Brothers and Wives (9 page)

“Dang, you are one greedy-ass bastard. No wonder you don’t have enough money to pay my way.” She starts cackling. He doesn’t.

“Hey, psst!”

Startled, LaNecia turns around in her seat and sees Dani entering the theater with her leather satchel flung over her shoulder. She stops in the aisle right next to LaNecia.

“Um, excuse me; I need to squeeze past you.”

“W–why are you here?”

“Are you going to let me by or what?”

Stunned, LaNecia moves her legs to the side and Dani says thanks. She smirks and glances down at LaNecia’s chest protruding from her halter top. “Girl, it’s cold as fuck in here and I don’t know why you’d dress in that skimpy shirt.” She takes a seat on Scottie’s other side and squeezes his hand.

“What took you so long?” he asks.

“Ladies room. Fashion emergency. My button popped off my shirt and I had to ask someone for a safety pin.”

LaNecia stares straight ahead, her face burning with anger and humiliation.
How can he do this to me? He doesn’t know who he’s fucking with. He promised me a date, and, dammit, I’m going to have me a date
.

In the second week
of September, the National Weather Service predicts that a hurricane may hit the Gulf of Mexico. So far, the effects of Ike have been devastating, leaving millions of dollars of damages and dead bodies along the way. Haiti was hit hard, the storm causing over seventy deaths, a third of them children. Houston hopes to avoid the same fate, but the Category 4 hurricane seems bent on doing more destruction.

Neil begins preparing for the unknown by wasting precious gas driving to every Home Depot around, trying to find plywood in case he needs to board up the windows on his two-story home.

That Wednesday evening, he asks Scottie to go to the Walmart Supercenter for him and stock up on more hurricane preparedness supplies. Scottie calls Dani and tells her he’s coming to pick her up so they can go shopping.

They arrive at the store located in Stafford on West Airport. Once they park, Scottie feels lucky to find an empty cart that’s lodged between two parked cars.

“Damn, check out all these people,” Dani gushes. “It looks like the day after Thanksgiving sales.”

“Let’s just grab whatever we can and put it in the basket. I hate crowds, and I don’t plan on being here all night,” Scottie growls.

Once they set foot inside the store, a chorus of voices rises to the ceiling as customers chitchat about what they need to buy. Dani grips the handle of her cart and pushes it past crowds of shoppers who block every part of the main aisle. Women with worry lines etched in their forehead yell at kids to keep up. Super Walmart is superbusy today.

“Hey, you seem lost in thought. What are you thinking about?”

“Thinkin’ about you and your delicious lips.”

“Don’t even try it, Scottie. C’mon, what’s on your mind?”

“Naw, Mariah, I’m kinda thinking that this time last year, I was in Motown. Trying to adjust to the fact that the leaves up there turn colors, cool-looking orange and red colors. Then before I knew it, winter came. And cold. And lots of snow.”

“And now you’re back home, huh,” Dani says.

“All I’m saying is sometimes I’m shocked at where life takes you.”

“I feel the same. I’ve been in H-town for a while now, but I never forget my hometown, Long Beach. Shoot.” She shivers and examines a dented can of tuna fish. “I still can’t get used to this hurricane warning stuff.”

“Mayor Bill says this is the big one,” replies a gray-haired white woman who is listening to Dani’s conversation. “I’ve been looking at the news constantly. I want to leave town but don’t have enough money to fly outta here. Plus ticket counter lines at Hobby and Bush airports are insane.”

Scottie laughs and drags the cart away from Dani. He’s trying to keep her from saying anything sarcastic to the nice old lady.

They turn down the bread aisle.

“I guess Brax and I will be staying with you and Neil if this storm hits.”

“Of course you’re staying with us. No doubt,” Scottie replies. “Don’t worry, Dani. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

“Scottie, you are good. You really are a good man.”

Scottie and Dani end up buying four bags of nonperishable items and three cases of bottled water in preparation for the hurricane. Two days later, on Friday morning, the city of Houston releases an official warning for everyone in Galveston to vacate the island. The storm surge is predicted to reach fifteen to twenty feet, with winds gusting to over a hundred miles per hour; massive damage is imminent.

“If you don’t leave, it means certain death,” say the emergency officials.

“Houston, we’ve got problems,” Scottie says in a singsong voice.

