All in a Day Read online

  “Where are you going?”

  “My folks’ house. Hold it down while I’m gone.”

  I couldn’t make that twenty-five-minute drive from the boutique to my parents’ house fast enough. I continually tried to play out scenarios in my mind to prevent this thing from happening. She can get married anywhere. Why does it have to be here and why right now? Europe isn’t good enough for the queen? Must be too many already there for her to compete.

  I pulled up to my parents’ house and quickly hopped out. I ran up the porch so fast I almost broke my neck skipping the steps.“Ma? Dad?” I called out from the front door.

  “We’re in the kitchen, Nettie.”

  I could hear loud bursts of laughter as I walked through the house. Was it happening already? Were people laughing at me? This situation was not good for my psyche. I was becoming paranoid already. I walked in the kitchen to find my parents, my brother, and my aunt Juanita at the table.

  “Hey, honey. I thought you would be at the shop today.” My mother didn’t even bother to give me a hug to greet me.

  “I left early. What’s going on in here?” Like I didn’t already know the answer.

  “Beanie came over to tell us the news about Morgan,” my father answered with a huge grin on his face. His eyes were lit up like a Christmas tree.

  “Yeah, I heard. I’m sad I’m the last to know. We were so close.” I tried my best not to throw up after that statement. This whole situation was a dagger to my heart.

  “I’m sorry, baby.” My aunt finally got up from the table and embraced me. It was so genuine until she slapped into my hand that small piece of paper that brought my whole world down. “I’m just so excited to get the word out. Now we don’t have much time so I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  Before I could utterly object to what she was suggesting, my father interjected, “Nettie would be happy to help. Anything for you and baby girl.”

  I hated that my father called Morgan “baby girl.” Ever since I could remember that had always been his nickname for her. She was his baby girl and he was her uncle Bug, short for Junebug, which was the name everyone else called him. It all made me sick.

  “Actually I have a lot going on with the boutique and all, so I don’t think—”

  “Nonsense,” my father cut me off again. “Now this is blood. You plan on attending that reunion; then you plan on helping with this wedding.” My father’s voice was stern and I knew not to challenge him. He had said his peace and that was it.

  “Great. We’ll get started tomorrow.” Beanie kissed everyone good-bye and headed out the back door.

  “Wow. Baby girl gettin’ married, and here in Georgia.”

  My father continued to beam and it made me sick to my stomach. Without even speaking another word, I left the kitchen and raced to my old room. Not only did I have to endure this wedding, now I had to help with it, too. At this point all I could do was lie across my bed and cry. Lord, let this be as painless as possible.

  Chapter 3

  Henry

  Growing up, I always thought the National Football League would be my place of employment. I never had another dream for myself. I was four years old when my daddy put a football in my hands and told me that if I worked hard enough, I could be a force to be reckoned with. Ever since then I’d been focused on playing football, the money that came with playing football, and the women who came with the money. It’s funny how you had a plan for your life, and sometimes God had a completely different plan. I never in a million years thought that, instead of being a wide receiver for an NFL team, I would own my own car service business. The Lord seemed to have a twisted sense of humor.

  “That’ll be perfect, Don. I’ll see you in a few days.” I hung up with a business investor I had been working with for a few months. Don Perkins had business ventures in all of the hottest spots in the country: Miami, Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles. Now he was interested in doing business with me, and I was definitely ready for anything that made me more money.

  I got up from my desk and headed out to the lot where all my employees were preparing their cars for the day. It was a beautiful sight to see that I went from one old-school Cadillac my grandfather gave me after graduating high school that I would use to drive my homeboys places, charging them gas money, to now having over thirty cars, limos, and SUVs. Business was booming and it was only about to get better.

  I spotted Beau washing and waxing the Lincoln Town Car he was working in for the day and made my way over to him. Beau and I had been friends from the womb. Our mothers were really close growing up, so when they got pregnant around the same time it was almost inevitable for us to be friends. I had no problems with giving him a job to try to keep him out of the usual trouble that he got in.

  “‘All the world’s a stage,’ my brother. ‘And all the men and women merely players,’” I said as I dapped him up. “And, I plan on getting an Oscar.”

  “What the hell you talkin’ about, bruh?” Beau put a rag in the back pocket of his jumpsuit and proceeded around the car to continue to clean the other side.

  “I’m talking about opportunities. Don Perkins is interested in investing in yours truly, Mr. Henry Lloyd, and expanding my company to luxury rentals.” I was grinning like the Cheshire cat, but Beau looked confused.

  “Okay. What does that mean?”

  “It means that rich and/or famous people who come into town who don’t want to be driven around can have the option in renting luxury vehicles like Porches, Bentleys, Mercedes, et cetera. Bruh, this could mean triple the profits.”

  I could see the wheels turning in Beau’s head. I wasn’t completely sure if he understood what I was saying or trying to figure out if it was a good venture. Beau was only a driver for me, but I always came to him when new things in the company presented themselves. I wanted him to be a partner but he didn’t have the money or the will to sit behind a desk all day. This was my way of keeping him involved on the business side.

