Miss Lola.

Chapter 34.

While driving home, it struck me that seeing Merlin after all these years hadn't stirred up any feelings of lust so I figured it was all good because there was a time when just the mention of his name had gotten me all hot and bothered.

His apology did seem sincere and I started thinking about trying to forgive him which could be an uphill battle and then I remembered the card which Hollis had given me and decided to give his therapist a call.

I just needed to let the anger and bad feelings go so that I could go on with my life.

Merlin J.r had gone back home so there was no-one waiting for me when I stepped inside of my house and I realized that I missed having my son around.

It's funny, but most black mother's worry more about their sons than their daughters because there's so much out here to tempt sons to break the law or get involved with the wrong crowd or worse.

Thank goodness my son had turned out so well, it was that daughter of mine who had always given me such grief.

I put the groceries away and found the card with the name of Hollis's therapist, it was some long, unpronounceable foreign name and when I called the number a perky girl answered.

"Thank you for calling the Stokes Institute. How may I help you today?"

"Yes, this is Lola Simmons and I'd like to make an appointment with doctor..umm..Dez Um Zeller? Dezay- zay?"

"Oh, do you mean doctor D?" She asked.

"If that's what y'all call him."

"Yes, we do actually because it's easier. Who referred you?"

"Umm..nobody referred me. I got his  card from a friend."

"Ah, well the doctor is taking new patients next month. Can I make you the appointment?"

"Next month? Well, sure."

Five minutes later I had an appointment for the twenty-fourth of June with Doctor D and just that much had made me feel a lot better.

Then I called Avis.

"Hey girl. How you?"

"I'm alright. Just taking it one day at a time." She said.

"Would you like for me to stop by after work? I can buy you dinner."

"No thanks. I think I'm gonna just stay in bed all day."

"Avis? Can you promise me that you won't hit the bottle?"

"Girl, I'm sipping on some gin and juice right now but nothing's giving me a buzz." Avis sounded glum.

"No, Avis."

"Why not? Hell, I need to get drunk. In fact, I plan to get tore up from the floor up and then I'm going to pass out in my bed all day."

"Well, do you girl. I'll bring the aspirin tomorrow morning. Call me if you need to talk or if you're able to talk."

"Sure. Bye Lola."

"Bye."

Not much was happening at the Shop today so I took some inventory and had the kids give the place a good scrubbing down.
Rhonda called me an hour before I normally locked up.

"Mama? Why didn't you tell me that you're marrying Mr. Hollis?"

"Well, it ain't a big secret. Y'all should have guessed it by now." I said.

"I would have liked to hear it from you."

"Okay, I'm marrying Mr. Hollis."

"That's not funny, mother."

"Well it's funny to me. Who told you about the wedding anyway?" I ask.

"Aunt Sarah and cousin Janet. They stopped by the Bargain Barn last night and couldn't wait to spill the beans."

"Wait a minute. You're back at the Bargain Barn?" I asked.

"No. I was doing some shopping for the kids." Rhonda said.

"Oh." I was disappointed because if she wasn't back at the Bargain Barn that could only mean that she was still  stripping.

"So, when is the wedding?" Rhonda asked.

"We haven't planned it out yet but hopefully sometime in June. I'd love to be a June bride." I gushed.

"I guess I'll be in the wedding?" Rhonda sounded more like she was asking a question than making a statement.

"Would you like to be in the wedding?" I asked her.

"Yes, mama. You should already know that." Rhonda said.

"Well, okay. You can be in the wedding. Umm...is your dad still in town?"

"They're leaving tomorrow morning. Why?"

"No particular reason. Umm..did you tell him about your lil job?"

"Yes, I did." Rhonda said firmly.

That stomped me for all of sixty seconds.

"What did he say?" I asked my wayward daughter.

"Daddy didn't mind, as long as it  pays the bills. Those were his exact words." Rhonda said.

"Well, Hell."

"Mama? No-one cares but you and I see that now. In fact, I'm happy that you care but it's still not going to change anything. Now can we please change the subject?"

"Okay, daughter of mine. What would you like to talk about?"

"Merlin and Gwen. Has she come home yet?"

"Yes and they're happily ever after and if you want to know anything else then I suggest that you call your brother and ask him."

"I was thinking about it." Rhonda sounded thoughtful. "I really miss my twin and the closeness we used to share before he married her."

"So, call him up and re-establish the bond." I suggested.

"I think I'll do that, but I don't know about Gwen. I doubt we'll ever be friends. So anyway, speaking of new love interests. I'm dating again."

"Have mercy! Is he in jail, fresh out of jail or heading that way?" I ask without thinking.

"Very funny, mother. And the answer is no."

"Well that's a load off. Who's the lucky guy?"

"His name is Hector Gomez and he was one of Merlin j.r's highschool friends." Rhonda said.

Well if her new boo had been friend's with Merlin j.r  then he couldn't possibly be all that bad.

"Umm..hmm. Does Hector make you happy?" I ask.

"Well, I'm getting there. Hector is a very nice man and has a good paying job. The kids seem to like him."

"He sounds like a keeper. Why don't you bring him by the house? I'll cook up something special."

"What? Really?" Rhonda sounded surprised that I'd made the offer.

"Yes, really. Just bring him by. I'd love to meet this nice man with a good paying job." I was smiling a little but for a good reason.

"How about Saturday? Hector usually has the weekends off." Rhonda said.

"Saturday sounds fine."

We chatted for a bit longer and then said goodbye and I had a really good feeling about our conversation. It's been a long time since Rhonda and I have spoken without attacking each other.

I hoped things would continue in this positive manner.
Now all I had to do was force myself to accept that my daughter was a stripper and get on with my life.

Perhaps Doctor D could help with that.

11/7/21
Edited 2/20/22.