Unfaithful Ties (40 page)

chapter 32

Jason...NYC, New York

How do you know if the woman you choose is a good woman or not? Jason wondered while deep in a daze as he sat in the conference room tuning out a presentation.

Getting over Vanessa was hard. Jason had dated so many women trying to erase Vanessa out of his heart it was pathetic. When it all boiled down to it he learned that he’d been involved with only two types of women. Vanessa of course, and then all the women after her. Not one of them stood out from the other. Either they were unbalanced. Too damn needy. Wanted all his attention. Or they were just plain dumb and simple minded.

There was one he fell for
tho’. Evette. Now, he was really digging that woman. Dated her for about three months.  Evette was the type of woman that a man wanted to rescue. She was a strong black woman. Pecan tan, slanted chestnut eyes, deep dimples, a head full of sistah locks, and a physique that looked like it’d been sketched together. Evette had it going on. Her looks weren’t the only thing she had going for herself either. That sistah had goals, and ambition, and drive.  She worked at the local pharmacy and attended college online. What Jason dug about her was the fact that she tried, and didn’t allow anyone or anything to stop her. Every now and then he’d have to tell her “Let me get that cape for minute. Let me be your superhero for a change” She wasn’t lazy and she was always thinking of a master plan to upgrade herself. She lived up in the church. Was there every Sunday. Front row. She wasn’t needy or bossy. And she didn’t mind him hanging out with fellas at the Man Cave every now and then. She didn’t mind him standing around with the fellah’s bumping his gums, telling a few jokes, talking about a few fine ass celebrities, old cars, and shit like that. Evette made him realize that there was still some good women out there. She had Jason thinking about marriage again. She had two kids and a deadbeat ass husband whose only goal in life was to bring her down. Jason learned the hard way that she couldn’t let em’ go if her life depended on it. One Sunday afternoon he’d been calling and she continuously sent him to the voicemail. So when he saw her in Walmart that day he walked up to her. As he approached her, this man crept up behind her, wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Tattoos were sleeved down his arms, and two teardrop tattoos were stamped underneath his eye. Looked like he’d just been released. “It’s like that?” Jason said. “Excuse me, do I know you?” She fronted.  Jason started to curse her out but he played it smooth and walked off. He hadn’t heard from her or talked to her since, until last week when she called him trying to apologize. As soon as he heard her say “Jason this is Evette...I’m sorry” He hung up.

And then there was Belinda. You couldn’t tell this woman that her pussy wasn’t gold. She acted like a man should feel like he’d found some type of damn treasure once she’d opened her legs. Jason didn’t understand why some women think a man owes her something once she’s given up the panties. Like it’s some type of woman’s law that states that once a woman gives up the cookies A MAN is automatically obligated to become her “Man.” Giving a man the skins doesn’t make him want you anymore than he would want you if you were to keep your legs closed. If a man wants you, he wants you.
With or without sex. Some women are just too stupid to realize that. So when she started asking him questions like “When can I meet your mama” He got the hell on. He hated it when a woman wanted to know where the relationship was going before he was ready to say, or even knew where it was going himself. Some women seem to confuse dating with being in a committed relationship. And Jason would be the first man to let them know that there is a big damn difference.

For some strange reason Sabrina thought that she didn’t have to have any common sense just because she and Jason had mind-blowing sex. She was a goddamn idiot. Sabrina was the type of person that would punch in the area code and then dial
nine-one-one. One time he invited her to a gathering and a few other couples were lounging around drinking and playing Taboo. One of the questions that she’d been asked was:
in what city is the Eiffel Tower Located
? Sabrina had the nerve to blurt out New York City. Jason was embarrassed as hell when all the fellahs had this, where’d you get this stupid motherfucker from? expression on their face. The nutcase had been living in New York City all her life, and you’d think that she knew the difference between the Twin Towers and the Eiffel Tower. That nutcase didn’t see anything wrong with the fact that she’d never gone to the polls and voted. “The first African American president was elected, we made history and you didn’t think it was important for you to vote?” Jason asked her one day. “I don’t see why people made such a big fuss about the damn election. I’ll never stand in those long ass lines. Our opinion doesn’t matter to white people anyway” she said. “I’m not voting this term either. They’re not going to let a black man win again anyway” Now how ignorant is that? That’s when Jason knew that he had to cut her loose. Jason wouldn’t eat a boiled egg if that woman boiled it, hell, she probably couldn’t get that right. The only thing that woman was good for was looking pretty and that’s why she faded out of the picture before the camera flashed.

