Soulful Strut (42 page)

“I got them the old-fashion way, I earned
’em,” Monette joked. She looked up at her boss. “I know, I know.
Clear out my desk.”

“You almost caused me to have a heart attack,
lady. If you ever refuse to follow my directions again, I’ll—” Chaz
broke off and grinned at her as he rubbed his hands together. “But
that was one hell of a show.”

“What about the station owners and the
advertisers?” Monette raised an eyebrow at him.

His bright expression dimmed by a few watts.
“Umm, we might have a few problems with our more conservative
accounts. Once I show the owners our ratings figures they’ll be
tolerant. This time, I mean. Don’t put me through that again.”

“I’ll try not to,” Monette replied
coolly.

Nikki came in after Chaz left. “Are you going
to be able to keep that promise?”

“Maybe.” Monette slumped against the back of
the chair and closed her eyes. “I could use a much quieter life
right now.”

Nikki laughed. “Please. Would you know what
to do with one?”

Monette thought about it for a few seconds.
“Probably not.”

***

At the end of the day Monette felt truly free
for the first time since she’d walked out of prison. Gone was the
anxiety that she could make it in the real world. She left the
office of Second Chances, and Jayson waited for her as he’d
promised. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

“Everything okay?”

“Very okay. I’m ready to celebrate.” Monette
looped her arms through his.

“You heard about the pardon hearing.” Jayson
helped her climb into the passenger seat of his Jeep.

“My attorney says we made history. Seems a
majority of the board feels that the first decision was tainted.
They were influenced partly by Winn’s statement, which they now
believe was less than truthful.”

‘Translation—he lied like a dog and anybody
with half a brain knows it,” Jayson put in.

“Right. In six months they’re going to
reconsider my application and hold another hearing.” Monette
laughed when Jayson did his version of the electric slide.

“Yes! Take that, Winn Barron.” Jayson swung a
fist, as though taking aim at Barron’s head.

Monette shrugged away thoughts of the man.
“Which brings us back to celebrating. I want to change into
something casual. Let’s stop by the halfway house. I promise not to
take long.”

“You got it. We’re going to have the best
steak and drink toasts to each other all night; iced tea only, of
course.” Jayson grinned at her.

“No, we can have the hard stuff. Real cola,
maybe even with caffeine,” Monette replied. She accepted a brief
but ardent kiss on the lips.

“Let’s rock and roll, sweet thing.” Jayson
shut the door, and then sprinted around to climb behind the
wheel.

Twenty minutes through rush-hour traffic
passed pleasantly as they talked about small things. When they
pulled up to the house, several women on the front porch waved to
them. Monette promised again that she’d only be inside a few
minutes.

“Goin’ out with your fine man again. Some
women have all the luck,” Janet teased.

“Don’t hate, appreciate,” Monette quipped,
then hurried inside.

Tyeisha walked out of the living room just as
Monette reached the first step on the stairs. “Hey, girl. We rented
some good old horror movies. We’ll wait for you.”

“Got a date,” Monette called back. She found
Candi sitting on her bed reading.

“Hi,” Candi said and closed the magazine.

“Hey,” Monette replied in a breathless voice.
“I’m in a hurry. Jayson’s waiting.”

Candi laughed. “I kinda figured that out. You
heard about Yarva?”

Monette stopped in the act of taking off her
blouse. “No.”

“They arrested her today. Turns out her
boyfriend’s wife—”

“Hired a private detective, got the goods on
them both, and then told the police where to look. The police put
two and two together and got Yarva,” Monette said. “Did I miss
anything?”

“Obviously you didn’t miss a damn thing,”
Candi said with a wide-eyed expression.

“I try not to,” Monette replied.

“Anyway Yarva didn’t say anything about you,
or me either. I was kinda surprised about that.” Candi lifted a
shoulder.

“Maybe Yarva is going to change. It can
happen to even a hard case.” Monette faced her and crossed her
arms. “Look, Candi, you gotta decide which way you’re going to go.
You can’t hang with players and expect to make it in a straight
world. Just doesn’t work that way. They either change, you leave
them behind or y’all stay together on the same road to nowhere.
That’s the hard choice you gotta make.”

“I shouldn’t have tried to hold you back.
You’re gonna soar like an eagle no matter what.” Candi wore a sad
smile. Her eyes were shiny as tears welled in them. “We don’t all
have strong wings. Some of us are just chicken- heads. Always have
been and always will be.”

Monette shook her head slowly. “I don’t
believe in that theory. You’re going to fly by the time you
graduate from Opportunity Knocking.”

“But y’all kicked me out. I deserved it,
too.”

“I’ve recommended we give you another chance.
Wasn’t that hard to convince Danica. You know how those social
workers are, girl. They’re pushovers for a sob story, and you know
I can lay it on thick.” Monette winked at her.

“I ain’t so sure you should stick yourself
out for me again.”

“Hey, Danica thinks you can make it. But me?
I
know
you can,” Monette said firmly.

“Thanks for being on my side, even when I was
too dumb to recognize a real friend.” Candi looked down at her
hands.

“Come over here.” Monette hugged Candi when
she walked over. Then she pushed Candi away and shook a finger in
her face. “No more hookin’ folks up with fences or any other crap.
Pull another trick like that and I’m gonna whip your behind.”

“My behind? You quit cussin’?” Candi batted
Monette’s finger away playfully.

“You didn’t get the memo? I’m reformed.”

Candi smiled at her and nodded. “Guess you
decided who you’re gonna be.”

“Yeah,” Monette said after gazing in the
mirror. “Yeah, I did. I don’t have to run anymore. Or play
games.”

“Hey, you played the system and got outta
prison. Don’t knock it,” Candi joked.

“Yeah, but I’m giving that up. And I’m not
going to use my past as a shield to keep people away.” Monette
turned back to Candi.

“You mean Jayson,” Candi said with a wide
smile.

“Oh, baby, do I mean Jayson. Speaking of
which, I gotta go.” Monette yanked open the closet and selected an
outfit.

“Have fun, girl. I’m gonna watch some corny
old horror movies and pretend I’m scared.” Candi waved as she left
the bedroom.

Monette took off her blouse and slipped on a
dark red T-shirt. She grabbed a small purse and raced down the
steps like a teenager on her first date. Jayson’s face lit up when
she bounced over to the Jeep.

“You look beautiful, as usual. Let’s check
out that new steakhouse on Government Street.” Jayson started the
engine.

“I hope it’s not too noisy. We need to talk
about that dinner with your family,” Monette said, pretending it
was a casual remark.

Jayson let go of the steering wheel and
pulled her close. “Seriously?”

She looked into his eyes. ‘Time to start the
future off right.”

Mix knowledge of voodoo, Louisiana politics
and forensic social work with the dedication to write fiction while
working each day as a clinical social worker, and you get a
snapshot of author Lynn Emery. Lynn has been a contributing
consultant to the magazine Today’s Black Woman for three articles
about contemporary relationships between black men and women. For
more information visit:

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