If You Don't Know Me (10 page)

Roosevelt's sperm was not her delicacy. It was mine!

I recorded the footage from my television onto my Blu-ray. I made popcorn then sat in my bed all night fast-forwarding and rewinding each scene. Occasionally, I pressed pause to attend to Zach's needs.

Getting out of bed, I hadn't slept all night. I placed Zach in his crib, showered, then stood naked in front of the mirror. Seeing another woman lay flesh-to-flesh with my husband, I knew she was prettier. Her body was flawless. I wasn't jealous. I was pissed off at her.

He was going to see this. I powered on the television, pressed record from my cell phone, and videotaped part of the footage of the two of them having sex.

Grateful I hadn't gotten stretch marks from having my baby, I lathered my body with lotion. Couldn't remember the last time I'd massaged my pussy with my special irresistible white chocolate extract concoction. There was no man to lick me until I came. That was going to change.

I bathed my son, dressed him, then myself. For the first time since we'd been home, I packed his diaper bag and left my house.

“You wanna be a tramp?” I said unlocking my car. “I'll give you that opportunity!”

Buckling my son into his car seat, I glanced over at Loretta's home. That bitch was standing in her doorway. Did she get fired from her pharmacist position at the hospital? Was her ex-husband, the gynecologist, paying all her bills? She waved. No way in hell would I ever trust her again.

I ignored her, got behind the wheel of my Bentley, and sped off.

Driving faster than the law allowed, I was making record time to my destination until I encountered a traffic jam. Seemed as though suddenly every driver was on the road to block my intentions. Quickly, I glanced over my shoulder at Zach, then focused on the cars ahead. He was staring out the rear window.

Honk! Honk!
“Move out my way,” I shouted motioning for the woman in front of me to stop switching lanes just so she could stay ahead of me.

She sat at the green light. Curved her tires to the right, moved a few inches. Then she cut to the left when I attempted to go around. When the light showed yellow she crept across the intersection.

Ooh I wished we were in bumper cars, I'd knock her ass on the curb.

I wanted to hit this woman and run Sindy over. Once I saw the green light, I made sure I stayed ahead of every car behind me on Westheimer Road. Turning left onto Kirby Drive, I parked in the lot, got my baby out of his car seat, left the diaper bag, and stormed into his office.

“I need to speak with my lawyer now!”

Standing in front of the receptionist, I rocked my son in my arms.

“He's with a client, Ms. Tyler. Do you have an appointment?”

“Are you hard of hearing or just dumb? What part of ‘my lawyer' don't you understand? And it's Mrs. DuBois, not Ms. Tyler.”

Zach started crying.

“See what you've done!” I told her.

My divorce attorney's office door opened. A woman walked out smiling. I bypassed both of them and stormed in. Standing in front of his desk, I said, “Close the door, Vermont.”

He stood with his hand on the knob. “Madison, we do not have an appointment.”

“We do now,” I said inviting myself to a seat. “We have to do something about my husband sexing another woman. I want to sue Sindy Singleton for alienation of affection.”

He closed the door, sat in his chair, then shook his head.

“Don't tell me no. I pay you. Look at this video.” I placed my cell on the glass covering his desk.

He exhaled. “The first thing you need to do is calm down. And yes you are on the clock.”

I didn't care about the money I'd have to pay him. I was getting it back from Sindy. She'd screwed the wrong woman's husband.

Vermont firmly said, “You can't sue for alienation of affection.”

“Are you watching?!” I pointed at my cell. “She's a home wrecker.”

If the baby in my lap wasn't Roosevelt's, as Zach got older he might start to look like Granville. Sindy would probably be the first to notice since her ass wanted my man.

“This videotape doesn't matter. You can't sue because alienation of affection is not against the law in the state of Texas.”

“What! Says who? Why not? Goddamn Republicans. That's why they send their wives to the crazy house and get away with it. Well, nobody is sending Madison Ty—I mean DuBois—up the river. I'll drown that bitch first.”

