Only Skin Deep (23 page)

What
a novel idea. She hadn’t thought about the paper masks covering her nose and
mouth. Barbie offered her the perfect solution and she decided to plan herself
some spa time.

A
massage, mud wrap and natural
pedi
and
mani
without chemicals later, she poured herself a cup of
hot coca and added a handful of mini marshmallows, tucked the folder containing
all the numbers needed under her arm and settled in her parent’s sitting room.

“
Deja
is that you? Didn’t hear you come in.”

“I’m
here Mama, grabbed some cocoa and just sat down in the sitting room. Is Dad
home yet?”

“No,
he’s working a double shift tonight. I forgot to tell you. We can visit for a
while though.”

“I’d
like that.”
Deja
had so many things to say that her
tongue got tripped up. She waited for her mom to join her on the couch with her
cup of tea.

You can do this. Hey mom. How are you doing?
By the way I’m fantastic. I’m engaged and pregnant. Or.
Mom
don’t
freak. I’m pregnant but don’t worry, I’m engaged and marrying my
child’s father.
She chewed her lip.

“You
okay
Deja
?” Her mom took a sip of tea and regarded
her.

“There’s
a lot going on in my life
.
I’m in
love. Crazy in love with my fiancé Derek and we’re having a baby.” Now that she
got telling out of her system, she felt better. Her mom sat there, not saying a
word.
Deja
waited.

“Babies
are a blessing
.
I was talking to
Essie, one of the church mothers, a few weeks ago about how I’d have to wait
for Kat to give me my first grandchild.” At least there wasn’t a barrage of
questions, unless she’d shocked her and her mom was biding her time.

“Derek
is a great man
.
I can’t wait to
introduce you to him.”

“I’ve
heard his name
.
He’s the white man
Kat and David met right? They said he was a nice guy and stayed with you at the
hospital and after when we couldn’t come get you. I’m so sorry. That week was
hectic for us. Kat was at school, your dad was working and I was dealing with
your grandma running away from the nursing home again. When we got there to see
you, you’d already been discharged. I’d have imagined they’d keep you a few
days, head bump and all. Insurance isn’t like the old days when they really
checked a person out and allowed proper time for injuries to present
themselves…So have you picked a good doctor or a midwife yet?”

Her
mom said all of that without taking a breath of air. She should’ve sung opera
or something. “Yeah, a doc came and saw me at the hospital, and then referred
me to their local office.” She licked a layer of melted marshmallow off the top
of her cup.

“Any symptoms?
I couldn’t eat much in the beginning with
you. I had morning sickness so bad, I had to have an IV put in my arm once.
Your sisters were better. The boys broke my hair and my nails off. Sucked
everything out of me and man was I terrified each time. Back then wives stayed
home. Having all of you so close together wasn’t easy, but so worth it and
every bit a blessing. Now tell me ‘bout your guy. I know your grandma and I
were wrong about your ex.”

As
her mom stopped to take a breath, her face fell and
Deja
wanted to reach out and hug her.

“I’m
sorry for not seeing what was happening and not believing how bad things were
for you. Grandma and I both thought ya’ll were just young and had stubborn
attitudes that got in the way. When we realized Malcolm dislocated your
shoulder by grabbing you, we were ashamed at how we responded when you came to
us for help, for advice.”

Having
an apology made her feel better.

“Not
having you and grandma on my side hurt. It hurt so badly. And Daddy just blew
me off like I was overreacting, like there was no way a public figure would be
so dishonest. I understood though. He was a master manipulator. At one point I
really believed that getting hurt was my fault, if I hadn’t struggled to get
free it wouldn’t have happened. I haven’t heard from him for years.
Nice and quiet years.”
Maybe they should’ve talked about
what happened five years ago. Since then she’d froze them out of her personal
life.

“Why
didn’t you press charges?”

“I
did. He sweet-talked his way out. In the end he paid a huge fine and was
ordered to attend anger management classes since it was his first offense.
Looks can be deceiving, I learned that very well and didn’t need a second
lesson.”

