Two Tears in a Bucket (5 page)

“
Here.” Fat Ed sucked his teeth and tossed Kevin a set of keys. “Take yourself home. The Rover’s ’round the corner. I met another little stripper chick up at our ole spot. She hittin’, too. I let her hold the Benz. She’ll be up here in a minute. So, take the truck. Shit, keep that muthafucka. Maybe it’ll help you change your mind.”

“
I doubt that.”

“
Shit, for real you outta stick around,” Fat Ed said. “Shorty probably got one of her phat-ass friends wit’ her. We can get a room and do like we did when you got out.”

“
Naw,” Kevin said. “I’ma pass this time.”

● ● ●

The next day, Kevin took the first few hours off just so he could drive Simone to work. Driving down the road, he glanced at her. “Damn, you look good in this truck.”

“
That don’t mean you gotta get one.”

“
That’s the farthest thing from my mind. Matter of fact,” Kevin said as he pulled in front of Simone’s workplace, “I’m giving it back to my man today.”

He took Simone’s hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it lightly.

“
I’ll see you tonight,” he said as he leaned over the center console and allowed his lips to greet hers where they surrendered to their passion, kissing nice and slow.

Simone peeled from Kevin’s lips and opened the door. “Whew! I better leave while I can.”

● ● ●

Beatrice didn’t like the idea of Kevin driving around in Fat Ed’s flashy truck— not one bit. Even though he had been two hours late to work, she let him leave two hours early just so he could find Fat Ed and give the vehicle back.

All over town, Kevin drove around searching for Fat Ed. He went past his house and checked all the usual spots, but couldn’t find Fat Ed anywhere. Just when he was getting ready to give up, a light bulb went off in his head.

I know where you at.

Whipping a U-turn, Kevin headed to their old secret hideout, a run-down strip club in a warehouse next to a deserted department store. After parking in a nearby alley, Kevin strolled inside the club and surveyed the thin crowd.

Damn, where everybody at?
he thought. He headed to the bar, ordered a bottle of Remy Martin, and strolled to the tables in front of the stage, where he and Fat Ed used to sit on a daily basis.

Kevin took a seat, poured himself a shot, and skimmed through the handful of men scattered around the stage. There was no sign of Fat Ed.
Hell, he’ll show up
, Kevin thought as he made himself comfortable.

Music popped through the cheap speakers as the dancers seductively made their way to the stage, one behind the other. By the time the fourth dancer sashayed across the stage, Kevin was good and tipsy.

Pulling a ten-dollar bill from his pocket, he made eye contact with the dancer and flashed the money. With her eyes locked to Kevin’s, she swiveled her body to the beat of the music and strutted over to him. She stood before him, peeling off the sheer pink bra that accented her chocolate skin. She licked her glossy red lips and held his gaze while slithering down to the ground like a python.

She crawled to the edge of the stage, leaned over, and jiggled her bare, voluptuous breasts in front of Kevin. With a raised brow, she slid her finger inside her pink G-string and toyed with the material. Kevin stood and inserted the ten-dollar bill into her G-string, knowing she wouldn’t remove the garment until he did.

With the grace of a trained ballerina, the dancer stretched her legs into an open split and snatched off the rigged G-string, giving Kevin a full view of her Brazilian wax.

Damn,
he thought as she tumbled over backward, allowing him to see her most intimate parts.

Hours later, Kevin had consumed more than half the bottle of Remy. He glanced at his watch and realized it was after eight.
Damn! Where’d the day go?
he thought as he stood to leave. But the alcohol took control, spinning the room around and around.

Kevin stumbled from the club and wobbled to the truck parked in an alley a few blocks away. He climbed inside.

“
Damn,” he mumbled as he rested his head on the steering wheel in a final attempt to gain control of the spinning. But everything seemed to spin more. “Shit, Ed, I’ma have to find your ass tomorrow.”

He took a deep breath, started the truck, placed it in gear, and drifted from the alley onto the main street.

