All the Things I Meant to Tell You Read online

  “Well he’s in the past along with those wedding plans, so I’ll send you the link to the castle.”

  “You sure? You might want to use it with Sam.”

  “Sam wouldn’t want that kind of wedding,” I said. “He’d want something minimal. Probably just the two of us and a minister.”

  “That wouldn’t bother you?” Kimberly asked. “You love a party.”

  “Well yes, I do, but I love him more.”

  “Loving him doesn’t mean you have to give everything up, though. That’s not fair.”

  She was right, but there were some things that I didn’t mind giving up. Sam had given up a lot for me too. He had to go on expensive trips, hobnob with rich people, and pass the time in my renovated mansion.

  Wait. What was he giving up again?

  “Enough about me and Sam,” I said, not wanting to pull that thought thread any more than I already had. “Tonight is about you and my frat, Big Ron, and announcing the Maid of Honor in your wedding.”

  Kimberly laughed. Why was there laughter?

  “I said something funny?” I asked.

  Kimberly gathered the remaining plastic from the food trays and placed it in the trashcan. “I think I want two Maids of Honor. You and Twila. Why would I choose differently? You’re my best friends.”

  “Oh, ’cause I heard Samantha called you with plans for a bachelorette party and a garden bridal shower.”

  Kimberly tossed her head back and hollered. I folded my arms and waited for her stop being so amused.

  “Yes, she did, and I humored her. That’s all.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “Come on girl, and let’s put this food out for everybody.”

  We carried the trays out to my entertaining space and placed them on tables all around the room. There were food stations set up with small plates, napkins, and bottles of wine. Kimberly wasn’t lying about me loving a party. Even if it was just our line sisters, I wanted everything perfect.

  “What do you think?” I asked. “Just like if I’d hired a party planner, huh?”

  “Yep. You should probably be one,” Kimberly said.

  “I don’t need another job.”

  Well, maybe I did. If I couldn’t get The Data Whisperers back on track, maybe there was a career for me in party planning. Ugh.

  The doorbell rang, and I could hear the cackling before I even got to the door.

  “Wait,” Kimberly said. “Let me have a second before I have to do this.”

  “You need wine?”

  “I need something stronger. Bourbon.”

  We rarely brought all our line sisters together, and with good reason. But we’d made a pact in college to stand up at each other’s weddings. We’d done the bridesmaid thing only once with Abena when she married Kyle. And that was a shenanigan from start to finish.

  Twila emerged from the bedroom, still holding her glass of wine in her hand. “The doorbell rang. Might as well let them in.”

  Kimberly took a deep breath and exhaled. “My wedding, so I guess it’s on me.”

  It was on Kimberly, but Twila and I had her back. No matter what drama was going to ensue. And the drama was inevitable.

  Chapter 5

  KIMBERLY

  Kimberly opened Hahna’s front door, but it wasn’t all of the bridesmaids, only Traci and Abena, the sisters-in-law. Kimberly relaxed a little because they were not the ones who caused anxiety. There was only one.

  They both hugged Kimberly, and she hugged them back. Even though they all lived in Atlanta, it was usually only on special occasions that she got to see Traci and Abena. They weren’t as active in their Gamma Phi Gamma alumni chapter, except in their giving. They co-owned an exclusive nightclub, Club Phenom, where Abena’s husband was the deejay.

  “Is everyone here?” Traci asked as she walked into Hahna’s house. “And why didn’t we do this at your place?”

  “Samantha and Debbie aren’t here yet, but they’re always late, right?” Kimberly said. “My house has boxes of CurlPop products all over. I need to get organized.”

  Traci and Abena took turns hugging Hahna and Twila. Kimberly’s heart warmed to see Twila’s ice melt a bit. She even gave everyone warm smiles.

  But, unfortunately, this was the pregame.

  If the bridesmaids number was going to stop at four and the final two weren’t on the way, this whole thing would be peaceful and harmonious. Kimberly damned that stupid pact. Not all sorority line sisters ended up being best friends.

