Alicia settled into her room at Lil’s Place, having just returned from dropping her parents and grandmother off at the San Francisco Airport after a weekend in Lake Tahoe.
“Your mother and father are so charming,” said Celia as she walked in, “but I just love me some Mama Tilman.”
“She’s crazy about you, too,” said Alicia. “She couldn’t stop talking about you on the way to the airport, and she can’t wait to meet Lucy. I’m glad we had the extra time before their flight back to Chesapeake, so they could see our little operation in person and I could introduce them to you guys. My mom was totally blown away, especially once she saw all the commendations from the city.”
“Did you see how Marcia acted when you walked in with everybody but Alexi? She seemed awfully disappointed.”
Alicia grinned. “I think the interest is mutual. Alexi’s trying to hide his, but he’s been asking questions. I told him to call Marcia if he wants to get to know her better, maybe ask for a date, and he acted like he’d just gotten busted with his hands in the cookie jar.”
“Girl, he needs to put Marcia out of her misery.”
“I have something else to tell you,” said Alicia. “In Lake Tahoe, my mom and I started making plans for my wedding. Both of us got excited, and then she started stumbling all over herself. The problem is that we always thought I would wear her wedding dress—a mother-daughter thing—but she said she had already let Nikki wear it. She felt terrible. I told her I didn’t think I should wear white anyway, hoping that would make her feel better. Now she wants to take me shopping for a new one. I like beige, although Mama Tilman wants me in gold. Either one will do just fine, but white is out. Think about it. I’ll be thirty-nine the June after next, and Alexi will be a twenty-one-year-old man whose mama didn’t have an immaculate conception!”
“You and your mom are as bad as two lovers trying to make up. How did everybody like Joe?”
“Honey, Joe is a member of the family now. My grandmother and mother spoiled him to death with all the food they cooked. We all had so much fun. We’re supposed to get together again as a group in Chesapeake over Thanksgiving.”
“And how is Claude?”
“Excellent. I just called his house and left a message for him. I know he’s busy at work, and I didn’t want to disturb him until he gets home. I wish he could have joined us here to meet my family, but the decision to drop by was made at the last minute. I sure hope everyone likes him. He’s going to Sweden with me in a couple of weeks when I present my paper. Once we get back, I’ll introduce him to Alexi. What about you, how’s Van?”
“Alexi needs to give to Marcia what Van has been giving to me.”
“Shut up!” cried Alicia as Celia cackled out of the room.
Alicia finished unpacking and took a shower. Afterwards, she organized herself for the rest of the week and began catching up with work, but by nine that evening she realized that she had still not heard from Claude. She tried him again at home, and this time he answered.
“Hi,” she said voluptuously. “It’s your baby.”
“I’ll call you back,” he said, and Alicia heard a dial tone.
She hesitated for a moment, staring at the phone, and dialed Claude again.
“I know you can’t talk,” she said when Claude answered, “but are you upset because we’ve spent so little time together recently? I hope you don’t feel—”
“I’ll call you back,” he interrupted, and Alicia heard another dial tone.
Alicia waited. She called again a little after eleven, but she hung up without leaving a message when she heard Claude’s answering machine. She recalled his earlier tone, how he had sounded out of breath and nervous when he heard her voice.
Something is wrong.
Alicia threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and zoomed over to Claude’s place in Piedmont, about a twenty-minute drive at that hour. Noticing his car parked in the driveway, she parked across the street. The house appeared dark and eerily quiet. She rang the doorbell twice, but received no answer.
Do I really want to do this? she wondered as she found the key to Claude’s house in her purse. No, but I need to know. Too much is at stake.
Alicia cracked the door open and stepped into the pitch-black darkness of the foyer, easing the door shut. Feeling her way along the hallway, she saw light seeping from Claude’s bedroom. As she tiptoed closer, she heard soft, sexy jazz wafting from his stereo.
That’s our mood music! she thought as she listened for other sounds. Please, Claude, don’t do this to me. Not now. You’re supposed to belong to me, and I trusted you.
Alicia waited for what seemed like an eternity. She finally crept up to the partially closed door and peeked in, holding her breath.
Claude lay sprawled on top of his bed, sound asleep and dressed in only his underwear. A seductive white feline lay curled up next to him. Alicia hid behind the door and shook her head in embarrassment. I should leave, she thought.
