Another Man Will (9 page)

“What's wrong, Vette?”

“Dad, Phil said he's not giving me my money from the sale of the house. And . . . and . . . .I don't know what I'm going to do.”

“What do you mean, he's not giving you the money from the house? I thought you guys were going to split everything down the middle.”

“That's what . . . what . . . what we were . . . supposed to do.” I tried to catch my breath by taking a deep breath and began speaking again. “Daddy, he said since the house was in his name that I wasn't entitled to anything. I put up money toward that house's down payment and helped him do the kitchen.”

“Did you discuss this with the Realtor? What about your divorce attorney?”

“We didn't use an attorney for the divorce. We did everything ourselves. I called the Realtor to see when the settlement was, and she was the one who told me it had already happened.”

“I thought you had an attorney. You always have to get everything in writing, and then you always have to have an attorney review it to cover all your bases. There has to be something we can do. How much was he supposed to give you?”

“Twenty-five thousand.”

“That's a lot of money.”

“And, Daddy, he got me fired from my job, and he said he is not giving me any of it. I was using that money for me and the kids to move into a bigger place, fix a few things on my credit, and get another car.”

“Twenty-five thousand? Oh no, he can't just take your money from you. Let me call him, and I'll call you right back.”

I felt a little comforted. If anyone could talk some sense into Phil, it was my dad. He and my father had formed a strong father-son-like bond, and Phil really respected him. I said another prayer and walked into the convenience store across from the bank. I bought a bottle of water to soothe my aching throat. I got back in the car and tried to sit still, but my leg shook while I waited to hear from my father. My father called back.

“Dad, what did he say?”

“Uh, Vette, listen. You are going to have to hire a lawyer. He is talking crazy.”

“Why? What did he say to you?”

“He said you're getting what you deserve and that you were having an affair and he caught you cheating with a young guy on your job and that you were stealing money and that's why you were fired.”

“Dad, that's not true.”

“I know it isn't. But really there is no talking to him. He kept me on the phone, repeating the same thing. Whatever happened between you two, he's still really upset over it. Give him some time to get over it. In the meantime go and speak to someone.”

I couldn't believe any of this was happening to me. Phil was a man scorned and had declared war on my life, and I didn't know how I was going to fight back.

C
HAPTER
9

Crystal

T
he test came back, and the truth was now undeniable.
You are the father!
I thought in my Maury voice as I stared down at our test results. The mailman couldn't have brought better news. I was now holding proof that Kenneth was my daughter's father, and now he could start taking care of her. I dialed his cell. He didn't pick up, so I called the house phone, and who picked up but that damn Syreeta. I started to hang up, but I thought,
Fuck her.
I needed to speak to her brother.

“
May I speak to Kenneth?”

“Who is this?” Syreeta knew damn well who it was, but I still humored her.

“It's Crystal.”

“Crystal, he's not here, and just to let you know, we got the same paperwork you did. So you don't have to call here checking up on nobody. When he ready, he'll do what he has to do. Until then, I'll tell you like I know. Stop begging a motherfucker to take care of your child. Do what you got to do for yourself and your baby.”

There was no reason to respond to Syreeta. She was deranged, and I couldn't deal with her. I just called Kenneth's cell phone number again, and this time I blocked my number. It rang and rang, and then he finally answered.

“Kenneth?”

“Yeah. Yo, why you keep calling my phone and blocking your number, Crystal?”

“I didn't know it was blocked.”

“What's up?”

“Kenneth, Syreeta said you got your test results.”

“Yeah, I did. Listen, I want to take care of my daughter. All I needed was to know without a doubt she was mine. I already got her something and want to come by and get her.”

“When?”

“Today. A little later. See, I'm gonna do the right thing now that I'm sure.”

I started to say something, to tell him that he'd known she was his, but what was the point? As long as he came and got her...

“Kenneth, just call me before you come so I can have her ready.”

“Matter of fact, I'm going to be there in, like, an hour.”

 

 

I was shocked when I saw Kenneth's four-door silver Crown Victoria with dark tinted windows double-parked outside my house. I told Jewel to tell him that I would be out with Kori shortly. Instead of waiting outside, Kenneth came in my house. I heard his six-foot-two footsteps coming up my stairs and walking down my hall.