  “Kim finally bagged Big Ron,” Traci said as she sat. “I could’ve sworn y’all was hooking up when we were in college.”

  “What? I was the epitome of chastity, elegance, and grace,” Kimberly said.

  The other ladies chanted in unison, “Gamma Phi Gamma ladies run this place.”

  They erupted into laughter at the chant they said as they walked onto the yard. Samantha always led the line—her great grandmother was a founder of their campus chapter. She was Gamma Phi Gamma legacy and royalty. Hahna always brought up the rear, because she was the youngest of the line, by a couple months.

  The doorbell rang again, and Abena hopped up to answer it. “Sit down, Kim,” she said. “This get together is all about you. You don’t have to play hostess.”

  Hahna gave Kimberly a sidelong glance, and Kimberly bit her lower lip to keep from chuckling. Abena’s sweet admonition was a dig at Hahna not playing hostess. She didn’t need to, though. It was a gathering of sisters.

  As soon as Debbie walked through the door, hauling a car seat in one arm and dragging a toddler behind her in the other, Kimberly felt her headache start. Why would she bring her damn kids to a bridesmaids meeting?

  “Hey y’all. My mama couldn’t watch the kids. She going on a gambling trip to Mississippi. I hope it’s okay.”

  Twila guzzled her wine to mask her smile, while Hahna’s nostrils flared nervously as the little girl toddled towards her white couch while holding a red lollipop. Kimberly scooped her up before she made contact with the couch, and she expertly removed the candy from the child’s sticky hand.

  She started to scream. Debbie plopped down in a decorative chair and the baby boy in the car seat added his yells to his sister’s.

  “She gone keep hollerin’ until she get another piece of candy,” Debbie said.

  “Can she have fruit?” Hahna said. “There’s plenty. Does she have a playpen or somewhere we can sit her down?”

  Debbie burst into laughter. “You can tell you ain’t got no kids. She is way too big for a play pen.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know. My white couch isn’t kid friendly, though.”

  Debbie rolled her eyes. “I’ll make sure she don’t touch nothing. Come here Artalaysha.”

  “Named after her daddy, huh?” Twila asked.

  “Yeah, girl. Art’s ass got on my nerves the whole time I was pregnant with her, then she came out with his damn head. I was just gonna name her Laysha, but I had to put Art on the front of it.”

  Twila guzzled more wine, but Kimberly could see the way her body shivered, that she was holding in a monster laugh.

  The toddler waddled over to her mother, and Hahna hopped up to give her grapes in a cup.

  “Her hands are sticky,” Hahna said. “Can I get you a paper towel?”

  “There’s a wet wipe in the bag.”

  The door rang again, and this time Kimberly hopped up to answer. She was happy to flee the uncomfortable scene with Hahna and Debbie. The scenes between them had always been uncomfortable, even when they were in college.

  “Samantha, girl I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Kimberly felt herself relax with Samantha’s presence. While she was closer to Hahna and Twila, Kimberly and Samantha shared a special bond outside of the line sister circle. While she wasn’t as social with Hahna or Twila, no one could say that Samantha wasn’t always there when someone needed her. She was.

  Samantha’s life was just so different from everyone else’s. She was a journalist
and evangelist at her church. She never judged anyone on purpose but Twila, in particular, always felt like Samantha was judging her life. It was just best if they spent little time together. Small doses.

  “I’m sorry I’m late y’all. I had a deadline at five and I had to get it done this evening.”

  Samantha made the rounds and hugged everyone, and it was evident that the only warm hug she was getting was from Kimberly.

  Before she sat, she walked to the beverage table. “Is there anything non-alcoholic?” she asked.

  Hahna finished with Artalaysha and stood. “I have lemonade in the kitchen. I’m sorry. I forgot you didn’t drink.”

  “No big deal.”

  Abena shook her head as Hahna left the room. “How did she forget Evangelist Samantha was gonna be here?”

  Traci jabbed her in the ribs, and Abena hushed. Kimberly wondered if she was going to be able to survive the catfighting up until the time of her wedding.

