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

  She resolved that the sooner she got her own spot, the sooner she could get on with revamping her own life and maybe reaching out to establish a closer relationship with Anaya.

  Adanya ate while she drove in the direction of the college. There were several apartment complexes in and around the area. If she moved close to the college campus she could walk or sometimes bike to work. Adanya released a giggle at the thought of seeing herself all suited, booted, and riding a bike. She slowed her pace and turned into a complex that looked appealing.

  Umm, these look nice, and new too. Even better than the ones I saw the other day. Adanya drove farther into the complex until she saw the leasing office. Outside of the office was a box that held brochures. She got out of her car and retrieved one. She pulled into a parking space, but kept the engine going, while she studied the different floor plans the complex offered.

  Adanya concentrated on looking at apartments and townhomes with at least two bedrooms. She wanted to have space for Anaya to come on some weekends. That way she could spend time getting to really know the person that lived inside Anaya’s world. It was not going to be an easy feat, Adanya believed, but she was determined that she was not going to turn her back on her real mother, whether Anaya understood their connection or not. It was time for a change in her life. Maybe what Gram said was partially true. Maybe God could turn around what had happened, and miraculously work it out for good.

  Adanya was about to end her apartment search but was intrigued by a set of duplex flats she saw tucked on the corner of a side street. They were a little farther away from the college, but she could still make it to work by car in less than ten minutes. Her drive through the complex revealed a small complex of duplex flats with well-manicured lawns, private garages, a small convenience store on site, along with several other quaint businesses. She felt like she hit gold when she saw someone walking their dog. It had to be divine intervention for her to see the For Lease sign in front of one of the flats. Adanya stopped in front of the sign and wrote down the information.

  I’m going to call. No sense in putting off later what I can do now. No one answered, but a pleasant voice invited her to leave her information. Adanya did. Her phone rang moments after she ended the call.

  “Yes, I just called,” she explained to the agent on the other end of the line. “I left a message about the flat you have for lease on Central Avenue.” Adanya listened to the man as he told her about the twelve hundred and ninety-five square foot duplex flat. The private community was less than three years old. The duplex came furnished, had two bedrooms, a den, two bathrooms, an eat in kitchen, a private patio, and it was pet friendly. Adanya sucked in a deep breath. It sounded like everything she wanted. She released a welcoming sigh when he told her the monthly rate. It was well within her budget. She never had to worry about money before, but now she was determined that she was no longer going to expect or rely on her parents’ hefty income to give her the lifestyle she had grown accustomed to. If she had to start from scratch that was what she was going to do.

  Adanya made an appointment to meet with the leasing manager in an hour to tour the place. She remained in the area, checking out the rows of businesses located inside the community. There was a high end store stocked with bedding items, kitchen accessories, and decorative pieces that she could purchase to fix up the flat. She became giddy with excitement at the thought.

  Time flew by a lot more quickly after she started imagining all the things she could do with a place of her own. She pulled up in front of the flat and waited. She didn’t have to wait long because a car pulled up and parked next to her. A portly looking man got out and looked in her direction. She let down her window.

  “Are you the leasing manager?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The man walked over to her car and quickly passed Adanya one of his business cards. “Roy Mathis.”

  “Adanya Anniston,” she responded, as she opened her door and stepped out of her car.

  They talked while the two of them walked toward the unit. As soon as he opened the door, Adanya’s eyes grew big.

  “Ahhh, this is really nice.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  After the tour she decided to apply for it. Mr. Mathis informed her that if she were approved for the duplex, the move-in date would be the first of the month, just three weeks away.

  Divine intervention or making a move without thinking: Adanya didn’t know which it was, but she did know that it felt good to be taking some control over her life – everyone else had managed to ruin it.

  Chapter 9

  “At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything

  forgivable.” M. V. Olsen and W. Sheffer

  Adanya pulled up to the curbside at the Memphis Airport baggage terminal. She had barely enough time for the traffic cop to blow the deafening whistle ordering her to move, when Nanette came running up to the car.

  Nanette opened the car door while Adanya popped the trunk for her so she could place her two pieces of luggage inside. Nanette rushed into the passenger’s side and hugged Adanya.

  “How was Denver?”

  “Girl, I had a good time. I think there may have been one sibling argument. But that made it all worthwhile. There’s nothing better than being with your family and having that all important silly, family argument where everybody screams, hollers, and then gathers around the table to eat dinner like nothing ever occurred.” Nanette giggled, so did Adanya.

  “I figured you were enjoying yourself, which is why I didn’t bother calling or texting you.”

  “I didn’t talk to Gerald that much either.”

  “You,” Adanya pointed jokingly, “did not talk to Gerald? Now that’s a shock.”

  Nanette laughed. “I said we didn’t talk that much. Hey, hold up, where’s Snoopy?” Nanette looked in the back seat as if he would pop up like Jack-In-The-Box.

  “I left him sprawled out on the rug, snoring like a little old man.”

  “You spoiled him,” Nanette commented.

  “He’ll be all right, especially when he sees you. How was the weather in Denver?”