Instead she sidled into the room and stood with her hands on her hips. “Samantha, you’ve had him all to yourself long enough,” she said. “Now his other woman is back!”
Alicia picked up the long-haired cat and dropped her on the floor. Samantha defiantly hopped back on the bed. She settled next to Claude and stared at Alicia. Claude snored away, undisturbed by the catfight unfolding around him.
Glancing around the room, Alicia noticed mounds of paperwork situated in stacks on Claude’s desk. His closing! she thought. It’s Monday. He’s been working on this deal for months, and it was supposed to happen today. She glanced at the documents and found a fax, confirming that the transaction had been finalized shortly after half past nine that evening. I am such an idiot. That’s why he couldn’t talk earlier.
Alicia bent over and kissed him softly. Receiving no response, she kissed him again, this time nibbling on his lip. Claude remained asleep, but he smiled and mumbled her name.
I’ve made my decision, thought Alicia. I’m going to wear Mama Tilman’s color on my wedding day, because I struck gold when I found him.
With warmth rushing through her, Alicia began twisting out of her clothing, throwing things in every direction. She had stripped completely when she heard rustling from the bed. She turned and saw Claude propped on his elbows, staring at her through wide eyes.
“Am I still dreaming?”
“You tell me,” she said as she slid next to him.
Alicia fidgeted in a mirror as her mother fussed over her gown. She heard Luther Vandross crooning out “Here and Now” over the church’s audio system, which meant her wedding would soon begin. Mama Tilman and Grandma Miller had just left her to join Alexi, who would escort them down the aisle to the family pew.
Alicia shifted her profile from side to side as her nervousness started to build. “How do I look?” she asked. “Is this lipstick the right color?”
“It’s perfect,” said her mother. She reached into a bag on the dressing-room counter and held up a picture. “You look like this,” she said with obvious pleasure.
Alicia examined her mother in a formfitting full-length wedding gown, identical to hers except for the color. She studied her mother’s hair, worn up just like hers.
“No way I look that good. Mom, you were so fine! Daddy must have had a fit on your wedding day.”
“Everyone is going to have a fit over you. Now let me have one final look.” As her mother turned Alicia in a circle, she laughed. “It’s a good thing you took after me where the caboose is concerned, and if I catch any man paying too much attention to it, I’m going to slap him crazy.”
“You’ll have to get in line behind Alexi.”
“In that case, I’ll have Alexi take one side of the aisle while I take the other.”
Sandra reached back into the bag and pulled out a faded white garter. “Here, put this on,” she said. “You need something borrowed, and this is all I have from my wedding day that hasn’t been loaned to someone else. At least I saved something for you!”
Alicia slipped out of her left heel. As her mother lifted her gown, she rolled the garter up over her pantyhose, holding back tears.
“I’m going to ruin my makeup,” she said.
Her mother hugged her carefully. “Your father is waiting on you, but I need to say one more thing. Alicia, I love you more than life itself, and that explains the rest. Thank you for allowing me to be your mother again. I’m so proud of you.”
Sandra abruptly left before both women could burst into tears.
Alicia took a deep breath. She had never felt more ready.
She stood at the back of her childhood church on the arm of her father. She felt majestic in gold, like a soon-to-beanointed queen. As the organist began her march, she flowed down the center aisle at a snail’s pace, treating an admiring throng of friends and acquaintances with a radiant smile until she reached the front pew. She choked up as she exchanged kisses with her mother and grandparents.
Claude took her arm and led her to the altar, where she locked eyes with all of her girls—Lucy, Celia, Cathy, Danielle, and her old friend from Chesapeake, Betty Keyes. She singled out her son, standing between Benny and Buddy, and faced the man who had baptized her as a baby. She exchanged wedding vows with Claude in a ceremony that was brief and tasteful until the kiss, which left her blushing and the audience cheering.
After being whisked away to the site of her cotillion, Alicia and Claude greeted their guests in a receiving line. Afterward, Claude excused himself to check on his mother while Alicia found Mama Tilman at the head table, holding court with Lucy and Celia. She collapsed into an empty seat and kicked off her heels. She searched for Alexi, lost somewhere in the crowd, before Mama Tilman caught her attention.
