Chapter 13
Ever since she touched down from shiny Florida, Fantasy had gone into overdrive to stay on top of things. In two days she had managed to get more done than she had in a few months. Not because she had stopped thinking about Victor, but because she just accepted that she couldn’t control her feelings. There was something to be said about relinquishing power. A heart will feel what it wants to feel and do what it wants to do. Fantasy had heard that somewhere along her travels and it was so true. She gave up mapping out her life to the letter, and as for Victor Charles, she’d just see what way the wind would blow. She thought out loud. “The unseen wind moves the sail.” Normally when she recalled what Valerie Whitman would say, it always had something to do with having the upper hand and knowing how to take control: a lesson she’d learned too well. The thing about the wind being unseen summed it all up. Whatever happened would take on its own life. It would be moved by something much deeper than them, something beyond the control of either of them. Fantasy was positive that it would move.
The office phone rang and she frowned because she was officially off. She started not to answer it, but thought it might be important. “Jordan Alexander.”
“Hello, Jordan. I just thought I’d give you a call to see if you made it back to Charlotte safely.” Anthony’s strong voice spoke through the phone.
“Hello, Anthony.” What was he thinking? She was up and down the coast—and all over the globe, for that matter—and he was calling to check on her after a flight that barely got up in the air? “I made it back in one piece.”
“I was just thinking about you. As I mentioned, I’ll be in DC next week, and I still plan to call Kameron to see if he wants to hang out.”
She threw her head back and rolled her eyes around. Next week, Fantasy thought. She would still be in DC next week. She didn’t think about that when he’d mentioned visiting Kam when she saw him. It was a big city and chances were likely that their paths would never cross. Since there was a small chance that she could bump into him, or Kam, for that matter, she was planning to stay low key.
Fantasy had no plans of even telling Kam that she would be in the area. The last thing she needed was for him and Victor to end up seeing each other. She was all for sightseeing, and had already listed a few places she wanted to go, but she thought she might need to scale back her list. Then again, she could travel during peak vacationer times with the hopes of blending in. She would also need to remember all the restaurants and nightspots she had gone to with Anthony and avoid them.
“Oh, by all means, call him. I forgot to mention to him that I had seen you.” She hadn’t forgotten; it was not important enough to mention. If she was lucky, Kam would be too busy to see him. There was also a chance that going to dinner or hanging out with Anthony wouldn’t be high on his must-do list.
“I can’t wait to see him.” Anthony rambled on about the time they went to see the Bobcats play and the time the three of them went to Disney World.
She listened for as long as she could and finally she just interrupted him. “Anthony, I’ve really got to run. I’m on the road again tomorrow and I haven’t finished packing.” That was a stretch of the truth. Not wanting to get caught up like she did last time, she was already packed and everything was neatly in place by the door. The only two things she hadn’t done, which were intentionally left for last, were get her hair done and make a visit to her favorite spa. Fantasy had made late appointments for both. She hoped the spa visit would have her relaxed enough to sleep through the night, instead of bouncing up every few minutes with nervous energy. She was hoping her hair would still look good in the morning, even if she had to sleep with her hands under her chin. She giggled to herself. That was something she hadn’t done in years, not since she was young and cared what some guy or guys thought of how she looked.
“Oh, I understand completely.” Anthony was hoping the next question wouldn’t meet cold opposition. There had to be something there for old time’s sake. At one point early on they had been good together. There was no one who could tell him that he and Fantasy hadn’t shared something special. He’d felt it, and he had never stopped feeling it. Anthony just hoped that maybe she felt it too.
“Well, maybe when I get back from DC I can come see you. Or, if it’s more convenient, you can come visit me. Either way, Fantasy, I’d love to see you.”
She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Fantasy sensed the sensitivity that had slipped in as they were talking. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll call you the minute I get back.”
“That would be great.” His voice held an upbeat, hopeful tone. “Have a safe trip, and I look forward to talking to you.”
