Read Until the End of Time Online
Authors: Melanie Schuster
Until the End of Time (2 page)
Bennie looked forward to the meal as much as Andrew did, but she had one stipulation. “Yes, but either you cook, we get take out or we eat out. I wouldn’t show my face around here for a couple of days if I were you.”
Andrew laughed. “Damn, is she that mad?”
Bennie confirmed that she was indeed. “At least she says she is. You know that her hot button is her gentleman callers. Anyway, are you willing to take that risk?”
Andrew decided that he wasn’t. But he couldn’t resist a parting shot. “Yeah, well, tell her if she doesn’t want people getting her goat, she shouldn’t let them know where she ties it up.”
Donnie was looking at his brother with a big smile when he got off the phone. “So you’re still picking at Renee, hunh? Why do y’all go at each other like that? Can’t you get along like adults?”
Andrew didn’t answer for a moment. The truth was way too complicated to try and explain. If he were to be completely honest about it, he’d have to admit that there were indeed times when he wished that he’d never heard the name Renee Kemp. He wished that his sister had found herself another suitemate altogether when she attended University of Michigan. That way, Andrew reasoned, he would’ve never even seen Renee, at least not the way he had when they were all college freshmen. It was a sight that he’d never been able to forget and the recollection of it could still precipitate the need for a cold shower. It was probably the immense impact of that first sighting that caused Andrew to pick at Renee so endlessly.
Yes, it was the erotic memory of their first meeting, coupled with the fact that Renee bristled like a wet cat every time Andrew came near her. She would puff up and skitter away from him the same way a startled kitten would and it cracked him up every time she did it. It was her reaction as much as anything that kept him on her case; she just looked so adorable that it was worth infuriating her. Renee made no secret of the fact that she could barely stand him. The fact that his pulse jumped every time she came into a room was no one’s business, he felt, but his own.
Finally Andrew answered Donnie. “I don’t pick on Renee, she picks on
me
. I’m just trying to defend myself. You know she’s madly in love with me and won’t admit it.”
me
. I’m just trying to defend myself. You know she’s madly in love with me and won’t admit it.”
“
In love with your old tired butt? Please! You must be delusional!” Donnie laughed. “Now if she was after me or Adam, the
fine
Cochrans, I could see that, but not you, Bunchy. Not with your non-partying, non-playing, workaholic self. You’re way too out of it for someone like Renee.”
In love with your old tired butt? Please! You must be delusional!” Donnie laughed. “Now if she was after me or Adam, the
fine
Cochrans, I could see that, but not you, Bunchy. Not with your non-partying, non-playing, workaholic self. You’re way too out of it for someone like Renee.”
Andrew threw a paperweight at his brother, which Donnie easily caught. “I party plenty,” he defended himself. “And I’d watch the cracks about my looks since you look just like me.”
It was true; all of the Cochrans shared a decided similarity in features. They were all well over six feet. They shared with their sister Benita a golden caramel skin color, and thick wavy black hair that fairly gleamed with health and good grooming. Andrew also had what used to be referred to as ‘bedroom eyes’, large and sexy with eyelashes that were unfairly long for a man. He had shiny thick eyebrows and a perfectly shaped mouth that would have looked almost feminine had it not been for his thick black moustache. All the Cochran men, Andrew included, were big, handsome and pretty much irresistible to women. But when it came to Andrew’s long-standing feud with Renee, all bets were off. She might have loved his brothers like they were her family, but she didn’t have those same feelings for him.
Finally Andrew’s hunger overrode his musings. “Let’s go. I’m hungry and so is Bennie. So why don’t you come with us to dinner? And since you’re the youngest, you get to pay,” he said with a grin.
Donnie agreed, although he made his feelings about picking up the tab quite plain. “Man, this is why you need a wife,” he complained. “We wouldn’t be eating out and my money would stay in my wallet.” Continuing their amiable bickering, the two men left the clinic.
