92. In Good Company 🫧🏢

After allowing me to try on multiple clothes, Deana and I agreed on a long-sleeve, knee-length auburn dress with a matching sweater and black UGGs.

"The UGGs will definitely match your bucket hat which is so you, and the sunglasses. Have you decided on who will sponsor you for eyewear?" She asked me.

"I don't care for wearing only one brand of sunglasses. I pick the one that hide my face the most. Which leads me to ask, why haven't you or your brother asked to see my face?"

Deana tilted her head to the side as she thought. "I can't speak for my brother, but I know you as who you are in front of me now. It would probably freak me out even more if you took off your disguise."

"What are y'all in here talking about?"

We heard Deonte's voice.

"Do not come in here!" Deana leaned against her closet door.

"It's been almost half-an-hour. Cha-Cha keeps texting and asking me when I'm coming home."

Deana rolled her eyes. "Jae, I don't know if I'll ever get this opportunity again, but can I hug you?"

I spread my arms. "Bring it in."

Deana gave me a hug. "My friends are not going to believe this." With that comment, I was reminded that she was 16 years old.

"Let's get out of here," I said.

Deana sighed, "Okay. Thank you for coming to my house and wearing my clothes. Please wear them in front of the paparazzi, too."

She was too much in a good way.

Deana let me go and opened her closet door. We left her room to find Deonte sitting on the couch, texting on his phone.

"We're ready," Deana announced.

Deonte replied, "Finally. I just text Cha-Cha that I'm here." He stood up and looked at us. He nodded his head as he walked over to me. "Jae A.B." Deonte took my hand and lifted it up. "Spin."

I chuckled as he aided me in my 360 turn.

"You look good."

I smiled, "Thank you. So do you in your all white get-up."

Deana rolled his eyes. "Trust me he's dressed like this because he knows about the surprise party." She led the way out of her condo into the hall.

Deonte whispered to me. "Don't worry about what some of my family might say. They think every woman I'm with is my girl. I'm gonna introduce you as my friend."

"Thank you, Deonte."

"I got you."

Deana stopped us with her hand. "Wait here for a second." She walked inside the condo. "Everybody, he's coming!"

I snickered as I could hear the quickness of moving feet.

Deonte shook his head. "Why is my family like this?"

A few seconds later, Deonte opened the door to darkness. I was right behind him.

"SURPRISE!!!" The lights came on and we stood in front of a living room full of people.

Deonte clapped his hands. "Y'all got me! Y'all got me!"

People started walking up to him.

"Thank you for the surprise!" He immediately stood beside me. "Listen up, everybody, I would like to introduce you to my friend, Jae A.B. We performed together yesterday."

A few people gasped. Some said my name.

"Do not, I repeat, do not ask her for autographs. Don't even ask her about music."

A man walked up to Deonte. "Boy, you always trying to make a scene. Don't lie. Tell me you knew about this party, and invited Jae A.B. as a special guest." The man looked at me, and I almost made a scene. It was Andre the Engineer.

"Cash, don't hate. You mad 'cause I met her before you did."

Andre the Engineer turned to me. "Ms. Jae A.B., It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Deandre, Deonte's big brother." He held out his hand.

"Andre the Engineer?" I shook his hand.

"Cash is his name," Deonte told me.

"She can call me whatever she wants. She's the biggest star in here."

A woman pushed Deandra out the way. "Boy, you said you'd be here an hour ago. Thank goodness I made enough appetizers to keep people from eating the main course."

"Cha-Cha, I'm here with Jae A.B." Deonte pointed at me.

She smiled at me. "Hi, Jae A.B. I'm December Denfield. Deonte's sister."

"Little sister," Deonte added.

"Only by three years," December told me.

"Congratulations on your song, baby!" An older woman wearing all white made her way over to Deonte.

People parted ways allowing her to walk through with ease.

"Thank you, mama." Deonte hugged the woman who was half his height. He kissed the top of her head.

December stood next to me. "Mama, this is Jae A.B. Deonte's special guest."

Their mother looked at me. "Oh, my days! You are just as pretty in-person as you are on TV and my cell phone."

We all laughed.

She took my hands in hers. "Welcome to the Denfield's most private floor in the whole building. This is our gathering condo. Mine is at the end of the hall. Cha-Cha lives on the other end. Cash and C.J. live in the middle. They're our security on this floor. So, how long have you and C.J. been dating?"

I quickly looked at Deonte.

"Mama, you embarrassing me," Deonte teased her. "Jae A.B. is my friend. We--"

His mother interrupted him, "Keep thinking I wasn't young once. I didn't have four children by myself. You call her a friend, but I can see the attraction between you two."

