Drama in the Church Saga (22 page)

“Ma'am, could you pay me, please?” he asked. Payce got out of his car and paid the fare.

He walked back toward her. “Tressie . . .” He took a deep breath. “We need to talk.”

The rain was drenching both of them.

“No! You are going to tell me who she is!”

“Okay, but can you get in the car first?” He tried to reason with her.

She opened the passenger's side door and slammed the door shut. He got into the car and turned toward her.

“There's something I need to tell you,” he uttered.

She sat on her side of the car waiting for him to explain. Tressie knew that what he had to tell her was not good.

“That girl . . .” he began, “the baby you saw me kiss . . . he's my son.”

“Son?” she shouted.

“Last year, I met his mother and we hooked up for one night. Cayden was the result,” he told her softly.

“You cheated on me again?!”

“Tressie, it was only that one time.”

“Why should I believe you?” she screamed back at him. Her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and it was Danyelle. Tressie hit the mute button. She didn't want anyone to disturb her conversation with Payce. “You had a baby and never told me.”

“She didn't tell me until after I got out of jail. I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how.”

Her cell phone started ringing again. It was Danyelle again. “Why do people call at inopportune times? Hello,” she answered.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Danyelle asked. She could hear that Tressie was upset about something, but what she had to tell her couldn't wait.

“Danyelle, I really can't talk right now.”

“Tressie!” she cried. “Don't hang up. I've got something important to tell you about Payce.”

Tressie looked in Payce's direction. He pretended to be interested in the falling rain.

“Go ahead,” Tressie responded solemnly.

“I was in Southwest Philly today getting high with this girl. We were sitting on her deck in the backyard smoking a blunt when her pregnant next-door neighbor walked out into her backyard. So Loretta, that's the girl I was getting high with, she asked me were you still dating Payce Boyd. So you know me, I'm like, ‘yeah.' Well, she goes on to tell me that her neighbor, Najah, claims that she is pregnant by Payce. Girl, when she told me that news I had to put my blunt down. I almost choked on my inhale. That was some startling shit.”

Tressie was silent. Danyelle wondered if she was still there. “Hello?” Danyelle called out.

“I'm here,” Tressie replied. “Continue.”

“Anyway, I asked was she sure and she said ‘yeah' and that if I didn't believe her I could ask her myself. So I stood up and asked the girl, and she said she was pregnant by Payce Boyd.”

Tressie sat in her seat sniffling, trying to hold back the tears. Danyelle regretted telling her friend this information. “Maybe I should have waited to tell you this.”

“No, you did the right thing by calling me. Is he aware of this?” she asked.

Payce turned and looked at her when she asked that question.

“She said Payce knew, and he told her he would take care of his child.”

“Thanks. I'll call you later tonight.” She hung up with Danyelle and turned toward Payce.

“Payce,” Tressie said very calmly.

He turned and looked in her direction. She swung her hand back and slapped him across the face. “You bastard. Who the hell is Najah?”

He stared at her with a blank expression.

She got out of the car and walked toward the bus stop.

“Tressie, where are you going? Get in the car. I'll take you home.”

“Fuck you. I'd rather walk!” she screamed.

Tressie took one last look at herself in the mirror. The strawberry flavored lip gloss she bought at the mall added luster to her lips. She rubbed her lips together and stuck the tube of lip gloss in her purse. She and Quinton were going out and he wouldn't tell her where they were going, but he did promise her it would be a night she would never forget.

The day after Tressie found out about Payce's two children, she ran to Quinton for comfort.

“I hate him,” she told Quinton.

“You don't mean that,” he responded. “You're just really upset right now.”

“You're right. I don't hate him, but he makes me sick and I don't want to see him ever again. I've had enough of being mistreated.”

“Does that mean you're a free woman?” Quinton asked.

“Um . . . yeah. I guess it does.” It never occurred to her that she was once again a single woman.

“Good, because I was serious when I said I wanted us to be a couple again.”

“Quinton, I . . .”

“Before you say no, hear me out,” Quinton interrupted. “I know you want to clear your head and get Payce out of your mind, but there is no better way to do that than to let me into your life. I can help you forget about Payce. I want a chance to make you happy. You deserve to smile all the time. Plus, if you and I are together, Payce will know that it is really over between the two of you.”

Tressie was scared to jump into another relationship so soon after her breakup with Payce, but Quinton did have a point. She needed to show Payce that they were finished, and she knew Quinton would keep his promise to treat her good.

“All right, we can give it a try and see how things work out.”

“I promise I will not let you down,” he exclaimed.

 

 

Tressie heard Quinton's voice downstairs and glanced at her reflection in the mirror one last time. She ran her fingers through her hair and straightened out her skirt over her hourglass figure. “Perfect,” she said to herself.

She ran down the stairs. “You look lovely,” Quinton said.

