Michael looked around the apartment. He put his backpack down on the long coffee table and wandered into the kitchen. Cindy was sitting at the kitchen table, reading through his application.
"Well Michael, everything looks good. You can move in whenever you're ready. Right now, there are two other tenants in the building. Collect their rent, show the empty apartments, and rent them. I'll come on the 5th to collect the rent. I have a folder here where I keep the repair people's information. Now, since you manage the building, I'll take half off the rent. Deal?" she said, looking up at him.
"Deal," he said.
"Good. You're actually doing me a favor. It's hard for me to get over here, so this is great," she said.
"Yeah," he said. "It works for me, too."
"Do you want the furniture?" she asked. "If not, we can put it into storage." He shrugged. "I'll bring my bed and couch. Everything else can stay." "Okay," she said, "I'll have my uncle pick it up tomorrow."
"I guess we're all set. Here are the keys," she said, handing him a set of keys. He took the keys from her and smiled. "Did you bring your poems?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Well, I did manage to find one or two." "Great, where are they?" he asked.
She picked up her purse, dug inside, and pulled out two pieces of small paper. She looked at them, then hesitantly handed them to him.
"I thought you may have forgotten, and I didn't want to bring it up," she said.
Michael took the pieces of paper and read out loud:
"You inspire me to be the best I could ever be,
Especially on days when I am so low
You have picked me up so many times
Especially on the days when I am so low
You give me strength when I am weak
And never once ask for anything in return
You keep me sane in times of insanity
And never once ask me anything in return."
He looked up to see her staring at him. She had a look of discomfort on her face.
"It's really good," he said.
"You think so?" she said, perking up.
"Yes, I really think so. My friends are having an open mic. You should come read your poem," he said.
She laughed. "Oh no, I can't even believe I let you read it."
"Well, it's good. If you change your mind, it's Friday, at Zoe's Soul Food Kitchen. Show starts at 8 pm. There will be a lot of novice poets. I'm sure you'll be in good company," he said.
Michael handed back the poem. Cindy took it from his hands and said, "You really liked it?"
He nodded. "I have to get going, but I'll move in this weekend if that's okay," he said.
"Sure," she said, looking down at her poem.
He stood for a moment, watching her. She was studying her poem as if she'd never read it before.
"Well, I'll see you later," he said.
She waved to him but didn't look up and continued to read her poem. He watched her slowly sit down, eyes fixated on the paper. He stood a moment longer, then left the room.
"We want the partition to be over here," Chloe said, giving directions to the two men holding the large wall.
They nodded and slowly walked the partition to the other side of the restaurant. She watched the two men carry the heavy partition and set it down. It was black with white letters and read Marigold Shelter 1st Annual Open Mic. In the center was a silhouette of a person standing in front of a microphone. She nodded, walked to the back of the restaurant, and walked into the kitchen to find Zoe busy giving directions to her staff.
Zoe looked up at her and mouthed, "Five minutes." Chloe nodded and walked into her office, sat down, and pulled out her cell phone. She checked her messages, scribbled some notes in her notebook, and clicked off the phone.
Zoe hurriedly walked into her office. "Tell me again why I wanted to run a restaurant? You know when they say good help is hard to find? Well, it's true," she said, sitting down in a huff in the chair behind her desk.
"You could be working for someone else," Chloe said.
"True, true. So, are we on track for Friday?" Zoe asked.
"Of course. Girl, this is me you're talking to. Did I tell you I'm giving Lily a makeover for her performance?" she said.
"No, how'd that happen? Wait…T?"
"Of course. From what I know, Lily didn't like the idea of You & Me sending a photographer." "So, what's the plan?" Zoe asked.
"I'll meet T and Lily at T's place. I need to be done early because I'm coming as Stanley's guest."
"Wait, you're coming with Stanley Roberts?" Zoe said. "Shut the fuck up. You sleeping with him?"
Chloe smiled. "No, girl, and let me tell you something, it's hard. The man sent me flowers every day until I told him to stop. He calls and leaves me the sweetest messages. Girl, he fucking with my emotions, my mojo, my good sense, and my rule to never date clients."
