Soulful Strut (20 page)

“Thank God. I don’t want to help spread that
neoconservative nonsense,” Monette said and glared at Jayson.

“Oh, so you’re going to do the usual black
liberal dance. Anybody who disagrees is a traitor to the black
community, right? You folks can’t face the hard facts head-on.”
Jayson gave a snort of derision.

Chaz strode into the room without knocking.
“Unbelievable,” he blurted out

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I didn’t see this coming.
He looked so normal.” Monette squinted at Jayson.

“By normal you mean all black people should
think alike? Sorry to disappoint you by being my own man,” Jayson
shot back.

“Whoa,” Irvin breathed. He let out a soft
whistle, and then darted back to his controls. He watched them even
as he played another commercial tape.

“You two are great. That back-and-forth
between the two sides of the political spectrum is fantastic. Let’s
do it again next week. What do you say, Jayson?” Chaz noticed Irvin
waving to them. “We can talk about it later. You’re back on.”

Monette had only seconds to recover from the
shock of Chaz’s reaction and proposal. Jayson looked equally dazed.
Irvin frowned at Monette with concern as she stared at the
microphone in front of her. When Irvin pointed to her, Monette
reacted.

“Sorry, folks, but we’re out of time. Thanks
to my guest. Jayson Odum. Come back next week to explore another
hot topic with me. See ya.” Monette talked on autopilot and hoped
she made sense.

“Like I said, I smell a super hit show. We
examine issues from two different perspectives. Folks will line up
to argue one side or the other.” Chaz rubbed his hands together in
gleeful anticipation.

“Boss, the phones are ringing nonstop. People
want to either congratulate Jayson or hang him,” Nikki said as she
rushed in the door. She grinned at Monette and Jayson. “Rock on,
you two.”

“No way. I’ve got a business to run.” Jayson
started to go, but his cell phone hummed as it vibrated in silent
mode. “Speaking of which, my brother is probably calling to tell me
I need to get my rear end back to work. Excuse me.”Monette watched
him walk out and go toward the lobby to get the best reception. She
faced her boss with both hands on her hips. “Tell me you were just
joking around. You heard that guy. He’s got some brain-dead idea
that racial injustice is only something from the history
books.”“Uh, ’scuse me. I’ve got a show to do.” Nikki shooed Chaz
and Monette out of the studio and into the hallway.

“That’s it, Monette. Keep that sense of
outrage. Hone it to a sharp edge and don’t back down. Your passion
pitted against his cool conservative approach. Talk-show heaven!”
Chaz’s mouth seemed about ready to split he was grinning so
widely.

“You said the show was my baby. I don’t want
to do it.” Monette huffed in outrage. She went to her office with
Chaz right on her heels.

“Calm down and consider the benefits.
Remember, we have a management team and the owners to consider.
They were listening, and we all are loving the concept. What’s the
harm? Besides, the man made some valid points.” Chaz stood his
ground. Despite his words, his expression and tone of voice clearly
said the decision had been made.

Jayson came back still holding his slim cell
phone in his right hand. “My brother said four people have called
already wanting to bring us their business. Freaky.”

Chaz slapped his palms together. “So, Hot
Topic is good for your business as well. I’m telling you, Jayson,
this is a good fit.”

“Forget it. I’m into fixing cars, not
spouting off opinions. Besides, my brother also said a few
crackpots called to say they disagreed.”

“I’ll bet,” Monette murmured. When Jayson
shot an irritated look at her, she lifted her nose in the air.

“Like they say in show business, any
publicity is good publicity,” Chaz said. He put a hand on Jayson’s
shoulder. “The point is you got new customers because of your
performance on Hot Topic.”

“One, I’m not in show business. Second, I
expressed my views. I wasn’t performing. Forget the idea, Chaz.”
Jayson clipped the cell phone to his belt.

“Hot Topic is my show. We have a contract.
Remember?” Monette put in.

“Okay, fine. Just think about being a guest
again. We can give you a deal on your ads.” Chaz smiled at Jayson
like a salesman making his best pitch.

“No. Thanks.” Jayson smiled back at him, yet
his voice held an edge.

Chaz held up both hands. He heaved a sigh of
resignation. “Message received. Bye-bye to radio ratings
magic.”

