Torn Between Two Lovers (18 page)

“Michael, I'm sorry. This is all my fault.”

“Shh…You don't have to apologize to me.” He squeezed me tighter. “I love you, Loraine. All I want to do is take care of you.”

“Do you mean that? Do you really mean that? Because right now, all I want is to be taken care of by a man who loves me.”

“I've always meant it. I've loved you since I was fourteen. I don't know how to stop loving you.”

I took hold of his hand. “Then take me home, Michael. Take me home and I swear we'll never look back. I just don't want to have to set foot in that house again.”

“You mean that? What about Leon?” he asked skeptically.

“He's not the man I thought he was. You don't have to worry about him. He's the past; you're the future.”

Michael leaned back and looked deeply into my eyes. “Baby, you don't ever have to go to that house again. My house is your house.” He reached down and took my hand. “Come on. Let's go home.”

It was a damp, overcast night, and I closed my coat to protect myself against the wind as I stood alone on the pedestrian walkway of Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge. Looking down at the James River, I couldn't see much, but I could hear the fast-moving water smashing up against the rocks below. This bridge had become something of a lover's lane over the years, but I could also see why it was the location of choice for more suicides than any other bridge in the region.

Over the years, I'd met many brothers here to watch the sunset. As a matter of fact, this was the spot where Big Poppa and I first kissed, so I found it fitting to come here now that he'd passed away two days ago. Don't worry; I wasn't going to commit suicide. I just had so many things on my mind that I needed to clear up. So many demons that I had to put to rest before I could move on with my life.

I knew that Michael had been arrested for the shooting, but ever since Peter called me from Big Poppa's phone, I knew the truth. There was no doubt in my mind who had shot the man I loved. I just wanted to hear Peter admit it.

“Hey there, Lover Boy,” I heard Peter say as he approached the spot where I was standing on the bridge. I felt a shudder pass through me. At another point in my life, I would have been so happy to have this gorgeous man calling me that. Now all I could think about was how much my “lover boy” behavior had cost me. Ron was gone, Loraine hated me, and Big Poppa had finally succumbed to his bullet wounds. And all because this one crazy fuck just couldn't let go of his fantasy that we were meant to be together. If only I could go back in time and change the way I'd handled my life. But there was no way to alter the past. All I could do now was get Peter to confess, and hopefully get justice for the people he'd hurt.

“Hello, Jerome,” he said, leaning against the four-foot-high concrete railing. “I didn't think you were going to show up.”

“I've been here almost twenty minutes. You're the one who's late.”

He kind of chuckled to himself. “I know how long you've been here. I've been watching.”

“Of course you were watching. I should have known.” I struggled to contain my rage. I wanted to reach out and strangle him, but I had to accomplish what I was here to do: I had to get him to confess. “Why the hell is everything a game with you?”

He shook his head. “A game? On the contrary, my friend. Things are very serious, wouldn't you say? I mean, you have to understand things from my point of view. I may love you, but I damn sure don't trust you. I was halfway expecting there to be half a dozen undercover cops out here.”

“Nope, just me. But if you thought this was some kind of a setup, why the hell did you come here in the first place?”

“Oh, I don't know…,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “Call me a silly romantic, but I was sorta hoping you wanted to tell me you had finally come to your senses and we could be together. You did pick a romantic meeting spot, after all, despite the rain.”

“I'm not here for romance.”

“That's too bad. So, what did you want, Lover Boy?”

“I just need to know why.”

“Whatever are you talking about?” I knew that the fake look of confusion on his face was meant to taunt me. He was getting under my skin and he was enjoying it.

“You know exactly what I'm talking about. There's only one way you could have gotten Big Poppa's phone.” I was on the verge of tears when I asked, “Why did you have to shoot him? He didn't do anything to you!”

Peter continued to play with me. I swear he was stifling a giggle when he said, “What phone? Really, Jerome, what are you talking about? Have you been drinking? I didn't shoot anyone.”

“Stop fucking playing games,” I said, moving in closer. I had to stuff my hands in my pockets to keep from swinging at him.

He dropped the act and came back at me with just as much anger. “No, you stop. Stop fucking wasting my time,” he said. “Open up your coat.”

“What?”

“You asked me here for something, and it sure wasn't so that we could fuck. I'm gonna walk away right now if you don't prove that you're not wearing a wire.”

“You think I'm wearing a wire?” I asked.

“I've been an investigative reporter for fifteen years, Jerome. I know all the cops' tricks.”

I put my arms over my head. “Frisk me, then. You're not gonna find a wire. I got nothing to hide.”

Peter hesitated for a second, like he was surprised his instinct was wrong this time. He looked a little confused when he checked me and discovered I wasn't recording our conversation.

“Hmph,” he said, trying to play it cool. “It wouldn't matter anyway. You really think I'd be stupid enough to leave behind any evidence that could connect me to that shooting? C'mon now. You know I'm too good to slip up like that. Not a finger-print to be found, and that cell phone is long gone…. I mean, I'm good, and on top of that, they really made it easy for me.”

“They?”

“Yeah,
they
. I told you I would go after every one of your lovers until you were mine. I was prepared to take them out one by one if I had to. That kid Ron wasn't even a challenge. Shoot, he was so unstable to begin with. I knew that he'd go off the deep end if I put those pictures in the paper.”

I felt sick as an image of Ron's lifeless body came into my mind.

“Now, your beloved Big Poppa, of course, was more of a challenge. It took me forever to find out who he was. You know giving him a gate key and a garage opener so he could hide his car when he visited was pretty smart. But once Ron died and you disappeared, he must have been pretty flustered. He started getting careless. I mean really…having takeout food delivered to your house when you weren't even in town? Not smart, especially when I had the pizza-delivery guy on my payroll. And then he was stupid enough to park in front of your house. I may not have been able to drive my car in, but I walked right past those toy cops while they were sleeping all the time while you were away.” He shook his head. “It took all of ten minutes for my contact with police to track down his license plate number.”

