Two Moons Bakery, A Trilogy of Love Stories in the City

By B.L Wilson

Two Moons Bakery is a trilogy of novellas about relationships among African-American lesbians, their friends, and family who live in NYC. The three stories interconnect through a central meeting place called Two Moons Bakery. Terry Samson and Essie Brooks are the co-owners of the bakery.

In the first novella, entitled MAYDEANE, a middle-aged, conservative businesswoman, Sylvia Royce, must learn to accept the love of a younger woman, Fredericka Hicks, who drives cabs for a living. MAYDEANE also touches on a problem baby boomers face: to put an aging parent with Alzheimer’s into a nursing housing or not.

The second story, LEGS, introduces the reader to an unlikely pairing. Somebody’s been whistling at Delaney Peters, an ER doctor, for the last five days precisely at 7 AM. When she confronts a worker in the manhole, she discovers it’s female electrician, Andrea Joiner. They meet again in the ER when Delaney treats Andrea’s eyes for chemical burns from an electrical fire in the manhole where she works.

In the third novella, WORKSPACES, Janelle Montgomery is a geriatric psychiatrist who works from her home. She wants customized shelves built similar to the ones in Two Moons to hold her never-ending paperwork. Terry refers Janelle to her friend, carpenter Caitlin Robbins. Caitlin’s confession of her guilt-ridden behavior with a younger woman provides Janelle with the opportunity to find out more about the quiet, self-contained carpenter. Things heat up when Caitlin, a die-hard single widower, admits her feelings for Janelle and finally acts on them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.L Wilson
• Release date: Apr 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370138814

B.L Wilson

B.L. has always been in love with books and the words in them. She never thought she could create something with the words she knew. When she read ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird,’ she realized everyday experiences could be written about in a powerful, memorable way. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with that knowledge so she kept on reading.Walter Mosley’s short stories about Easy Rawlins and his friends encouraged BL to start writing in earnest. She felt she had a story to tell...maybe several of them. She’d always kept a diary of some sort, scraps of paper, pocketsize, notepads, blank backs of agency forms, or in the margins of books. It was her habit to make these little notes to herself. She thought someday she’d make them into a book.She wrote a workplace memoir based on the people she met during her 20 years as a property manager of city-owned buildings. Writing the memoir, led her to consider writing books that were not job-related. Once again, she did...producing romance novels with African American lesbians as main characters. She wrote the novels because she couldn’t find stories that matched who she wanted to read about ...over forty, African American and female.

Book preview

MAYDEANE

Chapter One: Where’s my Maydeane?

The old man sat at the same table where he always did to sip a cup of coffee.

Terry Samson, Two Moons Bakery co-owner, had seen him before. He usually sat for hours, drinking the same single cup of coffee. Today was no exception. She figured he must live nearby, but she wasn’t sure where. He was a nice old man, but he took long, aimless trips through the neighborhood. He’d stop at the two bus stop shelters on opposite sides of the street, sitting there as buses came and left. Couple of times, she’d seen him wandering around the big grocery store down the block or in the hardware store across the street. He strolled down the aisles, searching for something, but he always left the stores empty-handed. He did the same thing at the dollar store and the pharmacy too.

Terry wondered if his family knew what he did during the day. That is, if he had a family. He looked clean and healthy, so someone was taking good care of him. Hungry customers filled the bakery and drew her attention away from the old man. The next time she glanced at the table, he was gone. She shrugged and went back to serving her customers.

Cab driver Freddie Hicks picked up the old man when she saw him wave a hand as he stood at the corner. Where to, Sir? she asked politely, turning around to face him. He reminded her of the pictures she’d seen in a family album years ago. He was above average height and neatly dressed in a pale blue shirt, a gray overcoat, cuffed gray corduroy slacks, and shined black shoes. His dark eyes sparkled. His brown face was beardless and smooth. His gray hair was short and neatly trimmed. He smelled as if he’d just shaved, then applied Old Spice aftershave and witch hazel, two of her favorite scents. She waited for him to speak.

Just drive round ‘til I tells you to stop, Girly! the old man snapped at her suddenly.

Yes, Sir. Is there any place you wanna go?