"Well, he is fine. I dunno, Chloe, you may have met your match." "I know. He is fine. I never thought I'd say that about a white boy." "That's 'grown-ass man', excuse you," Zoe added.
"Okay, white man. He is fine for a white man, but –"
"But what?" Zoe asked. "He's fine, rich, nice, easygoing, smart. I just read where he's one of the year's most eligible bachelors."
"I know, I know," Chloe said, sounding distressed. "I cannot date this man. I mean, I could fuck him. Yes, I could…BUT he's a client, so no, no, no," Chloe said.
"Hmm," said Zoe.
"What the fuck does 'hmm' mean?" Chloe asked. "You know what it means," she said, smiling at her. "What should I do, Zoe?"
"I've never seen you so fucked up over a man before, Chloe. I think you should just follow your heart."
"Follow my heart?" Chloe blurted out. "What the fuck, Zoe? Follow my heart?"
She shrugged. "It doesn't matter what I say. You're gonna do you, and I love you for that."
Chloe sighed. "Yeah, you right. Okay, okay, enough about him. Let me show you the backdrop I just had delivered. I had them put in the spot we talked about."
"So, what if he makes a move? Whatcha gonna do?" she asked, smiling slyly.
"Stop. He's not going to make a move," she said.
"I think you should go for it. I do. I mean, why not? Fuck it, Chloe, he likes you."
Her eyes widened. "Are you serious right now? You? Zoe? Aren't you the same person who told me not to shit where I eat? Not to dip my ink in the company well? Don't grunt where you hunt? Don't buy your honey where you get your money? Wasn't that you?"
Zoe laughed. "Did I say all that? All I'm saying is that for the first time, I approve of your taste in men. He ain't raunchy, or busted, or broke, or ugly, or tired, or trifling. That's like a unicorn for you."
Chloe laughed. She knew she was right. Her taste in men wasn't all the great. She never really wanted a boyfriend. Her attitude was to fuck 'em and dump 'em.
"Chloe, your longest relationship was with a pair of earrings. Again, all I'm saying is, he's a nice guy. Very nice. He might be the one." She smirked.
"The one?" she echoed. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why are giving me all this bad advice?"
"I dunno. Love, maybe," she said.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "It's overrated. I get the same thing from chocolate."
"Okay, okay. Maybe it is bad advice, but there are worse men to end up with, Chloe. I like him. He's down to Earth, funny, kind, and really seems to want to help people. I'm just saying, he's a unicorn."
She was surprised by Zoe's comments. She'd always been the level-headed one. The one who made calculated moves and didn't go out on whims or leap without looking. The two friends sat in silence for a moment until Zoe spoke.
"I just think you have to keep an open mind, Chloe. Yes, I know you have a hard and fast rule about your clients, and I respect it, I do – but Stanley Roberts may be worth it," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"He is a tall drink of Hennessy," Chloe whispered.
Zoe patted her hand. "Don't worry, everything will work out. It always does." "For you, Zoe," Chloe said. "Things always work out for you."
Zoe smiled. "Maybe, but I believe the Universe is trying to tell you something. You should listen."
Chloe looked at her and rolled her eyes. "Girl, please."
Zoe chuckled. "Okay, so back to business. Someone asked me who's hosting the mic." She looked at her. "Hosting?"
"Yeah, you know, someone to introduce people, keep the crowd engaged. Who you got lined up?"
"I thought you and Anna had that covered?" Chloe said.
They both looked at one another.
"Oh shit!" said Zoe. "We don't have a host. I'm not gonna do it. I've got enough going on in the kitchen."
"Well, I'm not gonna do it. Maybe Anna?" Chloe said.
"Are you kidding? She's been running around like a crazy person. I don't think we can ask her to do it, Chloe," she replied.
They both sat for a moment, then in unison, they said, "T!"
"She's a writer, a poet…she'll do it!" said Chloe. "Besides, she owes me, with the Lily makeover thing."
"That's right, if she says no, then bring on the pleading and guilt." Zoe laughed.