I Want Candy Page 10

  “She knows we’re back together, so you have nothin’ to worry about, OK, Baby?” Eric reassured as he hugged her. Candy nodded again.

  “OK, good. Now, we have a trip planned together, so let’s go ahead and get ready since the mood has been ruined,” Eric teased.

  Candy squinted her almond eyes, stood up, and slid her clothing back on. She opened her luggage and checked to make sure she had everything. “Do you have an extra tube of toothpaste?” she asked as she looked around his bedroom for anything that may be useful to bring.

  “Yeah,” he called out from the bathroom. “We can just share the one I packed. I’m lookin’ forward to this little road trip to Columbus. You can meet some of my friends and family. From what I saw online, the hotel looks really nice, too. I’m glad you agreed to this. I think it’s something we really need for our relationship,” Eric explained from behind the closed bathroom door.

  Candy sighed and nodded in agreement.

  * * *

  A pecan-complected woman with salt-and-pepper hair in a ponytail ran out of the small ranch house. She made her way towards Eric’s car laughing and waddling, arms expanded with a joyous grin to match her girth. Eric laughed while Candy smiled nervously.

  “There’s Mama,” Eric said as he patted Candy’s leg and swung open his car door. The gravel-covered driveway crunched under his Timberland shoes.

  “Hi, Mama!” he laughed again, the woman grasping him tightly, her long French manicured nails digging into the side of his jacket.

  “My Eric is here!” she exclaimed, in a high squeaky voice. Her purple and white floral shirt was matched perfectly with a pair of dark purple pants and shiny, lilac beaded necklace. Candy watched as Eric’s mother draped him in kisses. Suddenly a deep voice boomed from the front yard. A darker and slightly older version of Eric walked briskly to the car.

  “Terrence!” Eric said to his brother who was holding a bag of barbeque briquettes.

  “Baby Boy!” Terrence yelled back as he approached the car, his dark sunglasses bouncing atop his wild curly coif. Soon sisters and brothers poured out of the house, laughing and screaming as they approached Candy and Eric. The car was surrounded with a slew of relatives.

  “Don’t leave that pretty girl in the car!” Eric’s mother exclaimed. Eric walked over to the passenger side of his Audi and opened the door. Candy smiled shyly and stood up among the sea of laughter, surmising stares, and animated faces in colors of bright sunshine to deepest midnight.

  “Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Candy,” Eric announced as he took her sweaty hand in his.

  “Hi, Candy,” Eric’s mother said. “Nice to meet you! Eric has said some really nice things about you. Come on inside, Girl. Let’s get you something to eat and drink.”

  “Thank you,” Candy said as she made her way through the crowd, Eric’s mother almost dragging her by the wrist. Candy smelled the freshly cut grass and the scent of coconut hair oil in the air. She smiled as she witnessed a two-year-old girl with large afro puffs and yellow barrettes running clumsily, slightly bowlegged, after a small, white dog. The front door swung open, allowing ample room for Eric’s mother’s hips. On the couch sat a few teenagers who were texting on their cell phones and lazily looking up at the television, some drinking slowly from chilled cans of fruity soda. Candy was led past them, into an expansive kitchen where a large strawberry cake with pink cream cheese icing and slices of fresh assorted berries awaited. Pans of homemade potato salad with large chunks of onion and celery were nearby, along with a tray of freshly grilled hot dogs and burgers. Two large pitchers of lemon iced tea were on a nearby counter, thick slices of oranges floating around chunks of ice. Eric’s mom shoved a paper plate into her hand.

  “Now you help yourself. The ribs aren’t ready yet. That’s what everyone’s waitin’ for,” Eric’s mother smiled. “The baked beans are under that foil, and in that cooler down there’s beer and all kinds of pop. If there’s something you need or want but don’t see, please ask me – Diane.”

  “Oh, my name’s Candy,” she said politely.

  “No, Baby!” Eric’s mother said with a country slur as she laughed at Candy’s misunderstanding. “I was sayin’ my name’s Diane! You don’t need to call me anything formal. ‘Diane’ is just fine.”

  “Yes, Ma’am!” Candy laughed.

  “No problem, Honey. Now, our family can be a bit much, so don’t feel too overwhelmed. Eric’s the baby of the family, so sometimes his sisters and brothers feel extra protective of him. Just enjoy yourself,” Diane encouraged before pouring herself a cup of water and walking away. In a state of confusion, Candy slowly proceeded to carefully select items for her plate. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.

