63
“He should have never invited her over here to begin with,” Kayla told her friends as she grabbed a Pepsi from the cooler. “I told Terrell a long time ago that there was something wrong with that woman—I mean man. Well, whatever it is. But he didn’t want to listen to me. He’s gonna mess around and Nicole is gonna leave him for good if he doesn’t get his act together.”
“I can’t believe she found out about him and your sister. And she has the nerve to be here all up in Jermaine’s face,” Yvonne added.
Toby was still flipping burgers and hot dogs on the grill, glad that they hadn’t mentioned his name. But when he saw Anjelica standing behind them, he knew it was about to get ugly and the music was about to stop again.
“That’s right. I’m here all in his face because he is my man. And you know what? He ain’t got no complaints. You barely got a man yourself, Yvonne. And you, Ms. Hopkins, let me tell you a thing or two. The reason Terrell brought CJ was because she threatened to fire you if he didn’t. So to save your ass—again—he did what he had to do.”
“What?” The two sisters stood face to face.
“She was going to fire you when they did the departmental cut backs next month. Now, you know and I know that you haven’t done anything to be fired because Ma and Daddy would kick your behind. But you were about to be let go, sweetie, until your boy stepped in. So, while you’re talking about him behind his back, you need to be thanking him.”
Anjelica turned, walked over to Jermaine and placed a passionate kiss on his lips. She smiled and called out, “Sweetie, I think you know all about my past and what went down with a few people here tonight, don’t you? There are no secrets between us.”
“You’re right.” Jermaine nodded then gave Geno a wave. Yvonne and Kayla looked appalled.
“Now, since he doesn’t have a problem with it, that’s all that matters. Anybody got any questions?”
No one made a sound as she looked around. Satisfied, she called out, “What happened to the music? Y’all wanted to have a party, so hell, let’s party!”
The music came on again, and people began dancing. Meeko beckoned for Toby to come inside, and he followed her. Uncle Jay was placing candles on the birthday cake.
“I know you got a lighter somewhere around here, Tobias.”
“Should be one in this drawer right here. Here it is.” He passed his uncle the lighter then said to Meeko, “I see you and Stanley looking cozy over there. What’s up?”
“I mean, he’s cool. A little corny, but he’s a sweetheart.” Meeko smiled and sniffed her roses, which were sitting on the counter.
“I bet you he is. Brought all them flowers like it was a funeral or something,” Toby teased.
“Don’t hate because he’s a romantic. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there, Uncle Jay?”
“Nothing at all. Matter of fact, I can get real romantic myself. Get some candles and some baby oil . . .”
“Okay, Uncle Jay. We get the idea. Let’s take the cake out. The candles are melting.” Toby opened the door and held it while his uncle and Meeko walked out. Everyone started singing, and he grabbed the microphone next to the stereo.
“Happy birthday, Isis. I know you thought we forgot, but we didn’t. We love you,” he told her. She looked at him and he saw the tears in her eyes. Meeko ran to her side and gave her a big hug. “Now, may I have this dance, birthday girl?”
She nodded and met him in the part of the yard that was the designated dance floor. He took her hand in his and held her close. The music began to play, and he looked down to see her reaction. People had to be wondering why he chose that song, but he knew why and so did she. They smiled at each other as they rocked to Klyymaxx singing “I’d Still Say Yes.” It was the one CD that he didn’t have in his collection, but he searched on Amazon and had it rushed out to him so he would have it in time for this night. It was the best idea he’d had in a long time.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him.
“For what?” he asked.
“Just being you.” She laid her head on his shoulder.
He had no doubt that her friends were watching, but he didn’t care. Isis was his friend, and she deserved everything he was doing and more. She had been there for him when he was at his lowest and taught him a lot about himself.
The song went off and they began jamming to “The Men All Pause.” Everyone was having a ball, and Uncle Jay began putting away the food.
“Having fun at your party?” Toby asked.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Don’t even try it. This isn’t my party. This is your annual bash. It’s just a coincidence that my birthday is today. But I am having fun. Is it always this excitement-filled?”
“Yeah, it is,” he admitted. “Let me go help Uncle Jay before he calls me out. After all, it is my house.”
“I’ll help out too. After all, it is my party,” she hit him playfully on his chest.
They began carrying trays of leftover food into the kitchen to put away. It had gotten dark and Toby said they needed to hurry because the fireworks were about to start.