The old man shook his head. Don’t know yet, Girly, but I’ll know it when I sees it. I’m looking for Maydeane Rollins’ place. You heard of her, ain’t you?

Freddie shrugged, then shook her head. No, Sir. I can’t say I have. Where did you say she lives?

I didn’t. He frowned at the back of her head. Driving be men’s work! No woman worth her starch should be drivin’ no taxicab!

Oh, I don’t know, Freddie remarked. She chuckled as she adjusted the rearview mirror so she could see the old man’s face. Driving is fun for me. It helps pay my bills.

Humph! That’s what us mens here on earth to do. Us take care of the womenfolk. Didn’t your mama teach you that?

I must have slept through that lesson. Freddie grinned at the old man through the rearview mirror. He certainly had old-fashioned ideas and wasn’t afraid of her. This might be an interesting trip. They passed several nice-looking brownstones and then turned the corner. You see anything that looks like Maydeane’s place yet, Mister?

The old man shook his head vigorously. No, I weren’t looking. I thought you was!

Don’t you think… Freddie’s voice faded as she looked in the mirror. The old man looked angry.

Just drive, Miss Taxi Driver, he grumbled and waved her on. I’ll tells you when we git close.

She cleared her throat before she spoke. So who’s this Maydeane person you’re looking for, Mister?

First off, my name ain’t Mister. It Isaac. Second, you just drive, Girly. I’ll tell you ‘bout Maydeane when I gets ready. Isaac crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her.

Yes. Sir. I was just trying to make conversation, Mr. Isaac.

I told you before, my name ain’t Mister. It be Isaac.

Freddie shrugged and then added, So tell me about Maydeane Rollins.

Well, lemme see. The old man stroked his chin as he considered her request. He sighed, then closed his eyes, deep in thought. "I met her in ‘43 during the big war. I was on R and R at the time. We comes right here to New York City. My buddy an’ me was trying to get these two gals to dance wid us at a bar where us colored boys goes. Place uptown an’ it call Blues Shack or some such name. Music loud an’ the wood floor just big enough to dance. Shack gots one front door everybody knows ‘bout. It be another door all way in back, don’t many peoples know. Drinks is cheap, but they watered down too. Maydeane come in the door ‘n’ she were the prettiest little thing I ever did see. First thing I seen was them big pretty legs of hers. Then I notices dark brown eyes an’ a waist small enough to get my hands ‘round it. She weren’t tall, but she walk real proud.

"Course, if I had a figure like she did, I’d be proud too. All them soldiers, including my buddy, Ezra, crowded ‘round her, asking her to dance. Me, I just standing back grinning an’ watching the show. All them mens was stumbling all over theyselves, tryin’ to get a dance wid her. I don’t blame them none. If I not so shy, I’d tried too. Music, it be hot an’ lively, so she dance wid couple mens then she dance wid couple more mens.

"Anyway, Maydeane, she excuse herself ‘n’ then she stroll over to me. She stands ‘bout two feet away. She looks me dead in the eye ‘n’ say, ‘Why ain’t you asked me to dance?’

"Me, I can’t believe she talking to me. I looks ‘round the room, but I don’t see nobody close excepting me.

"‘I mean you,’ she say, pointing at me. ‘Ask me to dance ‘fore I gotta dance wid all rest of them octopus hands over there.’ She nods at them mob of mens waitin’ for her to come back.

"Well, I tells her I can’t dance, but I like to take her on the town. Darned if she don’t say yes. She pretend go to bathroom, but we meets up an’ slips out the back way. I takes her to all the exciting spots I knowed ‘bout. Come dawn, I takes her home. I seen her mother standing outside the front door wid a evil look. Normally, when I sees old lady waiting on a front porch wid a baseball bat meant for me, I finds it best to hightail it out of there quicker than a greased pig that know he ‘bout to be dinner.

"This time, something come over me. I decides to smooth talk the old biddy into letting me see her baby girl again. She seen my uniform wid the sergeant stripes. I can see her mind spinnin’. I bet she start thinking, having a uniform in the family wouldn’t be so bad. The old biddy put the bat down in corner of porch. She tells Maydeane to go into the house so her an’ me can speak.

