Skeletons (14 page)

30

Asteria

W
ednesdays were usually our slow days at the salon. So I was stunned when I walked in from having lunch with Santana and Jovanna by the sounds of screaming coming from the salon. Rushing into the salon I saw Pandia wielding a pair of shears in one hand and a hot marcel iron in the other. Londyn was standing next to my sister trying to calm her down, Aaron was holding Keisha back.

“What in the hell is going on?” I yelled.

“This trifling bitch is fucking my husband!” Pandia said as she tried to run towards Keisha, but Londyn grabbed her arm.

“No, your husband was fucking me!” Keisha screamed back.

I quickly grabbed the hot marcel irons out of my sister’s hand being careful as not to burn myself with them. “Let’s calm down for a moment before someone gets hurt.”

Tears of anger streamed down Pandia’s face, “Fuck that Asteria, I swear that if I get my hands on that bitch I’m going to jail tonight because she rolling out of here in a body bag.”

“I’d like to see you try bitch. You are going to run out of here crying just as you are almost every other week. Shit bitch everyone here knows that Keith has been fucking around on you, but you are stuck on stupid.”

Secretly praying that she didn’t mention my name, I said to Aaron, “Get her out of here please.”

“I don’t need anyone to take me out of here, I’m a grown ass woman I’m going to walk out of here with my head held high, too bad I can’t say the same for everyone in here though.” She said cutting her false eyes in my direction.

“What is that supposed to mean bitch?” Pandia asked. “I hold my head up high every day because he married me bitch! A hoe like you will never have a ring around your finger.”

Shaking her head as she put her leather coat on Keisha said, “A ring don’t mean a thing because Keith was up in this all of the time and guess what he will be up in this every night after today too. Bitches like you kill me, thinking that because you roped a nigga into marrying you that he won’t stop being a man. Please, Keith has been cheating on you for a long time. Trust me I’m not the only one up in this salon that has had a taste of his shit!”

At that point I lost it, “Keisha get the fuck out of here now!” I screamed.

Aaron grabbed Keisha by her arm and led her out of the salon as Londyn held my sister back.

It was hard watching the tears stream down my twin’s face as we sat in my office and I felt that most of this was my fault. Had I not been afraid of Keisha telling her my secret I would have gotten rid of her before it even came to this.

“I can’t believe that bitch Asteria.” She sobbed, “She worked with me every day, and she brought her black ass in my salon knowing that she was fucking my husband.”

“Calm down sis, she is gone now.” I tried to reassure her, but the hurt was too deep for her.

“Scandalous bitch, now I have to go get tested because there is no telling what she has. I wish that you would’ve fired her ass Asteria.”

“I was trying to be fair, but I see what that got me.”

“In this world there isn’t shit to being fair; fuck being fair because hoes like that will trample all over you as soon as your back is turned. She better hope that I don’t run into her on the street because if I do her ass is mine and I don’t’ give a fuck about going to jail. I have money I can bond out!” Pandia punched the door.

“I didn’t know, but Londyn brought it to my attention how Keisha was getting chummy with Keith, but I wouldn’t have never thought that she would fuck him and vice versa.”

“Londyn knew and she didn’t tell me?” Pandia asked in amazement. “I thought that she was my friend.”

“It is not like that, Londyn came to me about how Keisha was acting towards Keith and I told her not to say anything to you and let me watch it for myself. I’m sorry but I didn’t want to add more stress to your life honey.”

My sister sat silently for a few moments, just staring at the picture of mom that was on the side wall. “She was beautiful.” She finally said.

Looking at the picture of our mother I smiled, “Yes she was.”

“I often wonder if she is proud of us.”

“I bet that she is proud of you. You always made her proud, whereas no matter what I did she seemed not to notice or even care.” I said wrapping my arms around my sister’s body.

“I feel so foolish; how can I face the other stylists after what just happened?”

“Easy, you are going to wipe your tears and walk out there with your head held high and if they don’t like it they can quit.”

“You are all I have Asteria and I love you.” She hugged me tight.

“I love you too.” I said in return trying to ignore the sickening feeling of guilt that was building in my stomach.

I invited Eric over for dinner the following night and it was good to see him and to finally have a man who actually wanted to spend time with me instead of just have sex with me on his terms. After dinner I put Latif down for bed then Eric and I sat on the couch enjoying a glass of wine and good conversation.

