Real Love

by Tracy Reed

  “Jealous…that’s absurd.”

  “No, now that I think about it. That’s why you don’t like Zoë…that’s why you were upset with Sean and Jordan all those years.” She let go of his arm and stood up. “Chris, I’m sorry, you didn’t slip up. I’m sorry you had the perfect life. I’m sorry, you had someone there to encourage you to keep yourself for your wife. Would it make you feel better if you went out and broke our marriage vows? Heck, take some money from the emergency fund and get yourself a box of condoms and a call girl, and let her do all the things that you feel you missed out on.”

  “Stop it.”

  “Apparently you feel that you’ve missed out on something. Chris, I hate you weren’t my one and only, but I’m not going to beat myself up over it. God forgave me, and although I didn’t have to, I told you and I apologized.” Tyler started crying. “When you asked me to marry you, I thought all of that was behind us. I guess the joke’s been on me all these years, because you never forgave me, even though you said you did.” She walked down the hall to check on Tyler.

  Chris stood staring at the wall a few minutes, and then went down to Tyler’s room. He walked over and stood next to Trina. “How could you suggest I break our vows?”

  “It’s not any different from what you’ve been doing.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’ve been lying to me all these years. You said you understood what happened with Jamal and that it was in the past.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry I left you alone to make that mistake.”

  “A mistake would indicate I regret what happened, and I don’t. I wanted to have sex with Jamal, and I did.” She continued changing Tyler’s diaper. “I asked God to forgive me for breaking my vow to Him and He did. But the man I pledged to spend the rest of my life with, who said he was a man after God’s heart, who said he would love me like God, didn’t forgive me, even though he lied and said he did.”

  He looked at the wall, not saying a word.

  “I don’t understand you Chris. The past few years you’ve become so pious and judgmental, that there are days I don’t even want to be around you.”

  “But to suggest I go out and sleep…have sex with someone else, hurts.”

  “How do you think I feel? All this time, I thought it was just you and me in that bed, but it’s been you, me, and Jamal. And I’ll tell you something else, the reason Sean doesn’t tell you anything, is because he’s tired of you bringing up his past.”

  “That’s what Zoë said.”

  “Really.” She lifted Tyler out of bed, placed him on her hip, dropped the dirty diaper in the pail and went back into the kitchen. She put Tyler in his high chair and kissed him. Chris followed and stood in the doorway. Not looking at him, she said, “You know what, I think you need a little time by yourself. Tyler and I are going to my parents for a while.”

  “What?”

  “Right now, I don’t wanna be around you. I don’t like who you’ve become. I want the loving, kind, open minded man I fell in love with. The man who only saw the good in people, who wasn’t so eager to point out people’s flaws. Call me when he comes back.”

  She walked out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. The sound of the door slamming shut, broke his heart.

  Chapter 67

  TRINA WAS HESITANT TO MAKE the call, but for her own peace of mind, she knew it was the right thing to do. She looked down at Tyler sleeping next to her and pressed the button for the programmed name and number. After the third ring, he picked up.

  “Hello,” the familiar deep voice sounded calm.

  “Hey Sean.”

  “Trina, how are you? We missed seeing you guys at church Sunday. Is everything all right?” he asked.

  “Uhm, not really. Would you do me a favor?”

  “What do you need?”

  “Would you check on Chris.”

  “Sure, is everything okay?” He sensed something strange in the tone of her voice.

  She hesitated before answering. “I left him.”

  “What! Hold on, let me close the door. What did you say?” He stood in the middle of his office processing Trina’s confession.

  “I left him,” she repeated.

  “When?”

  “Saturday…we had a huge fight and I told him Tyler and I were going to my parents for a little while.”

  “Is that where you are now?”

  “Yeah. He’d been calling Tyler every night, but he didn’t call last night and I tried calling him this morning, but there was no answer.”

  “I’m walking out the door now. Do you mind my asking what happened?”