  “Hi, Baby,” Eric said, leaning his chin on her shoulder. “My mother didn’t scare you, did she?” he teased.

  “No, not at all. She seems really sweet,” Candy said as she gingerly lifted a cover of foil, exposing layers of hot metts.

  “You OK in here? I’m gonna go out back and talk to my stepfather. Come out when you’re ready, OK?” Eric said without waiting for an answer. Candy nodded as he headed out the back door. Through the kitchen window, she watched as Eric approached a slender man with a red baseball cap and apron. They embraced and started talking. Candy finished organizing her plate and walked out into the backyard. An above-ground pool was filled to the brim with splashing children who tossed a multicolored ball back and forth. The smell of grilled beef and pork permeated the air along with music from Frankie Mays. Candy found an open folding chair near a table where several people were playing cards. She sat down cautiously, placing the plate carefully across her lap.

  “Man, you cheatin’ again! I told you I don’t play wit’ cheaters. I knew you were gonna do this shit again, Man!” screamed a slightly intoxicated elderly man with a relaxer, plaid pants, and a tight, white shirt.

  “You just mad ’cause you losin’ again, Frank. Put your cards down or leave!” responded an equally intoxicated pudgy man in his fifties wearing a yellow sunvisor on his shiny, balding head. Candy was enjoying the wonderful family atmosphere as she watched two teenage girls with short pink skirts, their hair in super-high up-dos in a multitude of vibrant colors. One was holding her purple cell phone while the other one looked and laughed.

  Candy dug her plastic fork into the heaping pile of potato salad. The chopped scallions, celery, paprika, and seasoned potato moved about her taste buds as she savored the flavors. It was homemade, just like her mother’s. Before long, Candy’s plate was clean, and her shoulder was tapped, again. The cool condensation of a beer bottle rocked up against her bare flesh. A tall, reddish-brown woman with short, cropped, natural hair and large, sterling silver hoops and a diamond nose ring smiled down at her. Her body was like that of a model, her smile creepily perfect.

  “Hi,” the woman said cheerfully extending her hand. “My name is Sanye. I’m a friend of Eric’s.” She smiled wide and took a slow sip of her beer.

  “Hello, my name is…”

  “Candy. I know your name,” Sanye said with a smirk. Candy adjusted her weight in her seat, feeling tension building. She crossed her arms and looked up at Sanye, without blinking. Her facial expression read, ‘What do you want?’

  Sanye licked her bottom lip. Her pointy little nose shined in the sunlight along with her glossy, dark-red lips. Putting her hand on her hip, she looked Candy up and down.

  “He was just with…I think her name was Lisa? Oh, I can’t remember,” she chuckled. “I guess Eric moves fast. No one’s ever the last one,” she added, looking away into the distance. “How did you meet him?” Sanye asked.

  “Sanye, it was nice meeting you, but I must be going now.” Candy stood up and calmly walked away. Her eyes searched urgently for Eric. In the large sea of family and friends, she only saw people dancing and talking, their warm bodies baking in the sun, moving to and fro in her way. Blurs of colors and tunnels of voices filled her senses. She started to feel lightheaded a
s she turned in various directions, not seeing him. Her arm was suddenly grabbed.

  “Hey, Suga!” a burly man with thick salt-and-pepper facial hair said. “Who you be? I ain’t seen you before. I hope you ain’t a relative, because hot damn – do fries go with that shake?” The man laughed heartily while licking his plum-colored, cigarette-burned bottom lip.

  “Let her go. Damn!” blurted a dark-complected, smooth-skinned, nineteen-year-old with a Chicago Bulls basketball jersey. His handsome, youthful demeanor had drawn a small circle of young ladies. His hair was cut in a short, cropped fade causing his dark eyebrows to be the center of attention on his chiseled, flawless face.

  “You better watch your mouth, Young Blood!” spat the burly man.

  “I ain’t gotta watch shit. You always try and holla at some young woman when you need to be takin’ care of your wife. Why don’t you go bother someone else? Back up. This Uncle Eric’s girl anyway!” The young man invaded the personal space of his burly relative.

  “I’ll turn you over my knee, you smart-mouthed punk!” shouted the now embarrassed man. Candy shook loose from his meaty hand.

