CeCe stood and shook Jacara’s hand. “CeCe. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Jacara’s a singer who performs at a number of places ’round town. In fact, we design all of her outfits.”
“And they do excellent work too. Well I’m not going to get in the way. I’ll just come back another time,” Jacara said, but didn’t mean it.
“You are not in the way, Jacara. Why don’t you stay? Maybe you see something new for your show. That is if Miss Collins doesn’t mind, of course?”
&nbs
p; “Not at all. Please have a seat.”
“If you’re sure I won’t be in the way,” Jacara said and sat next to CeCe. Her purpose in being there wasn’t to make a scene. She only wanted to send a message to Black that he couldn’t be there with another woman, and she not know about it.
The next and last time Jacara saw them was at Kevon’s funeral. After the service Black and CeCe walked to the car hand in hand while Jacara looked on with her hands on her hips. CeCe leaned close to Black. “You fuckin’ her?” she asked quietly so Michelle wouldn’t hear her.
Black nodded his head.
“Is she going to be a problem?”
“Not for me.”
“You know what I mean. Is she going to be a problem for you and me? Or am I assuming too much?”
“No.”
“No what?”
“No she’s not going to be a problem for you and me and no, you’re not assuming too much,” Black told CeCe that day.
Once Jacara had checked into her hotel and settled in, she went to the bazaar. She wanted to do a little shopping and to ask some questions. Jacara knew that the easiest way to find Mike Black was to find Jamaica. Jacara had heard how Jamaica operated and assumed that by now he had gotten around to shaking down the vendors in the bazaar.
She had been at the bazaar for less than an hour and had found out that Jamaica hung out at a club called The Grill. That’s when she saw Michelle. Jacara couldn’t believe her luck. If Michelle was at the bazaar, then Mike Black couldn’t be far behind. She quickly made her way over there.
“Hi, Michelle. It’s Jacara. Do you remember me?”
“I do,” CeCe said and reached for Michelle’s hand.
Jacara was surprised to see CeCe with Michelle because she knew how particular Black was about women being around his daughter. She was more surprised to see her pregnant.
“Hello, Miss Collins.”
CeCe started to tell her that her name was Mrs. Black, but decided she didn’t need to. Since she’d been living in Nassau people began calling her Mrs. Black. The captain of their boat called her Mrs. Black. The woman that cleaned the house and cooked for them called her Mrs. Black. All of the deliverymen and vendors that she dealt with called her Mrs. Black. CeCe had even gotten in the habit of signing her name, Mrs. Camesha C. Black. In fact, the only one who didn’t call her Mrs. Black was Mr. Black. He had taken to calling her Cee.
“Hello, Jacara. What brings you to Nassau?” CeCe asked as her blood boiled and her eyes narrowed.
“Well,” Jacara began. “I needed a change of scenery. I never was one to stay in any one place for very long. Freeport was starting to get a little old. So I thought I’d come here and check things out.”
“Really.”
“Well—truth be told, they hired a new singer to do the show, so I knew it was time for me to move on.”
“You got fired,” CeCe said bluntly.
“Yeah,” Jacara giggled a little. “So I’m gonna relax for a few days then see if I can get a gig somewhere on the island.”
“Good luck finding work,” CeCe said and started to walk away with Michelle. Then she stopped and stepped toward Jacara. “Stay away from my man,” CeCe said softly with her finger in Jacara’s face. “Come on, Michelle.”
“Bye,” Michelle said and waved to Jacara.