By the time Alyssa-Joy made it downstairs to her car, she realized she had left the keys in her apartment. Kaycee sounded so hysterical over the phone, she barely made out a single word. AJ’s first and only thought was to get to KT as soon as possible. On her way back up to her apartment she convinced herself to calm down. Whatever KT needed, it wasn’t a friend just as hysterical as she was.
After retrieving her keys from the kitchen counter, AJ made a last minute decision to grab the new bottle of wine sitting on the table. We might need this, Alyssa-Joy thought to herself. She walked back downstairs to her car and drove over to KT’s apartment. She lifted the fake plant that sat next to the door and retrieved the spare key to let herself in.
“Kaycee?!” AJ called out, hoping she answered and sounded better than before.
There was no answer, so AJ continued to walk and head towards the back room.
“Kaycee!?” She called out again, but this time as she was pushing open the master bedroom door.
AJ could see the huge lump under the blanket that KT made and heard her sniffing to hold back tears. This meant that the first wave of her crying was over. Kaycee wasn’t an emotional girl, but when something hurt her, it hit hard. AJ had only seen her like this twice before and she didn’t care to see it again.
“Hey hun….what’s going on under there? You having a coke sniffing party?” AJ asked hoping to get KT to chuckle or something.
When Kaycee didn’t reply, AJ kicked off her sneakers and climbed under the covers to join her. She convinced KT to at least stick her head out for some fresh air and could tell she had been crying for a really long time.
“Kaycee, you are so red and puffy. What’s wrong? Please tell me why you’re so sad.” Alyssa-Joy pleaded.
Instead of a reply, KT looked up into AJ’s eyes and began to sob some more. KT let her head fall onto AJ’s chest and they wrapped their arms and legs around each other. While AJ held KT she thought of how they didn’t have anyone to do this for them except each other. It was part of the reason why she wanted to find a girlfriend that would. It wasn’t fair to Kaycee to demand so much of her emotionally and never give anything back.
“She’s such a fucking liar.” KT cried out, bringing AJ back from her thoughts.
“Who’s a liar?” AJ asked. “Who’s a liar Kaycee? Did someone hurt you?” AJ couldn’t think of any girl KT had been dating, so she really had no clue. Then, a light bulb went off and she knew who to ask. “Have you talked to your mom today?”
AJ felt the deep breath KT took before she responded, “I talked to her yesterday. She’s lied to me all my life AJ. All my life.” KT’s breaths were shaky as she calmed down, but she held onto AJ tightly and AJ held her back,
“So what did your mom lie about? Is every one okay?” AJ was relieved that nothing too serious had happened. She could talk Kaycee through her mama drama and be done in time for drinks with Angela later. For a second she felt bad about her plans. But if things worked out the way she wanted them to, Kaycee would have to share her with another woman.
“The birthmark wasn’t a coincidence AJ. No matter how many billions of people are on this planet….that birthmark is how we identify our kin. It wasn’t a coincidence.” KT was almost out of breath because of how much she had been crying.
Alyssa-Joy froze and so did the hand she was using to rub Kaycee’s back. What?!, she screamed to herself. Did she just imply that Angela is her sister?
“What do you mean it’s not a coincidence Kayceee? Who told you that?” AJ was trying to hide her frantic tone. She even forgot that KT just said, she spoke with her mom.
“My mama AJ!” Kaycee screamed in frustration, sitting up. “My mama tried to hide it from me but when I was seven she had an affair with a black man and Angela is the product of it.” KT untangled herself from AJ and went back under her covers.
Alyssa-Joy was speechless. The same woman she had been craving since the moment they spoke over the phone was her best friend’s sister. The same best friend who she inappropriately loved since college. AJ put her head in her hands and began to rock from side to side. She was just about to get lost in her thoughts about how this could happen to her when she froze again. Her? This wasn’t about her. Kaycee just found out she has a sister she never knew about. Adjust your love life later AJ, Alyssa-Joy said to herself. Kaycee needs you.
AJ pulled the covers back again and this time slipped right behind KT, like an ice cream scoop, molding around the creamy dessert and wrapped her arms tightly around KT’s waist.
“It’s going to be okay.” AJ finally managed to say. “Your mom will apologize. You’ll get all the details. And you and Angela will finally find a reason to not hate each other.” AJ sighed. She hoped she sounded convincing. “It’s going to be okay.”
KT shook her head as she laid in AJ’s arms and tried hard to believe every word she said. The tears she tried to fight back, finally broke free and for once her thoughts drifted from her mother’s infidelity and illegitimate child. She let her body fall helpless against AJ’s and thought about how grateful she was to have her. It was times like these that she was glad to have her in any capacity, she just needed her in her life.
Alyssa-Joy and Kaycee laid just like that until the sun went down. KT told AJ about her meeting with Angela, her moms slip up, the yelling and even the call she got from Angela right after telling her about how she went to visit “their” grandmother. AJ listening in disbelief, held KT tighter when she started crying again and when KT fell asleep from emotional exhaustion, AJ stayed up and just stared out the window in deep thought.
