Chapter 10
“You have always been a source of love, encouragement, and peace. Despite anything you may have been going through, me and Des are your main priorities. We wanted to honor the woman you are tonight and express just how much we love you, Mama. Happy birthday, and I hope you’re enjoying your night.”
There was applause. When it died down, I continued. “The beautiful flowers and their arrangements were done by Happily Ever After Floral Shop in Beaumont, Texas. Denishia Boswell is the owner. She and her staff are here. Ladies, will you stand?”
Denishia stood, but I could clearly tell she was in her feelings. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. However, she looked sexy as hell in the red gown she wore. I almost got caught up as I stared at her. I slightly cleared my throat as they applauded. “The other decorations were handled by our event planner, Jackie Mattison.”
She stood and smiled as she nodded at the crowd. I went on to mention the caterer and the deejay. “Now that I’ve given everyone their just due, Mama, you owe me a dance.”
I nodded at the deejay as my mother stood and smiled big as I approached her. He was going to play “Mama” by August Alsina. Before we could start dancing, I quickly went to the deejay booth. I grabbed the mic and said, “While all the words in the song don’t apply, because my dad was very much involved in my life and still is, the words are true about my mother. I had to put that disclaimer out there.”
The crowd chuckled as I made my way back to my mama. I pulled her in my arms as I watched the tears stream down her cheeks. She was so overwhelmed. She stared up at me and said, “Zeke, this is so beautiful. It was like I planned this myself. The decorations are spot on, and so was the food. Thank you so much, baby.”
“Well, I didn’t do this alone. Aunt Jocelyn, Dad, and Destiny helped out as well. Destiny curated the guest list, and Dad did the menu and other details that he worked with the event planner on.”
“Yeah, but you funded the festivities, and I have a feeling this was your idea too.”
“Well, it was, but that isn’t important.”
She chuckled and kissed my cheek. As we danced, I noticed Denishia walking out of the venue with her grandmother and employees on her heels. I had to finish dancing with my mama before I could go see about her.
“So is the florist the young lady that’s been making you work so hard?”
I frowned as I looked down at my mama. “Work so hard for what?”
“Don’t play with me, boy. You said she wasn’t in Houston, but you were able to drive to go see her. I could tell by the way you looked at her a minute ago. I’m your mama. Ain’t nothing get by me. You didn’t have that same look when you talked about the event planner.”
I took a deep breath. “That’s her. I found out earlier today that her mom passed away. The funeral is Monday. She just left out. I can imagine my talk about you and us dancing here reminded her of her mother.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe she still showed up to decorate. Why don’t you go see about her?” she asked as she pulled away from me.
“After the song goes off, I will. I need to finish our dance. This is your night. It will be off in a minute,” I responded as the cameras flashed.
“Okay. Well, she’s a beautiful woman, son. I hope everything works out.”
I smiled slightly as I glanced at where Denishia was once seated. Her workers had come back, but she and her grandmother were still gone. When the song ended, I kissed my mama’s cheek and hugged her, then headed to Denishia’s employees. When I got to them, I didn’t have to say a word. I was sure my lifted eyebrows were asking all the questions.
“She’s in the dressing room,” the one that worked last Friday said.
I nodded at her and made my way down the corridor. After turning the corner, I picked up my pace. I didn’t want to call attention to myself by being in a hurry in front of everyone. I didn’t need to be followed. I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. I could hear her grandmother’s voice, though, so I knocked again. “Denishia, it’s me.”
After a few seconds, her grandmother opened the door and allowed me to enter. Once I did, she left out. Denishia lifted her head to look at me, and the sorrowful expression on her face made my heart sink, like earlier. I sat next to her on the couch and put my arm around her. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“I’m okay, Ezekiel. You should be back in there enjoying yourself with your mother and her guests.”
“She has plenty of people to keep her entertained. I needed to see about you.”
“I’m okay. Please go back inside. I’ll be behind you in just a minute. I need to fix my makeup.”
She quickly stood from the couch before I could stop her and went into the bathroom. I made my way to the door to find it locked. “Denishia, please let me be there for you, baby.”
“I’ll be out in a minute, Ezekiel. Go enjoy the party.”
I took a deep breath and walked away and out of the dressing room. Her grandmother was seated on the bench in the corridor. She stood when she saw me approaching without Denishia.
“She wouldn’t come out.”
“No, ma’am. She locked herself in the bathroom. As soon as the party is over, I’ll be back to see about her.”
