An Unexpected Love (Women's Fiction/BWWM Romance) (9 page)

“
Liyah
?” Vanessa
ran into the living room with Shanti and Warren right behind her. “
Liyah
!”

Aliyah twerked to a Pitbull song. David
wiggled on the couch with his hands up as if he were in a club.

Shanti pulled her from the floor,
shouting, “
Liyah
!”

“What, girl?”
Liyah
asked as she twisted, rubbing her hips. “This is my jam. You know I love me
some Pitbull.”

Vanessa gasped at the sight of her husband
dancing. “David.”

 
“Huh?”
He opened his eyes and stopped wiggling. “Oh. What? I
kinda
like Pitbull.”

“Pitbull?” Vanessa turned the radio off. “It’s
time for his behind to go to the pound.”

“It’s just music. Dang.” Aliyah patted her
hair. “I wish I didn’t have to come to this damn party in the first place.”

Valerie walked in. “What’s going on?”

“She was listening to Snoop
Dogg
or Pit whoever…” Warren pointed to the entertainment
system. “And twisting up in here like she lost every part of her mind.”

“Yeah, and your husband sitting over there
twisting to the mess too,” Vanessa said.

Val sighed and walked to the couch. “David.”

He chuckled. “What?”

She sat beside him as he said, “I was just
having a good time, babe.” He kissed her cheek. “We said we were gonna enjoy
ourselves tonight, right?”

“Like that’s gonna happen,” Aliyah said.
“Why are we wasting our time with this shit anyway?”

“Watch your mouth, girl,” Valerie said.

“Yeah, you’re not gonna be talking like
this in my house,” Vanessa said. “You know I don’t tolerate disrespect.”

“I ain’t trying to be disrespectful.”
Aliyah looked around the room. “But I’m the only one honest here. Why every
time she gets out of the crazy house we throw a party like she’s been on
vacation? What is there to celebrate?”

 
“We
do it to support her and let her know we’re here for her on her journey,”
Valerie said.

“What journey?” Aliyah stomped around. “I’m
sick and tired of everyone acting like the world revolves around Layla. It’s
like she’s all anyone in this family cares about.”

“That’s not true, honey,” Vanessa said.

“We know this time is gonna turn out just
like all the other times,” Aliyah continued. “She’s gonna get out and be okay
for a little while. Then she will fall off again. We’re celebrating her
failures.”

“She has a problem,
Liyah
.”
Valerie stood. “And, unlike you, she’s trying to get help for it.”

“Unlike me?” Aliyah sashayed up to her.
“That’s rich coming from you, Aunt Val. I admit I can’t stand my momma, but I
don’t jump down her throat every time I see her. I don’t blame her because I
can’t have babies.”

She lunged at her. “You little…!”

“Babe!” David stood and grabbed Val. “Just
cool it.”

“How could you say that,
Liyah
?” Shanti shouted. “Do you even care whose feelings
you hurt?”

David pulled the tearful Valerie close. “Don’t
cry, baby. She didn’t mean it.”

“I
did
mean it, just like I
mean every other thing I say!” Aliyah turned around in a circle. “I’m sick of
putting Band-Aids on issues. Momma will never change! As soon as we accept that,
the better
we’ll
be.”

“Why did you come here then?” David asked.
“If you think this is just a waste of time?”

“She came to make Momma miserable,” Shanti
said. “Didn’t you,
Liyah
?”

Liyah
sat in the chair in the corner and crossed her legs. “Well, she’s made me
miserable all my life, so it’s time to repay the favor.”

 
“Let
me just say this again in case folks forgot,” Vanessa said as she raised her
arm. “This is supposed to be a happy occasion for Layla. I don’t want any crap
from anybody. I’m not putting up with it.” She looked at Valerie and Aliyah.
“And if anyone can’t swallow their disgust or hate for a few hours, then they
can get up and leave.”

Aliyah’s cell phone rang. She pried the
phone out of her back pocket and said, “Ooh, that’s my baby.” Then she rushed
out of the room.

Warren shook his head. “That child…I’m
telling you.”

“Leave it alone, Daddy Warren,” Valerie
said. “Momma, I’ll do my best to just let things go tonight. All right?” She
walked to her and kissed her cheek.

Vanessa patted Valerie’s hair. “Thank you,
baby.”

A car door slammed outside, and David went
to the window. “It’s Corrine and Layla.”

Everyone looked at Valerie.

“What?” She smiled as if the very action
gave her pain. “Let Layla and my darling baby sister in.” She batted her eyes.
“I can’t wait to see Corrine again.”

“Lord…have mercy…Jesus.” Warren exhaled.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” Shanti rushed down the hall
and to the front door. She did a quick prayer for things to go smoothly for the
rest of the night, even though she wasn’t convinced it would help. She took a
deep breath and opened the door.

Layla threw her arms out. “There’s my
beautiful baby girl!” She pulled Shanti into her arms and kissed her all over
her face.

“Momma!” She laughed. “Stop! You just saw
me the other day.”

