In My Sister's House (25 page)

“She knows what I mean. Ain’t that right,
Alexander?”

Gasps could be heard throughout the club.

“You know, you almost got away with it. The first day I laid eyes on you, I knew that I knew you from somewhere. And that shit bothered the hell out of me. Then one night Gidget mentioned that you were from Newark.” Torch walked around like he was before a jury in a courtroom. “I still wasn’t sure if it was really you. So I called a buddy of mine who used to hang out at Fat Larry’s, a tight little strip joint on Beechmont Street. Everybody kinda hung out there when you ain’t had shit to do.

“I asked him about you, and when he gave a description of the person I was referring to, he described Alexia to a T. The only difference,” Torch said, “was when I told my friend that Alexia had blond hair, he was like, ‘Naw, this freak has long black hair.’ He asked me if you danced, but I told him that you were a waitress here. But I was still about eighty percent sure that you were the same person.” He paused for dramatic effect. He knew he had the crowd in the palm of his hand. “And then you come out here tonight and start shaking yo ass!” He slapped his hands together purely for effect. “That’s when I told Cleet, ‘Damnit! I got the right bitch.’ You are the tranny that had everybody fooled in Fat Larry’s, including my buddy Larry. They even said the dude fell in love with yo ass.”

At this point no one knew what to do or say. Flynn fell back against a bar stool. It was almost as if people were afraid to speak, move, or make any kind of sudden gesture, for fear they may disrupt Torch’s incredible scene.

“All hell broke loose when the shit came out he was messing with
a freak—his wife broke out, his business went to hell. But the worst shit was—he lost his manhood,” Torch said glaring at Alexia. “And then, on top of all that, after
all
that, my dude’s fourteen-year-old son went by the club after school one day and saw his father hanging from a pipe in the basement. That dumb ass took his own life over that shit.”

Looking directly at Alexia, he asked, “Do you have any idea what that kind of shit does to a kid?”

“A chick with a dick!” someone shouted. Isolated chuckles and gasps were heard around the club. Skylar looked at Flynn and then at Alexia. No one knew what to think.

“Oh, I’m sorry, my bad. You already took care of shit like that, huh?” He got close enough to touch her, but didn’t. Alexia’s eyes filled with tears but they remained focused on him.

“Yeah, bought you some titties, got your li’l hormone shots, kept your weight down. You even went as far as to have your name legally changed. All that to become a real bitch!” He started to laugh, then took on a serious tone. “But you see, a real bitch bleeds every month. So, you don’t want our kind in here, Sky? Huh? But you’ll allow this trash to work here? She even got that nigga buying her flowers and shit!” he said, pointing at Flynn. “Didn’t know you rolled like that, playboy.” Torch let out a hearty laugh as did a few others.

Flynn lost his cool and lunged at Torch, and folks started screaming. Head stopped Flynn well before he connected with Torch, who stood stoically, not flinching at all. He simply pulled back his suit jacket to reveal the .357 stuck in the waistband of his pants.

“Relax, nigga. I don’t knock nobody, man.” Torch laughed and then turned to address Alexia. “Yo, A-man, you ever tell Flynn that you used to pee standing up, nigga?”

Head, not sure what Flynn would do next, kept him subdued in a hold. Flynn relaxed his body and calmed down so Head released him, although he kept a close eye on him.

Flynn made his way over to Alexia. He wanted so badly for her to say that this was all a mistake, and that what Torch had been saying was a lie.

“Tell me that this bastard is lying,” he said softly. Alexia said nothing. “Is he telling the truth?
Answer me!”
he screamed. The anger and hurt in his voice startled Alexia, who closed her eyes tight as tears started to fall.

In his rage, Flynn tossed a bar stool across the room and then bolted out.

The bar was so quiet you could have heard a mouse peeing on cotton. Skylar stood with her hand covering her mouth. She wished that Sidney were here right now. Or Nettie. Someone. Anyone. She wanted to go to Alexia, but wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.

Suddenly, Cleet’s harsh footsteps could be heard echoing throughout the club as he approached Alexia.

