TLWM: The Hate Experience

\XXXVII/ The Plan

Thursday/March 18, 1993

Prince told Letty to go straight to Galpin Blvd after her appointment. On her way to his place, on the front of her mind wasn't anything the doctor said, it the NYC fantasy he painted for her the night before, telling her all the nasty ways he was going to bring her to ecstasy again and again. Fuck New York City. Letty was ready to make it happen now, all cute in her white Chanel shirt, the logo stamped center over her breasts. She even prepared him easy access, wearing a black-ruffled skirt with an asymmetrical hem.

All ready for some morning fun, her heart started racing as soon as she pulled up to the security gatehouse. Like a fiend gone too long without a hit, her fingers trembled punching in the gate code. But when her Volvo rolled up to the house, the four other cars parked behind one another in the circular driveway cut her plan to pieces.

Letty parked in the garage next to Prince's yellow BMW. It was the only car in the garage which was unusual. He usually had at least three of his vehicles in there. It made her wonder if he had already started the process of emptying the house for its wrecking.

Inside the house, the first person to greet her was a tall blonde woman who she ran into as she was passing through the kitchen. Letty shook her hand, her mouth saying hello and her mind screaming who the hell are you?

"Tammy Blum, your wedding planner."

"Wow." Letty's smile relaxed, natural joy overtaking her demeanor. "It's so nice to meet you."

"Likewise. I'm here to ultimately get the invitations finalized but I'd love to get your vision for your big day too."

"Yes, that sounds good." But it also sounded scary. Quickly there was a coat of apprehension crawling over Letty's bones. She realized she didn't have a vision. Growing up, she never dreamed of being a bride and as an adult, hope dimmed more and more as years went on that she and her high standards would never find a husband.

"Prince should still be upstairs in the bedroom but I'll be waiting there in the living room. I'm getting some fun stuff together for you two."

Letty thanked her and before running off, asked if she could get her anything. "Water? Tea? Pastry?" Pastry?

"No, thank you. Prince already has a spread for us on the dining room table."

Thinking "us" meant the three of them, Letty accepted that answer and made her way to the staircase, but then she ran into more unfamiliar faces.

A woman walked up to her, petite and fair-skinned with large eyes outlined by a thousand lashes. "I'm Randee," she said, offering a hand to Letty that was immediately taken. "I'm Prince's tag-along photographer."

"Yes, yes. So nice to meet you." Letty heard of her. She was the one who captured the sweet moments between Prince and Ace that adorned the living room walls. Oversized canvases of her work with father-and-son could also be seen around in Paisley Park, and her shoots with Prince's band could be seen around the world. "These guys are my team." Randee introduced the others and then told Letty Prince had called her in the middle of the night to come by. "He didn't say what for, just that he wanted me to meet someone, and of course to bring my camera. But meeting Tammy and now getting screamed at by that ring on your finger, I think I know what's going on," she said, laughing lightly.

A feminine voice from behind sang Letty's name, causing her to spin and see who. "Hey," Letty laughed, hugging her cousin Tootsie. "What the heck are you doing here?"

"Prince called Aunt Jackee who called me to come and do your head."

It amazed Letty how well he listened. She trusted no one but her little cousin to touch her hair. Letty only recalled telling that to Prince once when he asked her who did her braids.