***
Bennie and Andrew needn’t have worried about a confrontation with Renee. She had a date that evening with one of her usual escorts. She had agreed to accompany Edwin Jackson to a play and a late supper afterwards. As always, she took great care with her toilette. Renee took a lot of pride in her appearance, which ironically was not symbolic of vanity, but of years of insecurity. It was sometimes difficult for Renee to reconcile the reflection in the mirror with the image she held in her mind. Renee jumped guiltily as Bennie entered her bedroom. She hated for anyone to catch her looking into the mirror. No one knew what she saw reflected in its depths. Bennie, however, knew pretty much what was on her friend’s mind.
“
Renee, you always do that. You can’t stand for anyone to see you looking at yourself. In fact, I think you can’t stand to look at your own reflection! After all this time, why is that?” Bennie asked her pointedly.
Renee, you always do that. You can’t stand for anyone to see you looking at yourself. In fact, I think you can’t stand to look at your own reflection! After all this time, why is that?” Bennie asked her pointedly.
Renee narrowed her eyes at her friend. “Have I told you how much I dislike the caring, perceptive part of your personality?” she murmured. “Bennie, it’s hard to explain. I look in my mirror and it’s like looking into my past. I don’t see what
you
see, I see what I remember,” she admitted softly.
you
see, I see what I remember,” she admitted softly.
She would see a smooth, velvety complexion, but remember the years of savage acne that had led to years of unmerciful teasing from her peers. She would see the curvaceous body, and remember the plump little pre-teen who was afraid to wear a bathing suit or even look at a second helping for fear of ridicule. She didn’t see the satiny seduction of her chocolate brown skin; she would see only the little black face that was so much darker than her sisters’. By one of those strange genetic quirks, Renee was the darkest member of her immediate family.
“
It’s really stupid, but I can’t forget that color thing. All my sisters are the same shade of medium brown, just like Daddy. My mother is darker, but not as dark as I am, even though she has these same ol’ yellow eyes. Nope, I look just like my grandmother. Not that it’s a bad thing, Big Momma was quite a belle in her day,” Renee admitted.
It’s really stupid, but I can’t forget that color thing. All my sisters are the same shade of medium brown, just like Daddy. My mother is darker, but not as dark as I am, even though she has these same ol’ yellow eyes. Nope, I look just like my grandmother. Not that it’s a bad thing, Big Momma was quite a belle in her day,” Renee admitted.
“
But people always made such a big thing out of it! ‘Ooh, Pearlie Mae, where’d you get that little pickaninny from! Chile, you best to keep her out the sun or you won’t find her come dark’,” Renee whined in a perfect imitation of the old ladies she despised in her youth. “I have to tell you, when I was a kid, you could call me anything and I’d fight you, but call me black and I was
zoom!
in the house with a quickness. For some reason, it was just the most hurtful thing in the world to me. And I was the meanest little girl on Chateau Avenue, too! Nothing bothered me, except being called ‘darky’.
But people always made such a big thing out of it! ‘Ooh, Pearlie Mae, where’d you get that little pickaninny from! Chile, you best to keep her out the sun or you won’t find her come dark’,” Renee whined in a perfect imitation of the old ladies she despised in her youth. “I have to tell you, when I was a kid, you could call me anything and I’d fight you, but call me black and I was
zoom!
in the house with a quickness. For some reason, it was just the most hurtful thing in the world to me. And I was the meanest little girl on Chateau Avenue, too! Nothing bothered me, except being called ‘darky’.
“
The family reunions were the very limit. I love my mother’s family, but Lord, it was all I could do to get through that week of examination and comparison. ‘Hmmph, Effie’s child sho’ got some big teeth! Unh, look how bow-legged that girl of Lula’s is! And looky here at little Ree-nay! She just the spittin’ image of Big Momma, ain’t she?’ Renee shuddered delicately at the memory.
The family reunions were the very limit. I love my mother’s family, but Lord, it was all I could do to get through that week of examination and comparison. ‘Hmmph, Effie’s child sho’ got some big teeth! Unh, look how bow-legged that girl of Lula’s is! And looky here at little Ree-nay! She just the spittin’ image of Big Momma, ain’t she?’ Renee shuddered delicately at the memory.