“Alicia, that jade pendant you’re wearing is gorgeous!” she said. “Did Claude bring it to you from Hong Kong?”
“No, another man gave it to me,” said Alicia, winking at Lucy and Celia.
“Say what?”
“I’m just kidding. It was a gift from Lucy’s father.”
“Look,” said Lucy as she held up her right arm.
Mama Tilman reached for Lucy’s wrist, marveling at her bracelet. “Those are my initials!” she said.
“Alicia gave it to me for strength. It’s come in handy in the last year, especially after Buddy and I eloped. I’ve occasionally needed to pop him.” Lucy laughed.
“Don’t you hurt my Buddy,” said Mama Tilman, laughing with Lucy. “I had so much fun with him and Claude last night at our party. Then I pulled Claude aside, Alicia, and we had a serious conversation. I told him that he has the appearance of an ordinary man, but I can tell there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. He has substance, and he has the fortitude to keep that substance aimed in the right direction.” Mama Tilman smiled. “After that I said if I’m wrong about him, hell hath no fury like an eighty-one-year-old woman who has to eat her words.”
“Ooh, Mama Tilman,” said Alicia, “what did he say?”
“That boy howled in laughter. He hugged me and said you are my true heir in so many ways, and if you had declined his hand in marriage he would have gone after me. Joe overheard him and said he had a head start because I had already pledged my love to him.”
“Mama Tilman, you are a mess!” said Celia. “Go on with your bad self. You got all the men after you. I better keep an eye on Van.”
Alicia finally spotted Alexi, slow dancing with Marcia Davenport. “Look at those two,” she said. “They’re so cute.”
“I talked to that young lady last night,” said Mama Tilman. “They’re a striking couple, full of contrast. Alexi lives in the snow and she’s from Arizona. He’s tall, fair, and just as handsome as he wants to be in all of his rugged masculinity. She, on the other hand, is as dark as a moonless night and as lovely as a sunrise during the wee hours of morning.”
“How beautiful!” said Lucy.
Mama Tilman blew on her knuckles and scrubbed her chest. “I’ve been working on my poetry. If you like that little verse, maybe I’ll let you read some of my other stuff.”
“I can’t wait,” said Lucy. “Alicia, how is Alexi’s knee healing? When I talked to him last night he still seemed disappointed.”
“Benny says he’ll be fine. He injured himself at the worst possible time, right before the World Championships, when he had a chance to win more medals and the overall World Cup title. That’s why he’s still a little down. But maybe this will be a long-term blessing, because he enrolled in school on a part-time basis during his recovery. And one more thing,” she said, leaning forward. “I found out why he took so long to call Marcia. I thought it might have been because she’s a full-fledged sister, but it turns out that he didn’t like her seeing other men while she worked as an escort. He wanted her all to himself!”
“So what changed?” asked Lucy.
“She went back to school and found another job,” said Alicia, winking. “Now that she has her own place, Alexi is happier than a hog in a pile of slop. He sees her whenever he wants without my constantly chasing after him.”
Alicia looked up and saw Claude waving her forward. “Got to go!” she said. “Let me put my shoes back on, because it’s time to dance for some cash!”
Alicia met Claude in the center of the dance floor as Benny announced that dances with the bride and groom could be purchased for a modest sum, personal checks and credit cards welcomed. Led by Trey, a host of men had already lined up with money in their hands for a twirl with Alicia. Little Alicia waited for Claude, but Nikki, Mama Tilman, and Grandma Miller were on their way. Alicia looked for Alexi in her line but found him at a table with Marcia.
“Honey, bring it on!” she said, after dancing with the others. “Come dance with your mama, and let me see what you got.”
Alexi grinned and held up his hands, declining her invitation as an up-tempo tune sent a swarm of people to their feet. Alicia pulled him to the floor anyway, and discovered the true cause for his hesitation. The young man who had all the right moves on skis had no moves of any kind on the dance floor.
Alicia laughed with love and walked into his arms, stepping slowly from side to side in defiance of the beat.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said. “Whenever I’m in real trouble, you always save me.”
Alicia rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying their moment together. When the dance ended, she squeezed him tightly before letting him go. Claude took her from there, and the couple danced together until they could dance no more.