Deana giggled, "Mama, I am Jae A.B.'s number one fan. She would never date Deonte. She barely dated Zeke Rivers. The Jaebirds predict she'll date a non-celebrity."

If I could disappear right now that would be great.

"Where are my manners? Baby, you can call me Mama Dee. You are welcomed here anytime. I cook every Sunday. Cha-Cha cooks for a living. You'll never go hungry with us. Okay?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank y'all!" I told them all.

A few people chuckled.

"I love your accent," Mama Dee told me.

"Thank you. I forget I have one."

Mama Dee pointed at all her kids. "Keep your eyes on Jae A.B. Don't let any of your friends and relatives try to hold her hostage with small talk, pictures, and autographs. You hear me?"

"Yes, mama," they all answered her. It was the cutest thing.

"Good!" Mama Dee walked away. "Everybody, let's eat!"

A few people followed her while others remained surrounding us.

"Did I not say the same thing mama just said?" Deonte asked his siblings.

I raised my hand. "Can y'all please help me? What should I call y'all?"

"Mama gave you the approval. You can call me Cha-Cha." She pointed to herself.

"Deana or your number one fan."

"Whatever you want," Andre told me.

Deonte asked his siblings. "Where did she get C.J. from?"

"CRU Jr." Deana rolled her eyes.

Cha-Cha linked her arm with mine. "Let's go get you something to eat  before they end up talking your ear off."

"Thank you. It's actually the reason why Deonte brought me here. I had the angel hair pasta and garlic bread you made yesterday. It was delicious." I told her as we walked to the kitchen.

Cha-Cha grabbed a plate and utensils. She began making my plate.

"You don't have to do that." I tried to take the plate from her.

"No. You are the special guest."

I dropped my hands to my side. "Okay."

Cha-Cha smiled at me. After making me a full plate of soul food - YES, I said soul food - she grabbed a cold drink out of the refrigerator. "You look like you'd enjoy strawberry lemonade."

"You're speaking my language," I told her as she handed me a clear plastic cup of strawberry lemonade. It had strawberry and lemon slices in it. "This is so cute."

Cha-Cha said, "I made it myself."

I took a sip of the drink through the straw that was already in it. The taste hit my tongue, and I felt the comfort of my bed and pillows. I opened my eyes. "This is a dream, right? I can only imagine how the food tastes."

Cha-Cha chuckled, "Thank you..."

"You're welcome," I said.

"... for being a friend to my brother."

I confessed, "I should be thanking him. He's one of the most genuine celebrities I ever met."

Cha-Cha looked over at Deonte, standing in the center of the living room with his family all around him. "He has a big heart, sometimes, too big for that industry. It's nice to see him bring someone around us. It means he trusts you; therefore, we embrace you. So forgive us if we overwhelm you."

"Y'all are good. I appreciate all of it. Now, I'm just ready to eat."

"Follow me. I'll make sure you can eat in peace." Cha-Cha led me to a room that looked like meetings would be held here.

I put my plate on top of the long table and thanked Cha-Cha as she closed the door  before leaving. I sat down at the table and said a prayer before inhaling the food. With a stacked plate of brisket, cabbage, yams, macaroni 'n cheese, black eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread, I was already thinking of how to ask for seconds and thirds without people noticing.

As I ate in silence, I couldn't help but think about meeting Deonte's family. Between Mama Dee and Zeke's mom Cathy, I was missing own my parents.

My phone vibrated. I dug in the sweater's pocket and saw a text from Monica.

Monica: Hey Jamie! I know you're super busy but this is your first reminder to call me before the year ends. Wish I could spend it with you. And if E isn't taking care of you, let me know so I can beat him up when I see him. Also, A.B. told me he was flying to LA. I'm so jealous. I hope y'all get to express y'all feelings for each other. I will not have you being the single cousin next year. Love ya!💕

Me: Why are you trying to make me cry?! 😭😭😭 I'll try to call you tonight. I love you, too!

Monica: 😂😂😂

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" I put my phone away and looked up to see Deonte.

"Did you come in here because you wanted to or did my sister bring you here?" He put his full plate on the table and sat across to me.

"Your sister wanted me to eat in peace."

"Oh, is it okay I eat with you?" He asked me.

I playfully hit his arm. "Of course!"

Deonte said, "Jae, I appreciate you being here. If I had known they were throwing a surprise party for me, I would've dropped you off a plate."

"It's okay. I'm actually having fun. You know, your sister Deana is hilarious. Cha-Cha, who I just forgot is younger than me, is like the big sister I didn't know I needed. You are so blessed to have such a loving family."

