Two Roads Back Together, page 12
As a mother, her heart strings pulled, knowing that Shy was hurt by her reaction to the unexpected news. She huffed as she changed lanes, easing down the street. But as a woman of God, her heart choked. How could she not be afraid for Shy’s choices? How could she be expected to just accept that her child was clearly living in sin? And it didn’t help that now she would have to pretend to her friends that everything was still perfect in her world. After all, her church community looked up to her.
What a mess Shy had brought her into.
Evelyn found a parking spot and exited the car. As she walked towards the entrance of the coffee shop, she felt a fission of nervousness. She hoped she wouldn’t regret agreeing to meet up. But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. After all, people changed, right?
Evelyn shrugged and walked inside.
“Over here, Evelyn!” A lady in a pleasing yellow-patterned pantsuit waved and immediately commanded Evelyn’s attention. Evelyn walked over to the excited woman and gave her a quick hug.
Evelyn believed people were like seasons; they came to serve a purpose in your life, and then they moved on. But Mrs. Margaret “Mae” Delroy was different. Mae Delroy was like a slow-moving storm and it wasn’t until Evelyn was directly under the eye that she recognized that under the charm there was something else, something that made her feel uneasy. It had been quite a few years since they last met. Back then, Mae lived in the same area as Evelyn, attended the same church, and mingled with the same social circle. But then Mae got remarried to a self-made millionaire and relocated to a secluded subdivision of elite society. Not content to be “just a housewife,” Mae managed real estate all over Baldwin Hills and West Los Angeles, for which she occasionally returned to the area. Evelyn didn’t know why she accepted Mae’s call a few days ago, nor why she’d agreed to meet today. Perhaps it was because Evelyn never remembered that subtle disquiet Mae caused until she was actually in Mae’s presence.
Still, she was here. And people could change.
“Hey, Miss Diva. You haven’t changed a bit. You look lovely.”
“This old thing?” Evelyn picked at her blouse, knowing that it complimented her shape.
“Well, if that’s old, I will gladly take it off your hands. Girl, vintage is everything.” They both laughed and sat down.
“I got you a tall mocha cappuccino. It should still be hot.”
“It is. Thank you, smells delicious. This place looks like it is doing quite well.” The line seemed to have grown to the door in Evelyn’s short time in the newly-opened coffeehouse.
“Yes, I’m so happy for the Evans family,” Mae said, “opening their first business. We really need more Black businesses around here. And they are such good, gracious people. Very warm.”
“The same Evans that go to our church?”
“Yes. That’s our fine Senior Pastor Evans’ son.”
“Wait, that tiny baby that used to run across the altar when the Pastor would preach?”
“Yes, girl. He’s all grown up now and married himself a beautiful wife.” Mae pointed to the young woman waiting tables and talking to customers.
“She is beautiful. Well, I’ll make sure I stop by here more often to keep supporting them.”
Mae mixed more sugar into her coffee. “So I heard Keisha was in town. Some ladies from church talked about how good it would be for all of our babies to meet up. Is she still here?”
“No, she left on Wednesday to go back to Arizona. It was good having her home, even if it was only a week.” Evelyn managed a half-smile.
“It’s always good when the kids come home. My daughter travels so much, it’s hard to get together.”
“Oh, how is Cynthia? I remember when she and Keisha played in Girl Scouts together.”
“Boy, do I remember those days. My garage would be full of cookies from floor to ceiling! I used to think, girl, what have we done? But we could sell some cookies. The truth is, I think I had more fun than she did.”
“Not me. Keisha was so shy I would have to drag her door to door. That child wouldn’t say a word. Just stood there, shell-shocked and holding a daffodil cookie box. The only reason she ever sold anything was those big brown eyes. People would buy two or three boxes while she just stared. After a while, I just told her, ‘Just stand there and smile, hun, so we can sell these doggone cookies. I wanted them out of my garage.’”
They both laughed.
Mae took a sip of her coffee and sighed. “Evelyn, where did the time go? Our kids are grown up and off with their separate lives. And us? We haven’t really kept up with each other.”