The old biddy ‘n’ me end up on her porch, making courtin’ arrangements. Every Sunday I in town, I got me an invite to dinner at her mama’s house. Time pass, the war be over. I stationed in nearby to finish my hitch. Maydeane ‘n’ me married wid her mother’s blessin’. We gots us three children. The first one, he a boy. He die right after he born. For a while, I thinks Maydeane gonna die too.

Isaac paused to catch his breath. She be grieving ‘n’ crying so much, I don’t think she got no tears left. We name him Isaac Junior after me. Anyway, Maydeane don’t feel like makin’ no babies for while, so the second baby, another boy, ain’t born for another three years. We name him William, after Maydeane’s dead daddy. If I’d known how worthless the boy turn out, I’d killed him wid my own hands ‘n’ buried him wid his brother Isaac. But that ain’t neither here nor there.

Isaac paused in his story to gather his thoughts. He smiled. "Our last baby was a girl. Prettiest baby you ever want to see and good too! Done everything her mama ‘n’ I asked her to do.

Me and Maydeane make us a home in New York City. We brung the old lady to live wid us till she die. She die a few years after William born. I thinks Maydeane gonna break down that time too, cause she ‘n’ her mother close, real close. For years, it just Maydeane an’ her mother till I come along. Maydeane surprise me ‘n’ don’t pine over her dead mama. We bury the old lady in a family plot. We go on wid our lives, raisin’ the children to be good citizens. Teaching ‘em to be hard working an’ God-fearing. It work better on my daughter Sylvia than my good-for-nothing son, Willy.

Freddie noticed the old man’s eyes light up when he mentioned his daughter. They sparkled almost as bright as when he mentioned Maydeane. She hated to interrupt him, but it was getting late. She needed to find this woman named Maydeane soon. She slowed down to glance out the driver’s window. Does anything look familiar?

The old man shook his head. Humph! Willy a bad seed. Maydeane’s mama say he the bad side of Isaac Junior. She say the devil be everywhere working his evil magic. The old lady say that Willy…

Did you eat today? Freddie interrupted, hoping to find out more about him. Maybe he would tell her where he lived and how to get there.

Isaac caught her eye in the mirror and gave her a hard stare. Quit interrupting me an’ lemme finish my story.

Freddie held up a hand in surrender. Okay, okay, but let’s find somewhere to eat. I’m hungry. She parked in front of the bakery where she picked up the old man. They might know him. You wait here. I’ll be back in a minute. She locked the doors just to make sure the old man didn’t wander off. Then she went inside to speak with the tall, brown-skinned young woman behind the bakery counter.

Terry, one of the bakery’s co-owners, looked and grinned when she saw who was coming through the door. Hey, Cuz. What’s up?

Freddie fluffed her dreadlocks in frustration, then rested her elbows on the countertop and drew close to her cousin. See that old guy in my backseat?

Terry turned away to glance out the window at the cab parked in front of the bakery’s large plate glass window. She could see a passenger in the backseat. When the figure moved over to the window, she could see enough of the face to know it was a man. She couldn’t tell his age. She turned back to frown at her cousin. Yeah, I see him. So what?

So I’ve been driving him around most of the afternoon looking for somebody I don’t think exists.

Call the cops to come get him. Or take him to the precinct and let the police figure out what to do with him. I bet they have plenty of people there who know how to deal with an old guy like him.

Freddie rubbed her chin in thought. Yeah, I could do that, but … Her voice faded and she didn’t complete her sentence. She liked the old man’s stories about his Maydeane. It was plain to see Maydeane existed at some point in the old man’s life, but she might not exist now. She realized he mentioned something about having children. She wondered if they lived here or in another state. She should take him to the precinct and let the police find his folks if they existed. She sighed and then frowned. I liked the old guy, Tee.

Tell me something, Cuz.

What?

You said you’ve been driving him around all afternoon, right?

Yes, I did.

Did he pay you anything? Like maybe offer to pay for food or gas?

Freddie sighed as she caught her cousin’s frown. You know he didn’t.

Why risk losing even more money on the old guy? Dump him at the precinct and go on your merry way. It’s still early enough for you to make a few bucks tonight, Cuz. Terry studied her cousin’s hesitant face and then sighed. She knew Freddie would keep driving the old man around until they found whatever he was looking for. I don’t know why you bothered to tell me anything. I can see you’re gonna keep driving him around. Call me tonight and tell me what’s up if it’s not too late.