“
You know, I was in college before I learned that spittin’ image was the colloquial for ‘spirit and image’. That sounds much nicer, don’t you think? And I really am, you know. My grandmother was a pistol, you hear me? Big Momma was known for three things; her temper, her velvety black skin and her absolute refusal to take any mess off anyone, black or white, male or female. And she was a very, very sweet woman who made the best bread pudding you ever put in your mouth.”
You know, I was in college before I learned that spittin’ image was the colloquial for ‘spirit and image’. That sounds much nicer, don’t you think? And I really am, you know. My grandmother was a pistol, you hear me? Big Momma was known for three things; her temper, her velvety black skin and her absolute refusal to take any mess off anyone, black or white, male or female. And she was a very, very sweet woman who made the best bread pudding you ever put in your mouth.”
Renee sighed, remembering the gracious lady who was the stuff of legend in her part of the South. Her mouth turned up in a faint smile as she recalled her peppery grandmother. Big Momma kicked butt and took names, even in rural Mississippi. Even after Big Poppa had died, leaving her with a farm to run and children to raise, she stayed strong.
You wouldn’t catch
Big Momma whining over her skin color or how mean people
could be
, Renee thought shamefacedly. Big Momma was a woman in control of her fate and Renee had inherited that same kind of will. She lived up to her grandmother’s legacy every day, as a matter of fact. But no one knew what she saw in her head when she looked in the mirror.
You wouldn’t catch
Big Momma whining over her skin color or how mean people
could be
, Renee thought shamefacedly. Big Momma was a woman in control of her fate and Renee had inherited that same kind of will. She lived up to her grandmother’s legacy every day, as a matter of fact. But no one knew what she saw in her head when she looked in the mirror.
Renee turned to face Bennie and smiled wanly. “Did I ever tell you about my church obsession when I was a child? I loved to go to church, so much so that I couldn’t wait for the regular service with the rest of the family. There was a little Mennonite church across the street from us. The congregation was all white, of course. When my sisters were scrambling to get dressed to go to our regular A.M.E. service, I would sashay across the street just as big as day and plop myself right down with the rest of the folks,” she said with a short laugh.
Bennie’s eyes grew wide at this revelation, and Renee continued as she slipped on her pantyhose. “These were some very nice, very quiet people and nobody ever said anything to me, they just accepted my presence,” she recalled, shaking her head slightly.
“
I would sit there quiet as a little mouse, just watching everything. But I would always look down at my legs sticking straight out on the pew. They were so
black
! Especially when I’d see the people around me. So black…” Her voice trailed off for a moment, and then she straightened up with a smile.
I would sit there quiet as a little mouse, just watching everything. But I would always look down at my legs sticking straight out on the pew. They were so
black
! Especially when I’d see the people around me. So black…” Her voice trailed off for a moment, and then she straightened up with a smile.
“
Don’t get me wrong, now. I wouldn’t give up one drop of melanin for anything. I love being the blacker berry with the sweeter juice and all that goes with it. But there was a time when it wasn’t a comfortable skin to be in, ya know?”
Don’t get me wrong, now. I wouldn’t give up one drop of melanin for anything. I love being the blacker berry with the sweeter juice and all that goes with it. But there was a time when it wasn’t a comfortable skin to be in, ya know?”
Bennie grabbed Renee and gave her a big hug. “Oh, darlin’, you’re just gorgeous. You have a perfect complexion, and legs that bring tears to men’s eyes. I’ve observed that very phenomenon, so don’t deny it,” Bennie said truthfully. “And you’re just as beautiful on the inside, although you don’t always let people know that,” she added shrewdly. “I also wish I could wear my hair like yours,” she ended with a wistful sigh.
Renee wore her hair in a short, stylish cut, which framed her chocolate face to perfection. Bennie, on the other hand, was 6’1” to Renee’s 5’10” and she needed long hair to balance her body.
Renee looked in the mirror at Bennie’s comment, admiring her sleek, shiny black hair. “Well, you know I’ve got to show off the latest cuts. How would it look for a salon owner to have a bad hair day?” she asked rhetorically. “And you’re not conning me into cutting your hair,” she added pointedly, looking at Bennie’s abundant locks.
