Miss Lola.

Chapter 10.

My cellphone started playing Whitney Houston's version of "I will always love you" and I paused long enough to dig it out of my purse, cheesing real hard when I saw that it was Hollis calling.

"Hello?"

"Well hello there." He said.

I hated it when men sounded dry and half dead over the phone, but Hollis' voice was smooth, sexy and full of personality.

"Hi, Hollis."

"You sound jazzed to hear from me." He teased, "And that's what I like."

"Ummm..hmmm." I huffed, with an eye roll as I sashayed over to my car and got in, although I just sat there with the windows down because I was trying to enjoy this cool breeze.

"Are you busy right now?" Hollis asked.

"No, I'm just sitting in my car. Why?"

"Are you hungry? I'd like to take you to dinner tonight."

"Yes, and you already know that I'm not turning down a good meal but I need to stop by my house first."

He chuckled and said, "Yeah, I know you need to freshen up. Just don't take too long."

"Are you giving me orders now, Mr. Williams?"

"I might be." Hollis said and I couldn't tell if he was joking or not until he chuckled again and said, "Just kidding."

Hmm...I wasn't so sure.

"Listen, I can come by your house and pick you up if that's okay with you." He said.

Hesitating, I tried to decide if it was prudent to let Hollis know where I lived this soon in our relationship because I'd had problems with stalkers before but shoot, I actually liked Hollis.. still a girl had to be cautious.

"How about you tell me where you live and I'll meet you there instead." I said.

Hollis gave me his address which was located in one of the nicer neighborhoods in Elmwood.

"I'll be there in less than thirty-five, forty minutes." I said with my fingers crossed.

My house was only a short drive away and when I pulled up in the driveway, lo and behold, Rhonda's little rust bucket Honda was parked on the street and her and the kids were waiting on my front porch.

"Have mercy." I say under my breath as I get out of my car.

"Hey, Big momma!" The kids scream and gallop towards me.

"Hello, what y'all doing here?"

I was talking to my grandkids but my eyes were on my daughter, burning holes in her tight, denim Daisy Dukes and skimpy, pink halter top and outrageous make-up.

I swear, everytime I see this child she's dressed like a tramp and I did not raise her like that.

"Hey, momma." Rhonda said.

Her eyes were shifting around but when the kids hugged me she sucked her teeth and rolled them.

The kids jumped up and down and started begging me to take them to Macdonald's.

"Well, I can't take y'all this time because I have something to do tonight."

I unlocked both doors and held the black, wrought iron security door open to allow my family to enter the house ahead of me and then I switched the foyer light on.

Rhonda was still avoiding eye contact and so I sent the kids into the kitchen and gave her a long, measuring look.

"What's your malfunction, girl? And why are y'all over here?"

"I don't have a malfunction." My daughter said, "But I have to work tonight and needed you to watch the kids but since you've got other plans I'll find another babysitter."

Folding my arms across my chest, I stared at her until Rhonda was forced to finally meet my eyes.

"What? Why you lookin' at me like that?"

"Where did I go wrong with you, girl? I've been trying to figure it out.
I mean, I thought that I was a good mother to you and Merlin.

I gave you almost every thing you needed and asked for..but obviously I must have gone left instead of right  otherwise you wouldn't be...stripping."

"This isn't about you, mother." Rhonda said, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"You better lower your voice, girl." I said.

"Okay, I'm sorry for raising my voice at you but sometimes you make me so..angry." Rhonda heaved a sigh, propped both hands on her hips and sighed again.

I could feel the frustration radiating off of her in waves, and I wondered just when did my daughter get so stressed out.

A mother always knows when something is wrong with her children even when they don't talk to their child regularly, it's like a sixth sense pings in her soul, warning her of danger and my senses were pinging off the charts.

"Is everything okay with you girl? You're not in any trouble are you?"

Rhonda's mouth had tensed up when she said,

"I'm fine, mama. Look, I know you're upset because I'm an exotic dancer and it's not your fault. Okay? It's just what I've chosen to do and how I've decided to make a living for my kids."

"Well, I wish you'd make another career choice." I said.

"It is what it is and I'm cool with it." She said defiantly. "Sorry to disappoint you."

"I'm not the one who should be disappointed." I pointed out. "Does your brother know?"

Rhonda made a face, "Merlin? Now why would I tell him something like this?"

"I thought you two were close. What happened?" I asked.

"We just grew apart. You know, Merlin has his own thing and I have mine. End of story."

I wanted to delve into this subject some more but then I remembered that I had a date with Hollis.

"Go over to Nancy's house and ask her to watch the kids for you. I've gotta get ready."

Rhonda followed me into the bathroom where I washed my face with Dove soap and then I had to shoo her out of the bathroom so that I could strip for a quick shower.

Wrapping a beach sized, Lilac towel around myself as I entered the bedroom, I scowled upon noticing that she'd seated her half naked behind on my brand new  comforter.

"I thought you had to work?"

"I don't go in until later tonight. So, where you going?" Rhonda asked.

"That's "nacho" business and I'd appreciate it if you would haul your naked cheeks off my bed. Thank you very much."

"I bet you're going out with Mr. Williams again." She said.

Instead of answering her, I opened my walk-in closet and selected a tan, short sleeved dress and matching, cork soled wedgies.

10/12/21.