Two Tears in a Bucket (40 page)

Before her foot could grace the threshold, he lifted her and carried her inside the dark room.

“
I’m glad I lost those twenty pounds.” She giggled.

Kevin placed her gently on the bed and stood before her. “I wish you hadn’t. It would’ve been more of you to love.”

With his eyes fixed on Simone, Kevin peeled his shirt off.

The time he’d spent behind bars had done wonders for his physique. His chest, abs, and arms had never been more defined. He stepped from his shoes, unbuckled his belt, and stripped from his jeans and boxers. Shy and ashamed he’d never been. His manhood stood at attention, stiff as steel. As he coasted down to the bed, he ran his fingers up Simone’s legs to the hem of her dress and eased it up. Simone grabbed his hand.

“
No, Kevin.” She kicked off her sandals and rose from the bed. With her eyes fixed to his, she inched the dress over her head and allowed it to join the pile of clothes already on the floor. There she stood, in her brown satin bra and thong, allowing him to take her all in.

“
You are so sexy,” he breathed.

She undid her bra, exposing her perfect cantaloupe-sized breasts. Kevin’s manhood grew a mind of its own, leaking the early stages of his pleasure and jerking in anticipation. While watching her slip from her thong, he could only imagine what was in store. Gone was the bashful teen who once hid under the covers to undress.

● ● ●

Simone sat on the edge of her seat, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winner. Seated one row ahead, Melanie turned around and smiled at her. “You sweating bullets.”

“
You think so?” Simone asked.

Everyone had come out to support Jordan—Angela, Ricardo, Stan, LeCount, Beatrice, Mae, Kayla, Fat Ed, Melanie, and Lavon were all there, to name a few.

The judges led the contestants across the stage. Jordan walked out as confident as ever, wearing her signature smile.

“
She looks like a superstar already,” Simone heard Fat Ed say to Stan from the row behind her.

Yes, she does
, Simone said to herself. She was so proud of her daughter.

The first envelope was opened, containing the third-place winner. Simone braced herself and breathed a sigh of relief when Jordan’s name wasn’t called. The second envelope was opened. Simone closed her eyes, and yet again, Jordan’s name wasn’t called.

“
I told you she won,” Lavon grunted underneath her breath.

“
Yeah, she got this,” Stan agreed.

“
And the first-place winner of the 2006 Xtreme Teen Talent Competition is…”

“
C’mon,” Simone said, tapping her feet as the judges stalled. She caught Jordan’s eyes and read her lips as she mouthed the words ‘I love you, Ma’ to Simone.

“
I love you, too,” Simone mouthed back from the edge of her seat, ready to scream her heart out, knowing with all certainty that Jordan had won.

“
Latisha Stanford!” the judges screamed.

“
What?” Simone said. She had to be hearing things.

All week Jordan had rehearsed the song and her routine over and over again. Every night she gave Simone and Kayla a performance. She’d practiced so much that Kayla and Simone had the routine down, too. Simone pumped Jordan up all week, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that she was going to win the competition hands down. But now, as Jordan cried on her shoulder, Simone didn’t know what to do. Angela had tried to console Jordan, as did Beatrice, but Jordan wanted her mother—she wanted Simone.

“
It’s okay, Jordan,” Simone said. “You know how many celebrities lost their first few talent competitions? It’s the record producers that you have to impress, baby,” she said as someone tapped her on the shoulder.

“
Yes?” she said as politely as she could. Too many people had already walked by expressing their surprise at the outcome.

“
She has a right to be upset,” he said, extending his card to Simone. “How you doing? I’m Don Brandon, owner of DB Records. I’m also a talent scout for a few of the major record companies. Do you think we can step outside and talk? It’s a bit noisy in here.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

2006

The hostess cradled the menus in her arm as she sashayed down the paisley-printed carpet, leading Kevin and Don to a booth in the back of the upscale restaurant.