By the time she hung up the phone and glanced at her watch, she noticed that it was time to make her way for her early evening pampering. Fantasy stood up and took a look in the mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it up on top of her head. She turned her head from side to side and tried to imagine another look. She wanted to do something drastic; something really different. Victor hadn’t seen her in two decades, other than the headshots on the Facebook site. She didn’t consider either of them great photos. Oh well. She let her hair down. Considering a hair change was a thought, she decided to call Tee on the way to the salon so she could come up with a few possibilities. Tee was the same age as her son and she absolutely adored her. She had been her stylist for three years. This was after Vicki, her previous hair wiz, relocated to Atlanta. All of Vicki’s clients at Endeavors were moving over to the girls who had been there forever, while Fantasy decided to put her hair in the hands of Tee, who had just acquired a chair and used to shampoo her hair for Vicki. The union of hair stylist and client was ideal, and they became close as could be.
“I can’t believe you are giving me a creative green light.” Tee giggled as she combed and snipped Fantasy’s hair. She wore her customary black Endeavors smock. Her hair was done in microbraids, and she had them pulled up and held in place by a black elastic band. A few braids were loosely hanging down past her neck.
“Just don’t get carried away. You’ve been cutting like a mad woman.” Fantasy couldn’t help but notice her hair on the floor all around the chair. It had been awhile since she had gone short, and then it had not been super short. The maintenance of short hair was something she didn’t have time for.
“I got this,” Tee said.
During the next hour, Fantasy got her hair cut, relaxed, washed, conditioned, and roller set. Normally she was very patient, but this evening she was ready to finish with the hair and get the spa visit out of the way. Really, having them both done would put her closer to boarding the flight to DC and seeing Victor again. He had asked countless times for her to join him for a Skype video conversation. Each time she’d declined, wanting to wait for their in-person encounter.
“Oh, mom. I’ve outdone myself.” Tee’s eye lit up when she looked at Fantasy. Fantasy closed her eyes tight before seeing what they had talked each other into.
“Oh my God, Tee. Look at it. Nana’s going to have a fit. She thinks a woman’s hair is her crowning glory and mine is all over the floor.”
“Well, there’s not much we can do about it now. Besides, it’s a little late in the evening for me to weave some in.” Tee laughed and took the smock off of Fantasy. “I like it, and Nana will too. Not to mention the hint of color is popping.”
“Okay, Tee, talk my language.” Fantasy pulled at one of the curls and it coiled right back up. Tee had cut her hair to a short crop, created carefree spiral curls all over, and highlighted some strands with a rich mocha hue. It was, in Fantasy’s opinion, to die for, and she hoped her hair alone was enough to knock him to his knees.
“Popping like fireworks, mom.” Tee lightly touched Fantasy’s shoulder, and smiled.
Tee adored Fantasy. She had done so much for her. Fantasy had helped her get her own place so she could move out of the place she had shared with a trifling, no-account boyfriend. She had also helped put her son in private school. In short, she owed her a lot. She was more of a mother than her own mother had been. From the beginning, she’d started calling Fantasy “Mom” and she never objected, and neither did Kam, who considered Tee an adopted sister.
“Well, let’s hope he thinks so.” She turned around.
“Mom, let’s do your eyebrows real quick, and then you can head over to the spa area.”
“Great. Oh, before I forget, ask Troy to decide whether he wants a gift card or if he would prefer that I take him to start his Christmas shopping.”
“I’m sure he would prefer you to go with him. I took him this weekend to pick up a few things, and he had no problem telling me that his grandma Fantasy was doing the rest.” Tee smiled. “I’d like to think he was just looking out for my wallet, but I really think he’d prefer you. I swear he is five going on fifty-five.”
“Leave my little man alone. I’ll call you when I get back.” Fantasy stood up, and looked at her eyebrows and then her hair. “You did a great job.”
