Eve's Time: Kenya's Introduction

      The alarm clock on the night stand read 2:37 AM Kenya rolled over in the king-size bed adjusting the pillows under her head and snuggling her body pillow just a little bit tighter. Pulling the blue comforter up to her chin, she stared at the window. In a spot where the sheer curtain was slightly open and just between the closed blinds, she could see the half-moon in the night’s sky. Such an awesome beauty in the midst of darkness she thought to herself as she turned and faced the ceiling. 
       In the background of the evening, Kenya could hear the water dripping in the bathroom sink while Elmo was counting to ten on the TV in Ameea’s room. Glancing towards the door, she could see the light from the TV dancing on the walls in the hallway. Five-year-old Ameea refused to sleep without the TV on and that was one fight Kenya was willing to lose after struggling for nearly 4 months to get her to sleep in her own bed. Every night, Kenya would have to wait for Ameea to fall asleep between her and Anthony before carrying her to her room – only to find her curled up with her Elmo teddy bear at the foot of Kenya’s bed the next morning. A smile came to Kenya’s face at the thought of Anthony. Although he wasn’t Ameea’s father, he had been a part of her life since she was nine months old and treated her as his own. Rolling over on her right, Kenya stared at the empty spot next to her in the bed as the smile disappeared from her face. She reached over to the spot where he should have been laying and smoothed out the wrinkles in the comforter and straightened up his pillows. Even though she had already called his cell phone several times earlier without getting an answer (once to say dinner was ready, another to see if he’d gotten her text and another because Ameea wanted to say goodnight), Kenya thought she’d try calling Anthony one last time. Sure he’d said he would be home by at least midnight and he was a grown man but anything could have happened. He could’ve been in a car accident or anything. She threw back the covers in search of her iPhone and found it tucked beneath her pillow. Checking the time on the phone’s display, Kenya was disheartened to see it was after 3 a.m. and he still hadn’t come home. A sinking feeling started to stir in the pit of her stomach. There was no need calling, she already knew the answer. No, he wasn’t coming home tonight. Kenya wiped a few tears from her eyes as she laid the phone next to the clock on the nightstand.  Burying her face into the mattress and covering her head with the covers, Kenya let out a few deep sobs. How did their relationship end up here? Everything was so perfect in the beginning. She could remember when they first met like it was yesterday.

It was a hot evening in July and Kenya had agreed to hang out with one of her girlfriends at a luau-style barbeque. Having become a new single mom just eight months earlier, Kenya didn’t get out as much anymore. There weren’t too many people she trusted with her baby girl and she hated being away from her for too long.  Dressed in a yellow and blue halter-style short jumper and yellow wedged sandals, Kenya stepped out for a night of much-needed fun.  While mingling with friends at the barbeque, Kenya caught the eye of an attractive guy standing on the other side of the yard talking amongst a group of men near the grill. The attraction was immediate. Kenya returned his smile and gave her attention back to the conversation. She wasn’t here to meet anyone, she’d had her share of broken hearts and just wasn’t too fond of “love” anymore. Besides, Ameea was all the love she needed.  As she mingled among the party guests, Kenya discovered she wasn’t the only girl who’d spotted the attractive guy from earlier. She heard several women inquiring about who he was and if he was single. One of Kenya’s friends mentioned she’d heard from some other girls that his name was Anthony, he was 30-years-old, worked at a warehouse for Pepsi Co., had no kids, no wedding ring, drove a Charger, and didn’t live at home with his mama. On top of all that, he was very handsome, 5’11”, beautiful smooth dark skin, medium build, gorgeous smile … and something else she just couldn’t quit put her finger on … oh, yeah, swag! The women started slapping fives and praising God for such a good black man. Laughing and shaking her head at them, Kenya walked away from the group to find something to nibble on and get a cold drink. While fixing a plate an older woman Kenya hadn’t noticed before was also fixing a plate.

“You know everything that glitters ain’t gold,” she said, leaning over so Kenya could hear her. Kenya looked around but saw that it was only her and the old woman standing at the table.

“I’m sorry? Are you speaking to me?” Kenya asked her.

“It may look like a duck, walk like a duck, and even quack like duck, but sometimes it’s just a pigeon in a duck suit. If it’s love you’re looking for, baby, find Jesus. There’s no greater love in the world.”

Kenya looked at the old lady as if she’d lost her mind. “Jesus, huh? I ain’t never got a Valentine’s Day card from Him.”

The old woman shook her head. “Everything that glitters ain’t gold. Be blessed, baby.”

“Thanks?” Kenya replied, unsure what that whole thing was about.

Who let their grandma wander around at a party when she has Alzheimer’s? That was so irresponsible.

Jesus? Kenya didn’t grow up in a family that went to church every Sunday so the most she knew about Jesus was what she learned during her annual trips there on Easter Sunday.    

