The ninety-minute drive from Richmond to D.C. whizzed by as Serena, Erika, Tawana, and Kami laughed, sang, and reveled in each other's company.
Serena tried to remember the last time she'd felt this lighthearted. By the looks of it, Erika and Tawana were asking themselves the same question. They had needed this getaway.
They strutted off the elevator like runway models when they reached the twenty-first floor of the northwest D.C. building that housed Charlotte's condo.
Charlotte enveloped each of them in heartfelt hugs. Dressed in her trademark blue jean overalls, her salt-and- pepper braids were pulled up into a bun, and her nails were manicured and polished a subtle red. For the first time since Erika had met her, Charlotte's round cheeks shimmered with a touch of blush, and she wore bronze eye shadow that made her eyes dazzle.
"You look absolutely beautiful," Erika said. "But please tell me you aren't going to wear those strapless sandals with these overalls?"
Charlotte swatted at Erika and laughed. She pointed toward the bedroom.
"My daughters have been over here all day, conducting a What Not to Wear session in my closet. Geri went out and bought me an outfit from Nordstrom's. So no, tonight these trusty denims will be staying home. The heels? Who knows?"
Geri and Tanya emerged from the bedroom and pointed at their mother. "What do you ladies think?"
Erika was stunned by how gorgeous Charlotte looked. The makeup accentuated her features, and she simply glowed.
"Who knew she was hiding all of this?" Erika asked, feeling as proud of Charlotte as her daughters must.
The last time Erika had heard from her biological mother, Lena was traveling the country with a truck driver boyfriend. Her previous relationship, with a man she met over the Internet, had eventually fizzled. In a moment of tenderness a year or so ago, Erika sent Lena a photo of Aaron. When she never heard back, she realized little had changed. Her mama was still a rolling stone.
The more Erika frequented church and listened to Micah share wisdom from the Bible, the more she understood what Serena meant when Serena talked about God "sending" people or "using" people to touch others.
When Erika had needed it most, God sent her what she'd always been missing. The love still wasn't coming from Lena, who she thought was the only one that could give it. Instead, Charlotte, who had seen her through the lowest points in her life, had been tapped for the job, and Erika thanked God every day.
Charlotte's children had long ago accepted Erika as a surrogate sibling and were excited to see her and her friends.
"Mom was so happy that you were coming and that your friends were joining you," Geri said. "She talks a lot about you, Serena. It's nice to finally meet you."
By the time all of the women had changed into semi-formal wear for the party, which was being held at a nearby church fellowship hall, Charlotte's two sons had arrived in their SUVs to transport them. Gerald's and Raymond's wives had driven separately with their children and were already waiting at the church.
The evening went quickly, and after Charlotte's boss, Audrey, gave her farewell speech, she called Charlotte to the podium.
Charlotte motioned for Erika and for her daughter, Tanya, to come forward.
Tanya and Erika exchanged curious glances but did as instructed. They stood just behind Charlotte and waited for more direction.
Charlotte thanked Audrey and her colleagues and shared her story of fleeing an abusive marriage. Then she gestured for Tanya and Erika to join her. Her daughter stood to her left and Erika to her right.
"I asked these ladies to come up here because they represent why I do what I do every day at Naomi's Nest, and why I will continue to further the work of this women’s shelter as executive director."
Erika was stunned to see tears fill her friend's eyes. In all the years they had known each other, she had only witnessed Charlotte's strength. But as Charlotte turned to her eldest daughter, Tanya, the tears flowed freely.
"The night I left my husband, with Tanya and her three siblings in tow, this girl looked at me with her big brown eyes and asked, 'Mommy, do you know what you're doing? How do you know they won't beat you at the shelter?"'
Everyone joined Charlotte in laughing at the memory.
"I knew then that I had something on my hands. But more importantly, I knew it was time to go, to save my life and hers, so she wouldn't grow up thinking beatings and verbal abuse were signs of love. Every time I look at Tanya and Geri and my sons, Gerald and Raymond, and see what beautiful lives and families they now have, I know that coming to Naomi's Nest gave me the gift of a new start."
There wasn't a dry eye in the room by the time Charlotte turned toward Erika, who was dabbing her cheeks with a napkin.
"And this little bitty thing here—" Laughter filled the room as Charlotte leaned over and hugged Erika, who stood a foot shorter than she. "She came to the shelter afraid of everything—the spiritual music I played, the prayers and Scriptures that flowed freely from my lips, the unconditional friendship I offered. But when I figured out what Erika needed, I was able to reach her.
"That's all we have to do with anyone we know who's hurting. Figure out what they need, and when you fill that need, they'll open their hearts to you and to all the other good things you have to share with them."
She smiled at Erika.
"Erika's biological mother is still alive, but when I met her, she needed someone to scold her when she was wrong, hold her when she was scared, and cheer her on when she was on the right track. It has been a blessing to fill that role in her life and to be there for her son as well."
Charlotte faced the podium and the audience again.
"I share all that to say that what has brought me from battered wife to executive director is the same thing that will sustain each of us on our journeys—L-O-V-E. Under my leadership, love will continue to be integral to the mission of Naomi's Nest, along with securing grant funds, donations, and the volunteer support we desperately need. If you haven't already done so, consider joining us in this important and lifesaving work."
Hours later, back at Charlotte's condo, the mood was solemn. Kami flipped channels with the TV remote while Erika and Tawana played checkers.
Charlotte strolled into the living room wearing a comfortable pair of overalls.
"What gives, ladies? It's only 9:30.1 know you aren't tuckered out already. What do you want to do?"
Serena, who was sprawled on the floor, flipping through recent issues of Essence, looked up and smiled.
"That speech rocked our world, Charlotte. We feel like we're in the presence of greatness. What are we supposed to do?"
Charlotte shook her head and took the remote from Kami. "Y'all are pitiful. Come down off the mountaintop and let's do something. I'm sixty-one years old and have more energy than you guys. I know you didn't travel from Richmond just to sit around like little old ladies. If nothing else, want to rent a movie?"
Erika, Serena, Tawana, and Kami looked at each other and answered in unison:
"Set It Off."