Baskadia

LOVE'S FOOL

CHAPTER 1

Madeline Stiles sat inThe Oakland International Airport staring ather laptop

“Hey,” Reesa said, as she waved her hand in front of Madeline’s face.

trying desperately to ignorethe useless chatter fromher sister’s bridesmaids.

adored her older sisterand wouldneverdoanything to ruinthe most important

thousand dollar event, it was too late now.They were minutes from boarding the

we going to Memphis anyway? I thought the wedding was supposed to be in the

the wayReesadid.There was no point. Even if Christaregrettedletting Ellis make

plane to Memphis—to start Christa’sandEllis’s wedding weekend.

“I still don’t know why Christa chose black for our dresses. I know people

that he wanted to attend the wedding. Madeline disagreed with her sister’s decision

across her seat and slap the taste out of the woman’s mouthbut she promised

some of the most envious, untrustworthy women,none of whomdeserved

Christa that for the days leading up to her wedding,there would be no drama. She

and Ellis’s relationship. Though despite how Madeline felt,she didn’t harp on it

tried to ignore Reesa but the woman irritated her, both by talking and popping that

Sheand her groom, Ellis Marshall, decided it was more sensible and economical to

to change the locationand told Christa not to give up her dream of getting married

in the Oakland Hills toaccommodatepeople whoweren’t even supportive of her

so manymajor decisions whileshe madeall the paymentsfor theireighty-five

have their special day in his hometown instead of the Bay Area where they both

Madeline took a deep breath then removed the earphones fromher MP3

said, snapping her gum as she crossed her arms.“How long is this flight?And why

Christa’s devotionespeciallyher best friend Reesa.Madeline wantedto reach

talking, huh? Whatever.” Reesa rolled her eyes and continued to pop her gum.

loved them dearly.Madeline, however, couldn’t stand them.She thought they were

bride’s hometown not the groom’s,” shehuffed. “Oh, so don’t nobody hear me

timeof her life.Even if it meant keeping her mouth shut while Reesa sat next to

lived.Ellis had twelve brothers and sisters as well as a host of family and friends

drama. Reesaknew very well why Christa’swedding was being held in Tennessee.

her complainingand acting as if the weekend was all about her.

Madeline grit her teeth and turned up the volume on her MP3 player. She

gum. It was as if she got joy out of making other people miserable and starting

think it’s elegant but Ithink it’s morbid.We gone look like we at a funeral,” Reesa

ChristaStileshad been friends withthe four of themsince high school and she

player. “How can I help you?” she asked, coolly.

“We were all saying how beautiful Christa’s wedding is gonna be. Don’t you

them.

Madeline was much more comfortable hiding behind the stuck-up, self-absorbed

doing everything she could to make herself more attractive when all Madeline had

happened. Christa was crying hysterically with her hand over her heart and she

“Whodoesthisbitchthink she is?” Reesa snorted, as she looked at the other

question.“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to confirming our reservations

“Christa, baby, what’s wrong?” Madeline cried, holding her sister close.

The thirty-year-old Black woman was naturally prettywith toasted almond

One night after a few drinks Christa confessed to Reesa how much she

to do was wake up and she looked stunning. Christa, who was most often described

bridesmaids and back at Madeline.She couldn’t stand the womanand took every

“Look, hoe, you ain’t gotta be rude!” Reesa snapped. “I’m trying to . . .”

wished she looked like Madeline. It was as if her sister got all of Rodney and

skin and chocolate brown,doe eyes.Madeline’s smile lit up her entire face and

fault that she was beautiful. And contrary to her behavior, she wasn’t really a

Evelyn Stiles’ best features and Christa got all of their flaws. Her eyes and nose

seat beside her and rushed to her sister who came stumbling out of the restroom.

the most loving, generous people Christa knewand she often encouraged her baby

for the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night. Some people sit around talkingabout how

Madeline didn’t hide her annoyance atbeing disturbed for such a ridiculous

beautiful things will be and others of us do the workto make sure they are,” she

bitch persona she’d made for herself.

six frame since eighth grade.

chuckled slightly to herself.Madeline was a lot of things but ugly wasn’t one of

size-eight figure from ballooning back to a size fourteen.Madeline, on the other

agree?”

stuck-up, self-absorbed bitch who only cared about her looks. Madeline was one of

rolled her eyes andreplaced her earphones.

opportunity she could to get under herskin.“Ole ugly self,”Reesamumbled then

hand,ateeverything she saw but hadn’t added a pound to her fivefoot eight, size

“Oh my god, Christa!” Madeline shrieked, as she tossed her laptop onthe

sister to let go of hurts from the past and open her heart to people. Unfortunately,

added innocence to her round cheeks and pouty mouth. She was beautiful.