The afternoon after the wedding, Alicia sat with Claude in the den of her parents’ home, surrounded by piles of gift-wrapped boxes. Lucy and Buddy had joined them, along with Celia and Van, Alexi and Joe, and Benny and his family.
“I don’t know where to start,” said Alicia.
“Why don’t we just ship everything to San Francisco?” suggested Claude. “That way we won’t have to unwrap all these gifts and reorganize them for the trip.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Alicia, “but at least let me open something. Don’t you want to see what everybody gave us so we can ooh and aah and feel spoiled?”
“I have something you can open,” said her mother, “and I know exactly where it is.” She reached behind the couch and placed a medium-sized box in Alicia’s lap.
Alicia initially clapped in delight, but her family appeared solemn. She leaned back, bracing herself as she stared at the box. Alicia bit her lower lip, attempting to restrain hope.
“Auntie Alicia, what’s wrong?” asked her niece. “Open your present.”
“Okay, honey,” said Alicia, and she tore through the wrapping paper. Once she removed the lid, she dug into densely packed tissue until she exposed the brilliant gleam of freshly polished silver.
Lucy and Celia both moved forward to see. Lucy moaned as Celia brought a hand to her mouth. Benny and Nikki began applauding. Ben and Mama Tilman joined them as Sandra quietly shed tears.
Alicia held the shiny silver teapot to her bosom and rocked from side to side. As tears streaked down her cheeks, she closed her eyes and triumphantly waved the teapot above her head, as though she had just won a prize unmatched by any other. When she finally focused on her mother, prepared to smother her with gratitude, she found her on one knee, her head bowed and her right hand lifted with an upturned palm.
Alicia gave the teapot to Claude, and pulled her mother off the floor. The two exchanged a kiss.
“Hey, Dad, that sure is a sweet-looking ride parked out front,” said Benny.
“You mean that brand-new Porsche?”
“Yeah, I love the color, cherry red,” said Benny. “Who does it belong to?”
“I don’t have a clue,” said her father. “Somebody parked it out front a couple of days ago and just left it there. I looked at it before we started for the wedding yesterday. It’s like the one I used to admire when you two were kids, tan interior and everything.”
“Let’s go take a look,” said Alicia. “Daddy, Claude is thinking about buying a Porsche. Maybe you can talk him out of it. You know me. I’m practical like you. I can’t see putting money in a sports car when a sedan like yours makes so much more sense.”
“Don’t listen to Alicia,” her father told Claude as they started for the front door. “Man, you’re still young. I always wanted one, but I always had other priorities, and now at my age—well, you know.”
Alicia followed her father to the curb. Benny and the others gathered next to the car as Alicia rubbed a finger across the glassy finish of the passenger door.
“Don’t touch it!” said her father, taking a handkerchief to erase Alicia’s smudge. “If this car belonged to me, I would never leave it out on the street like this. Anything can happen. One of the kids in the neighborhood could scratch it by accident with their bikes or skateboards.”
“What a beauty,” said Joe.
“It’s like a pair of Alexi’s skis,” said Van, “tightly engineered and ready to perform.”
“Dad, why don’t you take it for a spin,” said Benny, jangling a set of keys.
“Huh?” Ben stared at Benny. “Is this your Porsche?” he asked. “Why did you buy it in Chesapeake instead of California?”
“Alicia and I organized a family purchase,” said Benny. “And it’s for you.”
Ben broke into a smile as he turned to Alicia. “You guys are playing with me.”
“Daddy, you have always wanted this car,” said Alicia, “but you spent your entire life doing for others in this family, from Mama Tilman and Mom down to your grandchildren. You have always made personal sacrifices for the benefit of the rest of us. This car doesn’t come close to making up for your devotion, but please accept it as a small token of love and appreciation from your family.”
Her father’s mouth dropped open as his wife and mother wrapped their arms around him. The others broke out in applause.
“I’m speechless,” said her father as his eyes locked on the Porsche. “I can’t say thank you enough.” He took the keys from Benny and opened the door. “Sandy, honey, climb in. Let’s go for a spin.”
Alicia honeymooned with Claude in the Caribbean, island-hopping over a two-week period across Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands. The day after she returned to San Francisco, she strolled into Lil’s Place to hugs and kisses from Celia, Cathy, and Danielle, and pulled them into the sitting room for a private conversation.