Earlier, when Scottie begged Neil to let Dani and Brax hunker down with them, Neil took one look at the Weather Channel and said okay.

Scottie, Dani, Neil, Anya, and Vette are congregated in front of the jumbo TV screen in Neil’s den. Reese and Brax are playing on the floor with some toy fire engines and police cars.

“Well, damn, if that’s not a hint for those island folks to get the hell out, I don’t know what is,” Scottie says aloud to the television.

Yesterday Neil removed items from outside the house that might cause harm in the event of the storm. He suggested storing potted plants, metal garbage cans, Brax’s Big
Wheel, lawn chairs, and a steel-framed picnic table in the first-floor library, a simple office filled with hundreds of books stored in bookcases.

After peeking out the window to see how dark it is, Scottie sits next to Dani. He wraps one arm around her. She whispers, “Thanks.” Not even a tiny smile is on her face.

Anya makes it a point to say, “If I haven’t mentioned this already, I’m glad Scottie decided to stay in H-town. I’m so proud of you. You’ve adjusted to the new job. You’re like a changed man.”

“No, he’s not,” Neil snaps.

“Thanks for your support, sister-in-law. That means a lot to me.”

A few minutes later, Scottie motions at his brother so they can step into the kitchen and chat. Like typical siblings, they argue one minute and act civilized the next.

“Hey, man, I haven’t properly thanked you for taking me in and letting me get myself together.”

“In a way you’ve been lucky. When you think about it, it’s taken other people much longer than you to land a good job.”

“It’s a trip, man. I think Anya is right. Seems like everything in my life is falling into place.”

“I guess that includes Dani, huh?”

Scottie grins and asks Neil, “Lucky me, huh? I can’t believe you not with that anymore.”

Neil plunges headfirst into Scottie. Scottie gets Neil in a headlock. They both crash to the ground and exchange blows while wrestling on the floor. Anya hears the commotion and runs into the kitchen. Vette and Dani follow behind her.

Vette says to the women, “Let me handle this. My brothers can be such big babies.”

Anya and Dani observe for a moment, then return to the den.

“Why are you guys acting like this?”

No one answers, so Vette reaches down and tries to pull Neil off Scottie.

“If you don’t stop, I’m calling Mama. She’ll get y’all straight.”

Neil rises to his feet. “We’re just talking. Leave us alone. Go on, get out of here.”

Vette turns around in disgust and leaves the kitchen.

Neil grips Scottie around his shoulders. “I don’t appreciate you talking about her like she’s one of your …”

Scottie says firmly, “Get it straight. She’s not one of yours anymore; that’s what this is about. And get your hands off me right now before I really do something that makes you mad.”

Neil releases Scottie, shakes his head. “I can’t control what you do.”

“Then stop trying.”

For the next couple of hours everyone is too on edge to even think about getting some sleep. They either try to keep themselves entertained by playing Monopoly, eating potato chips and drinking lemonade, or they flip channels between CNN, Headline News, and the local Fox station.

“Mommy, I’m scared.” Reese’s eyes well up with tears; she’s too distraught to play with Brax. Whenever she hears the wind whip at their windows, or rain pellets smashing against the glass, Reese jumps, then squeezes her hands together.

“Everything’s going to be all right, precious,” Anya assures her. “We’ll be safe as long as we’re inside.”

Around one in the morning, the entire house turns pitch-black.

Brax starts screaming, “Daddy! Mommy! Daddy!”

“I can’t see! Where’s Brax?” Dani yelps. Neil fumbles around in the dark until he finds a large flashlight. It takes several minutes for him to locate the kids and turn on the other flashlights.

“Light candles. Hurry,” Vette tersely yells and springs into action.

Scottie is with Dani on the sofa. She’s cradling Brax in her arms and rocking him back and forth.

This feels good, yet odd. We feel like a family. Yet my little man belongs to my brother. He belongs to me, too, though
. Scottie wants to brush his fingers across Brax’s head, but even in the barely lit den, Scottie can sense the tension from Neil.

Neil says, “I’ll be right back. Gotta fix this light issue.”

Outside the wind screams and howls. Brax raises his head from Dani’s lap. His large eyes completely fill with tears.

“C’mon, baby, it’s okay.” Dani shines a minilight on her son and tries to reassure him, but he whimpers and pushes a thumb in his mouth.

