You Get What You Pray For (12 page)

Unique walked over to him, looked him in the eyes, and said, “About last night . . . about what you asked me. In case you need me to spell it out, the answer is yes. Yes, Terrance Casinoff, I will marry you!”

Unique and Terrance sat side by side, hand in hand, in church. They were all smiles the entire time. After service the word spread about their engagement, and the couple was congratulated several times before they even exited the church doors. It pleased Unique to know that people seemed to be genuinely happy for her, but even if they weren't, she was still elated by her pending nuptials.

No, she hadn't been dating Terrance for more than six months. She hadn't even bumped into him in West Virginia until she'd been there for over a month. She'd literally bumped into him. She was taking his mother, who was a patient at the facility, her lunch one Saturday afternoon. He was leaving his mother's room after one of his afternoon visits. After opening the door, he remembered something he needed to tell his mother and turned back around to talk with her. After saying what he needed to say, he quickly spun back around and proceeded to walk away, not realizing Unique had walked up behind him. They bumped into each other, and the lunch tray she had in her hands went crashing to the floor.

Unique looked down at the floor where Ms. Casinoff's food lay. “Really?” Unique spat without even looking up. She had been having a bad day. Earlier she'd caught one patient's relatives eating up all his food, so she had waited for them to leave and then had taken the patient another tray of food. Now, for the second time that day, she'd have to fix a patient another tray of food. And the fact that it was that time of the month and she was cramping something awful only magnified things.

“I'm sorry,” said the culprit responsible for the lunch tray being on the floor.

“You're sorry, and blind is what you are,” Unique said without thinking. She'd been able to exercise self-control until now. She bent down and began picking up the mess. She still wore the plastic gloves all the kitchen workers used to cover their hands when around food. As she placed the food on the tray, it took only a few seconds for her to start feeling guilty for speaking such venom. It was an accident, one that she herself could have easily caused. She had no right to take her crappy day out on this man.

The man bent down to help her. That was kind of him. Even though he was the one responsible for the mess, after the way Unique had just spoken to him, she could understand if he left her there to fend for herself. So now she felt that she was the one who owed an apology.

“I'm sorry,” Unique said as she reached for the milk carton. He reached for the milk carton a split second later, so his hand landed atop of hers. “Oh,” she said at his touch and then looked up.

The two locked eyes and immediately fireworks went off . . . or more like grenades.

“You!” they both shouted at each other, shooting each other vicious looks.

Unique looked down at his hand, which was still touching hers. He looked down and then immediately snatched his hand off of hers. They both stood up straight like sharp swords, ready to cut one another to pieces.

When Unique first drove down to the facility in West Virginia with Mother Doreen, she knew it only as the place where Terrance's mother was a resident during Mother Doreen's wedding fiasco. Unique didn't go inside with Mother Doreen to visit Terrance's mother, and when she returned later to the facility, she remembered only the outside. She had no idea who Terrance's mother was or if she still resided at the facility.

Brookside Residence was a little bit of everything: a nursing home, an assisted-living facility, a mental health care facility. They didn't discriminate against anyone and tried to meet the needs of all their elderly patients. Since doctors and nurses were available twenty-four hours a day, some would even call it a hospital too. Brookside had really taken care of Ms. Casinoff. It had become like her home. So even when her health improved tremendously over time, compared to how it was when she was initially admitted, with Terrance always traveling out of town as an auditor, both he and his mother were 100 percent in favor of her utilizing their assisted-living facility. The staff was like family, and in the short period of time Unique had worked there, she'd become like family to Ms. Casinoff as well. But when she had that first encounter with Terrance years ago back at New Day, he was far from family. He wasn't even a friend. He was a foe if she'd ever had one.

“I remember you,” Terrance said to Unique. “You're that fresh-mouthed ghetto girl from Malvonia.”

“And I remember you too,” Unique spat back. “You're that tight-tail, wedding-ruining revenge seeker who tried to wreak havoc in Mother Doreen's life.”

“What are you even doing here?” he asked Unique, looking her up and down like she belonged in a doghouse somewhere. After all, she did remind him of a feisty puppy.

“What's it look like I'm doing?” Unique replied. “I'm doing what I've been doing for the past month. I'm bringing your mother her food.”

“Oh, Lord. Rhoda at the front desk told me they had a new company servicing the kitchen, but I had no idea . . .” His words trailed off, and then a look of horror crossed his face. “My mother is eating
your
cooking? Hopefully, no desserts with powdered sugar on them. I've heard of that little trick.”