Zach started crying. I rocked him in my arms.

Vermont shrugged his shoulders. His crisp white shirt and designer gold tie were immaculate, just like him. If he weren't twenty years my senior, I'd let him put an engagement ring on my finger.

The ring was mandatory. I didn't believe in dating a man exclusively unless he proved he was serious.

“Texas is a testosterone state, so to speak.” A smile crept across his face. He placed my phone in front of me, then leaned back in his chair.

Guess that was why he never married, had no kids. The more I thought about it, most of the divorce attorneys I knew were single.

“I'm serious about getting rid of this woman. Preferably the legal way. What can I do?”

“You can say three Hail Marys and hope Chicago changes his mind.” He laughed.

I didn't. I wasn't joking with him. Vermont was always good for comic relief but if that were meant to be a joke, his timing was off.

“You're entitled to half of whatever he's earned since the marriage.”

I thought about the ten million Roosevelt's grandfather had given him but that was before we walked down the aisle. His buying Papa's company was after we were married.

“I need to sue Sindy! Not my husband.”

My lawyer stared at me, then exhaled. “You can subpoena her to court to testify about her relationship with your husband but that wouldn't work in your favor. Regardless of what Sindy says, the judge will still grant Chicago a divorce. And let's not forget, the man you had sex with shot your husband. Chicago could subpoena him to court. And, if that happens, depending on how the jury deliberates, you may end up with nothing. Court is tricky, Madison.”

Yeah, and you're no damn magician. I know.
“Walk away with nothing. Over his dead body,” I said. Even if Roosevelt took it that far he wouldn't deny his son because he didn't know what my father had done. For a second, I hated Johnny Tyler.

“Watch your words. That crazy guy is already back behind bars. And it's alleged that he's going to kill Roosevelt. You go threatening Chicago and the community will think you're the one who wants Chicago dead.”

“What are you talking about? Granville is back behind bars for violating his protective order.”

“You need to get back into the world soon as possible. It's all over social media. I think some guy started the rumor. Probably a football fan. Whether it's true doesn't matter. Watch what you say to others. Maybe you shouldn't follow this stuff. All the online drama can be a waste of your time. Get out of the house more. That's healthier.”

“Zach is one week old. I can't take him out for another five weeks.”

Quietly, Vermont raised a brow.

“I'm not leaving my baby with my mother before then.” I scooted to the edge of my seat, picked up my phone. “Watch the video again. There's got to be something here we can use,” I said pressing PLAY.

This time Vermont watched until it stopped. Looking at the expression on his face, I wasn't sure if he was trying to decipher what to do, or if he was being entertained.

Placing my cell in front of me, he said, “I refuse to present this as evidence. I don't even want to know how you got this but I can tell your method is illegal. I suggest you delete it immediately.”

He was saying delete while his eyes were fixed on me and barely blinking. “I'll decide what to do with it but I'm not getting rid of it.”

Vermont walked to the door and opened it.

“Madison, it's time for you to leave. My best legal advice is for you to let the Sindy situation go. If you truly want your husband, focus on Chicago and how to win him back.”

I
couldn't believe I was back here.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I wanted to wobble my head and smirk at her. Whoever gave her a robe should give me one too. She wasn't the boss of me. I already had one supervisor. Hope Manny hadn't fired me.

“Mr. Washington. You're charged with violating the protective order Loretta Lovelace has against you. You were within five hundred feet of her residence. How do you plead?”

Was there a right answer? I thought it was supposed to be one hundred. Could I get off on a mistake? If I said I was guilty, I couldn't go back to see my son. If I plead innocent, I'd be found guilty because Madison's house was next door to Loretta's.

I hated this orange jumper they'd given me. I didn't need a court-appointed lawyer. I'd represented myself on an attempted murder case and won. Hopefully, I could beat this charge too.

