Skeletons (2 page)

2

Santana

M
onday morning and we are running late as usual.

Reading Jovanna’s text pissed me off even more; as we rushed around the house trying to get out of the door, she was headed to the warmth of South Beach to throw a party for that young fine ass new artist, Qwin. While I love my job as Senior CPA for Gold’s Medical Supply, I envied the life that Jovanna lived; she was always mingling with celebrities or hosting one of the most talked about events, I think that I am in the wrong line of work.

“Malik and Mya let’s go!” I yelled from the bottom of the stairs at my twelve-year-old son and nine year-old daughter who were taking their own sweet time to get out of the door.

Michael, my husband, walked into the kitchen with a frantic look on his face, which usually meant that he couldn’t find something. Grabbing his coffee cup off of the island he tried to take a sip, but ended up spilling coffee on his suit as he too was in a hurry to get to work.

“Have you seen the keys to my car?” he asked as he fumbled with a cup of hot coffee in one hand, his briefcase in another while trying to clip on his lackluster blue tie. I just shook my head. Michael felt that he could not operate without his morning cup of coffee every day, even on the weekends.

I grabbed my purse and the keys to my van as I tried to help him look for his set of keys, “Where did you have them last Mike?”

“I don’t remember.”

It always seemed to amaze me how my husband could manage an entire call center with over two hundred employees, but couldn’t manage to keep up with his car keys.

“I keep telling you to put your keys on the key holder when you come in the door.” I fussed with my hand on my ample hips.

Mike looked at me blankly and said, “Well that is kind of a moot point, don’t you think Santana?”

Rolling my eyes I called for the kids once more, “Let’s go, you two have ten seconds to get your butts down here or you will be left to walk to school in the snow!”

Malik, my handsome caramel-skinned son walked in first zipping his book bag and grabbing his lunch from the island counter. “I’m ready, but I can’t find my iPod.”

Sighing, I grabbed his blue iPod from off of the top of the refrigerator, “This was left on the island last night. What have I told you about putting your things away?”

“Thanks.” he said as he checked the battery power on it.

Mya skipped in the kitchen, her braids swaying with her movement, “I’m ready mom.”

Mike walked in the room frantic, “Kids have you seen my keys?”

“Dad you left them in your bathroom.” Malik said, “I used some of your cologne and I just saw them sitting there.”

Mike ran back upstairs to our bathroom.

“What did your daddy tell you about using his cologne without his permission?”

Malik shrugged as he walked out of the door behind Mya.

The kid’s school was only a five minute drive from our house in Barrington Downs, but today it seemed that people wanted to drive slower than normal. I turned on Grand National Drive when I almost rear-ended a woman who was too busy talking on her cellular phone to see that I had the right a way.

“Dumb bitch!” I yelled as I laid on my horn.

“Mommy just used a bad word.” Mya corrected me from the back seat. “Daddy said that God’ doesn’t like bad words.”

“Not today Mya, mommy is stressed enough.” I said, “Did you grab your book report from off the dining room table?”

“Yes mom.”

“Mom, do you think that I can go to De`Vante’s house after school today?” Malik asked.

“You have been spending a lot of time over his house lately; what are the two of you up to?”

“Just hanging out and playing video games since I can’t have a Playstation of my own like a normal kid.”

“Daddy said that video games are too violent and not Christian-like.” Mya sang.

“Did De`Vante ask Pam about this?” I asked ignoring my daughter.

“Yes and she said that it was okay and that she’d drive me home by seven o’clock.”

“Alright, but call me as soon as you get over there.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“Malik, just call me when you get over there, it’s not about trust, it’s about knowing that you are alright.”

After dropping the kids off at school I made my way down the highway as I frantically tried to avoid the rest of the manic drivers on the road while cursing MODOT for not having the streets cleaned by now. As I pulled into the parking garage my phone lit up, it was my new assistant, Tabitha.

“I’m in the parking lot Tabitha.” I said clearly irritated by the call.

