My Mans Best Friend (9781622860241) (11 page)

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Authors: Tresser Henderson

BOOK: My Mans Best Friend (9781622860241)
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Kea
After filling my and Mr. Hanks's belly with bacon, eggs, and biscuits filled with grape jelly, I snuggled beneath the covers of my bed with a good book by Brandon Massey. I sipped on a cup of hot cocoa because for some reason I was cold.
Taking the opportunity to enjoy the peaceful moment, I knew later it would change once I went to work. I was a waitress and had to go in at five o'clock. I didn't care too much for the job, but it helped pay the bills. Plus the tips were awesome. That was the only reason why I was still there.
Soon as I got engrossed in the pages of the book I was reading, Jaquon walked in looking like he was worn out. He probably was, but this morning I didn't care. I sipped my cocoa and proceeded with reading my book.
He noticed I wasn't paying attention to him and stood waiting for me to say something, but I ignored him. Walking into the bathroom in our room, he came out like he had seen a ghost.
“Kea,” he called out to me.
I didn't say anything.
“Kea!”
“What, Jaquon?”
“Why is the toilet seat up?”
As soon as he said that, I remembered Derrick going to use the bathroom after our tryst. I thought I had everything covered. I changed the sheets. I took a shower, and I made sure the condom wrapper was put in the bottom of the trash can in the kitchen, even taking the initiative to dump food on top of it. I could have dumped the trash, but that was the one chore Jaquon did manage to do. Me doing that would have thrown red flags up for sure since I never dumped the trash. When he asked me again why the toilet seat was up, I tried to play it off like he did it.
“You must've left it up.”
“I know I put it down. It's a habit since you used to complain so much about me leaving it up,” he said looking at me with a frown.
“You don't do anything around this house to help me, but you can remember you put a toilet seat down? Please,” I said smacking my lips and returning my eyes to the words on the pages, hoping he would let this go.
“So you mean to tell me you haven't used this bathroom since I've been gone?”
Damn. He had a point there. We did have two bathrooms in the place, but I hardly used the other bathroom. I always used this one. Come to think about it, had I used the bathroom today? I had too. I always go to the bathroom when I wake up in the morning, but I went before Derrick left. The other time I did use the guest restroom. Damn, Jaquon was coming at me too fast with all these questions, and in my panic state, I felt like I couldn't think of a good enough answer.
Think, Kea, think.
“Why are you tripping over a toilet seat, Jaquon?” I asked trying to throw his suspicion off of me. “Why are you trying to start with me? Can't you let me read this book in peace?”
“Something doesn't feel right, Kea.”
“I see you're letting your paranoia get the best of you.”
“Are you cheating on me?” he asked bluntly.
The slight soreness between my legs said yes, but I told him, “No, are you?” I said smugly, knowing he was not going to confess anything.
“Baby, you know I'm not,” he said with a straight face and everything.
“You have said that before, and I got burned, remember? In more ways than one.”
“I told you I wouldn't step out on you again.”
“And I'm supposed to believe you? Have you looked at the time lately, Jaquon? Forget about the time. Look outside and see the sun. You didn't beat it home this time either. That makes two times in a few days. Looks like you are up to your old tricks again, and I would be a fool to believe anything coming out of your mouth,” I said, placing the book on my chest.
He leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms, looking at me. I know he was trying to think of something and probably was wondering how this conversation got turned around so quickly.
“The nerve of you to come in here asking me about a damn toilet seat. If I were you, I would be trying to think about how I was going to explain where the hell you been all night.”
“I hope you know I wasn't out cheating, Kea. I was with Derrick.”
My eyes shot to him, and I smiled. “You were with Derrick, huh?”
No, he didn't step foot in another lie. If I were a land mine, I would blow up in his face right now. Look at him. He's serious with his dishonesty. I'm supposed to believe him more because he's swinging his hands around to explain how sincere he is in his faithfulness. Probably the same hands he used to please whoever he was with before he came home to me. Jaquon was good. Before, I was too stupid to see past the love I had for him. One look into his eyes and I would melt like butter, hoping he wouldn't hurt me again. But now that my mind is clear and I'm sleeping with his best friend, I see right through him.