“No problem, Mom. And please tell me all about this mystery man when you return. I can’t believe I know something that Kam doesn’t know for once.” Tee had had a crush on Kam in the beginning, but she’d never approached him, since she felt more like his sister. She didn’t want to mess up a good thing or great friendships.
“Here.” Fantasy hugged Tee and placed some money in her pocket. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Okay.” She didn’t have to look in her pocket to know that it was much more than what was needed to cover the service she’d provided. It always was. She lived for the day that she could give it back or tell Fantasy not to worry about it. For now, she needed all the extra she could get. Being a single mother was hard work.
By the time Fantasy left Endeavors she looked good and she felt wonderful. Wow, she thought. Her cell phone rang five times before she could locate it in the bottom of her bag. She answered just in time. “Hello.”
“Hello there. And how was your evening of beauty?” Victor’s voice came through the phone.
She didn’t know if it was in her mind or if he really sounded closer since he was now in the States instead of in Germany.
“It was great. I’m totally relaxed.” Fantasy had allowed her guard to fall a little, and her plan had been adjusted to the status of just seeing what would happen.
“I can’t wait to see you. I went out and got an African American haircut.” He had joked with Fantasy about how difficult it was to get a decent haircut in Germany. None of the barbers were black and his hair had suffered many bad haircuts because of it. “I even went out today and did a little shopping for both of us.”
“And what did you get me this time?” Fantasy smiled. Every week since they had been talking there was always a delivery. Once she’d told him that she collected Thomas Blackshear figurines and reported exactly what she owned, she had received a collectible every other week. On the off weeks he was adding to her clown and mask collection. He joked at first about her obsession with clowns, but once she explained that they were happy regardless, he understood and decided to indulge her.
“If I told you, Fantasy, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now, would it?” He chuckled.
“I guess it wouldn’t.” Fantasy was still parked in the lot near the salon. “Hold on a second and let me put my earpiece in. Then I can drive home.”
“Oh, okay. No problem.”
After a second, Fantasy spoke. “Okay, I think I’m straight.” She put her Cadillac SRX into drive and pulled off. “Well, two can play. While I was shopping, I picked up your birthday gift.”
Victor was silent. He had not mentioned to Fantasy that tomorrow was his birthday. When he decided to attended the function in DC, he realized that the timing was perfect. And once he got her to consent to come, it was even better. For him, seeing her was the best birthday gift he could receive. “My birthday?”
“Yes, it’s tomorrow. I won’t say how old you will be.” Fantasy smiled, knowing she had blown him away. She remembered his birthday every year. This year was no exception. The only difference was that she would be seeing him.
“I can’t believe you remembered. It’s not on Facebook.” Victor wondered if he had mentioned it, but he knew he hadn’t.
“No, it’s not. Just accept that I know when your birthday is. And don’t bother asking me what I picked up. You will see me and your gift tomorrow.”
She turned into her gated community. It was beautiful, and just driving through the gate always made her feel so blessed. Fantasy had never struggled, not even as a child growing up. It was all because of what her mother did for a living.
After a while, Valerie no longer dealt with the regular clientele or put herself in the lineup. She ran things and her customer base included only a few, so few that Fantasy could count them on three fingers. Her grandparents already had. They didn’t live as large as their daughter, but her grandfather had retired from the phone company and Pearl was a school teacher. Both occupations were legal and upstanding. Pearl and Matthew didn’t want to take any money from their daughter, but when Valerie was killed she had left everything to them for the care of her daughter. A few months after her death, once Fantasy had settled in a bit and the nightmares weren’t occurring every night, they received a certified package. In the package was a note from a man saying that he’d promised Val that if anything ever happened to her, he would provide for her daughter. There was a check for six figures, and the checks continued to show up in the mail until Fantasy was eighteen. All of the money, including what was left from Val, was put in an account. Some was used for college and graduate school. And Fantasy had used some to purchase the house and to buy a car for Kam, but other than that it was just earning interest. Her grandparents never spent any, nor would they ever accept anything. She had managed to renovate their house and purchase a new pickup truck for her granddad when he retired.
