Homecoming Weekend (6 page)

The frequency and intensity of the text messages increased by the day, and before long, they were sharing romantic feelings.

“I have NEVER felt like this before,” Catherine said. “Is this crazy, considering we have really gotten to know each other for real for real through text messages?”

Earl assured her she was not alone in her surprise or delight. They earmarked a visit to Norfolk in September as an opportunity to see each other and test their connection born of phone calls and lots of text messages. Catherine bought tickets to a Sade concert and invited Earl. Even though they had really become close through the distance, her invitation still surprised him—but not so much that he did not immediately accept.

This would be their first face-to-face in ten years. There was no hiding anything. They were excited and anxious about the meeting, but mostly excited about the possibilities. This was the test.

Catherine took off work on Friday to pick up Earl from the airport. Instead of pulling up to the curve, she parked in the closest lot to the terminal and greeted him as he entered the atrium area.

He noticed her instantly and walked slowly toward her, his smile increasing in size with each step. She smiled back broadly, illuminating the entire area, at least to Earl. When they reached arms' distance apart, Earl extended his and Catherine walked right into them.

Earl wrapped her firmly but lovingly, and she could feel the affection he had for her in how he handled her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed his embrace. She took in his cologne and exhaled deeply.

He noticed how soft she was and how youthful she looked. Having her in his embrace felt like something special, like he needed her to be there. And so the hug lasted a full minute, as he inhaled her Chanel No. 5 perfume and enjoyed having her close to him.

Finally, they reluctantly let go, and pulled back so they could look into each other's eyes. They saw the same thing from the other: joy.

“I knew from the photos you sent that you look great,” he said. “But you look even better in person. You're beautiful.”

“Thanks—and so do you, Mr. Manning,” she said. “I'm really glad I finally get to hang out with you.”

After her divorce, she dealt with men who either smothered her or were not affectionate enough or who were simply not interesting. Catherine, a marketing executive, had an active mind and bored easily. Earl was anything but boring.

They headed to Earl's hotel, the Sheraton Waterside, and chatted and smiled at each other the entire time. Catherine took the streets—down Princess Anne Boulevard, across to Virginia Beach Boulevard, up to Park Avenue and then up Brambleton Avenue into downtown—so Earl could refamiliarize himself and reminisce. They passed the campus on Park and Earl immediately could see himself back on campus as a student.

She waited in the car as Earl checked into the Sheraton and dropped off his bags.

“I have this place I like in Virginia Beach I want to take you for lunch,” Catherine said. “It's called Chicks. Nice view of the bay, good food.”

And so they drove to the beach, which was ideal because it was a hot and sunny September afternoon. There, they put on their sunglasses and sat outside on the deck. A helicopter flew by and landed on a pad across the bay, next to music producer Pharell's house.

“I'm not saying this to flatter you, but you look as good as you did in college,” Earl said. “Actually, better.”

Catherine blushed. “Thank you,” she said. “And I'm not just saying this, but you look great yourself.”

The compliments flowed another few minutes when the server came over and took the orders. The food was tasty, the scene calming and the moment pure.

“I must say that I feel totally comfortable with you, Earl. I think our communicating as we have over the last four months has really made a big difference.”

“I agree,” Earl said. “I feel closer to you. I feel like I really have known you for nearly thirty years.”

There was some tension in the air, though. Earl wanted to kiss Catherine; his affection for her was that intense. But he knew she was the ultimate woman and would not dare offend her. So he suppressed his feelings and enjoyed the conversation, her laugh and learning even more about her.

Forever the thoughtful person, Catherine suggested they return to the hotel so “you can rest, handle some business and get organized before the concert,” she said.

Earl was too energized to rest, but he appreciated her thoughtfulness. In the room, he ironed his shirt tor the night, took a hot shower, checked e-mails and lay in bed somewhat amazed that he was going on a first date with Catherine Harmon.