Distressed, Scottie reaches over and pulls Brax from Dani’s arms.

“Hey …”

“No, Dani, it’s cool. He’s with me now.”

Scottie stands and paces across the den, tightly holding the boy in his grip, gently talking to Brax until his little tears subside. Once the boy is totally calm, Scottie pats him on the head and sets him on his lap.

“You’re too good,” Dani whispers to Scottie.

Neil reenters the den. “Anya, I’m looking for the generator owner’s manual.” She grabs a flashlight and points it at a wooden end table. “Open the drawer, Neil. It’s in there
collecting dust like all our manuals.” Neil locates the manual. “It’ll take no time now,” he remarks as he rushes from the den.

A frantic knock at the front door causes Scottie to hand Brax over to Dani. He rises to his feet. “Someone at the door?”

“I got it.” Anya rushes to the front door and yells, “Who is it?”

“It’s me. Open the damn door.”

Anya swings open the door and flashes the light so that it shines in the unexpected visitor’s face. LaNecia stumbles in shaking an umbrella that got ripped and bent by the fierceness of the winds. Her shirt and shorts are soaking wet and her shriveled hair lies flat on her head.

“Girl, what are you doing out in this storm? Are you crazy? You could’ve gotten hurt,” Anya says.

“Karetha went out of town and left me by myself. I was scared, but I have no cell service right now and couldn’t call. I had nowhere else to go.”

Right then electricity from the generator kicks in. The refrigerator and A/C begin humming. Bright lights from lamps and ceiling fixtures pop back on.

LaNecia’s soaked white shirt exposes her boobs like she’s auditioning at a wet T-shirt contest.

“Cover her up, please,” Dani hisses, as she enters the foyer. Scottie takes one long look at LaNecia, then turns his head.

“C’mon, LaNecia.” Anya takes her umbrella. “I’ll find you some dry clothes. You can probably fit in some of Vette’s old things that she left over here.”

While Anya takes care of LaNecia’s clothes situation, the rest of the gang lingers around the television and do anything they can to try and forget about Ike. Dani locates
two sleeping bags and sets up pallets in the den for Reese and Brax.

“I don’t know what I’d do if it weren’t for you, Scottie,” Dani says to him while they’re stretched comfortably on the sofa with their backs resting against several throw pillows. “I’ve never felt so taken care of before. During my past relationships …” She chuckles. “The nurturing side of most of these guys sucked, sucked, sucked. Seems like the only goal the men had was to charm me enough to get in my panties, or get a quick payday loan, but they weren’t there for me when I really needed them. I learned that just because a man looks good doesn’t mean he’s good for me…. He’s gotta be good
to
me.”

“I’ll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya,” Scottie sings.

LaNecia steps into the den, where Dani and Scottie are lounging. She’s now wearing a red long-sleeved shirt and some oversize blue jeans. She takes one look at the cozy couple and instantly reacts. “I’m about to throw up.”

“Don’t do it in here,” Dani says. “Go to the bathroom down the hall.”

“You think you’re smart, don’t you?”

“Not at all,” Dani says, unconcerned. “Scottie’s a grown-ass man. He picks and chooses what he wants to do and who he wants to spend time with. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.”

“Well, if you’d give the man some space, maybe he’d have time to …”

Scottie glances at Dani. “Can I have a moment with my cousin?”

“Thank you,” LaNecia barks at Dani. “No matter what, he and I will always be family. Nothing can change that.”

“I’m not trying to change that.”

“What did you say? Speak up so I can hear you.”

Scottie laughs. “Cousin, you sure are on fire tonight. I think there’s more action happening inside the house than outside. C’mon LaNecia. Let me give you some face time so you can stop acting out.”

It’s now around one-thirty in the morning. Scottie begins walking up the stairs to the second floor. LaNecia follows him. He opens the door to his room and closes it behind her.

Scottie searches LaNecia’s deeply troubled eyes. “This night is unreal. I know things must be hard on you. Ka deserted you, huh?”

“Well, at the last minute she decided to leave and drive to College Station. Her older sister is a graduate student at Texas A&M and made her go up there. I didn’t know it would be so bad with her gone, but all I did was think about how alone I felt being in our apartment by myself. What if something happened? Nobody who loved me would even realize I was by myself.” She gasps, places her hands on her face, and starts weeping. “I hate being alone.”