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“So?”
“So, Mel still should have talked it over with me first.”
Charlene put the pick on the coffee table and opened a jar of Bergamot hair grease. “Next time I do your hair, I’ll have to give you a touch-up. These roots are gettin’ kinda tough.” She began to part Adrienne’s hair in small sections, greasing the scalp as she went. “It’s true that Mel was wrong not to say anything,” Charlene admitted, “but honey, it may be that Mel has gotten out of the habit of making decisions as a couple.”
“In just six months?”
“Six critical months.”
“Go ahead and say it, Charlene.”
“Say what?”
“That I shut him out when he needed me most.”
Charlene stopped greasing. “I can’t do this, Adrienne. It’s just too draining. Let’s talk about something else.”
“I’m sorry, Charlene. It’s just that there’s so much going on, and I don’t know what to do about Mel. We’re not talking. Not about dinner, not about TV, the news, work, nothing. It’s like I’m sitting up in that apartment with somebody I don’t even know anymore. I don’t know what to do.”
Charlene held the comb and looked at her sister-in-law. “I told you. Both of you need counseling. Get some help in talking about Delilah.”
Adrienne sucked her teeth. “Charlene, Mel is not going to tell nobody his business. Maybe his sister, but not a therapist. And me, I don’t know if I’m ready to talk about it either. It’s too painful now.”
“Well, maybe that’s what you need to do. Talk to Debra. She might be able to tell you something that can get you and Mel talking again, you think?”
“Debra?” Adrienne said, surprised. “I was actually thinking about that, but not exactly what you have in mind. I think Debra’s part of the problem. And if not her, definitely her trifling card-playing friends. Ever since Mel moved over there, he’s been slipping further and further away from me, and you know Debra and I don’t get along. I can’t imagine what she’d have to say to me. But let’s talk about something else.”
Adrienne searched her mind for something more pleasant to discuss, but the only positive thing that had been on her mind lately was Lloyd. “Lloyd said that he’s going to help me get a promotion.”
“Girl, that is terrific. Tell me about it.”
Adrienne told her all about the lunch, the new position, and that Lloyd seemed to be suffering over the breakup of a bad relationship. “I bet Patricia is a siddity, bourgeoisie sistah,” Adrienne said.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because Lloyd is one uptight, buttoned-down brutha, that’s why. He never seems totally relaxed.”
Charlene put the cap back on the grease jar and brushed Adrienne’s hair thoroughly. “Well, let’s help him unwind a little. What do you think about inviting Lloyd over for dinner? I’d love to meet him, and I know Dan is dying to see him.”
“I like the idea. Let’s do it after Easter.”
“Good. I’ll make shrimp scampi and get some wine. We can do it on a Saturday night when Mel doesn’t have to work. It’ll be a real celebration.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
For the next two weeks, Mel took all the overtime he could get to make up the rent money. Today things weren’t going well at work. The traffic was light, and there was no snow or rain to make the tires skid or impede his vision, but his bus had a fault in the Metro Card slot. With every third or fifth passenger who slipped a card in, the machine would hold on to it and make a whirring noise until Mel banged it with his fist. Once the card popped out again, the passenger would stare at it suspiciously. “Did it take extra money off the card?” each would ask. By the time Mel’s shift was over, he was weary and his hand was killing him. He called Adrienne from the depot. The phone rang three times before she answered.
“Regina Belvedere’s office.”
“Hey, baby, I’m finished for the day. I’m going to stop off and see my sister. I’ll be home late.”
“Don’t come home drunk tonight, Mel.”
Adrienne was stretched out on the navy blue leather sofa when he came in. Her eyes were closed. Mel noticed that the checkbook, some stamps, and open bills were scattered on the coffee table. Now that he’d had a few drinks, his bad mood was gone. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Hey, baby.”
She opened her eyes and looked at him sadly. “Hey.”
As Mel headed to the bedroom, he wondered why Adrienne’s mood was so somber. After a hot shower, he pulled on his robe and went back to the living room. She was sitting up, staring at n