His eyes let me know no matter how much he claimed to love me, he would still continue to be the dog he is and get a piece on the side. It's in his nature to be a playa. As many fish as there are in the sea, I thought I had the prize catch. If I knew he was going to turn out rotten, I would have thrown his ass back and let somebody else get sick of him.
I wished I could get words to come out of my mouth and say, “You're a bald-faced liar.” As soon as he asked why, I would reveal, “Because your boy was over here screwing me last night. That's why the toilet seat was up. Your boy was giving it to me like you should've been giving it to me, but you were too busy juggling your little whores to pay attention to the fact it's been three weeks since you thought about touching me in an intimate way.” Oh, how I wanted to destroy him with what I had done to him. But not now. I wanted to mess with his mind a little more so I said, “What if I told you Derrick called here looking for you?”
Essence
I could hear Zacariah before she got to my room. Evidently she brushed past some nurse or the nurse was in her way or something because all I heard was, “Don't be looking at me all crazy. You are in MY way.”
“You don't know how to say excuse me?” the nurse retorted.
“Excuse you,” Zacariah screeched. “You shouldn't have been in my way. You need to pick up your pace or go help some sick people. That's your job, isn't it?”
Moments later, Zacariah entered my room. I did have my eyes shut before I heard her loud voice wake me. I was almost asleep. The television was showing some game show I wasn't watching when she stood over me popping her chewing gum.
“Why do you have it so hot in here?” Zacariah asked loudly.
“Why do you have to be yelling all the time?”
“I'm not yelling,” she replied, raising her voice another octave.
“Bring your voice down, Zacariah. This is a hospital.”
“And? If they don't like the way I'm talking, then they need to get out of earshot of my conversation.”
I sat up in the bed and sighed deeply.
“What's wrong? Are you still feeling bad?”
“No, I'm fine. I'm getting a headache from you screaming. Plus, I'm ready to go.”
“Well, let's go then,” Zacariah said tossing her purse on my bed.
“I'm waiting for the nurse to bring my paperwork for me to complete.”
“Well, they need to hurry up.”
“Why are you in a hurry?”
“Girl, I got a dinner date.”
“You don't waste any time. I thought you would be over at Derrick's house trying to get him back.”
“I'm not worried about him. He's easy. I'll get him back later, but for now, I'm trying to get my eat on.”
“So where did you meet this one?” I asked, getting out of the bed to stretch my legs.
Zacariah ignored my question as she took her jean jacket off and fanned herself saying, “It feels like an oven in here. Do they think we're turkeys since they're trying to bake us like one? I don't want circles under my arms from damn near sweating to death.”
I had to laugh at her. To me the room felt good, but I was in a thin hospital gown with my back out, and it didn't help that I was cold natured.
“Girl, you're crazy,” I said.
“And, oh, I appreciate all you're doing for me, Essence. You're a good friend to me.”
“Girl, you know I would do anything for you,” I said, watching her pull out a pack of cigarettes and hitting the unopened pack in the palm of her hand. I looked at her like she had lost her mind.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What do you think you're doing?”
“I'm getting ready to light me up a cigarette. Why?”
“Did you forget where you were?”
“No, and?”
“And we are in a nonsmoking facility. This is a hospital. You know, the place people go when they get sick, have operations, and give birth. Smoking is not allowed.”
“You can't open a window?” she said seriously, and I really was hoping she was joking, but deep down, I knew she was for real.
“We're on the thirteenth floor, Zacariah. Windows don't open.”
“So I got to wait until I get outside?”
I nodded, and she put the pack back in her massive purse huffing loudly.
“Do you want me to go get somebody to release you? I'm getting tired of waiting.”
“No, Zacariah. It's only been a few minutes,” I said.