“Mr. Gold and Mr. Berganstein are expecting you in this meeting and I want to make sure that you are not late.”

“I’m running late, but I’m going to be in the meeting on time.” I said as I grabbed the finance reports out of my briefcase and power-walked to the elevator up to the tenth floor of our building. While I didn’t have the exciting job that Jovanna had it more than paid the bills and allowed me a lot of free time off to be with the family so I put up with it.

3

Asteria

B
ring me some of that good South Beach weather back! Love you.

Asteria

I typed Jovanna a reply as I began my day at Gods & Goddesses Salon where I work as business manager and co-owner with my twin sister Pandia. Our mother was a Greek mythology buff and thought that it was cute to name us after Grecian Goddesses. While I didn’t know a lot about Greek mythology I did my research and found out that Asteria was the Goddess of night and falling stars and Pandia was the Goddess of light and beauty. Just like our names, Pandia and I were like night and day.

I always got into the salon before any of the other stylists because I liked to make sure everyone’s station was fully stocked and clean before we started our day. Pandia fusses at me saying that I spoil the stylist and that it was not my job to stock and clean their stations. However, I wanted the stylist at their stations and ready to work when they came into the salon; it was not productive to have them running around looking for this and that while a client was in the chair. Besides after dropping my son off at daycare, I didn’t have anything else to keep me busy.

My sister, who has no business sense, is used to working at salons where the stylist popped gum in the client’s ear, talked about everybody’s business except their own while rap music blared in the background and the stylists had messy stations. When we decided to open Gods & Goddesses Salon we agreed that this was going to be an upscale shop that ran like a finely tuned automobile instead of a jalopy.

Pandia was not use to the business end of things; while my womb-mate was going to beauty school, I was busy hitting the books at UMSL ultimately obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Professional Development and moving to Phoenix to work for a prestigious business consultant.

I moved back to St. Louis when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since Pandia was trying to run a salon, tend to her son and deal with her philandering husband I moved home to help her with mom. While I loved my mother she always seemed to favor Pandia over me. No matter how much I achieved and she underachieved, mom held a special place in her heart for my sister, a spot that I never got a chance to see. While I was busy making high-honor roll and a member of minority excellence in high school, mom was praising Pandia for making the cheerleading squad. When I made captain of the track team with very little fanfare, mom took Pandia shopping for getting an A on her science project on the solar system. Even when Pandia married Keith the smile on mom’s face was one filled with love and admiration a look that I didn’t get to see even after I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree.

On mom’s death bed I asked her why didn’t she love me as much as she loved my sister. All mom said was, “Asteria, you are just like your father, always thinking that there is a competition when you are clearly the one winning the race.” She passed away peacefully in her sleep a few weeks after, but I never forgot the words that she spoke to me. Her final insult came when we went over the life insurance policy and learned that Pandia got eighty percent and I was left with only twenty. After her funeral we took the remaining money from the policy and opened up the salon in University City.

After stocking the stations I went to the front desk and booted up the computer to print out everyone’s schedule for the day. Gods & Goddesses stayed so heavily book that we had no choice but to open every other Monday while most salons were closed. A client had to book three weeks in advance for a hair weave and we housed some of the best stylists and barbers in St. Louis.

Aaron was always first in, he was sexy with his honey coated skin, light brown eyes, shoulder length dreadlocks and lips that would make LL drool, and too bad he was as sweet as grandma’s Kool-Aid.

“Hey chica!” he smiled at me as he walked towards his station; Aaron is one of the best locticians in the area. “How was your date Saturday night?” I asked as I handed him his schedule.

He scratched the raised scar that ran from the corner of his left eye down to his full lips. He never told me the story behind the scar, but I knew that he carried a blade with him wherever he went.

“Now you know that Aaron don’t kiss and tell.”

“So you did kiss though?” I teased.

Aaron blew me an air kiss and walked to the break room.

Keisha, walked in with her usual bad attitude and without speaking she looked over her schedule in disgust. We put up with her attitude because she was fresh out of beauty school and he was a good stylist.

