What's Blood Got to Do With It? Read online

  “I’m in the tub.”

  “Okay, I was just checking.” Adanya looked at her phone. The message light was blinking and her heart started racing.

  “Ur call. Do not want 2 intrude on time with ur mom,” he had texted.

  Adanya had a change of thought. She couldn’t invite Bleak to come over when she hadn’t explained to him that her mother did not know that she was her mother. It would be too confusing. No, she had to wait. This was her time to spend alone with Anaya. There would be other times she could spend with him, if she decided to.

  Adanya exhaled. She was glad that she had thought about the repercussions of what could have happened, had Bleak came over not knowing the truth about Anaya.

  She texted, “rain check” Part of her felt disappointed that she wouldn’t see him tonight. The other part was relieved.

  “understand hav good time w ur mom. gnite.”

  Adanya read the last text message and heard Anaya exiting the bathroom. “Do you need anything, Anaya?”

  “No, my bag is in my new bedroom. Mommy helped me pack my things.”

  “Well, I’ll get the popcorn started and we’ll have us some fresh, homemade lemonade. When you finish, come to the den.”

  “Okay.”

  Adanya heard Anaya close the door to her bedroom. She took the time to call Nanette and tell her what happened, or rather what didn’t happen.

  “I think you were right. I really hadn’t looked at it like that. I mean, who knows how it would have turned out if he walked in and said, ‘Oh, so you’re Adanya’s mother?’ Girl, that may have been hard to explain. But there’ll be other times. You better believe that. If he texted you that many times and practically invited himself over, then I know you’re going to be hearing from him again. And who says you have to wait for his call. Maybe you can invite him over during the week, or on a Sunday afternoon,” suggested Nanette.

  “You’re right. It’s no big deal anyway.” Adanya pretended like she wasn’t bothered. “Let me get this popcorn started. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Sure, I’ll be around.”

  That evening mother and daughter cuddled on the sofa and watched their movies, ate popcorn, and gulped lemonade while Snoopy relaxed on his doggie bed.

  ◊

  Morning ushered in a gorgeous, crisp, clear Saturday. Adanya was in her galley styled kitchen preparing homemade waffles, turkey sausage, and scrambled egg whites while she listened to Anaya singing in the bathroom. It felt good to hear the joyous sound of singing.

  After they finished breakfast, they took Snoopy for a walk and then decided to take a ride downtown. Once they made it to downtown Memphis, Adanya found an available parking space and they traded the car for a ride on the trolley.

  Adanya hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time. The time with Anaya was priceless. Despite Anaya’s challenges, Adanya felt exhilarated just by being around her.

  Several hours passed, and it was time to take Anaya home. “Did you have a good time, Aunt Anaya?”

  Anaya nodded. Her face was void of expression. She’d gone off into her own world, one where no one was allowed.

  Adanya didn’t press her. She focused her attention on the road ahead. The remainder of the drive echoed silence.

  Adanya turned into her grandparents’ driveway. Anaya, without saying a word, opened the car door just as soon as Adanya turned off the ignition.

  Anaya ran up to the door and rang the doorbell. Before Adanya barely had time to get out of her car, Gram had opened the door. Anaya hugged her before dashing past her and disappearing inside the house.

  “You’re coming in, aren’t you?” her grandmother asked.

  “No, I’m beat. Me and Aunt…Anaya were on the go. She’s tired too, I’m sure. She didn’t say anything to me on the drive over here.” Adanya frowned and stretched out her hands. “She went into her zone.”

  Gram nodded. “She’ll be okay. She’s home now. Don’t worry about it, ‘Danya. It’s the nature of your mother’s illness.”

  “Yes, I know that. I just hope that she doesn’t get stuck in that zone.”

  Chapter 12

  “We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.” F. Dostoevsky

  Bleak completed one of several projects he had been working on the past several days. The pounding rain always made him a little lazy, so he neatly gathered up his materials and put them away.

  He sat down in front of the picture window and started thinking about Adanya. He didn’t quite know what to make of her. She intrigued him. He liked the way she talked, her smile, her intellect, not to mention she was gorgeous.

  He was not the kind of guy that played the field or juggled women like some of his friends. He made it a practice to date one woman at a time. His stepfather told him that trying to juggle women would cause nothing but trouble and confusion, and playing the field only meant he’d be setting himself up to be kicked to the curve. Someone would get hurt in the long run. ‘Being a man means being responsible,’ he’d told Bleak many times. ‘It means respecting yourself, as well as the other person.’”

  His stepfather had been a part of his life for ten years,

  but his mother said she’d known him for thirteen years. Now Bleak was twenty-five years old, doing his own thing, but still holding on to the principles his stepfather taught him.

  Bleak’s biological father had been in and out of the penitentiary for as long as Bleak could remember. This last prison sentence he received was for ten to twenty-five years. He wrote his daddy occasionally, and at least twice a year Bleak forced himself to make the trek to Texas State Penitentiary, nicknamed "Walls Unit," to visit him. He hated to go behind the steel walls, but he wanted to be the best son he could be, and treat his father the way God treated him - with forgiveness.

