Single Ladies 7 & 8: " That's What Friends Are For" (14 page)

__________

Lisa sat down on the toilet looking at the First Response pregnancy test she had bought earlier. For the past few days, she had been feeling nauseous and weak, and at first she thought that it might have been from the funeral and all the stress that came along with it, but then Lisa looked at the calendar and saw that she was at least a week late.

“Mommy, I gotta pee,” Naomi yelled, knocking on the door.

“Here I come, Nay Nay,” Lisa shouted back as she ripped open the box.

Lisa urinated on the little white stick then stuck the cap back on. She got up off the toilet in the nick of time, because Naomi burst through the door. She did her little potty dance, dropping her pants to the floor and almost falling into the toilet when she sat down. Lisa stood by the sink trying to hold her laugh in, looking over at half of Naomi’s body sunk into the toilet as she swung her legs back and forth.

“Mommy is sorry,” Lisa apologized.

After waiting the two minutes for the results, Lisa looked down at the test in her hand. It came back negative and Lisa felt both relieved and sad. She kind of hoped that she would have been pregnant just one last time by Ralphy. He always wanted a boy, and Lisa always used to promise him that she would give him one, no matter how many times it took. Being able to keep that promise would have meant a lot to her, but looking over at Naomi, looking just like her dad, Lisa’s heart was content with just one.

__________

Kim stood curbside, watching as the movers took several storage bins out of the house and loaded them into the moving van. It really didn’t take long, since Lamar wasn’t going with her, so she had a few minutes to blow. Not knowing if she would ever be coming back, Kim took one good look around Walton Ave., the block where she was practically born and raised.

Tires screeching caused her to turn her head. It was Tammy, turning onto the block as though she had sped the whole way there. At the same time, Lamar came out of the house and walked down the steps. He had a stressed look on his face, but walked up to Kim and gave her a hug.

“You take care of yourself out there, and don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything, Lamar said.

“Here!” Kim said, attempting to take off the engagement ring.

“Nah, you hold on to it for now,” Lamar shot back.

Kim smiled and put the ring back on her finger. “Yeah, well maybe you can come visit me sometimes,” Kim said with a smile, trying to hold back her tears.

“All you gotta do is say when.” Lamar replied, removing the hair from in front of her face.

He leaned in and kissed her lips, and at first Kim wanted to pull away, but she couldn’t. She didn’t know if she’d ever kiss him again, and if it was going to be her last, she wanted to make it her best. It was slow, soft and wet, and during the whole time, Kim kept her eyes open.

“Aight y’all two!” Tammy yelled, walking up and separating them.

Lamar looked into Kim’s eyes then cracked a smile before walking off. He didn’t want to stick around and watch her leave, because in all actuality, he really didn’t want her to go. He had a lot of love for Kim, and after having a heart to heart conversation with her an hour earlier, Lamar realized that underneath all the anger he had inside of him about the abortion, their love had made an impact on his life that he would never forget.

“So are you ready?” Tammy asked, reaching out for Kim’s hand. “I mean, are you really ready to leave us?”

“Yeah. I’m a little nervous, but I’m ready,” Kim answered with a smile. “I’ma miss y’all,” she whined.

“BITCH, YOU BETTER NOT LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE!” Lisa yelled out coming off her porch with Naomi by her side.

She walked over and gave Kim a big hug. Naomi did the same. “What’s his problem?” Lisa asked, pointing up the street at Lamar leaning against his car with his head down. “He looks sick.”

“HE’S AN ASSHOLE!” Tammy yelled so Lamar could hear her.

They all laughed a little.

“No, he’ll be all right. He has more important things to worry about right now.”

“Girl, don’t get to Philly and forget about us,” Lisa said.

“Shit, I’m flying y’all in as soon as I get right. We gon’ tear the clubs up,” Kim responded, doing a little dance.

One of the movers got out of the van, holding his watch up in the air. “Your flight leaves in two hours, and we gotta be hitting the road,” he rushed.

“SHE’S COMING!” a voice yelled from across the street.

