Games (10 page)

“Why would I wear my overcoat while I’m inside?”
Shannon fumed. When she realized that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with the usher, she rolled her eyes and sat down on the fifth row.

After the choir’s second selection, the congregation stood as Pastor Julia Pennington stepped to the podium. She began by praying.
Shannon was impressed with how “religious” Julia looked in her ministry attire. Shannon perceived that Julia took preaching seriously and she prayed like she really knew God. She didn’t look or sound at all like the millionaire she was and that bothered Shannon. Besides her five-carat wedding ring, she didn’t even have on any flashy jewelry. “When I become a millionaire everyone’s going to know it, from my hair all the way down to my feet,” Shannon mumbled as Julia began her sermon titled, “Overcoming Evil Desires.”

Shannon
didn’t pay attention to the sermon Pastor Julia preached. She hadn’t come to church to hear anything about evil desires. She came for one purpose only and that was to draw Brian into her and secure herself a meal ticket.  In the few days she’d spent talking with him, she had learned just about everything there was to know about him. She knew all of his favorite foods, colors, places to go and even his favorite movies. She knew his ambitions, likes and dislikes. There were only two walls she hadn’t managed to penetrate yet. One was his commitment to God and the church. No matter how hard she tried, Shannon couldn’t get him to talk about this Shay person. That bothered her, because Shannon liked to know as much as possible about the competition. 

As soon as service ended,
Shannon sashayed to the front of the sanctuary and stood directly next to the church mother, Mother Elsie, in search of her prey. 

“Baby, did you forget its wintertime?” Mother Elsie asked as she took in
Shannon’s attire.

“Excuse me, but you don’t know me well enough to make comments about my clothing.”
Shannon rolled her eyes and neck at the elderly mother.

Mother Elsie stood her ground. “I’m not commenting about your clothing, I’m commenting about your
lack
of clothing. You’re right I don’t know you well, because if I did, you would have never walked in here looking like you’re on your way to a street corner. Have more respect for yourself and put some clothes on next time.” With that Mother Elsie walked away and greeted two ministers.

Shannon
dismissed the old woman’s words. “She just mad, because she can’t wear this dress,” she grumbled and rolled her eyes in Mother Elsie’s direction. She then quickly directed her attention back to searching for Brian.  She spotted him walking toward the back with the pastor and first lady.

“Brian, honey,” she yelled.

She not only got Brian’s attention, but Reggie and Julia’s as well. When Brian didn’t respond fast enough, she yelled again. “Brian, honey!” This time she got the attention of everyone within fifty feet of her.

Embarrassed, Brian looked as if he wanted her to shut up. He left his father and stepmother and walked over to
Shannon.

“
Who is that? Why is she referring to Brian as honey?” Brian heard his father ask.

Julia had an answer for him. “That’s the devil.”

“Shannon, I’m busy right now. I’ll call you later.” Brian’s attempt at brushing her off failed.

She whined, “But
, honey, I thought we could spend the afternoon together since you’re done with the church thing.”

Brian narrowed his eyes. “
Shannon, I never told you that. I’m spending the afternoon with my family and friends.”

Shannon
smiled then decided to use the back door instead of the front. “Can you at least introduce me to the pastor and first lady before you go?”

Brian rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Come on. Since you’ve caused a scene, I’ll have to explain your presence. This will be quick and then you can go.”

Shannon slithered over to Reggie and Julia. Brian tried to stay a step ahead of her, but Shannon interlocked her arm with his.

“Dad, Mama J, this is
Shannon. Shannon, this is Reverend Pennington and First Lady Pennington,” Brian said dryly and looked away.

Reggie and Julia looked back and forth between the two before they said, “Hello,
Shannon.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,”
Shannon said with an overabundance of cheerfulness. “I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like we’re family.”

Julia raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? We haven’t heard anything about you.” Julia looked at Brian who was having a hard time making eye contact.

“Yes, Brian talks about you guys all the time. I mean there’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t mention you.” Shannon thought she was making a good impression, so she continued, “Since Brian and I are so close, can I call you Mom?”

Brian stepped back and gave
Shannon an I-don’t-believe-you-just-said-that look, but she didn’t care

“No you cannot!” Julia answered quickly and sternly.

Her harsh response took Shannon by surprise. “I’m sorry,” Shannon whimpered.  “I just thought that since you and Brian are so close, it would be a good idea if you and I could be close also.” Shannon gave her best impression of her feelings being hurt and then cried fake tears. But Julia wasn’t buying it, especially after Shannon fell onto Reggie for support. Other than hand Shannon his handkerchief, Reggie seemed confused as to what to do

Standing directly in front of
Shannon, so she could say exactly what she wanted to without being heard by others, Julia let her have it. “Let’s get a few things straight. First of all, I don’t care how close you
claim
you and Brian are, you will never call me ‘Mom’, ‘Mother’, or any other derivative of the word. Second, you can stop with all the drama and the crocodile tears, because I’m not buying it. And lastly, the next time you decide you want to meet a young man’s parents put some clothes on! If you want to make a good impression, don’t walk into his father’s church looking like a whore!” With that Julia turned and left. Reggie followed.

Shannon
was insulted, but she wasn’t angry.  If anything she’d gained respect for Julia Simone-Pennington. Here she was a self-made millionaire who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. She knew how to and wasn’t afraid to protect what was hers.
I want to be just like her
, Shannon thought to herself.

Brian
, on the other hand, appeared utterly humiliated. “Shannon, I think you should leave. Now.”

“Brian, I’m sorry.”