“Thanks,” she replied. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” He shook her father's hand and said good-night to her mother. He held the door open for her and escorted her out to his car.

“Why are you acting so formal?” she asked. “I'm not used to you acting this way.”

He whispered in her ear, “It's strictly for the parents. They want to make sure their only daughter is going out with someone respectable.” Quinton turned around and waved good-bye to her parents, who stood in the doorway watching.

“You don't have to put on a show for my parents. You're considered a good catch after some of the other guys I've brought home.”

“Well, I don't want them to see me as a good catch. I want them to look at me as their future son-in-law.”

She laughed. “You're moving kind of fast, aren't you?”

“Not at all. I already know who I want to spend my life with. I just hope she wants to do the same,” he replied.

Tressie felt uncomfortable talking about a future with Quinton when her heart still belonged to Payce. She quickly changed the subject. “Where are you taking me?”

“I told you it was a surprise.”

“You can't give me a hint?” she pleaded.

“Don't do that. You make me hot when you do that.”

“Pleeeeeeeeease,” she whined.

“I can't win,” he said. “I'm taking you to see AI.”

“Stop playing. Are you for real?”

“Here go the tickets right here.” He pulled out a pair of tickets he had stashed under his seat.

“Oh my gosh!” she examined the Sixers tickets. “These are floor seats,” she screamed. “I'm going to be so close to Allen that I can see those gorgeous eyes and those pretty lips and . . .”

“Excuse me,” Quinton interrupted. “I am the one who is taking you to the game. Please don't forget that you'll be sitting next to your date.”

“Oh no, honey! I won't forget about you. But if Allen looks my way, act like you're with the people sitting on the other side of you.” She laughed. “I'm just playing. I would never trade you for him.”

They arrived at the Wachovia Center just in time to hear the starting lineup for Philadelphia. The Sixers were playing the Pistons and the arena was packed with fans.

“Wow, it looks a whole lot different down here than it does in the nosebleed seats,” she screamed.

Music blared from the speakers and the Seventy-Sixers dance team ran onto the court dressed in red and black biker shorts with pom-poms in their hands. The head cheerleader directed the girls to different positions, and they followed her lead.

“That girl looks familiar,” Tressie said, referring to the head cheerleader. “Do we know her?”

“She doesn't look familiar to me,” Quinton said.

When the girl turned around, Tressie looked closely at her face. “It's Mariah. She's our church conference treasurer. I didn't know she was a dancer,” Tressie said.

Mariah led the girls through two dance routines before the buzzer sounded and the girls dashed off the court.

For the entire game, Tressie yelled and cheered Allen Iverson on. AI rebounded, blocked shots, stole the ball, and scored four three-pointers all in one quarter. Quinton was sure Tressie would lose her voice by the end of the game.

The Sixers were down by one and the game clock didn't have much time left. Seconds ticked away. Iverson had the ball. He ran full speed toward the basket. To make the shot before the buzzer sounded, he threw the ball from half court. The fans rose to their feet and watched as the ball swished gracefully through the net just before the buzzer sounded. Iverson had done it again—a last second shot that was the deciding factor in whether this game would go into the win or loss column.

“That was great!” Tressie exclaimed.

“Yeah, that was a good game,” Quinton agreed. “I'm glad we came.”

“Mariah! Mariah!” Tressie called out to her friend.

Mariah rushed over to the sidelines.

“Hey girl,” she said breathlessly. “I saw you over here. I'm surprised to see you here.”

“This was a surprise from my boyfriend,” Tressie said.

Mariah smiled at Quinton and wondered where Payce was.

“Quinton, this is a friend of mine, Mariah.”

They shook hands and greeted one another.

“You are a really talented dancer,” he said, complimenting her. “Have you been dancing for long?”

“I've been a part of the basketball dance team for the past three years. I started at the bottom and worked my way up.”

“Mariah, why didn't you ever tell me you were a dancer?”

“Because I'm not a dancer. I'm an aspiring dancer, still looking to land my big break. I go on auditions just about every day praying that this will be my chance.”

“Girl, keep praying. Your dreams will come true.”

 

 

“Man, the Sixers killed Detroit.” Payce grabbed his coat from his seat. “Detroit lost their defense; both Rasheed and Ben were hurt, allowing the Sixers to walk all over them.”

Darshon looked down at the court from the balcony. “Yo, man, isn't that Tressie down there talking to that fine cheerleader?”

Payce turned and saw Tressie holding hands with another guy. He thought his eyes were deceiving him. He stared down at the girl that Darshon pointed to. It really was Tressie.

“Who's the guy she's with?” Darshon asked.

Payce knew that Tressie was mad at him, but he didn't think she would go out with somebody else.

“I didn't know you two had broken up,” Darshon said.

“We didn't.”

“Well, I think someone oughta tell her that, 'cause it looks like she's on a date with some other dude.”

