Miss Lola.

Date night.

Chapter 4.

Nancy is my go to person whenever I've needed a babysitter even for my own kids when they were little or just a friendly ear to listen to some juicy gossip.

"If you want me to watch Rhonda's little BèBè's kids, then it's gonna cost you."

"Girl, I got you." I chuckled a little at her apt description of my grandkids. They might not have been as awful as those cartoon kids but they were close enough.

"Gus has been invited as a guest speaker at a revival in Savannah next weekend and I'd really like for you to hook my hair up for the event."

Her husband, Reverend Augustus Freeman, is the pastor of a small but ever flourishing local church here in Elmwood.

"No problem, First Lady." I joked. "What time would you like for me to drop the kids off to you?"

"I'll be home at 6:30 tonight. What time will you pick them up?"

I had to think about it because I had a hot date so there was no telling when I'd be able to retrieve the kids.

"Umm...how late can you keep them?"

"Overnight if I have to, but only if you promise to throw in a mani/pedi."

"You're bursting my chops." I groaned because that was a bit much just to watch my grandkids for a couple of hours.

"Take it or leave it, Sis." Nancy drawled.

"Okay, I'll take. See you at 6:30 and thanks Nancy."

"No, thank you." She was actually cackling when she hung up.

"Doggone Preacher's wife." I grumbled, knowing that she'd pulled a fast one on me. "She's worse than a bill collector."

Checking my watch, I discovered that there was an hour to get dolled up for this "date" which would leave more than enough time to deliver the kids to Nancy's house.

I laid my outfit out on the purple comforter on my king sized platform bed and stood back tapping my teeth with the tip of one French tipped nail.

It was a simple black knee length, linen dress which I'd ordered from an exclusive boutique especially for tonight.

I thought about shoes and accessories and whether to wear my shoulder length curls up or down....

By six p.m. I was fully put together, the kids were freshly scrubbed because they hadn't bathed all day, and we were heading for Nancy's rambling, white frame house on the West side of Elmwood.

"You look pretty,  Big mama." Ray j.r said.

"Why, thank you sweety."

"You smell like flowers." Bella piped up from the back seat.

"It's called Jasmine Dreams, but thank you darlin."

"Why is your top lip all sweaty." Tommy asked.

"Why is your head so big, baby boy?" I asked, surreptitiously checking my top lip in the rearview mirror.

"Granny's lips aren't sweaty. That's lipstick." Bella said.

"Yeah, red lipstick too." Ray said. "And it's pretty. I like your lip color, Big Mama."

"Well...err..thank you baby, but what do you know about lipstick?"

"I know a lot about lipstick." He said.

I shot my six year old grandson a startled glance.

"Ummm...who taught you all this stuff?"

"His daddy wears it." Bella said.

Ray's little forehead wrinkled into a frown, "I don't even know who my daddy is."

"Dang." Tommy said, cracking up laughing.

"Bella, how do you know that?" I asked.

"Because mama told me."

"Told you what?"

"She told me that Ray's daddy liked to wear lipstick and pretty dresses and that's why they had to break up."

Well ain't that a b...

We pulled up in front of Nancy's house at exactly 6:30 p.m. and she met us in the driveway.

"Hi Lola. Girl you the bomb. Hi kids."

"Hi, Miss Nancy!" They all chorused.

After the kids had gotten out of my car and raced for Nancy's house she asked,"Girl, why you looking so spaced out?"

"My grandkids just told me some ... disturbing news, but anyway thanks again Nancy. Just stop by the salon anytime next week and I'll hook you up."

"I'll be there." She was eyeing my dress like a hungry dog. "You're really looking extra classic tonight. Is it a hot date?"

"Oh, not really." I was being evasive because she's my best friend and everything but Nancy's mouth is like the Grand Canyon and I don't feel comfortable with her gossiping about my love life with her miserable "church" lady friends behind my back.

"Oh." She looked disappointed. "Well, have fun."

"I'll do my best. See you later."

This "date" was with a man I'd met at one of my committee meetings.

Every woman has her type and it doesn't matter what race or if that man is old, young, rich or poor because once she meets him a part of her seems to awaken as if a fire had been kindled in her spirit and she knows that he's the one.

I'd been enamored with my children's father because every other girl had wanted him although truthfully, Merlin S.r had never been my true type, even if my young and impressionable behind hadn't realized it back then.

However this man is exactly what the doctor ordered.

His name is Hollis Williams and while I won't say that he's an exact dead ringer for a younger Mr. Denzel Washington, he could easily be mistaken for a cousin.

They even have that same devilish twinkle in their dark eyes.

Hollis owns one of the larger car dealerships in town, he's divorced with one son and tonight is our second real date and I'm excited.

He was waiting for me outside Luciano's restaurant, impeccably dressed in a sky blue suit and black tie and his solid gold cufflinks are shaped like dollar signs.

"Well, hello there pretty lady."

"Hello, Hollis."

"You look wonderful.
Are you ready to eat?"

"Oh, I'm always ready to eat." I joked and chuckling, he held the door open for me.

We were seated at a choice table up front and a black suited waiter swiftly arrived to lay out our glossy, menus.

"Would you like to see our wine list?" He asked.

Hollis nodded and made the selection without consulting me which was fine because I don't know much about wines anyway.

"Are you ready to order?" The first waiter asked.

Hollis smiled at me and said, "Ladies first."

"I'd like the..umm..the seared sea bass on a bed of white rice." I read from the menu.

"I'd like the same." Hollis said and the menus were whisked away.

Edited 1/31/23.