Fixin’ Tyrone (17 page)

When they were gone, Mia sat alone on her sofa and considered things; mainly how she never wanted to have these kinds of talks with the kids and what she could do to avoid them in the future. Crystal came in and sat next to her.

“Can I plug the phone back up?” she asked.

Mia had her disconnect the line when the police where there because Eric would not stop calling. “Yeah. What time is it?”

“It’s ten-thirty.”

“He’s still up,” Mia said. “He’s gonna call as soon as you plug it in. I’ve got nineteen missed calls on my cell already.”

“Dang,” Crystal said. “So, you’re gonna call him?”

“I guess. Why do you care?”

“’Cause I’m finna call Sydney. I don’t want Eric to keep calling while I’m on the phone.”

“All right,” Mia said. “I’ll call him.”

“Decided what you’re going to tell him?”

“Not yet.”

“You better do the right thing. You don’t want that bitch showing up at your job.”

Jeez
. That was sickeningly true. “Leave me alone,” Mia said.

“Don’t get an attitude with me, ’cause yo man—”

“Crystal, leave me alone,” Mia said again, and her little sister left without further comment.

Mia fished her cell phone from her pocket, but didn’t dial the number for another forty minutes.

“Mia?”

“It’s me, Eric.”

“My God. I was worried about you. No one’s answering your phone.”

“I disconnected it.”

“Why?”

“Because you wouldn’t stop calling.”

“I wasn’t calling to harass you. I just wanted to know you were all right.”

“I know, Eric. But I was busy. I couldn’t talk, and you didn’t seem to understand that.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I can be kind of persistent.”

“Kind of,” Mia agreed.

“So, is everything all right?”

“Yeah. I fixed my curtain. I put a piece of cardboard over the hole. I was mainly upset because my kids were here. She could have hurt somebody.”

“I know,” Eric said. “I feel really bad about that, Mia. You don’t know how bad I feel. I’ve been trying to get in touch with her, but she’s not answering her phone. Did you call the police?”

“They couldn’t do anything, just like you said. There were no witnesses. They said they wouldn’t arrest her just because we
think
she did it.”

“Yeah. I’ve been through that. Mia, I don’t know how I’m going to make this up to you, but you’ve got to let me.”

Mia didn’t respond.

“Mia, you don’t blame
me
for this, do you?”

“No, Eric. It’s not your fault. You don’t have any control over what that woman does. You got your restraining order, you’ve called the police on her, that’s about all you can do. She’s crazy, bu—”

“She’s sick.”

“Yeah, but it’s not your fault. It just happens. There are a lot of crazy people out there. Sooner or later, everyone’s going to meet one.”

“You’re taking this pretty well,” he noticed. “You were freaking out when I talked to you earlier.”

“That was just heat-of-the-moment stress,” Mia said. “I usually handle things better than that. I’m sorry I cursed at you.”

“Mia, you don’t have to apologize for anything. Everything you did and said was within reason. Hey, I fixed my window today. I was wondering if you’ll let me come and fix yours.”

“You fixed your window already?”

“Yeah. I started on it after you hung up on me.”

“
You
, what do you mean? You fixed it yourself?”

“Yeah. I used to work for this remodeling company. I can lay tiles, tape, and bed sheetrock, all kinds of stuff. I would like to come and fix your window, if you’ll let me. I have extra supplies. It won’t take that long, no more than an hour. I really want to do that for you.”

“I don’t know, Eric.”

“Mia, please. I’m begging you: Please let me fix your window.”

“Okay,” she said. Mia really didn’t need his handyman services, but decided she should at least break up with him in person. Eric was a good guy. He deserved that.

* * *

He showed up at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Mia had Crystal take the kids away before he arrived. She didn’t think things would get ugly, but breakups always had the potential for ugliness.

Mia answered the door wearing jeans and a white golf shirt. She had on her most comfortable bunny slippers, and her eyes were pink and puffy from crying. She wore a white bandana on her head; it was tied from the back, so only the top of her hair was exposed. Eric still thought she looked amazing. He embraced her, and she endured it rather than feel comforted by his touch. Eric sensed something was wrong, but believed her when Mia said she didn’t get enough sleep last night.

She sat on the sofa and watched him work. Eric wore jeans and a tee shirt, and he was fine. He had a nice, round butt, a big, strong back, and powerful arms. Mia knew that a part of her still wanted to be wrapped up in those arms, but there were other things to consider, things more important than her personal happiness.

Eric made small talk as he worked, but by the time he had the new glass set and weathers-sealed, he was starting to look worried. He took his tools to the car then came back to talk to Mia. She stood in her doorway, waiting with her arms crossed.

“Well,” he said, wiping his hands on his pants, “I’m done.”

“It looks good,” Mia said.

Eric shrugged. “I want to apologize again for what she did.”

“You don’t have to keep apologizing for her.”

“I know, but I feel like I should. This is all my fault, in a way.”

That’s the kicker
, Mia thought.
In a way, it is your fault
. “Don’t blame yourself,” she said.

“I, uh, I notice your kids aren’t here,” he said.

Mia nodded. “They went downtown with Crystal.”

“Today was the day I was supposed to finally meet them,” Eric went on. “It seems odd that they’re not here. It doesn’t feel like we’re all still going out today . . .”

Mia nodded. “That’s right, Eric. We’re not going to go out today.”

He hoped against hope. “Did something come up, or do you . . .”

“I can’t see you anymore,” Mia said bluntly. Her nose filled with moisture.

Eric’s eyes quickly welled and a lone tear snaked down his cheek. “Mia, don’t do this.” He grabbed her hand, and she didn’t immediately pull it away.