  “Sorry about that,” the teen apologized, turning his back to him. “That’s the family idiot. I’m Laurel, Uncle Eric’s nephew. You lookin’ for Eric?”

  Candy smiled appreciatively. “Yes. Thank you.”

  “He in the house – in the basement. I’ll take you.” Candy followed close behind, looking sheepishly around as they bustled through clusters of laughing people. They entered the house, now more crowded than before. Laurel opened the creaky basement door. The scent of marijuana, incense, and barbeque chicken immediately billowed out. Loud, classic West Coast rap music played, and male voices of varying octaves cascaded from one end of the room to the other. Candy held onto the paint-chipped wooden stair rail as her feet slowly hit the last step. Through the smoke, she saw several men sitting at an old card table with bottles of beer, cigarettes, and joints.

  “He’s right there,” said Laurel before turning back up the steps. Candy made out Eric, who was leaned back in a chair laughing. His eyes cut over to Candy’s as he saw her approaching.

  “Heeey, Baby,” he said, placing his small joint in a cheap metal ashtray. A swirl of smoke escaped from between his soft lips.

  “You got you a banger there, Boy,” said one of the men who looked Candy up and down lustfully.

  “I know. You can put your tongue back in your mouth now,” Eric snapped as he slowly stood up and kissed Candy on the cheek. Candy looked Eric up and down angrily.

  “Are you high?” she whispered in his ear.

  Eric stood back and looked at her annoyed. “Yes. And?” he snapped.

  “You know, I knew you smoked sometimes, but I had no idea it was like this!” Candy turned away and moved towards the steps. Eric gently grabbed her arm.

  “Candy.” He pulled her into him, speaking closely in her ear. “I only do it occasionally for recreation. I do it to relax sometimes. I’m here with my brothers having a good time. It’s no big deal. I won’t be smokin’ anything on the rest of this trip. I promise,” he said as his eyes pleaded for her to not make a scene.

  Candy looked down at the ground. She concentrated on her feet, studying her pedicure as her thoughts drifted. The anger slowly left her body, and her stiff shoulders relaxed. Eric kissed her cheek. He turned away, grabbed his drink, and escorted Candy back upstairs. As he rubbed her back, he whispered, “Gimme twenty minutes. I’ll be back up. We’re finishing a game.”

  Candy rolled her eyes as she watched him slowly disappear into the smoky haze of the dark basement, closing the door quickly behind him. As she continued to stare at the closed door, she felt eyes upon her. She turned to her left and saw Diane smiling pleasantly. Diane sipped contemplatively on a chilled glass of lemonade with thick, yellow wedges of fruit floating in a sea of seeds and syrupy water. Taking one final sip, she slowly walked up to Candy and put her hand across her back.

  “My baby must really like you to bring you here, Candy,” Diane said assuredly. “’Tween you and me, I like you much better than his last girlfriend, and I just met you,” she winked and smiled. Candy smiled back.

  “Thank you,” she said shyly. “I do appreciate meeting all of you. Eric was right when he said he had a large family. You all seem quite close,” Candy added as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other nervously.

  “Oh, we are. All families have their problems, but we’re a tight-knit bunch, and Eric’s no exception. He’s a mama’s boy, but I don’t interfere in his personal life. I’m just not that kinda mama. Now, if he comes to me wantin’ advice, which he has from time to time, that’s a different jar of nuts altogether, and if I see him messin’ someone over, I say something then, too. He really is a good man though – kinda immature at times, but I can tell he really adores you. He hasn’t seen his family in a little bit, and I know they were all excited to find out he was coming.” Diane sloshed her glass around and stared off into the distance.

  Candy suddenly felt her nervousness disappear. She felt so at home standing there next to Diane, who treated her like her own. She was snapped out of her thoughts as two children abruptly rushed past her screaming and bumping into her hip, causing her to fall into Diane’s leg.

  “Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry,” Candy said as she watched half of the glass of lemonade slosh onto the floor.

  “Y’all better stop runnin’ in this damn house! I done told you three times. No more warnin’s, Amena and Armani!” Diane’s raised voice and furrowed eyebrows sent temporary silence through the house. “Oh, and you never mind. It wasn’t your fault. It’s Paula’s bad ass kids. They don’t mind her. That’s Eric’s cousin. She’s floating somewhere around here.” Diane ripped off a paper towel from the roll and began to clean up the spill.