“
How’s this, gentlemen?” The question rolled off her tongue in her Latino accent. Slinging her silky tresses over her shoulder, she raised her brow and smiled seductively. The high-back booth was tucked in a corner away from the Friday night hustle and bustle, just as Don had requested.

Don quickly surveyed the restaurant as if looking for other options. “This should work fine. Thank you.”

The minute they’d entered the establishment, Kevin noticed Don gawking at the hostess. Yes, she was attractive, with her bronze skin and youthful hourglass figure.

She can’t be that much older than Jordan,
Kevin thought, thankful he was only there to discuss his music and not his child.

Don eased across the smooth chocolate leather. Kevin followed suit, sitting directly across from him. The hostess passed the menus, sending with them a faint whiff of her fragrance. Don brought the menu to his nose and sniffed.

“
You smell wonderful. What’s that you’re wearing?”

“
Umm…” She placed her hand on her hip and shifted her weight as she glanced up at the ceiling in thought. “I can’t remember, but,” she shrugged, “thank you.”

“
You’re quite welcome. If you think of it before I leave, let me know. Maybe I’ll buy you a bottle or two.”

“
Well, if you promise to bring handsome back with you, I’ll make up something.” The hostess winked at Kevin and strutted away with Don’s eyes glued to her ass.

“
I guess I’m too old for her, but she sure was ready for you,” Don said.

“
Yeah, I like mine potty-trained and weaned from the bottle, though,” Kevin joked sarcastically as he opened the menu.

“
Yeah, well, let me hear you say that when you become a big-time songwriter. Women of all ages be at the video shoots ready to drop their drawers in a heartbeat. Tell Simone to get a bat or something ready, because she’s gonna be beating women off of you.”

“
Been there, done that. Bat and all.”

“
Really?” Don peered over his open menu.

“
Yeah, and believe me, we’re never ever traveling down that road again. That I promise you.”

The waiter approached, decked out in his black suit and bowtie.

“
Hello, gentlemen,” he greeted with a courtesy bow. “May I offer you tap or bottled water?”

“
Bottled water, please,” Don said without hesitation.

“
I’ll be right back.”

Kevin studied the stylish décor. He smiled as he glanced down at the formal setting before him.

“
What?” Don asked, noticing Kevin’s sly grin.

“
Oh, nothing. You know, being away for so many years, places like this only existed in magazines.”

“
Oh, wow, Kevin. I wasn’t even thinking. Don’t worry, if it’s too intimidating, I can help
—”

“
Don, I’m cool,” Kevin interrupted, quickly putting Don at ease. “Simone saw to all that. She sent me a million books, even ones on etiquette that I left behind for the prison library. I’m good. We’ve actually been here. The glazed stuffed chicken’s pretty good.”

Don smiled approvingly. “Yes, that’s one of my favorites, too.”

“
Yeah.” Kevin chuckled. “I’ve only been home a few weeks, and Simone’s already taken me to a million places. She wants to show me the world, and I’m dying to see it, just not at her expense. She’s been through a lot.”

“
Then there’s no better time like the present to discuss my proposal.”

Don placed his leather attaché case on the seat next to him and popped it open.

“
You know,” Don said as he shuffled through his papers, “Simone is something special. I would love to make her and Jordan stars, but they’re not interested, huh?”

Hell no
, Kevin said to himself. To Kevin’s surprise, Simone had had her basement finished and equipped with a modern, state-of-the-art recording studio just for him. She’d sung a few of Kevin’s tracks that Don had listened to and even fiddle-faddled behind the scenes with Kevin. But, she had no interest in the limelight. Jordan, on the other hand, was a different story and Kevin’s personal project.

“
Naw, we don’t know what we’re going to do,” Kevin lied, but his plans were already in order. With Stan and Fat Ed’s expertise, Jordan was going to record a few of Kevin’s personal favorites, the ones his gut had labeled hits years ago.

“
Okay, well, for now, we’ll discuss the songs I’m interested in. The songs that Simone sang. Speaking of Simone, where is the gorgeous lady? I’m surprised she’s not here with you.”