  “No. He can’t let go of the past and I told him until he does, I won’t be back.”

  “Trina…”

  “It’s the truth, Sean.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Chris needs to grow up and learn the meaning of forgiveness.”

  “Trina…”

  “Sean, I love Chris, but he’s gotten so self-righteous and pious that I can’t stand being around him.” She felt tears gathering in her eyes.

  “I hear that.”

  “Thank you for checking on him.” She sniffled.

  “I’ll call you once I talk to him.”

  “Thank you.” She pressed the button ending the call and looked over at Tyler sleeping. He looked like Chris and his sweet smile reminded her of how much she loved her husband in spite of his idiotic behavior.

  Trina was right. Chris had become obstinate, pious, self-righteous and pig headed. Sean hadn’t spent much time with Chris because he didn’t want to hear any more of his foolish talk about Kyla being a bad choice for him. Faced with keeping a promise to a friend, he was forced to pay a visit to his godbrother.

  He hopped out of the cab, walked inside and the doorman waved him through. Over the years his constant visits garnered him immediate entrance. He boarded the elevator and rode up to Chris and Trina’s apartment. He knocked on the door three times and waited for an answer, but there was none. He opened the door with his spare key and cautiously walked inside.

  “Chris…Chris…Chris…” Alvin came running around the corner. “Hey boy,” he patted his head. “Are you here alone?” Sean called out. No answer. He walked around the apartment, surveying the mess. It looked like Chris had been sleeping on the sofa and every takeout place in the neighborhood had been there at least once. He continued around the apartment but there was no sign of Chris. He checked Alvin’s food and water, both were low. He filled both and then he checked the refrigerator. It was a little low too. He called Kyla.

  “Hey wife.” He was getting her used to her new title.

  “Hi husband, what’s going on?”

  “I’m at Chris and Trina’s.”

  “Tell Trina I’m upset because she hasn’t called me back.”

  “She’s not here, neither is Chris.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Trina left Chris. She called and asked me to come over and check on him, because she hadn’t heard from him in a couple of days.”

  “Whoa, back up. Trina left Chris?” Her shock was obvious.

  “Yeah.”

  “Is she all right? Where is she?”

  “She’s fine. She and Tyler are at her parent’s.”

  “Oh my God. How’s Chris?”

  “I don’t know…he’s not here.”

  “Have you—”

  “I called him, but he’s not answering. I’m going to hang here for a little while and if I don’t hear from him, then I’ll call Trina back and ask her what she wants me to do.”

  “Okay. I’d offer to come over and help you, but considering how he feels about me…”

  “I know and thanks for offering. Would you pick Simon up for me? I dropped him off at the groomers this morning.”

  “Of course, I’ll pick up our son. Anything else?”

  “No, that’s it. I’m gonna order some food and work on cleaning this place up. Thanks,
babe. I’ll call you later.” He hung up and tried calling Chris again. Still no answer. Then he called Food Emporium and ordered some groceries before rolling up his shirt sleeves and cleaning up. An hour later, he tried Chris again… no answer. He put Alvin on his leash and took him for a walk around the block. When they returned, Chris still wasn’t home. He put all the groceries away and made dinner.

  A couple of hours later, Chris walked in and was startled to see the living room had been cleaned and the television was on.

  “Trina,” he called out. “Trina.” He went searching the apartment for Trina and Tyler. Instead, Sean was sitting in the kitchen. “Oh, hey.” He walked by him and opened the refrigerator, took out a bottle of water and walked back into the living room. He didn’t bother to comment on the full refrigerator.

  Sean wasn’t sure what to think of Chris’ behavior. He followed him into the living room and sat in the chair across from him. “What’s going on?”

  He took a long sip from the bottle. “Trina left me.”

  Sean waited for him to expound. “Is that all?”

  “She said I needed time alone, and that’s what I was having until I came home and found you in my kitchen.”

  Sean’s mouth dropped open. He couldn’t believe how smug and rude his friend was acting.