The three had been kidding Alicia about her glow from the moment she first arrived. She finally settled into a chair, shaking her head with embarrassment as the banter continued.
“All right, you guys,” she said, holding up a report. “I have some business to discuss. Has anyone seen this besides me?”
Danielle peered at the document and raised her hands for silence.
“It’s been around eleven years since we formed our little investment club,” said Alicia, “and each of you now has a share in the pool slightly in excess of one hundred thousand dollars.”
“Thanks to you,” said Danielle. “It didn’t hurt that we continued to make contributions after we got our start, and this bull market has been phenomenal. I never thought I would accumulate so much money.”
“When we set this up, I had a plan,” said Alicia, “and I’ve been thinking. All of you now have a fair amount of financial security, and you are otherwise ready.”
“Ready for what?” asked Cathy.
“I made some promises to Mother Lil when she died,” said Alicia, “and I think they are all fulfilled. It’s time to implement my plan and make some changes around here.”
“You mean at nighttime,” said Celia, snickering. “Since you’ve moved in with Claude, you’ll be too busy in bed to keep track of us.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. You three are each a little older than me, and I haven’t been an escort for years. All of you are still very much in demand, but don’t you think it’s time to stop?”
Celia, Cathy, and Danielle looked at one another in confusion.
“Oh, Alicia is just playing,” said Cathy.
“No, I’m not.”
“Then what are you talking about?” asked Celia, lines forming across her forehead. “Are you trying to push us out?”
“No. I no longer have that kind of authority, and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did.”
“What does that mean?” asked Cathy. “If not you, who has the authority? Have you sold Lil’s Place to someone else?”
“Of course not. I have something else in mind.”
Alicia paused, looking at each concerned face, and then she zeroed in on Cathy.
“I remember the day I arrived here,” she said. “I felt utterly lost and alone. Mother Lil had you take me to get some clothes because I didn’t have any to wear. Your jokes and upbeat personality lifted my spirits when they most needed lifting, and your effect on me and the others has been constant over the years. You are my girl, Cathy, and I love you like a sister.”
Alicia turned to Danielle. “You and I had a problem in the beginning,” she said, “but that is old news. When I needed help with Lil’s Place because of my dissertation, you came through big-time, and I’ll never be able to repay you for dealing with Alexi the day he arrived. You took control over a bad situation and helped to turn it around. You are royalty, Danielle. You are an intelligent, beautiful queen, and I love you like a sister.”
Finally, she turned to Celia. “You know you are my girl for life. We’ve been through so much together, running all over the place behind Alexi. Think about all the fun we’ve had. And you had faith in me when I had none in myself, especially when I first came here. You and I can never be separated—ever—and I love you to death, just like a sister.”
Alicia surveyed all three women. “Why on earth would any of you think I would want to fire women I love like sisters?”
“You sound like you’re trying to say good-bye,” said Celia, wiping away a tear.
“No, baby, I’m trying to say thank you. I’m retiring from Lil’s Place, and it’s time for all of you to take over. Do what I did. Hire other girls to take your places while you run things. You pretty much have been running things anyway, as often as I’ve been absent lately. Besides, Celia, I’m a married woman now, and you’re right behind me. You don’t think Van is going to let you date forever, do you?”
Alicia laughed at their stunned faces.
“You’re giving Lil’s Place to us?” asked Danielle.
“It now belongs to the three of you completely, and all that goes with it. But you guys have to make certain promises. First, don’t change the name. If you do and you feel a slap against your heads one day when no one is around, it’s Mother Lil. Second, keep things going as long as you can, and if you decide to close Lil’s Place, make sure the second-floor girls have someplace to go and something good to do.
“These were the wishes of Mother Lil, given to me over eleven years ago, and I am passing them on to you. I hoped this would happen from the beginning. I’ve just been waiting for all of us to be ready.”
“But Alicia,” said Celia, “are we going to see you? What are you going to do?”
“Our friendship isn’t based on Lil’s Place. I’m going to visit, and I want all of you to come see me. After I settle into the house and make a few changes, I’m throwing a little get-together, and everyone is invited. As to what I’m going to do, well, I expect to be busy. Now, do you accept my terms? Do we have a deal?”
“Sisters for life,” shouted Danielle.
“Sisters for life!” echoed the others.