“I think I’ve seen enough fireworks for tonight,” Uncle Jay told them. “I knew something wasn’t right about that woman when she shook my hand. I tried to give Terry the look, but he didn’t see it, I guess.”
Isis cracked up. “What look is that, Uncle Jay?”
“You know; the look.” Uncle Jay’s eyes widened and he gestured with his head as he grimaced, demonstrating the look he gave Terrell.
“How was he supposed to know what that meant, Uncle Jay? You just made the same face when you wanted me to open the fridge for you.” Toby shook his head. Isis laughed even harder.
“That was this look, not that one. And he should have known something was up when I made it. Shut up and hand me that foil!” Uncle Jay snatched the box out of his hand.
They finished just as the fireworks began. Toby grabbed Isis by the hand; she grabbed Uncle Jay, and they returned to the backyard. Toby put on some mellow music then sat close to Isis on a picnic table, away from the rest of the crowd.
“I thought you said you weren’t having a party.”
Toby turned and was shocked to see Roni standing behind them.
“Hey, Roni. Believe it or not, I didn’t plan on having a party. All of these folks just showed up. I think it was a set up, though, because as you can see, they’re all dressed in white.” He jumped off the table and stood up. He looked at Isis, who excused herself. He reached out his hand and helped her off the table.
“She didn’t have to leave. Obviously she was an invited guest, unlike me. I can’t believe this. I’m walking around here wearing your ring and you have a party, don’t invite me, and when I do show up, I catch you hugged up with some chick.” Roni folded her arms in disgust.
“Hold up. I told you I ain’t plan to have a party. You know you would’ve been invited if I did. And I wasn’t hugged up wit’ nobody. Don’t even come here with that bull. We’ve had enough drama for the night,” he warned. She looked at him and he saw the look on her face soften. He couldn’t help smiling at her. “You want something to drink? We got strawberry daiquiris.”
“With whipped cream?”
“Always a diva, huh? But I think we can make that happen. How was your mom’s?” They strolled over to the bar where Jermaine was holding Anjelica in his arms.
“It would have been better if all of my friends had shown up there instead of here.”
“Well, they’re right over there. Go over and I’ll bring your drink to you.” He pointed toward Kayla and the rest of the crew. She swept past him to join her girls, ready to hear about everything she missed.
He walked over to the bar and began fixing her drink. He looked up and saw Isis standing next to Uncle Jay. Her head was tilted up to the sky and he could tell that she was laughing. As if she could sense him staring, she turned around and waved. He gave her a nod and took Roni her drink.
“Thank you, baby.” Roni put her arm through his and leaned on him. “So, who is the girl you were with?”
“That’s my friend, Isis.”
“Your friend? Wasn’t she the girl that sang that night at Jasper’s?”
“Yeah,” he answered.
“I’ve never met her before. How long have you known her?”
“About three years. And she just moved back in town. That’s why you’ve never met her.” Toby began to be irritated by Roni’s line of questioning. “What’s with the third degree?”
“Don’t get loud out here, Tobias.”
“I’m not loud. You are, Veronica.”
Toby had struck a nerve and he knew it. People around them turned and stared. Roni’s face turned red and she looked as if she wanted to kill him. “Can I see you inside for a moment?”
He wasted no time following her into the house. They climbed the steps and went into his bedroom. He sat down on his bed, not even in the mood to argue. His day, although filled with unexpected events, had been pretty good until she showed up and started grilling him about Isis.
“What’s going on with you, Toby? Even if you didn’t plan to have a party, when people started coming, you could have called me. But it’s obvious that you’re not happy to see me anyway. I get no kiss, no hug, no affection period.”
Toby listened to what she was saying, wanting to answer her, but couldn’t. It was true, he loved Roni.
She hurt him, but he was healing. And there was still the possibility that they would wind up together. That’s why he didn’t mind that she wore his ring. He did still love her.
“I love you, Roni, but you are the one that got caught wit’ another dude. Or has that incident slipped your mind? And now you’re here making an issue over nothing. I ain’t even trying to hear that.”
“I know, but isn’t part of loving someone forgiving them? I’ve apologized time and time again. I love you, Toby, but I feel like you’re going to let this hang over my head forever. Do you love me enough to forgive me? If so, then we’ve got to move past this. If not, take your ring back and let me go on with my life. I can’t keep living in limbo like this,” she cried.
He hated seeing her like this. He reached out and held her close. “Don’t do this to me, Roni. Please, don’t. I love you, I do.” Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed her and kissed her passionately on the mouth. His mouth explored hers for several minutes until he pulled away.
