I wake up the next morning feeling like shit on a brick. My eyes are puffy and I’m sure, red like I just smoked the dankest weed. My head is pounding and the little bit of light from that big screen door is blinding me.
Screen door? I shoot up in bed and my head is angry at me for making such a hasty move. Where am I?
I look around my surroundings and I must be in a hotel somewhere. The bedroom is very modern and quite expensive. In fact, the bed is the softest bed I’ve ever laid on. The sheets feel like silk, but they’re cotton.
The biggest flat-screen TV is handing on an art easel in a corner. There are several doors and I’m assuming they’re closets and maybe, a bathroom? One door is cracked open, leading to the hallway.
The room is decorated in colorful, deep hues like purple, grey, and black. It smells clean, and fresh, not clinical and disinfected like a hospital. There’s warmth here that’s unexplained. Like an old spirit blessing the place with each step.
There are pictures on the walls but I can’t really make out who it is. Nothing about this room is familiar and I’m starting to get freaked out when I have the realization I’m in someone’s home. I don’t know how I got here or who stripped me down and put me in bed.
I can’t call Savior because I’m sure he wants nothing to do with me now. I don’t know where I am to give Tasha and Junie instructions. I’m stuck. I’m lost. I don’t know what to do and I’m about to freak the fuck out if I don’t get any answers soon.
Before I open my mouth, the question is answered before I asked it. “You must be Keisha.”
I rub my eyes and turn to where the voice is going from. Appearing in a long, black sweater with flared jeans topped with pink Gucci heels was Mama Ellison herself – Starr Ellison.
She was a pioneer in the women’s rights movement, dating back to the 60’s. There is rich history of her meeting with congressmen, present for bill signings, and leading protests with a megaphone in her hand. She, along with Daddy Ellison, was also an integral part of the civil rights movement, declaring affordable housing for black residents in Los Angeles.
She’s a woman who always has a look on her face that signals she could call your bullshit before you even open your mouth. She’s had plastic surgery but it seems she’s gracefully aging by the appearance of a few smile lines. She has deep blue eyes, blonde hair that looks like corn silk and is probably just as soft. She’s a healthy thin for her age. There’s nothing frail about her.
“Did you sleep well?” Her voice is soothing and warm like tea.
“Um,” I’m totally confused about what’s going on here, “yeah, I did. Thank you.”
Starr stirs her porcelain cup and walks more into the bedroom. She puts the saucer down on an end table and pulls up a nearby chair. She picks up the saucer again and carefully sips her cup. “Too hot.” She blows on it a little and puts it back down. Her gaze turns to me and she smiles. “Rough night?”
I don’t even have to wonder if she knows what happened last night. I’m sure the messages and notifications are blowing up my phone left and right. It’s not like the last time Andrea and I got into it, where it was clearly her fault. This was all me. I let her push my buttons. I let her bully me. I lost my cool and as a result, I lost my relationship.
Tomorrow, I was supposed to be Savior’s date to the gala. We were supposed to pick out a gown and accessories today. I’m pretty sure he wants nothing to do with me now.
I look away from her and stare out the windows. “If you’re here to tell me why I shouldn’t be with your son and how he won’t be seen with me, you can save it. I’ll get dressed and call an Uber to find my way home.”
“I think you’re wonderful for my Savior.” Starr replies and my heart stutters. I turn towards her and she’s still smiling at me. “You’re a sweet, bright woman. And you’re a firecracker. Savior needs that in his life.”
The admission stuns me and it almost feels like a test. “I appreciate the compliment but you’re saying this; your son isn’t.” I carefully reply.
Starr nods. “Savior had to go to work today. He wanted to stay with you and work from home, but he had to do final preparations for a potential arbitration he might get involved in. He’ll be home early, though, and you two can talk more when he gets back.”
I pull my knees to my chest and rest my head on it. “I’m sure Savior told you the truth about what my daddy does for a living. I know that makes him uncomfortable.”
“Savior already knew,” Starr picks up her saucer again and takes a sip from the cup. “It’s something he’s known for a while.”
I sit straight up now like if I was zapped with a lighting rod. Savior knew? How did he find out? Furthermore, how long had he known? Why did he ask me what my daddy did for a living unless he wanted me to say it myself?
And he still wanted me? That makes no sense. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m not saying Savior was tickled pink when he found out. He was quite concerned. Your safety was his top priority. He knew your father could take care of himself.” Starr took another sip. “But he also saw the bigger picture.”
“Which is?”
“You.” She calmly states. She sets the saucer down again and looks at me. Her eyes softened to an ocean blue and I see bits of Savior within Starr. “My son loves you, regardless of how long you two have been together. I won’t speak for him, but I will say this – there’s a freedom within Savior that hadn’t been present before he met you. He’s smiling a lot more and he seems a bit more…oh, what’s the word I’m looking for…free.”