“So tell me why a lovely, educated and beautiful black woman such as yoursel single?”

“I don’t know, I guess that I haven’t found the right sexy, accomplished and kind black man to make me his yet.”

“Maybe you are looking in all of the wrong places.”

“Maybe I have been.”

“What is going on with Latif’s father, if I may ask?”

Sighing heavily thinking about Keith made me angry and resentful, “He decided to stay with the person that he promised his life to.” I answered trying to hide the hurt in my voice.

“I see.”

“It was hard, but it was also my fault. I knew better than getting involved with a married man in the first place. But you can’t help who your heart falls in love with.”

“I have been down that road one too many times myself so trust me I am not one to pass judgment.”

“I’ve learned my lesson and for now on I want my own man, someone who doesn’t have to run home to his wife, someone who can take me to dinner and the movies.”

Eric sat his glass of wine carefully on the table and looked at me deep in my eyes and said, “And you deserve that.” He leaned over covering my lips with his own and kissed me not with lust, but with passion and desire.

In three years Keith has been the only man that I have kissed and in those three years I haven’t felt this amount of passion and this is what I’ve been waiting for.

I ran my hand from his neck down to his chest, while Eric was not as cut as Keith, but his body was solid. From his chest I ran my hand down to his stomach but when I tried to go lower Eric grabbed my hand and stopped me.

“No, no baby I want to take this one step at a time. I want you so bad, but I want to make sure that we won’t waste each other’s time.”

Not knowing what to say I pulled back from him and just stared into his eyes, “Do you like basketball?” was all that I could manage.

Eric laughed, “Yes.”

“There is a game on right now; would you like to watch it with me?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He smiled.

Taking him by the hand I led him up to my bedroom where we laid across the bed and watched the game. For the first time in a long time I felt like a girlfriend and not just a bottom bitch.

Tell him to leave NOW

It was 3:30 in the morning and Keith was texting me. Eric and I fell asleep watching the game, we both still had on our clothes. I got out of bed and walked into my bathroom to text Keith back.

No go home to your wife Keith

Keith:

Oh NOW you want me to go home to my wife?

Me:

Things have changed

Keith:

What has changed?

Me:

THINGS now go home I am tired of playing games

Keith:

Who is playing games?

Me:

You said that you were going to leave and that we were going to move to Seattle I was stupid for believing you.

Keith:

We are you just have to give me some time.

Me:

You have wasted enough of my time

Keith:

Where is my son?

Me:

Asleep. Keith go home or to Keisha’s house and leave me alone.

Keith:

The mechanic must have given it to you good tonight

Smiling at how immature his mind was always stuck on sex, I text:

No sex involved unlike some who only want me for their own pleasure

Keith:

He is a punk and I should come and kick in your door

Me:

How would you explain that to your wife Keith?

Keith:

You let me handle her

Me:

LOL I have been hearing that for the past three years

Keith:

Tell him to leave so that I can handle you too

Me:

Good night

After hitting send I turned my phone off and got back in bed with Eric and a smile on my face.

31

Jovanna

“W
hy have you been so distant lately?” Justin asked as I put lotion on my legs after getting out of the shower.

Irritated by his constant questions I answered, “Justin I have already told you a million times that I haven’t been distant now could you quit with the questions.”

“I’m sorry but I am just concerned about you. You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“I just have a lot on my mind.”

Justin watched me put on my workout clothes; I told him that I was going out for a run and that I’d be home in an hour. I knew that by the time I made it home Justin would be already gone to work and that is just how I wanted it.

The cold air stung my lungs as I rounded the forth lap of my two mile run, since I’d been so busy planning the wedding and at work I haven’t had a lot of time to do what I loved best, running. I needed to run in order to think without constant questions from Justin; all I needed was the sounds of my own breathing, the pounding of my feet on the pavement and Lenny Kravitz blaring through my headphones. Running down Skinker I suddenly felt faint, trying to shake it off I picked up my pace and pounded harder and faster until I rounded the coner of Skinker onto Lindell suddenly losing my footing and tripped over my own feet, something that I have never done before. Failing at stopping my fall I went down hard, falling face-first on the jagged pavement. I called out in pain as my already cold knee hit the sidewalk; another runner took her headphones out of her ear she slowed her pace enough to ask me if I were alright.