“Is my daughter ready?” he asked, entering my bedroom.

“Yes. I'll bring her out to you. And please do not just walk in my house or up my steps anymore.”

“Yeah, all right,” he said as he flagged me and went to use my bathroom.

He had a lot of nerve. I thought,
First, she isn't your daughter, but now she is, and you walking in my house like we are cool.
What made him think he could just roam around my house after three months of “I'm not sure if the baby is mine”? I didn't want to argue with him, but I would have to let him know he was no longer welcome in my house. I was furious while I was packing Kori up. I was beginning to have second thoughts about handing my child over to the enemy. Before I could change my mind, he grabbed her car seat and diaper bag. I watched as he placed her car seat in his car and strapped her in and drove off.

Since Kori was gone for the day, I wanted to take my other two children somewhere, but first I wanted to wash and fold clothes and have them clean the living room, which was covered with toys and game pieces.

“Get off the game, Nasir, and pick up all this play money and toys.”

“I didn't have it, Mom. Jewel was playing with it.” Nasir said continuing to play with his toys.

“No, it wasn't me. It was Nasir. You were the one,” Jewel insisted.

“Both of you, get this living room together if you want to go somewhere today.”

“Well, I don't want to go anywhere. I just want to play my game,” Nasir said.

“Nasir, you still have to clean up.” I walked over to the television and turned it off.

I supervised the cleaning from the kitchen, and then I texted Rell to say good morning. Since we met, I'd talked to him every day. We'd been to the movies and out to dinner once. He was a real sweetheart; he even came up to my job to see me on my lunch break. The one scary thing was that he kind of reminded me of Kenneth a little. They didn't look anything alike, but we were having a lot of fun, like Kenneth and I used to have. Instead of texting me back, he called me.

“Hey, just got your text. Good morning to you, Miss Turner. Where are your little ones? What is going on with you?”

“They're right here. I don't know what we are going to do yet.”

“Oh, 'cause I was going to say, if you want to go, my brother and his wife have extra tickets to the Monster Truck Show.”

“Okay. Sounds good. What time?”

“It starts at five o'clock. There's not enough room in the car for all of us, so I can probably meet you down there.”

We met Terell in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Center. There were families walking in, and it was very crowded. He spotted us and told me to come up to the door. He briefly introduced me to his brother, Shareef; Shareef 's wife, Angel; and their son, Little Shareef. They spoke, and we waited in line to enter the arena. While in line I introduced Rell to the children as Mr. Rell, and he corrected me and instructed the kids to just call him Rell.

Once we were in, Rell bought Jewel and Nasir cotton candy and earplugs because the show was loud. We walked to our seats and viewed up close a gigantic green truck with huge wheels, revving its engine nonstop. The truck just kept racing up and down big mounds of dirt, smashing and crushing little cars and flinging mud everywhere. I didn't get it, but Jewel and Nasir loved it. Rell's nephew, Little Reef, was so excited, he was jumping up and down and cheering the drivers on. Rell and I didn't get a chance to talk that much during the show, but it meant a lot to me that he would think of my kids and take them out.

After the show Rell walked us to our car. I wanted to give him a kiss good-bye but didn't want to freak the kids out, so I texted him, Thank you.

He sent me a text back. No prob. Can I see you tonite?

I texted him back that I had the kids still, but I would call him when they were asleep.

 

 

Kenneth brought Kori home, and I gave her a bath and her bottle, and she was ready for bed. Jewel and Nasir munched on pizza and were knocked out around ten, but I was so scared that I checked three times to make sure they were asleep before I opened the door for Rell. And even then I instructed him to be extra quiet. I did not want them waking up and Nasir coming downstairs, asking what the man from the Monster Truck Show was doing at our house.

“That was really nice to take me and my kids to that show.”

“Sure. Your kids seem cool.”

“They are.”

“My brother and his wife really liked you.”

“But I didn't even really get to talk to them.”

“It doesn't matter. People can read people's energy, and they know good people when they see them.”

“I am a good person, though.”

“I know you are. That's why I'm here. You know what I was thinking about on my way over here?”

“What?” I asked, knowing that he was going to say something silly.

“I finally got the girl I wanted since middle school—Crystal Turner.”