“I missed you so much,” she told him as she ran her fingers along his back.
“We need to get back downstairs.” He turned and opened the door.
“I told Mama that I would help clean up after everyone left. You want me to come back when I finish?” she offered when they made it down the steps. Toby was hesitant in his answer, so she added, “We still need to talk.
“It’s cool. I’ll be here.” He kissed her once again as she got in her car. It’s just to talk, that’s it, he reminded himself.
People began leaving, and Tobias was glad that the bash he didn’t even know he was hosting was over. Instead of going inside the house, he walked back into the yard to make sure everything was put away and in order. He picked up two bags of trash and took them to the large garbage can located on the side of the house. When he got inside, he was surprised to find Isis washing the remaining dishes.
“Where’s Meeko?”
“She left with Stanley. He offered to give her a ride in his truck. I’m taking her car home. Everybody else gone?” she asked.
“Yeah, the party is over. I think everyone had a good time, though. Anybody heard from Terrell?”
“No, he rushed outta here without saying a word to anyone. Pass me that dishtowel.”
“You know you don’t have to do this, right? I could have finished all of this myself.” He handed her the towel. “I’m glad you did, though.”
“So, you and Roni made up? That’s good,” she smiled at him.
“How do you know that?” Toby leaned against the counter.
“Okay, I need to be honest with you.” She folded the towel and laid it on the side of the sink. Toby’s heart began to beat rapidly as he prepared himself for what she was about to tell him. “I didn’t stay here just to wash the dishes. I stayed for something else.”
She walked up to him and seductively ran her hands under his shirt.
“What’s that?” he asked. She looked up at him and licked her lips. This can’t be happening to me. I’ve wanted this woman for months and she rejected me. Now that I’ve reconciled with Roni, she’s coming on to me. What am I supposed to do?
“I stayed to tell you . . .” Her hands moved to his back and she ran her fingers along his spine. He shifted his weight so she could reach farther.
“Tell me what, Ice?” he whispered.
“I told you so! I knew you were gonna get back with her!” she laughed. “I knew you were getting back together, especially when she walked up and saw me with you. That was it right there.”
“You’re crazy. If I didn’t know it then, I definitely know it now. Why you playing with me like that?” He snatched her arms from around him, laughing.
“What did you think I was gonna say, Toby?” She raised her eyebrows at him.
“I thought you were gonna discuss your Slow Comfortable Screw that you didn’t get earlier,” he confessed.
“You can give it to Roni when she comes back. She is coming back later, isn’t she? And don’t lie.”
Toby looked at her. He couldn’t lie. “Yeah, she says she’s coming back.”
“I guess I’d better get outta here, then. I ain’t trying to get you in no trouble.”
“Wait a minute, Isis. I got something to give you before you leave.” He rushed up the steps and into his room. He opened the drawer and took out the small box. He was glad that he had left it in the bottom of his drawer instead of on top of his dresser where it had lain all week. Jermaine had ordered it for him from an exclusive jeweler he had done some work for in the mall. He hoped Isis would like it.
She was waiting at the bottom of the steps when he got there. “This is for you. Happy birthday.”
“Toby, you didn’t have to do this. The party was enough.” She hugged him. “Thank you.”
“Come over here and open it.” He pulled her to the sofa.
She slowly unwrapped it then looked up, her eyes filled with tears. “It’s beautiful, but I can’t accept this.”
“Yes, you can. Let me put it on you. You know I had to get some ice for my Ice.” He reached into the box and removed the platinum necklace holding the heavy platinum charm. It read True Love, and was encrusted with diamonds.
He reached around her neck and fastened it. “It’s perfect. This is the one true love you have to be willing to accept. You are such a special woman, and deserve everything your heart desires, but you’ve got to stop pushing people away and let them in. Part of learning to love is learning to trust.”
“Now look who’s the one giving advice on love. You’ve been back with Roni how long, thirty minutes, and now you’re giving out Tobyisms? Thank you, Toby. I’m glad that you’ve found your way back to that person that you believe in and trust enough to love unconditionally.”
She stood up and walked to the door. “Does this mean I have to find another workout partner?”
“Be there Monday, same time. Meet you at the treadmills.” He hugged her, enjoying the feel of having her in his arms. She was the most beautiful, intelligent, humorous, talented person he knew. Whoever winds up with her is damn lucky, and I’ll be the first to admit it. Isis Adams was truly a gem, and he knew it.