7-15-97, 9:01 AM

Kourtnee and I were late to the budget meeting because Kourtnee decided to lecture me about being careful about using Shimmers' products. She said something like this…

"You know that you are allergic to some in the Shimmers' products. You need to make sure that you do not try anything, especially if you don't know for sure if you will have a reaction to it. You have to be careful. You are old enough to know better. I should not have to run in behind you making sure that you do not get into any trouble. If you want to stay up here with me, you have to act like you have some sense."

I don't think she was through with her lecture, but she stopped because I went to crying. I felt like an idiot. I think I caught her off guard by crying. I knew I wasn't supposed to use the lotion, but I couldn't think of anything to tell Armand. Kourtnee walked over to me, kissed me on the cheek, and told me to go to the restroom and clean my face. I felt so stupid.

The budget meeting was on the fifth floor. When we reached the conference room, people were already there. This conference room was a slightly smaller version of the conference room on the seventh floor. I didn't feel like being there. I wasn't about to stay up in Kourtnee's office. Kourtnee sat down in one of the chairs. I sat down next to her. I laid my head down on the table. Kourtnee tapped me on the shoulder and told me to sit up. I did.

The meeting began at 9:11. Barry Anderson, the VP of Accounting called the meeting to order. I have no idea what was discussed in the meeting. I paid no attention. Kourtnee told me to pay attention several times, but it didn't help much. I hated getting into trouble. You always feel like such an idiot after you are fussed at. Most of the time, you know what you are doing will get you into trouble, but you do it anyway. It has always been disheartening to me when I got into trouble. I only got into trouble with Mrs. Johnson once. When Mrs. Johnson got through with me, she never had to reprimand me again. My thoughts and ponderings were interrupted by Kourtnee telling me to come on.

We left the conference room on the fifth floor and headed for the elevator. Some of the people from the budget meeting were on the elevator with us. We all got off the elevator on the twelfth floor. The 12th floor houses the boardroom. There was a department heads meeting being held in the boardroom. The 12th floor housed the boardroom, a media room, and four bathrooms. The media room attached to the boardroom. We walked into the boardroom. It was the most elegant room I had seen at Shimmers. It had mauve carpet, curtains, and chairs. The furniture was dark brown. The brown of the furniture accented the mauve color. There was a large picture of Mr. and Mrs. Adams on the wall.

I looked around as we waited for everyone to get to the meeting. Kourtnee went over and talked to her cousin, Themophilis Adams, III. He was standing at the head of the room by a podium. (He and his family were not at the family picnic, so I hadn't met him yet.) I stared at the picture of Mr. and Mrs. Adams that was on the wall. The picture looked familiar. I stared at it a while longer. It looked like the Shimmers, Inc. logo. I asked a guy that was standing near me if the picture was the one that the logo was patterned after. He said that it was. My asking him a question began a five-minute discourse by him. He gave me a brief history lesson on Shimmers. I was finally saved when Themophilis called the meeting to order.

Colt and Paula both were at the meeting. I sat in a chair by him. I saved a seat for Kourtnee on the other side of me. Kourtnee was sitting in a chair by the podium. I wondered why she was sitting up there. Themophilis asked a lady named Jennie Boling to read the minutes from the last meeting. She did. Themophilis walked back up to the podium and said that Kourtnee wanted to say something.

Kourtnee walked up to the podium and said, "Good morning everyone. As some of you may know, my foster daughter, LaDawnya, has been up here at the complex. She likes to go walking around the building and exploring, some of you have already discovered that." She paused for a second and looked at me. I was thinking, "What in the world is she doing?" Kourtnee cleared her throat ad continued, "LaDawnya is allergic to something in the Shimmers products. Please do not ask her to try any of the testers or samples. I do not want her to have a reaction to the products. Please make sure that the people in your departments know this, also. Thank you. Themophilis."