  Hahna came back with the lemonade in a pretty glass and handed it to Samantha. Then she sat, but she didn’t relax. She kept looking at little Artalaysha’s little hands.

  Kimberly just decided to get started. The energy in the room wasn’t going to get any better, and there was a good chance if she didn’t do something to focus everyone’s attention that things had the potential of getting worse.

  “I’m so glad y’all are all here with me,” Kimberly said. “I couldn’t imagine having a wedding without y’all being there.”

  “What’s the date?” Debbie asked. “I need to get off work.”

  Kimberly swallowed her irritation. It was a valid question, but could she give her a second to do her introduction?

  “The wedding is the third weekend in May, and it’s going to be in Negril, Jamaica.”

  Abena did a little shoulder dance. “I love Jamaica! Can’t wait. Are we doing an all-inclusive?”

  “No, I mean you can if you want to, but I plan on booking a villa with enough space for all of us.”

  “For just us? Or for our men too?” Traci asked.

  “Men too,” Kimberly said. “It’s not like you’d go out of the country for a wedding without your significant other.”

  “May as in this coming May?” Debbie asked. “Eight months from now?”

  Kimberly knew that Debbie would have an issue with the wedding date and venue. She always had an issue with anything that cost money. Even if it had been a year out or two years out, she would’ve had a problem with it.

  “Yes, but since I’m paying for the lodging for you, this shouldn’t be a problem,” Kimberly said, refusing to let Debbie’s situation dictate the logistics of her wedding.

  “Hmm,” Debbie said as she shifted in her chair with the toddler thrashing about.

  “Jamaica sounds wonderful,” Samantha said. “And that’s generous of you to pay for our lodging.”

  “I’m still looking for venues, but I think Hahna and I have got that covered,” Kimberly said, to Hahna’s apparent delight.

  “So, is she the Maid of Honor?” Traci asked. “We’re wearing pink and blue, right?”

  “Yes, to the colors, although I haven’t decided the configuration. We’ll have silver accents for the frats.”

  “Y’all need to be getting married right here in Atlanta,” Debbie said. “This is where it all began.”

  “We thought about that, but we’d end up having to invite too many people.”

  “Right,” Twila said, “we know half of Atlanta.”

  Abena raised her hand, although no one was raising hands to speak. “You didn’t answer about the Maid of Honor.”

  “Oh, right. It’s Maids of Honor for my wedding,” Kimberly said. “Hahna and Twila.”

  Samantha pressed her lips into a tight line, but she said nothing. Kimberly valued Samantha’s friendship as a confidante, and a prayer partner. It was just that she was such a good prayer partner that half the time she wasn’t any fun. Kimberly wanted her wedding celebration to be fun and a little wild. She wanted a bachelorette party that was full of debauchery and shenanigans. Samantha shunned debauchery and frowned upon shenanigans. Samantha was the friend that made everyone feel immature.

  “I’m planning the bachelorette,” Twila said. “You can do everything else, Hahna.”

  Traci and Abena high-fived Twila. That was the trio of terror during college. They were the ones who went to the frat parties and drank more than the guys. And even after graduation, they were the ones Kimberly lived vicariously through.

  “Since you’re not getting married in Atlanta, I do think you should, at least, have an engagement party,” Hahna said. “It doesn’t have to be big, but you should have some of your key business contacts in Atlanta to come and give you and Ron a toast.”

  Hahna was right, but Kimberly had zero bandwidth to plan another party. The party that she’d had for her product launch a few months ago had been too much work.

  “I don’t know if I can swing that. I’ve got so much going on with work,” Kimberly said.

  “We can host it at the club,” Traci said.

  The look that Hahna and Kimberly exchanged needed no explanation. There was no way Kimberly would have her engagement party at that freak nasty club of theirs. Twila may have been a frequent visitor, but Kimberly never planned to set foot inside of that place.

  “That would be a no.”

  “Why?” Traci said. “It’s really upscale. You guys should come out and see it. We all support everyone’s business, but only Twila has been to the club. I mean, we know Samantha can’t come . . .”