“How
do you know your Derek is a good man? You knew Malcolm for years. True colors
take a while to come out. How long have you known your fiancé?”

“Four
months. And I just know Derek’s a good man. In my gut and the way he treats me.
Every issue we’ve had and fought over has been on my end not his. I thought
you’d turn him away and not get a chance to find out how wonderful he is.”

“I’m
sorry you went through that. We haven’t seen eye to eye on matters of the
heart. I know we talked when you were young about the importance of marrying
our own kind. Times changed though and we didn’t catch up with the change. Your
brothers have dated different races but are far too young to settle. We chased
you so far away that you didn’t see us change our way of thinking as well. We
never really fixed the bridge we burned with you and for that I am so sorry.”

“They
hadn’t told me that, but then again I’m more of an ATM than a sister. I haven’t
really spent time or told them about my life. Between working and Derek, I’ve
isolated myself. I’m sorry too, seems like we’ve all missed out. Derek is
stubborn as Daddy but intelligent and so great to me. Sometimes I ask myself
why me? How can he love someone as fixated on success as I am?”

“You
are a wonderful if misguided daughter, how could anyone not love you is the
question you should be asking. I’m happy for you both. Will he be here for
dinner?”

“Yes,
I invited him to supper. He’ll be here as soon as he’s out of meetings.”

“At
least by the judge of things so far, I’ll rest at ease, knowing he’ll take care
of you right.”

“Oh, Mama.
I can do fine by myself, but I like having
someone to lean on.”

“Have
you set a date?”

“No.
We just officially became engaged this morning.” Oh no, her mom had the plan of
action look on her face. She could see the wheels turning. “There’s plenty of
time to plan Mom.”

“Girl,
not if you’re marrying him before the baby is born. It’ll be hard to find a
good place at a nice price, invitations, food, flowers, entertainment, picking the
right preacher and theme, color selection, not to mention plates for the
reception, a wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses for everyone.”

“We
don’t want fancy or big. Why don’t I help you cook dinner? You can share some
new recipes with me.” She attempted to derail the topic of wedding planning
before her OCD hit and she began to write lists on whatever piece of paper she
could find. The very thought overwhelmed her already, sent her nerves to
flutter.

Late
afternoon dipped to evening. Perspiration beaded on her forehead. Her mother
needed a new fan in the kitchen. With the cold outside one would’ve thought the
excessive heat welcoming, right now
Deja
wanted
nothing but to dip her face into a pile of snow for immediate relief. The house
phone rang. Her mother moved around the kitchen to put the finishing touches on,
making no plans to answer. “I’ll grab it.”
Deja
picked up. “Hello.”

“
Deja
vous
.
I forgot you were coming over tonight. Can you tell Dad I need a pickup
please?”

“Why,
your car in the shop?”

Katrina
sighed. “No lectures okay. I ran out of gas.”

“Kat,
Dad’s working a double but I’ll call Derek. Where are you at?”

“I’m
on 135
^th
and Metcalf on the shoulder with my hazards on.”

“Well
if you get cold head into one of the restaurants. They’re in walking distance.
No more than a two or three minute walk. Just call me if you do so I can tell
Derek where you’re waiting at. Okay?”

“Will do.
I’m good right now.”

Deja
hung up and texted Derek, knowing he’d answer a text
in a meeting but wouldn’t pick up the phone to answer it.

Kat’s out of gas on 135
^th
and Metcalf on the shoulder…hazard lights are on, can you go help her?

On my
way about 10 min from there in a meeting.

Deja
sighed in relief. She’d have another talk with Kat
about being responsible and how to keep a half tank of gas so her tank wouldn’t
freeze. Or maybe giving her a bus pass and taking the car back would prove a
better lesson.

Twenty
minutes later, and just in time for dinner, Derek and Kat came through the
door.
Deja
set the smothered pork chops, green beans
and scorching hot cornbread wedges on the table. She’d singed her fingertips
taking the chunks out of the triangle sections of the cast iron pan. All the
smells made her stomach rumble in hunger.