“You say the sweetest things, Rell.”

“I know I do, but Crystal Turner, what are you doing to me?”

“I'm not doing anything to you.”

“Yes, you are. I feel like I can't stay away you.”

“Yes, you can.” I laughed and tried not to think too much about how I was falling for Rell too!

Before I knew it, we were all over each other and he was inside of me knocking my insides out. It was like he kept going in deeper and deeper, and it was getting better and wetter, and I wanted to scream, but I didn't want my kids to hear me. I was telling him to be calm down and to go a little slower, but he was attacking inside of me like a beast and he wouldn't stop. Then it happened—a big, loud crash. The box spring was on the floor and my bed was hanging sideways off the frame. All we could do was laugh hard while still trying not to awake the kids.

“See what you did, Rell?” I said playfully punching him. He attempted to fix the bed but it wasn't working.

“I'm going to fix it in the morning. I'm sorry, I couldn't stop; you got that extra good loving,” he said placing the mattress back on top of the box spring.

 

 

After the bed fiasco I made sure everyone was still asleep and I made me and Rell a late night snack. We were already so comfortable together. We showered and watched a movie and talked all night, about him being in the Army and all the places he had traveled. It was so easy being with him, it was like meeting my best friend. I was going to enjoy Terell for now. The easy part was getting a man; the hard part was keeping him. It always started like this, fun and happy, but then something always happened.

C
HAPTER
10

Dana

A
t Millennium Concepts Agency sometimes I felt like we were always in meetings, discussing the meetings we were about to meet about. I just came out of one meeting with long-winded Dennis Albridge. He was so annoying and only got away with his antics because he was with the company before the downtown office and seven-figure accounts. He was vital to the agency, and possessed a plethora of connections and loyal clients, but he really needed to bring his thoughts and ideas up to date because he always made meetings boring as hell.

After I got out of my first meeting with Dennis I was ready to get my second meeting for Equalnoi Bars over with. I walked into the next conference room and saw Reshma had a disgusted look on her face while trying to chew the bar at the table.

“So it's that good?” I asked.

“You should taste it.”

“The wrapper is very different, unique looking,” I said as I picked the cereal bar up off of the table and stared at the wrapper. I tore a big chunk of the bar off and ate it. It was horrible. There were too many nuts, and it tasted like dirt.

I looked around for a trash can to spit in. Reshma chuckled and poured me a glass of water, and I gulped it down. That was disgusting. I was glad I hadn't eaten it before I'd come up with the marketing plan. But it really didn't matter how much I didn't care for a product and that I wouldn't buy it. There was someone out there that would; I always remembered that lesson from my first marketing class. Besides, our company needed this deal. Even if it was a disgusting cereal bar, it would be displayed and sold in every health-food store in the tri-state area, and it was our job to make sure of it.

Three meetings in one day and I could not wait to leave the office, because I had a special evening planned with Todd. I realized I did overreact the last time I saw him and shouldn't have left in the middle of the night. I called him a few days later and apologized, and to make it up to him, I had planned a romantic night just for us. I got us tickets to our favorite singer, Wade Devon. He was this international, Grammy Award–winning R & B singer. I loved his music. We both loved the way he sang and played the piano. Todd had texted me three times today, telling me he couldn't wait to see the show.

“So what's the plan for the weekend, ladies?” I asked Reshma and Leah.

“Stephen and I are going away to a bed-and-breakfast place in Lancaster. We are going to relax and enjoy the country air,” Leah said.

“Don't forget to take a buggy ride with the Amish people,” I said jokingly.

“The Amish are not the only people that live in Lancaster,” Leah replied.

“Well, I'm going to see Wade Devon under the stars this weekend at the Mann,” I announced.

“Ooh, that sounds nice. Have fun,” Reshma cooed.

“I will. And what do the newlyweds have planned?”

Reshma shook her head. “Not that much. Zyeed is on call all weekend, and I'll be entertaining his mom and sister.”

“Well, have a good weekend, ladies. See you on Monday,” I said.

I left the office and started getting ready for my night out. I picked up my favorite black dress from the cleaners, then drove home. I was going to take a quick shower, place a few curls in my hair, and get ready to meet Todd. While I was dressing, Todd called.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“Getting ready to see Mr. Devon. You almost ready?”