  “You got that right,” Samantha said. “It would be just my luck Jesus would come back right when I set foot in there.”

  Twila closed her eyes and shook her head. It was coming. The battle between the sinners and the saint. It happened every time the line sisters got together, so Kimberly didn’t expect this time to be any different.

  “Maybe if you came to the club, you’d meet a man there, or are you still saving it for Jesus?” Abena asked.

  “I’m not responding to that,” Samantha said to Kimberly. “Let’s talk about where we’re actually going to have your engagement party.”

  The engagement party that Kimberly didn’t want to throw in the first place.

  “You never respond when I’m telling the truth,” Abena said. “Truth hurts.”

  “No, that’s not it at all. You’re low, so I’m going high.”

  Abena rose from her seat and both Traci and Twila pulled her back down. Traci was always the first to pop off, and . . .

  “Call me with the details,” Samantha said.

  . . . Samantha was always the first to leave.

  Samantha stood and gathered her purse. Before Kimberly could talk her out of it, she was headed for the door.

  “Let me walk you out,” Kimberly said. “I’ll be right back y’all. Can we come up with some alternate venues for the engagement party. Club Phenom isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.”

  Kimberly followed Samantha although she’d already gained a head start. Kimberly easily caught up, though, because out of all the line sisters, Samantha was the only one more plus-sized that she was. In the heat, Samantha slowed down whether she wanted to or not, and they both stopped at her car.

  “I’m sorry about that, Samantha. You know how Traci and Abena are about that club.”

  “Club Sodom and Gomorrah, you mean?”

  “That’s not nice.”

  “You know I don’t care about being nice when it comes to Jesus.”

  Kimberly sighed. “I know.”

  “Is that why you didn’t ask me to be a Maid of Honor? Because you want to have strippers and carrying on and you think I wouldn’t deliver any of that?”

  “Would you have delivered that?”

  “No. But I didn’t think that’s something you’d want. We prayed for you to find a husband and now he’s here. This wedding celebration should give honor and glory to God.”

  “And it will. It’s just that
everyone isn’t an evangelist, okay? You can’t judge everyone and expect them not to be mad.”

  “Well somebody ought to say something. Debbie sitting up there on her third child and third baby’s father.”

  “Her children are beautiful.”

  “I’m not judging them, Kimberly. It’s just that you’re my friend . . . they are my line sisters. They are my past and not my present.”

  “Not even Hahna?”

  Hahna and Samantha attended the same church, which was why Samantha came through with that article in the Atlanta Star for Hahna’s business.

  “Sometimes Hahna.”

  “I love all of y’all,” Kimberly said. “You, Hahna, and Twila are my best friends. You all serve a different purpose in my life, and I love you all separately and equally for those reasons.”

  “And I love you too. I wouldn’t miss your special day for anything. But don’t expect me to enjoy hanging with these girls.”

  “I am my sister . . . my sister and I are one.”

  Samantha rolled her eyes. “I put God first. Not Gamma Phi Gamma.”

  Samantha opened her car door and got inside. Kimberly waved as she drove off. It always happened this way, and Samantha’s tolerance for everyone else was getting shorter and shorter.

  Kimberly thought about how to create harmony with all her sorority sisters as she walked back to the house, but as she approached the door, she could hear Debbie’s children wailing. Even closer and she heard Debbie’s voice and Hahna’s, and neither of them sounded friendly.

  “I’m sorry, Kim, I’ve got to go,” Debbie hollered as Kimberly walked into the room. “Hahna ain’t gonna keep dogging out my baby over these damn material possessions.”

  “I just asked you to take that red juice away from her, because she was spilling it. I think you wanted her to spill it with your hating ass.” Hahna was furious.

  “Oh, so I’m a hater? Really, soror?”

  “I said what I said,” Hahna declared. She picked up the diaper bag and handed it to Debbie. “Next time get a babysitter.”

  Debbie’s eyes watered as she grabbed her children and snatched the bag from Hahna. When no one moved to help her, Kimberly stepped up and took Artalaysha’s little sticky hand.