KT woke up to a dark room and the sun was no longer in sight. She felt AJ move behind her and smiled inside at the warm feeling being in AJ’s arms gave her. AJ sat up to look at the clock behind them and decided she had to get going. She almost talked herself out of leaving while KT was sleeping, but she couldn’t avoid Angela forever. Angela was dealing with this too.
AJ slid her arms from around KT and when she was sure that she was awake, she told her she had to go.
“Everything is going to be okay Kaycee.” AJ began. “Trust me, you’ll see. But I have to go.”
“Do you have to go right now?” KT asked, hoping AJ would change her mind.
“I do.” Alyssa-Joy explained without making eye contact. “I have plans, that I’m already late for. I’ll call to check on you in the morning….okay?”
KT turned her back to AJ. She knew where she was going. “Don’t bother….” KT responded.
AJ knew it was pointless to defend her leaving right now. Kaycee would understand someday she convinced herself. AJ leaned over KT placing a kiss on her cheek and left the apartment.
When AJ made it home she called Angela. They were suppose to meet at a new blues spot, but AJ thought it would be better to meet here at the house, especially since she wasn’t dressed and running late.
“Hey, I’m glad I’m caught you before you left your house.” AJ asked as soon as Angela answered the phone.
“Yes, actually you did.” Angela responded. “I’m running a little late. I haven’t been as excited to get dressed and go out as I thought I would be.”
“Well….that’s why I was calling. What do you think about just throwing on some sweats and coming over to my place for drinks instead?” AJ hoping Angela wouldn’t cancel the entire evening.
There was a long pause and just before AJ called out he name Angela replied, “I do like that idea better. See you in thirty?”
“Yes.” AJ smiled. “See you in thirty.”
Alyssa-Joy immediately jumped in the shower and threw on some new sweats. She brushed her teeth, pulled out the wine and glasses and even lit a few candles. When Angela knocked on the door, AJ had just turned on her favorite jazz mix. She had been thinking about Angela all day and wondering how she was taking the news. She wasn’t trying to be romantic. She wanted Angela to relax.
“Hey Lady.” AJ said as she opened the door.
“Hi.” Seven responded with a smile and wrapped her arms around AJ’s waist.
Their embrace wasn’t long, but it felt warm, safe and soft. AJ didn’t want to take her arms from around Angela’s neck. Suddenly, AJ thought of Kaycee. She remembered her arms were wrapped around KT’s sister and she felt small. AJ pulled away and stepped aside so Angela could walk in the apartment. They both walked over to have a seat on the couch and AJ poured the wine. There was a weird silence for a few minutes as they both pretended to be enjoying the jazz too much.
Finally, AJ interrupted the quiet, “So….I spoke with Kaycee today.” Alyssa-Joy didn’t want to pry, but it was her nature. She wanted to know what Angela thought and she wanted to know what Angela though about “them”.
“Oh…really?” Seven responded. “That’s some heavy news right?”
“It is.” AJ replied. She took a sip of her wine before her next question. “How does that make you feel?”
Seven sat up, obviously uncomfortable. She wasn’t ready to open up about this, but she didn’t want to push AJ away. Maybe this isn’t the right time for us after all, Seven thought to herself.
“I’m dealing with it.” Angela finally answered.
“How are you dealing with it?” AJ continued to pry. “Have you spoken to your grandmother?’
“Ummm yes…but listen…I don’t want to discuss this right now.” Seven stated as she stood and paced her glass down.
“No wait.” Alyssa-Joy grabbed her arm. “Please don’t go. You’re right. Lets just…..sit…please.”
Seven took her seat and pick her glass up again. It was quiet again, but they were sitting closer some how. AJ closed her eyes and let her head sway for a moment to the song that played. She was torn with her thoughts. She really wanted this woman, but somehow she felt like now, she would be crossing so many lines. AJ’s eyes were still closed when she felt Angela’s arms pull her into her body. Now, they both sat in the corner of the couch, still sipping wine, cuddled and listening to the jazz that filled the room.
I can’t believe I have a sister, right here in Ohio with me, Seven thought as she held Alyssa-Joy. A white girl at that. Angela sighed. This isn’t the time to pursue the feelings I have for AJ. Tomorrow…yeah tomorrow I’ll tell her we have to just be friends. Right now….right now….I just want to hold her.
AJ pressed her back into Angela’s chest and thought how right it felt to be there. Kaycee is going to really need me now, AJ thought as she sipped her wine. If I tell Angela how I feel, if KT knew how I felt about Angela….if I follow my heart….Kaycee will be torn. I can’t do this right now. I need to put Kaycee first. Tomorrow…yeah tomorrow I’ll tell her we have to just be friends.
“Angela?” AJ said in almost a whisper.
“Seven.” Angela replied, correcting AJ as usual with her name.
“Angela, I’m here if you need to talk.” AJ continued, ignoring Angela’s correction as usual.
“I know AJ…I know…” Seven replied.
