CHAPTER TWENTY

CHARLIE

 

I leaned back in the passenger seat of Belize’s car, feeling sick to my stomach. It was a hangover. I overdid it last night when I had drinks with Emma but time and my senses got away from me. Luke was angry when I came home drunk out of my mind, and he even hinted at me possibly cheating on some get back shit, because of the church event.

Since I was HIV negative I dropped to my knees and showed him how much he meant to me and I didn’t have any more problems from him. He went to sleep with a smile on his face and me in his arms.

But my problems didn’t stop or end there. Now Emma knew that I was aware that her son was not alive. She sucked it up and handled it like a G when I told her he was buried but I didn’t know if that was all a façade. Would she have the police waiting on me when I took her to her son’s grave? Or would she kill me since I didn’t tell her that I wasn’t responsible for his death, just that I knew he was dead?

What was wrong with me? This was all so stupid and I didn’t want to do anything but crawl up under Luke’s big arms and go to sleep. But Belize was relentless. She even went as far as getting me dressed for wherever she wanted to take me and I knew the only way I could get rid of her was if I went with her.

“What’s on your mind, Charlie?” Belize asked as she continued down the highway. “I haven’t heard you this quiet since you got back with Luke.”

“Nothing is on my mind,” I said quickly. There was no way on Planet Earth that I would tell her that I killed someone, buried two bodies or told Emma. I would never hear the last of it.

“Wow, you said that pretty quick.”

“What I’m going through is private and there is nothing that can be done about it. I’m just thinking, Belize. I don’t have to tell you every single thing that is going on in my mind, you know? So let’s leave it at that.”

She left me to it and when she finally stopped driving we were in the parking lot of Club Wiggles…in the daytime. “What are we doing here?” Although it wasn’t during regular hours, the parking lot was kind of full.

“Just like it’s none of my business about what’s going on in your mind, it’s none of your business about what’s going on here.” She parked her car. “Now get your stuff and come on.”

I didn’t feel like this shit today but whatever. I grabbed my purse and reluctantly followed her into the club. The moment she pushed the doors open I felt like I was transported to a whimsical world. First of all it looked nothing like the place known for its transvestites, tricks and closeted queens. It resembled an enchanting palace, something straight out of a children’s story.

All my friends were standing in front of me with colorful gowns and they looked gorgeous. A large pearl colored banner that read “Congratulations, Oh Beautiful One” spanned from one side of the club to the other.

All I could do was cry before I walked inside and trannies with extra big hair, hard chests and muscular arms bombarded me with hugs. As crazy as it may have appeared to the outside world, these creative beasts were truly my family.

Belize grabbed my hand softly and walked me further inside as I marveled at all of the decorations. I could feel that a lot of love had gone into making this special for me.

“So this is why you dragged me from up under my man?” I asked Belize, trying to make jokes instead of more tears.

“Yes, and it was hard as hell too,” she giggled. “Do you like it? We all pitched in to make it nice.”

I twirled around with my arms out beside me. “I love it!”

Belize stopped my spin by placing both hands on my shoulders and said, “Great, because we aren’t done yet.”

She pulled me over to a table dressed with a white silk tablecloth. On top of it were about fifteen gifts covered in beautiful, sparkly wrapping paper. I was placed down in a seat that resembled a silver throne and I was overwhelmed with joy.

“Is all of this for me?” I asked Belize, already knowing the answer.

“Well it damn sure ain’t for this monkey face bitch,” Kenya interjected looking at Goldie.

“Or your dried up, stank hole, no having a—”

“Girls,” Belize screamed at Kenya and Goldie. “Unfortunately this isn’t about either of you wilder beasts. So either jump back into the wild or let my baby have her moment.” She looked down at me and handed me a small gold-wrapped box. “The first one is from me.” She placed her hand on her chest. “I pray you love it.”

I smiled as I ripped and scratched the paper as if it did me wrong. When I finally got into the center I was looking at a black leather box. I opened it carefully and my eyes lit up as I stared at a picture of me and Luke inside of a gold locket. It was taken when he was over my house during a Spades party. We had both just kicked ass and we were cuddled up grinning.

Belize had been snapping pics all night and I remembered being irritated. Of course now I felt like an idiot because she used her skills for good. Normally she would hoard the pics and not let anyone see them. This time was different.

I gripped her tightly and said, “Thank you so much, B. Thank you for being the friend I never knew I deserved.”

I saw her eyes watering but she stopped them by wiping the tears roughly away, smearing her mascara in the process. “Don’t worry about all that. Open the rest of your gifts.”

I went through gift after gift and was in awe at the thought and consideration placed into everything. I had necklaces, sexy negligees, gift cards and more. I expressed gratitude to everyone who was present and even those who couldn’t be there but who still bought me a gift.

My last present was a huge red box with a gold bow on top. “Who is this from?”

I looked around the room and waited for an answer. All of the queens shrugged and most of them had already shown me what they’d gotten me. So what was this?

“Read the card first, honey,” Belize suggested.

“You’re right.” I removed the small red card from the top with a smile on my face.

“Read it out loud,” Kenya suggested, standing behind me.

I looked up at her and grinned. “Okay, okay, don’t lose your breasts,” I joked, trying to appease the crowd. I cleared my throat and eyed the card. “Dear Charlie, I lost my beauty long ago and now it’s time to destroy yours.”

By the time I realized what I actually read everyone was gasping. With my mind now clear, I popped the box open. Inside was a picture of me with a disfigured face. It looked like it was Photo shopped.

I dropped the picture and screamed.