I was mad. How dare she say something like that? She just made me look like I was a three-year-old child. Colt looked at me. He asked me was I all right. I was not all right. I was mad. Kourtnee walked back to where Colt and I were. She sat down beside me. She touched my arm. I jerked my arm away from her. She looked at me and then looked back at the front of the room. Colt asked me was I ok again. I looked at Kourtnee. She didn't even acknowledge my existence. At that moment, the only person who seemed to care if I was ok was Colt.

Some woman was up talking. I sat there thinking about what Kourtnee had done. The more I thought about it, the madder I got. I was furious. Not only did Kourtnee tell the whole world my secret, but she also made me look like a fool in the process. I was getting so mad that my head started to hurt. I didn't want anything to do with Kourtnee, so I told Colt that I needed to go to the restroom. He said I could go. I got up and left the room.

I started towards one of the restrooms on the 12th floor, but I decided to go to Colt's office instead. I knew that I shouldn't go where I was headed, but I was overcome with anger, and my better judgment left. I reached the first floor. Brug stopped me and asked me wasn't I supposed to be in the budget meeting with Kourtnee. I rolled my eyes at him and walked off. (I was really acting a fool.) As I walked out of the building, I saw Brug pick up the phone. I figured he was calling Kourtnee, but I didn't really care. I finally made it to the plant and into Colt's office. I laid down on the couch and went to sleep.

In the Boardroom

It had been 10 minutes since LaDawnya had left the meeting. Kourtnee leaned over to Colt and asked him where LaDawnya said she was going. Colt told her to the restroom. Kourtnee got up and left the boardroom. She went to both of the restrooms on the floor. LaDawnya was not in either of the restrooms.

When Kourtnee walked out of the second restroom, Nicolle Simmons was walking up to her. Nicolle said, "Hello, Ms. Adams. Brug just called me and asked me to tell you that he just saw your daughter leave the building. She was headed towards the plant." Kourtnee responded, "Thank you, Nicolle." Nicolle walked off and Kourtnee went back into the meeting. She tapped Colt on the shoulder and asked him to step outside with her.

Colt and Kourtnee went back outside. Colt was about to make a joke, but the look on Kourtnee's face let me know that something was wrong. He thought to himself, "Kourtnee looks beautiful even when she looks worried." He had a brief flashback to a happy time when they were dating. His reminiscing was interrupted when Kourtnee asked, "Are you paying attention to me? I need you to call your office and ask someone to see if LaDawnya is in your office." Colt looked startled as he asked, "What makes you think LaDawnya is in my office. She said she was going to the restroom." Kourtnee responded, "Brug sent Nicolle up here to tell me that he saw LaDawnya headed towards the plant. Your office is probably where she would go. Why would she go out there? That child gets into more trouble." Colt grabbed Kourtnee's hand and held it before he walked into the media room to call his office. As Colt walked off, Kourtnee thought, "Colt is always a strong tower to lean on. He looks good."

Colt came back from the media room. He said, "LaDawnya is laying down in my office. Do you want me to have someone tell her to come back up here?" Kourtnee leaned on the wall, as she said, "No. Why did she leave?" "I don't know. She got upset when you told everyone to not give her any Shimmers products," Colt said as he leaned on the wall beside Kourtnee. Kourtnee turned her head and looked at Colt, "Why would she get upset about me saying that?" Colt responded, "I don't know. You women have some strange notions from time to time." Kourtnee stared at Colt's long eyelashes. For a brief moment, she let herself get lost in his eyes. She quickly came back to reality and said, "I have no idea what to do now." Colt said, "I'll go get her. You need to be in there, you are Madame President." Kourtnee hugged Colt quickly as she said, "Thank you, Colt." The hug threw Colt for a loop. Kourtnee had not made any gesture of affection towards him since they had broken up long ago. Even if it was for a second, the hug felt good. Colt immediately waved the thought he was thinking out of his mind. He could not let this brief moment of weakness in Kourtnee cause his imagination to run away with him. Colt watched Kourtnee go back in the boardroom. He headed to his office.

In Colt's Office

I woke up to Colt shaking me by my shoulder. I looked up at him. He sat down on the couch beside me. I put my head in his lap. He rubbed my hair.

Colt: Kourtnee is worried about you

LaDawnya: Why are you here instead of her?

