Chapter Thirty-seven
When Unique was released from jail, there was not a single family member or friend waiting for her and that's just how she wanted it to be. She'd asked Jawan not call anyone and let them know what was going on. She just needed a minute; some time to gather her thoughts. She didn't need any of the infamous “Me Time.” She needed some “God Time.”
While in jail, she'd been praying up a storm, but she'd been doing all the talking. Not once had she stopped talking to God long enough to hear whether He had anything to say about her situation. She'd asked him “why” more times than she could count. All the while she thought He wasn't answering, she simply wasn't giving Him time to answer before she started yapping off again. But on this day, she would give God all the time He needed with her.
It was early Wednesday afternoon. Unique knew nothing was ever scheduled at the church on Wednesdays due to Bible Study. More than likely only Pastor and the church secretary would be there, with the exception of any persons Pastor might have set up counseling appointments with. Still, Unique really didn't want to go to the church either. She knew she could hear God from anywhere. So with the seventy-three dollars she had in her pocket that was left over on her books from jail, Unique went and got a room at the Red Roof Inn. After catching the bus there, she checked into a room, closed the door behind her, and went and took a long, hot shower. Wearing makeshift pajamas she made out of three towels, Unique lay on the bed. She didn't turn on the television or anything; just lay on the bed feeling clean and refreshed.
“Well, God, I'm all yours,” she said, looking up at the ceiling. “Tell me where to go and I'll go. Tell me what to do and I'll do it.” And then she closed her eyes and waited. She waited until God spoke. By the next morning, she knew exactly what she needed to do.
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“Unique! Oh my God, girl! What are you doing here? I just talked to Mama, and she said she was on her way up to see you.” Unique's sister, Renee, was talking ninety miles per hour.
“I'm out. They let me out,” Unique informed her of the obvious.
After a brief moment of awkward silence, Renee pulled Unique in and gave her a hug. “I'm sorry about everything, sis. I'm sorry about everything I said on the phone that day, and I'm even more sorry for holding a grudge and not being there for you and coming to visit you andâ”
“It's okay. Everything is okay now,” Unique assured her. “Look, I, uh, was just wondering if I could still stay here for about a month or so.”
“You can stay as long as you need to,” Renee said, releasing Unique from the embrace.
“No, just about a monthâtwo months at the longest. I just spent the morning filling out apartment applications at a couple of places that go by your income. I'm going to show them copies of my last couple years of tax returns that show the money I made from catering and Mary Kay and stuff.”
“But what are you going to do to make money to keep the rent paid?”
“Well, now that the boys are g ...” Unique had to take a moment to remind herself to be strong; to be strong in the Lord. “Now that the boys are gone, I have more time to dedicate to my Mary Kay business. I really am good at it, Renee.”
“I know you are, li'l sis. You're good at everything you do. If you ask me, you could run your own catering business instead of working with that lady from your church.”
“Yeah, well, speaking of which, I gave her a call too. She's going to give me a chance to really prove myself and perhaps consider taking me on as a partner in the future. So I'm going to be doing that and my Mary Kay.”
“Girl, get the ... Are you serious? You've managed to line all this up and you ain't been out of jail but a minute?”
“Sis, this is stuff that I should have long been doing. It shouldn't have taken all this to get me to do what I needed to be doing in order to live a prosperous life.”
“But you were a single mother doing the best you could.”
Unique chuckled. “You know what I've come to realize? That there is a fine line between doing the best you can, and doing all you can. And, sis, it's about time I start doing all I can. You feel me?”
Renee nodded. “As a matter of fact, I do feel you. Heck, I think I might even try to do some thangs on the side. Maybe a little bit of that entrepreneurial spirit on you will rub off on me, you never know.”
“Yep, you never know. But right now, I guess I better start making phone calls to let everybody know that I'm out and that I'm okay.” Unique thought for a minute. “I wonder if Mama still has that food from Captain Souls.”
“I'm sure she does,” Renee laughed. “Well, I wish I had known you were coming home today. The kids are all in that free program over at the community rec center, and I have to go to work here in a little bit.”