“Well, I can’t wait. Does that mean I have to hang up now? You know I never want to hang up.” Victor lay back against the pillows on the bed. He didn’t mean for it to, but his anatomy was responding to her soft voice and just the thought of seeing her. He just hoped that he could control himself when he saw her up close and personal.
“You do have to hang up if you want me to get my beauty rest and be at my best tomorrow.” Fantasy didn’t want to hang up either. But there were a few more things to check before she retired for the evening. She was relieved that she’d be in the air for only an hour and fifteen minutes. If it was any longer than that she would come completely undone. She was as eager to see Victor as he was to see her.
“Well, I’ll hang up for now. Just know that my voice will be the first voice you hear in the morning. I’m not even letting you sleep past six.”
“Victor, you better not call me all early. My flight doesn’t leave until noon and I’m not planning on getting up early.” She had been sitting in her garage with the motor off, but was still talking. Sometimes he had her feeling like a teenager all over again. Only teenagers would talk endlessly, and with each new conversation they would have just as much to talk about as the last time, or sometimes nothing to talk about at all. They had done their share of just listening to one another breathe, even in their old age of knowing better. Even when she thought her tough-girl plan was working, it was breaking pitifully.
“I plan to and I will.” Victor chuckled. “I can’t imagine being able to sleep tonight. It’s only fair you share the sleeplessness.”
“How do you know you won’t be able to sleep?” Fantasy asked.
“For one, my body has not adjusted to being in the States yet, and I’m talking to the other reason.” He smiled; it was so true.
“If you must call, I’ll answer.” She giggled. Fantasy knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Victor calling that early wouldn’t be a problem.
“Well, sweetheart, I’ll talk with you at six.” Victor didn’t want to, but he hung up the phone.
Fantasy got herself together and got out of her car. It was going to be a long night, or a long morning. Either way, she knew she wouldn’t be sleeping that much. Her heart was full right now. It was better than the uneasy, crazy up-and-down stuff she had been feeling. She’d take this over that any day of the week. It felt good, but as she also knew it might end in a shipwreck. She inhaled as she placed her keys in their usual spot; the last thing she needed was to spend time looking for them tomorrow. As she walked down the hall to her bedroom and turned on the lights, she exhaled the breath she had inhaled and smiled. The room was soothing and she hoped it worked its wonders tonight. The massage was a good start and she was going to do whatever she could to keep her relaxed buzz going. Instead of turning on the television, she hit a button on the stereo remote and cued up disc three. She waited to hear the first chord, and when it came through the surroundsound speakers that were hidden around the room, she melted.
Luther Vandross filled the room and she thought about the first time she’d heard him live, the exact moment her favorite singer stood on the stage and began to sing this song. A group of them had gone to the show, and while they had not come together, Victor was among the posse. Somehow he’d ended up sitting right next to her. This was before his confession of being attracted to her, and well after she had noticed him and liked everything she saw. Throughout the night, she would steal glances of Victor and his expression as they were serenaded by song after song. He had been so into it. Sonya had had some family emergency, and Fantasy had him all to herself; at least, in her mind. She dared not do anything that would be out of place or alert some of Sonya’s friends that she was after their girl’s man. She kept a safe distance, but at one point she felt his arm against her arm and the feel of him made her quiver. He must have felt it because he asked if she was cold. She remembered answering that she was fine, and she tried hard to turn her attention back to Luther, but it was no use. Their eyes locked, and for a minute there was something. From that point on, whenever he looked at her she felt it, and she hoped that he felt it too. The first night in his apartment he’d played that song, and he told her that he felt what she felt that night. He looked at her the same way he had that night and she knew that what she saw was real.
Fantasy lay on the bed, dressed in a nightshirt. She forgot all about falling asleep on her hair. Before she knew it, she had fallen into a peaceful slumber, listening to their song on repeat.