The Family Reunion Part 2

An Old Friend

It didn't take me long to get a routine going. I would get up in the mornings, have breakfast with Anna, spend the day with my baby before leaving her with Anna, and then proceed to work at night. I was nervous to do my first performance but after it happened, I felt right at home. On top of that, I was becoming a very popular part of the show. I didn't think my singing was that good until Bill told me I had sold out the entire house one night and every night after that. I was begining to enjoy my life at this point and I wasn't about to let anyone or anything stop me from living my dream.

At nights, I found myself wondering what Mark was doing with himself and if he told anyone I was back in town. I wasn't sure why I was thinking about him so much, especially after those hurtful things he said to me. When I looked into my daughter's eyes, a piece of my heart wold break for her. Mark took care of her while I was gone and as soon as I reappeared…he pretty much dropped her in my lap and shoved us to the side. A man who loved me as much as he said he did would have never allowed that to happen to me. He would have listened and not let my past transgressions be a deciding factor in how to treat me.

I wished that wasn't real but…every morning I would wake up in the same hotel remembering exactly how I got there. Thinking about it made me so sick to my stomach that I ended up throwing up every other morning. Who knew I could hurt that bad?

About a month and a half after I started working at the hotel, I found an apartment not far from my job. I decided that living there would be better not only for me, but for Aaliyah as well. On nights when I would work, I would bring Aaliyah to the hotel so she could be watched by Anna who stayed in the hotel. I was tired as a dog after work but I still managed to pick up my little angel. Things were rough but pretty nice, especially without my family lurking about. I felt like I was finally taking my life back.

"Ok ladies, may I have your undivided attention!" Bill said a week before Halloween. "As you all know, I am throwing a special Halloween party next week for some very high profile guests and I need to know who can all work that day."

I raised my hand with a soft smile. "I can."

"Are you sure Candy? I know this is your daughter's first Halloween and I would hate for you to miss it."

"Oh I'm certain sir, she'll be here in the building anyways." I said.

"Alright, be prepared to sing just two songs. I have one in particular I want you to sing by yourself." He said with a wave of his finger. "Anyone else?"

This girl named Julie raised her hand along with Sam, Lilly, and Erica.

"Good, I need you all to sing a song together as well as individually. Candy will lead the group number and the rest of you will back her up, understood?"

The girls all smiled at me and then nodded their heads. They had all loved when I came to the club to sing because if took a load off of their own shoulders when they didn't have to be the lead. As for me, I didn't mind being the lead since it got me an extra $50. I had enough money to support myself and Aaliyah and that's all that mattered.

"Alright after your performances you girls are invited to meet my guests. Some of them are respectable men but the others tend to get a little wild when they drink so…please be cautious." Bill said. "Now…you may bring your own costumes for when you're done performing, but I've brought in a very talented costume designer who will help you ladies with your stage costumes…come on in Bobby."