Under the Bali Moon

Zena watched as Adan followed Madame Lucille to the register just a few feet away.

“He’s paying for this?” Zena asked Zola.

“Yes. My wedding gift. Isn’t that great?”

“No. It’s not.”

“Why?” Zola asked.

Zena watched Adan chatting and joking with Madame Lucille at the register as if he must be up to something sinister. “Because I don’t want him paying for my dress. I can pay for my own dress. I can pay for your dress, too!”

Zola looked confused, but Lisa stood there glowering at Zena for her petty resistance.

“Really? But I thought you didn’t want to pay for anything,” Zola said.

“I never said that,” Zena countered.

“Yes, you did,” Zola argued.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did!”

“No, I—”

“Girls!” Lisa jumped in just as Adan had made his way back to their circle, stuffing his credit card into his wallet.

The assistants had gone about their work in the shop, and Madame Lucille was on the telephone.

“All clear,” Adan announced.

“That’s wonderful,” Lisa said. “And thank you so much for supporting Alton and Zola. I know how much they appreciate you.”

“Of course. I’ve been watching those two fall in love since—” Adan paused. “I guess 1999 when you all moved to Atlanta.”

“You remember the actual year?” Lisa asked, smiling with surprise.

“I’ll never forget it,” he replied before looking at Zena. “Changed everything.”

Adan escorted the women out of the shop. Zena followed behind, watching everyone walk and listening to them talk with a frown on her face. She scanned Adan’s body. He was wearing loose-fitting jeans and a fitted white T-shirt that showed off his chest. His arms were muscular and smooth.

“So, what’s going on with the case you were telling me about—the one with the little boy from Brooklyn who was abused by his foster parents?” Zena heard her mother ask Adan. She squinted and rolled her eyes at Lisa.

“We got him some help,” Adan answered.

“Help? I don’t care about that. Did you win? Did you sue the state?” Lisa prodded.

Adan laughed and added, “We did, Mrs. Shaw. I didn’t want to put it like that, but we did. He’s on a long, tough road to recovery mentally, but financially, he’s secure for the rest of his life.”

“That’s amazing. We need more good lawyers out there like you, doing what you do. Every time you call and tell me you’ve won a case, I cheer because I know you’re on the right side of things,” Lisa said.

Zena read into her mother’s words and concluded that Lisa and Adan chatted regularly. This was news to Zena. It was also interesting that Lisa knew what Adan was doing in his career. The last she’d heard, he’d followed his dream of working in civil rights but also took on some smaller pro bono community cases. His firm was small but successful. He was in the headlines, but Zena struggled not to catch any of them. Apparently, Lisa wasn’t doing the same. She sounded as if Adan was her long-lost son.

“Thank you for saying that. I need to hear it every once in a while,” Adan said to Lisa. “Things get hectic working in the community. I mean, it pays well in the heart, but it stresses the head and wallet.” Adan looked at Zena. “I’m sure you understand, Zena.”

Before Zena could respond, Lisa answered for her, saying, “Please, Zena works with rich people. Her clients are trying to add millions to their millions.”

“Not true, Mommy,” Zena said. “I take on some pro bono work, too.”