Mama Dearest (38 page)

“About fifteen minutes when I get a taxi,” I said.

“Okay. I’m staying at the Hudson Hotel. Why don’t we meet there? I understand the restaurant there is pretty good,” Jeff said.

I wasn’t familiar with it myself, but Jeff seemed to have good taste. At least when he wasn’t trying to act ghetto. “Okay, but why don’t you give me an hour? I need to make a stop.”

“Okay. Did my number show up on your phone?”

“Yeah.”

“This is the number where you can reach me. Lock it in.”

“Okay, Jeff. I will see you shortly,” I said.

I
WALKED INTO THE
dimly lit bar at the Hudson Hotel on West 57th Street and saw Jeff standing at the corner of the bar. He raised his ring hand in the air, motioning for me to join him.

“You got here really quick,” Jeff said. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I immediately pulled back. I didn’t know what information he had for me or if I could trust him.

“How are you, Jeff? Where is your buddy?”

He saw the suspicion written all over my face. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. I think I have some information you might need. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No. What information?”

“At least have a club soda or something.”

He had offered to meet with me, I remembered. “Club soda with cranberry juice.”

Jeff motioned to the bartender and patted his hand on the bar stool, which I took as his telling me to take a seat. As I did, he gave me an appreciative once-over.

“You look great, Yancey. How is the filming going?”

“Look, Jeff, I know you didn’t invite me here to talk about how good I look. Are you and Marcus involved in some sort of drug trade? Is that why you agreed to finance my show, so that you could use me?”

He waved both hands, as if to signal cancel that. “No, I’m not involved in any type of drug trade, and I seriously doubt that Marcus is. I’ve known him since prep school and that’s not Marcus. His family would be livid. Marcus comes from good stock.”

“Then explain to me why I was arrested carrying a bag with drugs provided to me by Marcus.”

“I can’t explain that, but I did find out a few days ago that Marcus and some of his family members are really upset with you.”

That idea completely threw me. “For what? I only know Marcus. Why would members of his family be mad at me?”

“Come on, Yancey. I found out you were the one who took Marcus Senior away from the family some years ago.”

The stern way he was looking at me was totally irritating. “What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you have an affair with Marcus Senior?”

I was trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. “Are you talking about Marcus’s father? Hell no! I’ve never even met Marcus’s father. Matter of fact, Marcus and I have never even discussed his father. I just assumed he was either dead or they weren’t close.”

“Marcus and his father were always very close, Yancey,” Jeff said.

“Were? So he is dead?”

“No, but he has a sickness that makes him no good to anyone. It’s been that way for several years. I think that’s why Marcus Junior was so hell-bent on getting revenge on you. He told me you were the reason his family is in such disarray. He blames you for his mother’s death. He told me that he knew one day he would meet you and exact revenge.” He must have seen how baffled I was by the accusation, and he backed off slightly. “I love Marcus, but I don’t think he’s going about this the right way. He didn’t tell me until a couple of days ago when I asked about the show what he’d been up to.”

“I don’t know Marcus’s mother or his father. This is crazy.” Suddenly I had a flash of that first night, when his car pulled up to the curb. “So we didn’t just meet innocently. This was all some plan to get back at me for something I didn’t do,” I said as I stood up from the bar stool.

Jeff said quietly, “You better sit down. There is more I need to tell you.”

So, do you have the menu for my party, Chef Crenshaw?” Ava asked. After one successful party she was ready for something on an even grander scale. A party that, once word got out, Kathleen Crowell would be begging to attend. This party could put her dead center on the social map of New York society and provide entrée back into California’s social movers and shakers.

“I do have it, Ms. Middlebrooks, and I hope you will approve,” Crenshaw Roberts said. He was the former head chef for the South African cuisine in a popular restaurant in Harlem. Ava read an article on him in
New York
magazine and was delighted when he agreed to cater her going back to Cali party.

“What are you suggesting, Crenshaw? It is okay that I call you Crenshaw, isn’t it?”

“That’s fine, Ms. Middlebrooks.”

“Call me Ava, darling,” she said in a teasing purr.

“Okay, Ava. I thought we would start with fish sambal served on
toasted bread. We will also have chicken satay and corn fritters with a sweet apricot sauce.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful. My guests will be so impressed,” Ava said. “Do you know Kathleen Crowell of EbonySocialite.com?”

“Yes, I know Kathleen, and how many people are we talking about?”

“Between twenty-five and thirty,” Ava said.

“Perfect number.”

“I want you to make sure Kathleen’s office knows that you’re the chef of this party.”

“No problem.”

That was a key piece put in place. “So what will we have for dinner?”

“I suggest, with it being fall, that we start with a pumpkin soup.”

“Again a perfect choice.”

“Follow that up with a beet root and onion salad. I also want to have a platter of cold green asparagus with a spicy mayonnaise that I do.”

“Is this popular in South Africa?”

“Yes, it is, Ava. I want to serve a braised lamb with apple mint relish and fish cakes. I will also serve pumpkin fritters with a coconut curry sauce.”

“What’s for dessert?”

“I have the perfect thing,” Crenshaw said.

“I’m listening.”

“Pears in spiced red wine with vanilla ice cream,” Crenshaw said.