“Cheer up, Chaz. People will keep tuning in.”
Monette patted his arm to console him.

“Right. We can use tapes from this show to
keep interest in Hot Topic high. Yeah, I like that.” Chaz strode
off, talking to himself. His secretary emerged from an office, and
he gestured for her to follow.

Irvin joined them. He held a large cup of
orange juice from a fast-food restaurant. ‘The boss is right. That
show kicked butt. People still callin’ in. I’m gonna call y’all the
new dream team.”

“Gee, thanks,” Monette replied.

“Bye and have a good day.” Irvin waved to
them as he went on his way.

“Bye, Irvin. You deserve credit, too, man.”
Jayson smiled when Irvin turned with a raised fist, and then kept
going. He looked at Monette. “So, the show went well.”

Monette opened her mouth three times, trying
to think of what to say. “Who the hell are you?” she finally
blurted out. She was stunned when he laughed.

“I expected we were only going to talk about
car repair and owning a business. Remember? You gave it a political
slant.” Jayson rested one large hand on his narrow waist.

She glanced at him from head to toe with a
frown. Instead of blasting his views, she paused. Monette was
reminded of how fine the man looked. From the tips of his polished
loafers to the neat collar of his shirt, Jayson looked good. Too
good. She forgot the cutting reply on the tip of her tongue.
Monette felt a heat wave curling out from his body. Still, the guy
hadn’t moved or made some player move. All he’d done was turn that
nice guy smile in her direction. Damn. Who knew? He lifted one
comer of that delicious-looking mouth and neutralized her bad girl
intentions.

“You have a point. But you don’t really
believe that” Monette stopped.

“My opinions aren’t that different from
yours. You believe in people taking responsibility for their
choices. No excuses. Right?” Jayson’s mild expression masked the
challenge beneath his question.

“Yes. But racism and discrimination exist,”
she countered. “I don’t believe that we use it as some fictional
boogey man to avoid responsibility. You do.”

“Injustice happens. But I despise people who
play the race card when it’s a lie. Makes fighting real injustice a
lot harder.” Jayson offered no apology.

Monette saw past the boy-next-door exterior.
Jayson had strong opinions and an even stronger will. A quiet kind
of defiance burned in his eyes. The combination made her skin
tingle. She brushed her hair back with one hand and wondered if her
lipstick had smudged.

“Mind giving me a ride home?” she asked.

***

Monette closed the door of his truck and
waved one last time. She watched him back out and then drive away.
When the end of the truck disappeared from view, she walked down
the driveway to the back door of the halfway house. As she entered
the kitchen, the day staff greeted her cheerfully. Monette
exchanged small talk with the women for a few moments about her
show, and then went down the hallway. Trudy stood in the foyer just
a few feet from the front door. She had a stack of mail in her
hand. Voices and the sound of the television came from the larger
of the two living rooms. Trudy glanced up as Monette
approached.

“See you got another ride home,” Trudy
said.

“Jayson was a guest on my show this morning.”
Monette had a good idea that Trudy had been watching them.

“I know. I listened to it,” Trudy
replied.

“I’m going to tour his garage Saturday.”
Monette faced her head-on, ready to say just where they could stick
their rules.

“Have a nice time. Mail for you.” Trudy
separated three envelopes from the stack and handed them to
Monette. She went to her office without glancing back.

“Aren’t you going to object or something?”
Monette called after her.

Trudy turned. She raised both neatly arched
eyebrows. “You want me to?”

“Not really. Thanks. For the mail.”

Trudy nodded with a half smile, and then
disappeared into her office. Monette went to the living room. Yarva
and Candi were looking at a news show while Lenore sat in a comer
with a book. “What’s up, y’all?”

“Hey. CNN is interviewing this guy that just
got off death row. That good-looking lawyer of yours saved his butt
when DNA proved the guy didn’t rape and kill this college girl,”
Candi said, pointing at the television screen.

Monette walked over to get a better view of
the big television. The man had dirty blonde hair pulled back into
a ponytail. His huge biceps were covered with tattoos. “Looks like
a rough dude, too.”

“He ain’t no angel, but he didn’t do it.
That’s what counts.” Lenore had joined them. “You sure were lucky
to have that guy Rand on your side, Monette.”