She shook her head. “I don’t have a choice, Eric. You’re a good guy—a
wonderful
guy—but I can’t risk this.”

“Mia, don’t you see? If you leave me, she wins.” He was fully crying now. Mia sniffled and realized she was, too.

“Eric,” she said, “you’re right. If we break up, she wins. But I can’t stay with you just so she doesn’t win. I’ve got more to think about than that. You said she follows you and your girlfriends around. That’s crazy.”

“I know, Mia. But it’s not me.”

“I know, but can’t you see why it doesn’t matter? If she’s slick enough to stay above the law, then what am I supposed to do? Look over my shoulder every day? Worry about my kids going to school? Worry about her burning down my house? Eric, I like you. I like you a lot, but we’ve only been dating three months. It took my whole

life to get to this point.”

“So I’m not worth it?” There was a hitch in his throat.

“Don’t say that.”

“I wanna know the truth. All this
stuff
comes before me?”

“My kids come before you, Eric. Yes. They do.”

“She’s not gonna hurt your kids.”

“How do I know that? How do
you
know that?”

“Mia, she just wants to scare you.”

Mia took her hand back. “Well, she did. I’ve got enough stress at work. I’m not going to take on more problems purposely. And I’m not going to put my family in harm’s way over any man.”

“You’re talking like you don’t even care about me.”

“I do, Eric, but what are my options? Your girlfriend Candy, she came to the same conclusion, didn’t she?”

“Candy didn’t love me.”

“So what are you saying? I would take this risk if I cared enough about you? Is that the way you see it? I can’t do it, Eric. I can’t think of one reason why I should go through this.”

“Because I love you,” he said, and it was the first time he ever told her that.

“That’s not enough,” Mia said and backed into her house.

“I thought you were stronger than that,” Eric said, his lips quivering, tears streaming down his face.

“Oh, I am strong,” Mia said. “You’re everything I want in a man, but I’m letting you go.”

“It’s not fair,” he moaned, and Mia thought those were her sentiments exactly.

Mia closed the door, then went to her room and cried into her fluffiest pillow.

TYRONE’S BIG ADVENTURE

Mia didn’t make it to her Saturday morning appointment at the salon. After Eric left, she languished for what felt like hours. At one point, she heard a noise in the hallway. When she looked up from her pillow, Mica was standing in the doorway on the verge of tears herself. Nothing had happened to her, but the sight of her mother crying always affected the cutie.

Mia got up and held the little girl close to her heart. The embrace was comforting, therapeutic. The longer Mia held on, the better she felt, and soon the pain receded like ocean tides. Mia put an end to her pity party and enjoyed a nice day at home with the kids. They played Scrabble, had a checkers tournament, and decorated gingerbread cookies. Mia pushed them on the swings in the back yard, and even climbed halfway up her pecan tree with them.

Tyrone called towards the end of the day to confirm they were still going to Six Flags tomorrow. Although her heart told her to cancel, Mia didn’t renege. It wasn’t expected to be very warm, so they decided to go midday. Tyrone would come to her house at three, and Mia would drive them all in her Lexus.

* * *

When she got up Sunday morning, the first thing Mia did was call Claire’s. Unlike most of the city’s salons, Ernestine kept her shop open seven days a week. Mia didn’t think she’d be able to get an appointment, but things were pretty slow. They penciled her in for noon. Mia walked through the doors at 11:52 a.m.

Claire’s was always a great place, but there were drawbacks to going on Sunday. First of all, this was the Lord’s Day, so all of the diehard Christians weren’t in attendance. Ernestine wasn’t there and neither was Vasantha. Mama Ernestine’s words of wisdom would be sorely missed, and Vasantha was the best hairdresser in the building in Mia’s opinion. Nancy didn’t work on Sundays either, so Mia had to let her nails go one more week.

Gayle was on the clock, however, and Mia was happy to sit in her chair. Gayle was deep, insightful, and soothing—just what the doctor ordered. She washed Mia’s hair, but it was more than that. Her large hands not only lathered in shampoo, but they massaged the stress away as well.

“Has he called back?” Gayle asked.

“Yeah. Just once,” Mia said. “I had a message on my phone this morning.”

“What’d he say?”

“The same thing: I’m letting Shareefa win by breaking up with him. He still sounds pretty bad.”

“Are you gonna call him back?”

“No,” Mia said. “Why? Do you think I should?”

“I would,” Gayle said. “But I don’t have kids. Plus I’m not built like you. My options are a little limited.”

“Don’t say that. You know you look good.”

Gayle was naturally beautiful. She rarely wore makeup, and didn’t really need it on the occasions she did. She
was
overweight, but nowhere near sloppy. She dressed nice and had a big butt and big breasts. And any man who really got to know Gayle would probably never leave her.

“I know I’m
pretty
,” Gayle said, “but most of the guys I hook up with are assholes. They think just because I’m a big girl, I’ve got low self-esteem, too. Once they see I don’t take too much shit, they move around, try to find somebody easier to handle. Some girls will put up with anything just so they can say they got a man.”

“There are guys out there who will treat you right,” Mia said.

“Yeah,” Gayle said. “I run into one, maybe two a year. But it’s hard to keep ’em. There are too many skinny girls like you running around this city. If he really is a good man, he’ll probably get scooped up by one of them.”

“Are you seeing someone now?”

“I’m boning a guy right now,” Gayle said. “But it’s only
sex
. He ain’t about shit. Don’t wanna do nothing. That’s another thing; most guys around here are sorry. That’s why I say I’d prolly work it out with somebody like Eric. He sounds like a keeper.”