“So?” Layla kept kissing her. “I could see
you every minute and still miss you.”

Corrine walked in saying, “I see Val and
David are here already.” She scrunched up her face. “I’m sure tonight will be
interesting.”

Layla closed the door, asking, “Is
Liyah
here?”

“She’s somewhere around here on her phone.”

Shanti walked toward the living room with
the women behind her.

“Momma, where are you?” Layla shouted.

“Is that my baby?” Vanessa grabbed Layla
in the doorway of the living room. “Get on in here, girl!” She drowned Layla in
kisses. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” Layla wiped Vanessa’s lipstick
off her cheeks. “I’m glad to be out that’s for sure.”

Valerie rushed to Layla and hugged her. “Hey,
Lay!”

“How are you doing, Val?”

“Fine.” She stepped back and took a long
look at Layla. “It’s a crime how you manage to look so good no matter what’s
going on.”

David held his arms out to Layla. “Where’s
my sugar?”

“
Hello
,
Mr. David.” Layla hugged him. “It’s so good to see you.”

He kissed her cheek. “Val’s right. You do look
great.”

“Thanks.” Layla touched his lavender, silk
shirt. “You look all sharp.” She flicked his chin. “Goatee all trimmed and hair
all smooth.”

“What can I say?” David pulled on his
collar. “Gotta look good for my girl, Layla, don’t I?”

“Am I crazy?” Warren waddled through the
group. “Did this girl just walk up in my house and hug everyone but me?”

Layla shrieked. “Daddy Warren!”

“Girl, you better get over here and give
me some sugar.” He hugged her and kissed her cheek. “I bet you’re glad to be
out.”

“And then some,” Layla answered as she
tossed her purse on the chair.

“They aren’t lying either,” Warren said.
“You do look good.”

“Yeah, you’re all smiling and glowing.” Corrine
chuckled. “Maybe I need to check into Wellington if it does a
sista
this good.”

“You’d definitely fit in there,” Valerie
whispered.

David pulled her close. “Cool it.”

Shanti held her breath, hoping to God that
Valerie could keep her promise for once. Corrine glided past the others in a
dress so tight Shanti couldn’t imagine how she’d be able to sit down.

Corrine greeted Val. “What’s up?”

Val shot back, “You mean besides my blood
pressure?”

“Val.” David put his hand on her waist.
“How are you doing, Corrine?”

“I’m fine, now that I see you.” She kissed
his cheek, watching Valerie. “I love that shirt. Lavender’s my favorite color,
but I’m sure you already know that.”

“Uh…” He looked around. “We all know that
right?”

Shanti dropped her head and exhaled.
Please don’t trip, Aunt Val. Please.

“Sorry your blood pressure is high
tonight, Val.” Corrine wiggled her French tipped fingers. “Maybe if you weren’t
so salty, it wouldn’t be high.”

“
Ooo
,” Warren mumbled
as he covered his mouth.

“Corrine,” Vanessa interjected. “This is
Layla’s night. We don’t need any craziness.”

“I definitely didn’t mean that as a jab.” Valerie
nodded with the fakest smile Shanti had ever seen as Corrine continued. “I just
meant Val needs a little less salt in her diet.”

“You’re so right, Corrine.” Valerie
bounced on her heels. “What I’m gonna start doing is staying away from anything
with
fat
.” She winked. “That would
eliminate the salt in my diet.”

“I know you’re not calling me fat,”
Corrine said.

Valerie put her hand on her hip. “You said
it.”

“God,” Layla whispered.

“I said: Don’t start this mess,” Vanessa
said.

“Val.” David grabbed her arm. “Let it go.”

“What?” She tore her arm from David. “She
asked a question, and I answered it.”

Corrine wiggled her neck and her finger. “Honey,
you won’t find fat anywhere on this body. I guarantee it.”

David smirked as if to confirm Corrine’s
declaration.

“I won’t find a man on it either,” Valerie
said.

Corrine’s lip dropped.

“Ah shit.” Warren went to the doorway. “Let
me go get Layla’s cake before all hell breaks loose.” Then he ran out of the
room.

“Cool it!” Vanessa stood in between her
daughters. “How many times do I have to say we won’t have this mess tonight?”

“I’m fine, Momma.” Corrine moved away from
the others. “Once again, it’s Val with the problem and not me.”

“Val, sit down.”

David helped her to the couch and sat
beside her. Aliyah walked in with her phone to her ear. She grimaced when she
saw Layla.

Shanti groaned.
Liyah
, please don’t start. We just put out
one fire.

“Hey,
Liyah
.”
Layla inched toward her. “How are you?”

Aliyah cut her gaze to Shanti just as Warren
breezed into the room with the cake. “Here we go,” he chimed, setting it on the
living room table.

“I’ll call you back,” Aliyah muttered into
the phone and hung up.

“Those are some snug pants.” Layla pointed
to Aliyah’s jeans. “I’m surprised you can breathe, let alone walk.”

