If You Don't Know Me (25 page)

T
here wasn't much to pack from my condo.

Well, it wasn't mine anyway. Sindy had leased it for me. That was nice of her. Watching the video on the thumb drive made me sad. I wasn't responsible for Charles Singleton's death. But it could look that way. The footage of Mama's funeral showed Beaux putting the gun in the coffin. I couldn't let my brother go to jail. I couldn't be retried but Beaux could be charged.

Who gave Sindy that info from Mama's funeral? I guess women had their way of getting what they wanted.

If anyone saw that I'd knocked an old man to the floor weeks before he suffered a heart attack, my black ass would have to get real comfortable being in a cell. Sindy knew that wasn't my fault. She was there. He coughed on me. Blood. Well, at least I wasn't crazy. The paternity test proved I was right. Madison didn't have to keep ignoring my calls. I didn't want her. I had a wife and another baby on the way.

“Big daddy, don't worry,” Mahogany said kissing my bald head. “When she bring us your son, I'm going to take care of y'all like you've done for me. We'll be one big happy family. I'm going to shower,” she said powering off my computer. “You don't need to see that again. Ain't nobody sending my husband or his brother to jail.”

She left me sitting at the dining room table looking at a blank screen. All of her clothes, except the ones she was going to wear, were already in the suitcase I'd bought her. She didn't have much. I didn't care about that. Mahogany was the first woman who loved me. I'd buy her whatever she wanted, which wasn't much. Here and there she'd mention she liked something, but she still never asked me for anything.

I knew Sindy wasn't my friend but I thought she cared about me. All she'd done was the same as Loretta and Madison—use me.

Material things were nice. Mama had said, “People are more important than possessions.” I was going to miss the simple stuff like the oversize fluffy towels, good-smelling men's body wash, the big bed and the firm king-size pillows. I had enough money to buy it all again. Just couldn't stay in Texas. My wife could do the shopping for us when we got to Los Angeles.

Guessed I'd better stop moping. I went into the bedroom. Mahogany was sliding lotion all over her body.

“Put some on my back, big daddy,” she said handing me the bottle.

No matter how down I was, seeing her beautiful naked body and smiling face cheered me up. I rubbed her shoulders and her back.

She jiggled her booty. I squeezed lotion in my hand, slid my palms together, then rubbed her butt.

“That feels good,” she moaned bending over.

Instantly, I got hard wood. “Lay down.”

“Okay.” She sprawled across the comforter.

I knew we shouldn't have sex on top of the good cover but we were leaving and they'd have to clean it anyway. I stared down at my wife. I had a wife. Still didn't seem real.

Mahogany never denied me. I'd already cleaned myself, didn't mind doing it again later. I removed my clothes. This time I put my dick in my wife without licking her pussy first. Soon as my head went inside her, all I could think about was how good she made me feel.

I didn't have to rush. She wasn't leaving me. This was my pussy. Stuffing all of my salami into her warm juices, quickly I pulled out.

“Do that again, big daddy,” she moaned.

Easing my head in, I slid deep as I could, then pulled out again. By the third time, I stroked her deep without coming out. She grabbed her titties. Her hips moved toward me. Felt like her pussy was trying to swallow my dick again.

“You ready,” she said.

I shook my head. “Fuck. Motherfucker!” I screamed.

The back of my thigh tightened right when I was cumming. I kept stroking. Didn't want to mess up either of our nuts. Her sex felt so good, the charley horse would have to wait until I was done making love to my wife.

“You always make me feel good, big daddy. We've got to get ready for the baby and our flight to LA.” She kissed my bald head, slid out of bed, and stepped into the shower.

I got in with her this time. I stared at her face as she washed my chest. My bottom lip covered my top. I wanted to cry. I felt bad for having shot Chicago. What if some man tried to kill me because I was in love with his wife. Guess I'd have to live with what I'd done forever.

“What you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

How could this gorgeous girl be raised in foster care by a woman who was jealous of her? Mahogany didn't have to worry about making minimum wage or not being able to pay her bills ever again. Once upon a time I thought I needed a woman like Madison. A showpiece that every man would like to have on his arm. Even after seeing Madison's bigger boobs, I still didn't want her no more.

Mahogany was attractive inside and out and that made her my queen for life.

“I love you, big daddy,” she said getting out of the shower. “What time did you say the baby is going to be dropped off?”

“Noon.”

“It's one o'clock,” she said.

I dried off, then texted Sindy: Where are you?

Getting dressed, I finished packing my things and put my suitcase at the door.

A text came from Beaux. I'm at the gate. Where are you guys?

Damn, my mind really was messed up. Beaux was at the airport. Our flight to Los Angeles was in two hours. I wasn't leaving without my son.

I texted my brother. Zach isn't here yet, dude. Don't miss your flight. If we miss ours, we'll catch the next one.

You sure?

Bro, I'm positive.

Sitting on the sofa with Mahogany, we watched two episodes of
Divorce Court
. Two more of
Judge Mathis
. Two more of
Judge Joe Brown
.

I texted Sindy again. Where the fuck are you? I wanted to add, “Bitch!” I was tired of doing what women told me. I was a grown man.

It was five o'clock. Beaux had already landed in LA and checked into our room at the Beverly Wilshire.

“We can come back for Zach. Let's just go,” Mahogany said. “She's not coming, big daddy.”

When I opened the door, Chicago's mother was standing there with my son in her arms.

“Hello, Granville. You have a moment?”

W
hat was I to wear to court?

In the midst of dealing with my father's funeral arrangements, I shouldn't have had to be sandwiched in between Madison and Roosevelt's issues. What did Madison intend to prove by having me appear as a witness for her divorce? I had more important matters to attend to. The most important was I still hadn't found my mother.

How was I to find someone that was legally dead? Had my father changed her name? Had he sold my mother? Was Roosevelt withholding information that my father had given him?

I needed to look better than I felt.
I'm not dressing down today.
After oiling my entire body, I toweled off the excess. The form-fitting cream-colored sleeveless dress I'd worn the day I met Roosevelt was what I'd selected. The same leopard stilettos, Rolex watch, and diamond earrings were on my feet, wrist, and in my ears. Ordinarily, I wouldn't wear red lipstick to court but I didn't care about what others thought. Not even the judge.

I opened the door to the bedroom where Roosevelt had slept. His scent lingered. Where was he laying his head now? Madison's? His brother's? His mom's? Why should I care?

My doorbell rang. I grabbed my purse, made sure both letters from my father were inside. I took them everywhere with me. Didn't want to risk losing them by any means. I headed downstairs.

As I opened the door, we both laughed. Numbiya had on a red pantsuit, animal print fitted top, and high leopard heels.

“Guess it's going to be that kind of day,” I said.

“Girlfriend, we're going to get through this morning, and move on with our day,” she said getting into her red BMW convertible. “After this hearing, I'm dropping this top, we're popping the bottle of champagne that's on ice in my trunk. I'm taking you to our favorite spa for a mani-pedi and massage. Then, queen, I'm taking you to dinner.”

Corner Table came to mind. I had no regrets about that evening shared with Roosevelt in the Lexington Room. I could feel his lips on mine. My pussy twitched.

No, bitch. Not today.
“I have to make the finals for my dad—”

Numbiya glanced at me. “Honey, Charles is dead already. You're not. Maybe if he were a better father to you and Siara, I'd understand. But he wasn't. I say cremate him and get on with your life.”

En route to the courthouse, I was glad we'd left early. Traffic was backed up on the freeway. Numbiya was right. Why should I feel obligated to give Charles a decent burial?

“There's so much you don't know,” I said.

“Well, that's only because you haven't told me. What is it?” she said exiting the freeway.

“I think my mom is alive.” Tears clouded my eyes. I blinked repeatedly, not wanting to stain my dress.

Numbiya slammed on her brakes. “Shut the hell up! Did your dad tell you that?” She parked in a red zone. Gave me a big affectionate hug. “If she is, don't you worry. We're going to find her,” she said drying my tears.

We sat still for a moment. Everything around me seemed quiet but it wasn't. Numbiya merged into traffic.

“What do you think I should do about Roosevelt?” I felt bad for going off on him. Before I'd given him a chance to explain, I'd practically thrown him out of my house. I'd only be lying to myself if I said, “I don't want him back.”

“If it were me, I'd fuck someone else and forget about Roosevelt. But I know you still have feelings for him.”

Wow. A half smile was on my face. Numbiya was a lot like Chaz. I didn't say anything. I stared out the window. Silence made me feel worse.

“Charles gave Roosevelt a letter before he passed. In the letter—” I paused, removed the letter from my purse, then read, “The way you've treated my daughter is unacceptable. When she needed you, you were not there for her. You don't deserve her. If you truly love Sindy, let her go.”

Numbiya pressed on her brakes. “What?! No disrespect, but fuck Charles. Now you should leave his ass wherever he's at,” she said. “Queen, your father is saying that because he's obsessed with money. Is your sister's husband going to sell her girls when they turn eighteen? Maybe he already has. You don't want to live not knowing what will happen if you marry that man in Dubai. Your father is dead, girlfriend. Love whomever you want.”

I waved at the attendant. He ushered us into the parking lot for attorneys. Maybe all of this effort to be with a man wasn't worth it. I could be happy by myself. But I couldn't kiss my lips at night or feel the same when Roosevelt wrapped his arms around me. I couldn't lay my head on my own chest and feel safe.

“Since you've told me that, queen, I don't want you to feel any certain way about Chicago. Don't try to get back at him or hate on Madison. She's a bitch but she's doing what the average woman would to keep her man. Girlfriend, I want you to go into lawyer mode on their ass when you're sitting on the stand.”

I'd have to do that to keep from perjuring myself. Maybe I could tell Numbiya what I'd done after I testified, but definitely not before. We entered the courtroom five minutes early, sat in the back row.

“Hopefully, the judge will call me first. That way I could leave prior to any ruling.”

“No worries,” Numbiya said holding my hand. “I've got your back.”

Roosevelt, Chaz, Helen, Martin, and his grandfather, Wally, were seated on the right in the first two rows. Madison and her father, Johnny Tyler, were on the opposite side from the DuBoises. Obviously, Madison's mother was with the baby.

The judge announced, “DuBois versus DuBois.”

The attorneys and their clients stood. Roosevelt's eyes widened when he looked back and saw me. Madison smiled as she sat at the appropriate table before the judge. He had to have known I was subpoenaed. That was his lawyer's responsibility, to communicate those who had to appear.

Listening to the case, while staring at Madison, I began to understand Roosevelt's attraction. Now that she had her implants, she definitely wasn't the woman I'd seen in that hospital bed pushing out his baby. Madison's hair was a striking platinum blond. Her waist was small, ass big, not wide. She had the kind of butt that went front to back. Not side to side. The dress she'd worn was an alluring blue. Her red, red-bottom five-inch heels popped without clashing.

Okay, the colors made sense. She was supporting the football team her husband managed. The judge was probably a fan. Whatever. I just wanted to get this over with.

Madison and Roosevelt were sworn in.

When I heard my name, immediately I stood.

“Approach the bench, counsel,” the judge said.

I raised my hand before she'd asked, waited until the oath was completed, then said, “I do.” Glancing at Roosevelt, I'd never say those two words to him.

Madison's attorney, Vermont, proceeded with questioning. “How long have you known Mr. DuBois?”

I asked, “Which one?”

“The plaintiff,” Vermont said seemingly annoyed.

“Can you repeat the question?”

He did. This time he asked the question slower. This was no laughing matter but I wanted to. That would piss the judge off but this wasn't my proceeding.

Including the years I'd watched him play, I answered, “Twelve years.”

“Years or months?” he asked.

“Years,” I said avoiding contact with Roosevelt. “He was a standout running back in college.”

“Did he know you?” Vermont asked.

“You'd have to ask him that question.”

“How long have you been sexually engaged with Mr. Roosevelt ‘Chicago' DuBois?”

I felt Madison's eyes fixed on me. Intentionally, I looked at her, then replied, “I'm a virgin. I haven't had sex with any man.”

Vermont's brows raised a half an inch, as if to say, “Really?”

“Are you in love with Mr. Roosevelt ‘Chicago' DuBois?”

Without hesitation, I told the truth. “Yes.”

Numbiya flashed a quick smile. Roosevelt smiled with his eyes.

“Are you aware that Mr. Roosevelt ‘Chicago' DuBois and his wife, Madison Tyler-DuBois,” he said putting emphasis on the last names, “have a newborn son?”

“It's not his baby.” Okay, that response could get me locked up.

Vermont moved closer to me. “And how would you know that?”

Roosevelt's attorney said, “Objection, Your Honor. The question is irrelevant.”

“Overruled. Answer the question,” the judge said.

Suddenly, I realized I'd given the paternity test to Granville. He wasn't subpoenaed. I looked at Helen. She hung her head toward her lap. Roosevelt's eyes were fixed on me.

“The baby has features similar to Granville Washington and we've seen the sex tape of Mrs. Madison Tyler-DuBois sexing Granville Washington.” That was my turn to put emphasis on
Mrs. DuBois
and
Granville Washington.

“So you have no proof.”

“No.”

Vermont said, “No further questions, Your Honor.”

Roosevelt's attorney stood. “No questions, Your Honor.”

“You may leave the stand, Ms. Singleton,” the judge said.

I stood. My seat seemed a mile away and I felt like hurdling over the rail and doing a hundred-yard dash out the door.

As I passed her, Madison smirked as though she knew something that I did not.