Freddie finally threw up her hands in disgust and strode out of the door. Yeah, yeah. She was angry with herself. The old man got into her cab as if he had money to pay. Once she realized he didn’t have money, she couldn’t put him out. He’d hooked her with his life story. Too bad Isaac couldn’t tell her where he lived. She hated the thought of knocking on every door in the neighborhood to find his house. Could she really dump him on the precinct? Would they help him or shuttle him off to some city hospital ward? She eyed him as she slid into the driver’s seat. What the hell. He looked harmless enough. She rubbed her growling stomach. She was starving after hours of driving and so she decided to take him home with her.

"Let me help you take your coat off," Freddie offered after guiding him into her living room.

Humph. Gentlemen ‘posed to take ladies’ coat off, not the other way around, Isaac fussed as she helped him pull his arm out of the sleeve.

As she helped the old man with his coat, Freddie spotted a label sewn inside his coat with his name and address. I should have checked there first, she muttered as she wrote the information on a small pad and stuffed it into a pocket in her jeans. She decided to feed the old man first, then drive him home, since she now knew where home was. She was curious to meet the old man’s family, especially Maydeane. She guessed Maydeane was a real pistol. She grinned at the thought as she reheated beef stew from the night before and made a fresh salad. She added hot tea with the meal. They shared a quiet dinner together, then she helped him climb into her cab again.

This time, the ride was different. The old man seemed tired. He hardly spoke now and he didn’t mention looking for Maydeane at all. When she looked at him through the rearview mirror, he had fallen asleep against the passenger window.

She pulled the old man’s address out of her jeans pocket. Smoothing the wrinkled paper against the steering wheel, she studied it for a minute. It looked like his home was fairly close to the bakery. She drove several blocks, slowing down at cross streets to find the correct address. She finally found the house on a quiet street full of houses that looked similar and parked in front of it. She double-checked the address on the house with the slip of paper in her hand.

Glancing through the windshield, she stared at the two-story frame home. She noted the brick façade on the front and the beige vinyl siding on the sides of the home. The stairs leading up to a wide porch were made of brick that matched the façade. The soft glowing porch lights showed off two wicker chairs, a small table, and a glider resting against the side of a natural wood bannister. Outdoor plants hung from several hooks decorating the porch ceiling.

This is a nice, cozy place, Isaac.

"I got an old man asleep in the back of my cab. Does he belong to you?" Freddie looked up from the address in her hand to the young woman who answered the doorbell. She watched as the young woman’s eyes widened, then she walked over to the edge of the porch to see the backseat of the cab. The old man grinned, then waved from the backseat.

Come here, Granddaddy, the young woman called out, motioning old man to come inside. She smiled at the cabdriver, who left the porch and walked down to help her grandfather. Thanks for bringing him home.

The young woman sighed. Her mother was going to freak when she found out how the old man got home. She remembered her mother’s frantic voicemail this afternoon.

Lynette, your grandfather is missing. Come home immediately. Stay there until Barry or I call you or your grandfather shows up. Need I remind you to call me if he shows up before we do?

Lynette found it strange that her grandfather disappeared all day into the night. He didn’t normally do that. His home aide usually found him in the hardware store talking to customers or wandering around in the local grocery store. A couple of times, the aide found him at the playground, sitting on the wooden benches, feeding the pigeons or watching the children play on the swings. She hoped tonight’s wanderings didn’t mean her grandfather was getting worse. Would you like to come in? she asked.

Freddie hesitated.

Lynette opened the front door wider and then placed a hand on Freddie’s forearm. Please. I’m sure my mother would like to thank you when she gets back. She guided Freddie into a spacious, comfortable-looking living room and pointed to one of the couches. Why don’t you take a seat while I get my grandfather settled? Come on, Granddaddy; let’s get you upstairs.

The young woman escorted her grandfather up the stairs, fussing as she helped him climb. You’re in deep shit with Mom. She had to leave the office early when the aide called to say you disappeared. She studied her grandfather’s blank face and frowned. Did you know she quit because of you? The aide started crying when I got here. She said she couldn’t stand it when you disappeared. She said she was tired of looking for you all over town. Mom’s gonna be so pissed when she finds out the aide quit.