  “Did Trina call you?”

  “Yes, she said you didn’t call Tyler last night.” There was no response. “Did you hear me…you didn’t call your son.”

  He took another sip from the bottle. “What else did she say?”

  “She and Tyler were staying with her parents for a while.”

  He nodded. “Did she say why she was gone?”

  “Something about living in the past. Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No.” He kept staring at the television.

  “Okay, then…there’s food in the fridge and a pot of spaghetti on the stove. I walked Alvin a couple of hours ago, and since you don’t want to talk I’m leaving.” Sean stood up, put his coat on and started toward the door. “I don’t know what happened between you and Trina, but you don’t turn your back on your son. Call him.” Sean opened the door and walked out.

  Chapter 68

  “HELLO KYLA, THIS IS BELINDA Prescott, Sean’s mother.” The voice sounded stern and cold. She didn’t give Kyla a chance to respond. “I will be in the city tomorrow and want to have lunch with you.”

  Kyla had been expecting this call. Frankly, she was a little surprised it had taken almost three weeks to hear from her future mother-in-law. Zoë had tipped her off that Belinda was nothing to be toyed with, and that she was very protective of her sons. Zoë said she showed up at her apartment under the guise of taking her to dinner. What she really wanted to do, was see how she lived. She showed up a couple of hours early, hoping to catch her off guard. She said Jordan warned her about his mother and to be prepared.

  The joke was on her. When Belinda arrived, Zoë had dinner on the table and her apartment was spotless. She made sure there were no signs of Jordan anywhere. No need to have those couple of times they slipped up come back and bite her on the behind.

  “Hello, Mrs. Prescott.” She waited for her to offer her the opportunity to call her Belinda, but that didn’t happen.

  Kyla could charm the pants off any man and in her past life, that’s exactly what she did. With the wink of her eye, a subtle sway of her hips and slightly leaning forward, any man she met was sucked in. This was different. Her future in-laws weren’t too high on her, thanks to an unauthorized publicity campaign by Chris.

  “As I was saying, I’ll be in the city tomorrow and I want to have lunch with you,” Belinda repeated her statement.

  “That is a wonderful offer. Unfortunately, I’m not available for lunch.” Kyla knew Belinda would think she needed more time to prepare for her visit. Instead she countered with something more on her terms. “However, I am available for breakfast.” Kyla may have given her life to God, but she still had her street smarts.

  “Breakfast?”

  “Yes. Otherwise, the only time I have available is late in the afternoon, around three-thirty, for tea.”

  Kyla wasn’t going to give in to Belinda. If she wanted to meet with her, it was going to be on her terms. Keeping in mind what Zoë had said, she knew that Belinda wanted to surprise her. But getting up before the crack of dawn to leave Long Island was not likely to happen.

  “Tea would be fine.”

  “Perfect.”

  “I know the perfect place on…”

  “I think we’ll be more comfortable at my apartment.”

  “Are you sure that won’t be too much for you?”

  “No, I’ll pick up a few things and we can have a nice long chat.” Kyla had her number.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow at three-thirty. What’s the address?”

  “It’s 333 East Forty-ninth Street.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I look forward to it as well.”

  Kyla called Sean immediately after she hung up with his mother and he came over. He told her the same thing Zoë did, “She’s going to show up early so she can catch you off guard.” That was the second time she’d heard that, so she was prepared. Instead of high tea, she prepared a light lunch. She made her mother’s mac and cheese, and added truffle oil and pancetta and served it in individual casserole dishes, along with a tomato and green bean salad.

  Sean told her his mother’s favorite dessert was pound cake. Kyla borrowed another recipe from her mother, and made her buttermilk pound cake. She served it with vanilla cream gelato, whipped cream and chocolate pecan praline sauce. She wasn’t leaving anything to chance. She asked Sean to pick up a bag of coffee from the cafe, and bring it to her.