BOOM!

● ● ●

Bright lights burned through Kevin’s eyelids as he struggled to pull from his unconscious state.
Damn, this is a helluva hangover
, he thought. Blinking rapidly, he forced his eyes open. Bit by bit, the unfamiliar surroundings of the hospital room came into view.

“
What the fuck is this shit?” Kevin panicked at the sight of the IV protruding from the back of his hand.

“
Calm down, Mr. Kennard. You’re okay.” The doctor stood at Kevin’s bedside, making his morning rounds. “I’m Dr. Scott, and as you can see, you’re in the hospital.”

“
Doc, what’s wrong with me? Why am I in here? What happened?”

“
You were in a car accident three days ago.”

“
A car accident?”

“
Yes, sir,” the doctor confirmed. “Mr. Kennard, can you see the clock on the wall?”

Three days? Oh my God! I know Ma is buggin’ out. I gotta
—

“
Mr. Kennard,” the doctor interrupted him from his thoughts. “Can you tell me what time it is?”

“
Yeah,” Kevin said as he turned his attention to the wall clock. “It’s eight-forty-five.”

“
That’s correct.” Dr. Scott rested his clipboard on the bed and applied light pressure to Kevin’s limbs. “Are you experiencing any pain?”

“
No, none. Doc, you said I’ve been here for three days?”

“
Yes, since Wednesday evening. We’ve been monitoring you, and you don’t appear to have any internal injuries. Seems you got off very lucky.”

“
Well, since I’m a’ight, can I go home?”

“
Can you go home?” The doctor chuckled as if to soften his answer. “Mr. Kennard, you just woke up after being out for three days.”

“
Yeah, but you said I was fine, right?”

“
Well, how about we get some food in you first, before we make any plans. Okay?”

“
A’ight.”

Damn…when the hell did I have an accident? The last thing I remember is being in the club.

“
Oh, and one last thing before I forget,” the doctor said as he made notes in Kevin’s file. “Your blood alcohol level was extremely high. Although the police said the accident didn’t appear to be your fault, you weren’t mentally fit to drive. You, sir, have a lot to be thankful for.”

Chapter Five

God is truly trying to tell me something,
Kevin thought as he showered. He knew his life had to change, and he wanted that change to include Simone. She was all he could think of and talk about as his mother drove him home from the hospital.

“
Kevin, I’ve heard all this before!” Beatrice said over her car radio. “You ain’t telling me nothing new.”

“
Ma, this time is different. Wait until I introduce you to her.”

“
Boy, I don’t need to be meeting no whole bunch of grown-butt little girls!”

“
Ma, she’s not like that,” Kevin said. “She actually reminds me of you.”

“
Oh gosh, now that’s a new one! What the chile look like? I hope it ain’t that funny-looking thing that lives up on the third floor. I told you I don’t want any ugly-ass grandkids. I’m not bouncing no lil’ monkeys on my knee.”

“
C’mon now, Ma. Since when have you known me to mess with monkeys? Simone’s pretty. She got nice, pretty black hair, dimples, and,” Kevin added, looking at his mother, “she’s like your complexion.”

Beatrice was stunned. “What? You mean to tell me she’s not high yellow? I was beginning to think you were color struck for a minute.”

“
If I am, I got it from you. Look how light your husband was.”

“
Yeah, your father was bright as hell, but I’ve dated all shades. You,” she added as she glanced at her son, “seemed to be stuck there for a minute.”

“
Naw, I date all shades, too, Ma. You’ve only seen one or two of them, and they just so happened to be light. I’m really liking Simone, though. She’s different. She’s not like anybody I’ve ever messed with. And believe me, Ma. If we ever had a baby, it wouldn’t be no monkey.”

“
Well, let that be the farthest thing from your mind. The last thing you need is a damn baby.”

“
Yeah, plus I gotta get some first. I’ve been hanging out at her place for like two weeks, and we still ain’t done nothing.”