Reesa and the other bridesmaids rushed behind Madeline to find out what

looked seconds awayfrom collapsing.

Christa hated herself for feeling jealous of her sister. It wasn’t Madeline’s

as cute,stood atfive-feet, three inchesand had to count every calorie to keep her

were too big and her lips too thin. She spent hours each day applying makeup and

“Christa Belle, please,” she said after a few minutes passed with no explanation.

“Ellis . . .” Christa gasped.

by cooking chicken Alfredo, which was her favorite guilty pleasure, and delivering

it to her home along with four dozen roses in bright, beautiful colors. She knew her

“Stiles women don’t get the fairytale,” Christa said to her sister when the

“Get your butt up,” Madeline scolded then snatched the covers Christa had

tucked around her.“Get up and wash your ass, put on something cute, and come

mind because this is some bullshit,” she snapped then grabbed her cell phone and

Madeline went to get her laptop and purse after Christa asked to be alone for

“What the fuck happened?” Reesa demanded after she snatched the cell

any good.

text. I COULD NEVER MARRY A WOMAN LIKE YOU!!!!

so cruel—and through a text message of all things.Madeline, with tears streaming

between breaths. She was close to hyperventilating.

“Leave me alone, Madeline! I don’t wanna get up ever again!”

learned the truth.

women.

Christa relinquished her cell phone to Madeline who silently read Ellis’s

called off the wedding. It was something theyfeared could happen if he ever

dialed the number. Reesa lefta message asshe walked away from the rest of the

“What?” all the women shouted.

“Oh god, what happened to Ellis,” Reesa asked.

suspicious.

number by heart?” she asked then watched the expressions on their faces grow

sister was heartbroken over Ellis but a fewweeks of moping in bed was enough.

get in there! You got thirty minutes to meet me downstairs. I’m not playing,

“You know what? I’m gonna call Ellis’s assand give him a piece of my

pajamas. Then she wrestled her into the bathroom and turned on the shower. “Now

phone out of Madeline’s hand and read it aloud.

other ladies went to gather their things. “We don’t get the happily ever after.”

The other bridesmaids were crying and asking how Ellis could do something

have dinner with the person who loves you most in the world.”

down her face, stared into her sister’s eyes. They both knew exactlywhy Ellis

a while. Reesa hada fit about how much she hated men and that none of them were

Two weeks later, on Valentine’s Day,Madeline decided to surprise Christa

“He .. . he called . . . he called off the wedding,” Christa finally said

“Oh, you gettingup,” she said before snatching Christa by the collar of her

“Humph, that’s interesting,” Madeline frowned. “Do any of youknow Ellis’s

Christa Belle,” she said when her sister rolled her eyes. “Don’t let me have to come back up here. Thirty minutes,” Madeline said again then slammed the bathroom

went wild if someone else called them a bitch but for some reason it was hilarious

Like she’d done every day for the past few weeks, Madeline filled her sister

“Uh uh, don’t anywayme. Sidney’s a good man who loves you for who you

actually responded and participated in the conversation.

table.Madeline always had a way of making things look elegant, eventhe dark

the six-inch heels she never went anywhere without. Her face was fully made up

in on everything that was happening with work, Sidney Reid, and their mother’s

laugh and watch movies and have a good time. That’s the deal,” she said, wiping

beautiful, Mad. And just so you know, I’m keeping all of it,” Christa smiled.

fighting it and gone and be with Sidney. He loves you, Mad, and I think y’all could

Madeline. I know how hard it is to find true, unconditional love and . . .”

brown, marble-top table and leather chairsshe often encouraged Christa to

are. He’s successful, veryattractive, and he’s devoted to you. He has to be to put

“I don’t know what Mama be thinking,” she laughed after taking another sip

around the two-bed, two-bath Fremont, California home.Christa walked into the

of her and Ellis’s first Valentine’s Day flooded her mind and her heart ached.