After finishing her food and drink, Kenya walked towards the house in search of a bathroom. Stepping inside the kitchen, she ran into LaToya, the host of the party, as she was getting more drinks out the refrigerator. “Let me hold that door for you.” Kenya reached to hold the door of the fridge as LaToya grabbed an arm full of pop. On the doors of the refrigerator were photos of LaToya’s family. One of the photos was of her hugging the old woman that Kenya encountered outside sitting on the front porch of the house. “Girl, your grandmother is a trip. She had me hemmed up outside going on about Jesus is love and how finding Him is the beginning of a true love relationship. Girl, like I got time for that!” Kenya closed the door as LaToya sat the drinks on the counter. With a look of confusion on her face, LaToya shook her head.  “Sounds like something my Granny would say, but she’s been dead for like five years now!” With an even more confused look than LaToya had, Kenya stepped towards the door to scan the yard for the old lady but she didn’t see her. “I just stood right there at that table for at least five minutes talking to the lady in that picture!” Kenya exclaimed as she pointed to the table in the yard and then to the picture on the refrigerator door. “Have you been drinking, honey?” LaToya asked Kenya as she headed toward the backyard. “No, I haven’t been drinking and I’m not crazy. You know what? Never mind, where is your washroom?” “It’s down the hall, first door on the right.” LaToya grabbed the drinks and went out the back door as Kenya went into the washroom.  After washing her hands, Kenya stared at herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. She considered herself to be a beautiful woman. She was 5’3”, about 160 pounds, shoulder-length hair, and her caramel-complected legs were looking good in these shorts. Any man should be more than happy to love her. She knew how to cook, kept a clean house, and was very independent. All she wanted was a man that could hold his own and who knew how to be affectionate while dangerously in love with her. What was so hard about that?

Kenya refreshed her lip gloss and opened the bathroom door. Stepping out, she ran right into the chest of Anthony. Both excused themselves and Kenya stepped to walk away. “I absolutely love your outfit. That color looks beautiful on you.” Anthony said just as Kenya was turning the corner. She took a step back to see Anthony standing in the bathroom doorway. “Thank you,” she said getting ready to walk again. “Would I be to forward if I asked your name?” Anthony had taken a step out of the doorway towards Kenya. “Kenya” she said smiling. Just behind her, Kenya could hear the old lady’s voice whisper just as she had when they spoke at the table: “Everything that glitters ain’t gold.” Kenya swirled around quickly but there was no one there. “Are you okay?” Anthony asked as he placed his hand on Kenya’s shoulder. Startled, she jumped a little. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m actually heading out. I have to get home to my daughter.” Anthony extended his hand to Kenya, “Well, you have a good night.” Kenya shook his hand. “708-555-5556” Kenya rattled off her cell number. She’d watched this man for most of the night and not once did she see him talking to any of the other women. She deserved a man with his list of attributes. Who said Jesus didn’t send him for her to have?! Kenya said her good nights and headed for the back door, satisfied with her decision. Walking around to find the friend she’d come with, Kenya overheard a few whispers about how much of a ladies’ man Anthony was rumored to be. She’d had her fair share of cheaters (Ameea’s father) and wasn’t looking for the drama that came along with a “player”. Kenya wanted so much more when it came to being in a relationship, she wanted love. Real love, you know the kind you only see in movies where the girl who’s made fun of in school turns out to be really cute underneath her glasses and the captain of the football team goes out with her as a joke but ends up falling in love with her.  Yeah, maybe everything that glitters ain’t gold. Kenya laughed out loud to herself as the old lady’s voice popped in her head again. Maybe she had had one too many Bahama Mamas. The other women must have seen him asking for her number and were jealous. Yeah, that’s what it was.

 Over the next several weeks, Kenya spent every free moment she had with Anthony. They went to museums, saw live plays, ate at nice restaurants, and so many other activities Kenya had never experienced before. Anthony was seven years older than she was and introduced her to things she’d never thought were possible. For her 24^th birthday, they spent an entire week laying on the beaches in Cancun. The icing on the cake was how well he had bonded with Ameea. He spoiled her rotten and she seemed tickled by anything he said to her. Kenya had never felt so in love with a man before in her life. Anthony sent flowers to her job just because, would leave love notes around the house for her find at random, and paid to have Ameea’s entire room decorated like she lived on Sesame Street. Kenya was soon hooked and before she knew it Anthony was living with her and Ameea. Life with Anthony was perfect, sometimes gold glitters too. 

EHHH! EHHH! EHHH! The alarm clock on the nightstand brought Kenya to a rude awakening. She slammed the snooze button to silence that horrible reminder that she had to get ready for work after just an hour or two of sleep.  She pulled the covers up over her shoulders and rolled over. To her surprise, there was Anthony, sound asleep on his previously empty side of the bed.