AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When the song began to fade out, Britta jumped to her feet, her long silver nails glimmering as she applauded Bailey. “Yes, baby girl! You did that!”
Bailey raced from the middle of the living room floor stage—yes, an actual stage—into Britta’s arms, a huge beam on her face. “Thank you, auntie! What’s my next assignment?”
Releasing my only child from a tight embrace, Britta held her deep brown face in her hands, advising, “I think you’re ready for the big league now.” There was a pause as Bailey gazed up at her with almost tangible anticipation. Then, in a dramatic fashion signature only to my aunt, she said, “Whitney Houston.”
Both Bailey and I gasped, and Britta nodded. “Yes, my little princess. You are ready to learn the ways of the voice, the beauty, the talent, the aura of Queen Whitney.” Her eyes moved from Bailey’s face to a huge portrait hanging above a tufted white sofa. It was one she’d had commissioned of her queen, Whitney, wearing a gold headpiece and a sleek black dress, an interpretation of a still fromThe Bodyguard. Sighing and shaking her head, she added, “Your first foray into the greatness of Ms. Houston will beI Have Nothing.”
“Wow!” Bailey said, as if she knew the song when, in fact, she didn’t. “Can I go find it on YouTube?”
“You may,” Britta said with a nod, and then we both watched as Bailey skipped out of the combined dining and living room into the den where there was a smart TV. Turning to me as she reclaimed her seat, my aunt asked, “And how isyourassignment going?”
I shrugged, picking up my discarded spoon and stirring my lukewarm tea. “You mean the assignment of being a responsible adult who can hold a job? I’m failing…miserably.”
“So, the welfare office didn’t work out, I take it.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “You don’t have to sound so unsurprised about it.”
“Why not, when you and I both know you’re not built for nine-to-fives?”
“I’m also not built to be a rich man’s wife, so I’ma have to figure this job thing out.”
“Oh, you’re undoubtedly built to be therightrich man’s wife, but you were born to perform, darling, and you know it.”
I smiled. Britta spoke with a faint British accent even though she was born in Arkansas and had never been to England for more than a brief vacation or to perform. She was just…extra, and I loved that about her.
“That voice of yours? Those legs? The way your body can move to music? You were born to entertain, to make jaws drop and hearts swoon,” she continued.
“None of that will keep a roof over me and Bailey’s head. The money you held for me will run out eventually.” That secret account I had? It was opened in Britta’s name, the last place my ex-husband or his lawyers knew to look.
“If you would come work for me, I could guarantee your salary.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Why not? It’s not like you’ll be stripping or anything like that.”
“I—”
“Aunt Britta! Can you come here?!” Saved by Bailey. Britta and I would never agree about me working for her, and I didn’t feel like arguing.
“Coming, Princess!” she called, lifting from her chair and heading into the den, her long red silk robe flowing behind her.
VANN
“SotheMessiah was in Mississippi, in my childhood home, and you didn’t feel the need to call me?!”
“Damn, baby sis, you gotta yell?” I replied.
“Yes!”
“He was only here for a few hours and then he left.”
“And it only takes a few hours for me to get there! Why did I have to find out about him being there from Mama when you know I’m his number one fan. Like, daaaaamn…what’s the point of my big brother being the man’s manager if I never get to meet him?!”
“Cake, calm down! You gon’ get to meet him.”
“When?”
“You know you sound like you did when you were a kid, don’t you? Spoiled ass…”
