At Last by Bianca L. Eugene Read Free Book Online Page A

Right” on CBS. I kinda dismissed it until it cut to a commercial.
     
    “ Don’t miss the 47th Annual Grammy Awards live for the first time this  Sunday in Las Vegas, with appearances from John Mayer, Prince, Usher, Durran Johnson, Jay-Z, P.Diddy, Norah Jones, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, U2, and many more.”
     
    “Did they just say Durran’s name?” I asked in a daze. I felt like I was losing my mind.  I knew I heard his name.  Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.  He had been on my mind heavy.  Maybe I was just hearing things.
    “Yeah, they said his name.”  Missy said walking towards me holding a bag with the remote in it.
    “I thought I was hearing things, girl.”
    “I guess someone else thinks he’s important besides him huh?”
    I sucked my teeth at her, “Why you so hard on him?”
    “Keisha, don’t get me wrong, I like Durran.  I really do. He has a good heart.  He’s just so -- what’s the word I’m looking for?  Oh yeah, he can be a real asshole.” She said as we approached the car.
    “Yeah that is true, but you can’t say that he’s not talented or giving.”
    “Okay, I’ll give you that, but he’s also the furthest thing from humble.  And that’s just not a good look.”
    We left the mall and were headed back home, "How’s your Mom doing?" I asked.
    Missy was an only child.  She and her mother were super tight. Unlike me and my mother, who at times tolerated each other, she and her mother had a special mother daughter relationship. Missy’s mother, Janice was a principal. She went to Spelman and her father, Matthew who was a lawyer, attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where they met.
    After finishing college they got married and they both ended up finding jobs and moving to Detroit. They had been married for nearly thirty years.  I really respected their marriage and hoped that one day that would be me.
    "She's good. I was over there last night for dinner. She was going off on me about when she was gon’ get some grand-babies. Blah, blah, blah." She put her left hand over her head and kept the other on the steering wheel. I had to laugh.
    Janice was always pushing that baby business Missy's way.  And to be honest, I could never see Missy with a bunch of kids on her hip. That wasn't her thing. It wasn't that she was selfish or anything it was just she liked her freedom and the ability to live life on her own terms. Once you have a child it’s no longer about you.
    She was a wonderful Godmother to Taylor, but in her words, "I love my Goddaughter, but when I get tired I can send her home. “ But I couldn't help but tease her.
    “ Yeah, Taylor need s a little brother or a sister.” I smiled at her.
    She rolled her eyes and smirked, "Humph, looks like you need to holla at Yvette. I think a cousin sounds even be tter.”
    “Whatever” We both laughed.
    “ Girl, my mother stay on that kick heavy like, ‘So who are you dating’ or ‘All work and no p lay won’t get me a son-in-law’.”
    “ Well Missy, when is the last time you went on a date? ”
    She was never a dater like that. She'd have these pseudo ass relationships where the dude would be around for grip then all of a sudden he'd be ghost.  Then her only explanation would be, “ I had to cancel that nigga; stage five clinger .”
    After our trip at the mall I picked up Taylor from my mother’s went home and made us dinner.  Taylor and I laid in my bed and caught some TV.  Before I knew it she had fallen asleep and I was alone.  I don’t know what came over me, but I pulled out old photos.
    Ever since I’d heard Durran’s name earlier, I couldn’t shake a feeling I had.  I smiled as I turned the pages of pictures leading up to my prom.  Durran looked so good in his cream suit. His flashy ass didn’t rent a tux, he went out and bought a tailor made three-piece suit.  He wore a peach tie and handkerchief that matched my peach sequined gown perfectly.
    He drove his uncle’s peach