At that moment, the door opened, and my nurse finally walked in with my papers.
Zacariah smacked her lips and said, “No wonder you aren't ready. Run you over with a cart isn't doing her damn job,” she said looking the nurse up and down with her face frowned up.
“Zacariah,” I called out, wanting her to act like she had some home training. Come to think about it, with a mother who was hardly around, she didn't have anyone to really show her how to act with some dignity.
“It's okay, ma'am. I'm use to all kinds of rude individuals who don't know how to conduct themselves in public. That comes with this job.”
“Trick, I'll show you how rude I can get when I beat that ass.”
I jumped in front of Zacariah, who was now standing and waving her arms like she was in the streets ready to throw down.
“Will you cool it?” I asked, trying to push her back down in her seat.
“That ho ain't going to disrespect me and get away with it,” she said, pointing at the nurse who didn't budge. She just stood there smiling at Zacariah.
Then the nurse shook her head in amazement and said, “Here are your papers, Ms. Clemmons. Sign here, here, and here,” she instructed me, pointing to the different sections releasing me.
“I ought to beat your ass for looking at me,” Zacariah shouted with neither of us wanting to recognize her ranting.
Signing a few more sections, I passed the nurse my papers. I looked at her, and she looked as though she knew what I was thinking. “I'm sorry for my friend acting like a damn fool.”
The nurse smiled and nodded, saying, “It's okay.”
“Ain't nothing okay with me, you trifling whore.”
“Zacariah, this is uncalled for,” I finally yelled. “Shut up before security escorts you outta here.”
“Escort me because I'm ready to go anyway.”
“Ms. Clemmons, you are free to leave,” the nurse said moving with confidence, letting Zacariah know she wasn't afraid of her. And maybe that confidence was her knowing she could whoop Zacariah's behind. Either way, the nurse never fell into Zacariah's ignorance, and I admired her for that.
When I got home, I got settled in my bed and decided to rest for the remainder of the day. I crawled beneath the covers, clicking the television on to see what shows I could get enthralled in. While clicking, I came across
The Cosby Show
. It was my favorite show to watch when I was growing up, and seeing Clair made me miss my own mother.
I turned to look at the phone. Picking it up, I dialed a number that took me a minute to remember. Only because I always got two numbers turned around. Instead of dialing 912-555-5252, I would dial 912-555-2525. Hearing the ringing made my heart flutter as I anticipated hearing someone's voice.
“Hello,” a soft tone spoke bringing bliss to my ear.
“Hi, Mama, it's me, Essence.”
Kea
It was Emory's wedding day, and she looked stunning walking down the middle of the church. Smiling from ear to ear, she looked like the princess she always dreamed to be. Scanning the audience, I saw Jaquon gazing at me smiling. He whispered the words, “I love you,” and I frowned, knowing he was nothing but an impostor. I turned my attention to the reverend who prayed over Emory and her soon-to-be husband before having them say their vows.
The ceremony seemed to whiz by with me being the maid of honor, holding her flowers while she put the ring on his finger and his on hers. They lit the unity candle while I made sure her four-foot train was beautifully laid for the audience to admire. And finally, the reverend said, “You may now kiss your bride.” Emory's husband lifted the veil from her face and planted a nice, gentle kiss upon her lips with the preacher saying, “Church, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Coburn.”
The church stood clapping, and we grabbed the arm of the groomsmen following the bride and groom out of the church.
The next hour or so consisted of pictures taken in many different poses. I wanted to say enough already because my feet were killing me, despite me thinking these were going to be comfortable shoes. Mother was beaming with joy. She finally got one of her daughters married off to a nice, respectable, and wealthy gentleman. It was all about the money with mother and how we were represented in front of people. We were the perfect family. After all, we were supposed to have been mothered by the best.
At the reception, things kicked off with dinner, the first dance with Daddy, and then the cake cutting. I couldn't spend any of this time with Jaquon, which suited me fine. Not that I wanted to, but he was supposedly my significant other. Needless to say, mother did not like him. I should say she didn't like the fact I was living in sin with a thug who couldn't afford to put a ring around my fourth finger on my left hand.
