Page 54 of The Brooklyn Way
“Nothing. I really don’t want to leave Jackson Island. And Cameron says I don’t have to. He says I should stay at his house and be there every time he has a chance to come home.”
“He wants you to live in his house?” Her smile was small, but it still lit up her face.
Mine matched hers in intensity. “He does.”
“Seems like this young man wants you to be around for the future. Doesn’t sound to me like he plans to leave you.”
“Vince didn’t leave me physically. He was there. He just left me emotionally. He checked out of the relationship.”
“Granddaughter, Vince was a dumbass… disrespectfully. You never could see him for who he was, but it was obvious to me that he’s a chaser. He chases things that he thinks will make him look good in the eyes of others. He’s not happy within himself, so he looks for external things to build up his self-esteem. He pulled away from you to find the hussy that his colleagues would give the stamp of approval. He didn’t even pay attention to the fact that she didn’t want him. She just wanted to break up your relationship. Men are so dumb, and they’re egos are so inexplicably huge. It never occurred to him that she was jealous of you and wanted what you had. Since she couldn’t take your platform, she took what she could get… Vince. That girl was plotting on you from the second she hired you.
“Your heart’s pure, Brookie. Sometimes, you don’t see people for who they are. That girl was as cunning and conniving as could be. Her plan all along was to bring drama and she did just that. But she’ll reap what she sowed.”
“You gonna pray one of your famous prayers over her life, Big Red? Like you did Vince?”
She was thoughtful. “Maybe I will. This is a prayer retreat, after all. Regardless of what prayers I pray for others, I have a special petition for you that I’m bringing to the Lord.”
“I hope it includes some clarity on what I’m supposed to do.”
My grandmother watched me as a still, uncomfortable silence fell over our hotel room. Finally her words broke the silence. “No, I’m not gonna pray about that. I don’t waste God’s time, Brooklyn Justine Waverly. You already know exactly what you’re supposed to do regarding your young gentleman friend. Remember the day you moved out of the apartment you shared with Vince? I asked the Lord to give you the wisdom to recognize your Boaz when he showed up and for you to realize that you were called for such a time as this? We’re all waiting on you to stop being such a punk and go get your man. What’re you gonna do?”
Bright and early on the morning of the thirteenth day of my self-imposed sabbatical from Cameron, I knew it was over. I quietly left the bedroom that my grandparents designated for me when I was a lost, grieving young woman. I crossed the hallway, tiptoeing into the bathroom. After making use of the facilities and washing my hands, I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and showered.
I dressed in an orange sundress that featured spaghetti straps and turquoise piping on every edge. It was a dress I had sewn when I was feeling particularly creative. I pulled on the matching cropped sweater that went with it, ankle socks and orange Nike dunks. After wrestling my big curls into a ponytail, I packed my luggage, then sat down at the desk to write my grandparents a letter. I wanted to thank them for everything they had given me and done for me, but I didn’t want to wake them up to do it.
My suitcases were heavy. I couldn’t get them down the stairs silently. They were bumping and thumping all the way down. It seemed like the more quiet I tried to be, the louder I actually was. In the end it didn’t matter anyway. When I made it to the kitchen, where I planned to leave my note on the table, my grandparents were sitting there drinking coffee.
“Well, good morning… bumpy.” My grandfather loved to tease. “You could’ve asked me for help. I would’ve carried your suitcases down.”
Big Red eyed me while pretending to talk to Pop-Pop. “Now, why would she ask you to carry her suitcases down when she was clearly trying to sneak outta here, Jessup?”
“Where you headed, Brooklyn? To spread some love to that little basketball playing boy?” His face screwed up. “Nah, I didn’t like the way that sounded. Cancel that. Where are you headed, baby? Chicago?”
“The Lord woke me up this morning and said as clear as day, ‘it’s time’. Plus, I spent all night dreaming about my daddy holding me. I felt so… secure. He didn’t say anything in the dream. He just held me in a tight hug. I realized that Cameron’s hugs make me feel the same way… the same way as my daddy’s. Secure.”
“So, you’re going to him?” Big Red needed clarity.
“I’m going to him. He was right; twenty-five days is unrealistic.”
“How are you getting there?”
“I was able to book a flight. Carrington’s going to meet me at Midway Airport. She has some business or something to do in Chicago. Our planes land within thirty minutes or so of each other.”
“Well, let me get my car keys so I can get you to the airport.” Pop-Pop finished his coffee in one swig.
“You don’t have to do that, Pop-Pop. I can get an Uber.”
“Nah, I’ll feel better if I do it.”
“I’m going too,” Big Red declared. “We were supposed to have you for ten days. You’re leaving on day three. Not to mention that once you link back up with your lover boy, there’s no telling when we’ll see you next.”
“At their wedding,” Pop-Pop joked.
“At Carrington’s wedding.” I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed, then left the kitchen to get ready to drive me to the airport.
Big Red crossed the kitchen to sweep me up in an embrace. “I’m so proud of you, Brookie. You can’t let fear keep you from going after the things that make life sweet. You’ve suffered so much heartache and trauma, baby. You deserve to live the sweet life.”
I melted into my grandmother.