“Good morning.” I smiled.

“Hi.” she said dryly while sitting down in her stylist chair with a frown on her face. “Why do I always get stuck with the shitty schedule?”

“What are you talking about Keisha?” I asked.

“Everyone else gets their own clients and I always get stuck with the non-regulars and walk-ins. What’s up with that?” she tossed the paper on the glass-topped station.

“Keisha, you are the low man on the totem pole and you haven’t built up a clientele yet so those are the breaks. Besides you haven’t been here long enough so have a little patience. In the meantime you need to sharpen your skills and work on your professionalism and maybe you will start to build your clientele up.”

Rolling her counterfeit grey eyes hidden behind thick imitation lashes she began picking her nails. Pandia hated Keisha and her funky approach, but I saw potential in her so I opted to keep her on staff.

Next was my very own Sista-Big-Bones, Londyn, don’t get it twisted Londyn was a hefty sista with more class, soul and ass than any one that I’ve ever met. Today she wore a pair of winter white wide-legged pants, chocolate brown Kenneth Cole leather boots with a thin four-inch heel and a chocolate brown sweater straight from AshleyStewart.com. She was gabbing away on her cell phone as she walked in the door, I handed her the days schedule and with a friendly wave she sashayed back to her station, making sure to stop her conversation long enough to say “Good morning Keisha.” to Keisha and continue her conversation and her catwalk back to her space.

My cellular vibrated, it was Pandia who was running late again.

“Pandia you have a client due in at nine-thirty, do you think that you can make it in by then?” I answered.

“Don’t talk to me like you own me Asteria.” she fussed, “Keith didn’t make it in until late last night so I have to drop little Keith off at school and now we are stuck in traffic.”

Sounding suprised I asked, “Where in the hell was he?”

“The hell if I know, but I do know that I’m getting real tired of this bullshit.”

I could hear the hurt in her voice.

“Well, shit or get off of the pot is what mom use to say.”

“Yeah, it is easy for you to tell me to get rid of my husband when you don’t have a clue of what it is to be married.”

“Wow that was a bit below the belt.” I said pretending to be hurt.

“I’m sorry, I’m just sick of this. I will be there when I can.”

“We have a full schedule today, Pandia so if your first client is left waiting for more than ten minutes I’ll have to pass her to Keisha.”

“No! Don’t do that, Mrs. Alexander is very particular about her hair and she’d have a fit if that little girl messes her up.”

“Well unless you get here in time, I don’t have a choice because everyone has a full schedule except for Keisha. Besides she is a good stylist Pandia, in business you have to learn to set aside your personal feelings for someone in order to grow professionally.”

“Whatever, tell her to wash her hair and put her under the dryer, by that time I should be there.”

“Alright, I will see you when you get here.” I said with a smile on my face.

4

Jovanna

N
o matter how many times we’ve been to South Beach and have stayed at Hotel Victor we still had a hassle when we checked in, but I refused to stay anywhere else. I am always blown away be the modern décor and the ultra-chic vibe that circulated throughout the luxury hotel. As usual the beautiful, but inept girl at the front desk couldn’t find our reservation, even though we had the confirmation number. Tony’s eyes lit up when he saw the cute hotel manager come to her aid. Not only did we walk away with many apologies, but also complementary breakfast for the duration of our trip and Tony got the managers phone number.

“You are something else Tony.” I laughed shaking my head as my business partner typed the manager’s phone number into his Evo.

“Girl you have to learn how to go after the things that you want in life, besides I’m single and ready to mingle in South Beach.” he switched as we got on the elevator.

I yawned.

“Damn it was only a three hour flight and you are tired already.”

“I know, that is all that I have been doing lately is sleeping. I don’t know what is going on with me.”

“Maybe it’s the stress from all of that planning that you have been doing for this lavish wedding that you have coming up.”

“Justin pissed me off so bad last night.”

“Get over that shit, you got you a good Caucasian man!” he laughed.