"Thanks, Jae. What about your family? Are they coming to see you or are you going to see them?" He asked me.

I shook my head. "I won't get to see my family until after the fireworks."

Deonte said, "Sorry about that."

"Sir, it's okay."

"Just know that you don't have to spend this time of year alone. You're always welcomed to the 12th floor. If I'm not here, one of my family members will be." He started eating his food.

I asked, "Earlier, Deana said y'all don't celebrate Christmas. Are y'all Jehovah's Witnesses?"

Deonte shook his head. "No. It's funny how people automatically think that when you say you don't celebrate Christmas or any holiday for that matter. I don't know if Deana has already told you, but Cha-Cha is the Rabbi of the family. Cash and I call her that. But for real, she's the teacher of all things God and the Bible. We didn't grow up going to church so I couldn't tell you how she became so devout."

I smiled as Deonte shared.

"I'll never forget when she came home during Christmas break shouting 'Christmas is pagan! It's all pagan! Jesus was not born on December 25th.' At the time, I thought she was acting or trying to be funny. She minored in Theater in college, so I didn't take her seriously."

Deonte chuckled, "Cha-Cha called a family meeting and put together a whole presentation on why she would no longer celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and just everything. Again, I thought it was a joke until she pulled up the evidence and backed it up with scripture. I went from laughing to being shocked when she showed this video of actual pagans talking about how they are the originators of modern day holidays."

Deonte took out his phone. He checked it before continuing, "There was a bible verse about God's people not doing like others when they cut down trees and decorate them. Cha-Cha was like 'people will say God's not talking about Christmas.' She was like 'how they know? God knows the future. Even if Christmas wasn't around then, God is talking about vain worship.'"

I giggled at Deonte imitating his sister's voice.

"She was really preaching to us. I can't remember verbatim, but she was making valid points, like how people were contradicting themselves. They'd say they are celebrating God, but tell their children gifts come from Santa Claus. And how can we celebrate the birth of Christ when people all over the world celebrate Christmas without recognizing Christ? I mean, we still celebrated Christmas that year, but as I got older I really started to look at the world around me. Like, why do religious and non-religious people do almost everything the same. Shouldn't there be a difference? The only time I knew one of my homies believed in God is when they either said it in their thank you speech or when they talked about their money. It just makes me think sometimes."

I had so many questions. "So is it wrong to celebrate Christmas?"

"Personally, I don't think it's wrong to celebrate anything unless it's recognized as something wrong like worshipping the devil."

"Oh, no. That would be crazy."

"For all I know, it could be the celebration of something else. Believe it or not, there are people in the music industry that will tell you they worship Santa, I mean Satan and try to convince you they're right."

"Do you believe in God?" I asked him.

"I believe there's a God, because of Cha-Cha. I just haven't got to a point in my life to really focus on it."

I nodded my head as I continued to listen to Deonte.

"I've thought about other religions, because some of the things I've read in the Bible just doesn't make sense to me. I've looked into other things, too. After The CRU broke-up, I started going to therapy."

"Really? Does it work for you?" I asked him.

Deonte replied, "Like most things, I think it depends on the person and the situation. I just haven't made much progress."

I asked, "Why do you think that?"

"Well, I feel like there's something missing."

I nodded my head. "Have you told that to your therapist?"

"Yeah. She told me put it in my music."

That was great advice. "Which sounds like you did."

Deonte smirked, "Let's just say I'm a master of emoting."

I smiled as I continued eating my food.

Deonte said, "I'll think more on it. But enough about me. Your album is dropping in February, right?"

"That's right. February 10th."

"Wait. That's Superbowl weekend."

I smiled, "It is. I was asked if I wanted to perform during half-time, but I declined because... It was just a lot was going on, still is at RiSe Records."

"One thing RiSe Records is going to do is stay in the media, on the front page, on social media, and on trend. They know how to market artists," Deonte continued, "My problem with them is that they believe negative attention is still good, because it brings profit. The whole thing with Ricky and Aja... it was just a matter-of-time."

I rolled my eyes at the sound of her name.

Deonte informed me, "Aja was RiSe Record's new artist before you came along. She had this clean image which doesn't get a lot of attention these days, but her music is good. When we were in the studio, she told me her new album is going to be completely different from the others. She played a few tracks for me, and she's not holding back."

I sighed, "That sounds about right."

"I'm glad you don't show your face to the public. The industry is 10 times harder and more unforgiving on women than on men." He looked at my half-eaten plate. "I'm sorry for talking so much."

"No, I'm enjoying this conversation. Besides, I was hoping I could take more food home."

Deonte lightly laughed, "Don't worry. You won't go home empty handed."

We smiled at one another.