Colt: Because I am a gentleman and I told her that I would come get you.

LaDawnya: Oh.

Colt: You were supposed to be in the restroom. Why did you come down here?

I played with my hands.

Colt: Is there something wrong with your hand?

LaDawnya: No.

Colt: Ok, then, why did you come down here?

LaDawnya: Cause I didn't want to be up there sitting by Kourtnee.

Colt: Why not?

LaDawnya: She makes me sick.

Colt: Why does she make you sick?

I shrugged my shoulders.

Colt: What does that mean? I don't speak shoulder shrug.

I shrugged my shoulders again.

Colt: I just told you that I don't speak shoulder shrug.

I didn't say anything.

Colt: I'm going back upstairs to the meeting. I am gonna tell Kourtnee that you said that she was ugly and that you hated her.

LaDawnya: That's not true. I didn't say that.

Colt: If you don't want me to tell Kourtnee that, then you had better tell me what she did to upset you.

I groaned.

LaDawnya: She told everyone that I was allergic to Shimmers stuff.

Colt: So, what.

LaDawnya: She didn't have to tell everybody. It wasn't all of those people's business.

Colt: Hold on, how come nobody told me that you were allergic to the product that I help make?

LaDawnya: I don't know. She didn't have to tell everyone to watch me as if I was a three year old. Just because I tried the lotion that Armand gave me, she thinks I don't know how to watch out for myself. I can take care of myself.

Colt: You know Armand.

LaDawnya: Yea, I met him yesterday in the employee lounge.

Colt: I don't want you hanging around him anymore.

LaDawnya: I just saw him in the employee lounge and on the sixth floor. I haven't been hanging around him. What's wrong with him?

Colt: Look, just do like I tell you to. I don't like him. He's too pretty for me. I just don't like him. You need to either stay in my office or in Kourtnee's office. I don't want you wandering around the complex by yourself anymore.

LaDawnya: Man, how come?

Colt: Because I don't want you running around here getting into trouble. Just make sure you do not walk around the complex by yourself.

I sat up.

LaDawnya: That's not fair. I ain't even do nothing.

Colt: If you wouldn't have been wandering around the building, it wouldn't have been necessary for Kourtnee to say what she said in the meeting.

I looked at him. I felt the blood rush to my head. I got up and stormed out of Colt's office. I heard Colt call my name, but I did not stop until I got to the restroom. A few seconds later, a lady came in the restroom and asked me if anyone else was in the restroom with me. I told her know. She left. Colt walked in the restroom. I stared at him.

LaDawnya: What are you doing in here? This is the ladies restroom!

Colt: You had better not ever snatch away from me when I am talking to you again. Do you understand me?

I looked at him. He had the meanest look on his face I had ever seen on a man. I knew he meant busy.

LaDawnya: Ok.

Colt: Now, get out of here and come back into my office.

We walked out of the restroom. The lady who had come into the restroom earlier was standing outside of the restroom door. She smiled as we both walked by.

Colt: Kourtnee is upset that you left the board meeting. You are gonna have to tell her why you left. Come on so we can go back upstairs.

I stared at Colt.

LaDawnya: I am not going back up there.

Colt: I am not asking you. I am telling you that you are going back upstairs. Let's go.

LaDawnya: I ain't going nowhere with you. You can't tell me what to do.

Colt: Do I need to call Kourtnee?

LaDawnya: I don't care who you call. I am not going anywhere with you.

Colt just stared at me. He looked at me as if I was a total stranger. I didn't care at that moment. I was mad at him and Kourtnee. Colt walked out of HIS office and left me there. I laid back down on the couch.

Well, I Never

I looked up. Kourtnee and Colt were standing over me. I turned over so that my back was to both of them. Colt huffed. Kourtnee sat down beside me. I don't think either one of them knew what to do with me at that moment.

Half of me was satisfied that I had caused such confusion. The other half of me felt like a fool. These two people had allowed me to come into their lives and here I was acting like a fool. I thought of something Arlene had told me once, "Girl, you can't be bad dealing with Mama. She is always praying that God will convict you anytime you do something wrong. So, whatever you do wrong, it will only feel good for a moment. A few seconds later, you will not feel good at all." That's what I felt. I felt so bad. I put my head in Kourtnee's lap and started crying.