Sidney. “You want a cupcake?”

“Umm uh, girl, no crying . . . not tonight. We’re gonna eat this whole pot of

tears from Christa’s face. “Okay?”

up with the way you pop in and out of his life. Stop takingthat man for granted,

An hour later Christa came downstairs in a long, black and white caftan and

beautifully decorated dining room table and all the lovely flowers sheplaced

be happy together.Quit running in and out of the man’s life and . . .”

“Anyway,” Madeline interrupted not wanting to hear another speech about

baffling relationships with one loser after another.However, this time Christa

“Thank you, Mad. This is wonderful,” she said then began to cry. Memories

kitchen and wrapped her arms around her sister.

Christa burst out laughing like Madeline knew she would.Both of them

door shut.

“Look, bitch, I told you no crying tonight!”she shouted when her sister got

Madeline for manhandling her out of bed but she smiled instead afterspottingthe

choked up.

upgrade. Madeline covered it with a beautiful gold table cloth and bought red,

of red wine. “I don’t know what yoube thinking either. Why don’t you quit

and her black hair in a neat ponytail atop her head.She was about to fuss at

chicken Alfredo and the lemon cupcakesI made for you. And then we’re gonna

“Okay,” Christa smiled before taking a seat at her pubstyle dining room

square plates and goblets to accentuate herred andgold design. “This is really

when they said it to each other. It had been that way since they were teenagers.

“Ooh, thank goodness,” Madeline said when the doorbell rang.

“I’m hanging in there,” she said, embracing Tamia tightly. “And thank you

whereshe gained the weightthan anything.If Avis had a choice she’d pack the

even though they knew shedidn’t mean any harm, it seemed that a woman close to

Tamia Mallory said. The two of them had been friends since junior high school.

about her misshapen body. Avis already struggled with feeling attractive since

“Girl, don’t even trip. I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you

and her face treated with European facials. Avis spared no expense when it came to

women said.

“You looking good, baby girl. And it looks like you dropped a few pounds

went to her already protruding belly and made her large breasts even more

too,” Avis commented, as she took a step back to inspect Christa more thoroughly.

“How you doing, girl?”

women’s day event six years ago and they’d been friends ever since.

and that I was here if you needed me.”

Especially one whowas constantly subjected to and hurt by the mean thingsother

Avis, who was fivethreeand wore a size ten, had the same issues with

“Don’t worry about it. Just grab your wine and come to the living room,”

Raye Ann nudged Avis and Madeline looked close to slapping her.Aviswas

However, Avis wasn’t one to let people get the best of her and she did

friend Raye Ann Riley.Madeline, Avis, and Raye Ann were seated together at a

turningforty would be better able to control what came out of her mouth.

“Who is that?” Christa barked.

long?”she smiled then allowed the group of women inside.

everyday somehow managed her weight. Though, her problem was more about

pronounced. Men didn’t seem bothered by it but women were cruel in their taunts

for the phone calls and cards. I really appreciate it. I just wasn’t up for talking.”

everything in her power to present herself well. Her makeup and long hair

“What up, Christa Belle? You looking fly as usual,” Madeline’s best friend

her eyebrows and body waxed, fake eyelashes applied, hands and feet manicured,

“Shoot, you probably need to get dumpedmore often.”

Next to hug Christa was Madeline’s good friend Avis Hampton and herbest

extensions were always flawless and she went religiously every two weeks to have

image issues as well only made her feel worse.

she directed, making her way to the front door. “Hey, heifers, what took y’all so

a cool person but shehad the bad habit of speaking first and thinking later. And

pounds on to her slender hips and flat behind. Instead, every ounce she gained

weight control as Christa. She swore the pack of Newport cigarettes she smoked

pretty and cute weren’t words anyone ever used to describe her. Having body

her clothes,shoes, and the intoxicating perfumes she wore—although the smell of smoke often upstaged her exotic scents. And she had a certain charm that drew

implants on two different occasions.Tamiawas often teasedfor being a White girl

grinned, as she held up the two bottlesthey brought with them.