Evelyn raised a brow. “That’s life. But we can do better. Stay in touch more and just support each other.” Not that she hadn’t tried before, many times, only to realize she was the only one calling and scheduling times to meet… And once they’d stopped seeing each other, that’s when the pieces fell into place that, despite the enjoyment Evelyn had in her company, Mae only called when she needed something or wanted to gloat.
But people could change.
“I would like that, Evelyn,” Mae said softly. “I really like having you as a sister-friend. I promise, I’ll work on our friendship too.”
“So,” Evelyn said after a beat, “Cynthia travels a lot?”
“Yes,” Mae replied. “She just finished closing one of her firm’s satellite locations, which apparently really stressed her out with all of the state regulations and this and that. She told me she’s ready to just relax, so she’s coming to visit. I’m just happy she decided to come see me.” Mae put her cup down suddenly. “Oh! I can’t believe I almost forgot—the firm offered her a promotion to junior partner! My baby is really moving up. I’m just so proud of her. She’s really worked hard and made something of herself,” Mae gushed.
“That’s wonderful, Mae. It looks like both our daughters are doing well. Keisha will be promoted to Major at the start of next year. Isn’t that exciting?”
“It is. It’s good to hear that Keisha is slowly making her way in life. Of course, it would be good to have Keisha and Cynthia spend more time together if we can ever get them here at the same time. I know Cynthia could impart some valuable career tips to Keisha. Like a mentor.”
Evelyn felt her lips thin. “Keisha is doing just fine. In fact, she told me she’s receiving an Instructor of the Year award.”
“Girl, did I offend you?,” Mae said, holding up her hands. “I was just trying to say that she has so many choices. The Army just doesn't make sense. If she wanted to teach, couldn’t she do that here? From everything I know about the Army—," Mae dropped to a whisper. "Is it really the best place for our Black children?”
Evelyn frowned. This was another reason why their friendship had drifted apart. Mae couldn’t stand to let anyone else have the limelight. The constant one-upmanship was exhausting.
“Well anyway, I’m glad both daughters are doing well. Cynthia and her husband are coming up on their first anniversary. Her beau is such a wonderful young man. He’s a heart surgeon at Cedar Sinai Hospital, and apparently something of a big deal. He frequently travels internationally to all kinds of medical practicioner's conferences and shares his innovative techniques,” the lady gloated.
Evelyn barely kept her eyes from rolling as she began to regret her decision to come to the coffee shop. Before she could respond, the two women were interrupted. “Hello, ladies,” a pleasant voice broke in. “Are you both doing ok on coffee?”
“Yes. Oh my goodness, it’s Sean Evans’ wife,” Mae said. “We were just talking about how wonderful it is that you and your husband own this darling coffee house. We are so proud of you, dear.”
The young woman beamed. “Thank you so much, ma’am.” Mae’s eyes suddenly rounded and she reached out to touch the woman’s stomach. “Oh! I see we have a little bun in the oven. What a blessing!”
“Yes, it’s our first.” Evelyn noticed the girl’s strained smile and how she deftly moved her stomach away. “Well, I don’t want to interrupt you ladies too long. I just want to let you know our bakery will be putting out fresh pastries at noon, so make sure you come to try our southern beignets. You will love them." She then excused herself before walking to the next table.
“Well,” Mae said, taking another sip of her coffee. “I know Mother Erickson is ecstatic to have her first great-grandchild on the way.”
Evelyn felt a slight piercing in her chest, like a vice around her heart. “Yes, how wonderful.”
“I know I was when Cynthia called me to tell me she was expecting.”
“Cynthia’s expecting?” Evelyn felt the vice squeeze tighter.
“Oh girl, didn’t I say? Of course, we don’t know if it is a boy or girl yet. My first grandbaby! I’ve dreamed about this day for so long. First the marriage and now a little one on the way. I’m truly blessed! Of course, I’ve been praying about it and following His word. You know that ‘a life obedient to God will always bear good fruit.’ Amen?”
