His Last Name by Daaimah S. Poole

garden?”
    â€œTelling the gardener what to do, of course.” He laughed, and I gave a fake laugh. I was used to his dry humor.
    â€œYes, I really need to speak to her. She is not answering her cell phone.” He called out for her and then she came to the phone.
    â€œTiffany, what is it? Is everything okay? I see I’ve missed your calls.”
    â€œYes. Mom, have you seen my degree?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t. I think it may be upstairs in your room. I’ll look for it. What do you need it for?”
    â€œI got a job and they need a copy of it.”
    â€œA job? Oh my,” she gasped.
    â€œI’m working for an insurance company. I’m going to finally put my business degree to use.”
    â€œI’ll look for it and if I see it, I can overnight it. But this is insanity. It is embarrassing enough for me to have my friends call me and say that my daughter is on the news with her broke DUI husband, but now you are working at an insurance company? So I suppose you’re trying to take care of him now?”
    â€œNo. He’s looking for a job.”
    â€œEnough is enough, Tiffany. I raised you better than this. I will not have my daughter stuck in a dead-end job for the rest of her life and taking care of a no-good man. You showed your support for long enough. It’s time for you to leave him.” The tone of the conversation was harsh—even for my mother.
    â€œI can’t just leave him. He’s my husband and I love him.”
    â€œLove doesn’t pay the bills. Get off of that train, Tiffany, because it is about to crash.”
    â€œMom, we are going to be okay. Damien has a plan.”
    â€œYou are not going to sit here and waste your life with him. You are getting a divorce.”
    â€œMom, I can’t believe you. How could you say something like that? He bought the car you are driving and has sent you on plenty of vacations. And now—just because he is down and out — I’m supposed to leave him.”
    â€œYou would if you were smart. Do you need any money?”
    â€œNo, we will be fine. Everything is going to work out.”
    â€œI sure hope so.”

C HAPTER 14
    Shanice
    I was hosting rapper Don Santos’s mix tape release party with Ashley V in New Orleans. The front desk at our hotel called to tell me our car was here.
    My wand curls flowed past my breasts and I was wearing a cream bodycon dress with a plunging neckline. I thought I looked great until I saw Ashley V. She looked gorgeous in a black one-piece. She had all ass with no stomach and the tiniest waist. She walked over to me, told me to fix my hair, and said that I had lipstick on my teeth.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œNo problem. We represent the Eye Candy Queens. I can’t have you out here looking a mess.”
    â€œThanks. So what do you think about the show?”
    â€œI think by this time next year everyone will know our name. So get your business together right now.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI mean, girl, you have to get these coins while you can. I have a t-shirt and swim line, I act, and I have a cell phone store back home in Dayton. I’m saying while we got this opportunity you better start yourself a business, so you can eat forever.”
    â€œOkay. You’re right. I have to think of something to sell.”
    I heard that Ashley V was stuck up, but she wasn’t. We talked the entire ride to the release. She was smart and sweet and shared a lot of information with me.
    We entered the club, and the promoter, Jahti, took a picture with us and said, “So, ladies, we’re sold out. Everybody in the city is here to see the lovely Ms. Ashley V and Shani Amore. Make sure y’all work the room.”
    The music was blasting, and the entire club was filled over capacity. Santos’s people made sure we were taken care of. People wanted to take pictures with us and Don Santos.
    â€œHey, beautiful. Don’t