Eventually Jason started letting them know from Jump Street that he wasn’t looking for anything serious. “Cool” Felicia agreed, “This is just a fuck thing.” Maybe once or twice a week they bounced around each room in Jason’s house fucking each other’s brains out with no strings attached. He’d talk on the phone to other women while she was lying right there beside him and it was never a problem.  Then all of sudden she caught feelings and started tripping. Saying things like “You’re just going to talk to that bitch while I’m sitting here” In the beginning Jason blew it off. Then she starting saying things like, “You must’ve been with your bitch and that’s why you didn’t answer the phone” and her remarks only became more aggravating. Eventually Jason put her in her place “Look I told you I wasn’t looking for a relationship and you said you’re were cool with this just being a fuck thing.” He said. “Well things change, I love you
” She said “Don’t you love me?” She asked. Jason flat out told her “No”  So she jumped up, and quickly dressed. And Jason just  rolled on over. “So you’re just going to let me walk away like this” she asked.
“If that’s what you want to do” He told her. He’d warned her what he was looking for when they met, so as far as he was concerned she could kick rocks. Just like all the others, she faded too and it didn’t faze him at all.

“What’s with you today man?” Clifford asked when the presentation was over

Jason was still in a daze.

“Jason”

“What’s up?”

“Thought that you’d gone deaf. For a second it seemed like I was talking to myself. Everything alright man?”

“Everything is good.”

“Are you sure? You didn’t even attempt to look at the PowerPoint slides. That’s not like you. You’re normally the most attentive person in the room.”

Jason had drifted back in a daze.

“Jason”

“Yeah” He said jumping out of his daze. “I’m cool. Just a little sleepy”

“Wife has you pulling in some late hours since she’s been out of the hospital, huh?” Clifford said jokingly.

“Yeah” Jason sighed. “Something like that”

“Well I understand” Clifford said patting Jason on the back.

“How is she doing?”

“Look Cliff
ahh...I really need to get back to my office I have a busy day ahead of me.

“Alright bro, it’s good to have you back.  I’ll talk to you later”

****

When Jason got back to his office he sat at his desk staring out of the giant windows and thought to himself, am I going to be this mad, bitter man for the rest of my life?

He’d drown in his misery for most of the day and hadn’t gotten any work done. He’d pretty much been in Sorrow Land that entire day. Before he collected his belongings to leave, he checked his Email inbox to make sure that he hadn’t missed out on anything important. The only new email in his inbox was a message from his soon to be ex-wife.

________
________________________

From:    
Vanessa Duncan             

Subject:  
This is important

Date:      
April 13, 2012

To:          
Jason Duncan

Jason,

I’ve tried calling you. It’s important that you contact me ASAP. I’m pregnant.

Sincerely

Vanessa

“Yeah right” Jason mumbled collecting his things. “And I should believe you because? You’ll say anything to get me back. And if you are, how do I know that it’s not Deon’s baby? The man that you supposedly wish that you’d married.”

On the way out of the building he stopped by the break room/copy room and got a drink out of the vending machine. He hoped that no one was back there in the lobby because the email that he’d just read was flowing through his mind and he needed to call Vanessa.

“Jason, baby, I’m so glad that you called. I thought that I was going to have to raise this baby alone.”

“Vanessa save it. I’m not buying it. You think that I’m just going to assume that you’re carrying my child? After everything that I just found out you think that I’m going to believe anything that you say? Woman you have some nerve. Don’t email me or call me until the baby gets here. I don’t want to hear from you until I get some DNA test results that says 99.9 percent” And he hung up.

Jason heard the microwave chime and seconds later his good friend Cliff came trekking from the back.

“Are you alright man?” He asked.

“I’m good”

“Jason I just heard everything. Do you want to talk about it man?”

“No.
I don’t” Jason said and then grabbed his belongings and left.

chapter 33

Trae...San Antonio Texas

Trae
Stenson was in the middle of his presentation at the company’s safety training seminar when he started feeling dizzy.

“Listen up guys we’re going to take a twenty minute break” He said gathering his portfolio. “Let’s all meet back here at a quarter-to- eleven.”

He headed to his office to relax.

When he got into his office he set his portfolio on his desk, then popped two Aspirin hoping they’d kill his agonizing headache. If the headaches didn’t stop he wasn’t going to be able to attend the seminar scheduled in Arizona in a few days. The headaches were just that bad.

“Knock knock” Trae glanced up from the desk and looked at the person walking into his office. It was Mr. Garrett’s assistant, as in the- Mr. Garret, the President of Compound. The man who signed his paycheck.

The sunlight spilled through the large windows in his office, aggravating his headache.
Trae grabbed his forehead, massaging it with his fingers. “Hey there”

“Hello
Mr Stenson, how are you doing today?”

It was obvious that
Trae wasn’t feeling well.

“Looks like you’re having one of the days I had last week”

“It’s this excruciating headache I’ve been having.”

“Have you taken anything?”

“Yeh, nothing seems to be working though”

“Mr. Garrett wants you to join him in the conference room?”

“Is there a last minute meeting or something? I have a seminar that I’m supposed to be heading back to in a few minutes.”

“I see. Maybe you should alert him of that when you get in there. But you definitely want to go. It’s probably just a brief meeting. Shouldn’t take too long.”

Trae followed the assistant to the conference room.

****

There were three blonde haired men, dressed in dark suits sitting around this expansive oak table, and Sean, a short African American man was getting to his feet when Trae walked in.