“Kea, darling, doesn't this make you want to find a decent man so you too can get married?” she asked sitting beside me in her nine-hundred-dollar gown. I have to say my mother was a beautiful woman with flawless skin, each hair in place, and a smile that lit up a room. Little did people know that beneath her elegance was an evil woman.
“I'm not ready to get married, Mother,” I responded looking around at people passing who said, “This was a fabulous wedding,” to my mother who beamed with glee. But just as fast as her smile appeared, her controlling manner reared its ugly head back at me.
“Honey, I really think you should move out until you two decide to make it official. That's
if
he can make it official.”
“Mother, if I move out, it will be because I no longer want to be with him.”
“Trouble in paradise?” she asked with raised eyebrows. “Are you finally wising up to this man's tawdry behavior? I mean, he has been cheating on you for quite some time now. I don't understand why you've put up with him this long.”
“Maybe I'm wising up now. Maybe I have found someone else to take his place,” I said taking a sip of my champagne to ease the pain of talking with her.
Mother almost choked on the tea she was sipping, placing her hand on her chest, trying to cough without looking graceless.
“Kea, do you mean to tell me you have someone else? I thought I saw you come here with Jaquon.”
“I'm just saying maybe I have found interest elsewhere, Mother.”
“So when do I get to meet this man that is brazen enough to get you away from
him?
” she asked pointing with her eyes in the direction where Jaquon sat.
“Mother, get a grip. You would be the last person I would introduce to anyone. You should understand why. I mean, you are the shrewdest, most unloving, self-centered, insensitive mother there is. And did I mention abusive?” I said with a smile.
She whirled her head looking at me like she could bash my head in. “You ungrateful little twit,” she said speaking through her teeth, continuing to fake a smile at everyone around us.
“There is my mother. I was waiting for her to show up. Do you want me to go get the rubber hose you used to punish me into behaving like a respectable woman or are you just going to backhand me right here in front of everyone?”
“Not here. Not now,” she hissed. “You will not ruin this day for us.”
“By ‘us,' I guess you mean you and Emory. I thought this was
her
day,” I said sarcastically.
“This is her day. Emory has done something you will never do, and that's find a good man who's worthy. And since you are worthless, you will only get men who will use you, abuse you, ruin you, and leave you, because they can see how insignificant you are too.”
“How about I ruin you?” I said standing and hitting my champagne glass with my fork.
She looked up at me in shock saying, “You wouldn't.”
I smiled and cleared my throat, “Can I have your attention, please, everyone?” The loud chatter turned into whispers.
“I want to toast the bride and groom. Emory, I love you with all my heart. We are both so different, like night and day, but still, we stand here today as young, vibrant women who have triumphed through many misfortunes. I'm so happy you have found a man who can take good care of you. Aaron is a great guy, and I know he will love you through the lifetime you two will spend together. Many blessings to you both,” I said lifting my glass to them and everyone did the same.
Emory looked at me with eyes filled with tears as she blew me a kiss. I acknowledged by doing the same. Looking down at Mother who smiled proudly yet nervously, I looked back at Emory long enough for her to know where I was going with this. She nodded.
“Today is the first day your life can finally begin. I hope your days are filled with genuine love. For us, the only love we have ever experienced was from our father,” I said, looking over at Dad who seemed to look proud but also sad.
“Mother, dear,” I said solemnly, looking down at her smiling fake face, “only loves herself. She loves her appearance, she loves money, she loves men with money, and she loves to pretend to be this stylish, prominent woman. But how can she be this when another one of her loves is to see her child suffer as she takes a rubber hose to her daughters' backs to turn them into something she thinks is worthy of her vision of perfection.”
