Chapter 5

By the time Friday night rolled around, Cole had secured his apartment and began the move in process and he checked into the MEPS Command on the Reserve Air Force Base in Springdale.

He picked up Chandra at 7:00 on Friday evening, happy to see her again and excited to tell her about his week of accomplishment.

"The Greenville Inn and Tavern?" Chandra asked with surprise when Cole pulled the car into the parking lot of the town's most upscale eating establishment.

"I thought this was a special occasion," Cole grinned. "Worthy of a fine meal."

"You mean your apartment and assignment?" She asked with confusion.

"No, I meant us reconnected again," he answered truthfully.

Chandra was genuinely touched by the gesture, and she smiled broadly as they entered the tavern, Cole having made reservations earlier in the week.

A well-dressed couple was waiting to be seated when the reached the Matre'd and Cole was amused to realize that it was Helen, who he hadn't seen since he left for the Army.

"Hi, Helen," he said.

Helen turned to see who was speaking to her and her eyes went wide when she recognized Cole and Chandra.

"Well, hello!" She said but Cole picked up on the fake sincerity and he immediately sensed the coolness coming from Chandra standing next to him. "How nice to see you again!"

Cole nodded but was aware of the sudden awkwardness.

"This is my husband, Tony," Helen said proudly. "We live in Boston. Back for my mother's birthday tomorrow."

"Nice to meet you, Tony," Cole said politely, shaking his hand.

"Hi, Sandy," Helen said to Chandra. "How you doing?"

"I'm fine," Chandra replied, but there was ice in her tone.

"Your table is ready."

Saved by the Matre'd, Cole watched Helen and her husband disappear without so much as a goodbye.

"Did something happen between you two?" Cole asked with concern.

"Helen didn't approve of my life choices," Chandra grumbled. "Didn't want much to do with me once I was just another knocked up black chick."

"Jesus," Cole said with surprise.

"I didn't realize how much of a snob she turned into once she got to Brown," Chandra sighed. "She pretty much wrote off her time in Greenville and her friendship with me. I guess I was convenient in high school, but unnecessary afterward."

"Do you want me to go to tell her husband I saw his wife naked?" Cole wanted to know.

Chandra burst out in laughter. "Let's forget about them," she said.

Despite the awkward interaction with Helen, it turned out to be a lovely evening and a delicious meal. Chandra recovered from her annoyance and talked positively about her family, her job, and her life.

"I guess Helen never became enlightened," Cole remarked.

"Helen forgot about what was important," Chandra replied. "She got lost in class and ego and image and success and turned her back on friendship and her roots. It was my first life lesson in betrayal, the first time I saw bias unfold in front of me as Helen wrote me off."

"I would never do that," Cole insisted.

"I know," Chandra said with appreciation.

When the meaningful meal was over, Cole escorted Chandra from the restaurant.

"Can I see your apartment?" She asked once they were in the car.

"It's still a mess."

"That's okay," Chandra replied.

He took her to his place in one of the remodeled downtown buildings not far from the parking garage. Boxes were still waiting to be unpacked, pictures to be hung, furniture and kitchen items to be purchased for the apartment, but there was a bed in the bedroom and that's all Chandra seemed to be concerned about.

"Will you be okay getting involved with me even though I have two African American daughters?" She asked him point blank as they sat on the end of the bed in the mostly bare bedroom.

"Is that my Black History Month question of the day?" Cole asked.

"I'm serious," she said with concern.

"Haven't I proven my diversity to you by now?" Cole wanted to know.

"What about my diversity?" Chandra asked.

He leaned into her and kissed her – for the first time – to give her his answer.

"I trust you," she whispered.

"I honor you," Cole replied.

"Let's make some Black History Month diversity," Chandra said as they both fell back on the bed and embraced one another.