“No, we did not sign one, but it was his idea.” I raised a brow.
Tony was the one who said we wouldn’t sign one. He explained that if pigs flew and we decided to divorce, it would most likely be his fault, so he’d want me to be well taken care of.
“I see. Give me his number and—”
“No. If you want a loan, be a grown up and go to a bank. Stop trying to leech off of my husband and I.”
“Cam—”
“You know, I was really trying to see if we could repair our relationship. I was hoping I was wrong about why you all of sudden wanted to be around me, but I see I wasn’t. I need you to go, and don’t come back around.”
This man hadn’t said a word to me since my wedding, and then now, all of sudden, here he was, asking for some coins. I even tried calling and texting him for the past few months, and he either never responded, or if he picked up, he acted like I was bothering him. Eventually, I stopped.
“Baby—”
“Do not come back around me, or I will have Houston take care of you, and that’s a promise.”
My father stared at me, looking extremely hurt. I almost caved and told him to forget what I just said, but it was the right thing to do. Yes, I wanted my father around and to love me, my mother too, but the fact of the matter was, they didn’t. They only loved me when it suited them best, and that was not the type of people I wanted in my life or my son’s life.
“Just know that I do love you, Camarih.”
I watched his ass leave, and got right back to work like nothing had happened.
23
Shanece
“What does she want to talk about?” Camarih asked. I had her on speakerphone as I did my makeup at my vanity.
“I have no idea, but she’d been blowing up my phone, so it must be important,” I replied, referring to my ex mother-in-law.
Today, I was having an early dinner with her to discuss whatever it was she couldn’t tell me over the phone. I ran through all types of scenarios in my head, but none of them seemed plausible.
“Well she can’t have too much to say. You’re not married to her son anymore.”
“Exactly.”
I chatted with Camarih until I was finished beating my face, then we hung up.
I decided on a jean skirt, my Tom Ford sandal stilettos, and a white sleeveless crop top. My hair was still straightened, which had become my new signature look, so after combing that down, I put on some earrings and perfume then left.
Yris, Paul’s mother, wanted to meet at Ruth’s Chris. I remember she loved this restaurant, and every time we celebrated her birthday out here, it was there.
I parked my car in the structure then made my way up the ramp and into the place to check in. The hostess led me to the table where Yris was, and upon seeing me, she beamed, hugging me tightly.
“How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m great, Yris, thank you.” I chuckled, sitting down across from her at the booth table. The waiter immediately came over to take my drink order. “How are you?” I questioned once she was gone.
“I’m doing okay. I mean, I’m as good as anyone who has lost a child can be.”
“I know. I couldn’t even imagine. Losing Paul was extremely hard for me, so I know with him being your baby it had to hurt.”
“Yes.” Yris nodded, just as the waiter delivered my cocktail. She put in an order for the appetizer and sent the young lady on her way. “So, other than that, how have things been at home? I know you got remarried rather quickly.”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out because I didn’t quite know what to say.
“Yes, I agree it was quick, but it doesn’t mean I forgot about Paul or don’t love him.”
“Of course, honey. I know that. I will admit, Paul’s father and I were a bit upset at first though. Then you didn’t even invite us to the wedding.”
“I didn’t think you’d want to come for those reasons. I felt like you wouldn’t want to fly out here to watch me marry another man so soon after being a widow to your son.”
“You’re right, we wouldn’t have come, but it would have been nice to have that offered to us.”
I nodded, feeling like a child being scolded.
“Again, Yris, I apologize. I wasn’t thinking, and this is my first time being a widow. I didn’t know the protocol. And don’t think I was out looking for a man, because I wasn’t. Wade, he came into my life, and it just happened.”
Yris stared at me, eyelids low like she was computing the words I’d just spewed. Why was I so nervous? I guess because she was making me feel guilty.
The appetizer arrived during the stare down, and I was so happy to have something to calm my stomach. This cocktail only seemed to be making shit worse.
After we gave our dinner orders, the waitress had left us alone again, unfortunately.
“So, Shanece, I take it that this new marriage is a happy one and here to stay?”
“Yes, of course. I love Wade, and we’re doing really well,” I half lied. I did love Wade, and for the most part, we were doing well, until I brought up that damn doctor’s appointment. Now we acted like two platonic friends who kissed because they had to, and skipped the sex.
“I figured. Although your marriage to another man was done rather promptly after my son’s passing, I know you’re not a woman who makes rash decisions.”
“Thank you.”
“The reason I asked you to come here tonight is because you received a lot of things in my son’s will, including money and stuff that is worth a nice amount of change.”