The spiced red wine part would be helpful. “Sounds delicious.”

“I think we should serve South African wines with each course.”

“Oh, honey, my guests are going to be so impressed,” Ava said.

“I hope that you will be as well, Ava. I hope this won’t be the last party that I do for you. Is this your only home?” Crenshaw asked as he looked around the living room.

“Oh, of course not, honey. My house in Palm Springs is being renovated. I will be back there in the spring. If this goes well, maybe I will use you for my housewarming. I will fly you out at my expense, of course.”

“I would love to do that,” Crenshaw said.

“Can I get a copy of the menu? Oh, and how many on wait staff?”

“I think four will work perfectly, and yes, I will have my assistant forward you a menu. I’m pretty sure we have your email address.”

“Okay. That will be fine, Crenshaw. I hate to rush you, but I still haven’t found the right dress for the event and I’m expecting my personal shopper any moment.”

Crenshaw stood up. Ava looked up, briefly startled because she hadn’t realized how tall Chef Crenshaw was when he came into the house.

“I don’t want to get in the way of a lady looking for the perfect dress. It was nice meeting you, Ava Middlebrooks.”

“Same here, love.”

A
VA PICKED UP HER
cell phone and pressed the number programmed for Lyrical. It went right to voicemail.

“Damn,” Ava muttered to herself.

“What up, ya’ll? This girl Lyrical. Right now I can’t chop it up with you ’cause I’m laying down some tracks on my music hustle, so just leave me a message and I’ll get back witcha soon.”

“Lyrical, girl, where are you? Are you all right? I haven’t heard from you and I’m worried. I hope you’re not mad at me. Call me or come by when you get this message. This is Ava.”

Ava was waiting on some of her purchases to be delivered so when the doorbell rang she answered without hesitation.

“Yancey, what are you doing here?”

“I need to talk with you, Ava. What are you up to?” Yancey asked.

“I think I should be asking you that, Missy,” Ava said as she looked at Basil, who was standing next to Yancey, and gave him a dirty look.

“Why did you have my locks changed?”

“Because this is my house and I don’t consort with drug dealers even if we are blood. And what are you doing with him?”

“Basil is letting me stay with him and you know I’m not a drug dealer.”

“I don’t know any such thing. So he’s doing girls again. Can’t you make up your mind, Basil Henderson, and Yancey, are you that hard up for a little dick? You’re really a case.”

“Do you know Marcus?”

“Who?”

“Marcus Pinkston. Do you know him?”

“Can’t say that I do and if you two don’t mind I have some beauty sleep to catch up on. Good day,” Ava said as she slammed the door.

I told Yancey about your big news and she was really excited for you,” Derrick said.

“She was? I bet she wishes it was her,” Madison said.

“That’s not nice, Madison. I thought you and Yancey were getting along.”

“I’m fine.”

“I think she wants to come.”

“Are you surprised?”

“Would it be okay if I invited her to be my guest?”

“Daddy, whatever you want to do. Yancey being there won’t upset me.”

“Are you sure? I think it would mean a lot to her.”

“Why don’t we invite Yancey to move in here with us, Daddy? We’ve got more than enough room,” Madison said.

“Are you being funny, Madison?”

“No, I’m very serious.”

“What brought this on? I mean one moment you’re questioning her motives and now this.”

“She’s been through a lot, Daddy. I don’t have hard feelings toward Yancey.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Madison. And you’re sending out mixed signals here, sweetheart. When you’re around Yancey you act like you can’t stand the sight of her but behind the scenes you act like her fairy godmother. What are you really trying to do, Madison?” Derrick asked.

“I’m not trying to do anything but what you’ve taught me, Daddy. We have more than enough of everything and I’m just trying to share.”

“I understand that but Yancey will get back on her feet. Trust me on that. Besides, thanks to you she’s working again and will be able to make something happen.”

“I know and that’s why it will only be temporary. She can stay in the guest suite.”

“If that’s what you want, Madison, then you’ll have to make the offer and see what she says,” Derrick said.

“Why can’t you do it?”

“Because it’s not my plan, Madison. You’re becoming a woman who is responsible for your own decisions. It won’t be long before you’ll be running your own business and you won’t need me.”

“I will always need you, Daddy. Always.”

“You know that’s what I want to hear but we both know that’s not true. Some day some little dude is gonna capture your attention and suddenly I won’t be the only man in your life. I don’t like it but I understand it,” Derrick said.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are we going to find a wife someday?”

“Is that what you’re trying to do with Yancey? Because if it is stop it right now. Yancey and I had our chance at love and we failed,” Derrick said.

“So you’re saying having me was a failure?”

“Now Madison, you know better. I would never consider you a failure. I love you and I know when Yancey gets the chance to know you she’ll love you too,” Derrick said.

“I don’t think she wants to get to know me. But the feeling is mutual because I’m doing fine without her.

“Yancey is an actress, Daddy. Besides I’m grown and don’t need a mother,” Madison said.

“You could always use a mother, baby. Don’t you think you’re being a little tough on her?”

“What do you have up your sleeve, Daddy? Are you jocking for Yancey?”

“What’s that?”

“You know, feeling her? Is that what’s going on here?” Madison laughed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, little girl, but we did have a nice time. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date like that.”