It was Falisha, making her way across the road. Kim, Tammy, and Lisa all got quiet, praying that Falisha didn’t ruin the mood. When she got across the street, she walked up and stood right in front Kim who looked her in the eyes. They both had a mean mug on their faces, and for everybody that was standing there, it became awkward. Falisha stared at Kim as long as she could before she broke first, cracking a huge smile. Kim smiled then they both hugged. Lisa and Tammy were relieved.

“You make sure ya ass is back here for ya goddaughter’s baby shower,” Falisha
spoke
into her ear as she continued to hug Kim.

“Promise I will,” Kim said, wiping the tears from her face. “I love you guys,” she whined, bringing everybody in for a group hug.

There wasn’t a dry eye within the crowd. The friendship and the bond that these four women had was like no other. From toddlers to adults, they went through the challenges of life, leaning on each other for support. They were the true definition of friends, and as they watched Kim’s van pull off down the street with her inside of it, a piece of their hearts was leaving right along with her. A piece that would never be replaced.

Too Much is Never Enough

Xyion Walker

Coming Soon!

A light tap on the door indicated that the time had come. “Love gives me courage,” Sabrina said as she checked her appearance one last time.

Her hand trembled slightly as she smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her pearl colored satin dress. With a bright smile, she opened the door and stepped into the small vestibule.

“You are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” Greg said as he took her arm and tucked it into his.

“I love you. That will never change. You are my first and you will be my last. You know that, don’t you?”

“You are all I have ever wanted. I promised ten years ago to grant you the desires of your heart, and I intend to honor that promise until my dying day.”

Sabrina blinked rapidly. Unshed tears rose to the surface and fought for release. I don’t deserve this man.
He
doesn’t
deserve this. Her arms wrapped around his waist and they held each other tightly. As the first organ chords wafted through the closed double doors, they sighed simultaneously. Physically, they released each other, but they held on tighter in their hearts.

The doors opened and they walked down the aisle with their heads held high. Memories of their first wedding accompanied them as they looked at the empty rows. There were no proud parents or envious friends and family in the room. On this day, in the small rented chapel, only four people filled the space.

Joy, Sabrina’s best friend, waited for them at the altar. She wore a navy blue pinstriped pantsuit with a powder blue blouse underneath. Sabrina smiled weakly at her, and Joy winked in return.

Finally, Sabrina locked eyes with the other person waiting at the altar. The love and pride that shone in his eyes bolstered her strength. “Love gives us courage.” He mouthed to her.

She squeezed Greg’s arm and walked a little faster down the aisle. In her heart, she knew that this was her destiny. It was a blessing to have the utter and complete devotion of two amazing men.

As they reached the altar, Shemar stepped forward and man hugged Greg. Then, he took his place next to Sabrina. The three of them faced Joy, who opened a small book and began to read.

“Where there is love, pain is fleeting.

Life has true meaning, and we are blessed.

Love is bold, powerful, unrelenting.

Surrender is the ultimate healing.

Love transcends good, evil and everything in between.

Where there is love, there is light. For darkness cannot live.

Unselfish, love does not exist until it is shared.

We are created to love; it is what we must do.”

That afternoon, in the historic Century Wedding Chapel, Greg and Shemar stood as men, and vowed to love, honor and cherish Sabrina for the rest of her days. She vowed to cling only unto them and to love both of them with her whole heart.

It was quiet inside the limousine as it sped toward O’Hare airport. Shemar sat next to Sabrina, while Greg sat across from them. Now that the wedding was over, and they were officially a trio, no one seemed quite sure how to act.

Shemar glanced over a Greg, trying to read his thoughts. He couldn’t imagine being in his position. In his eyes, Greg was a punk to allow another man to move into his home and marry his wife.
But, what does that make you? You’re sharing a woman too.
Shemar ignored the voice inside his head. In his mind, he had simply fallen in love with another man’s wife. He didn’t mean to, but that is just how it happened. Sabrina was like no other woman he had ever met. She excited him, inspired him, and frustrated him at the same time. As the Chicago skyline raced by, Shemar reflected on the day he met Sabrina.

From the moment she opened the door and said in her rich toned voice, “May I help you?” he was mesmerized.