They walked into his bedroom and stopped in front of the closet.

The old man listened quietly to his granddaughter’s lecture before he spoke softly. Girly, I got to find my Maydeane. I looked everywhere. I still can’t find her.

The young woman ignored her grandfather’s nonsense and began unbuttoning his coat. You gotta listen to me. Mommy’s going crazy with your disappearing act. If you keep doing it, she’s going to have to put you in a home or something. She paused to help him remove his coat and hang it in the closet. She turned around to face him. You don’t want that, do you?

The old man smiled at his granddaughter. When you smiles, you favors her. You short. You feisty just like her. What’s your name, Girly? I bet my Maydeane like you. She likes everybody. That why I gotta find her ‘n’ tell I sorry for what I done to her. I wants her to come home to be wid me. We been married ten years. He sighed, then looked down at his hands.

Quit talking about Grammy and listen to me! The young woman raised her voice in annoyance, then realized her grandfather wasn’t listening. She wasn’t going to reach him tonight. She glanced at her watch, then her grandfather, and her tone softened. Sit here, Granddaddy. Your favorite show is coming on. I’ll go check on the driver who brought you here. She helped him settle into his favorite armchair. She spread a brown, beige, and yellow quilt Maydeane knitted for him before she grabbed a remote and turned on the television that was sitting on a stand near the door. She stood at the door studying him for a few minutes as he laughed at the screen. The female driver that brought her grandfather home seemed nice and he looked all right. She frowned when she remembered how panicked her mother had been. I better let Mom know you’re here.

Downstairs, the front door opened. Freddie overheard a husky female voice tell someone she’d call him later if her father didn’t show up. She watched from the couch as a good-looking woman closed the door and then leaned her forehead against it. The woman began to cry quietly. Freddie wasn’t sure what to do. Should she wait until the woman finished crying or offer her a tissue? She decided to cough softly to announce her presence in the room.

The woman straightened up, then wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. Oh my, I didn’t know anyone was here. Glaring at Freddie, she sniffed back tears. Who are you?

Freddie stood up. She wished she’d dressed better for the occasion. The faded, baggy jeans she wore looked out of place with the neat business clothes the young woman’s mother wore. She assumed this was the young woman’s mother. She found the young woman cute, but the mother was the one that she’d like to know more about. She liked how the mother’s business suit fit in all the right places and showed off shapely legs. It wasn’t too tight but snug enough for Freddie to see the woman had a nice figure. The only problem was the woman was crying.

This is just a guess, Freddie said as she came forward and handed a lacy kerchief to the woman, but I think I found your father. Here’s another guess. I think it was your daughter who suggested I wait for you. Freddie grinned as she handed the woman the hanky.

The woman offered her hand. God, you must think me rude. I’m Sylvia Royce.

Freddie grasped it and looked into large brown eyes. Sylvia’s eyes were a warm earth-brown color with a dark ring around her iris. She thought the woman’s eyes were beautiful. Correction, she thought the woman was beautiful.

I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name.

That’s because I didn’t give it, Freddie mused but didn’t express her thoughts. I’m Fredericka Hicks, but you can call me Freddie. If you don’t mind my asking, was that your daughter who let me in?

Sylvia sighed. She stared at the tall woman in the baggy jeans. The woman looked a little too old to chase after Lynette. She looked like she might in her thirties. She sighed softly. She didn’t know what Lynette had. Whatever it was, women loved it. Her daughter attracted women like bees to a honeycomb. She hoped this one wasn’t stung by her daughter.

She’d bet the cabdriver would be asking Lynette for her pager number before the night ended. She glanced at the hanky before dabbing her eyes with it. She didn’t think the woman standing in front of her would have a delicate thing stuffed in the back pocket of ill-fitting jeans. She didn’t look the type to appreciate the finer things, not in those big jeans, her construction boots, sweatshirt, and the baseball cap she wore backwards. Yes. That was my daughter, Lynette. Would you like some tea or something else to drink, Driver?

No thanks. Your father and I already had dinner, so I’m not hungry, Ms. Royce. Freddie stared hard at Sylvia until she grew uncomfortable and looked down. She expected a thank you, Freddie from Ms. Royce.