Standing tall, I squared my shoulders. Confidently, I said, “Your Honor. My girlfriend lives next door to Ms. Lovelace. I was within five hundred yards by default. I'd like to request a court order granting me visitation to see my son. I mean, can the protective order be modified so I can legally visit my kid? Besides, Ms. Lovelace failed to appear so technically my case should be dismissed.”

That judge stared at me through narrow eyelids the width of a sheet of paper. How'd she do that? She looked scary. I leaned back a little. Did the same. Where were all the male judges? Why did I always have a woman deciding whether I was right or wrong?

“Mr. Washington, how do you plead?” she said.

“Oh, wait. Strike my last comment from the record. I meant to say feet. Not yards.”

I swore she didn't blink those big brown eyes once she opened them wide. I did the same but I couldn't hold out as long as her. She won. I blinked. If she let me do her, I bet she'd shut her eyes and open her mouth and scream my name.

I could tell when a woman was fed up with me. I said, “No contest.” Before she got mad, I said, “I mean, not guilty.” I shook my head. “No contest. That's it. I don't wanna say either way.”

What difference did it make? She'd probably already made up her mind. That's how women were. Decision already in their head and they messing with me.

“Who's your girlfriend, Mr. Washington?”

I stood taller. “Loret—I mean Madison.”

“Mr. Washington, you think my courtroom is a platform for your humor. Thirty days mandatory in the Federal Detention Center.”

I'd seen on television how that football player slapped his attorney on the ass after the judge let him off. That female judge gave him thirty days. Somebody on a talk show said if the player would've apologized, he might have gotten that judge to change her mind.

“I'm sorry, Your Honor. But I made a mistake. Please forgive me. Please, please, please.” Get out of my head, donkey! “I wasn't joking. I wouldn't do that.” Of all times for me to think about
Shrek
. I hung my head. Mama would be embarrassed for me if she were alive.

She banged her gavel. Handing my file to the clerk, the judge picked up another file. “Lyons versus Perkins.”

“Your Honor, I don't understand. What you decide?”

Ignoring me, she spoke to the bailiff. “Get him out of here.”

At least I didn't have to go back on suicide watch. That glass-enclosed room was freezing cold. The cover they gave me was a sheet, no blanket. Guess all of that air conditioning was to keep my mind off hurting myself, which was never my intention.

I'd lain in that bed staring at the ceiling. No cellmate. The only way I could communicate with the watch guard was to speak through that beige telephone receiver. Mama used a telephone something like that. She never had a cell phone. But hers had a long spiral cord.

Checking back in, I was happy to get that brown blanket. I got another pair of tan pants and a matching colored top, socks, and shower shoes. Last time I served, I got a green shirt and pants. That was for inmates with jobs. The only job I wanted was my construction one. Hopefully, Manny would hold it for me for twenty-eight more days.

“Fuck!” I yelled.

The guard put his hand on his gun. “If you're going to go upside your head again, man, I'm sending you to isolation on the seventh floor.”

I shook my head. “I'm good.”
Chill out, dude!
I wished I could trade places with him for one day.

Solitary confinement would've kept me from getting into trouble. The seventh floor was where the worst prisoners were housed. A few that should've been transferred to state pen had been there for more than the three-year limit at FDC. One kid should've been sent to state but the warden didn't send him because he was eighteen, small framed, blond haired with blue eyes. She knew what was going to happen to him if he transferred. It had probably happened here. Just not as often.

Where was Charles Singleton? I needed his number so I could call him. Now that I thought about him, he should've bailed me out. Maybe he wasn't in a hurry for me to get dude. If Charles was trying to break me, that was not happening.

The door to the cell closed. I had a new cellmate.

Being raped wasn't my concern. I was worried about my being promoted to supervisor and by the time I got out I'd probably get fired. Manny was a good father to his kids. If he gave me the chance to explain my side, I was sure at a minimum I could keep operating heavy machinery. Before all this mess, I hadn't missed a day of work. Finally got the recognition I deserved. Now it might all be gone because I wanted to see my son.