Too Close for Comfort (4 page)

“I told you.” Quincy smirked.

They walked through, continuing to make plans and taking notes.

By the time they finished, Yaya's initial excitement had returned, until he told her, “I'll have a door cut right here so people can walk through both shops.”

“Oh, no, I don't think so.”

“Why not?”

“I don't want my customers being harassed by Jarrod and your rowdy barbers,” Yaya huffed. “It's bad enough we have to be next door. Now you want them to be able to just walk over whenever they feel like it?”

“I have to agree,
Q
.” Taryn nodded. “You know they can get loud over there.”

“Fine. Suit yourself.” Quincy shrugged. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed. “I already talked with a guy yesterday and showed him your layout; he should be here any minute.”

“I hope that was a professional contractor and not some jackleg who rolls thru every week, and gets a haircut,” she said.

“He was professional enough to do my other shops and install the flooring in your condo when you wanted me to have it done.”

“I'm not saying that,
Q
. I mean, there are certain things we want to have done, and I just wanna make sure he can do it.”

“And I'm sure if he's done work for Quincy, he can do it for us.” Taryn laughed nervously. “Excuse us for a minute,
Q
, we need to step out back and talk.” Taryn whisked Yaya out the back door. “What is your problem? Why are you being difficult?”

“I'm not trying to be difficult, Taryn. I just wanna make sure we're on point with this. I need for
Q
to understand this isn't some little home project that he's gonna pass off to one of his boys.”

“He's not trying to do that. He's trying to help us . . . something we asked him to do. Lose the attitude, Yaya. I'm trying to—” Taryn stopped mid-sentence.

Yaya turned to see what caught her attention. Walking out the back door was the finest man Yaya had ever laid eyes on. He stood about six foot four and weighed about 245 pounds. Dressed in a pair of jeans and some worn-out Tims, his physique was immaculate. The cut of his chest and arms was like that of a Greek God. His caramel skin was smooth, and there was no hair on his face or head.

“Now you see the difference between a wife-beater and a tank top.” Yaya kept her eyes on the beautiful specimen coming toward them.

“Yeah, I do,” Taryn mumbled.

“Excuse me, I'm looking for
Q
. They told me he would be back here.” His deep voice made Yaya shiver.

She pointed. “Uh, he's on the other side, through that door.”

“Thanks.” He smiled at them, his teeth just as perfect as the rest of him.

They continued to watch him until he walked inside.

“Oh, God, he's fine. And you wanted to hire a professional. I can't breathe.” Taryn began fanning herself.

“
Fine
ain't the word,” Yaya told her.

They walked back inside.

“Lincoln Webster, this is my sister, Yaya, and her partner, Taryn Green.”

“Nice to meet you, ladies.” Lincoln reached and shook both of their hands. “I think this place is gonna be nice. From what
Q
showed me, your design concept is unique, and you can do a lot with it.”

“Do you think you'll be able to handle the job?” Taryn asked in a husky voice.

Yaya shook her head, tickled by her friend's obvious attempt to flirt.

“Oh, no doubt.” He smiled.

“I can't wait to get started.” She smiled.

“I'm just as excited.”

“Well, how much is this gonna cost and when do you think you can get started?” Yaya interrupted, bringing them back to reality.

Taryn shot her an ugly look.

“Well, let me get an estimate on the materials you're gonna need. Everything should pretty much be reasonable, depending on the fixtures you all want. But I have a guy who can get you a deal on that too. The construction on your brother's shop downtown won't be finished for a while, so that gives us a little time. I say we can pretty much begin gutting the place as early as tomorrow.”

“Are you serious?” Yaya's eyes widened. “Wow, so soon.”

“How long do you think it's gonna take to finish?” Taryn asked.

“A month, maybe sooner.” He looked over at Quincy.

“Sounds good to me,” Quincy said. “Well, ladies, we are now standing in what will soon be After Effex.”

Yaya's emotions ran from utter happiness to sheer panic. In one way, she was elated that this was really happening, in another, she couldn't help but wonder if she was ready for it. One thing was for sure—she had to make up with Jason because there was no way she could do it without him.

“He is so beautiful.” Paige caressed the baby's tiny head. Meeko and Stanley had just arrived home with their newborn son, Isaiah. “As long as no one calls him
Precious
, I'm good,” Meeko told her.

