Two weeks later Siri stood in her classroom at the elementary school wondering where to start. The room she was assigned was more like a penitentiary than a classroom. The walls appeared to be blue-grey, she thought, but the windows were definitely grey. How are children supposed to expand their minds in such a dreary environment? She asked herself. Something had to be done.
Well, first things first, she thought as she started to place her purse on the desk, but then thought again. The desk was just as dirty as the windows. She turned and left the room. When Siri reached her car, she opened the trunk and put her purse inside. She pulled out her cell phone and put it in the back pocket of her jeans. Siri reached back inside the trunk and pulled out the plastic container with cleaning supplies. She closed the trunk, put the alarm on, and walked back to the classroom. As she walked past the principal’s office, she noticed a few people gathered, but did not bother to stop. She had a lot of work to do and no time for conversation.
Thankfully, when she returned to the room, the janitor had left the bucket of water she had requested earlier. The cleaning process began at her desk, and then carried on to the blackboard and students’ desks. As she cleaned the desks, she moved them out and stacked them in the hallway to make room so she could scrub the floor. On her hands and knees, she began scrubbing each square of the floor. After what seemed like an eternity, finally she reached the door and was backing out of the room when a voice interrupted her.
“I don’t believe you ever got into that position for me Mrs. Austin.”
She looked over her shoulder and was surprised to see Carl, her ex-husband, staring down at her. Lord, why now? Of all the times, why would you have him see me on my knees in dirty jeans with my hair sweated out? Trying hard to ignore the urge to clean herself up, she continued with the task and responded, “Mrs. Austin is your mother. If you ask I’m sure she’ll try.”
“Mrs. Austin that was cruel and uncalled for. Mr. Austin is here out of concern for the conditions in our facility. I will not have you being disrespectful,” declared Roscoe Ford, the principal.
Siri closed her eyes and hung her head; she should have known butt-hole number two was not far behind. He always had been a foot deep up Carl’s butt. “If you two haven’t noticed, I’m busy. I don’t have time for idol chit chat.”
“I suggest you make the time. Would you stand please?” Roscoe the butt-hole demanded. Siri threw the sponge into the dirty water and did as she was asked.
“You always treated me like I was beneath you. What you don’t realize is Mr. Austin is the only reason you are working here. If I had my way you would never work in another school.”
“If I had my way you would have taken a tic-tac before talking to me, but we all have our crosses to bear,” Siri replied.
Roscoe took a step towards her and Carl stopped him. “Roscoe let me handle this. Oh, and by the way, don’t ever speak to my wife in that tone again.”
The look of disdain was clear on Roscoe Ford’s face. “Of course Mr. Austin,” he replied as he sneered in her direction and walked away.
Carl turned to her and stared. She could be wrong, but it seemed he was pleased to see her. She cleared her throat, “I’m no longer your wife. Your mother made sure of that. If there’s nothing else, I’m busy.”
“I can see that. Why are you scrubbing the floor?”
“Because the floor is dirty, the desks are filthy, the windows are dingy, and the room is basically unsanitary. But you don’t care because none of your family will have to go here.”
“Let me take a look.” He looked at her standing in the doorway. If only his mother could see the beautiful woman, he saw whenever he looked at her. If only he could have stood up for her, she would still be his. Seeing her standing in the doorway as if defending her territory he remembered how passionate she was about children and regretted he never gave her a child. “Please.”
Siri looked down the hallway at the number of teachers that were standing outside their door listening. Most were afraid of saying anything to her because they feared the wrath of Queen Austin, mother to butt-hole number one. She was one of the most powerful women in Richmond City Government and a member of the School Board. One word from her and you could easily be transferred to one of the worst schools in the district.
Cashmere Wagstaff, the only friend Siri had at the school, stood in the doorway of her class across the hallway. She always had a soft spot for Carl. She nodded her head indicating to let him see the room. Siri stepped aside and allowed Carl into the room.
Stepping inside, he immediately felt the despair Siri was referring too. He could only imagine what it was like before she began cleaning. “What do you need to make it presentable?”
There were times when Carl showed he had a heart, but as soon as he mentioned anything to his mother, the kindness would disappear. She had witnessed his efforts to do things and his mother talking him out of whatever she could, stripping him of his self-pride. “Thanks, but I’ll pass on the unrequited hope.”