Evelyn mustered up a weak smile. “Wow, so Cynthia has a little one on the way.” Her heart plummeted as Mae rambled on and on while her coffee turned cold. Evelyn heard nothing as everything in that coffeehouse became faded and muffled, until Mae suddenly stopped speaking, perhaps noticing how Evelyn’s attention had wandered.
“Oh, where are my manners? I’m just talking about Cynthia this, Cynthia that. But you’re a mother too, you can understand. I’m just so proud of her. I invested a lot in her and to see the rewards is just humbling. I thank God she’s turned out so well.” Mae took another sip of her coffee. “Besides the promotion, what else is going on with Keisha? You know, I saw Keisha getting into a red car with a young man the other day. They were walking out of IHOP as I was turning onto Century Boulevard. It'll be good to she Keisha settle down. Finally, get you a grandbaby, like me.” Mae gave a wide grin and tapped Evelyn on the hand.
Evelyn wished it were true. Why did Mae have to be so nosy? Why did she have to poke and prod at Evelyn’s discomfort? And why did Evelyn always allow it? She mentally sighed. Manners, that’s why.
“No, that was her best friend, Jay. You remember Mablean’s boy? She’s not dating anyone right now.”
“Well, why not? A pretty girl like Keisha should easily be able to find a man.”
“Keisha is focused on her career, as she should be.”
“I supposed,” Mae said slowly.
Evelyn was not in the mood as Mae continued to press her about Keisha. As usual, Mae railroaded her with unwelcomed opinions. “I hope I can give a little friendly advice to help Keisha achieve a more… hmm… softer appearance?”
Evelyn narrowed her brows and stirred her coffee. “What’s wrong with her appearance?”
“She dresses so... manly. You don’t want people to question... well, you know. Besides, young men want to see a woman act like a woman. I would be more than happy to call Keisha and give her some pointers. I mean, I don’t want to pat myself on the back, but I do okay with the dapper types.” She chuckled and fanned herself with her freshly manicured fingers. “Girl, I’m just glad you got a hold of Keisha that summer before that bulldagger ever did. You know we have to protect our children. Though, now that I think about it, I wonder if she managed to influence Keisha’s style somehow.”
Evelyn dropped the small stirring spoon onto the table with a loud clang. She was seething. This willful act of trying to reduce her child angered Evelyn like nothing had before. She remembered now that Mae always found a way to pit the girls’ accomplishments against one another. She remembered, too, the way Mae had jabbed and picked at Keisha’s unladylike behavior and interests as a girl, making Evelyn feel like she’d misstepped in her role as a mother. But no matter what she did, Keisha hadn’t been interested in girly things. It was not lost on Evelyn, too, that Keisha might have picked up some influences from the streets and that hip hop stuff Evelyn detested.
Evelyn had tried her best to steer her daughter down a more acceptable path. She’d enrolled Keisha into fancy etiquette classes, Jack and Jill cotillion, and even Girl Scouts, which surely would interest her—they went camping for goodness’ sake! But Keisha had rejected all these activities as too girly and preferred rougher activities like climbing, wrestling, and sports.
As her daughter got older, it pained Evelyn that she couldn’t connect with Keisha, not really, not in the way her friends did with their daughters. Evelyn hadn’t known what to do, especially once Keisha got older and passed through puberty. She’d known then that Keisha was pulling away. Lost, Evelyn had done the only thing she could think of—she’d stopped pushing Keisha to do much of anything, for fear that her gentle nudges towards the feminine world would sever the last fiber of thread connecting mother and daughter. And when Keisha grew up and joined the Army and no longer lived under her roof, Evelyn started to keep things superficial, calling to chit-chat about the little things but never what Evelyn really wanted to know. It was just easier that way.
It wasn’t until that luncheon, when Keisha finally opened up to Evelyn after all these years, that Evelyn realized how much she’d overlooked and how much she’d willingly shoved away. She still did not feel ready to embrace this new reality. She still felt heavy, sad, and lost, like something Evelyn had cherished and wished for was gone forever. Hearing Mae talk of her daughter reminded Evelyn that Keisha would never give her grandkids, never introduce her to a nice young man joining the family, not like Cynthia.
