Another Man Will (26 page)

C
HAPTER
50

Crystal

“G
et in the car. I have to show you something,” Rell instructed me.

I wanted to sleep in on my Saturday, but he insisted, so we all loaded in the car. I didn't have any idea where he was taking us, but twenty-five minutes later the car stopped in front of a single brick home with a driveway in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

“Who lives here, Rell?” I asked.

“Just come with me.” He grabbed my hand, and we all followed him to the front door of the home. I thought he would ring the bell or knock. Instead he took a key out of his pocket and opened the door.

“Boo, on my way to work for the past month or so, I saw them working on this house. I kept saying, ‘That's a nice house. One day I'm going to get a house like that.' So then I saw this sign go up for rent. I called the number and got a tour inside. I started looking around and was like, ‘I really like this place.' I didn't sign anything, but I told the owner I had to show it to my wife. But what do you think, boo?”

“It's okay, but why would you make a decision like this without me?” I said, arms folded, looking around the freshly painted white rooms.

“I didn't sign anything yet. I just think this is what we need . . . a place of our own. It has four bedrooms. Come look at this big yard, and the basement is already finished.”

“I don't know about this. What I want even more than a house is you. It seems like all you ever do is work now, anyway, and with a house like this, you will work even more.”

“Come here. I'm doing all this work so you . . . so we can have what we want. You deserve to have everything.”

“I know, but I'd really rather just have you. This neighborhood looks really expensive. How much is the rent?”

“It's only fifteen hundred. I was talking with the landlord about my deposit.”

“You gave the man a deposit, Rell? You just said you didn't. That's too much money!”

“Yeah, I did. I gave him the first month's rent.”

“You're kidding me, right?” I said as I looked around. “What would make you do that?”

“Crystal, you know, eventually, we are going to need more space, and the kids can play back here. I can get them another dog.”

“What about my house? And I don't want a dog around my baby. Dogs stink and you have to constantly clean up after them. You will be working all the time, so who is going to clean up after the dog? And what about my house?”

“I'll clean up after the dog and you can rent your house and this can be ours. And we can make the rules in our house, and it can be our new beginning. The owner wants to sell in a few years so we can eventually buy this.”

“No, Rell, this house is nice, but I'm not interested, and I hope you get your money back,” I said as I marched out of the house and back to the car. Who would go and do that? He was so damn stupid sometimes.

On the way back home, Rell was acting like a spoiled baby, and I did not care. He would get over it. I didn't want to move right now. I liked it where I lived now, and people didn't make rash decisions like that without speaking to their significant other.

 

 

Later that evening, I was in the bed waiting for Rell to get in. I wanted to explain to him why I felt the way I did. He took a shower, put on his boxers and t-shirt and flipped on the television without acknowledging me. I knew he was still upset about the house, but I didn't really care.

“What's wrong with you, Rell?”

“Nothing,” he said as he pointed the remote at the television and changed stations.

“There has to be. I'm sorry I didn't like the house, Rell. But we are a team, partners, and you need to tell me when you make a decision that is going to affect all of us.”

“Like you always do, right? Please, Crystal. It's not the house. It's us. I feel like you are not the same person I met. It's, like, I can't understand you. I feel like we are hitting a block. Something has changed. Do I even make you happy anymore?”

“There is nothing wrong with me, and I don't know what your problem is. Rell, come on please. I'm tired. I'm not going to argue about something so stupid.”

“Crystal, do you want this marriage? Do you want me to leave?”

“What kind of question is that to ask me? I don't like a house you picked out on your own, so that means we should break up? I don't want you to leave, but if you want to, then fine.”

“No, I don't want to leave.”

“So why would you ask me something so damn ridiculous?”

“Because you have crazy mood swings, and I'm doing everything for you, working hard, making moves. I really am, Crystal, and yet all you do is complain about everything.”

“What did you do for me that was so special? I've been on my own since twenty, and I can take care of myself. I don't need you or anybody else. Okay, Terell?”

“What did I do for you? Let me see. I married your ass for one. So your family could stop talking about you. Then I've been working, giving you money for the bills, paying for the car, making sure you had a ring, the kids had a nice Christmas, and I even tried to go out and get us a new house, and you just shut it down. Didn't even bother to look around the house. That's crazy.”

“So I'm crazy now?”

“Look, I didn't call you crazy, but you always have to find the negative in everything. If I didn't know better, I would say I think you've been trying to force me out of here. It's like it scares you when there's no drama, like you don't know how to be happy.”

“Yeah, whatever. I like drama. You sound stupid.”

“It's not your fault, though. All you know is drama. Since I met you, it's been one thing after another. The bitches at your job, drama with your dad, your mom, your sisters, your baby father. Crystal, you argue with everyone. Do you want us to fail? Because it's like you trying your damnedest.”