She nodded as a couple of tears slid down her cheeks. I gently pulled her in my arms and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Miss Patsy was a friendly lady. She was a character too.”
She chuckled softly. “That she was. She was so excited to meet you. She’d called and told me about it when she was on her way to Denishia’s house that evening. My sweet and crazy daughter.”
She gave my hand a squeeze, along with a tight smile, and I did the same, then headed back to the party. When I got back inside, I sat with her employees. I sat next to the one I was most familiar with and asked, “What’s your name again?”
“Jamia.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t remember for the life of me. Can I have your number to check on her later? I have a feeling she’s going to box me out. She locked herself in the bathroom and refused to come out, saying I needed to be in the party.”
“Sure. She’s so selfless. She’s always thinking about others. But she’s also extremely hardheaded. That’s why we’re back in here. She said since we were the ones that talked her into staying for the party, we should be enjoying ourselves,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
She typed her number in, then gave the phone to me to save her contact information. I was sure to put Happily Ever After Floral Shop on there, just in case I forgot her name again. I took a deep breath and said, “I’m worried about her. I may head to Beaumont tomorrow, just to be there for her.”
They glanced at each other and smiled. “Mister Wheeler, I’m Jerzey. Honestly, I think you’re good for her. She probably won’t admit it any time soon. Don’t give up on her. She’s an amazing woman that needs someone to love her right. I feel like you are that someone. We both do. While we would hate for you to take our girl away from us, we want to see her happy. We could clearly see the happiness on her face when you dropped her off earlier.”
I gave her a tight smile. “I hope she eventually sees what the two of you see. She’s such a beautiful woman. I only know a little about her personally, but I can clearly see that she’s hardheaded.” I slowly shook my head as they chuckled. “Thanks, ladies.”
They nodded, and Jamia said, “No problem.”
I made my way back to my seat and watched my mama cut up on the dance floor to “Kiss” by Prince. That woman loved the hell out of Prince, especially his older music from the eighties. I chuckled as Destiny appeared at my side, pulling me to the dance floor too. We ended up next to my mama. She smiled big at us as we awkwardly tried to dance to the song. I’d never danced to an old school song. I would just simply chill and enjoy it.
When the song ended and the deejay spun an Anthony Hamilton cut, I went to my seat and watched them enjoy themselves. I glanced back where Jamia and Jerzey were seated to see Denishia had rejoined them. My eyebrows lifted. I just knew she was going to spend the rest of the night in that dressing room. I stood and made my way to her. She smiled slightly and stood from her seat as I approached.
“I’m sorry I disrupted the party.”
I grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor just as the deejay slowed it down. “Rain” by SWV was playing through the speakers. I pulled Denishia close and could feel her body tremble. “Don’t be nervous. We’re just dancing, right?”
She nodded and looked around the room. When she turned back to me, she brought her hands to my shoulders as I pulled her closer to me by her hips. She exhaled, then lay against me and circled her arms around my neck. I leaned over slightly and said in her ear, “No matter what’s going on, you will always be a priority.”
She didn’t respond verbally. We just continued swaying to the music. I could see my mama smiling at us in my peripheral, and I also saw cameras flashing. I didn’t care who knew I was feeling her, but I could imagine that she probably didn’t want to deal with the media attention right now if it were to get out. I just wished I could carry this load for her.
When the song ended, I saw my mama headed in our direction. I grabbed Denishia’s hand and said, “My mother is headed in our direction. I’m sure she wants to tell you how beautiful the flowers are.”
Denishia smiled tightly. “Okay.”
“Miss Boswell, thank you so much. The flowers are beyond beautiful. You did an amazing job. I’ll be sure to pass your name around to everyone I know that may need your services. Do you service the Houston area for simple bouquets?”
“Thank you. Yes, ma’am, I do. My delivery fee is just higher.”
“Okay, baby. Thank you again. Enjoy the rest of the party. Aye!”
I laughed at my mama. Her song “Party” by Beyoncé had come on. She used to wear that shit out. Denishia chuckled as my mama high stepped her way to the dance floor. I slowly shook my head as I led Denishia to where I was seated. I wanted to pull her down on my lap to soothe her pain away. Hopefully, she would still allow me in her space once the party was over. We had another hour or so before it would be time to shut everything down. I was ready for it to be over so I could comfort her as much as possible.
This was the first time I wanted to put another woman before my mama. I missed an audition because of this party, and now I was wanting to leave it to be there for Denishia. This was crazy as hell. That alone let me know that whatever this was between us was worth exploring, and I could only hope Denishia felt the same way.