But despite all these conflicting, difficult feelings, Evelyn would not allow this woman to make her child out to be less than. She’d been naïve to come here, as usual. Mae would always be the same—self-absorbed, presumptuous, and pretentious, hiding her insecurities behind a charming veneer until she felt threatened and attacked.
People don’t change.
But Evelyn was not about to give in and share her disappointment and fear for Keisha. Not to Mae Delroy. Not to anyone.
“Keisha will find someone when the time is right.”
Mae raised an eyebrow at that, but her words, at least, were kind. “I’m sure she will.” After a moment of awkward silence, Mae’s phone chirped. “Oh boy, look at the time. I need to rush—I’m meeting my husband later at his members-only club across town. I’d love for you to join us, but, well, it’s invite-only and we’ve already asked the Wilsons today.” Mae scrambled for her keys and sunglasses. “Evelyn, it was so good to spend time with you. I really want us to work on connecting more. This was good. We should do it again.”
“Sure, of course,” Evelyn said flatly with a wavering grin before watching Mae rush out the door in a whirl of color.
EVELYN SAT IN HER car for a long time after Mae left, for once taking a moment to think, to really reflect. Her memories of the old relationship with Mae burned in her veins. She didn’t know if the way she felt was due to Mae Delroy herself, or the shame she’d felt in being unable, unwilling, to be entirely truthful about Shy and their newly proclaimed sexuality and self-identity. Or perhaps it was the stark realization, listening to Mae drone on and on about the ever-perfect Cynthia, that she had lost the child she thought she knew.
And there was nothing she could do about it. Lord, help me.
Until today, Evelyn hadn’t realized how much loss she’d felt after Shy’s revelation. Her dreams of being a grandmother and seeing her child walk down the aisle seemed more distant than ever. The excitement and anticipation Evelyn had held tightly for years, wrapped in silk threads of a dream, seemed to vanish with Shy’s pointed words Mom, I’m gay!
As she pondered on what she was feeling and why, she watched scores of people walking in and out of the thriving establishment. A young child ran, screamed with glee, as an older man caught him, threw him into the air, and caught him again. Right next to them was a woman, probably about Evelyn’s age, sitting on a bench in front of the coffee shop. Her arms held a newborn and she laughed with a younger lady who favored her. They were a beautiful family, and Evelyn’s eyes welled and poured out into nothingness.
Chapter 11
“Hello?” Jay struggled to pick up the phone while attempting to soothe his temperamental son. Why did the phone always have to ring right as the baby was dropping off to sleep?
“Hey Jay, you got—?”
“One sec,” he whispered. Jay rubbed his son’s back, grateful he was settling back down. “It’s okay, lil’ man. Daddy’s right here.” When little Jayceon eventually let out a big huff and then breathed evenly again, Jay quietly crept to the door.
Jay walked to the kitchen, stepping over soiled clothes and smashed Cheerios bits strewn along the carpeted hallway, and opened the refrigerator to grab a cold beer. He sighed in appreciation as he took a sip and looked at the well-worn couch. Right at the spot he often sat. I just need five minutes. He could only dream of sleep, having been up for nearly two days straight since his wife had left, taking their daughter to Las Vegas for the National Spelling Bee. But the clutter of dishes in the sink wouldn’t wash themselves, and after that he had to do something about the rest of the house, which had fallen into heaping piles of mess. Kendra made it look so easy to keep things running smoothly. I’ll be so glad when she comes back. I missed the games… eating my own food… long showers. When she returned, Jay was going to kiss her feet.
Jay picked up the scrub brush and was about to clean the cheese-covered skillet, but suddenly remembered the phone in his pocket. His hands were covered in a lavender-scented film, causing him to fumble clumsily before getting the speakerphone button to work. “Shy, you still there?” Jay spoke in a rush.
“Yeah.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Sounds like a lot is going on. You good?”