  When his mother first introduced Bleak to his stepfather, he was apprehensive about his mother dating a black man, but she reminded him that God is no respecter of persons. Plus, the fact that his stepfather seemed to act like the sun and moon rose and set on his mother, made Bleak accept the man quite easily.

  Bleak switched his thoughts away from his family and flipped them back on Adanya. He studied his phone carefully, and Adanya’s name was at the top of his Contacts list.

  He dialed her number, not knowing what he was going to say if she answered.

  Adanya answered. “Hello,”

  “Hi, are you and Snoopy okay over there?”

  “Yep, why do you ask?”

  “This storm doesn’t seem like it’s about to let up.”

  “I know. Thanks for thinking about us.” A loud crack of thunder and a giant flash of lightning startled Adanya. She screamed into the phone.

  “Hey, you okay?” he asked again.

  “That sounded like something was struck by lightning.” Instantly, she was surrounded by darkness. “Hey, did your lights just go out?”

  “Yeah, they did.” Another round of thunder roared. “I guess I won’t hold you. I was just checking on you. If it’s all right with you, I’ll hit you up after this storm lets up.”

  “Ahhh,” she screamed when yet another bolt of lightning streaked across her patio door. “Bleak, I hate to sound like a kid, but I hate storms. They make me scared, and uneasy. I hope the lights come back on soon.”

  “You want me to come over?” He detected her hesitation and was sure she was going to turn him down.

  “Ughh, it’s bad out there. You’ll get drenched.”

  “I’ve got something for that. Just answer me; do you want me to come over?”

  Thunder continued to pound the air, knocking on the earth like it was trying to force itself into a bolted door. Adanya screamed again.

  “Yes,” she cried into the phone.

  Bleak put on his polo boots, and went to the coat closet and searched for his all-over rain suit. He hurriedly put it on, grabbed his cell phone, his ke
ys, and ran out into the fierce thunderstorm. He jumped over forming pools of water, and raindrops pounded him like bullets.

  He barely had a chance to knock when the door flew open. Adanya reached out and practically pulled him inside. “Come on. Get out of that storm.”

  The wind was powerful. Trees swayed and debris sailed through the air like feathers through the wind.

  “Man, I got here just in time. Looks like it’s about to be a tornado out there. That wind almost knocked me down, and that rain is no joke either.” Bleak started removing his rain ensemble.

  “Stay put,” Adanya told him. “Take off your shoes; I’ll put your rain gear in the bathroom.”

  “Thanks.”

  Adanya took hold of the soaking wet items and went to put them in the guest bathroom. “Make yourself at home if you can find your way around here. I just lit some candles,” she said, talking to him from the bathroom.

  “I’ll wait up here.”

  “Okay. It’ll just take a minute.”

  Bleak watched as seconds later she stepped back into the hallway. He could make out her slender silhouette, and to him she looked radiant as the candles flickered like lightning bugs.

  “Have you always been afraid of storms?” he asked as she took hold of his hand and led him into the living room. He didn’t say anything, but it took him by surprise. Her hand was soft and he pushed back the desire to caress it.

  “Yes, I guess you can say that. But I was living at home with my parents, so I felt safe. This is the first time I’ve lived alone, other than when I was in college, but even then I had a roommate. This time, I’m really, really living by myself, and I guess it’s going to take some getting used to.” She followed the light from the candles, and led him to the sofa. “Have a seat,” she offered. He did.

  “I’ll stay as long as you want me to. But you know, I was shocked that you let me come.”

  “Oh, well,” Adanya looked away. “I guess I should have been more cautious. I really don’t know you all that well.”

  “Come on, now,” Bleak stated. “I didn’t mean it like that. What I’m saying is that you seem to be a very private woman, one that doesn’t let just anybody into her space. So I guess you can say that I feel, well I feel special.” He laughed lightly.

  “Oh, is that right?”

  He could see that she was smiling, and he smiled back. “I take it we’re not strangers anymore?”

  “I certainly hope not. I wouldn’t dare allow a stranger into my humble abode,” she chuckled and then jumped when a huge tree branch hit against her patio.

  Bleak, on instinct grabbed hold of her and held her in his arms. He could feel her trembling, so he gently began to massage her hands as he held on to her.

  She didn’t resist, but rather clung to him even tighter. One round after another, the thunder and lightning played tag and the wind howled like an angry wolf. The lights in the flat began to flicker.

  “You think they’re getting ready to come back on?” Adanya asked. “I don’t know. Maybe,” Bleak answered without letting her go.

  “But it’s going to be fine. I won’t leave you. I’ll stay right here.”

  Adanya looked up at him.

  He returned her gaze. “Let’s talk,” he said.

  “About what?”

  “Each other. I want to know more about you. Where did you go to college? Are you from here? Are your parents still living? How many brothers and sisters do you have? Where’s the lucky guy? Why isn’t he here with you?”

  “You sure want to know a lot. But since you want to know everything, why don’t I just tell you my entire history,” she said mockingly.

  “That’s cool.”

  Adanya giggled. “I’ll tell you my secrets if you tell me yours.” “Deal.”

  For the next hour, between the thunder and the lightning, the howling wind, and the pounding rain, they talked.