“Yeah, you know when they call babies
Precious
—that means they're trying to be nice and not call them ugly.” Paige laughed.

“That's not true. My mother always said I was a precious baby,” Stanley told them.

“I rest my case,” Meeko teased. “I'm just kidding, baby. You know you'll always be precious to me, honey.”

“I don't have to stay here and take this. Come on, son.” He reached and carefully took the baby from Paige's arms. “We can go into your room and bond without the sarcasm. You two need anything?”

“We're fine, sweetie.” Meeko smiled at him.

He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.

“Your mama did some serious praying for you,” Paige said when he left the room.

“What are you talking about?” Meeko sat back on the bed, wincing.

“Still sore?”

“Just a little. The doctor said I can only take Tylenol because I'm breast-feeding.”

“What? Not you?”

“Shut up—it's what's best for my son.” Meeko stuck her tongue out. “So what makes you say my mother prayed for me?”

“Come on, Meeko, look at your life—you married a good man, live in a mansion, and just had a beautiful son—it had to be because of your mother.”

“Why couldn't it be because of my praying for myself?”

“Please. Praying was the farthest thing from your mind when you met Stanley.”

“You're tripping. And you're just as blessed as I am. You have a beautiful daughter and a good man. Don't you wanna marry Quincy?”

She thought about that question. “I don't know Quincy well enough to say I'm ready to marry him. We just started dating really.”

“Aren't you in love with him?”

“Of course, I'm in love with him.”

“But you don't wanna marry him.”

“I didn't say that. Stop putting words in my mouth.” Paige looked up and saw Celeste standing in the doorway.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Mama and I just stopped by to check on you.” Celeste shrugged.

Paige stood up. “I'll call you later. Take care.”

“Paige, don't leave, you just got here,” Meeko pleaded. “Come on, I just had a baby. I should be celebrating with my family. My entire family.”

“You're right, Meeko. That's why I'm leaving—so other members of your family can celebrate with you.”

“Paige, please. I'm not trying to cause any trouble,” Celeste told her.

“Celeste, I'm not trying to even talk to you, okay. Just let it go. Just because we're cousins doesn't mean we have to be friends—that ain't happening. I'm no longer gonna front like I even like you, okay.” Paige cut her eyes at her.

“What do you want from me, Paige? I apologized more than enough times.” Celeste had the nerve to have tears in her eyes.

“And? I accepted it. So what more do
you
want from me?”

By now, Celeste was straight-up bawling.

“Paige, don't be like that,” Meeko said quietly.

“Like what? Here we go once again—Celeste is the victim and everyone is to feel sorry for her. You know what, you should be an actress.” Paige walked out. She knew she was moments away from going off.

“You're leaving?” Stanley almost startled her when she got to the bottom of the steps. Standing next to him was Aunt Gayle and Meeko's mother, Aunt Connie.

“Yeah, I gotta get back to work.”

“Good,” Aunt Gayle commented.

“Excuse me,” Paige snapped.

“I said, ‘Good'—I ain't stutter. The last thing Meeko needs in her house is a bunch of tension caused by you. Whenever you're around anyone in this family, they feel like they have to walk on eggshells because they're afraid you're gonna go off.”

“Aunt Gayle, that's not true,” Stanley said.

“It is true. Before we go to anyone's house, we have to ask if Paige is there before coming over. The only reason we ain't call over here is because I didn't want the phone to wake the baby, Stanley. If I woulda known she was here, I woulda waited 'til she left.”

“That's not true, Aunt Gayle, and you know it. You were just at my mother's house yesterday, and I was there.”

“And when we got there, you left.”

“I was walking out the door when you were walking in.” Paige shook her head. “Aunt Connie, Stanley, I'll see you all later.”

“Paige, now you know you were wrong for disrespecting your aunt like that this afternoon,” her mother said when she went to pick Myla up. Her mother was working in the flowerbed in front of her house.

“Mama, I wasn't disrespectful at all. Aunt Gayle was straight-up lying, saying I was causing tension in the family. I haven't done anything.”

“You're not making things any better either. I know that Celeste is a little upset because you are dating Quincy, but that's no reason for you to be exchanging words with your aunt.”