Was this man really insinuating that Unique would sprinkle some kind of rat poison powder on the desserts instead of powdered sugar? Unique took great offense. “You . . .” She had to catch herself from calling him a name that would make even the devil blush. “You are lucky that I'm saved.”

“No, you're lucky, because Jesus is probably the only man who would ever know how to deal with you, anyhow.”

“Oh yeah?” Unique said, throwing her hands on her hips. “And what makes you think I don't already have a man?”

“Because your lips are moving. That alone will send any man packing. You're as beautiful as can be, but then you open that mouth, and your beauty is only skin deep, for sure, because your surface is pretty bland.”

Although his intention was to insult her, Unique wasn't the least bit insulted. She did not miss the fact that he'd complimented her by calling her beautiful. This was the first time in Unique's life that a man had called her beautiful without trying to get down her pants. This man had said it out of anger. He could have called her the bad B word, but instead he'd chosen the other B word, the one that no woman minded being called—
beautiful.

Korica had always told Unique that when people were angry, they tended to tell the truth. That meant he must have told the truth. He thought Unique was beautiful. As Terrance stood there, continuing his rant, his comments reflecting his dislike for Unique, she stood there, smiling self-consciously.

“You're not even listening to me,” Terrance said. “Figures. With all the talking you do, I'm not surprised you can't force yourself to listen to someone else.”

“I was listening,” Unique told him. “And I heard everything you said.” She was still smiling, and on top of that, she was staring at him, all glossy eyed.

Observing the smile still plastered on Unique's face, Terrance tilted his head from left to right, trying to figure out this woman. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, yes, I am.” Unique snapped out of her daze. “By the way, I don't know if you remember, but I'm beautiful. . . I mean, Unique.”

“Beautiful and Unique. Let me guess. Your first name is Beautiful, and your last name is Unique. Middle name is Alize'.”

Not even that wiped the smile off of Unique's face. “You know what, Mr. Casinoff? If I wasn't a Christian, I'd tell you what a stuffy, rude, classless wad of snot you are, but since I'm saved, I'll just say, ‘Have a blessed day, because I know I will,'” Unique said, meaning every word. After all, this was a milestone for her. She was definitely going to write this down in her journal.
Beautiful.
“Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish cleaning the floor, and then I'll go get your mother another tray.”

Terrance watched for a moment as Unique cleaned up the mess. As badly as he wanted to leave her there to do it alone, he couldn't. He'd caused it. So he swallowed his pride and bent back down to help her. “You go ahead and get the other tray. I'll clean this up. It's my fault.”

Unique stood. “A man who knows how to accept blame, especially when he should . . . I like that.”

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” Terrance asked.

“Take it however you want, but while you figure it out, I'm going to go back and get that other tray.” Unique turned to walk away.

Terrance continued cleaning up the mess, but at a very slow pace. Whether he was doing it consciously or subconsciously, it didn't matter. All he knew was that he wanted to still be there when Beautiful Alize' Unique returned.

And now, as they walked side by side out of the church where they'd met and into the church parking lot, Terrance never wanted to leave Unique's side again.

“So where to?” Terrance asked. “I figured we'd grab a bite to eat or something before I head back to West Virginia. I have a flight to catch from the HTS in the morning.”

“Well, with all these folks knowing about our pending nuptials, it would be a good idea if I told my family. Grandma Eleanor wasn't in church today, but she has eyes and ears up in New Day. I say we have about twenty minutes before word gets to her. I think it would be nice if they could hear the news from me first.”

Terrance raised his arms and allowed them to drop down at his sides. “Well, then, let's go tell Grandma Eleanor the good news!”

“Follow me in your car, Mr. Fiancé,” Unique said, and then the two of them headed to their separate vehicles.

As Unique drove, Terrance followed close behind. En route she decided to give Korica a call to share the news with her as well. She instructed her vehicle to “Call Mommy,” then listened as the rings bellowed through the car speakers.

“Hello,” Korica said upon picking up.

“Hey, Mommy.” Unique was smiling so hard, it could probably be heard through the phone line.

“Hey, girl. You just getting out of church?”

“You know it.”

“Why you sound like the Lord Himself came and sat next to you in church today?” Korica laughed at her own funny.

“Well, because that's what it felt like. As a matter of fact, I think my earthly Lord did.”

Unique lost Korica with that line. She didn't do church or hang around a lot of church folks, so she didn't know that some women referred to their husband as their earthly Lord. “Unique Emerald Gray, what are you talking about?”

