After All Read Free Page A

braids.
    “ Anthony's here.” Laree
said, her eyebrows raised almost to her hairline.
    “ Oo-wee, you mean I missed
the fireworks? Damn!” Shantae snapped her fingers.
    “ There were no fireworks. I
don't want to discuss it. Let's just go and have a good time. Now
come on.”Michelle unlocked her desk and jerked her purse from a
bottom drawer.
    “ Oh yeah, I can see we're on
our way to havin' a real blast.”Shantae shook her head as she and
Laree followed Michelle out.
     
    ***
     
    “ You've been mighty quiet
for the last hour, son. Anything you want to talk about or ask
me?”Ike Batiste wheeled the big midnight blue Lincoln onto the
interstate highway.
    “ Nah, I'm just thinking
about some stuff I've got to take care of at work.”Anthony stared
out of the car window at the tops of buildings sliding
by.
    “ That Michelle is pretty as
ever. Thick curly hair,
    big brown eyes you can get lost in,
just like her mama. A real lovely lady for sure.”Ike glanced at
Anthony sideways.
    “ Yeah.”Anthony had thought
of little else since learning he would be at the station where
Michelle worked. And seeing her had crashed through all his
defenses, making his reassurances to himself that he was over her a
joke. But he had been a fool to hope they could... what? Be
friends, or more? Michelle had made it clear what she thought of
him. He flinched remembering the cold, distance in those beautiful
eyes.
    “ Don't let it get to you,
boy. With everything you've got going for you, there are beaucoup
women waiting to get next to you.”Ike seemed to read his
thoughts.
    “ She simply can't forgive me
for defending you. Michelle is so damn stubborn.”Anthony fists were
clenched in his lap.
    “ I tried to help the guy,
but he fell on his face because of his own bad judgment. Then he
tries to ruin my reputation. Forget it.”Ike reached out to give his
arm a quick squeeze.”Tell you what; let's stop off at Luther's
Bar-B-Q. I'm starving. Okay, champ?”
    “ Sure, why not.”Anthony gave
him a forced smile. Uncle Ike was right, it was best to forget it.
He set about trying to repair the damage to the wall he had built
around her memory. The wall that kept her from dominating his
thoughts and helped him make through so many long, lonely
nights.
     
    ***
     
    “ Hi, mama. How have you
been?”Michelle planted a kiss on her cheek.
    Michelle had cut short her dinner with
Laree and Shantae pleading the need to turn in early. Though it was
after ten, she’d promised to visit her mother before going home.
Annette would sulk for days if that promise was not
kept.
    “ Your father isn't home yet
as usual. Working late.”
    Annette refilled her glass of
wine.
    “ How are you?”Michelle
insisted on steering her away from familiar complaints.
    “ Fine. Your father
embarrassed me as usual. Marvin Cato phoned to ask why Thomas
hadn't paid his alumni dues for Alpha Phi Alpha. I mean for God
sakes, all the balls are coming up. You know what your father said
when I asked him about it?”Annette plunged ahead before she could
answer.”He said he was tired of putting out that kind of money and
he needed it for some business expenses. Now I have to face Carolyn
and Shirley at the Delta meeting Thursday. Oh they won't say
anything, just give each other significant looks. Damn that
man!”
    “ Maybe he's right. I mean,
he's had a rough time these last few years.”
    “ Now you're defending him to
me? You of all people. Knowing what he's put me through.”Annette
took a deep gulp of her drink.
    “ Yes, Mama, he's kind of
cold and stays away a lot. But this won't help.”Michelle gently
pried the wine glass from Annette's fingers.
    “ Well, he mistaken if he
thinks I'm going to take this. I've got the money; I'm going to pay
the dues. That'll show him up for the cheapskate he is. He'll do a
slow burn for days then give me back the money. Ha!”Annette threw
back her head.
    “ Mama, please...
    “ Don't bother trying to talk
to her. By noon