“Mama, I didn't exchange words with anyone. As far as Celeste is concerned, I don't have any words for her. She lied, she got caught, and I'm over it.”

Nina pulled into the driveway and got out. “Hey there.”

“Hey, girl.” Paige sighed.

“I'll go inside and get the girls,” Paige's mom said.

“Did I interrupt?”

“No, she's just tripping about Celeste and Aunt Gayle, that's all. I don't understand why, though.”

“I don't know either. They were all acting kind of strange after you left though. Your aunts went into the kitchen and were whispering. Celeste just sat on the sofa, barely saying two words. I don't know what's going on.”

“Me either. Celeste is probably acting like she is suicidal, since I'm dating Quincy. I don't care—that girl has some serious issues, and she needs to get checked out,” Paige told her.

“Hey, do you think you can keep Jade this weekend?”

“Sure. What do you have going on?” Paige smiled.

“A romantic evening for a change.” Nina batted her eyelashes.

“With who? Or do I even need to ask?”

“Craig, of course.”

“So . . . this thing with him is getting serious?”

“He's nice and easy to talk to. He makes me laugh. I like him.”

Paige looked at her best friend. Nina had a twinkle in her eye that Paige hadn't seen in a while. “I'm happy for you. I would love to take Jade this weekend while you get your groove on.”

“I ain't say all that, Paige.”

“You ain't have to say it. I can see it in your eyes.”

Nina's phone began to ring. “Speak of the devil . . .”

The girls came running out of the house. Paige told her mother and Nina good-bye, and they headed home.

“Mom, you told Daddy I couldn't come to his house anymore?” Myla asked as she drove.

“Not for a little while, until I get some things straight.”

“Ms. Kasey says that you're kicking them out because you want our old house back.”

“What?” Paige glanced over at her daughter. “What are you talking about? When did you talk to Ms. Kasey?”

“This afternoon. She called to tell me hi. Then she said that they have to find a new house because you are kicking them out.”

Paige reached and grabbed her cell phone. She dialed her mother's number. “Mama, did Kasey call and talk to Myla this afternoon?”

“I don't know. I've been in the yard working,” her mother answered nonchalantly.

“I can't believe this. I'm going to kill her!”

“Paige, calm down. So what if she did call Myla?—that's her stepdaughter, you should be glad that she's making the effort to build a relationship with her.”

“That's what you think she's doing?—building a relationship with Myla? She barely says two words to Myla when she's at the house, other than making demands to clean up or do some other household chore. She's doing this to be funny, Mama.” The fact that her mother was acting like it was no big deal only made Paige angrier. “Bye, Mama.”

“Did I do something wrong, Mommy?” Myla asked.

Paige looked over and saw the fear in her daughter's eyes.

“No, baby, you didn't do anything wrong. I don't want you talking to Ms. Kasey anymore, you understand? If she calls, you don't talk to her.”

“Why not?”

Paige leaned her head back. She hated the fact that Kasey was putting her child in the middle of this drama. “Because it's just not a good time to be talking to her, that's all. Understand?”

“Mom,” Myla said, causing Paige to look over again, “are you sure I didn't do anything wrong?”

“Yes, baby, you are fine.” Paige smiled.

“Then can we go to McDonald's for dinner?”

As angry as she was and as frustrated as she was with her family at that moment, there was nothing better Paige could think of than having dinner with her daughter at McDonald's.

Somehow, dinner turned into a stop at the mall, and by the time Paige and Myla made it home, it was dark.

“Myla, didn't I tell you to cut that TV off this morning before we left.” Paige noticed the flicker of light coming from the living room.

“I did, Mommy.” Myla shrugged.

“Obviously, you didn't.” Paige cut the truck off and opened the door. “Grab those bags when you get out.”

“Okay.”

Paige fit her keys into the door and turned the knob. As she stepped inside, she saw that, not only did Myla leave the TV on, but her purple Bratz blanket was lying on the floor in front of the sofa. “Myla Seymone Davis, I'm going to beat your behind!”

“What did I do, Mom?”

“You left the TV on, your blanket on the floor.” Paige reached over and picked it up.

“I didn't leave that there, Mom.”

“Then who did?” Paige turned and asked.

“I did.”

They turned to see Camille, Marlon's sister, walking out of the kitchen, eating a bowl of cereal.

“Surprise!”