“I have something to tell you, but you know what? I think I'll wait.” Just then Unique decided that she didn't want to tell Korica over the phone that she was getting married to a man Korica had never met before. That was like a double whammy. Although Korica wouldn't have any issues with Terrance, Unique thought she should at least have the decency of introducing the two first. That was the same courtesy she was about to extend to Lorain.

“So why you call me up and tease me?” Korica huffed. “But you know what? I'm 'bout to pay you back, because I've got something to tell you too.”

Now it was Unique who was intrigued. “What is it?”

“Oh, no, you don't. See what it's like to get a taste of your own medicine?”

“Okay, okay,” Unique said.

“So when do I get to hear whatever it is you have to tell me?”

“Umm.” Unique looked at the clock on her dashboard. It was 1:40 p.m. “Can I swoop by there at about three-thirty or four o'clock?”

“That's perfect!” Korica said with far too much excitement in her voice.

“Mommy, what have you got going on?”

“Whatcho mean?” Korica was playing coy.

“I know you. I can tell by that little sneaky tone in your voice that you've got something up your sleeve.”

“You do know me well.” Korica laughed. “But you'll see. You'll see. The same way you are making me wait, you have to wait too. I'll see you around four.”

“All right. Love you,” Unique said, surrendering.

“I love you too.”

Unique ended the call, shaking her head, knowing that no matter what Korica had to tell, she couldn't possibly trump what she had to share. But if Unique knew Korica as well as she claimed to, then a red flag should have definitely been waving in her head.

“Married! How wonderful. Does that mean you'll be moving back to West Virginia to live with your husband?” Lorain hoped she didn't sound too anxious for Unique to get out of Dodge, but this news was like music to her ears.

Having Unique back in town had been too stressful. Lorain had had nightmares about Unique coming over and ripping the twins right out of her arms. If Unique was going to get married and move back to West Virginia permanently, that meant Lorain's biggest worries would be no more. She wouldn't even have to pack for her guilt trip over keeping a distance between herself and Unique. Unique would be the one putting the distance between them . . . literally! This also meant that Lorain wouldn't have to have that dreaded conversation with Unique. Why should she waste her breath now, when it didn't even matter?

“Well, we . . . I . . . uh . . . ,” Unique stammered. She looked at Terrance. The two were sitting side by side at the dining room table, across from Lorain and Eleanor. Nicholas was at his parents' house with the twins.

Unique had called Lorain to let her know she was going to drop by only a few minutes before Nicholas headed out the door. Lorain had convinced her husband to take the twins with him. This would allow her some time alone with Unique to have the heart-to-heart talk she'd planned on having before Unique shared the news of her marriage. And she had to be honest; she had been up to her usual antics and had shipped the girls off to keep Unique away from them. But none of that mattered now. Lorain was so happy . . . for Unique. Needless to say, Lorain couldn't be happier. “Out of sight, out of mind” was how she saw it. Unique would be far too busy tending to her new husband to worry about the girls. And due to the fact that he was older than her, he'd probably start pressuring her about having kids of their own.

Seeing that Unique was struggling to reply to Lorain's inquiry about whether she'd be moving back to West Virginia, Terrance jumped in to save her. “We haven't talked about that yet, Mrs. Wright.”

“Yeah, girl,” Eleanor said, jumping in and directing her comment to Lorain. “They ain't been engaged but ten minutes. Dang. I'm sure you and Mr. Nick didn't have everything all figured out before you hopped on that plane and ran off to Vegas to get married without telling a soul.” Eleanor rolled her eyes at Lorain. She faced Unique and Terrance, allowing a big smile to cover her face. “I'm so happy for you, granddaughter.”

“Thank you, Gran,” Unique said.

“But for the record,” Terrance said, “I get sent all over the map to audit banks and corporations. It doesn't matter where I live. I want to be wherever my wife is going to be.” He lifted Unique's hand to his mouth and kissed it. “So if that means packing up and moving to Malvonia, then—”

“But what about your mother?” Lorain was quick to ask Terrance. “You can't up and leave her in West Virginia for dead, can you?” Lorain made it sound so morbid. Her words actually made everyone in the room a little uncomfortable.

Terrance cleared his throat. “My mother is under the best care possible back in West Virginia, but if need be, I'm sure we can find just as fine a facility here.” He looked at Eleanor. “Or even have some type of setup like you and Ms. Eleanor have, where my mother will be just feet away.”

