CHAPTER 68
“Girl, this is one great party.”
“I know. Dee Dee really did it up for Theresa and Sheila. And can you believe she made Sheila partner? I think she probably feels guilty for firing her.”
“She probably doesn’t want a lawsuit. But if she threw me this kind of welcome-back party, I wouldn’t sue either,” Natalie said.
“How’s your dad doing?”
“Better. He’s still in the hospital, and he’s going to need to really be careful from now on. Mama already hired somebody to finish the rest of the house, so when he comes home he doesn’t have to worry about all that.”
“I’m glad y’all patched things up. Is he still going to call you Six O’Clock?”
“I think it would be pretty hard for him not to call me that; he’s been calling me that for years. But it’s okay now. The name doesn’t bother me anymore.”
“What? Doesn’t bother you? It’s been driving you crazy for years—”
“I know, I know, but it’s just a name, right? And it doesn’t mean the same thing it used to. I really am Six O’Clock, straight up and down—”
“Flat as a board, skinny as a—”
“Okay, I don’t need help talking about myself,” Yolanda said, laughing. “The point is, I am Six. That’s just who I am. And I’m skinny. So what? I’m still a great person, and I don’t need a different nickname to prove that. So he can call me that forever; it’s who I am. And I like it.”
“Who knew that watching hours of Tyra was going to sink in and you were finally going to get some self esteem? Good for you!” Natalie said, laughing.
Yolanda shrugged. “Sue me; she’s my favorite talk show.”
“I can’t stay long; I gotta get back to work.”
“Aw, come on, at least stay a couple more minutes?”
Yolanda gave her a big puppy-dog expression.
“Okay. Just a few more minutes.”
* * *
“What are you doing up here? You better not be working and missing my big party downstairs,” Theresa said, walking into Maxwell’s office.
“I’m just finishing up,” he said, turning off his computer.
“Don’t rush. I got us a little champagne so we could celebrate.”
“I really shouldn’t…”
“Aww, come on,” Theresa cajoled, pouring champagne into two flutes. “I never did thank you for helping me get my job back.”
“Thank Yolanda. She did all the work,” he said, taking the champagne.
“I did. I’ve been calling her every day thanking her.”
He took a sip of champagne.
“It’s weird how everything worked out, huh?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, it feels like everybody is getting a second chance—Sheila, me, us.”
“No, Theresa.” His voice was firm and steady, so there was no misunderstanding. “I love Yolanda.”
“What! Her! You couldn’t possibly have feelings for that, that bone!”
Maxwell stiffened. “That bone, as you call her, just got you your job back, so I think you should treat her with a little more respect.”
Theresa ran her hands through her long hair. “Maxwell, be reasonable. Yolanda’s a sweet girl and all, but you can’t be serious about starting a relationship with her. You both have nothing in common—”
“Funny, I was thinking the same about you.”
Theresa’s hand trembled and she sat her champagne down on Maxwell’s desk.
“I love you.”
“No, you don’t. You love the idea of us together. Not the real thing.” He caught her hand, trying to stop her from trembling. “Face it, Theresa. It’s over. It’s been over.”
She snatched her hand away. “You’re gonna be sorry,” she seethed.
He left the room, and Theresa closed her eyes. She didn’t want to watch the love of her life leave for the second time.
* * *
“Can we talk?”
Yolanda rolled her eyes.
“Sure. Talk.”
“I haven’t been honest with you,” Maxwell said. “This whole time I’ve been lyin’ to myself, to you, trying to pretend I didn’t feel anything for you. But I do, Yolanda. I care for you a lot.”
“Is that it?” Yolanda asked impatiently.
“No, there’s more…”
“Let me give you more, Maxwell. I’m tired of you. I’m tired of you not knowing what you want, so I’m gonna tell you what I want. I know I’m not the most beautiful thing out here, and I’m far from bootylicious. I’m bony. But I’m human. I have feelings. And you may think you’re all that, Mr.GQ, with your Armani suits and alligator shoes, but I deserve better than you, Maxwell. I don’t need a man to second-guess whether or not he wants to be with me or be ashamed to be out in public with me!” Yolanda said, trying not to cry.
“You can believe whatever your father thinks or everybody else thinks, Maxwell. I may not ever gain a single pound, but I’m beautiful. And if you don’t believe that, we never had a chance,” she said walking away.
“I LOVE YOU!” he yelled. Over the noise of the crowd. Over the sound of the music. The party quieted as Yolanda turned around, thinking she needed her hearing checked.
“Excuse me?”
“I love you,” Maxwell said, walking up to Yolanda.
“You don’t love me. You’re just saying that.”
“I’m saying it because I feel it. My mother once told me not to get the woman I can live with, get the woman I can’t live without. That’s you, Yolanda. I can’t live, no, I can’t breathe without you. Give me another chance. I want you to be my woman. My one and only. You bring out the best in me, baby. Make me a better man.”
“I can’t,” Yolanda said, turning away.
Maxwell grabbed her in a tight embrace and hugged her, rocking her back and forth in a slow two-step.
“You are so beautiful, to me…” he sang in Yolanda’s ear.
She began to cry.
“You’re everything I’ve ever hoped for, you’re everything I neeeed…” he sang, his voice cracking.
Oblivious to the watching partygoers, he got down on his knees.
Yolanda could barely see, her eyes blinded by tears.
“Yolanda, you are so beautiful to meeeee,” he ended, his voice screeching.
Everyone applauded and Yolanda turned and saw that Natalie was crying, too. She gave her a thumbs-up sign.
“Maxwell?”
“Yes?” he said, standing up, and leaning close to Yolanda.
“Keep your day job,” she said, kissing him on the lips.