“Why wouldn’t he be free before?” I ask. “He’s rich. He lives in Bel-Air. He has the money to buy the freedom he wants.”
“When you’re the son of two well-established people, there’s an incredible amount of pressure on you to live up to it. All three of my sons were compared to their father in various times of their lives, but Savior, I feel, had it worse than any of them combined. Once it was known he was going into law, the comparisons only increased. He felt pressure from the jump to do well.” Starr pauses for a brief moment and stares straight ahead. “He never stood a fighting chance.”
My mind drifts back to that fateful day when I saw the argument between Savior and Thomas. Savior looked exhausted while Thomas didn’t flinch. I still wonder what that was about. “But he succeeded, though. He’s one of the most successful lawyers in the country.”
“Because failure wasn’t an option. If he didn’t do well, the consequences were too great. Soul never cared and to an extent, neither did Ocean.” Starr looks straight ahead. Sadness and regret appear within her eyes. “But Savior…all he ever wanted was his father’s approval.”
I’m tempted to ask what Savior’s childhood was like but I’m afraid I’m stepping over a boundary. I already feel like I’m on thin ice. Before I could even think about the answer, Starr answers my question for me.
“Keisha, there is something you should understand about Savior. The law is something he is very passionate about. He loves researching cases and studying torts. He’s the type to read Supreme Court decisions just for fun. He lives, breathes the law, and hates injustice no matter the form. My son, however, knows when to walk away from something if it no longer benefits him.” Starr finishes her cup and stands up. “That day might be coming soon.”
I wonder if the intense fight I saw the other day had something to do with it.
“My ex wasn’t a good husband, and he was barely there as a father, but to the world, he was everything and I would never take that away from him.” Starr answers. “However, there’s something to be said when a father would rather spend time with a mistress than go to his son’s Little League game.”
I feel my eyes water and my lips tremble. I’ve heard of Thomas’s past mistakes but I didn’t think how they would’ve impacted Savior’s life the way they did. “Oh my gosh.”
“My ex-husband was a champion for civil rights to an extent. He felt everyone should be equal under the law and nothing should be just good enough. He fought against sundown towns, Jim Crow laws, and the like. My ex-husband, also had his personal dealings. He was called every name under the sun because of what he did. He never wanted our sons to go through that. He wanted to protect them as much as he could.” Starr gives a sad grimace. “You’re the first black girl Savior has brought home in a long while.”
Long while. That means I’m not the first. While I appreciate that tidbit, there seems to be a lot more to that story. “Why the gap?”
“Thomas felt if he told the men who they couldn’t bring home, that would encourage them to date within or others.” Starr chuckles. “I think the only thing that did was encourage the boys to date more black women just to piss my ex off. It’s the forbidden fruit aspect. Now that you know you can’t have it, you want it even more.”
“So, I’m just here to pass the time and piss off your ex-husband until Savior finds someone more suitable?” Now I’m not feeling so bad about last night.
Starr briefly glances down at her manicure and plays with the nails. “My son has never purchased a car for any woman.” She softly blinks at me. “Does that answer how he feels about you?”
I swallow what is left of my pride and wish I could crawl back underneath the covers. My cheeks are burning with embarrassment and I’m really wishing this was just a horrible dream I haven’t woken up from. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
Starr picks up the chair and puts it back. “You, Ms. Lady, have some work to do. You have a benefit to attend with my son tomorrow and you need to be presentable. Let’s get you fed and dressed so when Savior comes home in a couple of hours, you two can spend time talking about important things.”
~~~~~
There really aren’t too many words to describe Savior’s home other than it’s incredible. Five bedrooms, five bathrooms and it is a dream. Every room has its own theme – the living room is Old Hollywood with a picture of the Rat Pack holding front and center. The bathrooms have different colors with a spa theme. Hardwood floors lead to different rooms and plush carpeting matches the décor of every room.
A long, stone walkway leads from the backyard to the pool. The kitchen has the longest island I had ever seen and a refrigerator with see-through doors! I thought I only saw those on MTV Cribs!
Starr had the chef whip up lunch and it was so amazing. It was a grass-fed cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and OMG. I don’t know why I wasted my time on them cheap dollar shits by my house.
Every room boasts of a lot of light and the city view is just absolutely spectacular. All I saw were hills upon hills. I didn’t hear any police chases. I didn’t hear any overhead helicopters. No neighbors were arguing and fighting about random stuff. No one was crying because their relative just got shot.
It was peaceful. It was everything. It was what I’d always wanted.
Starr had to leave to have dinner with her girlfriends but she promised to see me tomorrow evening at the gala. I spent a good half-hour just staring out into the world and wonder about my life. I’m still not sure what’s going on between me and Savior and I wonder what’s really going to happen within the next 90 days. I hope it’s a case that the first week started rocky and things were smooth sailing from this moment on.