Sylvia frowned. Why couldn’t she remember the woman’s name? Calling her Driver or hey you seemed inappropriate. She felt drained. Her brain was foggy. Why was the driver giving her an evil look? Was there something else, Driver? I mean…ah, ah…Miss…?

Hicks, it’s Fredericka Hicks, Mrs. Royce! Freddie remarked sharply. It annoyed her no end the Royce woman couldn’t remember her name when it had only been two minutes since she’d introduced herself. She wanted to say something to get the woman’s attention. You look like a sensible woman, Mrs. Royce. Why would you let your father wander around the neighborhood? Why not put him in a nursing home. It’d be safer for him and better for you.

Stunned by the driver’s words, Sylvia Royce glared at the stranger in her house. Stalling for time to get her emotions under control, she cleared her throat twice before she spoke.

What the hell do you know? Who are you to tell me what to do? Sylvia stood with her hands on broad hips as she glared up at Freddie. I think it might be best if you left right now, Ms. … ah, er… She was losing her mind. She still couldn’t remember the woman’s name. What is your name again?

Damn it, Woman, I just told you! Freddie exclaimed, returning Sylvia’s glare. My name is Fredericka Hicks. Just call me Freddie if you can’t remember the rest! Okay, Mrs. Royce? She paused to study the angry woman. I’m sorry if I said the wrong thing. I just thought … I mean, your father seemed disoriented and he… She noted Sylvia’s stony face and stopped speaking. The vein throbbing in Sylvia’s forehead and her clenched lips made her look even more enraged if that was possible. Freddie threw up her hands in surrender. Oh, hell, let’s just call it a night. How do I get out of here? She marched over to what she thought was the front door and ended up in the hall closet.

Chapter Two: The best laid plans of woman and mouse

Meanwhile, Lynette was quietly watching the entire scene unfold from the staircase. She started to come to her mother’s defense but decided to stay where she was. She hadn’t seen her mother’s face that angry or that red in months. The last time she’d felt her mother’s fury was when she suggested dropping out of college to help pay for her grandfather’s care. Freddie Hicks had no idea of the potential explosion she’d created with her simple suggestion. She waited to see what happened next between the two women. Laughing softly, she came down the stairs. Ms. Hicks, are you leaving so soon?

Freddie and Sylvia turned around to shoot daggers at Lynette.

Okay, okay, the door’s this way. Here, let me show you. Lynette guided a highly annoyed cab driver to the front door, then whispered, Could you wait a minute? I wanna talk to you outside. She opened the front door and grabbed a sweater from the hook near the door. She thrust her arms into the sweater and zipped it. My mother’s not usually this way. She’s been under stress lately, with my grandfather getting worse. I’m sure that she didn’t mean what she said in there.

How do you know what she… Freddie’s voice trailed off as she studied the young woman. You were eavesdropping, weren’t you? You’re a nosy little thing, aren’t you? she remarked, noticing the gleam in Lynette’s eyes.

Lynette grinned. It comes from being the baby of the family. Nobody wants to tell me anything. They always figure I’m too young to know, so I have to steal information wherever I can. You know what I mean, right?

Freddie Hicks glanced at Lynette’s big, innocent grin and started laughing. I don’t suppose you’d care to share a cup of coffee with me. My workday’s been shot by your grandfather. I doubt I’ll be picking up other fares tonight. Besides, I’d like to hear more about your mother, if you don’t mind.

Humph! I should be insulted, Lynette said with a pretend pout. Most women who ask me out don’t do it to pump me about my mother! I can’t remember the last time that’s happened.

As you said, sometimes you gotta steal information wherever you can. Freddie rubbed her chin. I doubt your mother would talk to me right now anyway. So what do you think? You gonna tell me about her or what?

This will be an interesting first for me. Lynette winked at Freddie. Let me tell my mother I’m going out for a while, okay?

Okay.

Freddie walked to her cab.

Lynette went inside the house. She found her mother lying down in her darkened bedroom, fully dressed on the bed with her eyes tightly closed. Mom, I’m going to the library for a while. Do you want anything while I’m out?

Sylvia remained stretched out on the bed with her eyes closed. "No,