Prima Donna (15 page)

“
Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!” McKinley rushed over into Koran’s arms. “Did you see it?” she asked terrified.

“
See what?” He held her close.

McKinley pointed. “The half-man, half-wolf. It was just over there in the field.”

Koran hung his head and smiled.

“
Yo, I think you been out in the sun too long.”

“
I’m not crazy. One of the wolves from
Twilight
was about to make me his dinner.”

“
Aww shucks, that wasn’t nothin’ but an ole stray dog,” the older white gentleman said.

“
Who the hell is that?” McKinley whispered to Koran.

“
McKinley, this kind man is Bobby Joe. He and his lovely wife, Jodeen, own the Quickie Mart down the road, and would you believe that on top of the Quickie Mart is a room?” Koran said, excited.

“
That’s wonderful,” McKinley responded dryly.

“
Well, grab your things and let’s get a move on,” Bobby Joe said. “
Nash Bridges
is about to come on.”

“
You ain’t got to tell me twice.” McKinley scurried and grabbed her things and got into the truck.

Koran threw his bags in the back of the truck and hopped into the front seat next to McKinley. Bobby Joe then started up the engine and they all rode down the street, making small talk.

“
So how long you two lovebirds been married?” Bobby Joe questioned.

“
Uh we’re not—” McKinley uttered.

Koran cut her off. “Almost a year.”

“
Newlyweds, huh? Oh, I remember those days. Me and the missus have been married for over thirty years,” Bobby Joe said proudly.

“
Really?” McKinley looked over at Koran with an expression on her face that said, “When the hell did we get married?”

“
Just play along,” he mouthed.

“
Here we are. Home sweet home.” Bobby Joe pulled in front of the store.

“
Koran, here are the keys. You and the missus can let yourselves in around the back. If you need anything, just come into the store and holler. If you need anything after store hours our farmhouse is right down the road, next to the bait shop.”

“
Thank you very much, Bobby Joe.” Koran shook his hand.

“
Yeah, thank you, Bobby Joe.” McKinley smiled.

Koran used the key and unlocked the door to the room. It was just like he’d imagined it to be, small and quaint. Only the basics were in the room. There was a queen-sized bed, a nightstand with a rotary phone on top, a dresser and an old television with an antenna.

“
Now why are we married again?” McKinley asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“
Bobby Joe and his wife only rent out the room to married couples, so I told him what he wanted to hear, so we could have a place to stay tonight.”

“
Well, in that case, hubby, can I use your phone, ’cause my battery went out?” McKinley batted her eyes.

“
Yeah, here.” Jamil handed her his phone. “I’m getting ready to get in the shower.”

“
Can I join you?” McKinley arched her eyebrow.

“
I don’t play that teasing shit. If you gon’ do something just do it.”

“
I just might.” McKinley winked her eye.

“
Yeah, a’ight, we’ll see.” Koran dug into his bag and pulled out a fresh pair of underwear and clothes before heading into the shower.

McKinley called her mother.

Her mother answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

“
Hi, Ma.”

“
McKinley, where are you?” Her mother’s voice rose. “I’ve been callin’ your phone all morning.”

“
I’m in Tennessee. The transmission went out.”

“
So when will you be home now?” her mother questioned.

“
I guess in the next day or so. We’re going to take the train now,” McKinley explained.

“
Where are y’all staying?”

“
Koran rented us out a room.”

“
Okay, well call me tonight before you go to bed, so I can make sure you’re all right.”

“
I will,” McKinley assured as someone clicked onto the line. “Mama, I gotta click over. I’ll call you later. Hello?”

“
Hello?” a little girl said back.

“
Hello? McKinley said again.

“
Hello?”

“
Hello?” McKinley said once more, taken aback.

“
Hellooooooo?” the little girl sang.

“
Okay, who is this?” McKinley asked with an attitude.

“
Harlow. Is my daddy there?”

“
Your
daddy?
” McKinley said, taken aback.

“
Yeah.”

“
Harlow, who is that?” a woman in the background asked.

“
I don’t know. I’m just lookin’ for my daddy.”

“
Hand me the phone,” the woman said.

Remembering what had happened with Jamil, McKinley didn’t even bother speaking to the woman. Instead, she quickly hung up. It was like life was repeating itself all over again. She’d fallen once more for a man who led a secret life. Her life couldn’t get any worse. She felt like a complete and utter fool. Tears flooded her eyes. McKinley swallowed hard. She was so caught up in her emotions that she hadn’t even realized that the shower had stopped running and Koran had stepped back into the room.

“
I guess you must’ve changed your mind?” he said, securing the towel around his waist.

“
Fuck you!” she spat, throwing the phone at his chest.

“
What the fuck is wrong wit’ you?” Koran caught the phone mid-air.

“
You!” she shrieked. “The damn broke-down plane. The fucked-up car, this dump.” She swung her arms in the air. “Jamil’s two-faced ass, that’s what’s wrong,” McKinley snapped, picking up her shoes and purse.

