Skeletons
Authors: Shimeka McFadden
SKELETONS
Shimeka R McFadden
Six Kids & A Pen Publishing
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Shimeka Anderson
Cover Designed by Davida Baldwin at OddBall Design
Richard Bach Quote
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission by the publisher, except by reviewers or catalogues no limited to online for purpose of promotion. For information address:
Six Kids & A Pen Publishing
Shimeka McFadden
1401 S Rodgers
Alton, IL 62002
www.sixkidsandapen.blogspot.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of fiction or are used in a fictious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-0-615-49675-7
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge my husband Kerri for enduring this six year journey with me as I wrote and revised Skeletons and to thank him for keeping me from hitting the delete button on many occasions. I would also like to thank my beautiful children, Takeyha, Asa, Peaceful, Javier, Boston and Januari for learning to like take out dinners, a messy house and a irritable mother while I prepped this book for publishing. I would like to say thank you to my sisters Tiffany and and Takeisha for having the understanding and love that only a sister can give. I would also like to thank my friends Artura, Chevon, Rachel, Erica, Loretta and Janita for all of your support and listening to me ramble on and on for hours and for over looking my bipolar moments. Last but not least I’d like to thank my parents, David and Donnia for allowing me to be who I am and for combining their DNA to create a very unique individual.
Thank you!
“The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we’re afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear we’ll lose it. We fear that if we do not love we will be unhappy.”
Richard Bach 1936
Contents
Jovanna
I
hate Mondays.
Looking at me through pleading eyes Justin let out a heavy sigh as I pulled the red and black skull cap over my shoulder-length hair and pulled on the matching gloves. I hated when we fought, but I was determined to let him know that I was right.
“Are you ready?” he grunted as he grabbed the handle of my heavy Samsonite suitcase.
“There is no need for you to drive me to the airport Justin, I’m a big girl now and I’m sure that I can handle some things on my own.”
Sighing, he said, “Jovanna, you know that I am not about to let you drive to the airport alone. In the five years of our being together I have never let you drive to the airport alone so what makes you think that I will now.”
Rolling my brown eyes I yanked my heavy laptop bag up and walked out of the door without another word as Justin walked behind me with my suitcase in tow.
The ride down highway 170 to highway 70 there were no words between us, just the sounds of Musiq Soulchild singing sweet falsetto praises on how beautiful his woman is. Justin drove carefully down the highway because the roads were still slick from the snow storm that we had the other day and he didn’t want to risk crashing his tuxedo black Ford Super Duty truck. I could tell that he was still agitated from the conversation that we had last night by the way that he kept looking over at me, but knowing that it was in his best interest to keep quiet.
Pulling out my iPhone I called my assistant, Tony, who was already at the gate.
“Good morning, we are in route to the airport, but the streets are pretty bad so we are taking our time.”
“Good morning sunshine,” he sang back, “You don’t have to tell me, I know how St. Louis is about cleaning the highway after a snowstorm. I was not about to bring my baby out in this mess so I took a cab.”
“I am on my way, but did you confirm with Qwin’s publicist and manager that we will be at B.E.D at noon tomorrow??”
“Yes doll.” Tony said.
B.E.D is an exclusive lounge in South Beach that had beds for patrons to sit and lounge on instead of the usual tables and chairs. Since Qwin was turning twenty-one I decided to host the event there for a more sensual and upscale event rather than a hyped up club scene in New York. Qwin has been the artist of the year since he came out with his hit single, Bohemian Seduction. While I didn’t listen to his music, I was relieved to hear I was not hosting another party for a rapper because their parties tended to get out of control and I was tired of having my name attached to those types of events.
“Okay, I’m going to be on his manager by ten because I don’t want to get behind schedule.”
“Yes mother.” Tony chimed, “This is going to be a long three days honey.”
I sighed and looked at Justin and said “I know.”