Avis’s and Raye Ann’s glass.Everyone was surprised when Tamia asked for a

“Ghetto asses,” Madeline laughed then took the bottlesto the kitchen to fill

of Christa’s.And in all honesty, Christa was grateful for that. For years her sister

“Girl, please, you know it’s allabout thatAlizeGold Passion,” Raye Ann

The women laughed and talked over drinks for a few hours, Christa being

brands, status, and what people thought of her. It explained why she’d already

her father.That night, however, Tamia wanted to relax and notworry about

Mosthurtful, however, was the fact that Reesa hadn’t called or come by once.

support to her during the worst time of her life. Christa’s so-called friends barely

the loudest of them all. She was grateful for the company and the chance to feel

feeling badly about the commentshe made.

and mother told her she needed to choose a better group of friendsbut she always

inherited from her mother. Everything else, including herattitude,she learned from

with a nice, stiff piece of man meat,” thirty-six-year-old Raye Ann said to the

started getting Botox injections, had her thin lips plumped, and gotten breast

anything but having a good time and enjoying the only real friends she ever had.

airport Christa believed she would be okay.

phoned and when they did, it was only to talk about what theywere going through.

some wine?”Christa asked, making her way towardsthe kitchen.

“Don’t even worry about it, girl. Come on in and grab a seat. Y’all want

broke things off, Christa realizedher friendships weren’t as strong as shealways

take away the fact that Avis had style.

glasstoo. Their nickname for her was Ms. High Society because she was bougie

andacted as if certain things were beneath her—like sipping on a glass of Alize.

with a Black girl’s booty and she’d laugh and say it was the only thing she

people to her. Otherwomen may not have considered her pretty, but they couldn’t

believed them to be. It wasMadeline’s friends who called and came by and offered

normal again. Not that she was over Ellis, but for the first time since that day in the

“Look, y’all my girls and everything but you gottaadmit it’s kinda sad that

It came as no surprise that Madeline invited herfriends to come over instead

we spendingValentine’s Day with a bunch of broads instead of being somewhere

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry, Christa. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,”Avis said,

Tamia, abi-racialthirty-year-old boutique owner, was caught up with name

defended her girls. Throughout the wedding planning and especially after Ellis

amusement of the other women. “I’m serious. It’s been almost six weeks since I had some and a bitch is going bonkers! This chick hit on me in theclub last week

Before Avis had the chance to answer,the doorbell rang,surprising them all.

who can’t give me what I really need.”

I’d rather have a goodstiff onefrom a stupid ass man than to be with some chick

people did as she was a very pretty, very petitePuerto Ricanwith flawless, caramel

cheer Christa up. Me and Peter had dinner andthenI came straight here.”

been disappointed as hell when her turn came around,” Raye Ann laughed.

prided herself on always looking professional.The tailored, red pantsuit and white

else’s. Though, there were two things she always wore,six-inch heels to give

“No, but at least somebodywantedto lick my pudding pop. She just woulda

you better because she knows what a woman wants but I’m sorry,there’s just some

“So what about you, Avis? Do you think you could ever be with a woman?”

shit she can’t do.Men piss me off most of the time but I still love they asses. And

“I don’t know if I could ever get thatlonely,” Tamia stated, surprising

everyone.She was normally tightlipped when it came to her sexlifeand

instantly annoyed by Deidra’s presence. And the fact that she was smoking only

“Ugh, who invited that bitch?” Raye Ann snarled.

colored skin and the whitest, most perfect teeth. Raye Ann wasextremely proud of

“Which is what?” Christa asked.

always found a way to make her attire more provocative and sexier than anyone

relationships.“I’m serious. I mean, I’ve heard people say that a woman can love

It wasn’t surprising to learn that a woman found Raye Ann attractive. Most

and I almost went home with that heifer!”

her body and showed as much of it as possible wherever she went. She dressed

Tamia asked, taking another sip of Alize.

Deidra only lit up when she was anxious or stressed.

said they were her signature statement and she never went anywhere without them.

They all laughed before gettingrefills on their drinks.

silk blouse she wore was evidence of that.Atsix-foot-oneand one hundred

“A good stiff one!Fuck a dildo!”

“Behave,” Christa whispered, playfully nudging her.

