To Love a Man (35 page)

“I do.”

“And do you Desiree Holloway take Ramón Norris to be your Husband, for better or for worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“Well then by the power vested in me by the state of South Carolina I pronounce you man and wife. You may NOW kiss your bride.”

Ramón took Desiree in his arms as everyone cheered around them. Maddie in her baby blue dress bounced up the pulpit her Shirley temple curls bouncing with her followed by Zack in his three-piece tux. They hugged their newly married parents and were overjoyed that finally they were a family.

Back to Present

Nikki stared at Desire unable to speak Desiree looked back onto the court. The eagles were doing it they were pulling away and maintaining a lead. With six minutes left in the last quarter they could pull it off. She glanced back at Nikki.

“Nikki say something.”

“Um yay.”

“Yay is all you can say? I just bear my soul to you and you say yay?”

“What am I supposed to say?”

“Tell me how I am supposed to go down there and tell my husband who I am separated from any of this.”

“You just do it.”

“Even if they lose?”

“Honey the way he keeps looking at you I don't think he cares whether they win or lose just if he gets to stay your husband. And you have to be honest with him. Don't tell him what you think he wants to hear tell him the truth.”

“Desiree?”

Desiree looked up as Britney walked over to them.

“I thought that was you how are you?”

“Great! I am sorry we had to cancel our lunch last week I had to go to the doctors.”

“Are you ok?”

“You can say that.”

They looked back to the court and Desiree felt a rush of sadness as she thought about the day she left him.

Five months ago

“Come on guys it's almost time to go. Zack you have boxing in twenty minutes and Maddie you have Dance in thirty we got to go.”

Desiree walked into the den and saw the kids engrossed in an entertainment special. She walked closer and saw photos of Ramón and Kim hugging. She stepped closer as the lady began to talk again.

“Now for the big news. A friend of the family and Kim’s attorney has confirmed that she is indeed pregnant again with Ramón’s second child. Rumors began to fly around after she made a surprise visit at Ramón’s wedding. There is however no news on how his current wife is taking the news. If Ramón is not careful he is gonna end up with two broken wrists instead of one. That’s all for now but remember we get it first you hear it first goodnight everyone.”

Desiree grabbed the remote and paused it. She couldn’t believe her eyes. She tried to hold her composure in front of the kids.

“Guys what did I tell you about watching those exposé shows they like starting trouble.”

“Is daddy having another baby?”

“No Maddie he’s not I told you it's just another rumor. Now we have to get going.”

“But mom it looked.”

“I know what it looked like Zack but trust me its fake. If you don't believe me when your dad comes home he will assure you of that but for now we have to go.”

She ushered the kids out the house and to their perspective places but as she went on with her day the images wouldn’t leave her alone. Even though she assured the kids everything was fine she couldn’t get rid of the gut feeling everything wasn’t fine. Those photos showed Kim and him out without him wearing his cast on his wrist which meant they were recent. And now rumors of her carrying another child by him were confirmed with a family friend stating Desiree was dealing with the news as anyone would she was furious. She was relieved when Rachael stopped by wanting to take the kids away for the weekend. Ramón arrived home about thirty minutes after the kids left which was good for them but not for Ramón. Desiree had stayed on the stairs waiting for him and wanting to end the rumors once and for all.

Ramón walked into the house feeling better than he had in days. He went into a wide grin as he saw Desiree sitting at the stairs waiting for him. He went to her but stopped in his tracks as he saw the anger and tears in her eyes.

“Desi baby what’s wrong?”

Desiree didn't say a word as she walked into the den knowing he would follow her and hit play. Ramón saw the entertainment news on and couldn’t have prepared himself for the storm that followed what he saw.

“And here is the story we promised you. We have confirmed the rumors that a certain newly married NBA super star is indeed seeing his
ex-girlfriend and baby Mama Kimberly Ford. We received these photos earlier this week.”

They showed three pictures of Ramón and Kim hugging and talking.

“Now for the big news. A friend of the family and Kim’s attorney has confirmed that she is indeed pregnant again with Ramón’s second child. There is however no news on how his current wife is taking the news. If Ramón is not careful he is gonna end up with two broken wrists instead of one. That’s all for now but remember we get it first you hear it first goodnight everyone.”

Desiree turned off the TV and turned away.

“Desi wait let me explain its all lies.”

“You know what Ramón there is no need to explain it to me. However it was our kids who saw the program so explain it to them.”

She walked away but stopped and laughed.

“Wait my bad I'm sorry I forgot it was my son and your daughter who brought it to my attention.”

She walked to their room and slammed the door. Ramón walked to the door and opened it. He walked over to Desiree who was sitting at her desk writing.

“Desiree none of that is true.”

“You told me you haven’t seen her since before your accident.” She said not looking up from her writing.

“I haven’t
.”

“You said that you were doing your therapy and that voice over and practice and that’s why you’re always late.”

“It is.”

She turned towards him with tears in her eyes.
“Then why is it that in the picture of you two you were wearing your cast and the next one you’re not?”

“What?”
he asked looking at her.

“
See I watched that broadcast at least fourteen times. And I noticed that in that picture the one where you and she were all hugged up you were wearing your cast? If you hadn’t seen her since before your accident why were you wearing it?”