“No, uh, I'm not ready.” I didn't like the unsteadiness of Todd's voice.

Please, not again,
I thought. “You're not about to stand me up again, are you?”

“Dana, please understand. I want to go, I do, but something came up at work. Remember I told you about how I had a conference next weekend?”

“Yeah.”

“My boss's assistant messed up all the arrangements. She made a scheduling error, and we are supposed to be in Boston this weekend, not next. So I'm packing and about to leave now, and I won't be back until Tuesday. I will give you the money for the tickets, but I want you to still go and enjoy yourself.”

I was speechless. I couldn't get mad. I should have known better. He always did this to me.

“I can't believe this. Why am I not surprised?”

“Dana, this is really not my fault. I'll forward you the e-mail so you can see it for yourself.”

I didn't want to see any e-mail, and I didn't want to talk to him anymore, so I ended the call. Todd always disappointed me. What was new? I was so annoyed that perfectly good tickets were about to go to waste. Maybe my parents would want to go.

“Mommy, do you know who Wade Devon is?”

“Yeah, I think I heard of him.”

“Do you think you and Daddy would want to go and see him in, like, an hour?”

“No, I don't like him like that. Why aren't you going?”

“Because I have to work to do,” I lied. “Forget it, Mom. I know who I can give them to.”

I dialed Tiffany.

“Tiffany, what are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing. About to watch all the shows I TiVoed. I may call the guy I met online. Why? What's up?”

“Do you want to go see Wade Devon? Todd can't go.”

“What happened with Todd? Never mind. I'll go. But you have to come and pick me up since you taking me on a date.”

“Yeah whatever girl, just be ready.”

In front of Tiffany's door I texted Todd to let him know I decided to go to the show, and I hoped everything went well with his conference, and that I'd see him when he got back.

 

 

The Mann Center for the Performing Arts was an outdoor venue in the middle of Fairmount Park. The weather and the night sky were perfect for good music and love. Once we were there, I was happy I didn't waste the tickets.

We were seated in the orchestra section, in the third row, in the middle. Since we were fifteen minutes late we had to say, “Excuse me” to all these concertgoers before we could get to our seats. Tiffany was unfazed. She was just, like, “Excuse me. Thank you. Pardon me. Excuse me,” down the aisle. As soon as we took our seats, I couldn't help but notice all the loving couples around us. There were old couples, young couples, Asian couples, black couples. They were holding hands, grinning at one another, and I was on a girlfriend date.

“I wonder if anyone thinks we are lesbians,” I said.

Tiffany glanced around and said, “They probably do.” Then she grabbed my hand and began stroking it lovingly and laughing. I snatched my arm away from her and made the best of the situation.

Wade Devon came on stage and once I heard his sultry voice, it made me forget where I was and who I had come with. I was so excited to see him sing and play his piano. I couldn't think of anything else. He played each note so well and serenaded just me all night. I swear he winked at me a few times. I was in another place, relaxed, singing along to every song and enjoying the show until a text came in from Todd that read: I hope you have fun. Enjoy the show :)

I didn't know what was wrong with the text, but it ruined my mood. His text brought me back to the fact that he wasn't with me. It was finally beginning to sink in that I had been a fool for the last year and it wasn't going to get any better. Everyone's attention was on the stage, and not even Tiffany noticed the tears that were streaming down my cheeks. As fast as they ran, I wiped them off and concealed my pain. I was tired of being hurt by Todd and I couldn't take anymore.

By the time I dropped Tiffany off after the concert and reached home, I had come to the conclusion that it was time to have a heart-to-heart with Todd. Our relationship was going to change or end, one or the other, no more in the middle. It was late, but I was angry and could not wait until morning to let him know. I texted message after message about how I felt about our current situation. I didn't know how many texts I sent, but soon after my phone was going off and Todd was on the other end.

“What's wrong with you, Dana? Why are you sending crazy text messages this time of night?”

“What's wrong with me? Hmm. Let me see. I went to a romantic show with my girlfriend, when I was supposed to be with you, my man. Oh, that's right. You're not my man. You are what? My friend with benefits, my bed buddy? I'm not exactly sure what we are. Could you clarify exactly what we are, again so I can know? I need to hear it once and for all from you so I can know how to move on with my life.”