Kourtnee asked Colt to hand her some Kleenex. Colt did. She told me to sit up and she wiped my face. Colt was looking at me as if he wanted to pull his belt off and give me a good whipping. After Kourtnee finished wiping my face, she asked me what was wrong. I spilt my guts, telling her about how I felt about her telling everyone I was allergic to Shimmers' products. I also told her about how I felt about her asking everyone not to give me any Shimmers' products. Kourtnee listened sensitively. Colt continued looking at me as if he wanted to take a belt to my rear end. Kourtnee asked me why I acted like I acted with Colt. I didn't really have a reason other than I was just being childish. I told her that I was upset because he had tried to make me go back upstairs. She told me to apologize to Colt. I did. He did not seem satisfied. He sulked out of the room and stood in the hall.

I looked into Kourtnee's eyes. She looked drained. I don't think that she had ever imagined that I would be this much trouble. Then, I had to go and had her ex-boyfriend to the equation. I could not even imagine the burden that I had placed on Kourtnee. I had known her for four months. In those four months, I had never seen her look this weary. She laid back on the couch and glanced at the door. She did not look like the strong, confident, secure businesswoman I had gotten to know. She looked like a woman caught in a difficult situation. She closed her eyes and exhaled.

Kourtnee opened her eyes and called Colt's name. She asked if we wanted to go get some lunch since it was after 11:30. Colt looked at me then at Kourtnee. Kourtnee smiled at him and Colt's eyes lit up. He said ok. Kourtnee said that she needed to go upstairs and get her purse. She said that she would meet us at Colt's car in a few minutes. She left Colt's office. That left Colt and I there alone.

Colt patted his pants pockets as if he was searching for his keys and wallet. He told me to come on. I reluctantly followed him out of the office. It was obvious that Colt and I were at a stalemate. We were both being stubborn. We walked to the car in silence. We were waiting at the car. Kourtnee seemed like she was taking forever to get to the car. Colt kept shooting looks at me.

LaDawnya: Why do you keep looking at me like that?

Colt didn't respond to my question. He looked off in another direction. I walked around to the direction that he was looking in.

Colt: What do you want?

LaDawnya: A hug.

Colt: I don't want to hug you.

LaDawnya: Why not?

Colt: I am not too fond of you right now.

LaDawnya: I sorry.

Colt: Don't try that cute innocent face on me. It's not gonna work.

LaDawnya: I'm sorry I acted silly. I really am.

Colt: Yea, right.

LaDawnya: I am.

Colt: Kourtnee and I were having a great day and you would not cooperate. You were supposed to smile and say okay, Colt, let's go. I was supposed to look like a hero to Kourtnee and we were supposed to live happily ever after. No, you want to go and be difficult.

LaDawnya: Ooh, you like Kourtnee. You like Kourtnee. You like Kourtnee. You like Kourtnee.

Colt: Alright. Quit that.

I started dancing around and singing.

LaDawnya: You like Kourtnee. You like Kourtnee.

Colt: Girl, if you don't stop. Quit saying that.

I kept dancing and singing.

LaDawnya: I got a secret I can't tell. I got a secret I can't tell.

Kourtnee: I'm going to tell you a secret if you don't stop shaking your behind.

I turned around to see Kourtnee standing behind me.

LaDawnya: Yes, mame.

Kourtnee: Why are you shaking your rear end anyway?

Before I could answer, Colt grabbed me by my neck.

Colt: Come on. Let's go. I am hungry.

Both Kourtnee and I went to the backdoors of the car. Colt said, "I am not playing chauffeur. One of you has to get in the front." I started around to the front of the car. Colt said, "Grown folks only in the front seat." I looked at him. I started dancing again. Kourtnee shot a look at me as she opened the front door. We all got into the car and headed out to lunch. Every once in a while, Colt would look at me in the rearview mirror. I kept smiling big.