This was a woman he did not even fantasize about in college. He admired her character and her curves, and even though he
was relatively popular with some beautiful women, he considered Catherine out of his league—plus, she had a boyfriend the entire time he knew her.

He measured his growth by her sincere interest in him and his confidence that he was primed for her.

In her condo, Catherine's heart smiled. She loved the connection she felt being in Earl's presence. Just as she suspected, he was warm and friendly and gentlemanly. He made her feel secure and totally comfortable, which was important to her. She had recently come out of a smothering relationship with someone she realized she did not connect with. Earl being there actually made her think of the song, “How Did You Get Here” by Deborah Cox.

She had planned to take a “relationship break” and enjoy the peace and tranquility that came with it. But there was a connection with Earl that surprised her. She was not prepared to care about him so much and think about him so often and even desire his presence so fast. But she did.

And her fondness of him—and his of her—grew at the Sade concert. The Scope in downtown Norfolk was packed, and Earl was proud to return to the site of his Norfolk State graduation with Catherine. He was grateful for her purchasing the tickets and gave her a token gift of three Sade CDs as a show of appreciation.

She was surprised and grateful.

Her closest friend, Starr, and her husband, Dwayne, joined them. Starr was lively and friendly, happy to see her girl happy. Dwayne was more reserved, almost cold toward Earl, probably because he viewed Catherine as a sister who needed to be protected. Earl figured if Dwayne was married to Starr—who was cute and wonderful—then he had to be good people, so he did not take it personally.

Besides, he was there for Catherine. That was his focus, which
she clearly appreciated. Many times during Sade's one-of-a-kind show, he glanced over at her, almost as reassurance that he actually was there with her. When she put her hand on his leg, his entire body warmed up.

As Sade performed sultry songs, one after another, Earl and Catherine hugged, held hands and generally looked like a true couple. And that's how they felt, too. When Sade smoothly serenaded the crowd to “Soldier of Love,” Catherine looked up at Earl and asked, “Are you a soldier of love?”

He responded: “I can be.” And they smiled at each other—one of many times throughout the concert.

When it was over, they went to a restaurant in downtown Norfolk, Scottie Quixx, and shared barbeque wings and French fries, all the while further establishing a strong connection.

“This has been the best first date,” Catherine said as they were leaving the restaurant. It was about one-thirty a.m. and she had to work the next day.

“For me, too,” Earl said.

She pulled up in front of the Sheraton and turned the car off. She was not going up to his room; she didn't want to give the wrong impression. But she wanted to spend a little more time with Earl, even though they had much of the next day to be together. Not wanting to let him go only confirmed all the feelings that were developed before he arrived and strengthened through the night.

“Think of You” by Ledisi played on the radio, which was a song they had discussed because the lyrics so matched how they felt about each other. Earl found it the proper time to lean over to kiss Catherine good night. A hug and kiss on her cheek turned into a peck on the lips and then a prolonged wet, tongue-in-mouth kiss that almost made them both lightheaded when their lips finally parted.

Catherine thought to herself:
I'm in trouble
—
he's a good kisser.

Earl thought:
I'd better get out of this car right now
. And so he did. “It was a beautiful day with you, Catherine,” he said. “You're more wonderful than I even thought, and I already thought you were pretty wonderful.”

Her shyness showed as she looked down while thanking him. “Well, I feel the same way about you,” she said. “You told me we were connected and I'm believing you more and more.”

They talked about meeting the next day on the Norfolk State campus before he made his way out of her BMW and into the hotel. At the door, though, he looked back to get one more glimpse of her. They waved at each other and he watched her pull off. A feeling of wonderment overwhelmed Earl. He was falling in love.

Jimmy, Carter and Barbara

T
he day parties were the jumpoff point for homecoming weekend. The pep rally was cool, but it was more about the students still in school—and nostalgia. The day parties were for alums, and it was particularly a good idea because usually the afternoon was spent chilling until the events of the evening or in the bookstore purchasing school paraphernalia. Getting the party underway earlier made perfect sense, considering most of the people came back to socialize.