The guests gasped. Heads turned as I looked at Mother, Daddy, and then at Emory, who didn't seem to be bothered by my little outburst, which surprised everyone but us. Last night, I took it upon myself to talk with my sister about her accusation. I told her it was Mother who was still beating me. Emory began to cry and apologize, but I told her I knew it wasn't her fault. From there, our conversation entered territory we'd never visited before. For the first time ever, our sister connection was being established. With this breakthrough, I also let her know it was time to stop Mother from treating us like she did. So I kept going.
“Mother does not deserve to be called Mother at all. I should call her Frances. Though she gave birth to me and my sister, she has never loved us to the level of us believing it. Her form of discipline was to strip us down to our undergarments, making us turn our backs to her while she gave us twenty lashes like we were slaves who had defied our master. I guess in a way we were her slaves. Especially me, the child she never wanted. And she made sure to let me know this every chance she got.”
I turned to her and said, “What was that you said, Mother? Oh, I remember. I was worthless, and that I will only get men who will use, abuse me, ruin me, and leave me because they can see how insignificant I am too. That's what you just said to me not even ten minutes ago, Mother. Yet, you sit and put on your fake smile all the while demeaning the daughter you pretend to love.”
Mother looked like she was smelling something foul. She stood suddenly and said, “You ungrateful little tramp,” slapping me across the face.
The crowd gasped again. I smiled, knowing Mother was showing these people who she really was. Daddy stood, telling her, “You better not put your hands on her again.”
I rubbed my cheek and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, here is the
real
Frances Fields.”
She looked into the faces of the many stunned individuals.
“She is spewing nothing but lies,” she said to everyone listening.
“What reason would I have to lie, Mother?”
“Because you insist on making my life a living hell. I did everything for you and your sister. You think you can embarrass me like this?” she said with hands thrashing.
“I only told the truth, Mother,” I said calmly.
“Lies. All lies,” she retorted.
“They are not lying,” Daddy said, finally coming to our defense. “You have beaten those girls for as long as I can remember. I wanted to do something, but I didn't. I just sat back and watched you torture my babies their entire lives, and I will never forgive myself for allowing you to do what you did to them.”
“Shut up, Joseph!” Mother shrieked.
“No, you shut up, Mother,” I said.
“My life revolved around making sure you girls had everything at your fingertips,” she said defending herself.
“But everything came with a price,” Emory retorted.
“That's life, and if it wasn't for me doing what I did for the two of you, Emory would never be marrying Aaron. And you. You—”
“Do you not understand that with love from a real mother I could have walked a path of greatness without feeling worthless, unloved, and full of anger? All you had to do was wrap your arms around me and tell me, ‘Baby, it's okay. I will love you regardless of any situation. '”
“How can I love you? You—”
“Don't do it!” Daddy yelled at her interrupting her flow.
Emory sucked in air before saying, “Mother, I'm moving to California with Aaron.” She touched her stomach and said, “We are expecting our first child, and I don't want my child to grow up with a grandmother like you.”
“Expecting? Moving? What? When? Why didn't you tell me?” Mother asked taken aback.
“I didn't tell you because I didn't want you telling me how much of a screwup I was for getting pregnant before we got married. And I didn't want you to convince me that being near family was the proper way to live my life just so you could dictate how I should raise my child.”
“Well, we are an important part of you, Emory,” Mother stated.
“Kea is right in everything she's saying, Mother. Even in the fact we are not as close as we should be, and that's only because you have always treated me like I was better than she was. We were supposed to be raised with the same type of love. I never should have been your favorite. The only reason I was spared much of your wrath was because I saw how bad it could be with Kea being the example you used to try to mold me.”
Mother stood firm not responding.
“All I can do now is pray that Kea and I can mend this relationship between us,” she said smiling at me.
“We will,” I acknowledged.
Mother sat back down in her seat, brushing the wrinkles out of her clothing once again.
“Well, I guess everything is settled and this conversation is over. There is nothing more to discuss. Band, can you play some music, please. This is my daughter's wedding,” Mother said, picking up her glass of champagne and acting like nothing was wrong.

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