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“You’ve heard of it?”
“Of course. It’s a big deal in the City.”
WLTC started as a small event at the church we grew up in, but it morphed into a community event. Now a lot of churches, community groups and corporations participate. We give away dinners, boxes of food, household items, vouchers to grocery stores and we have free health screenings. We do it every year at the end of February as a celebration of Valentine’s Day and Black history month.
“I read a report once that said, ‘when people who grew up in poor or middle-class communities gain wealth or status, no matter how hard they try, they usually become disconnected from their community.’ I finished the article thinking,this is some bull. There is no way I will gain status and lose the connection with my community. As time went on, I noticed I wasn’t doing anything for the community except sending money to support things. That’s when I decided to start WLTC. I want to be the best attorney I can be while still supporting the people who supported me. It’s important for the little girls in the community to see strong black women doing more than what they see every day in the streets.”
* * *
“No,Mommy. I know. I know Mommy. Please tell daddy it’s okay. We will be fine today. I promise…there is always next year…I will send pictures…. get going. Love you too.”
My mother was just explaining that she and my dad would not make my event because they had their days mixed up and were supposed to be back in my dad’s hometown for an annual town event. My dad sat on the event planning board and couldn’t miss it. I understood. I would be down two volunteers, but it would be fine.
“Mommy and Daddy aren’t’ coming?”
“No, they were still home debating the issue. The problem was that the town event was moved to this weekend and they didn’t realize it was the same date.”
“Mommy is going to give Daddy hell about this for weeks,” Keeva laughed.
“She sure is!” Kenzie agreed.
My sisters and I were setting up at the event hall we rented to host WLTC. The doors didn’t open until one o’clock. There was already a line of people waiting to get in, and it was only ten forty-five.
“Um…who is that?” Keeva nudged me in my side with her elbow. My stomach dropped as I saw Samuel walking through the side door of the event space with Raymond and his sister, who I’d never met but I’d been to a couple of her organization’s fundraisers. He was dressed in a royal blue turtleneck with dark denim jeans and a pair of boots that to the untrained eye looked like regular paint-splattered boots, but I knew they wereMaison Margielaand cost over a thousand dollars. He looked good. He wore a suit exceptionally well. Now I see he can wear anything and look damn good.
“That’s him,” I whispered.
“Him, him who?” Keeva whispered back.
“Valentine.”
“That fine piece of tall, dark, sexy ass chocolate is Valentine?”
“Shhhh!”
“Oh damn,” Kenzie whispered as she walked up behind us.
“He is magically delicious,” Keeva said.
“He is utterly fuckable,” Kenzie responded.
“He walks like his dick is big and gets in his way,” Keeva whispered.
“Like it has a nice mushroom head and is all veiny,” Kenzie whispered.
“Is he single? Who is the chick with him?” Kenzie whispered.
“That’s his sister and his personal assistant,” I whispered.
Why was I whispering?
I’m sure we looked like we were up to no good, but Mr. Valentine’s presence does command attention.
I wondered what he was doing here. He didn’t mention he would stop by. I watched him look around the room, lock eyes with me and walk towards me.
“He’s coming over here,” Kenzie frantically whispered then picked up something to pretend she was busy.
He and his group stopped in front of me.