Aliyah smacked gum. “I can do more than
that
in them.”

“Just cool it,
Liyah
,”
Shanti said. “Be nice.”

Aliyah pointed to Layla. “I didn’t do anything,
and she’s starting with me.”

“Who is ‘she’?” Layla squinted. “I know
you’re not talking about me in
that
tone.”

“Come on over here and have some cake.”
Warren started cutting it. “Stop all this foolishness.”

“What are we supposed to eat the cake on?”
David asked. “Our hands?”

Warren leaned up. “Goodness gracious,
Nessa.”

“What?” Vanessa asked.

“I thought you got the plates.”

“You did not
ask
me to get them.”

Vanessa stomped out of the room as Warren
glanced at Corrine. “I love your momma. But I swear that sometimes she ain’t
got the sense God gave a toenail.”

David laughed under his hand.

“I won’t ask for a hug,” Layla said to
Aliyah.

Aliyah sat down on a chair. “Good, because
pigs will be flying before you get one.”

Vanessa came back into the room with the
plates. “We’re not gonna have that talking back,
Liyah
.
You’re not disrespecting any grown up while you’re in my house.”

In response, Aliyah smacked her lips. “I
don’t care.”

 
“Excuse
me?” Vanessa stood in front of the chair. “Did you say something?”

“No, she didn’t say something.” Layla
moved in front of her mother. “At least she better not have said something.”

Aliyah wiggled her neck. “And what are you
gonna do if I did?”
 

“
Liyah
.” Shanti
stood beside Aliyah’s chair. “Stop acting like a fool. Everything isn’t about
you.”

“I haven’t done shit but mind my
business.”

Layla quickly leaned over her. “Watch your
mouth.”

“Keep cursing,
Liyah
,”
Warren said. “Do it one more time, and we’ll be planning a funeral before we
leave here.”

Aliyah mumbled.

Layla leaned over Aliyah further. “Look at
me.”

Aliyah turned her head to the side. Shanti
shook her head and took a piece of cake from Warren.

“I said look at me, little girl.”

Layla turned Aliyah’s face toward her and
she snatched her face away. “Don’t touch me!”

“Who are you talking to?”

“I’m talking to you!” She jumped out of
the chair. “Just because everyone else bows down to you, doesn’t mean I’m going
to! You’re pathetic, and that’s all you’ll ever be. You’ve spent more of your
life in institutions than with us. And now we’re supposed to celebrate that
shit?”

Warren cut another piece of cake. “I know
she didn’t curse again.”

 
“She
did.” David licked frosting off his fork.

 
“I’m
sorry if I’m cursing, Papa Warren. But I can’t do this.” Aliyah stood in the
middle of the room. “I can’t pretend like everything is okay, when it’s not.”

“And what’s not okay?” Layla asked.

“You’re not okay, and you never will be.
Believing anything else is foolishness. You go to the institution every time I
turn around and then we throw you a party. For what?” She held her arms out to
the side. “Nothing ever changes or—if it does—not for long.”

“You hate me. I get that.” Layla
approached her. “But I can’t take back whatever I did to you.”

“It’s not what you did.” Aliyah’s voice
shook. “It’s what you
didn’t
do. You
were never there for me when I needed your ass. And I’m supposed to sit here
and eat cake and dance like I’m happy?” She looked around. “It’s nothing but
fake. I wish you’d just stay gone.”

She stomped out of the room. Layla started
after her, but Shanti stopped her. “I’ll go, Momma.” She ran down the hall and followed
Aliyah out of the front door. “Aliyah…”

“How can you do it?” Aliyah took her phone
out and sat on the porch. “How can you sit through all that fakeness when you
know it means shit?”

“I don’t know that, and you don’t either.”

“Bullshit, Shanti.” Aliyah scrolled
through her phone. “We know damn well she’s gonna have another breakdown.”

“How can you be so selfish? You’ve never
cared about what she’s been through.”

“She could’ve tried.” Aliyah huffed and
puffed. “She could’ve tried much harder than she did.”

“She did try. What did you expect her to
do? You think she wants to be schizophrenic?”

Aliyah smacked her lips in response.

“If you could just step outside of your
world for one minute and see what she goes through, maybe you’d understand,”
Shanti told Aliyah. “You have no right to judge her. She’s mentally ill. She’ll
never be perfect,
Liyah
. You gotta accept that.”

“I’ve accepted it my whole damn life. I
never asked for a crazy ass momma.” She burst into tears. “I never asked for
any of this shit.”

“And she never asked for it either. You
can’t keep walking around with all this hate and contempt.”

She sniffled. “I can’t just pretend
everything is fine. How many times have we done that for things to go back to
how they were?”

“This is who she is, Aliyah.” Shanti
shrugged. “There’s no cure for schizophrenia. You hating her won’t change
that.”

“I wanna be alone.” She wiped tears with
the back of her hand.

 
“You
already think you’re alone.” Shanti sat beside her. “That’s the problem.”