“Siri, I’m serious. Tell me what you need and I will have it done before the week is out.” He knew she’d heard the words before, but what she did not know was that he had learned how to get around his mother. His only wish was that he had learned that lesson a year ago.
Knowing he meant well, mixed with the fact that as a member of city council he had the influence to get the job done, Siri looked around the room. “Paint and clean windows would be a good start,” she stated. A fan or two and a working heater for each of the rooms couldn’t hurt. A good supply of books, computers for every student and more staff would be nice.”
“Okay Siri, you and I know that’s not going to happen. Painting and windows will be done by Friday.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. Placing his call, he looked into her suspicious eyes. “I promise it will be done if I have to come and do the job myself.” During the call, Siri moved the clean desks back into the classroom. The call ended about fifteen minutes later. “The Grounds Department indicated it would be cost effective to do the entire building, which would have to be scheduled. The supervisor can’t put together a team by this weekend. Do you think you could get some volunteers together? I’ll pitch in.”
Not sure if she should believe him or not, Siri hesitated. “What about Ford? Will you get it cleared through him?”
“Roscoe will do whatever I ask.”
“I can get a few people to join in,” she replied. Silence pursued for a few seconds. “Why are you here Carl?”
Carl leaned against one of the desks, folded his arms across his chest, and smiled. “I knew it was your first day and how much you love Roscoe, so I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Yeah, is that why you assigned me here?”
“No Siri. You were assigned here because these children need someone to give a damn about them. That someone is you. The whole time we were married you begged me to let you come here to teach. I wanted to give you something to show you how much I care.” Catching his error, he stood and walked towards the door then stopped before exiting. “I didn’t do a good job of making you happy during our marriage. I thought I would try again.” He hesitated then walked out the door.
♪
That evening Siri appeared in the kitchen with dirt from head to toe. TK was sitting at the breakfast bar fumbling with her camera equipment. She looked up at Siri and smirked, “What dumpster did you crawl out of?”
Looking at her sister whose appearance was dangerously sensuous tonight, she asked, “Going somewhere?”
Placing her equipment on the counter top, she stood and posed. “I have a date and I’m going for elegant, sensual, and irresistible. Does this outfit qualify?”
The form fitting, backless, red dress stopped above her knees and clung to every curve of her body. Her red sandaled heels and a diamond ankle bracelet completed the ensemble. “If you are planning on his tongue hanging out, I’ll say the dress will do.” Their mother, Kerri stared as she walked into the room. “Who are you going out with tonight?”
“She took a seat at the table. A friend from Atlanta is in town and we’re having dinner.”
Her mother looked over and frowned at Siri, “What dumpster did you crawl out of?”
“My classroom,” Siri replied as she sat at the table in a huff. “Do I have enough time to shower before dinner?”
“Sure, I’ll wait for you, since TeKaya is eating out.” Kerri turned to TK. “What is this man’s name?”
“I didn’t say it was a man.”
“You didn’t have to, the dress said it, and from the looks of it, he must be special.”
Siri chuckled, “Don’t come home pregnant.”
TK scowled and poked her tongue out at he sister, “He is not getting any tonight, maybe next time.”
“Name TeKaya, his name,” her mother asked again.
She sighed deeply, “His name is Jason Davies, and he is a music executive based in Atlanta. He is single, one daughter and a partridge in a pair tree.”
Siri sat up, “You’re going out with Silk Davies brother?”
“Yes, I am.” She smiled sheepishly.
“I take it you are referring to the singer. How well do you know this man?” her mother asked.
“I met him two weeks ago, but I feel as if I have known him all my life. Is that possible Mommy? Is it possible to meet someone whose aura is so in tune with your own that you believe life would be pointless without him?”
Siri and her mother looked at each other. “That sounds pretty serious, but yes it is possible.”
“TK, is um, Jason here alone?”
TK looked up at her, “I suppose, why do you ask?”
“I was just wondering,” Siri exhaled with relief.
“It sounds as if you are developing feelings for this man,” her mother probed.
“Mommy, the minute I saw him standing on the side of the stage, my heart stood still. At first I thought it was just the atmosphere of the night….it was so sensually charged wasn’t it Siri?”
