The People in the Park (22 page)

Dad laughed. “Smart parents.”

I wanted to stay nestled in my hiding place and hear more of their conversation, but we were supposed to meet Callie and Brian soon. Callie and I liked getting to the movie theater at least half an hour before the movie started so we could have our pick of seats. We also wanted to sit together. If we waited until fifteen minutes before the movie started our seat pickings would be slimmer.

“How do you like Atlanta, sir?”

“It’s a good city. I’ll be glad when we get our house sold, and I don’t have to fly here every weekend. Do you play golf, Patrick?”

“I’m going to take a golf class next semester at school. My dad says I should learn because that’s where business is conducted, on the golf course.”

“He’s right. I’ve gotten some of my biggest clients through golf. That’s another reason I want to stop this weekend travel, so I can settle down and join a few clubs in Atlanta and get my golf game going.”

I came out of the garage at that point. I kissed Dad and went over to Patrick.

“We’re going to see a movie with Callie and Brian, and then we’re going to grab something to eat.”

“So your mother and I shouldn’t expect you to go out to dinner with us?”

“Not tonight, Dad.”

“OK, have fun. See you kids later on.”

Patrick opened the door of his car for me. I could see Dad watching him closely. It felt nice to be treated like a lady, like a special lady.

Patrick looked at me admiringly with his mahogany eyes. I almost melted under his gaze.

“Do you mind if I open the sun roof? I don’t want to mess up your hair or anything.

“Go ahead.”

Patrick backed out of my driveway and drove off, my hair blowing in the breeze, like the characters in the movies. On days like this, I was glad I had a relaxer in my hair.

I felt on top of the world. I marveled at how everything had changed in a second a few months ago and how everything had changed again just a few months later. At that time I thought I’d never be happy again. But look at me now! Everything happens for a reason I’ve heard. I’ve been trying to figure out how everything applies to me.

Could it be that everything happened to get Jay out of my life so I could meet Patrick? Or so I could get closer to my extended family? Or so I could get closer to God?

Whatever the reason, I’m not complaining.

While Patrick and Brian were at the concession stand, Callie pulled a newspaper article from her purse.

“Did you see this?”

I started reading the story. It was about Steffy’s father. His car dealerships had closed.

“Poor Steffy,” I said. “This is probably killing her to see her father’s name in the newspaper.”

“You should treat her the same way she treated you. Let’s text her.” Callie was already reaching for her phone.

I hesitated. “No, I don’t want to go there.”

“Why not? She took great delight in tormenting you.”

“I know,” I said. “When I went by her table in the cafeteria I saw the pain on her face. I promised myself I wouldn’t say anything else to her.”

“She saw the pain on your face and she dug in deeper.”

“I’m not her. I don’t want to get back at her anymore. Let her live her life. She already has too much drama going on.”

“Lauren, I’m surprised at you. This is your chance to get her back.”

I shrugged. “It’s not important anymore.”

Patrick and Brian came up with our popcorn, soft drinks, and candy.

“Are you ladies ready to go in?” asked Brian.

51

We had our usual Sunday brunch on the patio.

Despite the absence of a professional gardener to tend the flowers, blooms were wide open and colorful. I dreaded what used to be a pleasant Sunday meal with my parents. I didn’t want to fight anymore. All the fighting and hurt and angry words had worn me down. Why couldn’t I just live in peace again? I guess I could if it meant moving to Atlanta with them. Nice though it may be, I sensed deep down inside that it wasn’t for me.

I sipped my juice while Mom placed our plates in front of us.

“We have something to talk to you about,” Dad said.

So what else was new? I was tired of talking. Talking seemed to get us nowhere.

“You know we want the best for you,” Mom started, placing her hand over mine. “We’ve decided to give you our blessing to stay here and work this summer.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Really?” I almost choked on my juice.

“Really,” Dad said. “You’re growing up. You need to start making your own decisions. Now is a good time to start.”

Was I hearing correctly? I could work for Dr. Smithfield?