“What you mean?” Deidra asked, as she blew smoke out of her mouth and

“Girl, stop lying!” Christalaughed. “You know you ain’t into chicks.”

height to her barely five-foot frame and bejeweled chokers around her neck. She

made it worse. Though Madeline knew that unlike Avis and her chain smoking,

stomped the bud of her cigarette.“You said everybody was getting together to help

Deidra Walters-Banks was a forty-oneyearold married Black woman who

professionally at the office where she worked as a business analyst, but Raye Ann

Madeline got up to answer it. “What are you doing here?” she frowned,

seventy pounds, she often looked imposing and her no-nonsense attitude was intimidating to some. Always with a short, wrap hairstyle and lightly made up face,

“Girl, please,” Deidra snorted, as if she’d been offended. “I guess I’ll take

Deidra was quite cute and didn’t looka day past thirty-five.Sheworked as a bank

gum intoher mouth and rubbed a dab of hand sanitizerover her hands.“Here you

always pretending to be something more than she was as if none of thewomen

bunch of lonely chicks, you feel me?”

flowers. They’re beautiful,” Christa said, kissing Deidra’s cheek. “Come on in and

night, but she had every intention of making up for it and letting the woman know

laughed hysterically about it.She wastoo humiliated to lash out at Deidra that

Raye Ann was mortified.And it hadn’t helped that everyone at the table

fine and dandy until you fuck em and then dudes be out with the quickness!”

time they all got together. Shepoured her heart out and cried about the latest man

go, Christa. I wanted you to know I’ve been praying for you, girl.”

Deidra had blurted.“What’s wrong with your shit?”

“Hey, hey, come on, ladies, not tonight. This is supposed to be fun,” Christa

understood why Madeline befriended her or kept bringing her around the rest of

“Hey, ladies, happy Valentine’s Day,” Deidra smiled, as she entered the

“It wasfun until sheshowed up! There’s never a problem until she comes

Raye Ann and Avis looked at each other androlled their eyes. Deidra was

said, hoping to calm things down between the two women.

who has a husbandso why wouldn’t you be somewhere with him instead of a

them.

spacious, plush living room carrying a dozen red roses.She popped a piece of mint

honesty, Deidravoiced things most people thought but had the sense or decency

“I’m surprised to see you, Deidra,” Avis said. “You’re the only one of us

“Hell, he don’t wanna be with her ass either,” Raye Ann stated.

“No, fuck you, Deidra!You always talking shit when you ain’t . . .”

“Well, thank you, I need all the prayers I can get. And thanks for the

some of the red wine if that’s the best you have.”

could see through her.She was a miserable, bitter woman and none of them

to take her to bed then never call again.

“Damn, Raye, what kind of poisonous pussy you got? Everything be going

manager and had nosort of filter when it came to the things she said. In all

the women wanted to see. Thatnight was no exception.

“You know what? Fuck you, Raye Ann!”

around running her mouth,” Raye Ann snapped.Shewas still upset from the last

not to say aloud. Opinionated and overbearing, shewas often the last person any of

get comfortable. Can I get you a drink? Alize seems to be the choice of the night.”

exactly what she thought of her.

“So anyway, Avis,” Tamia said, trying to salvage their good time, “you

slogans printed on them. Anyway, her latest theme is all about pink diamonds.So I

Madeline rolled her eyes. It irritated her to hear Avis say, “you feel me”

“Okay, ladies,” Madeline said, as she came out of the sundeck carrying a

through with it, you feel me?”

putting significance on whether a man can make you cum or not. He’s supposedto

play thatshit. Ain’t nobody going nowhere until I get mine!” Madeline laughed.

large, red gift bag. “I have a little something here. It’s my Valentine’s Day gift to

I’m not a selfish lover and I won’t tolerate a man who is. And neither shouldyou.”

“Okay, next subject,” Christa announced, as the memories ofmaking love

“And how do we know this? You’ve beenwith a woman?” Avis asked.

between being with a man or a woman?”

feel me?” Avis said, to the nods of the other women.

satisfied. He can use his mouth, fingers, or even his elbows and knees for all I care.

and her body ached for him as well as her heart.

gonna respond whether those lips belong to a male or a female. It’s really not a big

The other women felt bad forgettingcarried away talking about men and

It’s really not that big ofa deal,” Madeline interjected.

