Pink & Patent Leather Read Online Free PDF Page B

after his father deserted the family when Xavier was just four years old, his mother was determined to raise Xavier and his brother in a middle class household. She was a secretary in the English department at Morehouse, then after an eight-hour day at the college, she went to work at her part-time job in the Walden’s Bookstore in the Greenbriar Mall that was only blocks away from the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood where they lived.
    While I always had the love of both my parents who showered me with attention: hugs, kisses, gifts, and the granting o f all of my wishes, Xavier’s mother didn’t have time for all of that with all of the hours that she worked. In fact, X talked more about his grandparents. It was his grandmother and grandfather who took care of them after school, watching over them as they did their homework, making sure they had dinner. And then on Sundays, it was his grandparents who took him to church while his mother rested at home on the only day when she didn’t have to work.
    Church had made the greatest difference in Xavier ’s life. “I don’t know what it was, Pink,” he told me the first day when we’d met, “but in church, that’s where I felt complete love, God’s love. That’s where I found peace.  Even as a little boy, that’s where I felt the greatest peace of my life.”
    Well, I hoped tha t Xavier was feeling a little bit of that peace now as he waited for me. Yeah, I wanted him upset, and I knew he was after listening this morning to the dozens of messages he’d left on my cell—the last one at midnight stating that he was waiting for me at my condo. But, I wanted him to be calm, too. I didn’t want him to go off, didn’t want him to do anything to hurt me.
    “ Well, here goes nothing.”
    As I stepped out of my car, I smiled for the first time this morning. I had parked right next to the space tha t was soon to be mine. Malik and his wife’s spaces were to the left of my parents and I couldn’t wait until I’d be pulling my Beamer (or maybe I’d have a Bentley like my parents by then) right next to Malik’s Mercedes. This morning, I’d awakened with such a yearning for him, such a strong need to be close to him. I was thinking that there was no need to wait. Maybe I could have Malik in my bed by tonight. 
    Slowly walking up the steps to the front, I could see my reflection in the glass doors. Today, I was wearing my Sunday best...which was much more conservative than what I’d worn last night. Well, if you could call my hot pink, knee-length, St. John’s knit that hugged my hips and dipped in at my sides, conservative. That probably wasn’t the right word since this dress put my hourglass shape on full display. My patent leather, snake-skinned Calvin Klein pumps and black snake-skinned Fendi bag really set things off on the outside, while my barely-there black stockings, Juicy Couture garter, thong, and demi-bra held my secrets beneath. Those secrets were mine for now, but would be used to my advantage by the end of the day.
    Right when I hit the last step, Xavier glanced up, but he didn ’t make a move. I waited for a couple of seconds and then, I pulled open the door myself. I couldn’t believe he didn’t even come over to push the door open for me.
    But after what I ’d put him through, what could I expect?
    He didn ’t even say hello. He just whispered, “Can I have a word with you?”
    Now, while I had thought that our chu rch was the best place to have this discussion, I was surprised that Xavier wanted to do this right here. I mean, folks would be walking in for the service and in just a few minutes, the lobby would be crowded with people standing around, greeting their friends, and waiting for their pew buddies. And even right now, there were more than enough stank folks standing to create an audience that would make our business theirs.
    While pulling out my Handi-Wipes, I greeted him with a smile. “ Good morning, Minister Xavier,” I said, as