  “Other than what Coloradans consider to be nothing special, it hovered around thirty degrees, but what can I say? Being back at home felt absolutely beautiful. I call it God’s country.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I wish you’d been there to witness it for yourself. The snow was simply a picture that God painted. No painter in the world could replicate it.” Nanette exhaled. “Anyway, what happened while I was gone? I hope you have some good news to share about you and your family, or better still, Bleak.”

  “Hold up, hold up, let me dispel any preconceived notions you have right now. There is nothing to tell about me and Bleak because there is no me and Bleak. And as for my family, things haven’t changed their either.” Adanya drove out of the airport terminal and onto the busy street. “Anyway, you act like you’ve been gone since forever. If something had changed, you know I would have called or texted you.”

  “I know.” Nanette leaned her head back against the headrest. “I’m beat. I can’t wait to get home and flop across my bed.”

  “I hear you,” said Adanya. She stopped at the traffic light. “I will tell you this.”

  “What?” Nanette rolled her head to the left and looked at Adanya’s profile.

  “House sitting, or should I say apartment sitting,” she laughed, “allowed my mind to rest. It was like a sense of healing for me, you know. It alerted me to some changes I need to make.”

  “I hope this means you’re going to hang around in Memphis and keep being my best friend and roommate.”

  “Yes.” She paused. “And no.”

  Nanette’s head popped up, her eyes bucked. “What do you mean by yes and no?”

  “I put in an application for a duplex flat a couple of blocks from the college.”

  “I still don’t know why you insist on moving. I told you, we could be roommates. We could rent a
larger place and each have our own space.”

  “It’s time for me to be on my own. Look at you. You have your own spot. You don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself. I got a taste of that while you were gone. It felt good being on my own. I imagined having a place for me and Snoopy, and a place to bring Anaya. She could have her own room. And it’s not like I can’t afford it.”

  Nanette nodded. “True.”

  “Up until all of this family drama, I never had a reason to move out. I’ve heard Gram say that God works in mysterious ways. This may be one of those times. And she also said that every grown person needs their own place.”

  “I understand where you’re coming from. It does feel good having my own spot. What about Spelman? Sounds like relocating is a thing of the past, huh?”

  Adanya didn’t hesitate. “Actually, I thought it and it would have been a good career move, but when I got honest with myself, I thought, hey I already have a great job, one that I love. And if I relocate, then I won’t have time to get to know Anaya as my mother. I can’t do anything about the years we lost being mother and daughter, but I can’t ever look at her as being anything less than that. I want to spend as much time with her as possible.”

  “I guess that’s that on that.” Nanette shrugged before she rolled her head to the right.

  Minutes later, Adanya and Nanette were close to home. “Do you need to stop somewhere? Get something to eat?” offered Adanya

  “No, I’m good. I’ll make a sandwich or something when we get home. Unless you and Snoopy have cleared out the refrigerator.”

  “Ha, ha. We did throw this huge house party. Everybody in the neighborhood, including Snoopy’s friends were invited,” joked Adanya.

  “As long as I can’t tell when I get home,” commented Nanette, followed by a chuckle. “Still haven’t talked to your parents?

  “Nope. Daddy is still calling, and I still keep hitting Ignore, hoping he’ll get the message. I’ve talked to Gram and Gramps, but that’s mostly to ask about Anaya and check on how she’s doing.”

  When they arrived at Nanette’s apartment, they removed her luggage and quickly opened the side door leading into the apartment. Snoopy rushed to the door with a wagging tale, and whining for his share of love. Nanette stooped down and kissed him on his black, cold nose, before he immediately turned to his owner. Adanya picked him up and kissed the top of his head. “You are such a brat, you know that, Snoopy. Such a brat,” she repeated and kissed him again.

  “I’m tired, so I’m going to hit the shower, then take me a nap. I feel like I’ve been up for two weeks.”

  “You aren’t going to eat?”

  “Nahhh, I changed my mind. Maybe later. After I get up.”

  “I might be gone when you wake up I’m going to call my grandparents and see about going to spend a little time with Anaya.”

  “Cool, be careful. I’m out.” Nanette carried her luggage to her bedroom and disappeared.

  Adanya called her grandparents.

  “Hello.”

  “Gram, it’s Adanya.”

  “How are you, ‘Danya?”

  “I’m good, Gram. I was calling to see what Aunt Anaya was doing this afternoon. I want to come by and pick her up, maybe take her for a ride, grab something to eat.”

  Silence was on the other end of the phone. Adanya thought she heard a deep inhale and then a slow exhale. “I guess it’ll be all right. What time will you be here?”

  “As soon as I see if Aunt Anaya wants me to pick her up. She may not feel comfortable. I mean how many times have I actually picked her up and taken her somewhere? Once, maybe twice—that I can recall.”

  Gram Kaplan answered back. “Anaya loves to go. She’s what I call, car happy. All you have to do is mention the word ‘go’ and she’s sitting on ready.” Gram Kaplan giggled into the phone.

  Adanya giggled too. “After I talk to her, I can be there in less than an hour. Will that be too soon because I can make it a little later. It’s just a little after one o’clock.”