  “It sounds good, but ain’t no rich and/or famous person gonna be down here in Macon driving no Bentley.”

  “We’re going to start in Atlanta. I have a meeting with Don up there in a few days.”

  Beau became silent again and continued to wipe down the car. I wasn’t expecting for him to be extremely excited but I was kind of hoping for some more feedback. It was unlike him to not have anything to say.

  “Well, that sounds like what’s up. Just make sure I can hold one of them cars from time to time. So I can go to the club and straight stunt on ’em.”

  I chuckled at the thought of Beau’s big, tall, lanky self pulling up to the club in a $150,000 vehicle when everyone knew he drove limos for a living.

  “Speaking of cars, when you gon’ let me work the Escalade? I’m not gettin’ no play in this Lincoln.” Beau threw the rag he was working with on top of the hood. He looked at the car like it was his mortal enemy but could never win battles against it. He was a good driver but he did seem to get distracted by the women he was trying to impress, which didn’t take much effort on his part. The women around here seemed to be impressed by the minor things, so I could understand why the Cadillac would be a better look for his game.

  “Everybody starts in the Lincoln during their probation period. You know that.”

  “Whatever, man.” He chuckled. His mood immediately switched and I could tell something was wrong. “Ay, you think I could holla at you in your office?”

  I had no idea what was going on, but it couldn’t be good. Beau usually never wanted to speak to me in private unless he needed something or got into something he shouldn’t have. I nodded my head and he followed me off the lot. I was preparing myself for whatever he was about to say to me, but I was hoping it had nothing to do with the law. I couldn’t afford to lose him at work.

  When we got to my office I quickly took a seat before he could say anything. I knew any news from Beau had to be taken in a seated position. When he began pacing back and fort
h I was assured that it definitely wasn’t good.

  “I’m not sure how to tell you this,” he began.

  He was taking his time trying to strategize what he had to say, but I really didn’t have time for all the suspense. “Look, B, if this got something to do with legal issues I don’t know if I can help this time.”

  Beau stopped pacing and looked at me as if he was disappointed that just came out my mouth. I didn’t mean to offend him, but it was no secret that he and the police didn’t get along.

  “Naw, man, this ain’t got nothing to do with me.”

  “Oh, well, then spit it out.” I started shoveling through the papers on my desk because if this news didn’t have to do with him going to jail, I could multitask.

  “Morgan’s coming back to town to get married.”

  It was like the world stopped spinning. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I just stared at the papers in my hand. I needed to gather my thoughts and quickly. I couldn’t look like a simp in front of my boy, but Morgan was the only girl I ever loved and the only one who broke my heart. I couldn’t believe she would just pop up out of nowhere after eight years to get married.

  “When did you hear that?” I finally asked but couldn’t bring myself to look at Beau.

  “This morning. I ran into my aunt Beanie when I was leaving from Treece’s apartment. I thought she was gonna bust me out about that ’cause I did have the walk-of-shame swag on. You know Treece is a freak.”

  Is this fool serious? He is over here discussing his sex life and my personal life just got turned upside down. I couldn’t care less about what he and his random freak did.

  “Anyway, all she did was tell me how excited she was and handed me this flier.” Beau pulled a small square paper out of his pocket and handed it to me. He finally took a seat in one of the chairs in front of my desk. He had a look of accomplishment on his face, like he successfully completed a mission. I guessed he felt like the hard part was over; now he could relax.

  I read over the paper carefully and tried to comprehend what was happening. I honestly didn’t know how to feel right now. I’d tried for years to forget about this girl, but every time I thought I’d succeeded memories came flooding back.

  “Good for her,” I finally said. I tried to have a nonchalant tone.

  “Word? You’re cool with this?” Beau seemed surprised at the approach I took.

  I had to admit I was a little shocked myself. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I responded, keeping my composure. One thing I’d learned from running my own business was to always keep a poker face.

  “I just thought since you two were—”

  “When’s your first pickup?” I cut Beau off.

  “Not until one-thirty.”

  I could tell he was extremely confused, which was what I needed him to be right now. If I told him too much he would probably try to talk me out of it, and I just wanted him to follow my lead.

  “Good. Let’s make a run real quick.”

  I got up from my desk and headed toward my car. Beau reluctantly followed me in silence. We’d known each other long enough to know when not to ask questions. I was glad he knew that this was one of those times.

  About ten minutes into the drive I peeped over at Beau to see if he was catching on to where we were going. He seemed a little uneasy about what was happening. I didn’t want to put him in an awkward position, but I had to see about this engagement myself. I pulled up to the Willis house and we both took deep breaths.

  “Bruh, I’m not sure what you’re doing, but we can go back to the lot right now,” he said, hesitating to take off his seat belt.

  “Just follow my lead.” I hopped out the car and headed up to the porch, which I had done so many times before. I remembered taking Morgan out on our first date. This walk through the driveway had me so nervous the petals of the flowers I held in my hand were shivering. All I kept imagining was her daddy coming to the front door with a shotgun. I had that same nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach as I knocked on the door. Beau stood on the steps behind me, allowing me to take the lead as I had requested.

