39
Paula
I WAS SO HAPPY TO have something to do other than sitting around, wallowing in grief. I hoped that I hadn’t stepped on Greg’s toes, but I’d completely taken over the birthday planning.
“So, do you like this one or that one?” I asked my sister as I pointed at the small sample cakes in front of us. I’d dragged Charlene along to test out the different cake options for Felise’s party. I was using this lady in Baytown who made fabulous cakes. Her bakery was a forty-five-minute drive, but the cakes were really delicious.
“This is some slap-your-mama cake,” Charlene said, biting into another slice of the pineapple-kiwi cake.
“I’ll give you five dollars if you do it.”
“You’re trying to get me killed.” Charlene laughed. “So which one are you going to go with?”
“I don’t know. They are all so good.” My eyes scanned the six different samples laid out in front of me. The baker, Mrs. Barbara, was patiently waiting for us to decide which one we wanted. “I’m leaning toward the kiwi because Felise loves kiwi.”
“Yeah, that one is definitely off the chain,” Charlene said. “But really, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.”
I placed the order and paid the extra fee to have the cake delivered to the restaurant where Greg was having Felise’s surprise party.
“So, Felise still doesn’t know about the party?” Charlene asked once we were back in the car.
“No, it’s a surprise.”
She turned up her nose. She hadn’t said much else about Felise, but my friend’s absence had gotten under her skin. “Why are you the one running all over town?” Charlene asked.
“I offered to do it,” I replied. “Felise has been a godsend to me, and this is helping me get up and get my mind off things. Besides, it’s the first time you and I have had a chance to spend any time together.”
As much as she could work my nerves, I loved hanging out with my little sister. She had a way of making me forget all my problems and just enjoy life.
“Yeah, I hate that I have to leave tomorrow,” Charlene replied.
“Me, too. I’ve really enjoyed having you here, although I wish it had been under different circumstances. And thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“Including losing Tahiry?” she asked with a grin.
“Yes, including letting my daughter go off like she’s grown.” I shook my head at that memory. I wasn’t too mad at Charlene. Tahiry could be quite persuasive if she wanted to be.
“There’s a reason I don’t and won’t have kids.” She laughed.
We made more small talk on the long drive home. She filled me in on how things were going in New York. She was scheduled to start working as an apprentice for Vera Wang on the first of the next month. Since I knew how much she loved fashion design, I couldn’t have been more proud.
“So, do you need me to take you to the airport in the morning?” I asked as I turned into my driveway.
“No, this guy I met last week is going to take me.”
I shook my head. “Only you would come to town for a funeral and leave with a man. How did you . . . You know what?” I threw my hand up. “Never mind. I don’t even want to know.”
Of course my sister continued anyway. “Girl, I met him at the store the other day. He lives here in Houston, but he just got drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. You know that ain’t but a hop, skip, and a jump from New York. Baby sister is about to work her magic so I can become a football wife.”
Charlene looked like a taller version of Kerry Washington, with the body of Serena Williams, which was funny considering the closest she got to working out was passing a gym on her way to the mall.
“Just be careful. You know some of those ball players are some big dogs,” I warned as I parked and turned the car off.
“You don’t have to tell me to be careful. I told you, I’m not like you. I believe most men are going to cheat. If you know that going in, you’ll be all right when it happens.”
That casual statement stopped me short. “So, I’m just supposed to be okay with what Steven did?”
“Nah, you ain’t supposed to be okay,” she said. “But it’s not the end of the world. If—and that’s a big if—if he did do something, it probably wasn’t his first time. And if he’d lived, it wouldn’t have been his last. But I don’t think it lessens the love he had for you. Men are driven by hormones. He probably saw some chick there, hooked up with her, she left, and he died in his sleep. I think you can take comfort in knowing that he wasn’t in love with somebody else.”