“And to think, I was trying to holla at you on your first night here.” He spat on the floor. “You ain’t good enough to speak my name. Tell you what. Why don’t you go home and wash off all that ho paint, take off that dress and high heels, put you on some slacks and a pair of Stacy Adams. Then you bring yo man-ass back here and let me buy you a drink. You know, hang with the fellas for a while.” Cleet twirled a toothpick around in his mouth and then flashed his pearly whites.

Alexia felt like her feet were submerged in cement. She wondered why she hadn’t left before now. Why did she subject herself to this? Maybe it was because she was tired. Tired of running. She walked up to Skylar and without a word took her hands in hers, to thank Skylar for everything that she had done for her. This was what she wanted to say, but she couldn’t find the words. Releasing Skylar’s hands, she turned and started toward the exit. But not before giving the coldest stare she could to Torch.

•  •  •

Storm raced through the streets of Philly toward DuBoy’s place to get her phone. She imagined that he must really be tripping since she had not been able to touch base with him since she’d left the apartment that morning. She knew that he wanted to know the outcome
with Skylar. But if she was really honest with herself, she’d admit that she was having second thoughts about everything. Aside from the fact that her attorney hadn’t gotten back to her yet, what Flynn had said to her earlier about not “waiting until it was too late” was hitting home. What if Skylar was sincere about wanting to listen to her? What if things really could be different?

How could she forgive all that Skylar had done to her over the years. Yes, she knew it was something Dutch would have wanted. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that he loved both of his girls. She parked a few doors from the apartment and sprinted up the street. She’d grab her phone, turn it on, call DuBoy, and then hurry back to the club. Glancing at her watch, she couldn’t believe that it had taken her over thirty minutes to get home.

She passed DuBoy’s parked jeep on her way to the building. Looking up at the front window of their apartment, she noticed the lights were out. This usually meant that he was knocked out.
He probably stressed hisself out after not being able to reach me and lit up a blunt and went to bed
. That was something—one of a host of things—that bothered her. She didn’t like it. She had never indulged in any type of illegal drugs, not even during her turbulent teen years, not even in Muncy. But hey, she was at his spot—at least for now. In a few days she would be moving into her own place. Freedom and happiness were right around the corner. That brought a smile to her face.

Not wanting to wake DuBoy up, she was careful turning the key in the lock. Once the door was open, she decided not to put on any lights. She’d simply go to the bedroom and get her phone. It was probably in full view, but she wondered why DuBoy hadn’t seen it.

Opening the bedroom door, she made her way over to the dresser.

“Shit,” she said as she kicked something. Reaching over to pick it up, she saw that it was her phone. Finding this odd, she looked closer at the bed, where a sound asleep, nude DuBoy lay on his side. She wanted to wake him and ask him about her phone but decided against it. Picking up the bedsheet off the floor, she covered him back up. She had thought that he only kicked off the covers when they were in bed together.

Turning to walk out, she noticed a faint light shining under the bathroom door. Obviously, DuBoy had left it on, she thought. How many times had she told him about leaving lights on when they weren’t in use? Hey, she didn’t pay his bills, so fuck it! She decided to leave it on.

But just as she stepped into the living room, she heard running water. Stopping for a moment, she tried to locate the sound. It felt as though her heart had stopped. Stepping back into the darkness of the room, she saw the bathroom door inching open and what appeared to be a woman’s nude body going toward the bed.

“What the fuck?” Storm clicked on the light, and simultaneously DuBoy sprang straight up as Pia grabbed the sheet and tried to cover herself.

“Storm!” Pia cried out.

“Oh, shit!” DuBoy said as he grabbed a pair of shorts.

Without hesitation, Storm lashed out at DuBoy, attacking his face with the phone. He lost his balance and fell to the floor, but she pounded on him relentlessly, even getting in a few solid kicks. DuBoy couldn’t get his bearings, and he couldn’t restrain Storm. She was too out of control.

Pia was flitting about the perimeter of the room, feverishly trying to locate her clothes. She thought to herself,
Just let me find my panties and a top, and I’ll grab my purse and leave. Fuck the other stuff
.

As she struggled with DuBoy, Storm peeped his gun on the night-stand. She grabbed it and pistol-whipped him on the head. DuBoy threw his hands up for protection but Storm continued beating him with the butt of the gun. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Pia heading for the door. With one giant leap, she put the revolver to the back of Pia’s head and cocked it.