  “No, that’s plenty of time. Call and tell her you’re coming. You’re going to make her day. She loves when somebody calls her.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Adanya heard her Gram’s infectious laughter for the first time since the family secret had bought an ugly, gaping, dark hole of division. Maybe things could somehow work out─not today; but maybe one day.

  Adanya dialed Anaya’s phone.

  “Hello.” Anaya spoke loudly into the phone. “This is Anaya. Who is this?” she asked. Her voice was definitely high pitched and sounded excited.

  “Hi, Aunt Anaya. It’s Adanya.

  “Pretty Adanya?” she seemed to ask and sounded like she couldn’t believe Adanya had called her. “You coming to see me?”

  “Me and Snoopy are coming to see you. Would you like to go riding with us and get something to eat?”

  Anaya adored Snoopy. Gram and Gramps had been thinking about getting her a small dog or cat for a companion. Mrs. Kaplan understood how soothing an animal could be for the elderly, people who live alone, and mentally and physically challenged individuals.

  “I want to go with you, Pretty Adanya.”

  Adanya heard Anaya clapping her hands. “Listen, Aunt Anaya. Gram is going to help you get ready.”

  “I’m already ready. Come soon, Pretty Adanya.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Adanya put on her coat, grabbed her keys and clutch bag and Snoopy’s leash. “Yes, you’re coming with me,” she told him. He jumped and wagged his tail nonstop. She scooped him up into her arms and they got in the car.

  When she arrived at her grandparents, Anaya was standing in the living room window with her apple red jacket on. Before Adanya could get out of the car, Anaya opened the front door and dashed outside.

  “Pretty Adanya and Snoopy.” Adanya opened the passenger door and Snoopy jumped up and dashed off toward Anaya. She bent down and let him lick her face all over, while Adanya got out of the car and went inside to let her grandparents know that she was there. Her grandmother came to the front door, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

  “What time are you bringing her back?”

  “In a couple of hours.”

  “Okay, be careful.”

  “Yes, Gram.”

  Adanya and Anaya went to one of Anaya’s favorite restaurants. Adanya wanted to give her a special surprise treat. It worked because it took almost all of the time they spent waiting on their orders before Adanya finally convinced Anaya that she had said thank you more than enough times. Moments like this. How many more have I missed being denied the right of knowing my real mother? Anger formed and rested at the base of her throat until she felt her breath quicken. She shook her head and forced herself to think about the present, and how happy she felt. This was time to start forming good memories. Adanya smiled.

  Anaya stepped forward on the heels of Adanya when the number was called for them to pick up their orders. They carried their trays of food to the booth by the window that Anaya chose. She told Anaya she could keep an eye on Snoopy. Anaya watched Snoopy looking out the back window of the car as people passed by. “Snoopy wants to come inside, Pretty Adanya.”

  “Snoopy is fine. He’s watching all of the people going back and forth.” Adanya cuffed both hands underneath her chin. She looked at her mother who was chomping on fries and waving at Snoopy. Why can’t life be just as pure and simple as the picture of unconditional love that’s showing on my mother’s face? Adanya had questions; plenty of them.

  Chapter 10

  “The thought of leaving home wasn’t something I wanted to think about, nor was it something I figured I would ever have to do.” Unknown

  It had been three weeks since Adanya’s move into her new, spacious flat. She enjoyed her short commute to work. Now that the weather was warming up, and Spring was approaching, there were some days she chose to walk rather than drive. She figured the extra exercise was good for her.

  Sn
oopy also liked the apartment. The enclosed patio provided a place for him to lounge outside without causing worry for Adanya. But all in all, she had to get adjusted to living in a small, more confining space, as compared to living with her parents.

  The fact that she was fully responsible for paying her own way had a positive impact on her life. She learned how to budget her finances. Living solely off of her instructor’s salary, without the aid of her parents’ generosity, wasn’t as tough as she had expected. Her father had taught her how to handle her finances wisely, about investments and savings. Each day, when she arrived home from work, she loved the feeling of being on her own.

  The past two Saturdays, Adanya had picked Anaya up and carried her along to shop for things for the new place. She used her need to furnish and decorate her apartment as an opportunity to spend time getting to learn more about Anaya.

  Adanya enjoyed spending time with Anaya, and Anaya always acted excited each time Adanya appeared at the door to get her. The two of them laughed and joked around. Adanya discovered that her mother had really good taste when it came to choosing items to decorate her first place.

  Anaya had a knack of finding some of the most interesting pieces. When Adanya first moved to the apartment and showed it to Anaya, she explained that one of the bedrooms was going to be hers. Adanya told her that she could decorate it anyway she wanted. Anaya had great taste in color coordination. It showed off in the coordinating home accessories she chose. The mother and daughter duo shopped until they dropped. It turned out they both enjoyed shopping at T. J. Maxx. Adanya promised Anaya that she was going to be able to spend the night with her sometimes. When Adanya told Anaya this, Anaya could barely contain herself. She bounced around in the car like a small school child. As soon as Adanya pulled into the driveway of her grandparent’s and turned off the car, Anaya rushed opened the door, got of the car and left Adanya following.

  “Mommy. Pretty Adanya said I could spend the night at her house one day.”