  “So, you have two little sisters? That must be neat,” Adanya said.

  “It is. I was so used to it being just me and my twin sister, but when my mother remarried and had more kids, it was great. She’s happier than she’s been in years,” Bleak explained. “And I love being a big brother. My stepfather is way cool, and so right now I’d say I can’t complain.”

  Adanya briefly thought about her dysfunctional family. She couldn’t believe that she’d told Bleak about everything that had happened. But he had a way of making her feel like she could tell him anything, and so she basically did.

  “Have you thought about moving your mother in with you?” he asked.

  “I have, but I don’t think it would be a good idea.” “Why?”

  “Because, like I told you, my mother has some serious special needs. She’s used to her world being a certain way, and she’s used to having things done in a certain way. Me,” Adanya touched her chest, “well, I have my career, and I’m always on the go. And, plus, I don’t want to do anything to confuse her.”

  “I admire you for that,” he complimented.

  “Don’t admire me too much. I can’t even find it in my heart to forgive my parents, so please; don’t put me up on a pedestal.”

  “I didn’t think that was what I was doing. And I still admire you. I mean, here you are, all your life you grew up thinking your aunt was your mother. And, then to find out about it the way that you did, well, it takes a strong person to deal with something like that.” The lights popped back on.

  “Yayyy,” Adanya said and moved from against Bleak. “They’re baaack.”

  Bleak got up from the sofa and walked over to the living room window. “The rain is letting up some, but the wind is still strong. And I see lightning over toward the east. But I’d say it’s calming down.”

  Adanya stretched and yawned. “I just hope it stops altogether, because if it doesn’t, I’ll be up all night.”

  Bleak turned and walked back toward her. “Then I’ll just have to stay up all night with you.” He locked into her soft brown eyes.

  She turned away without responding. “Hey, why don’t I pop us some popcorn. We can finish talking if you’d like.”

  “Only if you put on tons of butter.”

  “Butter for you it will be.”

  “What about you?”

  “I don’t like butter.”

  “You don’t like butter? Girl, shame, shame, shame. How can you say you’re from the south and you don’t like butter?” he joked. “I see I am definitely going to have to hang around you more often.”

  “And.” Adanya smiled. “Why is that? You want to learn how to eat more healthy?”

  “No, I want to learn all about you, Miss Adanya Anniston. I want to know everything.”

  Chapter 13

  “When you're looking for someone, you're looking for some aspect of yourself, even if you don't know it ... What we're searching for is what we lack.” Sam Shepard

  “So you two are going out again? What is this? The third, fourth time?” asked Nanette.

  “The fifth since you’re counting,” Adanya said and chuckled. “And I cannot wait.”

  “Good for you. I had a feeling that he was a cool dude.”

  “Hold up; it’s nothing serious. We’re just friends.”

  “You don’t have to convince me. Maybe you have to convince yourself.”

  Adanya played around with the straw in her glass of lemonade. “He’s just, well so different from anyone I’ve ever met. He listens to me and he doesn’t judge me. I feel like I can just be myself around him.”

  “You are serious about him, aren’t you? Tell me the truth. Come on out and say it, Adanya.”

  “Okay, so I’ll admit it. I like him. I like him a lot.”

  Nanette laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You,” Nanette said between snickers. “I can honestly say that you are a trip, girl. It’s your best friend over here. You could have told me in the first place how you felt about dude.”

  “It’s nothing to tell. Yes, I like him
, but that’s all to it.”

  Nanette flipped a hand up in the air, then tossed a chip in her mouth. “Whatever. So where are you going tonight?”

  “To see that new play at Minglewood Hall.”

  “I heard that. Well, I hope you have a good time. And do everything I think about doing,” Nanette laughed again.

  “You are some best friend. If I followed your advice, I’d be in a world of trouble.” Adanya laughed along with Nanette.

  They ate the remainder of their lunch before returning to their respective jobs.

  ◊

  Adanya finished her last lecture, and rushed out of the building with her purse and laptop tote in hand. The weather outside was perfect for a night out with Bleak.

  They had talked every single day since the night he came over during the storm, and that had been almost a month ago. She’d seen him just as much, and couldn’t wait to see him again tonight. There was something different about Bleak. At first, she was hesitant to get to know him, but he was easy to fall for.

  He reminded her of her daddy in a lot of ways. Not the daddy that betrayed her, but the one she grew up loving more than anyone on the face of the earth. She still missed him, missed talking to him, missed spending time with him, but the other part of her, the new Adanya as she called herself was a big girl. A big girl who was out on her own, living her own life, and doing her own thing. With each day that passed, she learned how to cope with the decision she’d made to strike her parents out of her life.

  On the way home, she stopped at Macy’s to buy herself a brand new outfit. She was a clothesaholic, and so she never got her fill of buying something new. She browsed the clothes racks for an hour or more before she chose a simple printed, center-pleat, shift dress. It took far less time to find a pair of stylish shoes to match.

  Adanya paid for her purchases and headed home. The familiar tone notifying her that she had a text message sounded while she was driving. Knowing she shouldn’t be driving and texting, she ignored what was right, and grabbed her phone from the console and flipped to the text screen.