CHAPTER 52
“I’m kind of glad she’s gone.”
“Really?” Yolanda asked, surprised by Jackie’s honesty. “I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”
“Of course you feel that way. You’re in luuurve!” Jackie said in a syrupy voice.
“I’m not in love!” Yolanda said, looking around the salon cafe to make sure no one had heard Jackie. “I just like him a lot.”
“Whatever. All I’m saying is that things will be a lot easier for you now that Theresa is gone. You have to admit, the girl was giving you the blues.”
“I know.” Yolanda said, taking a sip of Coke. “That’s why I don’t understand how she got fired. I didn’t like her, but I thought she was doing a pretty good job.”
“Well, obviously she wasn’t if my mom—I mean, Dee Dee—fired her.”
“Still, Theresa wasn’t a stupid woman. She is too smart to make such dumb mistakes.”
“What if I told you that she wasn’t the one making the mistakes?”
“What do you mean?”
“That maybe someone was making those mistakes on purpose.”
“And saying Theresa did it? No way. Who would do something like that?”
Jackie raised her eyebrow.
“You didn’t…”
“Let’s just say I helped the both of us.”
“That was pretty low…”
“And stealing her man wasn’t?”
“I didn’t steal her man!” Yolanda shot back.
“Look, don’t get all serious on me, I was just talking in the hypothetical. We both know I never did anything, right?”
Yolanda looked down at her half-finished tuna melt. Suddenly, she wasn’t hungry anymore. I don’t like Theresa, but this is going too far. It shouldn’t cost her job.
“Right?” Jackie asked, more firmly this time, her voice low.
“Right.”
* * *
“So after that he’s gonna put in new kitchen cabinets, and then, baby, he’s gonna buy me a new refrigerator!”
“That’s great, Mama,” Yolanda said, her long legs stretched out on her couch. She mentally blocked out the surprise anniversary party she and Gina were throwing them, not wanting to spill the secret.
“What’s wrong, baby? Ain’t you excited about my new refrigerator?”
“Of course, Mama, I’m really happy for you. It’s just that I have a lot on my mind.”
“Well, that’s what I’m here for, baby. Talk to mama.”
“I miss Natalie,” Yolanda blurted.
“Y’all still haven’t patched things up? You need to call her, baby, right now.”
Yolanda sighed.
“I wish things were that simple.”
“They are. In life, things are always that simple. Don’t waste another day wishing to talk to that girl. Call her right now; she probably misses you, too.”
“What do I say? It’s been so long, Mama. She probably hates me.”
“Start off with ‘I’m sorry I’ve been such an idiot.’ It always works with your daddy.”
Yolanda burst out laughing.
“Good night, Mama.”
“You gonna call her?”
“Yeah, Mama. I’ll call her as soon as we hang up.”
“Okay, baby. I love ya. ‘Night.”
Yolanda hung up, and stared at the ceiling. In one quick motion, she dialed Natalie’s number before she lost her nerve.
Natalie answered on the third ring.
“Hello?” she said, her voice groggy.
“Hey, Nat, it’s me, Yolanda.”
“Oh.”
Yolanda could hear the disappointment in Natalie’s voice.
“I know this isn’t a social call, Miss Big Time Manager, so what do you want?”
“Nothing really. I—I just…I just wanted to talk.”
“Talk? For what?”
“I want us to be friends again.”
“Tough tittie.”
“I’m sorry, Natalie. I know I haven’t been a good friend to you, but I really miss you. I was completely wrong and should have been there for you, but I wasn’t. I’ve been so selfish lately, and never considered your feelings at all throughout this whole mess. So I’m asking, no, begging, for us to be friends again.”
Silence.
“Natalie? You there?”
“I’m here.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking how I should hang this phone up in your face. I’m thinking how bad things got that it motivated me to quit my job so I wouldn’t see you at work and cuss you out. I’m thinking how I should trash that office of yours. But then I think about how hard it is to be going through something new in my life and for you to not be part of it. I think about you calling me and telling me about those stupid dreams,” Natalie said, her voice thick with tears. “You really hurt me, Yolanda. Out of all the people in my life, I never would have guessed you would’ve treated me like that.”
“I’m sorry,” Yolanda said. She was ashamed of herself. With all the teasing she had gone through, she had sworn she wouldn’t treat anybody as she had been treated most of her life. But she didn’t do it to just anybody; she did it to Natalie, her best friend. She ignored her and pushed her aside, not giving one brief thought to how Natalie felt. She’s never gonna forgive me…
“I can’t promise anything, but I would like to try to be friends again.”
“Thank you!” Yolanda shrieked, wiping fresh tears off her cheeks.
“Besides, right now with me starting my new job—”
“New job? That was quick! Which salon are you going to work for?”
“It’s not a salon, Yolanda. When I quit doing hair, I did just that—I quit doing hair. I’m working at a restaurant now.”
“A restaurant? What? Since when?”
“I’ve always wanted to cook, Yolanda, you know that.”
“Yeah, but you always said that was just a hobby, nothing really serious. Are you sure this is something you really want to do?”
“I couldn’t be more sure of anything in my entire life. This is what I want to do.”
“I’m really sorry I wasn’t there supporting you. I know I’ve messed up…”
“Yeah, yeah…”
“No, Natalie, I’m really sorry.”
“I forgive you already! So how’s work been goin’? You been keeping busy?” Natalie said, changing the subject.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty hectic. Me and Maxwell were on the phone the other night—”
“You and Maxwell? So y’all a couple now?”
“I’m meeting his family this weekend.”
“Oooooh!!!” Natalie squealed. “That sounds serious.”
“Maybe,” Yolanda said, smiling. “You heard Dee Dee fired Theresa last week?”
“Tasha called me and told me about it. I heard the whole salon’s been gossiping about it. She said Jackie might be the new creative director.”
Yolanda thought about their conversation today at lunch and wondered if she should tell Natalie about it. She decided against it, giving Jackie the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was talking hypothetically.
“I don’t, know girl. Dee Dee hasn’t mentioned anything yet.”
“Enough about work, tell me more about Maxwell. Have y’all gone out on a date? What are you gonna wear this weekend?”
They talked all night, two friends catching up. Natalie, with her future as a chef, and Yolanda, with her hopeful future with Maxwell. Their voices intertwined until it was just one voice, never missing a beat.