“Well, are you coming in?” I asked, and returned to the kitchen table.
Stacey came into the room and closed the door behind him. I glanced at him as he stood silent by the door, then occupied myself with the food still to be cooked. “You get everything done you wanted?”
Stacey came over to the table. “Gassed up. Got the car checked. Did a little shopping for Dee. I’m set to go.”
“Good,” I said, keeping myself busy and my look directed at the table.
Stacey watched me. “Looks like quite a feast here.”
I nodded. “Lobster. Steak. Potatoes.”
Stacey picked up one of the wine bottles, looked it over, and set it down. “Uh-huh, quite a feast.”
His mood was darkening. I tried to dispel it. “Remember when we went to see Uncle Hammer and that was the first time we had lobster? And Uncle Hammer and Aunt Loretta said we needed to have some prime rib with it too. One of the best meals I can remember.”
“This white man know about all that?”
I stopped my busywork. “Look, Stacey, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but—”
“Cassie, you know perfectly well what I’m thinking. No man brings over this kind of food to a woman unless something’s going on.”
“Maybe what’s going on is a friend caring enough to provide some food for another friend and her brother.”
“And this is what he chose to bring? Did you ask him to bring it? Did you pay him for it?”
“No, it’s just what he brought. Stacey, I’ve known Guy since law school. He was in my group that went overseas. We work in the same law firm. He’s a good and considerate person. He wanted us to have this dinner.”
Stacey stared at me, then said, “Are you going to Toledo with me?”
“I thought I had until tomorrow to decide.”
“Did you reach Lawyer Tate?”
“No, not yet—”
“Are you going back or not? Give me your answer.”
I placed my hands flat on the table and took a moment before replying. “I can’t give you an answer right now, Stacey, and I won’t let you pressure me into giving you one. I still want to talk to Lawyer Tate first. I’ve got a lot going on here—”
“Yes, I can see.”
“And just what do you mean by that?” I was no longer sounding apologetic.
“Cassie, you know exactly what I mean.”
I rounded the table to face Stacey close up. “Look, Stacey, this is my life here. I have friends, and not every one of them is colored. A lot of people in Boston have been good to me, and not every one of them is colored either. I haven’t done anything wrong, so don’t come judging me on anything.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Which one you want me to answer? Your first question or all your insinuations?”
“Are you going back with me?”
I took a deep breath. I didn’t like Stacey putting me in this position. I put my hands on my hips and, defiantly, I issued an adamant “No.” Without another word Stacey turned, walked over, and picked up his suitcase from behind the sofa. My arms slipped to my sides. “What are you doing?”
“Going back to Toledo.”
“But . . . you said you were going to stay until Sunday!”
“What’s the point? I came to get you. You said you’re not going with me. I leave now I can be back with Dee and the girls before morning.”
“But I don’t want you to leave right now. I want you to stay. I’ve got all this food—”
Stacey glanced at the table. “Maybe your good, considerate friend can come back and enjoy it with you.” He turned to go.
“Stacey, listen—”
Stacey stopped at the door. “No, you listen, Cassie. You’re moving into some very dangerous territory here. You’ve moved away from your family, and now you’re moving away from your people too.”
I walked toward him. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re living in a white world, Cassie. Look at this apartment building, this white neighborhood. I was almost afraid to park my car out front the way people were staring at me. But you’re comfortable here, aren’t you? How’d you get this place anyway?”
I didn’t say anything.
“That friend of yours help you get it?”
I kept my silence. I did not want to lose my temper.
Stacey now took the time to lecture me. “Cassie, we’ve been slaves to white men since our people were first thrown on those ships and dragged here in chains. White men could do whatever they wanted to our colored women, our men too. Think about it, Cassie. You know all the stories as well as I do, and now you’re willing to be with a white man? You’re willing to turn your back on your family and your race too?”
I grabbed at his wrist. “Stacey, don’t you dare say that to me! That’s not what’s happening!”
Stacey’s look was cold. “Isn’t it?”
“Look here, I’m a woman grown, many years over! You can’t come in here telling me what to do!”
“I’m not telling you what to do, Cassie. I’m just telling you what you already know. You’re a good-looking woman, Cassie. You’re smart, highly educated. You’re the best of the best. You’ve got all this going for you and that white man sees it. Like I said, you need to come home, Cassie. This white man, he’s taking you away, taking you into that white world of his.”
“What if I told you he wants me to marry him?”
Stacey’s jaw set and he stared icily at me. “Do you think I give a damn if he wants to or not? You’d still be a black woman choosing to go with a white man! Too many of our women gone with them! Forced to go with them, our blood included! Now, you’ve got choices and this is what you’re choosing to do? You don’t go sleeping with a white man, Cassie, no matter what, marriage or no marriage.” He sucked in his breath and his voice grew quiet. “You do, you turn your back on all of us. I won’t even call you my sister.”
“Stacey—”
“Like I said, it’s time to come home, Cassie.” He shook his head, visibly disappointed in me, then looked down at my hand, still clutching his wrist. After one last look at me, he yanked away, opened the door, and went out.
“Stacey!” I called after him.
My brother did not answer as he walked down the hall, turned the corner, and disappeared down the stairs.