“Dana, I don't know why you are so upset or what to tell you.”

“Well, I need you to tell me something. Tell me things are never going to change. Tell me you are a selfish liar and that you are going to keep standing me up, and something, somewhere, somebody is always going to come before me. Tell me.”

“Dana, you know how I feel about you, but I have to get my career going while I can. I'm sorry I can't be who you want me to be right now. And I really don't understand why you can't understand. Things are perfect the way they are. I really don't see what the big deal is. You were able to go to the show, and I'm giving you the money back.”

“And that's it? You will never get it. Nothing is a big deal to you. Oops, sorry. Can't make it. Maybe next time. But now I see there will always be an excuse and a next time. Something will always come up.”

“That's not true. It's just that things happen.”

“You are right things do happen, but people make time for what is important to them. I have a busy career, but I still do my job and I do it well and I still find time to see you. Because you're a priority to me. I am not a priority of yours. Todd, I can't afford to waste any more time with you.”

“Then don't waste any more time. I can't take hearing you say the same thing over and over again, and you're not going to make me feel guilty about things that I cannot control.”

“Then don't hear it anymore.” I took a deep breath and said, “If this is the way it is going to be, then I'll pass.”

“So what are you saying, Dana?”

“I'm saying I'm not going to sit here and wait for you until I'm in my thirties. I'd wait on you and then you'd realize I'm not what you want and my life is gone. Because that's what you crazy men do. Suck the life out of women, make us wait, waste our good years, and then marry the next chick in three months. I don't think so. It is not going to happen to me like that. You can go to hell, Todd.”

“I can go to hell? Okay, Dana, you are really in rare form tonight. You're not making any sense, so I'll call you tomorrow, when you are in a better mood.”

I thought about it for a moment. I had to think if I really meant what I was about to say. “Don't bother. It's over. I've had enough. Don't call me anymore.” I was surprised I said it, but it was exactly how I felt. It was something I should have told him a year ago, when he first downgraded our relationship, instead of waiting around.

“Are you sure about this?” Todd asked.

“I am,” I said nice and clearly.

“Okay. Once again I'm sorry, but if that's the way you want it, then fine, Dana. Enjoy your weekend.”

I stood with the phone in my hand, with a few more tears and a little bit of joy. I was happy that I had finally put my foot down, but sad I had lost the man I loved.

 

 

The next morning I didn't feel so joyful about telling Todd to go to hell and all the other things I'd said to him. I informed Tiffany that Todd and I were no more, and she let out a loud “Yea! Whoo-hoo!”

“You don't have to be that happy.”

“Yes, I do. I hate Todd. You should have cut him out of the picture a long time ago.”

“I know, but I thought he would eventually get it together.”

“He wasn't ever going to be right for you. When a man wants something, they go after it. They won't make you wait, because they will be too scared someone else is going to get you. I'm glad you finally broke up with him. Forget him and listen to my good news.... I really like the guy I met online. He is so nice. We've been talking on the phone every day, and we are going to meet up.”

Even though I agreed that I had wasted too much energy and time on Todd, I didn't think it was such a great idea for Tiffany to meet a stranger off the Internet.

“Are you really going to meet up with a stranger?”

“I sure am. What do I have to lose?”

“Maybe your life. What do you know about him?”

“His name is Solomon, and he lives in North Jersey, in Piscataway. He's an only child, and him and his mother are best friends.”

“So you are going to another city to meet a momma's boy. Don't you know online people can be whoever they want to be? You're probably going to meet a killer posing as a man seeking romance or a bunch of teenagers playing a prank.”

“No, he is really who he says he is. I have his work number and e-mail, and I even went to his company Web site, and he is in their directory with the same number I have. He is not a crazy man. Do you want me to read you his profile?”

“No, because whatever it reads, it is probably a bunch of lies, I'm sure. Tiffany, do you think he would write, ‘I enjoy killing people and dismembering them. None of my dates are ever seen or heard from again, and I'm a psychopath'?”

“He is not a psychopath.”

“I sure hope not, for your sake. If he kills you, I'm going to miss you.”

“I'm telling you he is not. I did my research. I'm a good judge of character. I'm getting on the train now. I'll call you when I get there.”