Siri thought back to that night. “Mmm-hmm, more than I would ever say.”
“But then later that night we talked for hours, until the sun came up and the connection was unmistakable. I have not had a decent nights’ sleep since. He called about a week ago and said he was having a hard time getting me off his mind. I want to believe him, but you know me. I have to play it cool, take my time, and make sure this is what I want. Jason said he’s not in this for a game, he wants a serious relationship. I want to be sure before I make a commitment to him, you know what I mean Mommy?”
Siri smiled at her sister’s revelation. She knew she would see the two together again, it was written on both of their faces. Then her experience from that night came to mind. She closed her eyes and allowed the memory of Silk’s hands roaming her body to play blissfully, his voice caressing her soul like a soft violin and his lips, oh those lips kissing her in places she never would have imagined. Her toes were still tingling. When she opened her eyes her mother and TK were staring at her with questioning glares. She cleared her throat.
“Well,” Kerri smiled, “It seems my daughters had quite a night. Siri came home that morning with a renewed zest for life and it seemed you came home with something as well.” She looked at Siri who was the spitting imagine of her father with the dark cocoa brown skin, cool black eyes and wavy black hair that stopped below her shoulder blades. Then there is TK who was a mirror of herself. With her light mocha skin with huge brown eyes and long straight black hair that reached her waist. Physically, her girls were beautiful. She did all she could to keep them grounded and teach them the importance of real love in their lives. All she wanted was for each of them to experience the love she had had with their father. “You know, in 1976, no it was ’78, I was at Montclair State College at the time.”
Siri and TK looked at each other and rolled their eyes as they recognized the signs of a lengthy sermon on the horizon. “Mommy if this is going to be a Heathcliff Huxtable moment, I have to go take a shower.”
“You will do no such thing. You will sit here and listen until I finish talking.” Kerri turned away and continued her story.
Siri looked at TK who mouthed, “I am so sorry.”
Siri replied mouthing back, “I will get you for this.” They both sat and listened.
♪
The private jet was at the airport fueled and ready for the short trip to Richmond. Eric was downstairs in the limo waiting. It seemed he was more anxious about this trip than Jason, which seemed impossible.
At thirty-two, Jason was ready to settle down and the woman he wanted to make a permanent part of his life was in Virginia. A satisfied smile creased his lips as he remembered the twenty six year old photographer with the eyes of an angel and the looks of a goddess. Nothing had entered his mind for the last two weeks without her face preceding or following. The night they spent together remained prominent in his mind. They talked about his daughter, who meant the world to him, and her mother who he simply wanted to choke half the time and stomp the other half. He told her about their living arrangement and explained his reasons for living in the same house with his child’s mother. He thought she would have walked away, but she did not. She stayed and listened without judgment or question.
Walking down the stairs that led into the east wing of his house Jason could hear the giggles before he reached the room. Peeping inside the room decorated with teddy bears and space ships, three-year-old Sierra ran to him, “Daddy, Daddy look.”
Jason reached down, picked her up in his arms, and kissed her chocolate covered cheek. “Hello pumpkin. Is the candy good?”
Bobbing her head up and down she replied smiling, “Yummy Daddy, want some?” She pushed the remaining chocolate bar toward his mouth.
He bit a small piece. “Mum yummy. Where’s Mommy?”
“She went out Mr. Davies,” Gabby the live-in babysitter replied as she began picking up toys.
“Did she say when she would return?”
“Not really, but I don’t expect her until later or in the morning.”
“Alright,” Jason replied a little upset. “I have to go out of town, but I’ll return tonight. It may be a little late.” He looked into the face of his precious little girl. “Daddy loves Sierra.”
She put her chocolate covered hands on his cheeks and kissed the tip of his nose. “Sierra love Daddy,” she giggled.
Gabby reached out while laughing. “I’ll take her Mr. Davies. I’m afraid you’re going to have to change your shirt.”
“It’s alright Gabby. We’ll walk out to the car so she can give her Uncle Eric a chocolate kiss.”
