celeste was shocked at Portia's words. “As many married men you mess around with, since when do you care about people's feelings?”

“Oh, my God,” Ginger said. Though she didn't disagree with Celeste and felt that her question to Portia was a good hit, that wasn't the right time.

Portia was ready for battle. “You wanna go there with me, Celeste?”

“No. No, she doesn't,” Ginger interjected. “Look, Celeste. Take a bubble bath and eat something then lie down. I'll call you back in a few hours to check on you. Where's Tony?”

Portia and Ginger couldn't see Celeste shrug her shoulders. “The heck if I know, I cussed him out then he left. And I hope he stays gone.”

“Well, it's probably best that he's gone so now you can rest. Is he gonna drive you to my house or are you driving yourself?”

“I don't know!” Celeste answered in a raised voice and with plenty of attitude. She massaged her temples. Ginger was asking too many questions.

Ginger was determined to not let Celeste upset her. “Okay, well just take a bath and a nap and we will check on you later.”

Without saying good-bye, Celeste slammed down the telephone and left Ginger and Portia on the line.

“Portia, I know you're ticked off but let's just get through the shower. I'm sure Celeste will be a lot better to deal with after she gets some rest.”

“Yeah, whatever. I won't be at the shower.”

Ginger knew that after what Celeste had said to Portia she was well within her right to avoid Celeste but Ginger needed Portia. “Please don't do this. I can't pull this off by myself.”

“Did you hear what she said to me?”

“Yes, and you heard me tell Celeste that she was wrong. You know she's stressed.”

“I don't care about her being stressed. Celeste is no more stressed than I am when my period is late. That's real stress, honey. I get moody, I wanna cuss people out, and I get hot and cold spells, too. So, don't talk to me about her being stressed.”