“She
talk
you to death?”
Deja
turned her face for a kiss from Derek.

“Not at all.
I took her to get gas, put some in the car,
then
returned to the station to fill up. Gave her a gas card
to keep in her wallet for emergencies too, and followed her here.”

“He’s
a keeper.” Kat kissed his cheek. “Anything left to do?”

“Mom
and I cooked a feast. You can set the table.”

“Well,
let me have a good look at the man who’s stealing my oldest from me.”
Deja’s
mom skated past her.

“Mrs. Crane, nice to meet you.”

Oh good going baby. Give her that debonair
smile that makes me melt.

“Mom,
meet Derek my fiancé and Derek, meet my mama.”

“I
expect you to take care of my girl. She puts too much on her shoulders.
My fault in part of course.
I should’ve put a cap on how
much she does for the family.”

“I’ll
do my best ma’am.” Derek snuck behind her and kissed her neck.

“How
was your day?” His stubble tickled as he hugged her from behind.

“Good,
long.”

“Hungry?”

“I’m
always hungry baby.”

“My
dad’s working and grandma is on lockdown from trying to leave her nursing home
again. She set off the alarms again. It’s just my mom, Kat, you and me for
dinner.”

“A
man could do worse than sharing a meal with three beautiful ladies.”

“Oh
stop, you’ve already won me over.” Her mother grinned like a fool.
Deja
herself was far from immune when he laid on the charm.

“Can
I try on your ring?”

Deja
almost dropped her plate. “No Kat, but you can get
your fill of seeing this baby sparkle on my finger.”

“I
wouldn’t have let me have it either but had to ask. It’s so pretty. I’ve never
seen the pink stone before.”

“Pink
diamonds are around but not every store carries them. I ordered the stone and
had them make
Deja’s
ring around it.”

“That’s
so romantic.”
Deja
shook her head. Her sister had that
whimsical tone in voice going on from reading far too many romance novels.

“Sounds expensive.”
Her mom quirked a
brow.

Deja
wanted to throw a piece of cornbread at her mother as
heat spread across her cheeks. If they weren’t careful, her mom might think he
wasn’t careful with money. Not that she’d tell them he was crazy loaded, their
finances were none of their business.

“I
really love my ring and don’t care what it’s made out of. I’d have been happy
with colored glass, just knowing I received it with love.”

Kat
busted out laughing. “Derek what did you do to my sister. Is she a clone? The
Deja
I know doesn’t like faux anything, shoes, purses,
wallets. When I was a teen she would save forever to get one item off of lineup
for the season.”

“Leave
your sister alone Katrina. A woman in love knows what matters. Might want to go
insure your new ring and be careful at work. Always be aware of your
surroundings.” She pointed the serving spoon at her.

Deja
waited for Derek to intercede and take over the
conversation. He, on the other hand, had other designs, like diving into the
plate of piled high food.

“I’ll
be careful Mama.” They began to eat in silence and for a few minutes she
believed they’d make it all the way through dinner—until her mom began with the
Crane inquisition.

“What
do you do for a living? What are your life goals, do you go to church, are you
saved?”

“Mama.
Let the man eat.”
Deja
frowned. “That’s like a zillion questions in one breath.”

Derek
wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. “I don’t mind, after all, they don’t know
me and we sprung getting married and having her first grandchild at once. I am
saved. I don’t have a church home but wouldn’t mind finding one. I buy business
and then I rebuild, run and sell them once they’re on their feet. I’m working
on a deal right now on a prime location in the Plaza. I’ll need a local office
here. I’m tired of working out of my place.”

“I
love the Plaza. There are some great shops there.
Deja
wanted to rent a place for her boutique there but couldn’t afford to.”

“I
did want to. I will in a few years when I’m more established. I was going to
open a shop out of state but with the baby coming, I want to hold off. I’m not
sure how much I can handle.”