Dance Into Destiny (21 page)

Quinton laughed. “I'll take that as a yes?”

“I'm in. Miss Fuddy-Duddy can do whatever she wants to.”

Shara rubbed her hands together nervously and followed Keeva and Quinton out the door.

T
hey pulled up at the IHOP and noticed some of the other youth leaders were finishing and getting ready to leave.

Malcolm asked, “Y'all just now getting here? We're all through eating.”

“Somebody had to stay and clean up.” Quinton had a bit of an edge to his voice.

“My bad, man. Why didn't y'all say nothing? We would have stayed and helped.”

“Why should I have to say anything? You guys saw the mess before you left. How did you think it was gonna get cleaned up?” Shara put her hand on Quinton's arm, hoping to calm him down a little.

He took a deep breath. “Don't worry about it, man. You guys will have clean up duty next time.”

Quinton and Malcolm slapped hands and Malcolm and the others left.

Quinton started muttering under his breath again about black folk being trifling.

Shara steered him toward their table. “Let it go, Quinton. It's not worth being upset over.”

“You're right. I just can't believe he had the nerve to say—”

“Quinton, let it go.” Shara patted his arm again as they sat down.

“All right, Miss Shara. But only 'cause you said so.” He flashed her a Kool-Aid smile as he flipped open his menu. “Now what us gon' eat?”

Keeva ordered a chicken Caesar salad. After studying the menu, Shara ordered a salad also. Keeva gave Shara a ‘I can't believe you ordered a salad' look, but Shara refused to make eye contact with her. Quinton ordered steak and eggs and a double order of pancakes.

Keeva gawked. “You can't possibly eat that much.”

“Yes, he can. You should have seen him at the bowling alley. He put away a whole pizza by himself.”

“You guys went bowling?” Keeva asked.

“A bunch of us went after a youth meeting. It was spur of the moment. Anyway, we didn't stay very long,” Shara said.

“Yeah, I had to rescue Shara from the evil Terrence's advances.”

“Whatever, Quinton. We left because we got tired.”

“Yeah, right, Shara. If we hadn't left, I think I would have had to rescue Terrence from you. You looked like you wanted to crack his head open with that bowling ball.”

Shara laughed. “Yeah, the thought did cross my mind. What did you say to him anyway? He didn't come within twenty feet of me tonight.”

“I told him he needed to step off.”

“That's all?”

“I sorta told him we were seeing each other and if he ever stepped to you again, he'd have to deal with me.”

Shara's mouth flew open. This obviously struck Keeva as funny. Shara had to kick her under the table to stop her from laughing.

“I can't believe you told him that.”

“Why? It worked didn't it?” Quinton pouted.

“I'm sorry, Quinton, I didn't mean it like that.” Shara patted his hand. “Stop pouting. I appreciate you handling Terrence for me. He gives me the creeps.”

“What did he do?” Keeva asked.

“He called himself teaching Shara how to bowl, when he was really just trying to feel all over her. I thought I was gonna have to punch him in his face.”

“My hero.” Shara smiled at Quinton and he blushed and fidgeted with his silverware. Keeva looked at Quinton, then at Shara, then back at Quinton again and smiled.

Quinton snapped his fingers as if he was remembering something. “I gotta take my boy Jamil to get him some sneaks tomorrow. He ended up the school year with all B's and C's. I told him next year we're going for all A's and B's.”

“I see you got a little pet, huh?” Shara asked.

“Yeah, that's my boy. I guess he reminds me of my little brother.”

Shara looked at Quinton. He never mentioned his brother. “Really? How?” she asked, gently.

“I don't know. They don't look anything alike. I guess following me everywhere, wanting to go everywhere I go, treating me like I'm the world's greatest guy. He's always running behind me, asking me questions, talking about his future and all the stuff he wants to do when he gets out of the projects. That's how Quintell was.”

Shara had never even heard Quinton say his brother's name before. She said, “Jamil's a great kid. He's so smart. If I could get him to stop clowning all the time, he could really get somewhere.”

“Yeah, he is a jokester. I think he does that to cover up for all the stuff going on inside of him and around him.” Quinton fiddled with the butter dish on the table. “Quintell was like that, too. That boy was so funny. I don't care how bad I felt or what was going on, he could always make me laugh.”

Quinton looked around for the waitress. “Man, I'm hungry. Can they bring me out some toast or something? I'm ready to start eating this butter.”

When the waitress brought their food, Quinton dug in before she could get the plate on the table good.