Madeline rolled her eyes again. “And like I said, that’s yourfault if you let it

nothing but a physical act. If somebody puts their lips on your clit your body is

being stimulated. Y’all the ones who get all caught up with being in love and

make you cum and it’s your fault if you let him get away with not doingit. I don’t

“Really?” Deidra frowned. “So you don’t think there’s any difference

“Well, not all of us got a sexyass Black kinglike Sidney Reid to knock it

to be there to help get her mind off Ellis, not remind her of him.

“What difference does it make? People get all bent out of shapewhen sex is

“I mean, aside from the obvious, no. Your body is merely responding to

women. She has t-shirts, aprons, andall kinds ofthings withuplifting, motivating

be a wrap. There are so many other things that can be done to make sure you’re

outthe park for us. Some dudes don’t last and once they get theirs, it’s a wrap,you

with Ellisoverpoweredher mind. She never had any complaints in the bedroom

sex, not taking into account what Christa was going through. They were supposed

“I’ve definitely been curious about it but I don’t know if I could ever go

you.A co-worker of mine started a new business making products that encourage

“Yeah, so?”

after nearly every sentence she spoke. “Y’all need to stop, with your prudish asses!

never did answer my question. Would you ever sleep with a woman?”

deal at all.”

“I guess I missed this damn story. When did all this go down?”

got these,”Madeline smiled, as she pulled four shoeboxes out of her bag and passed them out to Christa, Avis, Raye Ann, and Tamia. Also in the bag was a

artistically placed on the toe of the shoe.Deidra openedher box and forced a smile

announced, after everyone’s drink was refilled. “I’m going all outso you know it’s

grinned and held up her glass to toast.

home and plannedto sleepat Christa’s for the night.Even though Deidra drank a

patent leather, four-inch heels with their initials and the pink diamond emblem

The rest of themhugged and thanked Madeline for the lovely gift.Christa

but there was no way to explain the letter M being onthe shoe of a woman’s whose

be staying the night.

ordered a pair for herself too and assumed the remaining shoebox in the bag was

sister and friendsandDeidra was hurt.

watch that Madelinebought for herself but decided to give to Deidra so she didn’t

glass of wine, she hadn’t been invited to stay.

make the drive home,” Madeline stated, making it clear to Deidra that she wouldn’t

modeled through the living room as if it was a runway.“Thank you so much, Mad.

obvious Madeline hadn’t thought of her when she picked out the shoes for her

order one hoping it would make Deidra feel better. Avis followed suit but Raye

revealed and their lives would never be the same.

Christa, Avis, and Raye Ann agreed and the four of them put on the black

I lovethem!” she said, embracing Madeline tightly.

The women held up their glasses in celebration. None of them had a clue

Deidra to the door. Raye Ann, Avis, and Tamiaall had too much to drinktodrive

It was nearly one o’clock in the morning when Madeline got up to walk

that onJuly 30, 2011, the day of Avis’s big party, all of their secrets would be

“Well, I’ve decided to have a fortieth birthday bashthis summer,” Avis

gonna be off the hook, you feel me?We all gone have the time of our lives,” she

feel excluded.“Go ahead, open them.”

Ann took pleasure in rubbing Deidra’s nose in the fact that she was the only one

hers. Madeline considered giving them to Deidra since they both wore a size nine

initials were D.W.B.

“Well, why don’t you call Peter to come get you if you don’t think you can

when she saw the black watch with the pink diamond emblem on the face. It was

“Oh, I’m gonna work these bad boys, baby,” Raye Ann grinned, as she

“Ooh, I think I feel a little woozy,” she said, blinking her eyes quickly.

without a pair of shoes. All of them knew Madeline well enough to know she’d

made a big deal about how beautiful the watch was and how she was going to

The two women stared at each other for a few moments before Deidra

“Girl! These are smokin’!” Tamia shouted.

declared that she was okay to drive. She turned to leave but Madeline stopped her.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Don’t play with me,” Madelinesaid, as she held out her hand.

sister’s queen-sized canopy bed.She suppressed the urge to tell Christa to brighten

“Well, it’s not over yet. Look what I got.”

her first child after the main character Christabel Caine Carey.

nasty shit up,” Madeline said, pointing to the cigarette butt Deidra extinguished

“So did you have a good time?” Madeline asked, after plopping down on her

Christa snapped her fingers to get Madeline’s attention. “Yes, I can honestly

say I didhave fun. I really needed thistonight. Thanks, Mad.”

