Page 7 of Phase Two

“I love that for you. We all need love.”

“We’re still young,” I hyped her up. “We can be out here doing what makes us happy. I think love is overrated.”

“Yeah, it’s official . You’re nuts. I love seeing black couples together. I love that for them. I don’t think it will happen for me, but I can smile at everyone.

When Lauren was done stripping the sheets off the bed, I called to check on my mother. When I was done running around for the day, I was going to visit her. I talked with the home health aide for all of ten minutes. I was glad to hear that my mother was in a good mood and having an easy day. We had definitely had enough bad days. We were due for a few good ones.

My cleaning ladies charged me $160 for the property that had three bedrooms. The second property had five bedrooms and a loft area. They charged me $190 to clean that one. I tipped $20 for each home, so instead of giving them $400 I gave it to Lauren.

She shook her head and tried to give the money back. “I can’t take this much. Maybe $200?” she asked hopefully, but I waved her comment off.

“You earned it.”

“Thank you, friend.”

“You don’t have to thank me at all.”

We were all out here just trying to make it. Lauren had pretty much always been a single mother because her husband wasn’t worth much. He wasn’t hands on with their child or housework. The only thing she really had to get used to was his permanent absence and having to be responsible for certain bills. I honestly felt like once she settled in to her new normal, she’d prefer it over being married to his dusty ass.

It amazed me how everyone thought I had it so together. I was too close to fifty to not really know what I wanted. This part of life was different. We grew up thinking we’d fall in love, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. But what about when that dream never occurred? Or when the fairytale turned into a nightmare? I needed to find out what my realistic happily ever after would look like. One that possibly didn’t have a man and a white picket fence in it.

As long as my Airbnb had guests and my content made money, I could live anywhere. For a few months I had been contemplating moving to another state. I was free to do whatever I wanted. For once I didn’t have a career, child, or anything else to worry about. Except…I sighed as I thought of my mother. For fifty plus years, she had my father, and she had me. Once I was grown and out of the house she had my father. Now, he was gone, and I knew she truly wasn’t happy. In a way, maybe the dementia eased the ache of missing him just a bit. Afterall, she couldn’t miss what she didn’t remember.

I took Lauren home and stopped by a shopping plaza not too far from her place, so I could stock up on cleaning supplies for my home. Currently, I was in my soft girl era. I paid cleaners weekly, but I still kept my home together on a daily basis. It was just me, so there was never a reason in my opinion for things not to be clean. I also cleaned my mother’s house for her because she wasn’t in the condition to do it herself. Even on her normal days, she would sit in front of the television all day. She didn’t have the energy or the desire to do housework and as long as I was around, she wouldn’t have to.

I was approaching my car with a handful of bags when I saw the devil himself. Lauren’s husband Keith was walking toward the store entrance with a woman that I knew immediately was his side chick. Those baby hairs, oh Lord, those horrible baby hairs gave it away. Nervously, Keith cleared his throat while I smiled at him. The brightest smile I could muster.

“Keith! Hey!” I called out loudly making Baby Hair look over at me. “Hi, you must be Keyonna,” I beamed at her, and her face contorted while a look of panic covered Keith’s.

“Who the hell is Keyonna?” he asked while his woman sneered at me.

“I thought you were cheating on my friend with a kid named Keyonna. My bad, I can’t keep up,” I sighed and looked over at her. “My condolences.”

Her face scrunched so hard she looked like a cartoon character. “Nobody fucking died,” she barked.

“You will.”

“What the fuck?” Keith yelped.

“Oh, not literally,” I corrected. “He’ll just kill your spirit. Suck your soul out and leave you hollow and empty. He has a way of doing that. Showing up as Mr. Perfect in the beginning and slowly draining all your energy until you’re just a shell. Then he’ll move on to the next chick. But maybe you’ll be different.”

“You don’t know shit about me, but what your friend tells you. You’re too old for this childish shit.”

“Too old?” I reeled back. “Let’s not talk about what people are too old to be doing because you’re too old to be running around here with a chick that looks like all she eats is hot Cheetos and pickles. But for the rest of your days, I hope it burns when you pee. Sorry ass bastard.”

“I will really beat your ass out here,” Wig stepped forward, and I didn’t bat an eye.

“I can fight. I can fight for sure, but my nails, outfit, and shoes cost more than what you probably see in a month. I don’t fight with my hands anymore unless it’s self defense. I call the police. Yeap, I’m Karen. Because even if you don’t have shit to lose now one day when you grow up and want to work at certain places, or live in certain areas, you’ll have to forever sit in their face and explain your assault charge while praying they don’t hold it against you. Try me.”

“Fuck this bitch,” Keith grabbed his companion’s arm and ushered her past me.

“Fuck ya mammy, nigga.”

“Yeah, but you’re so classy.”

“I am. When I need to be, and this isn’t that.” I replied sweetly while walking off.

I was so mad for my friend. Men could be so trash. That was the main reason I refused to get too excited about Carter. He seemed perfect, and I knew enough to know perfect didn’t exist. It was sad that I had to overthink and rethink everything he told me because I was used to men lying and living double lives. I was used to them only telling the part of the story that made them seem like the good guy. I was used to them having a woman at home while declaring they were single. And those weren’t just my experiences. It was the reality for way too many people around me.