“Dag, Quinton, were you hungry or what?” Shara said.

Keeva stared at her. “He eats like somebody else I know.”

“Ouch!” Keeva rubbed her shin where Shara kicked her again.

Quinton looked up from his food. “You okay? What happened?”

Keeva winced. “I banged my ankle on the metal thingee under the table.”

Quinton dug into his food again. Shara picked at her salad. The smell of the steamy syrup and butter rising up off of Quinton's pancakes made her mouth water.

Quinton finally came up for air after half his pancakes and steak were gone. He looked over at Shara's plate. “You want some of my food?”

“No, I'm fine. I really wasn't that hungry.” At that moment, Shara's stomach rumbled. Keeva didn't catch her giggle before it escaped so she pretended to be having a coughing fit.

Quinton patted her on the back. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I think a crouton went down the wrong way.” Keeva took a sip of water. She jerked her leg out of the way before Shara could kick her in the shin again.

Quinton looked under the table. “What's wrong, Keeva?”

“Nothing, just a little leg spasm, you know, from all the dancing,” she lied.

Shara coughed and cleared her throat. “Speaking of dancing, Miss Keeva. Are you gonna be our dance teacher?” Shara linked her arm through Keeva's and mocked Danae. “Puleeze?”

“She is so cute. What's her name again?” Keeva asked.

Shara rolled her eyes. “Danae? Cute? She is spoiled rotten.”

Quinton raised his eyebrows. “And who made her that way?”

“I may have had a little something to do with it.” Shara gave a guilty grin. “Okay, I admit, since Tangee left, she's become my little shadow.”

“Her little brother is equally cute,” Quinton said. “Tiquan—that's my little basketball buddy. He's always begging me to take him home with me. I wish I could. He tries to be such a little tough guy because the bigger boys always make fun of him.” He got a faraway look in his eyes. “He kinda reminds me of Quintell, too.” Quinton attacked his pancakes again.

Shara watched him closely while talking to Keeva. “I can't believe Shanique, though. She never gives me anything but attitude and lip. She was all hugged up on you and didn't want to leave you. I've never seen her like that before.” She thought for a minute. “I wonder where her cut-buddy, Lakita, was tonight. She usually never misses anything we have. I'll have to check on her tomorrow.”

Keeva studied Shara and Quinton. “You guys really love these kids, huh?”

“Yeah,” they said simultaneously and smiled.

Shara pushed her lettuce around on the plate. She had picked out all the chicken and eaten it. “They're something else. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing them grow. Like when their grades come up, or when they start talking about going to college and dreaming about what they can become. It's amazing what a little love will do. It makes all the work worth it.”

Keeva thought for a moment. “I think I'll do it then. What would it be? Two classes a week?”

“Really?” Shara said.

Keeva nodded slowly. “Yeah. I want to do it. I
need
to do it. I don't know what it feels like to make a difference in someone's life.”

“You've made a difference in my life. A huge difference,” Shara said.

“What do you mean?”

“You're my friend. Friends always make a difference.”

“I know. But I'm talking about life-changing stuff like with you guys and the kids.”

“You've changed my life a lot. I used to be a little church mouse that never did anything. Now I've seen Alvin Ailey, eaten Thai food and even sushi—although I'm not sure it counts if it doesn't stay down.”

They all laughed.

“That's not to mention all the other changes,” Shara said.

Quinton looked up from his pancakes. “What changes?”

“Nothing, Quinton.” Shara blushed.

Quinton shook his head. “See, that's why I hate hanging out with women. Always got little secrets. Didn't your momma ever tell you it was rude to keep secrets? Y'all ain't slick. You kicking Keeva under the table and her laughing and pretending she's coughing. Quinton Mercer ain't no fool. Keep your little secrets. Don't nobody care.” Quinton pouted.

Shara patted his arm. “You are such a big baby, Quinton.”

She turned to Keeva. “Seriously, though. That would be great. Two times a week would be perfect. We have to see what room we could use.”

Keeva's eyes lit up. “The gym would be best because of the wood floor. The only problem is there's no mirrors. I'd like the girls to be able to see themselves when they dance. It does a lot for their self-esteem.”

“I don't know about that, Keeva. Money is kinda tight in terms of renovations. We're trying to get this big grant now, but it will be months before we find anything out and then even longer before the money comes,” Shara said.

Quinton finished off his pancakes and dropped his napkin on his plate. “It shouldn't be a problem. I'll mention the mirrors to Pastor Kendrick tomorrow. We may even be able to get another room done with hardwood floors and mirrors. I'm not so sure we want mirrors on the walls of a basketball court. That's an accident waiting to happen.”