♪
After cleaning his cheek of the chocolate kiss from his adorable niece, Eric sat on the eight seat private plane ready to take off for Virginia. While he waited for Jason to change his shirt, he began strumming notes that continued to invade his mind on his guitar. Closing his eyes the vision that awakened him each morning came to mind. She laid asleep in his arms, her eyelashes fluttered open, the most incredible black eyes he had ever seen looked into his, and a smile as warm as the sun graced her face. Transfixed, he allowed the image to transfer and the music to sooth his soul. The melody began smooth, soft, intriguing; then the heart of the music began its crescendo as the images of the woman from Virginia filled his mind and reached the crest just as he ventured into the sweetness of her love. The mellow peaks slowly began to return to the smooth rhythm of the beginning.
“Whoa that was sweet. Something new you’re working on?” Jason asked from the seat in front of him.
Eric never heard Jason return to his seat, he was so engrossed in the music. “No just something that’s been playing around in my head for a couple of weeks.”
“Since we left Virginia,” Jason asked with a questioning look.
Lowering his eyes and putting his guitar to the side, Eric sat forward and rested his elbows on his legs. He cuffed his hands and looked intently at his brother. “Something happened that night in the hotel.”
“Um yeah, you had an encounter with a call girl.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure she was call girl. I mean I’ve been around and this woman was not that experienced.”
Jason sat forward and joined his thirty-year old brother. “You know last month I would have teased you and told you to go get laid.” They both snickered. “You took my advice and you’ve been distracted since then. If the woman touched you in some way, maybe you need to find her. I just don’t want you to be punked. If this woman is in the life, you need to accept that and move on. If she’s not then I say go for it—I am.”
That was an unusual take from his brother who was generally on the, “Don’t let one woman tie you down,” trip. Eric knew why he wanted—no had to go back to Virginia. But it was not clear why Jason was in a hurry to get back there. “Ahhh, so this trip is about a woman that you need me to seduce for you,” Eric asked as he sat back grinning. “You know this game of me getting them and you sleeping with them is getting a little old.”
“No, it’s about the woman,” Jason replied as he sat back. “I don’t want you to seduce her, I have her interest, at least I think I do. I need you for insurance, just in case she needs to be serenaded.” Jason grinned then looked out the window of the plane. “You remember when Mom used to say, ‘you will know when the right woman comes along. ‘And we would ask, how? Then she would say, ‘you just will’.”
“Yeah, I never understood that answer,” Eric laughed.
“I didn’t then either, but I do now.” A knowing smile appeared on his face, “Her name is TeKaya Kendrick, they call her TK. I met her at the concert you gave in Richmond. Eric, this woman is so beautiful I knew she had to be a model, actress, or somebody trying to make it in the business. I tried to keep my distance, but something about her kept drawing me to her. When we went back to the hotel, I was given the name of the photographer and it was her. You met her. Remember the woman we took pictures with on the balcony before you went to your room?”
“I do remember her, she was stunning.”
“Yes, she is, and intelligent. More importantly, she is real and has no interest in being in front of the camera.” He stated shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t know how, but I’m going to make her mine. Whatever it takes, she will be mine.”
“What are you going to do with the woman that lives with you; the mother of your child?”
Dropping his head, he shook it, “I don’t know. When I moved Latoya in, I truly believed it was in Sierra’s best interest. You know how badly I wanted my baby girl with me. But, these antics that Latoya keeps pulling are getting ridiculous. Most of the time I welcome the disappearing acts she pulls, but the arguments and fighting with other women over me is getting crazy. I don’t want Sierra around that type of atmosphere.”
“Have you given any thought to what Mom suggested?”
“Moving out? Nah, I can’t leave Sierra.”
“Then, out of curiosity, big brother, why are you going to bring this other woman into this situation when you already know how Latoya is going to react?”
Jason sighed, “It’s something about this woman that I can’t ignore. She’s calling out to me and I can’t say no.”
“That’s deep from a man who doesn’t believe in commitment to one woman.”
“Yeah. The other night I was with Brandy, one of the background vocalists for Kenny, I could not get into her. TeKaya kept slipping into my mind. After an hour or so, I just gave up, came home, and called her. We talked through the night and I slept like a baby.” He sat back in his seat and sighed. “For the past two weeks my mind has been consumed with a woman and I can’t do a damn thing about it.”
Eric sat back in his seat and sighed with his own thoughts of a woman. “I know exactly what you mean.”