“Whatever. I knew all you were going to do was try to use me and leave me.”

“I'm going to
use
you?” He chuckled. “I'm going to use you for what? Before I met you, I was a single man with no responsibility, and I'm trying to use you or get over on you? I need you to think about that. Ask yourself if that even makes sense.”

I lay there in silence.

“Crystal, use you for what? Has it ever crossed your mind that none of those kids down the hall are mine, but each day I'm growing closer to them and loving them like they are my own, because I love their mom? Huh? Do you think about that when you talk that crazy shit? Are you happy with me, Crystal? Because if I'm not making you happy and you don't need me and you can do everything on your own, anyway, I'll leave. I love you, but I don't want to be miserable.”

“That's your choice, Rell. I really don't care if you stay or leave. You didn't do me any favors by marrying me. I was doing perfectly fine without you. You can do whatever you want.”

“So you don't care if I leave.” He sat up. I don't know if he was testing me or not, but it was not working.

“Not really.” I said holding my ground.

“Ok, then. I'll leave since you don't give a fuck.” He jumped out of the bed and started pulling his belongings out of the closet and drawers.

“I didn't say that, but since you are packing, fuck you and fuck this ring,” I yelled, taking the ring off my finger and throwing it across the room.

“I see,” Rell looked over at the ring on the floor, and just twisted his lips and marched over to the closet and filled his duffle bag with more clothes. I still didn't care.

“And just to let you know. I don't need you or any man. I've been holding everything down by myself for years. So pack your shit like you doing and go back to your mother's house.”

“Okay, no problem. I will.”

“Bye.”

“Ok, if that's the way you want it.”

“I do.”

“Yup, well if you have any questions and need to figure out why your life is the way it is, just look in the mirror,” he said as he picked up his bag and walked out the house slamming the door so hard I could feel the vibration on the second floor. I looked out the window at him pulling off. He was gone, and I was not fazed.

C
HAPTER
51

Yvette

W
illiam had slipped and fallen at the restaurant and needed to stay off his ankle. He asked me if I could take his granddaughter to get her hair done since he couldn't get out. A little girl with big, bright, wide eyes answered the big double doors at William's home.

“Hello. You must be Jalena. I'm Miss Yvette.”

She smiled at me and then screamed, “Daddy Pop, your lady friend here.”

“So I'm your lady friend?” I said when William walked into the foyer.

“No. I told her to listen out for the door, because I was expecting you.”

“Oh, so are you okay? Your ankle looks pretty bad.”

“I'm feeling as good as anyone would feel after twisting my ankle on ice.”

Eyeing his cane, I asked, “So do you have to use that thing?”

“No. I'd rather limp than walk with a cane. I don't need you calling me an old man.”

“I didn't say anything. If you need it, you better use it. This is a big beautiful house.” I was admiring all of the high ceilings and big windows that were allowing sunlight in.

“Thanks. Five bedrooms, but we only sleep in one. Jalena refuses to sleep alone so I pulled her bed in my room. Here's the money for your hair, and thanks for coming to get her. When you are ready for me to pick her up, I will. I have to come to Philly today anyway.”

He walked us to the car. Jalena had these big, brown eyes and was so sweet and well mannered.

“Be good. Listen to Miss Yvette,” he told Jalena.

“Yes, Daddy Pop,” she said in a sweet baby voice. She got in the car, slid her seat belt across her legs, and began talking with Mercedes. They both were smiling and already talking about television shows they liked and their favorite subject in school.

 

 

The Dominican shop had salsa music playing to drown out the loud blow-dryers. It smelled of hair being pressed, hair sprays, and perfume conditioners. Luckily, it wasn't that crowded. We came in, and a lady speaking with a Hispanic accent said, “Have a seat, Mami. We will be right with you.”

Mercedes and Jalena were still talking quietly among themselves. Jalena was first in the chair to be serviced. She must have been tender headed, because the entire time she got her head done she looked like she was about to cry.

“Ms. Yvette, it hurt!” Jalena moaned. “They burning my scalp.” I tried to tell the woman styling Jalena's hair not to be so rough, but she didn't understand English very well, so another stylist came over and translated for her.

After having their hair conditioned and pulled, they both looked like little princesses, and they knew it. I got just a wash and a set, and from the hair salon, we went to the nail salon. It was time to get our manicures and pedicures.

After a day of beauty, the girls were making so much noise in that room back at home, like little animals. I walked in the room and they were jumping on the bed and giggling loudly.

“What are y'all doing?”

“Nothing, Mom, we are just seeing who can jump the highest.”

“Stop jumping before one of you get hurt.” My lecturing at them was interrupted by William ringing my phone.