“I’m fine thanks.” I breathed with a gloved thumbs up.

I was still on my knees trying to recover the items that fell out of my pockets when I heard the squeak of car breaks and the smell of exhaust fumes behind me. Raising slowly I didn’t know if I should run or stay and fight; since it was early morning I knew that other runners were also on this trail so I decided to face him.

“I see that you are still on the run.” He smiled showing two gold teeth nestled on his canine teeth. Another man followed closely behind him, wearing the effects of Justin’s fury on his swollen eye.

“What do you want Chad?” I asked firmly trying to hide the fear that was nestled in my stomach.

“Now is that any way to treat an old friend?”

“Fuck you!” I spat.

“I told you that she was a fiery one.” He said to his associate. “I think that you know what I want.”

Two male runners jogged past us looking at Chad strangely.

“Don’t worry I will get you your money then after that I want you to disappear as if you were never born.”

“You know, I am starting to get use to St. Louis and I was just telling my friend that I think that I may stay awhile.” He took a long drag of the cigar blowing it towards my face.

“Do what you will but leave us alone.” I fumed as I turned to run away.

“That was a pretty nasty fall that you took, you need to be more careful it can be dangerous for a young lady to be out on these streets by herself these days.”

Looking at his friend’s swollen eye I said, “No I think that I will be alright.”

Turning I ran away from him trying to ignore the pain in my knee and the fear in my heart.

Not knowing where I was going to get the ten-thousand dollars that I took from Chad since most of our money was tied up in the lavish wedding we had planned. Even if I maxed out both of my credit cards I would only have seven-thousand of what I needed. Later that evening I searched throughout our modest home looking for anything of value that I could sell to get the rest of the money that I needed to finally settle things with Chad. Walking around the house I twisted the large engagement ring on my finger and hated the thought that ran across my mind. Sliding it off of my finger I studied the stunning 18 karat white gold and platinum diamond encrusted ring, the princess cut diamond was flawless. Sam told me that Justin saved up for six months in order to have enough to get me this treasure and I loved it.

I remember when Justin proposed to me as we jogged around Forest Park, stopping briefly in front of the Jewel Box the exact spot that we met three years prior. Justin yelled out in pain as he fell down to the ground holding his calf muscle. I reached down for him only to find him holding out a black ring box with this beautiful ring nestled between the cushions.

“Will you run with me for the rest of our lives?” he asked as I looked on in amazement and shock.

“Yes.” the only word that I could utter and the only one that mattered at that moment.

It is hard to believe that six months later I would hand over the ring to a jeweler as I prepared to sell it in order to get Chad out of my life forever.

“Twelve hundred.” The old jeweler offered.

“He paid over three-thousand for it.”

“Yes and it is beautiful, but I’m only offering you twelve and that is being generous.”

Adding the numbers in my head that only gave me eighty-two hundred dollars, still not enough, “Fifteen and I’ll throw in this.” I offered holding up the white gold Tag Hauer watch that Justin bought for my thirtieth birthday.

“If you say so sweetie.” The jeweler said with a smile as he studied the expensive time piece.

I took the rest of the money that we needed from Justin’s American Express account, but decided to hold off calling Chad until the queasiness from what I did eased from my stomach.

“I’m sorry about being so pushy this morning.” Justin said that evening over dinner.

“That is okay, I’m sorry for being such a bitch.” I smiled.

Justin took my hand in his and kissed it noticing that I was not wearing the engagement ring, “Where is your ring?”

I looked down at my plate in shame, “I’d rather not say.”

“What do you mean you’d rather not say Jovanna?”

Standing up from the dinner table I limped to the kitchen to grab another bottle of wine from the wine rack. “When I fell I dropped all of my things out of my pocket…”

Justin stood from the table, his face beet red, “You lost your ring!” he exclaimed.

Tears streamed down my face, “I’m sorry Justin, I didn’t mean to, but I fell.”

“Jovanna no.” he yelled. “Do you know how much I paid for that ring?”

I shook my head no, “I tried looking for it, I even had a few of the other runners help me, but we couldn’t find it. I think that it landed in the snow.”

Justin covered his face in his hands, “I can’t believe this.”