“I can work my schedule to be here during the week until our house sells,” said Mom. “When we sell the house, we can make other arrangements. If they aren’t traveling with their parents, maybe you can stay with Callie or Melanie and Stacie until school starts and you move to Aunt Ira’s.”

I leaned over and kissed Mom and then Dad. What a relief! The fighting was over. “I’ll make you proud of me.”

“We’re already proud of you,” Mom said. “You know your own mind and what you want.”

“I don’t completely know everything,” I said. “I’m just trying to figure it all out.”

“I know you don’t know everything,” Dad smiled. “But I think you’re on the right track. You have had everything handed to you. You haven’t had to work for anything. You just went along with our program that we designed for you. You’re right. You need to discover who you are and where you come from.”

“It will be good for you to visit Mama and Daddy in Memphis this year,” Mom said. “Do you want any company?”

I shook my head. “Tiffany said I should go alone so I can experience the specialness she feels when she’s there.”

“Then I’ll schedule my own visit when you come back. I feel like I’m in need of some mothering, too.” Mom’s eyes glistened with tears, but she held it together.

“Our food is getting cold,” Dad said. “Let’s break up this mutual admiration society and eat. First, I need to tell both of you something.

“I’m sorry about this whole ordeal. It has shaken our family to the core and for the most part, we’re still strong. In a lot of ways we’re stronger than we were before. I’ve learned not to take anything for granted anymore. Most of all, I’m glad that I had the support of you two. You believed in me even when my whole professional life was playing out for all the world to see.”

“Dad, we know you are not a crook,” I said.

“Absolutely,” echoed Mom.

Dad leaned over and kissed both of us. “While you’re visiting the grand folks, I have to attend an international law conference in Paris. I’m taking your mom with me. We’ll have time together, just the two of us.”

Mom beamed with joy. I had a feeling we were indeed back on track as a family.

Mom had to reheat our food in the microwave, but nobody seemed to mind.

52

Mom and I walked up the steps of the majestic building that housed the administrative offices at Lincoln Prep.

A new beginning. A new chapter in my life. Walking through the door of the massive building brought flutters to my stomach, flutters of hope, and flutters of apprehension. I couldn’t mistake the feeling of history here in these hallowed halls.

We were ushered into the principal’s office for a meeting. Mom explained that I would be living with Aunt Ira and Tiffany my senior year, and she explained my interest in journalism. The principal told her about the new department and about Mrs. Stevens from Fairfield Oaks coming to head it up.

I was happy to let Mom do all the talking today. I was somewhat overwhelmed at the decision I’d made to attend school here. I knew it was a good decision. I didn’t know what I would discover here about myself, but I knew I had to come and find out. I wanted to see what made me who I was. I wanted to become more of me. I was trying to merge two worlds, the part of me who hadn’t had to worry about anything until this past year, and the African-American part of me, the part I had never fully embraced. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how to do so.

I wanted to immerse myself in my history, and hopefully become shaped into a better person, a whole person, a more complete person, with no parts missing.

I was glad I didn’t have to explain that as my reason for coming to Lincoln Prep. Mom’s reasons sounded better. That’s why parents were necessary. They knew what was best in various situations.

We went on a quick tour of the school. I saw where the journalism department would be located. The whole setup would be much larger than the newsroom at Fairfield Oaks. We toured the choir room and band facilities. There was even a moot court where mock trials were held. And an Olympic sized swimming pool. Wow! Cool! In some ways Lincoln Prep had better facilities than Fairfield Oaks, which was surprising, pleasantly. However, it couldn’t compare with Fairfield Oaks as to class size.

When I saw the moot court something zinged inside of me. I had a desire to try my hand at arguing cases in here. I immediately found out what class I had to take to do so. Could I be following in Dad’s footsteps into the field of law? I had never had that desire before. Scary! Did I have to come to Lincoln Prep to connect to Dad’s field?

After we had selected my classes and finished all the paperwork, Mom took me out to lunch at Buca di Beppo on the Plaza. It was great having Mom all to myself again, doing lunch like we used to do before the situation.