“Baby if you would let me explain.”

“Then there was the second picture where you are wearing that brand new navy blue shirt you just got that last week and get this no cast.”

“Desi come on.”

“Now we have been married for almost six months so have you been seeing her behind my back this whole time?”

“Baby!”

She stood up so quickly that it caught Ramón off guard and he tripped over his own foot. As he steadied himself she wiped her tears.

“No don't baby me. Pictures don't lie but apparently you do. And apparently you have another child on the way.”

“Look ok you got me when I went to our boy’s night out I ran into her she hugged me and that was it.”

“Uh huh that was it so why the lies why not just tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t a big deal.”

“Yeah ok well I see that I am not a big deal.”
She turned away from him and walked out the room. Ramón followed her.

“Look I will have Matt go to that station and put an end to these rumors.”

“I don't think they are rumors.” She said going to the kitchen and turning off the lights.

“You don't trust me?”

Desiree faced him and the tears in his eyes nearly broke her heart. “This isn’t the first time you have lied to me about her.”

“So what you just gonna walk away? Act like we meant nothing to each other?”

Desiree walked back into the bedroom and over to the bed.

“Why not
, you seem to be doing such a great job at pretending that I mean nothing to you.”

“You do. I love you so much.”

“No you don’t you still act like you’re some single guy. You’re not. You are supposed to be my husband. Be the one I could trust and talk to. I thought we were it for each other but now I realize that you and I don't make sense. You and Kim do.”

She grabbed her lotion off the dresser and sat on the bed. Ramón bent down in front of her so they were eye level.

“No we don't. I don't love her. I never did. I love you.”

For a long time it seemed they stared at each other in
silence. Both wondering what the other was thinking and feeling. Desiree finally stood forcing Ramón to stand and move back.

“Once you talk to Zack and Maddie tomorrow we won’t be in your hair any longer.”

She turned to get into the bed and turned off the light. Ramón stood there in the dark not knowing what he could say to make things right.

“Please don't do this Desi. I can’t imagine my life without you.”

She didn't stir and Ramón was scared. Whenever the fight ended with her getting into bed she would sigh or shake to let him know she was crying. That was his cue that she was on the verge of forgiveness but this night he barely heard her breath. She didn’t move any part of her body she just lay perfectly still. Ramón walked to the other side of the bed and laid down. He went to hold her but she pulled away from him. He said a silent prayer that they could find a way to work this out and fell asleep.

Ramón awoke with a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked over to the empty side of his bed and his heart sank. As he shot up he went to the closet and felt himself sink lower as he noticed most of Desire’s clothes were gone. He grabbed his phone but noticed a note on the side of it. He opened it.

“Ramón, I have decided to get away for a while. It is clear to me that while I love you so very much you need time to figure out your next move. I have already spoken to your mom and she will drop Zack off to me when they returned. I withdrew some money out of our account just to get me a place to stay and as soon as I find work I will pay it back. Thanks for everything. PS there is an envelope for you on the mantle in the living room. I guess congratulations really are in order. You don’t have to worry about what a divorce will do to you. I don't want your money and I will sign whatever I have to so you can know that I didn't marry for money and you don't owe me a thing.”

Ramón balled up the paper and ran down stairs he grabbed the manila folder off the mantel and took out a sonogram. He grabbed his phone.

“Perkins, King and Wade.”

“Get me Matt Perkins now.”

“May I ask who is calling?”

“It’s Ramón Norris I need to speak with him now.”

“But he is.”

“I said NOW!”
Ramón yelled into the phone.

“One moment.”

“Ramón I was expecting your call.”

“Matt what the hell is going on?”

“I don't know but I am all over it.”

“Desiree left. Someone sent a picture of a sonogram that supposedly belongs to Kim.”

“I thought you said you weren’t messing with her.”

“I wasn’t and I am not. Matt I don’t know how all these rumors got started but it is costing me my family. Fix this.”

“I will but it's gonna take a minute this is a sensitive situation.”

“Sensitive. She is going around telling people that I got her pregnant Desiree left. She left.”

“Then go find her I will take care of everything.”

“I have practice today. And she knows I can’t miss it.”

“Look go to practice and make things right with your wife.”

“Just handle this.”

Ramón hung up the phone and crumbled up the envelope. He grabbed his practice bag and left hoping time on the court would ease his anger. He walked onto the court ready to play but his head wasn’t in the game. As they began practice Ramón missed shots and blocks. He knocked Aj down three times and sent an elbow to Rick Marries the small forward. Coach Patulous called time out and Ramón sat on the bench. Rick walked over to him.

“That elbow to the face was a cheap shot.”

“It was an accident I said I was sorry I am just not in a good place right now.” Ramón said placing his hands onto his head.

“No? I would think you would be I mean dumping your wife for you ex was a smart idea. I mean Kim is H O T hot and well Desiree is ok but you made the right choice.”

Aj stood between them as Ramón stood and moved closer to him.

“Shut up rick. Don't pay him any attention man.”

“Don’t tell me to shut up Aj you said it yourself you always saw him with a Jessica Alba or Tyra or Alicia Keys type woman not a Queen Latifa or Monique, both very beautiful but both full figured women.”