“I'm on my way to come get her,” William told me when I called him.

“She is fine. They are having a lot of fun. Here. Talk to her.” I turned and yelled, “Jalena, your grandfather is on the phone.”

She came running and took the phone. “Hey, Daddy Pop. Can I stay a little longer? I'm having fun.”

She handed the phone back to me after a second, and then I asked him, “How is your ankle feeling?”

“It's feeling about the same. Well, I'll be getting out here shortly and I'll call you when I'm on my way.”

 

 

William came to pick up Jalena and I didn't know how Brandon would react to meeting him. He had known only two men in my life. His dad and Phillip. After William got to my place, he walked up to Brandon and introduced himself.

Brandon stood up, said, “What's up?” respectfully, and shook his hand.

“Nice firm grip, that's what I like. How old are you again?”

“Fourteen.”

“Okay. Maybe next summer you can come work for me,” William told him.

“I want to work. My mentor, Mr. Walker, said that I should start looking for a summer job now. I'm going to tell him I already found one. Thank you. So what do I have to do?”

“Don't worry. You have the job. I really mean it, Brandon. Your mom won't let me forget.”

C
HAPTER
52

Dana

I
was waiting at our place. The place that after months of dating, we had agreed we liked the service, the ambiance, and the selections. It was 6:15 p.m., and Adam hadn't arrived yet. Adam was never late, so I dialed him.

He answered, “Babe, I'll give you a call back in five minutes.”

“But, Adam, hold up. I'm waiting at table twenty-seven for you. We were supposed to meet here at six.”

“I was? Are you sure?”

“Yes, you asked me to put it on my calendar.”

“I did, sweetheart? Oh, wow, I did. I'm so sorry. Listen, I can't make it. Dana, this is the beginning of our busy time of the year, and I'm swamped with work. With my uncle retiring, he sent all his people to me. I can't get out of here. I hope you understand.”

“Of course I understand.”

“Okay, I will call you later and maybe we can meet later in the week.” I don't know why, but when I hung up with Adam I wanted to cry. Maybe I was having flashbacks of being played by Todd, or I was becoming accustomed to having a great boyfriend that never stood me up. I don't know what it was. However, I did know that Adam could not start making cancellations a habit. Because if he did, the next thing he would do is start start standing me up all the time and then start saying our relationship was getting too heavy and he needed space and it wasn't me. It was him. I was not going to allow that to happen. If he wanted to work, fine, but that didn't mean I was going to stay in the house, waiting on him. I made that mistake in my last relationship. Mr. Walker had invited me to go out with him. I'd declined, but now I was going to call him and tell him I could.

I met Mr. Walker at a trendy restaurant lounge in the Liberty Towers skyscraper, R2L. I rode the elevator to the thirty-seventh floor. Mr. Walker was waiting at a table overlooking the city. He stood up and gave me a quick hug. His cologne smelled so delicious, and his hug was so warm.

“What a beautiful view,” he said.

“It really is pretty nice. It reminds me of place I ate at in LA. Yeah, it's almost identical . . . ,” I said as my voice began to trail off as I looked out at the panoramic view of the city.

“Not that view. You.”

I blushed and said, “Mr. Walker, you're starting early this evening.”

“I am. Why wait? If I see something I want, I go after it.”

“As you should, but not when you want is not available.”

“My parent taught me nothing was out of reach. Were they wrong?”

“No, but . . .” I was saved by my ringing phone. Adam's timing was always perfect.

I didn't answer the first time, and then he called back.

“Dana, I feel real bad about standing you up, so let's meet up. Are you still downtown?”

“Uh, I am. I met Mr. Walker, Brandon's principal.” He waved as if Adam could see him.

“Where are you?”

“We are at R2L.”

“What are you doing there? That place is nice.”

“Him and his girlfriend were in the area, and they were having drinks, and she is a mentor, so you know, babe, they are still trying to get me to join their mentor organization.”

“Okay, well, just meet me at my office.” I told him I would see him in a bit.

“You're a great liar, Ms. Turner. So our date is off. I feel kind of sad.”

“You shouldn't. . . .” Before I could say anything else, he grabbed my face and began passionately kissing me. He pulled back. If I hadn't liked it so much and hadn't been mesmerized, I would have slapped him and told him I was involved and he could never do that again.

“Did you feel that?” he asked.

“Feel what?”

“That?” he asked, then reached over and kissed me again. I pulled away. “Mr. Walker, I have a boyfriend. I'm in a relationship and everything is not in your reach. Again some things are just not available. Have a good evening.”

I walked out like I was angry, but I wasn't. I was more intrigued. I wanted to know more about Marcus. Why, why, why was I being tempted by this man? It was not fair.