“
Wait a minute,” Beatrice said, ignoring his comment. “You said she’s my complexion, with pretty hair and dimples? Does she live on the second floor in the first apartment on the right?”

“
Yeah.” Kevin was puzzled. “How you know?”

“
Ah, boy, I met her at the mailbox a few days ago when you were missing in action! She came in singing ‘Mr. Postman’ to the mailman. I started snapping my fingers and singing, too. The mailman was dropping the mail in the boxes, dancing with us.” Beatrice chuckled. “I like her.”

“
See and I’m telling you, Ma, she’s not a fast butt.”

“
Hmm,” Beatrice mumbled, nodding approvingly. “That’s all right. So what you gon’ do about Ms. Rhonda? She’s called a few times looking for you.”

“
I ain’t thinking ’bout her.”

“
Well, you better. You and Rhonda have been going back and forth for years. Every time she pops up, you drop everything and everybody for her fast tail. You better call and get her straight.”

“
I’ma talk to her and let her know,” Kevin said nonchalantly. He could feel his mother’s gaze from the corner of his eye. “I’m serious, Ma. I’ma call her eventually and let her know it’s over this time for real.”

● ● ●

Only ten minutes to go,
Simone thought, glancing at the clock as she hung up the phone. Just when she was getting ready to write Kevin off as another sorry ass, he called with a legitimate excuse for his absence. And now in a matter of minutes, Simone could head home and tend to his aches and pains from the accident.

Shoot,
she thought as the phone rang again.

“
Thank you for calling the law offices of Brown, Byrd, and Henson,” Simone greeted, answering the phone. “How can I assist you?”

“
Simone? Hey, you busy?”

“
Hey, Nana,” Simone greeted, happy to hear her grandmother’s voice. “No, I’m just waiting for five o’clock, and then I’m out the door.”

“
Well, I just wanted to call and give you a heads-up. I think your mother’s getting ready to call you.”

“
For what? She hasn’t called me since I moved.”

“
I know,” Nana said. “But she calls me nearly every day to see if I’ve talked to you.”

Simone didn’t respond.

“
Now listen, Simone. You know how I am,” Nana added. “I
do not
like all this not-speaking mess. It’s been going on too long.”

“
But, Nana,” Simone interrupted, “I didn’t do anything but defend myself.”

“
I know that, Simone, and deep down, your mother knows that, too, which is why she’s trying to move past it. She has finally mustered up the strength to call you. I know it’s been killing her. She even told me Ricardo’s seeking treatment for his substance abuse.”

“
Nana, you didn’t tell her what he did, did you?”

“
No, as much as I want, to, I didn’t because I told you I wouldn’t. You swear he’s only touched you once?”

“
Yeah, Nana.”

“
Simone,” one of the secretaries buzzed through the intercom.

“
Yes,” Simone answered. “Hold on, Nana.”

“
You have a call on line three.”

“
Thanks,” Simone said. “That’s probably her, Nana.”

“
You gonna be nice, right? It’s been almost two months, and despite everything she is still your mother.”

“
Alright, Nana.” Simone huffed. “Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll be nice just for you.”

“
Good. Now go talk to her before she chickens out and hangs up. I love ya.”

Simone glanced up at the clock. She only had five more minutes to go.
She’s funny
, Simone thought. Angela knew what time she got off.
I guess she figured if she called me at five o’clock, we wouldn’t have to talk long.

Simone picked up the call on hold. “Hello.”

“
Sounds like you rushing,” Angela said.

“
I am. I was just getting ready to put the answering machine on and run out to the bus stop. I get off at five, remember?”

“
Oh, that’s right. Well, don’t let me hold you up. I just wanted to call and check on you.”

“
No, I can talk. I can catch the next bus. They run every couple of minutes when it’s rush hour.”

“
Oh,” Angela said, awkwardly. “Umm, well, how’s the apartment coming? You have everything you need?”

“
For the most part.”