Cheesecake and Teardrops by Faye Thompson Page B

for the bathroom to sterilize the earrings with alcohol before putting them in her earlobes. They were exquisite. She loved earrings, bracelets, rings, ankle bracelets, toe rings, and an occasional necklace. The list went on and on. Jewelry, clothes, shoes. Every week there was at least one new addition to her home. She was a true shopaholic. That’s why her monthly American Express bill was sky-high.
    The girls met Friday night at Red Lobster. After they ordered dinner and their drinks arrived, they raised their glasses in the usual toast.
    â€œSo what’s happening on the job? ” Tangie asked Charisma.
    â€œWho’s happening is more like it,” Heather added.
    â€œYou got that right.” Tangie laughed.
    â€œWell,” Charisma began. “Tomorrow night’s the game.”
    â€œWhat game?” Tangie and Heather asked in unison.
    â€œRemember I told you he’s taking me to the Garden?” Charisma sipped her Miami Vice.
    â€œNo,” Heather and Tangie said.
    â€œWell, anyway, he bet me dinner that the Lakers would slaughter the Knicks. Only he doesn’t know the Knick’s are gonna put a hurtin’ on ’em.” She laughed.
    â€œHow long has he been working with you?” Tangie asked.
    Charisma thought for a moment. “Since early October, why?”
    â€œYou two are finally dating. It’s about time,” Tangie said, reaching for her glass.
    â€œWe are not dating,” Charisma insisted. “We’re just going to a game.”
    â€œAnd dinner,” Heather added.
    â€œAnd dinner,” Charisma admitted, smoothing down the hair on the back of her neck. “But that’s it. Then he’ll go home to his house, and I’ll go home to mine.”
    â€œNot if you both play your cards right.” Heather grinned.
    The waitress returned with hot cheddar biscuits. Tangie said grace, and they dove right in. Even the eternal dieter, Heather couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into them.
    â€œMmm,” she moaned. “I forgot just how good these are.”
    The look on Heather’s face was one of pure joy.
    â€œI know, girl,” Tangie said. “Just enjoy it.”
    â€œDid I tell you guys I got hit on by this woman I went to high school with?” Heather asked.
    â€œUh-uh,” Charisma said.
    â€œYeah, she was really smooth with her stuff. I ran into her shopping one day, and a couple of days later she met me for lunch. It started to rain so she whipped out her umbrella. Anyway, we were huddled together walking down Jamaica Ave. She was holding the umbrella with one hand, and she had her arm around me trying to keep me dry. Then her hand kind of drops and grazes my breast.”
    â€œHow do you know it wasn’t an accident?” Charisma asked.
    â€œâ€™Cause it lasted just a little too long, and she couldn’t look me in the eye afterward. And would you believe she actually blushed?”
    â€œWell, you know what they say. Once you have a woman, you never go back,” Tangie said.
    â€œThat’s what they say,” Heather agreed.
    Â 
    Charisma was up bright and early Saturday morning. She threw on a royal blue sweat suit and headed for Daisy’s for her weekly shampoo. Normally, she went on Sundays after church, but since she was going out that night with Nate she wanted to look her best. It was a few minutes till nine.
    She parked right across the street from the salon and fed the parking meter. The salon was not yet packed.
    â€œ Hola, Charisma,” Daisy greeted her as she walked through the door. Daisy was a friendly Latina with beautiful brown eyes and an infectious laugh.
    â€œ Hola, Daisy,” she said in return.
    â€œ Que quieres? ” Daisy asked her
    â€œJust a wash and curl,” Charisma told her, hanging up her jacket on the coatrack and heading toward the rear.
    â€œMaria, Charisma quiere shampoo, ” Daisy said.
    Maria, a young Puerto Rican