“Stop Tony, I’m serious.” I swatted him on his arm.

“Has his family opened up to you yet? I know that his rich, white family does not want him to marry the likes of us.” He said holding up the back of his brown hand.

“It is not their decision to make and Justin and I are fine with that.” I answered as I adjusted the heavy bag on my shoulder.

“Whatever, get dressed hooker, I want to head to this new club that I read about.” He said grabbing his bags off of the cart and stepping off of the elevator.

“You go ahead without me tonight, I have some work to do and you need to make sure that our vendors are in place.”

“Don’t worry about my end; you know that I have got this.” He switched to his room.

I had the final count for the V.I.P guest list and make sure that the owner of B.E.D knew to open the venue up for the vendors a few hours in advance, but first I had to take a shower.

Closing my eyes while the hot water ran down my tense body melting away the stress in my muscles. This wedding was stressing me out and I couldn’t wait to say “I do” and jump on a plane for Tokyo for a much needed two week vacation. Running my hands down the lather that slid down my body the lavender scent of the soap engulfed my senses in an attempt to relax me even more. Losing that extra twenty pounds by picking up running again really helped my physique; I had muscles in places where I didn’t even know they existed. My deep chocolate abs were beginning to get more formed and taut, my legs were so toned that they no longer jiggled when I ran and my ass was firm and tight, but still had a little bounce to it when I needed it to.

Justin has always loved my body, but he appreciates it even more now that I’ve been working out. Trying to get Santana and Asteria to lose an hour of sleep to run with me was like pulling teeth so I’ve gotten into the habit of running with my man or alone when he is out of town on business.

Meeting Justin was one of the best moments of my life only coming second to me moving from having nothing in Memphis to running, Elite Events by Jovanna, my own event coordinating company. Justin was not the first white man that I’d been with, but he was the first white man that I ever kissed and the first man that I ever felt truly loved me.

I thought that Justin was too good to be true, I’ve never had a man treat me with such kindness and care. He was genuine, sincere and most importantly he treated me with respect. I had a wall up, a wall that was built with many bricks of my past, but Justin worked to break away the bricks one by one earning my trust enough for me to fall in love with him.

Santana and Asteria thought that it was funny during our first year of dating, we were the butt of every joke at all of the functions and barbeques; during year two, they said that it was just a phase and it would pass; by year three they were angry that I’d chosen a white man instead of a good black man, but by year four they began to accept Justin as a part of our circle and now, five years later they were looking forward to stand beside us as we took our vows in front of God.

Justin’s family has been a major roadblock in our relationship, they knew that Justin preferred African American women, but they were confident that their son was smart enough not to marry one. His mother, who was a recovering alcoholic, almost fell off the wagon when he announced that we were engaged. His father, Rick, was absolutely pissed off that his son was dating an African American and the heir to his last name would have black blood running though his veins. They sneered at me when Justin would bring me to holiday celebrations eventually it got so bad that I stopped going with him and soon thereafter Justin stopped attending as well.

Although I made it my point to send his family invitations to our wedding, we were prepared for them not to show. I knew that he hurt Justin not being able to connect with his family as he once did, but he loved me and told them that they would either have to accept our union or accept him not being part of their lives any longer.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped the plush terry cloth bath robe around my body and stepped out onto the balcony. The warm air felt good on my damp skin and the smell of the ocean took me back to when I first visited South Beach, but at that time it was on the other side of the tracks and the memories are not something that I wanted to recall. Hearing my cell phone chime in my room took me back to reality as I went inside to answer the call.

“Hello.”

“What are you wearing?” Justin said trying to sound as sexy as his thick New York accent would allow.

“Justin, what do you want?”

“Come on, play along with me.” He said. “Now what are you wearing?”

I tried to keep my laugh in, “I’m wearing a hot pink lace thong and matching tank top.”

“Is it see through?”

“Yes, baby they are both sheer.”

Justin moaned, “Can you see those brown nipples through the tank top?”

