Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [16]
An hour later and a couple of trips to paradise for both Sallye and myself, I got up from the sofa and went into the bathroom and removed the condom. I took a warm and damp washcloth and wiped myself off, then pulled a bath-sized towel out and walked back into the living area where a nude and smiling Sallye welcomed me.
“That was wonderful,” Sallye said.
“I know.”
“When can I see you again?”
“What?”
“When can I see you? I mean like a date?”
“Sallye, how old are you?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Sweetheart, you’re young so listen carefully. If a man brings you to his house, doesn’t offer you a drink and doesn’t play soft jazz or R and B while he’s sexing you, that’s not a good sign. You don’t fuck a man real good a couple hours after you meet him and expect to see him more than once.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m looking for the mother of my children and you’ve just been disqualified for spreading your legs too quickly. The bathroom is that way,” I said as I tossed her a towel and pointed toward a slightly open door off the hallway.
Yancey’s First Family Dinner
My flight to New York had been delayed. But what else was new? I was sipping a club soda when I remembered the early-morning phone call I’d received a couple days before, which had frightened and annoyed me. Even though I was convinced it was a prank call, I wanted to make sure.
I pulled my cell phone out of my bag and dialed one of my ex-boyfriends. Derrick and I had dated seriously in college, but the birth of a child had sent us in different directions. About a year and a half ago, I discovered Derrick was actually raising the child I had given up for adoption. It was a big shock to me, and I was convinced that if the news got out it would end my career, but thankfully Derrick and I had come to an agreement. I needed to be certain he wasn’t having a change of heart.
Derrick picked up his office phone after a couple of rings.
“Derrick speaking.”
“Derrick. This is Yancey. Is everything all right?” I asked.
“Everything’s fine. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Everything is going great and getting ready to get better. I just wanted to make sure you’ve been getting my packages,” I said as I looked at the monitor and saw that my flight was getting ready to board.
“Yes, I’ve been getting them, and we’re doing fine. I just opened up a savings account, and that’s where the money is going. Is that why you’re calling?”
“Yes,” I said. I decided not to mention the weird wake-up call I’d received because I knew he would think I was giving him drama.
“Are you still in California?”
“Yep, but I’m on my way to New York right now.”
“Have a safe flight.”
“Thanks. Gotta run,” I said, but then I asked quickly, “How’s your mother?” wondering if Charlesetta had anything to do with the call.
“Why do you ask? You two aren’t friendly,” Derrick said.
“Just wondering. Okay, bye,” I said, and just when I was getting ready to push the End button, Derrick said, “And Madison is doing fine, too.”
• • •
When I got home to New York, I’d planned to just relax my first night back, and get reacquainted with Windsor. Instead, I walked into an Adams family reunion.
“Yancey! Welcome home. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I’ve been busy and I wanted to surprise you,” I said. Well, I was the one who was surprised. I loved Windsor, but what were all these people doing in my house? There was an older man who looked vaguely familiar sitting in the living room watching Wheel of Fortune, and some crazy-looking older woman, with a bop in the step of her transparent orange-and-purple swirled heels, was bouncing around like she owned the place.
“Oh, Yancey! This is my family. You remember my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adams, and this is my aunt, Toukie Wells, and my beloved fiancé, Wardell. Everyone, this is Yancey Harrington Braxton, now