Shara eyes bugged out at Quinton. “Do you know something I don't know? Last I heard we were having a major budget crunch.”

Quinton rubbed his chin. “Pastor and I have been discussing alternative sources of funding. It shouldn't be a problem.”

“If you say so, Quinton,” Shara said.

They sat and worked out the details of Keeva's dance classes and then stood to leave.

Shara looked at her watch. “Can you believe it's one in the morning?”

Quinton put an arm on her shoulder and led her toward the door. “I know. We have you out way past your bedtime. Tomorrow is Saturday. You can sleep late.”

Quinton walked them to Shara's car. He gave them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek and watched until they drove away.

Keeva sighed. “He is absolutely wonderful. What are you waiting for?”

“What do you mean what am I waiting for?”

“I don't know, make your move, jump his bones, do something!”

“You are so silly. Quinton and I are friends.”

“Whatever, Shara.”

“Quinton's a really nice guy. He treats me the same as everyone else. He's a gentleman, that's all.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

Shara's voice got quiet. “I don't want to like him and think he likes me and then find out he really doesn't like me. I'd rather him surprise me by liking me than for me to think he likes me, but he really doesn't like me like that. Know what I mean?

Keeva laughed. “I think I understand, Shar. Don't worry about it, okay? I know these things.” She rubbed Shara's arm. “He likes you.”

“D
ance class? What do you mean?” Mark came over on Saturday morning for brunch. He sat at the table reading the newspaper while Keeva made crepes in the kitchen.

“Mark, I've told you about this before. By the time you and I met, I had pretty much stopped dancing. But before then, dancing was my life. I want to start dancing again. Actually, I've started dancing again.

He frowned. “What?”

“I'm taking classes twice a week now, brushing up on my skills, getting back in shape.”

“Well, if it's important to you, then I'm all for it.”

Keeva smiled. She hadn't expected that response from Mark. “Oh and . . . I'm also going to teach some dance classes.”

Mark looked up from his newspaper. “Where?”

“At a community center.”

“Where?”

Here we go
. “It over on Hilliard Street, off Edgewood.”

Mark frowned. “Where is that?”

Keeva walked toward the kitchen and poured herself some juice. “Down the street from the school. Near Grady Homes.

Mark put his newspaper down. “Keeva, that's a terrible neighborhood. Why would you want to teach there? How did you get involved with this anyway?”

Keeva sat down at the table and told Mark about the program at the church. She talked about all the wonderful things they were already doing and the changes in the kids, but he frowned the whole time. She made the mistake of getting too excited and telling him about how much fun she had with the kids at the dance party.

“You were in that neighborhood at night? Keeva, that's insane!”

“Mark, it's perfectly safe. The neighborhood has gotten a lot better in the past few years since the church has been there. Nobody bothers us and the parking lot is fenced in.” Keeva walked back into the kitchen to finish the crepes.

“Who is us?”

“Well, Shara runs the program with Quinton, who's—”

“Shara.” His lips tightened. “I should have known. Ever since you met this Shara person, you've ceased to make any rational sense. You start going to this weird church and staying out all times of the night and now you want to hang out in that neighborhood and teach dance classes to a bunch of hoodlum kids?”

“They're not hoodlum kids. You don't even know them. Why would you say something like that?”

“I don't understand. If you want to help children, why don't you teach dance classes in Buckhead or Dunwoody or somewhere safe? Why do you have to teach bad kids?”

“They're not bad kids. People assume they're bad, but they're regular kids like you and I were. They just need someone to take an interest in them and help them do something with their lives.” Keeva was surprised at how much she sounded like Shara.

Mark sighed and picked up his newspaper. “I don't think it's a good idea. If you want to teach dance, that's great. Find somewhere else to do it.” He turned the page and started reading.

“I've already made a commitment. I'll be starting the classes in a couple of weeks.”

Mark put the newspaper down. “So I don't get any say-so in this at all? Why bother to tell me then?” Mark's voice echoed off her 12-foot ceilings.

Keeva slammed down the skillet. “I bothered to tell you because I thought you might be interested in what I was doing. Not for you to control me and decide whether I should do it or not.”

Mark jumped. “Okay, Princess, I'm sorry. Don't get upset. You don't have to slam things and yell.”

“Oh, you can yell, but I can't? And stop calling me Princess.”