I cried even harder, “I’m sorry Justin.”

He stood up grabbed his leather jacket then walking to the front door.

“Where are you going?” I cried.

“I can’t deal with this right now. I will be back.” He said as he stormed out of the front door.

Hearing the Hemi engine of his truck start up and speed down the street only made the tears come down my face even harder.

Justin didn’t return home until well after midnight, I was already in bed when he came in and took off his clothes lying in bed next to me. He smelled like tequila and cigarettes.

“Justin I’m sorry.” I whispered.

“It’s a good think I got the mother fucker insured.” he said before rolling over and going to sleep.

I went to Asteria’s shop to get my ends trimmed the next day, I wondered where Keisha was, but Asteria told me not to ask and that she would explain later.

“I can’t believe that you lost the ring girl.” Londyn said as she clipped my hair, Asteria sat in Keisha’s chair as she listened in on the conversation. “I would have been mad too.”

“I know but he went a little extreme.”

“Girl please you are lucky that he didn’t go upside your head.” Asteria added, “It is a good thing that he had the sense to get it insured.”

“Where did you fall?” Aaron asked as he ear hustled in on the conversation, “I may have to take up running and I need to know the exact location.”

We all laughed.

Suddenly Keith walked into the shop, we all fell silent. Pandia cut her eyes sharp enough to slit his throat.

“What do you need?” she asked dryly “There is no one else in here for you to fuck.”

Asteria turned her head, “I’m going into my office on that note.”

Before she could walk out of the door another gentleman walked in behind Keith, he was wearing a mechanic’s uniform and covered in grease.

“Hey baby, I thought that you might want to get lunch.” He said directly to Asteria who looked suprised.

“So you must be the mystery man that we haven’t heard enough about.” Londyn smiled with her hand on her hip.

Keith eyed the mechanic up and down; if looks could kill the mechanic would have dropped dead on the spot.

“Hi I’m Eric.” He said introducing himself to everyone. “You must be Pandia, Asteria has told me a lot about you.”

“You work down at Firestone, right?” Keith asked as he sat in Aaron’s chair.

“No I own my own shop around the corner on Lindell; I think that we did some work on your F150 not too long ago.” Eric answered.

“Oh I forgot.”

“Let’s go back to my office and talk.” Asteria led Eric by the hand into her office and closed the door.

Keith looked as if he could split a brick with his eyes. “It is about time she found someone who would be seen with her in public.” He laughed, but none of us though it to be funny.

As I continued my conversation with Londyn about the missing ring I received a text message from Chad:

Tick Tock Tick Tock TIME IS UP bring me my money

Trying to keep this morning’s breakfast from building up in my throat I ignored the text and tried to concentrate on the conversation with Londyn.

Justin called as soon as I got into my car; he said that he filed a claim for the lost ring through our homeowner’s insurance and that we should hear something back with a week or so. I felt bad for lying to Justin, but I had to make sure that he didn’t find out about Chad. Keeping this secret hidden was all that I cared about; Justin would never forgive me if he found out that I was Marquita.

I thought that I was liberated after taking the money from Chad, but I felt even more trapped than what I did before I left. Taking the Greyhound from Memphis to New York then from New York to Ohio and finally ending up in St. Louis. I always had the sinking feeling that I was being followed, so I was nervous to stay put anyplace for too long. When I got into St. Louis the first person that I befriended was Santana, she was pregnant with Mya and had a flat tire outside of the bus station. I helped her change her tire in return she gave me a ride to a hotel dropping me off and handing me her phone number. Santana and Mike were very kind to me, allowing me to stay in their apartment while I finished getting my G.E.D. and working at Pizza Hut. Although Santana was two years older than me, I looked up to her as a mother because she took care of me just like my mother should have.

I didn’t meet Asteria until a year later when Santana introduced me to her; Asteria and Santana were best friends from high school. Asteria came home to visit her mother who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time Asteria was living and working in Phoenix and she would fly to St. Louis every other month to visit her mother and sister as well as hang out with us. We quickly formed a close bond, but there are something’s that cannot be shared among friends.

I sent the following text to Chad:

Meet me tomorrow at the Harrah’s Casino’s iBar no later than 6pm

When I sent the text message the overwhelming feeling of dread came over me and I knew then that I’d made a mistake.