Her voice had a musical quality to it that seemed to ignite all of his senses at once. As an artist, he was intrigued by her look. She was tall; at least 5’10”, and her five-inch heels elevated her to amazon stature. Her cinnamon brown skin seemed to glow underneath her perfectly applied makeup, and the plum colored wrap dress that she wore fit her body to perfection. A wild mane of sandy brown curls completed her look. Confidence and warmth seemed to radiate from her. It was an interesting combination that Shemar found intoxicating.

“Umm, er… I… uh…” Shemar cleared his throat and tried again. “I am here to place the painting that Mrs. Dejongue commissioned for the great room.”

“Yes, I’ve been expecting you. Lela isn’t here, but I’m Sabrina, her interior designer. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” Amusement danced at the corners of her lush lips as she watched the handsome young man try to compose himself.

“My bad… umm, I apologize. My name is Shemar.” He still hadn’t crossed the threshold into the house.

“Pleased to meet you, Shemar,” Sabrina said as she extended her hand.

When their fingers connected, an electric current flowed through both of their bodies. For a few seconds, the house, his van in the driveway, and the street all faded into the background as they stared at each other in amazement.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Sabrina patted his knee and whispered.

“I was just thinking about the day we met.”

“It was a memorable day,” she said quietly.
Before he could respond, she leaned forward and touched Greg’s knee.
“
Honey
, how long is our layover in L.A.?”
she asked,
speaking a
little too loudly for the small space.

Sabrina’s smooth change of subject was not lost on Shemar. It irritated him, but he shrugged it off. The fact remained that he was there to stay, and Greg was going to have to get used to it. He was her husband now, and he was not going to tip toe around a grown man’s feelings.

“We have thirty five minutes in L.A., and we arrive in Maui at 9:30.” Greg said without looking up from his iPad.

“Where are we staying again?”

“Sabrina, all of the information is right there in your purse. I’m a little busy right now, if you hadn’t noticed.”

“Fine, Greg. Sorry to interrupt your
work
.”
Sabrina said and folded her arms across her chest.

He is making this almost too easy. He’ll be gone soon, and then, Sabrina and I can live happily off his money.
Shemar thought, as he observed the exchange between Greg and his wife.

Sabrina knew that Greg was just sulking, and not overly involved in his work. That was his M.O. He was an expert at avoidance. In the fifteen years they’d been together, Greg had never told her no. Sure, he had not always agreed with her, but he always went along in the end. The phrase, ‘go along to get along,’ pretty much summed up his life. He had learned early on from watching his parents’ marriage, that resistance was futile when it came to dealing with women. His mother had run roughshod over his father until the day he died.

Most women would say that Sabrina was crazy as hell to risk losing a man like Greg, for a younger, damn near starving artist. But they didn’t know Greg like she knew him, and they most certainly hadn’t experienced Shemar’s lovemaking. Sabrina knew that she was being selfish, but hell, ‘you only live once’ was her motto. She was used to getting exactly what she wanted, and this time should be no different. Really, was it her fault that neither man could bear the thought of living without her?

The limousine arrived at the airport not a moment too soon. The tension in the car was almost suffocating. Greg was acting like a child and refusing to acknowledge either of them, and Shemar had a permanent smirk on his face.

“Some honeymoon,” Sabrina murmured as they pulled up to departures.

“What was that, babe?” Shemar asked.

“Oh nothing, just thinking aloud.”

“Ok, babe. I can’t wait to get to Hawaii. I’ve never been.”

“It’s a beautiful place. You will love it. I fell—”

“You fall in love a lot, don’t you, Sabrina?” Greg interrupted.

“Really Greg?” Sabrina said and shook her head.

Greg glared at them both and got out of the limousine before the driver could open his door.

__________

Sabrina stared down at the runway, deep in thought as their plane took off. It had been a long day, and she was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Keeping two men pleased was already wearing on her nerves. When she had come up with this idea, she envisioned two men pleasing
her
, not the other way around. She felt more like a referee than a goddess. They were only half-way to their destination, and already, Sabrina was ready for the honeymoon to end. She wasn’t sure how she was going to tolerate both of them for the next week. She knew that there would be an adjustment period, and it wouldn’t be easy on any of them, but damn, did it have to be so hard?