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.