Hastily changing the subject, Bennie admired Renee’s outfit for the evening. Tonight she had decided to give poor Edwin a thrill in an orange mohair dress that was so vibrant in hue that it seemed drenched in gold. The dress not only accentuated every curve; it had a huge cowl neck that slipped invitingly over Renee’s shoulders in a way that was guaranteed to drive a man crazy. It was, in fact, difficult to look at Renee without thinking about something really carnal, quite a paradox given Renee’s cool demeanor. Dispassionately she turned to briefly inspect herself in her full-length mirror and decided that she was almost ready.
Bennie handed Renee a large pair of gold Sandy Baker earrings from her dresser. Renee put them on and added a touch of gloss to her lips that already had on an alluring bronze lipstick. One more tiny dab of perfume behind her ear and she was done with her preparations. There was no sense in giving Edwin a heart attack; she enjoyed his company too much for that.
Bennie glanced at her watch and gasped. “Wow, look at the time. I’m meeting the Brother-Who-Shall-Remain-Nameless for dinner. Have a good time with Edwin. Try not to hurt him,” she added wickedly as she left Renee’s suite. Renee wrinkled her nose at Bennie’s retreating figure and went over to the window to check the weather before deciding on footwear. Spring in Detroit was a vicious affair; one never knew what the elements would do to challenge one. Hearing the slight hiss of sleet, she decided to wear boots. There was no way she was messing up her good pumps in this weather. Besides, her legs looked darned good in the burnished brown designer boots. They had a four-inch heel and fit like silk hose, so she was quite sexy enough, thank you.
After Edwin arrived and helped her don her all-weather coat with the mink lining, he agreed completely. “My dear, you look lovely this evening,” he breathed as he inhaled her unique fragrance. “And you smell fantastic as always,” he added.
Renee favored him with a tiny smile; she didn’t want Edwin thinking that a little compliment like that would get him anywhere.
“
Thank you, Edwin,” was all she said, but with her incredible voice, those few words were enough to get ol’ Edwin revved up for the evening. Renee was immediately ashamed of her irreverent thought; Edwin Jackson was a very nice man. He was 6’1”, well educated, soft spoken and gentlemanly. He was quite handsome, too, with medium brown skin and a debonair sprinkling of gray in his close-cropped hair. There was a little gray in his neatly trimmed beard and moustache, which increased his air of distinction. And even though he was in his early 50’s he hadn’t let himself go. He was as trim of waist as a man 20 years younger, and Renee knew for a fact that he had great stamina; Edwin frequently played doubles tennis with her.
Thank you, Edwin,” was all she said, but with her incredible voice, those few words were enough to get ol’ Edwin revved up for the evening. Renee was immediately ashamed of her irreverent thought; Edwin Jackson was a very nice man. He was 6’1”, well educated, soft spoken and gentlemanly. He was quite handsome, too, with medium brown skin and a debonair sprinkling of gray in his close-cropped hair. There was a little gray in his neatly trimmed beard and moustache, which increased his air of distinction. And even though he was in his early 50’s he hadn’t let himself go. He was as trim of waist as a man 20 years younger, and Renee knew for a fact that he had great stamina; Edwin frequently played doubles tennis with her.
After Edwin seated her in his Hummer, Renee observed him closely as he went around the SUV to get in. She continued her scrutiny as he drove. Edwin was a contractor and land developer and had money by the buckets. He was amicably divorced and his two children had the decency to be adults who were out of college and lived in Texas. So it wasn’t like she’d have to put up with spoiled stepchildren underfoot, ‘baby-mama-drama’ or an alimony income, were she and Edwin to become closer. He was attentive, entertaining and treated Renee with the delicacy normally reserved for a piece of Ming dynasty porcelain. So why didn’t she feel anything more for the man? Edwin was like a pleasant habit and that was all. He was as soothing as a cup of chamomile tea at the end of a harrowing day and about as stimulating. Sometimes Renee wanted to slap herself for being the way that she was. Bennie was too kindhearted to say such a thing, but their mutual friend Ceylon had volunteered her services many times. Renee closed her eyes and could hear Ceylon’s voice in her ear.
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