After hanging up with Tony, Justin turned Musiq down and said, “Look Jovanna, I don’t like us not talking and you know that.”
I kept my gaze out of the window as if I were focusing on the snow.
“I don’t know what I did that was so wrong; I swear sometimes your period makes you crazy.”
I turned and looked into his blue eyes with heat in my brown ones, “Don’t you even go there Justin.” I stabbed. “Don’t blame your insensitivity on my hormones.”
“How am I being insensitive?”
“Do you realize that the wedding is in five months Justin and it is kind of disconcerting when my soon-to-be husband refuses to help me with the favors, the cake, the musical selection or the seating arrangement for the reception?” I shot.
Uncomfortable with being put on the spot Justin rubbed his goatee, and said “That is not being insensitive, that is what we are paying a wedding coordinator for.”
“These are personal touches that I don’t want Trisha to make.” I huffed.
“Why are we paying her then?” He asked. “You have planned hundreds of weddings so if you want to plan your own wedding then let’s get a refund from Trisha.”
I rolled my eyes, “I knew that you wouldn’t understand.”
“When I pay a contractor to flip a house for me, I don’t go in and lay down the flooring because that is what I’m paying him for.” he said in his New York accent.
“What are you talking about Justin? Are you really prepared to compare our wedding, the most important day or our lives, to your job of flipping houses?”
Justin’s back was in a corner, “That is not what I’m saying Jovanna.”
“That is what just came out of your damn mouth!” I shot quickly, “So clarify what you meant!”
Justin could see that I was angry.
“First of all, cursing me isn’t necessary and secondly I didn’t mean what I said in a way to demean our wedding or our marriage. You were the one who said that you were not going to coordinate our wedding because you were under enough stress so I assumed that you paid Trisha to handle all of the wedding details and all we did was say write a check, show up and say I do. I never intended to have to pick out party favors or make a seating chart, but if that is what you want then I will help you. I just don’t want to fight.”
Giving in Justin turned Musiq back up.
Looking at my pale, soon-to-be husband who was badly in need of a tan, I smiled and turned my gaze back to the highway taking comfort in the fact that he was worried about my stress level and not trying to skip out on helping with our wedding.
“Justin, I do this for a living and I just want our day to be just as special as everyone else’s day. Just help me with the seating chart because I know how your family feels about our union and I don’t want my friends to be subjected to their hateful scowls during my reception.” I said softly as we continued our ride to the airport.
Tony looked as handsome as ever in a pair of antique washed black jeans and a thick sweater and tied it all together with a pageboy cap and ebony pea coat as he waved to us in front of the luggage rack; Justin laughed “Wow for once he doesn’t have on every color of the rainbow.”
I have to admit Tony was eccentric in his dress, usually wearing something that let people know who he was, what he was and that there was no shame in his game. However, Tony knew how to separate business from pleasure so when we were conducting business he was always on point and made sure that he was dressed to impress.
“It’s about damn time.” He said as he took my suitcase from Justin. “Hey Justin how are you?”
“I’m fine Tony, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Tony laughed, “Yeah I had to tone it down for these bitches in South Beach, but honey I still got it.” He said adjusting his cap.
Justin laughed, “Jovanna, call me when you get to your hotel.”
“I always do Justin.” I smiled, relieved to have put this argument behind us.
Justin kissed me softly on the lips and shook Tony’s hand, “Take care of my lady, she is all that I got.” He said before he walked out of the airport.
“Girl you got him whipped like cool whip.” Tony joked as we walked to the security check. “But I must say that Justin is one fine white man!”
“Keep your mitts off of my fiancé you whore.” I laughed.
Standing in line I pulled out my iPhone to send a text to my girls, Santana and Asteria:
Hey ladies, just wanted to let you know that I’m about to get on the plane headed to South Beach for the 21st birthday bash for Qwin and I will be back in St. Louis Wednesday evening, but you know that I’ll always be with you in spirit and via text.
Kisses