  “Well, what a surprise,” Mrs. Willis said as she opened the door. She gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and ushered us into the house.

  “I hope we didn’t catch you at a bad time. Beau and I were just in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by and holla at you for a second.” I saw in my peripheral vision Beau cutting his eyes at me. I didn’t bother to look over at him to counteract his look. I grinned at Mrs. Willis and sat down on one of the couches in the living room.

  “Oh naw, you’re fine. Just about to start setting up appointments for Morgan when she gets into town.”

  “Yeah, I heard the good news. Congratulations.”

  “Well, thank you, Henry. I’m just interested to finally meet this fiancé of hers.”

  I tried my best to maintain a straight face, but I could feel myself becoming transparent. Even after all these years, it was difficult for me to sit here and hear about Morgan’s fiancé, who wasn’t me.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I—”

  “No need to apologize.” I cut her off before she could get into the whole sympathy rampage. “We actually came over here to see when they were coming into town.”

  “We did?” Beau blurted out from his seat. Mrs. Willis and I both looked at him at the same time. “I mean, we did,” he finally agreed after he read my eyes.

  “Well, I don’t think she’s made any arrangements just yet, but I’m sure it’ll be in a couple of days.”

  “When you do get that information, Beau would be more than happy to pick her up free of charge.” At this point I was free-styling it, but I had a mini plan forming.

  “I would?” Beau blurted out again.

  I swear if I was three feet closer to him I would smack the living daylights out the back of his head.

  “I mean, of course I would, Aunt Beanie. That’s fam.”

  “Oh no, I couldn’t ask y’all to do that. Besides, Earl and I haven’t seen her in so long. We want to be the ones to pick her up.”

  I could tell this suggestion would die quickly if I didn’t come up with something and fast. I wanted to be able to speak to Morgan alone before she made any more moves toward this marriage thing, and I knew once the family was around I would never get that opportunity. I definitely needed an audible, something that could distract Mrs. Willis without feeling guilty about not picking Morgan up from the airport.

  “You know what she would love? A welcome home party.” Damn, I am good. “I mean, after being away from home for eight years, she needs something to show how much she’s been missed.”

  “Now that’s a dope idea, Aunt Beanie. You could cook all her favorite foods she probably ain’t have over there in Europe,” Beau said, finally getting on board. I didn’t know if he was saying this for me, Morgan, or because he just wanted free food.

  “Exactly,” I chimed back in. “Besides, I have a couple of meetings in Atlanta later on in the week. I can have Beau drive me and then pick her up whenever she gets in.”

  I felt like this argument was pretty convincing, but Mrs. Willis’s silence was giving me doubts. I knew how much she loved Morgan, so the idea of giving a party in her honor would definitely be something she would jump at.

  “Okay,” she finally said. “But you tell my baby nothing about it and you bring her right to me.”

  I tried to contain the ear-to-ear grin that I could feel forming across my face. This might be my only shot and I was happy to have an opportunity to take it.

  “Well, we really should be getting back to work.” I stood from the couch and gave Mrs. Willis a bear hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Just call Beau with the details.”

  Beau followed suit with embracing her and we both made our way back to the car. I had a sense of accomplishment in my glide. I honestly had no idea what I was actually doing, but for some reason it felt good.

  “What the hell was that?” Beau asked once we were in the
car.

  “Strategy, my dude. Pure strategy.” I put the key in the ignition and drove back to the lot. Wedding or not, things were about to get real interesting.

  Chapter 4

  Morgan

  How Ahvi got tickets so quickly I would never know, but here I was four days after the worst phone call of my life, heading to the airport. I was dreading every bit of this trip. I would have loved to just go, have no one ask me any questions, get this ceremony over with and head back home, but knowing the Maxson family that was not going to be possible. This was about to be a complete disaster. To make it worse, Ahvi still had business to handle so I was doing this first leg alone.

  “Are you positive you can’t go with me now?” I held on to my fiancé tight, still trying to convince Ahvi that taking off work was a good idea.

  “I’m positive, darling, but I promise I’ll be there a few days before the wedding.”

  This was so agonizing. I tried to give Ahvi my best sad face one more time but it wasn’t working.

  “Everything will be okay. I promise.”

  “You don’t know these people. This is not going to be a smooth trip.”

  “Well they raised you, so they can’t be that bad.”

  As comforting as that was, I was still having a hard time with this. I hadn’t dealt with my family in eight years and going back to Georgia under these circumstances was very unsettling. As the taxi pulled up to the airport I realized it was too late to back out now. I hugged and kissed Ahvi as passionately as I could. As much as we worked, we’d never been this far apart from each other for this long.

  “I promise everything will be fine. And I’ll be there before you know it,” Ahvi reassured me after coming up for air.

  “If you say so.” We kissed a final time and I headed into the airport.

  From the time I left Ahvi’s side until the time I landed in Atlanta was a complete blur. The last thing I remembered was telling the first-class flight attendant to provide me with lots of vodka. I guessed she gave me enough to knock me out because I was now stepping into the sweltering heat of good ol’ Georgia. Atlanta’s airport traffic was always busy, so I tried to maneuver around to see if I could see my parents’ car.