“Bitch, you move one more inch, and I’ll blow your fucking brains out.” Frozen, Pia started to urinate on herself.

•  •  •

An inebriated Nettie sank into a hot bath and tried to relax. June had pissed her off. Flaunting some ex in front of her face and then having
the nerve to embrace the bitch in public? “Fuck that!” Nettie said out loud. “I don’t give a shit if it was innocent. How she gonna defend that bitch against me?” Nettie’s speech was slurred and she had started to cry. “Same way she can pack her shit and leave. Like that shit gonna bother me. I don’t give a flying fuck!” Nettie rambled on as she took her washcloth and wiped her face. “I’ma change the damn lock on her ass, that’s what I’ma do. Shit!”

Suddenly, there was the faint sound of the apartment door opening and closing. Nettie knew it was June coming back to beg for forgiveness.

“I knew she’d be back. Well, she ain’t staying!” Nettie said quietly. “As soon as she tells me she’s sorry, she can get her fat ass out.” Hearing the footsteps coming toward the bathroom, Nettie took her wet, hot cloth and draped it across her face. She didn’t even want to look at June.
I’ll just let her say her piece, then she can get the fuck out
.

Nettie could feel June was closer to the tub now because she heard her breathing.
What, is this bitch on her knees getting ready to apologize?

Nettie felt a sharp pain in her neck. Pulling the cloth off her face, her eyes widened. Just as she tried to speak, another sharp pain went directly down her face. Slash!

Looking at her attacker, she could not believe she was doing this to her. She tried to get out of the tub but was pushed back down while the slashing continued. Blood gushed from everywhere. Her attacker was relentless.

Nettie put up as fierce a fight as she could. Kicking and splashing, she tried to climb out of the tub. “Get outta my house, bitch!” she tried to scream, but the sound of her voice was barely audible. Her throat had been slashed and she was gagging on her own blood. Her attacker was strong and knocked her back down. Nettie kept trying, even getting hold of the hand holding the knife. But her attacker one-upped her, gouging out Nettie’s right eye with her long fingernails.

Nettie raised her hands to protect her eyes from further assault, and then the attacker pressed her down into the water. She refused
to give up without a fight, but Nettie could feel herself weakening. Somehow, she managed to spring loose once again as she gasped for air, but she was losing so much blood, so much blood. She tried pulling on the shower curtain in one last effort to lift herself up and out of the water, but the curtain rod broke and fell.

Nettie knew it was about to be over. Submerged underwater, just before closing her eyes one more time, she saw so much red. Everything was now still and quiet. The only remaining sound was the front door opening and slowly closing.

A
fter what had happened in the club the night before, Skylar considered not opening the club tonight. However, Sidney convinced her otherwise. The Bebashi HIV/AIDS fundraiser, one of the many planned AIDS functions throughout the Philadelphia area that summer, was scheduled to take place that night at Legends. Several dignitaries had pledged their attendance, as well as their financial support. The month of August had been chosen as HIV/AIDS awareness month by the City, so everyone was doing their part, including businesses, churches, social groups, and schools. She knew that Sidney was right, and she was not about to let the organization down by postponing the event and risk them losing much-needed donations. So she knew that she must go on, despite her concerns— most especially about the lack of staff. She doubted very seriously that Alexia would ever come back to the club. And she knew that Flynn would need some time to sort things out.

She hurt for Flynn, the brother she never had, and it bothered her to know he was so wounded.
I’ll reach out to him a little later to see how he’s doing
. The whole Alexia thing had Skylar in a state of shock.
Why wasn’t Alexia just honest with him? And how far did they go?
More than anything, Skylar wished she could stay in bed all day.

And where was Storm? She’d never made it back to the club.
Skylar had tried several times to reach her on her cellphone last evening but the call went straight to voice mail.

Skylar thought of calling Nettie, but assumed that she and June had celebrated late into the evening and didn’t want to disturb them. Although Nettie had gotten a little wasted last night, Skylar could see how proud she was of June and how happy she felt when she and Sidney came in.