“Yes you. We’ve made too many plans, and have already ordered the flowers and invitations. Half of the family has already made travel arrangements to be there. I need you to talk some sense into your sister. For some strange reason, she listens to you. God only knows why. I mean, what advice about marriage could you possibly give her?” she said, leaving the last half of her snide remark implied but unspoken.

Wow, I thought. What a skill she has. The power to build you up and at the same time tear you down. But then, I don’t recall her ever building me up. She always just tears me down. And now she wants me to talk my little sister into making one of the worst mistakes of her life? No, Momma, I’m sorry. This time you’ve gone too far. There is no way in hell I will become an accessory to a crime when I know in my heart it’s wrong. And right now, Momma, you are wrong. Okay? You are wrong, wrong,wrong!

“Okay, I’ll talk to her,” I said with a sugar-coated smile.

“Good, I knew you would. Tomorrow and not a day later. Good-night. Oh, and uh, take off that dress, you look ridiculous. Now give me a good-night kiss, baby.”

She kissed me, I kissed back, she was gone. Sighing deeply, I thought, God, I am part of the most jacked-up family on the face of the earth. I was sure that the strength I needed to face my mother would arrive one day. Just not today. And who cares anyway? Tonight, it’s about me. I’m the focus. Tonight, I loved myself. Better yet, I liked myself, which was amazing because, as I’m thinking, I can’t really remember the last time I felt that way. Same actions, same outcome. New actions, new outcome.

“RRRRing!!” Startled, I ran to the phone. Who in the world would be calling me this late?

“Hello?”

“Girl. It’s me, Gail. You ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“Girl, Damon Diesel, come on down! You’re the first contestant on the flight is right!” she laughed, amused with herself. “Girl, my hook up came through. Damon’s on a flight from Houston to New York this Friday afternoon!”

Friday afternoon, I thought to myself. That’s day after tomorrow! “But Gail, I…”

“No buts, your flight’s been confirmed. Call me when you get to Houston! And remember girl, no sex, no sex, NO SEX! Girl, I got to go, that’s Charles at my door.”

“At one o’clock in the morning? What are y’all about to do?”

“What else? Have sex! C-ya!” She hung up.

Prayed over and made over, I was headed back to New York thinking no sex, no sex, no sex. How ironic, considering “diesel” represented more than just Damon’s last name. Danger, Will Robinson. Danger!

Chapter 7

6:30 A.M. EST
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH