If You Don't Know Me (21 page)

“Y
ou sure you don't need me to pick you up?”

“I'm sure. Thanks for offering.”

Tisha was a true friend. She'd come to visit a few times during my recovery. Brought me home-cooked vegetables, brown rice, and grilled chicken for dinner last night.

“I'll stop at Rice and get you groceries. Text me your list and I'll come by and help with Zach. Call me when you get settled. I love you.”

“I'll be at the condo. I could use the company more than anything. I love you too. Bye.”

Tears streamed down my face. When was the last time anyone had said “I love you” to me? Sitting on the side of my bed, I waited for my ride to arrive. The peach maxidress I wore had elbow-length sleeves and loosely draped my body. I didn't have on a bra but there was an extra built-in layer covering my protruding nipples.

Earlier, Roosevelt had said, “I can't pick you up. I have to fly out for a game today.”

That, I understood. His not coming to see me the entire time hurt. Regardless of what he was doing with Sindy, he was still my husband and I needed him. We needed him. He didn't have to tell me, “Go home when you get out. To your house.”

Every time my hospital room door opened, I'd hoped it was Roosevelt. Maybe he'd take a later flight and make time to come pick me up today.

The door opened. It wasn't my husband but I was happy to see the woman who'd walked in.

“Helen, thanks for coming to get me and bringing my baby.”

The relationship with my parents was strained, since their last visit at the hospital. Seemed like Papa was trying to destroy me. The way he'd treated me was cruel. Mama thought I was mean-spirited. Papa would always be my father but there was no guarantee he'd stay married to Mama. He'd said what he had to because he needed my mother more than she needed him. Maybe that wasn't true but Tisha believed a person's core character didn't change. I didn't care much for either of my parents and had reason to feel that way. Helen was proving herself more of a caring mother-in-law than Roosevelt was a husband.

“My pleasure, dear. Zach is such a joy. Look at him.” She held him closer to me.

There was something peculiar about the way she'd said, “Look at him.”

I tickled his foot, then held him in my arms. “I don't know what I would've done without you guys. Thanks to you too, Martin.”

He shook his head, picked up my suitcase. “I'll be out front in my car in the waiting area.”

“Don't mind him, dear. He's in a hurry for us to get to George Bush International to catch our flight to see our football team play. Roosevelt left this morning. Our flight isn't for another two hours. Our bags are packed and the driver is at our house waiting. Martin is excited. He's never missed a game since Chicago has been managing the team.”

Helen had become nicer. I welcomed her attention and affection.

“The doctor did an amazing job. Would you like to see my new ones?” I asked her.

She stared at my breasts then looked at me. “No. Let's go.”

I wasn't trying to make them miss their flight. Roosevelt hadn't invited me to any of the away games since we'd met. Maybe if I'd had this closeness with his mother sooner, I would've never had sex with Granville. My relationship with Roosevelt wouldn't have been tested. My father's tampering with the paternity came to mind.

“Dear, if you don't get moving, you'll have to call your parents to come get you.”

“Oh, yeah. I apologize for asking you that,” I said carrying Zach. I'd already signed my discharge papers.

My breasts were amazingly beautiful. I'd had my implants underneath the muscles. The incisions were underneath and barely visible. My doctor had done an impeccable job.

Leaving the room, I told Helen, “You can drop us off at The Royalton. My mother is on her way.”

“Of course dear. I'll be glad to take you there.”

I sat on the back next to Zach in his car seat. The drive from the hospital to the condo was quiet. Martin parked in front of the building. The valet hurried to him, handed him a ticket.

“That won't be necessary, young man. Just dropping her off,” Martin said. “I'm not missing our flight, Helen, stay in the car. I'll be right back.” He got my suitcase from the trunk.

Helen got out of the car, took Zach from the car seat. “I can help, Martin. I got the baby.”

Entering the lobby, the concierge asked, “May I help you, Mrs. Tyler?”

I rolled my eyes at him, then said, “Mrs. DuBois.” If my husband insisted on divorcing me, I was keeping the last name.

“Roosevelt is away, dear,” Helen replied. “We're just seeing Madison to his front door.”

The man shook his head.

“What's wrong with you? First you call me by the incorrect name. Now you're not speaking at all. I'm reporting you.” I told him, “Say something.”

My heart raced. Roosevelt told me he didn't want me here but he couldn't deny his son.

Staring at my breasts, the concierge finally said, “Roosevelt ‘Chicago' DuBois?”

The double frosted doors parted. Someone I hadn't seen before exited.

While the doors were still open, Martin lamented, “I don't have time for this. Let's go up.”

“To go where?” the concierge asked. His eyes lowered.

I wasn't offended by his staring, I was pissed off with his unprofessionalism. “I'm up here. What is wrong with you, little boy? To my husband's condo!” I shouted.

Zach started crying as my mother walked into the lobby. She took my baby from Helen. “Madison, what's the problem? I could hear you outside.”

The little boy said, “Chicago sold his unit yesterday. He doesn't live here anymore.”

“You're lying,” I said moving closer to him. Between clenched teeth, I hissed, “I know he told you to say that so you wouldn't let us in. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear your last comment. For the last time, let me in.” I was two seconds from slapping this guy.

“There must be an error in your system. My son didn't sell his place. If he had, we would've known. It's okay to let her and the baby go up,” Helen said. “I'll see my son later and have him call to straighten this out.”

“Helen, I don't have time for this. I'm going to call him now,” Martin said stepping outside.

“I came here directly from the hospital.” Since nothing else was working, I opened my bag and showed him my discharge papers. “Please let me up. We'll clear up this misunderstanding later,” I told the concierge, trying to sound apologetic.

“No disrespect. I'm telling you. Roosevelt ‘Chicago' DuBois sold his condominium.”

Sarcastically, I asked, “What about Chaz?”

“What about him?”

“He sold his too?”

“That's confidential, ma'am.”

“Fancy seeing you guys here.”

I turned toward the familiar voice. Sindy Singleton stood dressed in a vibrant green dress. Martin reentered the lobby.

Sindy hugged Helen, then Martin. She scanned me from head to toe and back then smiled. “Good boob job, Madison. I'm sure those will come in handy.”

Instantly, I felt underdressed. The first thing I was doing when I got upstairs was putting on my sexiest dress and heels.

“What are you doing here?” I asked her.

“I was going to ask you the same question. But, there's no need.”

“I live here,” I told her. I wanted to add the word bitch but not in front of Roosevelt's parents and my mother.

My mom said, “Madison, why don't you and the baby come home with me until you figure this situation out.”

“And deal with Papa? No thanks, Mama.”

“I have to go upstairs and pack for my flight,” Sindy said winking at Helen. “Can't miss kickoff. See you guys at the game tonight.”

Sindy looked at the concierge. He opened the double frosted doors. Sindy entered and Granville walked out with this gorgeous woman on his arm.

I overheard Sindy tell Granville, “Your son is here,” before she disappeared behind the closing doors.

“Why in the hell are you here?” I asked him.

“He lives here,” the concierge said.

“Oh, now you can talk? Shut up!” I told him. What in the fuck was going on?

Granville stared at Zach. “He is mine. I knew it.”

The woman standing beside him cleared her throat. “Big daddy, who is she?”

He had that stupid grin on his face. Desperately I wanted to slap it off.

“Mahogany, this is Madison. The woman I told you about. Madison, this is my wife, Mahogany Washington.”

“Your what? In your dreams.” I laughed.

“Don't talk to big daddy that way.” Mahogany stared at my baby.

“He does look exactly like you. He has your cheeks. Your nose. And your hands.”

Granville stuck out his chest. I wanted to push him away from me.

“Helen,” Martin said, “He sold the condo to some guy named Nyle Carter.” He stared at Granville. Granville stared back. “Helen, let's get the hell out of here before I kill that”—his voice escalated—“son of a bitch!”

Helen smiled at me. “That Sindy Singleton is a smart girl. Good seeing you, dear. Take care of yourself. Same to you, Mrs. Tyler. It is still Mrs., right?”

My mom narrowed her eyes at Helen's back, then mumbled, “I'm not Madison. Don't disrespect me again.”

I shouted, “Mom, she didn't hear you.”

Why couldn't my mother defend me? She was always passive. That was why I had to be aggressive all my life. I was tired of being the b-i-t-c-h.

Martin took Helen by the hand and escorted her out the door. I watched in disbelief as they sped off. This had to be a joke. I scanned the lobby; there had to be hidden cameras somewhere. “Okay, you can come out now!” Any moment I expected cameramen to appear.

“Mrs. Tyler, I'm going to have to ask you to leave,” the concierge said.

“Shut the hell up!” I told him. No one asked for his opinion.

Zach screamed.

“Can I hold him?” Mahogany asked taking my baby out of my mother's arms. “Hush little baby,” she sang and her voice sounded like an angel. “Look at his eyes, and his mouth and his big head.” She gently touched my baby's head and he stopped crying. “Here, hold him,” she said handing my baby to Granville.

Zach kicked and smiled. He started cooing baby talk. Granville's face lit up with the biggest smile ever. He stood tall, squared his shoulders.

“Hi, son. Daddy loves you, bro.”

What the hell was going on?
I was shocked.

The frosted doors parted. Sindy exited rolling a suitcase. “He's yours, Granville,” she said handing him a note before strolling out the lobby door. The valet opened her car door; she got in her cute little Bentley and left.

“Can we keep him?” Mahogany asked.

My child was not up for adoption. Hmm. I took my baby from Granville. “Mama, let's go.”

S
elling my condo was the best decision I'd made.

My stress level decreased significantly and I smiled more often. I was working on regaining my inner peace. Couldn't remember when I'd stopped my daily meditation and going to church on Sundays. Oh, yeah. It was after marriage, being shot, and a month-long recovery in the hospital that I'd stopped connecting with God regularly. I had to get back to sitting in silence and praying.

Couldn't say I understood why Adam bit the apple but I knew how a woman could be a major distraction. Didn't want to live without one in particular. Never wanted to be with the other.

Madison had called forty-two times earlier today. After I'd answered her first call and she yelled, “You moved that whore into our house!” I ignored the rest. Any person starting a conversation by screaming was not interested in what the other person had to say.

Wait until she found out where I was living. I had to make sure that didn't happen before the divorce was final. I did not want a judge denying my parental rights because my ex-wife was angry at me for what she'd done. After our marriage was over, I did not care what Madison knew.

My soon-to-be ex had a house to go to. One that I'd paid off. She and Zach could stay with her parents if she needed someone to care for her. With her new breasts, Madison was going to have a lot more men to choose from. She'd best pray karma didn't bite her ass. I couldn't care less. If she wasn't desperately trying to win me back just to make me miserable, she could have another man. Hell, Madison could have another husband by Christmas.

The operations manager texted me. We're all set, baby! Let's get that W!

4sure I texted back.

Normally, I wouldn't claim a win until the game was over. I was turned up so high I felt like shouting and doing a praise dance. We were undefeated. I was about to become a free man. The woman I truly loved was back in my life. What could possibly go wrong? I wasn't asking. The question was rhetorical.

Ding-dong, ding-dong,
the bell to my suite chimed. That could be one of the four people I was expecting. The second I opened the door and saw Sindy's angelic face, I said, “Thank you, Jesus,” then told her, “You are so fine, woman.”

Her red platform heels appeared higher. The sizzling red short-sleeved dress sparkling with blue rhinestones hugged all her curves. The scent of her cinnamon hair reminded me of a fresh ocean breeze. I wished I hadn't planned my honeymoon with Madison in Bora Bora. Taking Sindy there after our wedding would be a honeymoon headache.

“It's good to see you too. I thought I'd come a little early. Hope that's okay.”

Inviting her in, gently I pulled her close to my body. Inhaled her fragrances. We stood in a moment of oneness. Her energy penetrated my entire body like a head-to-toe orgasm. Becoming sexually aroused wasn't intentional. Slowly my shaft grew longer, wider, and harder.

“I like,” she whispered, then meshed her lips to my ear.
Ah, the simple pleasures of life.

Stepping back, there wasn't enough time to unfasten my pants. I pressed my fingers against the base of my dick to keep from cumming. “Whew! That was close. I have a bottle of champagne on ice.” A drink would help relax me and settle my raging appetite. I'd had everything set up in the living room. “Have a seat while I get you a drink.”

I had to sex this woman. Hopefully, tonight. I filled her flute, then mine.

Sindy whispered, “Roosevelt.”

“Yes,” I answered, turning to look at her. “Oh, my God.”

I placed the bottle on the table. Standing, beholding the most beautiful naked woman I'd ever seen, I wished I were a painter and she was my model. I swear I didn't know where to start. Her nipples, clit, or her toes. Her feet looked amazing! Red tips with blue stones. I could kiss every part of her.

“Come here,” she said softly.

I was drawn to her. If Eve were this alluring, I got it. “What are you doing to me?”

She unbuckled my pants and unzipped them, then held my erection in her soft palm. I inhaled as much air as I could. My abs were on the verge of exploding.

Ding-dong, ding dong
, softly played. I wanted to say, “Go away!”

“Roosevelt honey it's your mother.”

“And father.”

“And brother.”

Of all the days for them to be early too. Damn!

In a matter of a minute we were both presentable. Sindy fingered her hair, then stood beside me. I kissed her. “To be continued,” I said before opening the door. She winked then smiled.

“Hi honey. Hi Sindy,” my mother said walking in.

My dad said, “Son, you are not going to believe our day. You definitely did the right thing by selling your place. We have more than enough space if you want to come back home for a while. Your grandfather would love to see more of you. You too, Chaz. I don't know what's going on with that Madison woman but she's up to no good, again.”

“Not now, Martin. Chicago has to mentally prepare for his game,” my mother said. “And you need to practice your belly breathing.”

Thankful, and not, for Mom's interruption, I did not want to have a conversation in front of Sindy about Madison. “I'd like to toast.”

I filled three more flutes. “Hey, Mom and Dad. How was your flight?” Chaz and I had flown in on the team's plane.

The family jeweler had come by our office the day Sindy had come to visit me. Collectively, I'd say we invested a hundred and fifty thousand on engagement rings for Numbiya and Sindy.

“Not nearly as entertaining as seeing the expression on Madison's face when—”

I redirected my attention to Sindy when she started coughing. “You okay, babe?”

My father said, “You can't even take you own advice, Helen. Son, why didn't you tell me?”

Mom shifted her eyes in my dad's direction. Madison was going to be a topic of discussion for the next eighteen years. Sindy could handle hearing my response.

“I wasn't going to sell but when I found out that Granville had moved in, I had to go.”

“Go where?” my mother asked.

I kissed Sindy on the lips. “This gorgeous woman is letting me stay at her place until I buy a home.”

My mom looked at Sindy, then raised her brow. Scanning back and forth between them, I knew my mother. Something was up.

Handing a glass of champagne to each of them, I said, “A toast to the most loving and caring women in my life.” I meant that.

“We have to find a way to move that continuance date,” my mom said sipping her drink. “I want you divorced from Madison immediately before she does whatever she's scheming to do.”

Sindy barely placed her lips on her glass as she glanced at me. Her eyes shifted toward my mom. They clicked their glasses and smiled. I scanned back and forth again.

“Son, don't ask,” my dad said. “I don't even want to know.”

“Roosevelt, I have a confession,” Sindy said. “I—”

Mom interrupted, “Look at the time. We'll see you at the game, sweetheart.” She took Sindy's glass, sat it on the coffee table next to hers. My dad swallowed his last sip, put his flute by theirs, then hunched his shoulders. Chaz had been unusually quiet.

“Sindy, dear. You're riding with us. Let's go.”

I laughed as they left. “I'll see you there, babe.”

My parents were too protective. Sindy wasn't scandalous like Madison. Sindy probably wanted to tell them how much we love one another.