Cashmere

Family Secrets

The cool September breeze brushed against Cashmere's face as she waited for the greyhound. She was leaving North Carolina and moving to Brooklyn, New York with her grandmother. After Cashmere's mom died and she completed high school, her brother and his wife paid up the bills for a couple of months. When six months passed, she was told that she had to go because they were selling the house. The days on the greyhound were quiet and she enjoyed watching the buildings as she passed by them.

When she finally got to New York her cousin met her at the airport. Tanetta was 21, a year older than Cashmere. She worked two jobs and had two children she raised on her own. When she was younger her mother would let her spend summers with her aunt Leah, Tanetta's mother. The two became very close and nothing could break their bond.

"You're looking good cuz." Tanetta smiled.

"Thank you." Cashmere replied.

Tanetta took Cashmere's bags and placed them in the trunk of her car. They drove to her grandmother's house. When they arrived, Cashmere gazed at the beautiful brownstone her grandmother owned. When she walked in, she was even more impressed. It was all white inside except for the stairs and floors. Her grandmother was at the kitchen table cutting up peppers and onions.

"Hey grandma." Cashmere smiled, putting her bags down. Tanetta walked over to their grandmother and gave her a kiss.

"I can't stay for long. I have to pick the kids up from daycare soon.'' Tanetta smiled.

"Okay baby girl, call me later. "Their grandmother said.

Tanetta left and Cashmere was standing awkwardly at the table.

"Well go on girl, sit down. Get comfortable, this is your new home." She smiled.

Cashmere sat down and started looking at her phone. She messaged her friend Tara back in Texas to let her know that she made it safely.

"Cashmere...you can stay here as long as you want to. All that I ask of you is that you get a job, and you would only have to pay the electric bill." Her grandmother said.

"Thank You Grandma." Cashmere smiled.

"How have your brothers been? You know they never call to check on me." Grandmother replied.

"They have been good. Isaiah just bought an apartment building and Hanif is working as security at a club." Cashmere replied.

"I know things have been rough since your mother died, just know that I love you."Grandmother said.

Cashmere got up and hugged her grandmother tightly. Before moving with her she hadn't seen her grandmother since she was 10 years old. She couldn't wait to spend more time with her.

Cashmere helped her grandmother make dinner and clean up. After dinner she went to her room to watch tv. She missed North Carolina a little. Especially her ex-boyfriend Antoine. Shortly after arriving Cashmere was able to find a job as a waitress. She saved most of her checks and worked long hours. The diner was next to a strip club and every day they would come in for lunch on their lunch breaks. Cashmere wouldn't judge she was actually jealous of their confidence. She tried hard to come out of her shell. Cashmere was beautiful. She had olive skin, hazel eyes and curly black hair thanks to her mother who was mixed with Italian. Cashmere had low self-esteem in elementary school but once she hit high school she started to bloom and would get noticed.

Cashmere had a customer that would come in every Tuesday and order the same meal. French toast, scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, and orange juice. His name was Kahlil. Kahlil worked at a law firm, he wore his hair in long dreads and a thick Jamaican accent. He would arrive at the diner with a suit every Tuesday. He would often stare at the strippers that would walk in for their lunch break. Cashmere eyed his hand for a ring, and he didn't have one. She said good morning often and asked what a waitress would usually ask then watch him from the counter. She was building the courage to speak but noticed what caught his eye...she wasn't it.