“Whatever! Like I said before, I have dinner plans with my family.” Brian turned to leave, but Shannon grabbed his arm.

“Brian, give me another chance, let me join you for dinner. I promise I won’t dress like this again. I’ll even go home and change,” she pleaded.

“It’s not just your clothing, Shannon. You lied to my parents. You made my parents think that you and I are in a relationship.”

Shannon
thought this would be a good time to condescend. “You’re right, Brian, I was wrong. I won’t let that happen again. Just give me another chance to redeem myself. I promise at dinner, I’ll clear up any misunderstandings I may have caused,” Shannon promised. When he didn’t answer she knew she had won him over. “Why don’t you follow me to my apartment and I’ll change into something more appropriate. It’ll only take me a few minutes; you don’t even have to turn the engine off.”

Brian didn’t look at her when he said, “Hurry up.”

In the parking lot, Brian unlocked the door to his RAV4. “Why aren’t you driving the Jag?” Shannon asked, pointing to the new gold luxury vehicle.

“Because
this
is my car,” he said abruptly and climbed into the RAV4.

Shannon
was speechless as she walked to her Ford Focus.

Brian waited in his RAV4 while
Shannon changed her clothing. He was still upset with her for giving his parents the impression that he was in a relationship with her, but he wasn’t sure if he was overreacting because of the earlier news about Shay. All he knew was that he didn’t want to be involved with Shannon outside of being causal acquaintances and that he needed to see Shay as much as he needed air.

Shannon
finally appeared from her apartment wearing a long black skirt with a cashmere sweater and three-inch heel black boots. “Is this better?” she asked climbing into the SUV.

“Much better
.” Without taking a breath he added, “Shannon, I have not changed my mind, I do not want a relationship with you. Do you understand that?”

“I do understand
, Brian, and I promise I will never make that mistake again.” Shannon almost sounded sincere. She sat back and fastened her seatbelt. “So where are we going for dinner?”

“To my parents
’ house. Mama J made Sunday dinner.”

“Where do your parents live?”

“Blackhawk,” he answered nonchalantly.

Shannon
nearly screamed. Blackhawk was home to some of the wealthiest people in the Bay Area. She had always wanted to visit the exclusive and inclusive private community.  Shannon sat in her seat smiling uncontrollably.  Brian didn’t acknowledge her excitement, he was thinking about Shay and how lonely his Thanksgiving would be without her.

When Brian pulled into the circular driveway,
Shannon nearly jumped out of the vehicle, awestruck by the ten-thousand-square-foot Mediterranean-style home. She walked around the perimeter, admiring the manicured lawn and the granite fountain in the center of the lawn.

***

Inside the kitchen Julia, Angie and Nikki were busy preparing the feast. Reggie and the rest of the males were in the den watching a football game.

“Girl, have you calmed down yet? I thought you were going to beat the devil out of that girl or at least snatch her bad weave out.” Nikki laughed. Nikki Thompson-Davis was Julia’s oldest and best friend.

“Nikki, I’m fine. I just didn’t like the way she was clawing all over Brian,” Julia answered as she placed the macaroni and cheese into the double oven.

“The mother in you rose up, huh?”  Julia’s oldest sister, Angie, asked.

“I’m not a mother and I wanted to knock her out under the power.” Nikki
balled her fist to emphasize her point.

“Now if Alysse were here, Ms. Shannon would have gotten slayed, and it wouldn’t have been in the spirit,” Julia added.

“I know that’s right,” Angie and Nikki agreed.

Angie turned from stirring the collard greens. “What’s going on with Brian and Shay?”

“Nothing, that’s the problem,” Julia answered her sister.

Nikki set the knife she was using to slice the ham on the cutting board. “What are you talking about?”

“Everyone knows that they are in love with each other. They know it too, but neither of them wants to admit it to the other. So instead of talking to each other, they avoid one another,” Julia said plainly.

“Girlfriend, you remember how crazy we were
at that age. We didn’t know what or who we wanted and then when we figured it out, we were too scared to say something,” Nikki said then resumed cutting.

“You remember the,
you-tell-me-first-then-I’ll-tell-you games we used to play?” Angie added. “Brian and Shay are meant to be together, just like you and Reggie were. They might linger in limbo for a minute, but eventually they will come together.”

“I know you’re right. I just wish Shay hadn’t run off like she did. You know that left the door wide open for Ms. Shannon and everyone else.” Julia finished just as Brian and
Shannon entered the kitchen.

“Hi
, Aunties.” Brian kissed Angie and Nikki on the cheek. Nikki had been around the Simones for so long, she was considered part of the family.

“Hello
, Brian.” They waited for him to introduce Shannon. When he didn’t, Angie asked, “Aren’t you going to introduce your guest to us?”

“I’m sorry,
Aunties. This is Shannon. I met her last week at Dave and Buster’s.”

Julia almost dropped the rolls in her hand. “I was under the impression that you’ve known her a lot longer than a week.” Julia gave Shannon a sideward glance and
Shannon turned away.

“Hello
, Shannon. It’s nice to meet you,” Nikki offered.

“Really?”
Shannon asked excitedly.

“Of course
. We like to know all the females chasing after our young men,” Angie said without smiling.

Shannon
didn’t know if she should smile or feel insulted.

Nikki handed Brian a Henry Wienhard’s root beer before he headed to the den to watch the football game, leaving
Shannon standing alone in the corner of the kitchen.

“Hey
, Aunties,” brothers Marcus and Craig Simone walked into the kitchen and kissed the women. Shannon watched from her spot in the corner. She clearly remembered Marcus and Craig from last week, but she didn’t speak.