“Oh, it's all good. I'm going to go downstairs, make my phone calls to the family, and then pull out my customer contact list from all my past Mary Kay sells and start communicating with them.”
“Aren't you going to rest first?”
“Girl, I've been resting all my life, calling myself âwaiting on God.' Now it's time for me to work.” And with that said, Unique headed to her room in the basement to begin the start of her new life.
Chapter Thirty-eight
“I can't believe I let you talk me into this,” Nicholas said as he and Lorain flew on the plane back from Las Vegas. “My mama is going to kill me when she finds out.” He looked down at Lorain. “And I'm not so sure this is the best way to start off your mother-in-law/ daughter-in-law relationship.”
“I'll deal with Momma Wright later. Right now, I'm just focused on me and my new husband.” Lorain cuddled up against Nicholas's arm as she held baby Victoria in her own arms. Heaven sat in the extra window seat on the other side of Nicholas. Although both girls were under the age of two and could have flown for free if they were to remain on the adults' laps the entire trip, the couple had opted to purchase a third seat for more comfort.
“Did you tell anybody what we were up to?”
“Just Pastor, Unique, and my mom.” Lorain thought for a moment. “Who else is there for me to tell? The only people that really mattered were right here anyway.” She kissed Victoria on the top of her head as she slept.
“How did Miss Eleanor take it?”
Lorain began to mock her mother. “You had me wasting all my time trying on those ugly dresses and picking out them ugly wedding colors. It was probably gon' be an ugly wedding anyway. And if you two ever decide to have kids of your own, the baby is probably gon' even turn out to be ugly. 'Cause God don't like ugly. And what you two did, depriving me and Mrs. Wright to marry off our babies, was just plain ugly.”
Nicholas laughed. “Then what did she say?”
“Nothing. She just burst out in tears, told me how happy she was for me, and said to kiss her ugly son-in-law for her.” This time Lorain chuckled. “I promised her we'd make it up to her and that she and your mother could still do plenty of planning for the reception, which I'm still going to go ahead with and wear that gown I originally picked out. We'll still have our groomsmen, maid of honor, and all that good stuff.”
“You do know that we are going to have to have the mother of all mother receptions to get back on our family's good side.”
“Yeah, I know. And Unique, well, you know her. She's so nonchalant about things; she was happy for us too. She was just leaving a catering affair about to go work a Mary Kay party when I called her. The first thing out of her mouth was that I had to let her do the makeup for the entire bridal party.”
“Well, that leaves us men out.”
“Oh no, she's got something for you men too; skin care treatment, a facial, or something. She's going to make sure you men are glowing for the wedding pics.”
“A facial or something? Oh, heck to the naw,” Nicholas rejected.
“Oh, come on. It will be fun. As a matter of fact, Unique knows this lady who owns a little studio in Reyn-oldsburg called R Studio. She's going to let Unique rent it out next week to host a coed Mary Kay Mixer.”
“A coed Mary Kay Mixer? What the heck has Unique come up with?”
“I'm telling you, there is absolutely no stopping her. She's inviting couples and singles to introduce her products to. She's going to be doing free facials and makeovers. Her and Sister Tamarra are even going to cater it, so that the catering business will be promoted too.”
“Wow. She came out of that life's trial and hit the ground running, didn't she?”
“She did. I hardly talk to her any more. She's always on the move. But I'm glad she's staying busy. It keeps her mind off of ...” Lorain paused and thought about what she was about to say. “It keeps her mind off of her loss of the boys, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” Nicholas yawned and leaned his seat back the little bit it would go. He then closed his eyes.
Lorain let out a soft sigh of relief. She'd almost said something that she didn't want anybody to know was on her mind. Yes, she was glad that Unique was keeping busy and therefore not dwelling on the boys' deaths. But what she was most grateful for was that not once had she said or done anything to insinuate that she was even thinking about taking the twins away from Lorain.
Lorain loved Unique. She loved her dearly, but she had grown tremendously attached to Victoria and Heaven. It was as if the girls had grown in Lorain's own belly. She never once looked at the twins as her granddaughters, but instead, as mini versions of the baby she threw away so many years ago. This was her second chance to prove to herself that she could be a mother. That she could do the right thing and raise a healthy, prosperous, God-fearing child. She was not about to let anyone or anything come between that self-imposed challenge.
