Chapter 2 Maurice #2
There he was again, body checking Maurice out of his comfort zone. “It’s more manageable that way. I’m just too busy to have to think about all these other decisions.”
Tommie continued, “You aren’t still in prison. You don’t even work with PADOC anymore, so why’re you acting like you still live in a halfway house and a PO finna pop up for a surprise inspection and make you do a piss test?”
The Dr Pepper he’d been sipping turned sour on his tongue. As tight as they were, there were still things Tommie didn’t understand about Maurice’s life. About what prison had actually done to the boy he used to know.
Maurice inhaled on a four-count, held it for a four-count, and exhaled on a four-count before he spoke. “Beloved, let’s focus on your wedding. That’s what we’re doing all this for.”
“There you go with that Beloved talk.” Tommie raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll leave it alone.”
The “for now” wasn’t said aloud, but Maurice heard it in the way Tommie’s eyes danced as he took a long pull of his drink.
“You buggin’.” Maurice shook his head and leaned back stiff in the plush chair. “Just answer my question.”
The ice clinked against Tommie’s glass like a bell signaling the start of a boxing match. “What question?” His face was the same as when they were kids. Smooth brown skin and midnight eyes with lashes that curled up in a way that made him look innocent.
“Come on, man. This cousin of yours and other people coming? They know about me?” Maurice asked, tension tightening his vocal cords.
“You’ll like them. Everybody is chill.” Tommie put the glass to his lips again, trying to hide his smile.
Maurice rolled his eyes and attempted another sip of his own drink. It felt like sawdust on his tongue. “I’m trying to be serious here. Lanie’s folks. Ricky and Sunny. I know all of them. And Ricky has always been hard to read.” He winced. “Who else?”
“What, you getting nervous?” Tommie teased, nudging Maurice’s foot with his own.
Of course, he was nervous. He sat his drink down and ran a hand down his face.
Tommie reached out and stopped him. “Hey…” All the play had vanished from Tommie’s face. “You know none of us would put you in a situation, right?” He dipped his head, nudging Maurice to respond.
Tommie knew all Maurice’s lines and how not to cross them. Even though they’d been merely pen pals for more than half the time that they’d known each other, Tommie’s loyalty never wavered. “Right, Mo?”
What was real and in front of him was not his voluntary manslaughter conviction nor his twenty-year sentence. He borrowed trouble while Tommie passed around cheer. Some would say theirs was a complementary relationship: the practical balancing the whimsical. They balanced each other like that.
“I know, brother,” he said, waving a finger in Tommie’s direction, “but I also know that look.”
“What look?” Tommie batted his eyes.
He lost again. Maurice would go along, whatever the scheme. Back in the day, it was Tommie’s dream to be the next Run, which made Maurice his DMC by default. Hanging with Tommie, in retrospect, had been his first attempt at harm reduction therapy. Ma had been grateful.
“We been knowing each other our whole lives—I ain’t falling for the okie-doke,” Maurice said.
The smirk working its way over Tommie’s lips was unmistakable, but Maurice left it alone. Tommie was gonna do what he wanted.
“Okay. I’ma stop messing with you. If you decide to quit on me, I’ll be out a preacher and a best man. Lanie would never forgive me!”
“Thank you. I gotta write your wedding sermon and a speech at dinner. Now you want us to give speeches at the beach too? What all do y’all have us doing? We only have a few days.”
“And it’s gonna be a spectacular few days, my brother!” Tommie said, leaning back in his BarcaLounger and raising the footrest. “I am so ready to get out of town.”
Maurice had to laugh. He was getting out of town to get married. This wasn’t a vacation-vacation. He loved Tommie, but he would not ever get in the way of what Elaine Turner wanted. And for some reason, Lanie wanted him.
Maurice’s ears perked at the snick of a door closing, followed by the soft scuff of slippered feet heading their way. He shook his head at Tommie as he sipped his scotch and sank deeper into the overstuffed leather seat.
A hand brushed along Maurice’s shoulder. Lanie. She was petite and dark-skinned. Her eyes were the kind that always smiled. Tonight, they didn’t.
“Hey, sis,” Maurice said, standing to turn and hug her. “I’m getting ready to head out.”
“Just as I’m coming in…” She plopped herself down next to Tommie and pulled the glass from his hand, taking a generous sip.
“This was supposed to be easier the second time around. But with coordinating travel for my parents and Tommie’s, plus everybody insisting on flying out together—” Lanie shot Maurice an apologetic glance, and he shrugged.
“Did you ask him yet?” she asked Tommie.
Ask him what?
“I was getting around to it.”
Maurice raised his hands as if praying. “He’s been practically talking in riddles all night. I can’t get a straight answer out of him.”
“What else is new?” Lanie said, rolling her eyes but sinking farther into Tommie’s lap. “You know Tommie’s cousin, right? Monique?”
Technically, he did not, but if Lanie was asking, he’d pay attention. “Sure. What about her?”
“Well.” Tommie rubbed at the back of his neck again. “She’s traveling alone, and you’re traveling alone…”
Why was he being weirder than usual?
Lanie swatted at her fiancé. “Stop it,” she whispered. “We just want you to look out for her while we’re there, ya know?” Her color deepened, and she gave a sheepish shrug.
Both of them could be weirdos on their own time. Maurice had a flight to catch.
He shrugged. “Whatever you need, I gotchu.” The red-eye with layovers fit his budget and comfort level. He could reason his way around the real issue: his past followed him like a phantom and took up too much space. He shouldered his bag.
“Kinfolk, I’m out,” Maurice said. “See you in San Juan!”
“Be easy, brother,” Tommie shouted after him. “It’s gonna be a great trip!”
Of course, it would be. Maurice was honored to officiate. How he would hold it together the entire trip remained to be seen.
“God bless,” Maurice called back to his friends before pulling the door closed and making sure it locked behind him.