“
Where you going?” Koran asked, still perplexed.

“
Anywhere but here,” McKinley shouted, slamming the door behind her.

Unaware of where her sudden change in demeanor came from, Koran threw on his clothes and followed her. He found her sitting outside on the steps in the back of the building.

Koran sat down next to her. “What the hell is your problem?”

“
Why didn’t you tell me you were married?” McKinley sniffled.

“
What are you talkin’ about?” he questioned, confused.

“
While I was on the phone with my mother your end clicked and I answered it.” McKinley took a much-needed breath. “And some lil girl was on the line, then your wife got on the phone. And all I could think about was what happened with me and Jamil and I just felt so stupid. Like, how could I have not learned my lesson the first time.” She sobbed. “You’re way too fine to be single.”

“
First of all, I’m not married.” Koran chuckled. “I mean, I am, but I’m not.”

“
Huh?” McKinley gazed up at him, perplexed.

“
That must’ve been my daughter’s nanny who got on the phone.”

“
So you
do
have a kid?” McKinley’s heart dropped down to her knees.

“
Yeah. I do.” Koran nodded his head.

“
Why didn’t you tell me?”

“’
Cause I didn’t know you that well and I didn’t feel like I had to,” he stated matter of factly. “Real talk, ever since my daughter was born it’s been just me and her. Her mother, my wife, Whitney, died after giving birth to her. She had cancer.” Koran’s voice trailed off.

“
Koran, I am so sorry.”

“
It’s cool.”

“
No, it’s not. I am such an idiot.” McKinley slapped her hand against her forehead. “Will you please forgive me?”

“
You’re forgiven, crybaby.” Koran hugged her around her neck.

“
But what I wanna know is where did you really think you were going?” He laughed.

“
I don’t know.” She laughed, too.

“
You crazy, but look, come with me.” Koran stood up and wiped off the back of his pants.

“
Where are we going?” McKinley asked, confused.

“
Just come with me.” He extended his hand.

“
Have you forgotten that my feet are all swole?” McKinley extended her legs.

“
Just come on.” Koran pulled her up and drug her around to the front of the store.

Koran pulled the store’s door open. The Quickie Mart was one of those stores that sold some of everything. They carried tires, fabric, bread, clothes, tools, you name it and you could find it.

“
So this is your wife?” Jodeen smiled, coming from behind the counter.

Jodeen was a dead ringer for Paula Deen. Her hair was a sparkling silver shade, just like hers, and her baby-blue eyes lit up like the sky.

“
She’s even prettier then you described.” Jodeen smiled at McKinley, cheerfully.

“
Thank you.” McKinley beamed.

“
What can I do for you?” Jodeen spoke with a country twang.

“
My wife lost her luggage,” Koran began to explain.

“
Poor dear.” Jodeen clasped her hands together.

“
So we need to pick up a few things for her to wear,” Koran continued.

“
You say what now?” McKinley cocked her head back.

“
I have the perfect outfit.” Jodeen cheerfully rushed over to the clothing section, which consisted of Dickies and John Deer.

“
Everything in here is one-hundred-percent polyester,” McKinley whispered. “If I’m even near polyester my skin breaks out.”

“
I’m tired of seeing you in this outfit, so you gon’ have to do something,” Koran declared.

“
Here we are.” Jodeen held up a pair of Dickies overalls. “Isn’t it lovely?”

“
Oh, it’s special, all right.” McKinley’s upper lip curled.

“
She’ll take it,” Koran chimed in.

“
Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again.”

Adele

“
Lovesong”

The rest of the day, McKinley and Koran enjoyed each other’s presence while lying in bed. They talked, slept and even made love again, but when the sun began to fall and their stomachs began to growl they knew it was time to get up. The bar across the street was the quickest place to get to on foot, so they headed over. Trudy’s Place was like something out of a movie.

Everything from the tables to the jukebox was made of wood. On the walls were deer heads and old John Wayne posters. Outside of themselves only three other black people were in the spot, but Koran and McKinley didn’t care. They were on a mission to eat and have a good time. The next morning they would be boarding a train back to St. Louis.

While waiting on Koran to return with their beer and wings, McKinley scratched her arms and legs profusely. She absolutely detested the wifebeater, overalls and tan- colored Timberland boots she wore. The rough and cheap fabric was driving her nuts. Other than that, she was having a wonderful time.

“
Here you go, pretty girl.” Koran sat her mug of beer down before her.

“
Thank you. Ooh, these wings look yummy.” McKinley rubbed her hands together, excited.

“
Right, I’m hungrier than a muthafucka.” Koran took a seat across from her.

“
Yo, I swear to God I feel like I’m in the
Twilight Zone
.” McKinley looked around the bar in awe. “I’ve only seen people like this on the
Simple Life
and
Toddlers and Tiaras
.”