Peter was becoming more animated as he spoke, like he was enjoying the storytelling, proud of his ability to track down my lovers and destroy them—and me.

“You know I didn't even realize he was your friend Loraine's husband until I showed up at their house.” He shook his index finger at me. “You know, you're really not a nice person, Jerome. I mean, you can say whatever you want about me, but that's some pretty low shit, fucking your best friend's husband.”

“It wasn't something I planned to happen. But sometimes we do things we wouldn't necessarily do for love.”

He nodded his understanding. “You know, I was thinking the same thing as I shot Big Poppa's ass.”

Tears were rolling down my face at this point. “Why?” was all I could manage to say.

He rolled his eyes and spoke to me like an impatient parent scolding his child. “How many times do I have to tell you? If I can't have you, then no one will. No one takes what belongs to me!”

“What the fuck are you talking about? No one took anything from you. They didn't deserve to be hurt.”

“They took you from me, Jerome. Don't you understand? We're supposed to be together. They were getting in the way of you being with me!”

“You're crazy. We will never be together.”

He leaned back casually against the railing. “Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that. Sooner or later, you'll understand that there is no one else for you. The next man you try to get with, I'll kill him too. I'll kill them all if they get between us.”

So this was Peter's plan for the rest of my life: stalk me forever and destroy anyone I get close to, until I came back to him. It was time to put an end to this insanity.

“Then you leave me no choice. I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands.” I took a step toward him.

“You and what army?” He easily pushed me off with a derisive laugh. “You can't stop me. You never could—that's why your precious little Ron and Big Poppa are dead now.”

I stomped my foot and screamed, “I've heard enough, Peter!”

My outburst took Peter momentarily by surprise, but it had the desired effect. I looked up at the man who had heard my signal and was quickly advancing on Peter from behind.

Peter turned to look in the direction of my gaze just in time to see the man reach out for him. He grabbed Peter by the collar and lifted him into the air. I moved quickly to his side and seized Peter's feet.

“You remember Freddie, don't you, Peter? You thought it was pretty funny when his wife was chasing him around Outback, didn't you?”

“Wait!” Peter yelled, sounding on the verge of tears. “Jerome, I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore. Please don't do this! I can't swim!”

“Oh, it's not the water you have to worry about; it's the rocks,” Freddie mocked as Peter went over the side. “Bon voyage, motherfucker.”

We heard Peter's screams all the way down. Then, silence. It was over.

“Man, I almost didn't think you were going to give me the signal,” Freddie said.

“Yeah, you know, for a second I thought about backing out, trying to convince him to turn himself in. But in the end, it never would have worked. That crazy motherfucker would have been chasing me for the rest of my life.”

Freddie shook his head. “Damn shame.” He looked over the edge, down into the darkness. “You think he's dead?”

“If the rocks didn't get him, the rapids will.” I stepped away from the railing. I was ready to go home. “Did you take care of all the loose ends?” I asked as Freddie and I started walking.

“Yeah. This guy didn't even have any firewalls protecting his computer.”

When I met Freddie and learned he was a computer whiz, I never could have imagined that I'd be asking him to put his skills to use in this way. I guess we never really know where life will lead us, do we?

“Half an hour ago,” Freddie explained, “everyone on his Facebook page got an update that he was sick of life and didn't want to live anymore.”

I drew in a deep, refreshing breath of night air. “Thanks, man.”

“No problem, Jerome. That son of a bitch deserved it. We still on for Thursday afternoon?”

“Freddie, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to need a little time before I can go down that road again.”

“Hey, after all you've been through, I totally understand.”

Dear Readers,

 

Wow! I hope you enjoyed reading
Big Girls Do Cry
and
Torn Between Two Lovers
as much as I enjoyed writing them. I have to admit I'm a little tired now. For you folks that say I don't write them fast enough, well, I want you to know that putting out two books in one year is not an easy task, but I do hope to put out two books next year also.

So, I hope you'll look out for my new church drama,
The Choir Director
, in late January or early February 2011, where we meet smooth-talking Anthony Mackie and the women who love him. Then, later in the year, look out for something new and a bit edgier, with the first installment of
The Family Business
, a trilogy like none you've ever read. Who are the Dumpsons, and why does everyone fear them?

Well, that's it for me. Again, I hope you enjoyed my latest works. If you get a chance, hit me up on [email protected], or visit my web site at www.carlweber.net. Until then, be safe, and leave the drama to me.

 

Peace,

 

Carl Weber

A READING GROUP GUIDE

 

TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS

 

CARL WEBER

 

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

The following questions are designed to facilitate discussion
in and among reading groups.

1. Did you think Leon was involved with his therapist at first?
   
2. Was Loraine wrong for taking Leon to the same spa her and Michael visited?
   
3. Would you have told your spouse if you found out that you were sexually molested as a child?
   
4. At any time did you think Michael was losing it?
   
5. Were you happy when Jerome and Ron hooked back up? Or did you think Jerome should have left him alone?
   
6. What were your thoughts when Michael first purchased the gun? Was there ever a time you thought he'd used it?
   
7. Was Loraine wrong for breaking up Michael's relationship with Celeste?
   
8. Have you ever had a stalker?
   
9. Did you know who Big Poppa was? Were you surprised at all?
   
10. Who do you think Big Poppa really loved?
    
11. What would you do if you found out that your dying spouse was unfaithful?
    
12. What was your opinion of Peter? Did he get what he deserved?
    
13. On a scale of one to ten, what did you think of this book?
    
14. Which character or characters would you like to see again?
    
15. What is your favorite Carl Weber book?