“
No, I want to surprise her. I’m not going to tell her about this until after I propose to her. Besides, she’s in court getting her divorce finalized.”

“
Propose, divorce, hold up…hold up.” Don frowned, shaking his head in disbelief. “I thought you two were already married. Who the hell is she divorcing?”

“
No, we’re not married yet. I was supposed to marry her a million years ago.”

“
Okay, I’m confused.”

Kevin dumped the soap-opera-filled years in Don’s lap. He didn’t hold back a thing. The young love he and Simone had shared, his troubled youth, his fake friends, killing Mr. Johnson, Angela’s web, Thomas, Andre…everything.

“
So,” Kevin sighed with a simple shrug of his shoulder, nearly out of breath. “Say something.”

Don sat speechless. “Man,” he finally gasped, “please tell me you just sat here and made all that up.”

“
Naw, it’s all true. She walked back into my life eight months ago, and I’m never letting her go. Simone’s my baby. My partner for life. I have to propose, and I have to do it right.”

“
And, Kevin, you will. I’m going to make sure of it. Tell me what you had in mind.”

● ● ●

The seamstress Don referred Kevin to did a wonderful job embroidering Jordan’s name along the front of her jacket and the seat of her pants. The red stitching across the winter-white velour suit was drawing a lot of attention.

“
Got damn, Jordan,” a young patron said in passing.

“
A’ight, you ain’t wearing those pants no more,” Kevin said as they entered the arena, ready to watch the Wizards take on the Miami Heat.

Simone had done a lot of things, but she’d never been to a NBA game. This was their first of firsts together.

Kevin, Simone, Jordan, and Kayla headed to their seats, just three rows behind the Washington Wizards players.

The first two quarters of the game overflowed with excitement and Simone’s questions. “Kevin, what’s a technical foul?” Or “Kevin, what’s goaltending?”

“
Ma,” Kayla said, seated in between Kevin and Simone, “just watch the game.”

Minutes to halftime, Jordan stood and said, “Come on, Kayla. I’m going to the bathroom, so you may as well come with me.”

“
Good idea,” Simone said as she unconsciously blew a bubble with her gum.

Kevin grinned, admiring Simone in his Wizards jersey and cap. “You look like a little girl.”

“
Thanks, R. Kelly.” She smiled.

Scooting over to Kayla’s seat, Simone planted a kiss on Kevin’s cheek. No words were spoken as the two simply smiled, while staring at each other. The halftime buzzer sounded, and the players headed off the court. Kevin had no idea who was winning as his insides scrambled about. He grabbed Simone’s hand.

“
Why your hands so sweaty?”

“
I don’t know. I guess it was your kiss,” Kevin said, squeezing her hand. “It made me hot.”

The lights went dim.

“
Dang,” Simone said, looking over her shoulder. “I hope Jordan and Kayla don’t miss the halftime show.” She glanced at Kevin and noticed the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “Kevin, you’re sweating up a storm, and it’s not that hot in here. If you’re not feeling well, we can leave if you want. We just have to find the girls.”

“
Naw, baby,” he sighed. “I’m cool.”

“
You don’t look cool.”

A spotlight shone in the center of the court. The jumbo monitors came to life throughout the arena as a sweet, soft voice sang. “Take her hand; Hold it tight; You belong to her; For the rest of your life. Hold him close; Show him love; You’re the only one he’s thinking of.”

Simone’s mouth dropped open as Jordan appeared center court and beautiful.

“
Oh my gosh, Kevin. That’s Jordan…and she’s singing your song. Oh my God, Kevin!” She tried to leap from her seat, but Kevin held her hand, preventing her from doing so. “Kevin, Jordan’s singing
—”

“
Simone, baby,” Kevin said as he eased from his seat and took a knee on the bleachers. Another spotlight appeared, beaming on Kevin and Simone. Their faces appeared on the monitors. Simone gasped as Kevin reached for her hand and from behind his back came the most precious five-carat diamond ring imaginable.