“Yes baby.” I breathed, “You can see the imprint of my pussy through my panties too.” I looked at the time, it was only two-thirty in St. Louis and Justin was still at work.

“Damn, I bet that is a very sexy sight.”

“It is baby and I just got out of the shower so my skin smells sweet and feels so soft. I wish that you were here to touch and to taste me baby.” I purred into my phone as I looked for the seating arrangements in my briefcase.

“Touch yourself for me.” He demanded.

Rolling my eyes at his request, I had too much shit on my plate to play phone sex with Justin. I moaned into the ear piece as I pretended to caress my body. “I wish that you were here to do this for me.”

“I just want to watch you.” Justin was a freaky little white boy.

“Are you wet?”

“Yes.”

“Does it feel good to you?”

I moaned.

“Touch your breasts for me.”

“I am baby, I am.” I moaned.

“Damn you are turning me on.”

I don’t know why he wants to be at work rock hard, but Justin was really into phone sex.

“I am about to come baby.” I moaned and panted into the phone, “I can’t hold back any longer.”

“Come for me, make that cherry melt baby.”

I moaned and panted harder and louder as I pretended to orgasm and ended it with me screaming his name over and over again—my performance was Oscar worthy.

I could hear Justin’s breathing deepen, then he suddenly stopped short, “I’m sorry, but I think that I have the wrong number.” He said, ending the call.

Justin has made it a habit to call me for phone sex when either of us was out of town and even though I thought it was silly, I did it to make him happy.

The following morning Tony and I met in the lobby of the hotel for breakfast then we took a taxi to B.E.D in order to meet with Qwin and his people for a final meeting and payment before the party. I was surprised at how short Qwin was compared to what he looked like in his videos, but I knew how clever cameramen could be with shooting smaller men from below in order to make them look larger. I learned not to trust the cameras after going to a DMX concert some time ago.

As I went over the plans for the party with him and his manager were busy talking to the owner of B.E.D to let him know what time the vendors would start showing up tomorrow to decorate and get the place set up.

“I’m sorry that I’m late.” Someone said from behind me, turning around I did not stumbled when I saw a familiar face that I hadn’t expected to see ever again.

With an extended hand the dark haired brick house introduced herself as Qwin’s publicist, Tasha.

“Wow, it is nice to finally meet you.” I smiled shaking her hand.

With familiarity in her green eyes she said, “It is nice to put a face behind a voice.”

We knew one another, and she was not who she said she was.

“I was just explaining to Qwin and Mr. Tomlinson that he will make his entrance from the left behind a set of sheer red curtains.” I explained pointing to the area while trying to regain my composure.

“Okay sounds good.”

After explaining the details of the party to the group I left them alone to discuss any further details that they needed me to know and I sat at the bar next to Tony who was on the phone with the caterer.

“What’s wrong love, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He asked.

“Nothing, I guess I’m still a bit jet lagged.” I lied, “How is everything going with the vendors?” I asked.

“It’s all good, I’ve changed a few menu items, but I doubt that they will realize it.”

“Just make sure you give me the final price when you are done.” I said as I looked up to see Tasha headed my way.

“Everything sounds great, Jovanna and here is your check.” She said handing me a check.

Checking the amount I thanked her and walked the trio to the door.

Shaking Qwin and his manager’s hand I told them that I’d see them tomorrow night for the party. Before leaving Tasha turned to back to me and smiled, “You look good.”

Pretending not to know what she was talking about, “Excuse me.”

“Don’t worry I won’t say anything, I just wanted you to know that you look good and it was nice seeing you again.”

“How do you remember me?” I asked after making sure that I was out of earshot of anyone else.

“I have a good memory. I always wondered what happened to you and now that I see that you are doing well, I feel much better.”

“I try not to think about it.”

“It is hard not to think about it.”

“You look good too, Tasha.” I smiled.

Embracing me she whispered, “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

With a soft kiss on my cheek she entered her rented Benz and drove off leaving me feeling exposed.