We talked, mostly about Atlanta and the house there, and laughed, mostly about things relating to the prom that I hadn’t yet shared. Mom was especially thrilled when I told her about Jay on the sidelines watching me dance all night.

She was definitely pleased when I told her about my surprising reaction when I saw the courtroom. She agreed not to tell Dad of my possible interest in law until I knew for sure.

Mom and I spent the rest of the day shopping, like we used to do. I was happy to have Mom back. She had an inner peace about her, as if she, too, had faced some things and was found lacking. I knew her life in Atlanta would be different than in Fairfield. Besides, Atlanta is billed as the Black Mecca. She’d be involved in all the arts and fundraising activities that she loved, but I had a feeling things would be different this time.

****

On the last day of school I was standing under the oak tree with Callie, Melanie, and Stacie. Steffy came out of the building. She appeared to be uncomfortable as she passed us.

“Have a good summer, Steffy,” I called to her.

“Yeah, take care,” Callie said.

“Be seeing you in the neighborhood,” said Melanie.

Steffy stopped, still with her back to us, straightened her shoulders, and walked on ahead.

“Some people you just can’t be nice to,” said Stacie.

We watched as she waited at the curb for her mother to pull up. Steffy got into the car. Her face was stone as she looked neither right nor left.

“I wonder what’s going to happen to her father,” Callie said.

“I wonder if she’ll even be back here next year,” said Stacie.

“Probably not,” Melanie said.

Jay, Rick, and Jared strolled towards us. “Are you hating on Steffy?” Rick asked.

“Give her a break,” Jay said. “She needs it.”

I’d heard enough from him. “Let’s go,” I said to my friends. I went on ahead.

Jay caught up with me and grabbed my arm. “I mean it. Give Steffy a break.”

“You are full of it,” I said, disengaging my arm. “Did you bother telling her to give me a break?”

From his eyes I could see that he hadn’t.

“Now I know where your heart is. And it definitely isn’t with me. Good-bye, Jay.”

I reached my car. He had no comeback to my statement. Jay, Rick, and Jared continued on to their cars.

I bid Callie, Melanie, and Stacie good-bye and told them I would see them soon. I wasn’t ready to tell them that I wouldn’t be back next year. Although I knew the real reason I wouldn’t return to Fairfield Oaks, I didn’t want to see pity in anyone’s eyes. Even though there was no reason for pity, they didn’t know that. I was happy with my decision to move on.

Although I’d miss seeing Callie, Melanie, and Stacie every day and sharing the memories of our senior year together and graduating with them, I looked forward to my senior year at Lincoln Prep and getting closer to Tiffany and Aunt Ira.

I did confide in Mrs. Stevens that I was going to see her at Lincoln Prep next year. She was pleased and wished me a wonderful summer. I also told her about my summer job with Dr. Smithfield. Although she didn’t say it, I could see newfound respect in her eyes. I hoped she saw that I was becoming more than the spoiled rich girl she had known here at Fairfield Oaks.

Mrs. Stevens was right about Romans 8:28. God did bring something good for me out of this situation.

I felt sorry for Steffy. She didn’t have a support system like I had with Callie, Melanie, and Stacie. If she hadn’t acted so snooty with me, they would’ve been there for her, too. I didn’t even ask to interview her for my recession story. She wasn’t ready to admit to herself that life had changed for her.

53

Mom came into my room that night.

I looked forward to these late night chats. We had become closer these past weeks, probably because we spoke honestly to each other. I could ask her anything, and she could say what was on her mind without mincing words. These talks had become our special time, especially now that Dad was working in Atlanta. Both of us were conscious that come August our lives would change drastically and there would be no more heart to heart talks late at night between us.

Mom sat at my desk as she usually did.

“Honey, let’s talk.”

Honey.
That could only mean trouble.

“What’s up, Mom?” I lifted myself to a sitting position in bed.

She moved over to sit on my bed. Taking my hand in both of hers, she looked me straight in the eye.