Unique nodded. “Yes, we could find a place that has a mother-in-law suite. We can hire the best nurses and home health-care providers. And of course, I can still cook for her.”

“By the way,” Terrance said to Unique, “my mother told me to tell you that she misses your cooking. She misses you, too, but you know Mama loves to eat.”

“Awww.Howsweet,” Unique said. “But Patsy uses the same recipes as I do, and the food tastes pretty much like mine, if I don't say so myself.”

“I don't think it's so much the food as it is the delivery.” Terrance ran his finger down Unique's nose and smiled. “Even before you and I started dating, you treated my mother well. I appreciate that. Thank you.” Terrance kissed Unique on the lips.

“Have you no respect, young man?” Eleanor asked Terrance.

He automatically got nervous. “Oh, I'm sorry. No disrespect was intended.”

“Well, you can't go getting all fresh in front of somebody who ain't had no lovin' of their own since Columbus set sail,” Eleanor huffed. “That's like eating a large pizza in front of somebody who you know is on a spiritual food fast. Just rude.”

Everyone in the room but Eleanor laughed. She was as serious as a heart attack as she smacked her hand on the table.

“You told me she was a hoot,” Terrance said to Unique.

“I ain't a hoot. I'm keeping it real,” Eleanor told Unique. “Unlike you and your mama's phony selves.” She glared at Unique. “I knew you were keeping something from us. I told your mother that time you drove back in town, before moving back for good. I should have known you were hiding a man.”

“Can't get a thing past you, can I, Gran?” Unique asked Eleanor.

“Nope, not you or your mammy,” Eleanor replied.

“Oh, then what was it that Mom was being phony about?” Unique asked.

“Huh?” Lorain was stumped.

“Gran said we were phony, and she knew I was hiding something,” Unique said. “So what was it that you were hiding?”

“The kids,” Eleanor said.

“What?” Lorain and Unique asked in unison. Lorain had a look of horror on her face.

“The kids.” Eleanor pointed out the window. “Them and Nick are back. I just saw them pull up in the drive.”

“So soon?” Lorain stood. “But they left not too long ago.”

“Yeah, right before Unique showed up,” Eleanor said knowingly, mean mugging her daughter.

“Oh, the infamous twins,” Terrance said and smiled. “I'll get to meet them, after all.”

Terrance had been as disappointed as Unique when they arrived at the house and were told the girls were not at home. Unique had told him so much about them that he couldn't wait to see the unique little pair.

As they sat there, waiting for the twins to enter the house, Lorain couldn't help but wonder exactly what Unique had told Terrance about them. Did he know the truth? The whole truth? Nothing but the truth? Even if she hadn't told him yet, it was probably only a matter of time. Would he be the person in Unique's life who convinced her that it was a good idea to tell the girls the truth about being adopted and to reveal to them the identity of their biological mother? If the girls knew that their big sister, whom they adored, was really their mother, would they want to spend all their time getting to know Unique, abandoning Lorain in the process?

Moments later everyone gravitated to the front door in anticipation of the twins' arrival.

“There's Mommy's little angels,” Lorain said as soon as the girls made it through the door. She made it a point to be the first one to pounce on them. “What are you guys doing back so soon?” she asked Nicholas.

He was too busy greeting everyone to reply to his wife.

“Hey, Mom Eleanor.” Nicholas greeted his mother-in-law with a kiss on the cheek. “Unique, my girl.” He gave her a hug. He then pulled away and looked at the male stranger in his house.

“Oh, yes, Nick, this is Terrance. And, Terrance, this is Nick,” Unique said, making the introductions.

“Her fiancé,” Eleanor added proudly.

Nicholas paused and looked at Lorain. He had to make sure Eleanor wasn't joshing him. There was no telling with his mother-in-law.

Lorain nodded the confirmation. “Yep. Unique, here, is engaged.”

“Well, congratulations.” Nicholas gave Unique another hug. He then walked over to Terrance. “Nice to meet you, man.” He gave him a hard, excited handshake.

“Thank you,” Terrance said.

“So you two are getting married, huh?” Nicholas asked like a proud papa.

Just then Terrance froze. “Oh, my! I'm so sorry,” Terrance said to Nicholas. “With you being Unique's stepfather and all, I definitely should have come to you before I—”

“Oh, don't worry about that, man,” Nicholas said, waving his hands. “It's all good. Love don't wait on no one. If you felt the time was right to propose, as long as you checked with God and got His blessing, you get no mouth from me.”

Terrance relaxed.