Jimmy called his wife three times after he arrived in Norfolk, the last time just before he and Carter walked into The Mansion. She finally answered.

“What do you want?” was her greeting to him.

“Excuse me?” he said. “That's how you answer the phone?”

Monica did not respond.

“Okay, well, I'm just letting you know I made it here okay,” he answered. “And I'm trying to see if you've calmed down some.”

“I'm fine,” she said, with no emotion and obvious disdain.

Jimmy took a deep breath. “Well, for what it's worth, I love you and I hope you eventually understand why I'm here.”

“Oh, I do understand why you're there, James,” she said. Jimmy was alarmed; when she called him “James,” she was at her most angry.

“What I don't understand,” Monica added, “is why
I'm
not there.”

“Yo, you coming in or what?” Carter yelled to Jimmy. Monica heard him.

“Where are you? Some strip club or something?” she said.

“Strip club? That's what you think happens at Homecoming? Come on, now,” Jimmy said. “We're going into an alumni event, a day party.”

“Whatever, James,” she said.

“Okay, well, I'll talk to you later,” he said.

“No, don't call me. Why you calling me but don't want me there?” she said. “Calling me does nothing for me.”

Jimmy thought for a second about trying to assuage his wife's feelings. Then it hit him: Why?

“Okay,” he said. “See you Sunday.”

Then he hung up and joined the huge crowd in the elegant venue.

“You all right, man?” Carter asked. “You look like someone stole your wagon and didn't give it back.”

“What?” Jimmy said. Carter had a way of butchering clichés like few people. “Whatever. I'm good. Where's the bar?”

There, Carter ordered shots of Herradura tequila—he was a self-described “tequila snob” and was pleasantly surprised that the bar had his favorite brand. “Black people go crazy over Patron,” he said, handing the shot to Jimmy. “That's like drinking cologne. Cheap cologne. Here. This is some good stuff. Smooth . . . Happy Homecoming.”

They tapped glasses and Jimmy downed his without hesitation.

“One more,” Jimmy said, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. “Might as well get a buzz if I'm gonna drink.”

“Order me a Cosmo for Barbara. She and Donna are on their way,” Carter said.

Almost on cue, Barbara and Donna entered the spot. Carter
waved to her to get their attention, which he did. On their way over, they stopped twice to engage old friends. Carter watched Barbara with admiration, like he was hypnotized. With heels, she was almost taller than Carter, who was five-foot-ten. But she made graceful strides in those five-inch heels, so much so that it almost looked as if she was gliding across the room.

She had an innocent look and demeanor, which is why Jimmy had trouble believing Barbara was having an extramarital affair. It just did not fit her profile.

“Hi, baby,” he said as he hugged her. The embrace was long and tight—unlike of one between casual friends who had not seen each other in a while. It was intimate, just as Carter had indicated about their relationship.

Barbara's wedding ring was ostentatious, a 2.7-carat emerald cut that sparked reflections like a disco light. She was married, all right. But as much as she tried to play coy, she was in love with Carter. The way she looked at him told that story.

“Good to see you, Barbara,” Jimmy said. “It's been a long time.”

“I know,” she said after they hugged. “It's great to see you. Looks like the decade has been good to you. I heard you're married. Where's your wife?”

“Same place as your husband,” he said. Jimmy did not mean to be flippant with Barbara. But the two shots of tequila quickly made an impact. His tongue was a bit loose.

Carter snapped his head around and glared at Jimmy. “I'm sorry,” Jimmy said. “I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I was just trying to say what's the point of bringing your spouse to Homecoming?”

Barbara held an awkward look for a second and moved on by introducing Donna to the men. Carter handed Barbara the Cosmo.

“We would have ordered a cocktail for you, but we weren't
sure what you'd like,” Jimmy said to Donna, who went to Old Dominion University, about fifteen minutes from Norfolk State. She was a commissioned officer in the Army, something she had in common with Jimmy.