“Come on, man.” Payce raced toward the stairs.

“Man, don't start no fight. You can't afford to go back to jail,” Darshon yelled.

Payce searched the entire lower level for Tressie and the guy she was with, but saw no sign of them anywhere.

“Payce, look at all these people. You're never going to find her,” Darshon screamed above the spectators trying to go home. People pushed past them. “Why don't you just wait until you get home and call her?”

“No, she won't take any of my calls. I just want to talk to her. Wait a minute.” He thought for a second. “Mariah. She would know where Tressie went.” He ran toward the cheerleaders' locker room and waited outside for Mariah to come out.

Minutes passed before Mariah walked out carrying her gym bag. “Mariah!” Payce screamed.

She jumped at the sound of her name being screamed so loudly. “Payce, what are you doing here?” She was surprised to see him.

“I saw you talking to Tressie,” he exclaimed. “Where is she?”

“She was here, but she's probably left by now,” Mariah lied.

“Who was that she was with?” Payce asked.

Mariah wasn't going to give Payce any information about Quinton. He would have to ask Tressie about that. “I'm not sure,” she replied.

“She didn't introduce you to the guy?”

“She introduced us, but she just said he was a friend of hers.” Mariah quickly pretended to look for something in her bag, hoping to hide her dishonesty.

Mariah's body language told Payce she was lying. He wondered what secret she was hiding from him.

“I thought you two broke up,” she said.

“Did she say that?” he asked.

“No, I just assumed. Look, Payce, I have to go. The girls from the dance team are waiting on me.”

“Payce, come on, let's go,” Darshon urged. “She doesn't know anything. You can call Tressie in the morning.”

Payce realized he wasn't getting anywhere with Mariah. “Mariah, can you do me a favor? Tell her that I love her,” he said sadly.

Mariah felt bad for lying to him. She wished she could tell him that Tressie was waiting in front of the Wachovia Center for her, but she knew it would be best if he left and talked with her later. She watched him walk away with his head down. Once Payce was out of sight, Mariah ran to the side entrance and around to the front of the building. She hoped Payce wouldn't see them on his way out, but once she turned the corner, she saw Payce marching in Quinton and Tressie's direction.

Damn
, she thought.
I did everything I could
.

Tressie hugged Quinton tightly. “Thanks for bringing me to the game,” she whispered in his ear.

“No problem. You know I would do anything for you.”

Tressie blushed. She looked over Quinton's shoulder just in time to see Payce coming their way with Darshon not too far behind him. “Oh no,” she softly mumbled.

Quinton saw the worried look on her face and turned to see what had her so concerned.

“Tressie, can I speak to you for a moment?” Payce asked.

“We don't have anything to talk about,” she replied.

Payce stared at Quinton as Mariah ran up to the four of them.

“Tressie, I just want to talk to you,” Payce said again.

“Talk to me about what?” she screamed.

“I've been trying to apologize, but you won't let me.”

“Apologize? Apologize for what? Apologize for conceiving two children outside of our relationship? Apologize for cheating on me? Or apologize for me finding out the truth from someone else?”

Payce tried to move closer to her, but Quinton stepped between them. “Man, she said she doesn't want to talk,” Quinton firmly addressed Payce.

Tressie could feel the tension in the air. She didn't want the scene to turn into a fight. “Payce, we're over. I have a new boyfriend.” She grabbed Quinton's hand firmly.

“New boyfriend? How could you have a new boyfriend? We haven't broken up,” he yelled. Payce slammed his fist into his hand. “Last week we were a couple and this week you're in a new relationship? There is no way you could have found a new man that quick unless . . .” The reality of what was going on suddenly dawned on him. “You were going out with him while I was locked up. You played me.”

Tressie was silent.

“You told me you would wait for me.” He pointed his finger at her. “You cried about how I lied to you when you were lying to me, too.”

“Payce, it wasn't like that,” Tressie tried to explain.

“Sure it was. You were spending time with this buster while I was away.”

“Man, you don't know me like that,” Quinton spoke up.

Darshon pushed in front of Payce. “Player, I suggest you step back. What's going on between my man and his girl is between them. It doesn't concern you.”

“Everyone calm down!” Mariah screamed. “If everyone doesn't calm down, the police will be over here. We don't want to give them a reason to drag us down to the precinct.”

“Tressie, you betrayed me,” Payce said in her face. “You were the one person I thought I could count on.”

He turned to walk away, but before he did she jumped in his face.

“Don't you dare try to turn this on me. Betrayal is what you're made of. You have broken my heart over and over again. You've taken my trust in you as a weakness. You think you can do whatever you want to do and I will always take you back because I love you. Not this time.”

He knew the words she spit at him were the truth. He turned and stormed away.

After dropping Mariah off, Quinton and Tressie rode in silence, neither sure of what to say.