I can only hope. Starr suggests that Savior won’t leave me but I need to hear that from him. I need him to tell me we’ll be together or he’s done with me. I don’t know what type of black girls he’s dated in the past but I’m pretty sure none of them had reality show womb-holders and drug dealers for parents.
I never considered myself to be ghetto but let’s face it, in comparison to some of the girls Savior had dated, I’m about as ghetto as they come. I didn’t come from a two-parent home. I came from a place where hearing random gun shots meant you instantly ran and hid for cover.
I can put on my white voice and longhaired caramel wig when I have to turn on the charm, but that’s not me everyday. Hell, that’s not even me on any day. I would rather sit down on the couch with my grape Kool-Aid and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos than attend some stuffy $500 a plate dinner.
I’m not sure if that’s something Savior wants.
“Gorgeous.”
My body stilled as I recognize Savior’s voice. I slowly turn around and offer an equally slow smile to him. He’s dressed in his Armani finest and is looking like the snack that he is. He has a beautiful smile across his lips and I hope it’s sincere. “Hey you. You’re right, it is a gorgeous view.”
“The view is spectacular. That’s why I purchased the home.” He walks over to me and snakes his arms around my waist. “But when I say gorgeous, it’s only you I’m referring to.”
My smile is a bit saddened. I don’t know if Savior is being nice to me before he finally drops the hammer or if he truly feels a certain way. Last night was a huge lie he found out and I don’t know if he would be able to trust me from this moment on. I know I would have issues.
He tips my chin up and places a soft kiss on my lips. His free hand rubs over my head and he places another kiss there. He lifts my head back up and examines my face. He winces a little when he sees a few cuts. “How are you feeling, gorgeous?”
“Waiting for the shoe to inevitably drop,” I honestly reply. “You might as well get it over with it now so I can be on my way.”
Savior softly shakes his head. “I’m not letting you go, Keisha.”
Tears threaten my eyes and I look away to concentrate on something else. “I’ll ruin your reputation.”
“I doubt that.” His voice sounds like it was laced with maple syrup. “Last night was a horrible experience for everyone involved, especially you, Junie, and Tasha. I made sure they got home safely and I had James drop off you and me back here. I wanted to stay and take care of you today but work wouldn’t allow me so I asked my mother to come by.” He caresses my face again. “Your safety is my top priority, Keisha.”
I swallow my emotions. I’m waiting to wake up from this dream but it’s my reality. Savior is my saint. “Last night, with all of those horrible things Andrea said about me, you can’t expect me to show up there anymore with you. Everyone knows what happened. Everyone knows when I go there, it’s going to be like, ‘There’s Savior’s hoodrat girlfriend!’” The thought just humiliates me on a deeper level. “It’s too embarrassing.”
A small pause passes between us before Savior speaks again. “I fully expected Andrea and her boyfriend to show up. They were trying to get inside the club for a long while and couldn’t. I knew what was going to happen.” He explains. “I also knew King J was on drugs and was doing them in the bathroom. I have an anti-drug policy in the club and everyone knows it. He was arrested on that.”
Everything just worsened. I know Savior felt he was trying to do the right thing but if King J goes down, he won’t hesitate to take other people with him. “J is going to rat out my daddy,” I reply, “he does that and it’s over for him. My daddy will be ruthless. My daddy might kill him. My daddy….” I lock eyes with Savior and there’s an knowing within them as if he knew that was a possibility. “You wanted this to happen?”
“I wanted Andrea and James to stop harassing you and leave you alone.” Savior caresses my face. “They’re the ones that chose the path.”
It’s a side of Savior I haven’t seen before. It’s not the professional one who’s methodical about his cases and clients. There’s ruthlessness within him and he’s not one to be played with. It explains his reputation in the legal world and why he has no problem shutting people down before a case had a chance to build legs.
I should be scared. I should run for the nearest exit and not return. Instead, I’m aroused like never before. My nipples tightened and my sex suddenly craves him. My body yearns for him now and the feeling is only getting stronger.
“I want to meet your father.”
The proverbial record scratches and any romantic feelings dissipate into the L.A. air. My father made it clear to me he didn’t care who I dated as long as I didn’t bring home anyone who could be mistaken as a member of a boy band.
I have fantasies of how easily the Fresh Prince blended in Bel-Air, but I’m not sure how easily Savior is going to blend in Ladera Heights. My daddy keeps a strap on him at all times and his best friends act as his underground security. “He’s not going to stop dealing because it’s you. In fact, he’ll do it even more because it’s you.”
“I don’t want to meet your father because I want him to stop nor do I plan to narc on him to the authorities.” Savior presses his body close to mine. “I want to meet the father of the woman I’m going to marry.”