As much as she loved Unique, she wouldn't even allow her to. If it came down to it, Unique wouldn't be the only one walking through life with determination and the spirit to fight. Lorain would fight. She would fight to the end, even her own daughter. But as she lay her head back and joined her new husband and her baby daughters for a nap, she said a silent prayer that it would never come down to that.
Chapter Thirty-nine
“This was a wonderful idea. I'm so proud of you,” Lorain said to Unique as she popped a forkful of macaroni and cheese in her mouth. That was the catering business's signature dish.
“Thank you. To God be the glory,” Unique replied as she looked around the studio and admired all the guests having a ball. There were over two hundred guests. Unique had it set up where she could do and instruct a facial class every half hour, twenty guests at a time. So far, she'd done two sessions and had made more product sales than she could have ever imagined. She'd even booked two catering affairs for Tamarra's business. Tamarra assured her that any gigs she booked, she could work to make the money.
Unique had never been so proud of herself in her life. If only her boys were alive to see it, enjoy it, and reap from it. But even though they couldn't, in her heart, she was still doing it all for them.
“Baby, you need to take some credit too,” Eleanor added as she strolled Heaven and Victoria over to where Unique and Lorain were standing. “You put a lot of thought and work into your dreams, honey. And it looks as though they are all coming true.”
“Thank you, Granny Eleanor,” Unique replied, using the name the boys had referred to their great-grandmother as.
“Well, well, looky here.” Korica approached the group. “It's about, what, four generations here?” She shot Lorain a glance. “Or is it three? I get confused.”
“Mommy, you made it.” Unique hugged Korica.
“I wouldn't miss my daughter's special event for nothing in the world.” Korica's eyes stayed fixed on Lorain as she and Unique released each other from the embrace. “How's it going?” She now turned her attention to Unique.
“Fantastic,” Unique replied. She looked down at her watch. “But I've got to go, Mommy. It's time for my next session.” She looked over at Lorain. “Why don't you tell her how everything's going? You two have never really gotten to talk or to know each other.”
“Oh, baby, we've talked more than you know,” Korica said to Unique. “Haven't we, Momma Number ... Momma Lorain?”
“Uh, uh, well, yes, we have,” Lorain swallowed.
Korica looked down at the twins in their double stroller. “Oh, look how big those li'l mamas are getting. And they looks just like the boys. Don't they, 'Nique?” Korica nudged Unique.
“Yes, I guess they do.” Unique stared down at the twins as if looking at them for the first time. A sweep of guilt even looked to have swept over her face. It didn't stay for a long visit or anything like that, but it'd definitely made a cameo, one that Lorain noticed.
Since getting out of jail, Unique had dedicated most of her time seeking God, getting her business in order, and visiting the boys' graves weekly. But in all honesty, she hadn't really spent much time with the twins, or even thinking about them, for that matter. The boys and striving to do right by their legacy had been her motivation to keep pressing on. The boys had been all she knew in life. They'd always been her focus. Dead or alive, they still were.
Needless to say, Lorain couldn't have been any happier about that. Out of sightâout of mind was how she saw it. And even when Unique did call Lorain up and wanted to get together when she had a minute to spare, it was Lorain who always made up some excuse why they couldn't get together. Even at church, Lorain made sure she got to church so early that Victoria and Heaven were some of the first kids in children's church. And right after benediction, she was the first parent to claim their children and be out the door.
This was a selfish act, Lorain knew that much. She knew she wasn't acting like a Christian and trusting God the way she should. But for the time being, she felt it's what she had to do. She didn't want to risk Unique having a “moment” with the twins, and then realizing she wanted them back. She didn't want Unique feeling as though she needed to replace her loss of the boys with the girls. And every day Lorain repented for it, but the next day, she woke up thinking about it and went to bed thinking about how to strategically keep Unique from bonding with Victoria and Heaven. As manipulative as Korica was, Lorain, deep down inside, wasn't any better. That's something she'd have to live with, justifying it by her love for the twins.
“When you get your new apartment, since it has two bedrooms, maybe you can get the twins some nights,” Korica suggested to Unique. “You know, give Lorain here a break.”
