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Anderson rocked, studying Channing’s expression, but she’d always been so hard to read. “Boston’s my home.”
“I don’t want you to go.” She took his hand.
“No matter where I am, we’ll stay in contact.”
“I want you here.” Her voice caught in her throat. “I need to see you.”
“What do you want me to say? You want me to move down here?” He scoffed. “Come on.”
“What? Thompsonville not good enough for you?”
“That’s not fair.”
“Forget it.” She dismissed her suggestion with a wave.
“Believe it or not, I think Thompsonville is fascinating. It’s got character and pose. When I first got here, I thought it would be another backwards, hick town but I’ve learned more from the people here than I realized.”
She sighed, rocking.
“Just because I don’t live here doesn’t mean you and I don’t have options.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “Long-distance relationships can work if we put in the time.”
“Not my style.” She caressed his arms. “I’d wanna touch you. You can’t do that through a tablet or a phone.”
“You could come to Boston.”
“Excuse me?” She laughed. “What the hell would I do in Boston?”
“Live the life you’ve always wanted. Go after those dreams you’ve put aside your entire life.”
“There’s no way I can move to Boston.”
“Why not? You can get a job there and no offense but the schools are more advanced. Presley would get the education she deserves. I’ll help you get a job while you go to school.”
“Go to school?” She gaped. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You’ll be a psychologist like you’ve always wanted to.”
“Anderson, you don’t live in reality.”
“You can’t hide forever.” He reached for her but pulled his hand back. “You’re destined for way more than stacking groceries. Stop putting yourself behind everyone else. If you don’t take this chance now, then it’ll be too late.”
“Dreams don’t work out for people like me.”
“That’s another excuse. You can do anything, Channing.”
“Where would Presley and I stay?”
“With me.”
She gaped.
“I’ll be there for you, Channing. Don’t you trust me?”
“Yes.” Her mouth twitched. “But, there’s still a lot we don’t know about each other. Moving to another city with a man, is scary, Anderson. It’s too much.”
“I don’t get you. I’m giving you the opportunity to take a chance and you won’t even try?”
“I don’t need some hotshot reporter who just met me telling me what I need to do. I am who I am and if you don’t like it you know where the door is.”
“Don’t get pissed because I’m making you see what you don’t want to.” He slid the bottle to the center of the table. “I’m not apologizing because everything I said was true.”
“Then get the hell out my house.”
“Okay, fine.” He stood, shrugging. “But, don’t shortchange yourself. You deserve more than this. Trying something and failing is a hell of a lot better than not trying.”
“Goodbye, Anderson.” She rolled her eyes. “We can talk tomorrow.”
“Nah.” He lumbered to the doorway. “Might not be a good idea to keep hanging around you.”
“What?”
“Not in the mood to have my heart broken.”
“So unless I do what you want we can’t be friends?”
“I’m trying to get you to see how wonderful you are and it’s frustrating you don’t realize it.”
She sat back, sighing.
“It’s your life, Channing, and you’re the only one who can change it. So don’t blame others if you don’t.”
****
“No, Boyd.” Odelia blocked him from posting the flyer for Khadija’s march in the restaurant the next day. “We’re getting ready to open. I don’t want that up in here.”
He hung the flyer anyway. “We need as much of the community involved, sugar pie. Everyone should be at that march.”
“You’re acting like an old fool.” She straightened the tables. “All this carrying on with Khadija has gotten on my last nerve.”
He brushed his potbelly against her colossal hip. “Don’t be jealous because a fine, young woman is showing me attention.”
“Khadija? Please, she ain’t thinking about you. All she cares about is publicity. As soon as Presley’s old news she’ll be gone.”
“Stop misjudging her.” Boyd followed Odelia through the tables as she cleaned. “She’s got more drive than anyone I’ve seen when it comes to helping the community. I want you to come to the march.”
“No, thank you.” She wiped off a saltshaker. “Khadija’s making a media spectacle of my grandbaby so she can make a name for herself.”
“What do you and Channing have against the media? If it weren’t for the press, no one would know about Presley. Once we force Mayor Bordeaux to get involved, let’s see what you say then.”
“I won’t be saying nothing.” She wiped off the jar of giant pickles beside the register. “Because a bunch of morons walking down the street, barking with signs won’t persuade the mayor. You’re just embarrassing yourself, Boyd.” She went behind the counter.
“At least I’m doing something.”
Odelia darted to the window. “What the hell?”
“What?”
“Is that Avon’s boy and his lousy friends?”
Boyd looked through the window.
Zayden headed toward the restaurant with Morris and Tilly.
“Oh hell no.” Boyd rushed to the door. “They ain’t bringing their asses up in here and not after what he did to Channing.”
“Boyd.” Odelia held him from behind. “Don’t cause no trouble and they’ll leave.”
“Trouble my ass. This is our restaurant and I don’t want them in it.”
Odelia pulled Boyd from the door when Zayden and his friends entered.
“You got to be crazy.” Boyd gave him the evil eye. “Did you fall on your head today, boy?”
“Is that how you treat a customer?” Zayden grinned, chewing gum. “We want food.”
“That’s good.” Boyd nodded fast. “But you ain’t getting none here.”
“Hey Danny Glover?” Morris laughed. “What’s your problem?”
“Danny Glover?” Boyd rocked back and forth. “Delia, did he call me Danny Glover?”
“Ah, he made a mistake.” Tilly winked. “Don’t blame him. Isn’t his fault you all look alike.”
Boyd lunged at him and Odelia grabbed him.
“We’re not open yet,” she said. “Please leave.”
“No.” Zayden sat at the table with the others. “We want some food. Get us some menus and be quick about it.”
“Odelia.” Boyd balled fists, shivering with rage.
“Hey, boy.” Tilly snapped his fingers at Boyd. “Get us some menus. Let’s see if the food is as good as people say.”
“Boy?” Boyd snapped. “Odelia, you expect me to put up with this shit in our own place?”
“Yes.” She crossed her arms, groaning. “Because I ain’t got money to bail you out of jail.”