From the exchangeRaye Ann witnessedshe didn’t get the impression that

whole time she wondered what was really going on with Madeline and Deidra.

Madeline likedthe woman any more than shedid.

executive with the college professor husband have to borrow money from us lowly

comforter was depressing. Even the master bathroom was decorated in black and

“What?” Deidra frowned.

burgundy sectional sofawhere Christa laid out a pillow and blanket for her. The

“Why in the world would Mama name me after this character?” Christa

“Oh, shoot, I almost forgot,” Deidra stated, reaching into her purse. “How

Ever since she viewed the film at nineteen years old, Evelyn Stiles declared

“So what’sup with you and Deidra?” RayeAnnasked, startling Madeline.

earth did you even find that thing?”

“That’s the beauty of the world wide web. You can find just about anything.

an impression on her that thirteen years after seeingit for the first time, she named

“Fourhundred,” Madeline said dryly knowing full well Deidraknew how

up her bedroom for the millionth time. The black furniture, drapes, rug, and

people? Stankin’ ass bitch,” Raye Ann mumbled, as she made her way to the

“Umm huh, see I knew that bitch be frontin’.Why should the big bank

Christa burst out laughing when she saw the DVD her sister held. “Where on

So are you sleepy or are you game to watch it now?”

“Yeah, let’s see what Mama’s been raving about all these years.”

the 1950,Born to Be Bad,filmas her alltime favorite classic movie. It made such

“But I thought . . .”

“If I don’t specifically ask you to come then that means don’t.And pick that

much do I owe you?”

earlier.She closed the door in herface.

white. I need to do a makeover in here, Madeline thought, as she looked around the

room with a disgusted look on her face.

“Oh, nothing, she just owed me some money.”

much she owed. Madeline took the money. “Don’t just pop up over here again.”

asked of the manipulative, conniving Christabel. “Is this what she thinks of me?”

“Girl, quit tripping! You were a babywhen Mama named you. Hell, if

can make you that way.”

that. You know it’s true. I love Mama to death but she’sshadysometimesand we

“Shut up, stupid,” Christa laughed, playfully hitting her sister with a pillow.

“Maybe so, Christa, but if Ellis meant all of his claims of unconditional,

“Oh, it’s over! Why don’t you ask . . .” Madeline stopped abruptly.

“Why don’t I do what?” Christa asked, with a raised eyebrow.

She was hell bent on getting revenge on both Reesa and Ellisand talked about all

that, Mad. You know Ellis is a good man. I messed up by not telling him the truth

sister’s arm. “Come on, Christa, don’t read too much into it. The truth of the matter

“Bitch, check your motherboard because your information ain’t correct.”

After Madeline dropped thatbombshell, Christa’s sadness turned to rage.

same sentence. It’s because of his ass we don’t know what a decent dude even

undying love then he would’ve had the decency to at least talk to you face to face.

“Not gonna work, bitch! Tell me what I need to know.”

funky ass gone send a fuckin’ textmessage!”

Madeline frowned at her sister. “What? Christa, please don’t tell me you’re

He would’ve attemptedto understand and try to work things out. But nooo, his

anybody grew up to be like Christabel it’s me,” Madeline laughed, nudging her

“Oh . . . uh, nothing, I’m just tired and emotional and I probably need . . .”

the horrible things she’d do to them if she could get away with it.

“There’s a reason Reesa’s been M.I.A.”Christa thought her heart wasgoing to

“I think he just needs time to process everything.”

is Mama loved this movie because she’slike Christabel.Aw, don’t look at me like

sitting here waiting on Ellis to come running back to you.”

“Don’t say that, Mad. Daddy’s a good man.”

“I’m serious, Christa. Rodney Stiles and good man don’t everbelong in the

looks like. We’ve never had an example of one.”

both know it. But I’m sure dealing with a stupid motherfucka like Rodney Stiles

Madeline let out a long breath before gently grabbing her sister’s hands.

beat out of her chest.“She’s taken it upon herself to help Ellis get over you.”

“I had one,” Christa said, sadly. Madeline rolled her eyes. “Don’t be like

in the first place.”

“What we had was real, true love, Mad. I can’t believe it’s over.”

“Maybe I amlike Christabel after all,” Christa said.

To be continued.....