“Where did you two meet, anyway?” Nicholas asked. “When did you meet?”

“Well, we met some years ago,” Terrance answered.

“Not under such great circumstances,” Unique added.

“But then we reconnected closer to a year ago,” Terrance continued.

“Again, not under such great circumstances,” Unique said.

“Yeah, I kind of ran into Unique, knocking a tray of food out of her hands, causing a huge mess.”

There were some chuckles.

“But I was able to look past all that and ask her to be my lady,” Terrance said.

“You mean
I
was able to get past all that.” Unique took her finger and ran it up and down the length of Terrance, like she was reading him.

“From the looks of it,” Eleanor said, “you have each met your match.”

“So when is the wedding?” Lorain asked, getting right to the point.

“And can we be the flower girls, sissy?” Heaven asked.

“Absolutely.” Unique walked over to the girls and hugged them. She'd been sidetracked by all the talk of her and Terrance's engagement.

“And can we wear real pretty dresses?” Victoria asked.

Unique bent down to their level. “I'm sure we won't be able to find dresses as pretty as you two, but yes, we'll find pretty dresses for you two to wear.”

“So that's going to be your husbfriend,” Heaven asked.

“Husband,” Victoria said, correcting her sister.

Unique laughed. “Yes, girls, this is Terrance, and he's going to be your mom's . . . I mean your sister's . . .” Unique had to catch herself and make a quick correction. “He's going to be my husband.” She stood up and walked over to Terrance to formally introduce him to the girls. She couldn't believe she had slipped up and had almost referred to herself as the girls' mother. Where on earth had that come from? Probably from all the badgering Korica had done.

Unique had become so used to the life they'd chosen to live—with Lorain as the girls' mother and she as their sister—that in all honesty, she didn't even look at the girls as her own daughters. She couldn't. It was far too painful. She wasn't a mother anymore. After the loss of the boys, people had tried to tell her that she was still a mommy, but it didn't feel the same. If she had motherly love for the twins, she would feel like she was betraying her boys.

That was why she hated when Korica pushed the subject with her. She didn't try to explain how she felt, because only a mother who'd walked that mile in her shoes could understand. And perhaps even then, such a mother wouldn't understand. It was different with some mothers. Even when they lost their child, in their heart, body, and soul, they felt like they weren't finished with motherhood and they were able to rekindle that maternal feeling with another offspring. But Unique couldn't. It hurt too much. It was like being stung by a bee and never removing the stinger. She'd rather be allergic to the stinger and die than hold on to it and live with that pain.

Unique took her fiancé by the hand and pulled him over to the twins. “Terrance, this is Heaven and Victoria, my little sisters.”

“Pleased to meet you,” the girls greeted with their perfect little manners.

“Same here,” Terrance said, shaking their hands.

“I thought you were going to visit your parents,” Lorain said to Nicholas, getting back on that subject.

“I went by there,” Nicholas told her, “but they weren't home. Probably having Sunday dinner somewhere.” He turned to face Unique. “But it all worked out. The girls and I got to meet the newest member of the family.”

Terrance smiled. “The pleasure is all mine, sir.”

“Sir,” Nicholas said, scrunching up his face. “You can't be too much younger than the doctor himself.” He began to play with the hairs on his chin in a
GQ
manner.

Nicholas was right about that. Terrance was Unique's senior by a few years, but he was who someone like Unique needed to tame her. She'd eat one of those young boys alive. She'd lived a long, hard life in a short amount of time. She'd been broken, but she'd healed, and it would take a certain kind of man to handle her, to handle her heart. She didn't think the guys she was used to entertaining, namely, young street dudes, could provide her with that.

“Pardon me,” Terrance said. “Just trying to show some respect for the man of the house, is all.”

“Oh, I'm messing with you,” Nicholas joked, then patted Terrance on the shoulder.

“Well, I'm glad you guys made it back to see us and hear the good news from the horse's mouth,” Unique said. “But now we have to head over to Mommy's to tell her the news as well.”

“Oh, she doesn't know yet?” Lorain asked, feeling elated inside that Unique had come to share the news with her first.

“No, not yet.” Unique shook her head.

“Well, I'm sure she'll be just as excited for you as we are,” Lorain said.

“Hopefully.” Terrance sounded nervous. “I hear Ms. Korica is something else.”

“Oh, she's something else, all right,” Lorain said under her breath in an unflattering way.

Nicholas gently elbowed her. “Be nice.” He gave her a stern look as Unique shot her a similar one.