“Yes, please put him on speaker so you both can hear this.”
“Okay. Hold on. Anthony!” She heard her mother muffle the phone, “English is on the phone. Wants to speak to us.”
Daddy must’ve been sleeping, too. A smile crept across English’s face as she imagined their foreheads leaning together as they slept. They’d been close to divorce at one time in their marriage, but now, they were more in love than ever. Their love story always encouraged her. True love always returned to you if it was meant to be. You didn’t have to beg, plead, or force it.
“Okay, baby, we’re both here. You got some good news? A promotion?” Mama asked. She could hear the smile in her mother’s words. “Or maybe you’re finally bringing your boyfriend over here so me and your Daddy can meet him.”
“Not yet to any of that, but I’m sure that’s on the horizon. Axel’s work schedule and mine don’t always jive, but we’re working it out.”
“Well, good, ’cause you haven’t been serious about nobody since Willis, and—”
“Yes, I know… Thankfully, I learn from my mistakes, and Axel is a good man. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He’s independent, resourceful, funny, good to me and just… a good person. I think y’all will like him.”
“Axel? Sound like a rock band name. Oh, wait a minute… is it that White boy you told me she seein’, Lacey?”
“Yeah.”
“…I hope thangs don’t get too serious. Maybe I should go on ahead and introduce her to Bishop Blue’s son. He been divorced for over three years now, got a good job, and always said how pretty English is,” her father murmured.
English shook her head. Dad could never whisper well.
“Shhh! Uh… hold on a minute, baby.” Mama muffled the phone, but English could still hear the muted words. “You ain’t gonna do no such thing!, Bishop’s son is one pebble away from bein’ a full-blown crackhead. I wouldn’t set that boy up wit’ my Toy Poodle, let alone my baby! And yes, her boyfriend is White, but that don’t matter as long as he’s good to her. You hush up, ya hear me?! Don’t say that again… What if she overheard you?!”
“Well, I hope she did…”
“Just foolish. That’s what you are. You gonna make her ’fraid to be honest with us, Anthony. Be quiet! I mean it! Okay, baby…” Mama took her hand off the receiver. “English, you sound a little funny. Tired maybe? Is everything okay?”
“Not really.” English picked up her teacup to take another drink, but had forgotten it was empty. She was certain her look of disappointment was clearly written all over her face. “I’m just going to get right into the nitty gritty. I am calling you to let you know that Master has been trying to contact me again.”
Not to her surprise, she was firstly met with reticence. That silence meant her mother was brewing… changing quickly into a boiling hot madness. That silence meant Daddy felt horrible, as if once more, he couldn’t keep his baby girl protected. This feeling had reared its head during a family counseling session they’d undergone as part of her deprogramming treatment. Time ticked, demented little seconds jumping off a cliff and landing face first into a sea of awkwardness.
Then, at last silence was broken like a rock slamming into a glass window.
“That son of a bitch!” Mama yelled, her words ringing in English’s ear. Mama’s cool was lost, never to be seen again. “I told him if I eva saw his face again, English, I’d rip it off with my bare hands! WHERE IS THAT CRAZY CULT LEADIN’ MOON FACED BACKWARDS HOTEP MOTHAFUCKA?! Call the poe-lease, Ant! CALL ’EM!”
“Lacey! Come on, now!” Daddy barked. “Calm down. Let’s hear what English has to say.”
“Mama, it’s okay. I’ve contacted the police already. It didn’t go well. They said I needed proof. Well, I got the proof they need now, and I’m going to file a restraining order first thing tomorrow. I told you that I refuse to live in fear. I mean it. He is trying to steal my peace. He can’t have it. It’s not for sale.”
“How long he been sniffin’ around you, En? How long he been back on the scene?”
Mama now seemed at the brink of tears. Rage and despair met and merged. It was a heartbreaking thing.
“For a while now, Mama.”
English debated telling her about the birthday card being from Master. Her mother ranted and raved, bringing up all the treacherous mess from the past. How she’d lost her baby to a nutjob. How she was never the same after hearing about some of the things she endured while under Master’s control… and nobody but English knew that was just the tip of the iceberg. Some stuff was going with her to the grave. It would kill Mama to know such details, and besides, they couldn’t be changed. History had already been written. There would be no eraser big or strong enough to make it disappear. And even if one were able to delete the words, the emotions would still be left behind—imprinted in white ink, on white pages. Nobody but your heart could read it.