Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [31]
The elevator reached the lobby, and I continued to study the photos. I looked inside the envelope for a note and saw a small yellow sheet of paper and pulled it out. As I walked out of the building, the harsh cold air hit my face with the force of a ceiling fan. A chill covered my entire body when I read the note: Do you know which one of these girls doesn’t have a mommy? Think about it. …
• • •
I had just finished my bath and was trying to decide what I wanted for dinner when my phone rang. I was enjoying How Glory Goes, a CD by Audra MacDonald that I hated to admit I loved. That child could make magic with her voice.
“Hello, this is Yancey B,” I said.
“Indeed it is,” Ava, my estranged mother said in her usual flip manner. I hadn’t spoken with her since the day after my aborted wedding. I was wondering what I’d done to deserve this phone call when I remember the photos I’d received earlier. Maybe she was calling to see if her childish pranks were rattling me, so I decided to act like nothing but great things were happening for me.
“Ava? I’m surprised to hear from you,” I said in as cheery a voice as I could muster.
“I need to speak with you,” she said, as I heard my phone beep.
“Hold on, I have a call coming in,” I said quickly as I clicked over without giving Ava a chance to keep me on the line.
“Hello,” I said.
“Yancey, this is Michel. Jut wanted you to know that we got B. Michael to design some great gowns for the video and the photo session with Savoy,” he said.
“Oh, that’s great,” I said as I took a seat on my bed and used the remote to turn the volume down on Audra’s booming voice.
“Yeah, it was a real coup to get him to design for you. He’s one of the hottest designers in town,” Michel said.
“I know that’s right. Were we able to book Sam Fine and Oscar James for my makeup and hair?”
“I think so, but let me double-check,” Michel said.
“Please, I wouldn’t want to do the video without them,” I said.
“I’ll have my assistant find out. I know we got Lloyd Boston to do the styling and Matthew Jordan Smith is going to do the promotional photos.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I can’t believe you got them,” I said. By now, Ava was probably good and hot, but I didn’t care. I had my own business to tend to.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“You guys are spoiling me, but I like it,” I said.
“You’re going to be a star, so nothing but the best for you.”
“I like hearing that.”
“I’ll speak with you tomorrow. Have a relaxing evening,” Michel said.
“Bye now. Thanks for everything,” I said as I clicked back over to Ava.
“Are you still there?” I asked.
“I was getting ready to hang up! Have you lost your mind or something? Keeping me on hold that long. I got things to do,” Ava said.
“It was important,” I said.
“Who was it? The President of the United States or the Queen of England?” Ava scoffed.
“So how are you doing in California?” I asked, ignoring my mother’s jab.
“Minding my business,” Ava snapped, the tone of her voice changing quicker than a heartbeat.
“Glad to hear you got business. If you called to mess with me, then let’s keep it short,” I said, realizing that I hadn’t missed our conversations one bit.
“I called to be nice. I saw you sing your little song on Soul Train. Have you been taking voice lessons or did they fix it up in the studio?” Ava asked.
“I need to go, and for your information that little record will soon be at the top of the charts,” I said.
“Well, I guess anything is possible. I mean if Cher can have a number one song then I suppose you could too,” Ava said.
“Look, I’ve got to run. I have a full day tomorrow. Give me a call when you want to act like a mother,” I said.
“My, aren’t we feeling bitchy? I called to be nice. I was thinking about coming to New York to help you out,” Ava said.
“Help me out? What