“Good day sir I’m Sean. I work with human resources. Have a seat please”

Trae had an awkward feeling about this meeting. “I’m fine. I have a seminar that I’m scheduled to attend in a few minutes. What’s this about?”

“Mr.
Stenson. I’m just going to cut to the chase. The company has suffered a number of losses over the past years and we’re having to cut costs.”

“Cut costs?”
Trae yelled. “What are you saying?”

Sean seemed timid. He tried to compose himself by clearing his throat.

“Basically the company can’t afford your salary anymore.”

“The company has to cut costs so they cut my salary? A measly seventy thousand dollars a year! Hell, why didn’t they start with cutting yours? You don’t do shit but sit in an office and talk on a phone. I’m the one out here bussing my ass for the company you ass kissing Uncle Tom”
Trae yelled.

The three blonde haired men looked petrified.

“You motherfuckers knew this yesterday, why didn’t you tell me before I wasted my goddamn time coming here this morning?”

Sean cautiously handed
Trae a manila folder. “This is your severance package sir”

“Oh is this supposed to make me feel better?”
Trae said snatching the folder.

“It’s what you’re rightfully owed sir.”

Trae chuckled. “It’s what I’m rightfully owed! You motherfuckers are something else.”

“Sir if you don’t calm down we’re going to have to call security and have someone escort you from the building.  All of your personal belongings back in your office will have to be thrown away”

“You think that I give a damn about that right now? I just lost my job.”

“That’s it I’m calling security”

“No need for that, I’m going to willingly leave because I can tell that all of you cowards are about to shit in your expensive little suits. What? You scared of an enraged black man? I should take out my dick and piss on all three of your motherfuckers. I hope all three of your motherfuckers die in your sleep tonight. I should moon you assholes.”

All
Trae heard was the sound of the men gasping.

“Yeah that’s right I hope you low down and dirty motherfuckers don’t make it to see tomorrow and the last thing I want you motherfuckers to remember seeing is my black ass”
Trae said and mooned the men.

When he slammed the door Sean let out a long exhaling sigh. “I didn’t know what he was going to do. I’d say that’s enough for today
” He said.

“Agreed unanimously” Mr. Garrett said.

****

Trae
hopped into his car and all you heard was the screeching of his four tires as he drove off.

He was pouring with perspiration and his head was spinning ten times more. So he made himself a mental note to visit his doctor the following morning. It wasn’t like he had a job to go to.

****

One week later,
Cassy’s body was slick with perspiration and tired from pleasure as she fell back into mattress. Trae had just whipped something good on her. She rolled onto her stomach and admired Trae, who looked to be struggling with another headache. “Sex is always so good in the morning.” She said. “Don’t you ever stay gone away from for seven whole days again.”

Trae
sat up in the bed and rubbed the back of his neck like he always did when his head was pounding. The throbbing was getting worse as the days went by. “Don’t worry I won’t. I can’t get enough of your good stuff.”

“Baby from a doctors perspective I think it’s wise for you to go and get those headaches checked out.”

“I already have” He hated to tell her but he’d waited long enough already. She needed to know. It wouldn’t be long before he could no longer hide it. He got out of bed and dragged his feet towards the bathroom, dreading the question he knew would be asked next.

Cassy
had followed him, she watched him turn on the faucet and then asked, “Well what did they say?  Did they prescribe you any type of medication?”

He stepped into the shower. “They prescribed some pills. It won’t change the diagnosis but it will help to keep it under control.”

Cassy was nervous, she pulled the shower curtain back  “What do you mean it won’t change the diagnosis but it’ll help keep it under control? Exactly what is it that you have?”

Trae
let his head fall back underneath the sprayer, and the water oozed through his hair as he thought of a way to tell her.

“
Trae I know that you hear me damnet. What’s wrong with you?”

“I have high blood pressure
Cassy and I found out too little too late. my kidneys are damaged. I’m going to have to start dialysis.”

“When did you find out all of this?”

“That’s where I’ve been all week. The hospital”

“I thought that you were out of town on business.”

“I was supposed to be out of town on business but I got laid off right before the trip”

“And you’re telling me all of this now?”

“I didn’t want to tell you because I knew that you’d carry on like this.”

“So now you don’t have a job?”

“You’ve been begging me to quit my job since we met. What’s the problem now?”

“The problem is now you no longer work and I’ll end up having to be your damn nurse”

“What do you mean be my damn nurse?”

“If you don’t take care of yourself that’s exactly what’s going to happen. You’ll have to change your entire lifestyle now. I didn’t sign up for this.”

“Cassy I didn’t sign up to be diagnosed with high blood pressure either so just excuse the fuck out of me for getting it. We’re damn near getting ready to vow to each other for better and for worst and you are trying to back out of it when things change a little bit. What happen to Trae I’m going to love you forever?”

“That was before I found out that you’d be cripple before you turn forty” She yelled walking out of the bathroom.