Johnny picked us up in front of the building, and we settled quietly in the back seat. It was obvious I needed time to think, and Price was giving it to me.
When we arrived in front of Sheila and Bev’s building, I felt bad, knowing it was sneaky to come when Bev was teaching dance, but I couldn’t help it. I asked Price to wait in the car.
“I need to do this on my own,” I said.
Darting to the door, I buzzed Sheila, who let me in the building and didn’t seem surprised to see me when she opened her apartment door and asked me in.
“Emerson, I’m glad you came. Sit down,” she said, patting the chair next to her.
“I want to say, I really love Bev. This truly was coincidence. God works in weird ways.”
“You could say that,” she said, and I didn’t really know what she was getting at.
“I wish she and I could make up. I hope we do,” I told her.
“You will. Bev can’t keep a grudge long. She’s like me. I mean, if your mom walked through this door right now, we’d pick up where we left off. No joke.”
Sheila’s eyes watered a bit, and I took in how weak she looked. No scarf today, only her buzzed hair.
I nodded, not knowing what to say.
Sheila went on. “Your mom isn’t a bad person. I’m sure you feel differently, but I promise you she’s not.”
I leaned forward, not wanting to miss a syllable of what she was saying.
“Paula, from the outside, looked like she had a good life. Gorgeous, always the best clothes, money, freedom. But her dad was tough. Had a string of lovers, and her mom couldn’t leave. She was bound by money. She would have none if she left, and she placed more importance on the money. Anyway, Paula looked at your dad as a chance to break free from it all, but things didn’t work out that way. Then she met the man she married, and in the end, his money won out with her too. She’d always had an addictive personality, but after she left you, it got worse. She couldn’t stand herself.”
“But I—”
“I don’t want you to confuse this as being your fault. It’s not. You were a baby. That was her choice to let you go without anything. But she went downhill after she left you, until she got married. Then she cleaned up for a while ... but only a while.”
“Look, I don’t care. I want to see her.” I stood and paced. “Price ... he came with me. He’s waiting outside.”
“Price?” Sheila asked.
“My friend. Boyfriend, I guess. Remember, Bev told you?”
“Oh, right,” she said, waving off her confusion, but it felt like something more. I didn’t know.
“I want to see my mom. Do you know where she lives?”
“I understand what you’re asking, but I don’t know. She’s been MIA. For a while, she was living across from the park, right near Columbus Circle, but she hasn’t been there in a while.”
“Can you try to find out? I know I shouldn’t burden you. And I’m sure Bev will be pissed, but you’re my only chance.”
Sheila nodded and closed her eyes. “I will for you. But you need to go talk to Bev. Later this week. Make amends. She has a lot on her plate with me, and she truly looked at you like a good friend. So, go to the bakery and hash this out, okay?”
“Yes. And thank you. So much.”
“I’ll call you, okay? And I will act like I don’t know a thing when it comes to Bev. She needs a friend, and so do you. Remember that.”
Price was waiting outside the car, his ass leaning into the door, and walked my way as soon as he saw me come out.
“It go okay?” he asked, wrapping an arm around me.
“Yeah, I think so. She’s going to get me an address. But she wants me to make amends with Bev.”
He opened the door for me to slide in as Johnny waited in the driver’s seat.