  He walked into the apartment and was very impressed at all the work she’d done.

  “Wow, honey, it looks great.”

  Kyla spent all night preparing for the inspection. The table looked like something you’d find in a fine restaurant. It was set with white china on a black silk tablecloth with black striped crystal tumblers, white napkins, silver flatware and a bowl of red roses in the center.

  “Is that Miss Nadine’s mac and cheese I smell?”

  “No, that’s Miss Kyla’s mac and cheese, and stay out of the oven,” she called back.

  “Not fair.”

  “That’s why when you come back this evening, you can eat the one I have for you,” she said as she walked in tying the bow on her blouse. “How do I look?”

  The most dangerous question in the male female relationship. Second to, does this make me look fat? She looked beautiful, but not like herself.

  “What are you wearing?”

  She walked over to the mirror and looked at her reflection. She was wearing black trousers, a white silk blouse that tied at the neck, gold hoops and simple black pumps. She looked like Kyla, but a toned down version.

  “Is it too much?” she asked.

  He stepped close to her and took her hands in his. “Honey, don’t get mad. You look nice, but you don’t look like you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean…where’s my hot fiancée?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know, the woman who walked into my showroom over six years ago that took my breath away, who I had to repent behind a couple of times when I saw her hips move.” Her face felt warm. “Babe, my mother has already met you, so now isn’t the time to look like someone else. Treat this like a potential client meeting. What would you wear?”

  She thought for a second. “I’ll be right back.” She went back into her bedroom and came back a few minutes later. “How’s this?”

  Sean turned to look at her. “WOW! That’s my hot fiancée.” He walked over, took her hand and she slowly turned around. Instead of the black trousers and white blouse, she was now wearing a camel and black leopard print mini skirt, fitted black cashmere turtleneck sweater, those killer thigh high boots she bought a few months ago, large go
ld hoop earrings and bathed in Coco.

  “Better?” she asked.

  “Much.”

  She kissed him. “Thanks.” She looked at her watch. “Okay, you have to leave. It’s almost two and you don’t want your mother to catch you here.”

  “Get your coat, and I’ll go downstairs with you.”

  Kyla started back to her bedroom when the phone rang. “Oh no, she’s early.”

  “That can’t be her. It’s not even two. She shouldn’t be here for at least another forty-five minutes.” Sean walked over to the window and looked downstairs. At the curb was a black sedan. “I think it’s her.”

  Kyla picked up the phone. “Hello.”

  “Miss James, this is Jerome. Mrs. Prescott is here. Shall I send her up?” In the twelve years Kyla had lived in the building, Jerome had never been this formal.

  “Wait five minutes and send her up. Thanks.”

  “Yes ma’am.” He hung up.

  “Oh my God, what are we gonna do? She’s early, and I haven’t walked Winnie.”

  Sean rushed over and grabbed her by the arm. “Calm down. You can do this. Take a deep breath.” She closed her eyes and did as Sean said. “I’ll take Winnie with me. We’ll go down the stairs that way we won’t run into Mama.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll call later to see how you’re doing.” She nodded. “If you need me just say the word and I’ll rush right back.”

  “Okay. Now go.”

  “Come on, Winnie.” Winnie barked and trotted over to Sean. “Your mommy is having lunch with your other granny, and you and I are going to visit Simon.” He locked her leash onto her collar. Kyla helped him with his coat and kissed him. “You’ll be fine.”

  “Thanks Babe, bye Winnie.” She ushered Sean and Winnie out the door.

  She went back into her bedroom and hung up the clothes she had on earlier and then went back into the kitchen. “I can do this. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. God, give me the right words to say and don’t let me lose my cool. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

  She washed her hands and checked on the mac and cheese. It looked and smelled good. She lit a couple of candles, trying to mask Sean’s cologne. The knock on the door startled her. She took a deep breath, counted to ten, closed her eyes and remembered what Sean called her, “his hot fiancée”. She walked over and opened the front door.