  “Oh, let me help you,” Candy insisted.

  “No, Baby, that’s fine. You’re the guest. Have yourself a seat. The ribs are on their way into the house, and I want you to be first in line to taste my brother’s miraculous creation!” Diane laughed heartily as she struggled down onto her knees.

  Suddenly a swarm of multicolored faces began to huddle together as an older man with a peanut-shaped head, brandishing a wide smile and gold tooth, entered the kitchen. He set down two large platters of slathered babyback ribs, the meat so tender it was barely hanging on the bones. The hickory scent and natural oils mingled together, exuding the smell of summer. The basement door swung open, and the men, once zombies, came to life. Their eyes were glazed over as they followed the aroma. Diane popped up, pushing people back.

  “Now everyone, calm down. You know the routine. Let Ed cut it up, then get in line. No fightin’, cuttin’, or cursin’. Let the elders go first, and the children will be served by an adult. I ain’t playin’! I don’t wanna see any kids diggin’ in their noses, then reachin’ for ribs.” Diane took Candy’s arm and pressed it into her waist. “Let Candy go first. Candy, get Eric some too, and you two can go eat wherever you can find a seat.” She winked at Candy and disappeared into the crowd like a fog had enveloped her.

  Candy looked at everyone as they stared at her silently, but intensely. She watched as Ed finished cutting some of the bones apart. He wiped his hands on his apron and smiled at Candy pleasantly, motioning for her to get her share. She smiled back, feeling the perspiration accumulating at the nape of her neck. Candy removed a modest amount for herself then took another paper plate in her hand. She heard Eric call out from the back of the crowd.

  “Baby, don’t be stingy. Make sure you gimme a Fred Flintstone-sized rib!” he chuckled.

  “Oh, shut up, Eric!” someone laughed. “Quit tryin’ to send your woman in to hog up all the hog!” Laughter erupted. Candy took Eric a portion that was double that of hers and quietly said “excuse me” as she made her way timidly through the thick crowd, carving a tunnel in his direction. Suddenly gregarious chatter emerged, the music started again, and she could smell Eric’s distinct
scent next to her. He kissed her cheek, took his plate from her hands, and escorted her back outside under an umbrella-covered table with two sunken-in chairs. The scent of freshly cut grass, grilled meats, and sweaty children filtered in the air past Candy’s nostrils, making her smile as she carefully sat down, placing a shiny red plastic cup of lemonade on the table.

  “Thanks for comin’, Babe,” Eric said as he dug his teeth into a rib bone, holding it delicately with both hands.

  “Thank you for invitin’ me,” Candy responded as she surveyed her plate. “Your mom seems really nice, Eric,” she added before deciding that the potato salad would be a good starting point.

  “She is,” Eric nodded. “She’s like a saint. I have no idea how she put up with us kids and Dad. I figure we’ll be here another hour or two, then check in at the hotel and get some sightseein’ done if you want. I wanna swing by here tomorrow morning to say goodbye.” Eric looked up dreamily.

  “Of course.” Candy looked down at her plate then back up and observed two teenage boys laughing and slapping each other’s shoulders.

  “Are you OK?” Candy asked as she looked back at Eric, who seemed to be deep in thought. A breeze caught his scent, bringing it towards her once more, intoxicating her with lusty sensations. Eric looked at Candy and smiled faintly. He touched her hand, looked down at his shoes and back up.

  “Candy, it’s really a big deal for me to bring you here. My mother’s a good judge of character, and this was really the final confirmation for me. I just wanted you to know that I love you very much, and I’m just glad you’re here.”

  Candy blushed and nodded as she leaned close and kissed Eric on his cheek.

  * * *

  “Eric, you’re gonna be late!” Candy yelled from the hotel bathroom. “Your mother said she had to leave this mornin’ for church, and you’re in here playin’ around!” She wrapped the thick, white, luxurious, five-star hotel towel around her body and exited the shower. Her loose curls were pinned up and damp. She reached up into her hair, gliding the metal duck clips out of her tresses with agitation as some of them caught onto tangled strands. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. On the unmade hotel bed was a single red rose. Candy’s loins vibrated as she recalled their night of carnal passion after returning from the family cookout. She turned to her left and saw wedged between the pillows, a white satin box with a red bow atop it.