“Better believe it. He’s good.” Monette
nodded.

“Yeah, bet you know all about how good he
is.” Yarva snickered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Monette gave
her a stony look.

"Nothing. I’m just sayin’.” Yarva shrugged.
She smacked her lips as she gave Candi a sideways glance.

“Monette has a gift for the hook-up alright,”
Candi put in with a tense laugh. She shot Yarva a warning
frown.

“Uh-huh, your girl got game alright.” Yarva
ignored Candi’s warning. She grabbed the remote and flipped the
station.

“More game than you and that’s damn shame,
ain’t it?” Monette strode off without waiting for Yarva’s reply.
She sat down in a chair near the window and went through her
mail.

Moments later Candi crossed the room. She
dropped down on a large pillow and crossed her legs. “I know Yarva
is workin’ on your nerves. Try to look over it sometimes. She’s
been through a lot”

“Haven’t we all,” Monette replied as she
continued to read an invitation to speak at a local women’s
club.

Lenore moved to a chair nearer them. “I don’t
like how she’s always so negative.”

“She’s not a people person as they say.”
Candi shrugged with a crooked grin.

“A big understatement, but whatever.”

Monette read the return address of her
daughters on two of the envelopes. A large card from Alisa was pink
with a spray of flowers around the words “Thoughts of You” in gold
letters. Talia had sent a more conservative card, but it was just
as precious to Monette.

“What a beautiful surprise.” Monette read
them again.

“What is it?” Candi craned her neck to take a
look.

“Cards from two of my kids.”

Monette showed Candi and Lenore the front of
the cards, but she read in silence. The words brought tears to her
eyes. Alisa expressed pride in all that Monette had done to change
her life. She read the message in Talia’s neat handwriting three
more times. Lenore and Candi were silent for a few minutes, not
wanting to intrude.

“You okay?” Lenore said finally.

“Yeah. I’m very okay.” Monette slipped the
precious keepsakes back in the envelopes. She sniffed a few times.
Candi handed her a tissue from a box on a table nearby.

“You’re blessed, girl. At least you got
family that care whether you live or die,” Candi said with
bitterness.

“I don’t deserve them.” Monette wiped her
eyes.

“Don’t say that. Everybody deserves a second
chance and forgiveness,” Lenore said. “No matter what they’ve
done.”

“Right.” Monette nodded.

‘That don’t include no-good, low-down men
that beat on their women though.” Candi squinted at Lenore. Yarva
had turned the volume down on the television. Now she strolled over
to them.

“People change. That’s why we’re here, isn’t
it? Because somebody was willing to give us a chance.” Lenore
looked away to stare out of the window.

“Girl, please,” Yarva put in.

“You don’t know my man,” Lenore replied with
heat.

“Sure I do. He’s the guy that lied to you,
took your money, and then humped your cousin while you were at
work. The honeymoon won’t last,” Yarva said.

“Just shut up about Ramone.” Lenore’s dark
eyes seemed to reflect angry sparks when she glared at Yarva.

“We listened to you doggin’ out the guy for
weeks in group sessions. That’s how we all know his notorious love
rap sheet. Girl, you better wake up.” Yarva waved a hand at
her.

“You’re mad at Monette for having brains and
me ’cause I got a man. Don’t be takin’ it out on us ’cause you
don’t have either one.” Anger made Lenore’s accent deepen. She rose
from the chair to confront Yarva.

Yarva’s dark brown eyes narrowed and her
smirk vanished. Monette stood and moved closer to Lenore. Candi
leaned forward, as though ready to step in if needed. After a few
seconds Yarva went back to watch television.“To hell with it,”
Yarva shot back over her shoulder.“Yeah, right.” Lenore spat a
stream of Spanish in Yarva’s direction as she stomped from the
room.

“Good thing Yarva don’t speak Spanish,” Candi
said. She reclined again into a relaxed pose.

Monette took the chair opposite her. “And I
thought I’d be the one to whip Yarva’s ass first.”

“This ain’t like Lenore. I knew her from my
days runnin’ the streets in Houston. Even then took her a long time
to get mad enough to fight” Candi lifted a shoulder. “But hey, when
a man is in the mix you got trouble.”