“I thought you said you were getting two bedrooms because you were going to make one your office,” Lorain shot back across Korica's face and right into Unique's ears.
“Yeah, uh, I guess I did say that.” Unique was still gazing down at the twin girls, observing how she could see some characteristics from each of her boys in the little girls.
Lorain sniffed the air. “Uh-oh. I think somebody has a stinky boo-boo.” She sniffed again. “Mom, why don't you go change the girls?”
“I just came back from changing them,” Eleanor replied. “One of 'em probably just broke wind or something.”
“No, I know the difference between gas and an all-out explosion,” Lorain begged to differ. “And that's an explosion.”
“Hmmm,” Eleanor said. She then looked up at everyone. “Y'all gon' have to excuse me while I go see what these babies done did.” Eleanor sniffed. “Although I don't smell aâ”
“Mother, please.” Lorain tried to remain calm, but she was getting agitated. “Can you just take the twins and go change them for me, please? I'd do it, but I'm eating this food, and I want it to stay down.” Lorain took another bite of the macaroni.
“All right, okay.” Eleanor gave in and excused herself. She then headed for the bathroom with the twins in tow.
“Well, uh, I guess I better go on to my next session,” Unique said after watching Eleanor stroll the girls away until they were out of sight.
“Yeah, you don't want to keep the people waiting or lose out on any money,” Lorain egged her on.
“Okay, so I'll catch up with you two later,” Unique said as she walked toward the room in which the facials were being held.
Once Unique was out of sight, Korica turned to Lorain and asked, “So is that how you gon' do this? Rush her off somewhere to try to keep her from realizing that she's far more connected to those babies than you are, and that she should be the one raising them?”
“I have no idea what you're talking about.” Lorain twisted her lips, rolled her eyes, and jerked her body in the opposite direction of Korica.
As surely as Lorain had just turned away from Korica, Korica put her hand on Lorain's arm and jerked her back around. “Don't try to play me. Many have tried, and as it turned out, they ended up playing themselves.”
“I know one thing. You better get your hands up off of me,” Lorain spat.
Korica removed her hand from Lorain's arm. “You ain't tough. You can stand here and try to sound tough and try to act tough all you want, but I know the real. I know you're scared. You are scared out of your mind that this little world you've created with Victoria and Heaven is all going to come tumbling down.”
“What's your deal?” Lorain snapped. “I mean, I don't get it. You act like I stole the twins from Unique. You act like they are never going to know who Unique really is in their life. Unique and I discussed all of that before we ever even made the agreement.”
“Oh, so I guess now I'm not the only one who makes agreements when it comes to a child.”
Korica had Lorain on that one. Lorain had kept drilling the fact that Korica would have never even ended up with Unique had it not been for the agreement she'd made with the foster mother who was supposed to be caring for Unique. In many ways, Lorain had done the same thing, made the same type of agreement with Unique in order to raise the girls.
Initially Lorain was going to legally adopt the girls. At one point, though, they considered Unique perhaps taking the girls back to raise them once she got in a position to do so. So instead of doing a full adoption, Lorain basically took temporary custody of the twins. She was their legal guardian. This way she was responsible for them financially. She didn't want that burden to be placed on Unique; otherwise, it would defeat the purpose of Lorain raising the twins in the first place. This left the door open for Lorain and Unique to do a multitude of things when it came to raising the girls and shifting custody. In hindsight, Lorain wished she'd nailed the door shut. She had no idea she'd grow so connected to the girls. Even if Unique ever did decide she wanted to raise the girls herself, Lorain knew she'd still be able to see the twins. But that wasn't enough for Lorain. Not now.
“Look, I'm not going to stand here and do this with you.” Lorain began to walk off.
“Oh yeah, that's right. Keep running, keep running scared,” Korica teased her. “It's okay that you're scared, because guess what?” Korica sneered. “You
should
be.”
Lorain stopped in her tracks and marched back over to Korica. Through clinched teeth she said, “I'm not scared, especially of you.”
“Oh really?” Korica said as she bounced her head up and down. “Well, I've got a little secret for you. You should be.”