“What in the world has gotten into you?” Mark came into the kitchen and put his arms around her. “I'm worried about you. All these changes and now you're yelling at me. This is not like you to behave this way.”

“Mark, you don't even know what's like me.” Keeva pulled away from him and picked up the pieces of mushrooms and green peppers that had flown out of the skillet.

“Princess, I mean, Keeva, please. There's nothing so bad that we can't talk about it or work it out.” He pulled her toward him and kissed her.

She pulled away, wiping her mouth. “Is that your answer for everything, Mark?” She put the juice and eggs back into the refrigerator. She'd never been this honest with Mark. She smiled when she turned her back to him. “I'm teaching this class. If you'd prefer, in the future I won't tell you what I'm doing.”

“That's no way to have a relationship.” He walked up to her slowly. “If that's what you want to do, then go ahead. But if something happens to you, I don't want to hear about it.”

“Fine, you won't.”

“Are you going to behave like this for the rest of the morning?”

“Like what?” Keeva didn't mean to snap at him, but once she decided to let her real feelings show, it was hard to put them back in the box.

“Like this whole different person I've never met before. Like you hate me and don't want me anywhere near you. Like my mere existence irritates the heck out of you. Like—”

“I get the point.” Keeva took a deep breath. “Mark, we need to make some changes in our relationship.”

“Our relationship is fine, or at least it was fine until—”

“Until what?”

“I don't understand the person you're becoming. I talked to Jade the other day and she said you left in the middle of having drinks because of this Shara person. We haven't had our monthly Sunday dinner at your parents' in months. You're moody all the time and short with me. You won't make love to me anymore. Can you talk to me about what's going on?”

Keeva held Mark's hand. “Sweetie, when I try to talk to you, you don't listen. When you do listen, you get agitated and upset. I don't feel like we're getting anywhere.”

“What are you suggesting we do then?”

Keeva looked away and let out a long sigh. “I don't know what the answer is.”

“You're not thinking about ending the relationship are you?”

The panicked look on his face was too much for Keeva. She put her arms around him. “No, I'm not thinking about ending the relationship.” She bit her tongue at that lie. Truth was, she had been thinking about it quite a bit lately. Not for long because it was a scary thought. They had been together for such a long time, that whether good or bad, he was a part of her life. She kissed his cheek and sent him back out to the table. She finished the crepes and he went back to reading his newspaper as if nothing had happened.

She joined him at the table and they ate in silence for a while.

“Mark, it's not that I don't want to make love to you anymore. It's just that . . .” Keeva let out a deep breath.

“What, sweetheart?” He reached out to touch her hand.

“I . . . I want to be celibate now, until I get married.” She looked down at her plate.

He kept eating as if he hadn't heard a word she said. Then he spoke slowly. “I'm really trying to be patient with all these changes. I guess this is because of this new church of yours. Did you take some religious oath or something?”

“It's not a ‘religious oath.' It's just that . . . you know, premarital sex is a sin.”

“So now it's a sin. We've been together for almost four years and now it's some god-awful sin? That's what they teach in that crazy church of yours?”

“It's not a crazy church. And it has nothing to do with that church in particular. Any church would say the same thing. Remember when we went to church all the time when we first got together? Remember when we both decided we were going to wait until we got married because we wanted to be right with God?”

Mark smiled. “I remember.” His smile faded. “That was a long time ago. We're practically married now. I don't understand why stopping now would make any difference.”

“Honey, I realize I'm asking a lot. Can you understand this, though? I'm happier now than I've been in a long time, maybe ever. I feel like I'm coming alive after being dead. I'm finding out who I am and discovering what I like and what I want and don't want. I need you to allow me to do that, Mark. I need to figure out who I am and be free to be that person. If I can't do that in this relationship, then . . .” She left her next thought unsaid.

“Then what?”

“Then nothing. I need you to try to understand.”

“I'll try, Keeva.” He bit his lip. “The sex thing though, do we have to stop all at once, or can we gradually wean off of it because, well, you know.”

Keeva laughed. Mark looked so cute and vulnerable asking her that. “I . . . promise me you'll try to understand that this celibacy thing is important to me and we'll go from there.”

He seemed satisfied with that. He reached across the table and took her hand. “How'd I do?”

“What do you mean?”

“We talked. You told me how you felt. I listened. We didn't yell at each other and although we may not have arrived at a consensus, at least we somewhat understand each other.”

“You did well, honey.” Keeva rubbed Mark's hand. “You did well.”

She avoided looking into his eyes so he wouldn't see her wonder whether it would be enough.