An hour later, the service ended, and I made a beeline to the bathroom to get myself together. I was thankful I didn’t have time to do my makeup before picking Ms. Sasha up. A little water on my face and a coat of gloss on my lips had me looking and feeling rejuvenated. My mask was back in position, my back was straightened, and I held my head high as I exited the bathroom.
When I exited the church, cars were maneuvering around the parking lot, and I spotted Ms. Sasha and Rashawn talking to a woman in a dark green dress off to the side of the steps. The woman was all teeth, and I quickly found out why when I got within earshot.
“Rashawn, this is Carmen. Carmen, this is my son Rashawn. Carmen is single and ready to settle down. I showed her your pictures once before, and now you guys can finally meet,” Ms. Sasha encouraged.
“Sista Sasha,” someone called her name across the parking lot, and her attention was quickly diverted. “You guys can get to know each other. Let me go see what Sista Michelle is hollering about.”
She took off in the direction that her name was called. I continued on the path towards Rashawn and the beautiful woman in the green dress.
“Well, this is awkward,” Carmen muttered.
“Rashawn, it’s so good to see you at church again. Your mama told me you got off that dope and were sober now. That’s great to see. Addiction is a lifelong battle. You know this church offers an amazing AA and NA meeting,” I greeted him with a bright smile. Once I was positioned beside Rashawn, I turned to Carmen.
“Oh, who is your friend?”
“Oh, ummm, excuse me. I think I hear my sister calling,” Carmen sputtered, rushing across the pavement, her heels clicking the entire way.
“You ain’t even have to do all of that. I was about to send her on her way,” Rashawn laughed. “I was about to politely decline and tell her my mama was trippin’.”
“Next time move quicker,” I snapped.
“Please, you need to be the last one talking about moving quicker. You see that bible you are holding on to? I bought you that four years ago. I been waiting for you to be ready longer than that. You need to move quicker,” he complained.
I zipped my lips and started my trek towards my truck.
“Elise! Rashawn!” Ms. Sasha shouted my name from across the parking lot. I turned in Ms. Sasha’s direction, placing my hand above my face to shield the sun. “I’m going to Red Lobster with a few of the ladies. Would you two like to join us?”
“No thank you. I’m going to my brother’s house. His wife’s family is in town, and they are cooking over there,” I advised her.
“And I’m definitely not about to listen to you and your friends lecture me about getting married and starting a family for the rest of the day,” Rashawn declined.
“Well, seeing as though you and Sista Carmen didn’t hit it off, I might just need to throw in the towel. Grow old and alone then,” Ms. Sasha rolled her eyes before embracing me in a hug.
“I always got you, ma,” he beamed before wrapping her up in a hug.
“You outlive your parents’ son,” she insisted.
“I hear you,” he nodded.
Ms. Sasha strutted back across the parking lot to the awaiting car. We continued to the back of the parking lot and hopped into our respective trucks without further conversation. As soon as I turned my truck on and put the AC on full blast to cool it down, the name Kenny flashed across my screen.
“For real, bae, you alright? Do you want to come back to the crib for a little while before you go to Essex’s house?”he questioned, trailing me out of the parking lot.
“No, I’m fine. Your mom gave me all of the hugs I didn’t know I needed.”
“Damn, so my hugs all weekend didn’t mean shit?”
“No,”I chortled.“I appreciate your hugs very much, but it’s just different coming from your mom. It’s motherly. While your hugs are a form of intimacy and comfort from my lover.”
My phone beeped in my ear. I pulled it away and saw it was the athletic director calling.
“I have to click over, Rashawn. Oh, and you looked delectable today,”I complimented.
“Thank you, bae,”he replied, and I could hear the smile through the phone before we ended the call.
I clicked over and had a brief conversation with the athletic director about the schedule for the upcoming week before completing the rest of my drive in silence. While alone, I went back to thinking about Pastor Harriet’s sermon. I had to stop judging myself for the mistakes I’ve made in my past as well.
We pulled up to Essex’s house right behind each other. His driveway was full, leaving us to park on the street.