“Yes.” I felt my brows dip because I didn’t truly understand where this conversation was headed.
“Well I talked it over with Sir, and we both think that it should all be returned now that you have a new husband.”
“Huh? What does my new husband have to do with any of this?”
“Honey, the things in Paul’s will were left to you as a widow, someone single and in need. You are married and to a man who does quite well for himself; I looked him up. The stuff in Paul’s will should go to someone who needs it.”
“Like who?”
“Like his parents.”
“You guys have money, so what would be the difference?”
“The difference is that Sir and I are his blood relatives, and you are not, Shanece.”
“I was his wife, so again, what is the difference?”
“The difference is, now that he is dead, you are no different from a friend he had during his lifetime.”
“Are you crazy? We got married. I was more than just a friend, which is why I got everything.”
“Watch your tone, Shanece. I may not be your mother-in-law anymore, but you will show me respect. Yes, you married him, but you produced no children. So once he died, so did your connection to him.”
Her words cut me deeply. I literally felt a pain in my chest from hearing her say my connection to Paul was dead along with him.
“That is not true.” I felt tears welling up. “Just because we didn’t have a baby does not mean what he and I had is erased.”
“Shanece, sweetheart, I did not mean to upset you, truly. I just have to do what’s best for my son and my family. Unfortunately, you bore him no children, and you don’t need his things anymore, so just give them back. Please.”
“No, I will not give them back.”
“Have you spent the money?”
“That is none of your business.”
Yris chuckled while shaking her head, then leaned in some. “Have you spent the money, Shanece? It’s a simple question. He’s my child, and I’d like to know where his money went.”
“I have not spent it yet, and I will not give it back. Nor will I give you the things he left me.”
“Alright.” She finished the last sip of her wine. “I tried to do this the easy way, but I guess we can take it to court.”
“No judge in their right mind will go against a dead man’s will. Paul wanted me to
have those things, and as his wife, it was my right. You can waste money on legal fees all you want, but the outcome will be the same as the one you’re getting right now.”
“I guess we will find out.”
I was starved, so I wasn’t about to leave. We sat there in complete silence, eating that appetizer and eventually our food. I was surprised when she paid for everything, and even said ‘goodbye’ before she walked off.
The whole drive home, all I thought about was our conversation; how bad she made me feel for remarrying, and then throwing dirt on the union Paul and I had. Yris and I had always gotten along well, but I guess me moving on to Wade had put a bad taste in her mouth.
I understood that was her baby, and she was angry for him, but I didn’t do this shit on purpose. She was acting as if I left the damn funeral and hit the club, looking for niggas.
Wade came into my life and swept me off my feet. He was extremely good looking, well off, intelligent, compassionate, good in bed, and touched my heart in ways no man ever had. I could tell by the way he treated me that I was everything to him, and that was a wonderful feeling that any woman would fall for.
My thoughts gave me an idea, so when I got home, I immediately put dinner on then took a bubble bath. When out, I put on some body butter and a tinge of perfume. Slipping into some La Perla lingerie, I topped it with a robe, then set up the dining room with candles. When dinner was done, I put out the fine dining set, before putting the dishes out to look like a feast.
I heard Wade’s keys in the large doors, so I picked up the champagne flutes I’d just poured, and rushed to meet him as soon as he walked in.
“Oh… what’s going on?” he inquired, shutting the door behind himself slowly.
“I thought we could have a nice night together. We haven’t been as close as usual.” I handed him the flute and gushed when I saw him smirk.
“That sounds nice. Smells good in here too.”
“It should. Come on.” I led him by his free hand to the dining room, and stepped down inside once there.
“Wow, baby. You did all of this shit just because?” He whipped his head in multiple directions.
I guided him to sit down then took a seat adjacent to him.
“Yeah, in a way. I want you to know that I love you very much. I don’t like when we’re at odds.”
“Me neither.” He leaned over to kiss me passionately.
We prayed over the feast then piled up our plates. I wasn’t that hungry since I’d eaten at Ruth Chris, but I could nibble.
“Honey, I know you think having a baby can be at anytime, but I want you to understand that women don’t have long. And I don’t want you looking elsewhere for a new wife, all because I couldn’t give you a child.”
“Shanece.” He put the fork down then dabbed his mouth with the cloth napkin. “I know about the time limit, but like I said, I’m not worried about that. You will be pregnant soon, and even if you don’t get pregnant, which I highly doubt, I would not end our marriage because of that.”
“Isn’t that why you left Cheri?”
“Yes, amongst other things. But you’re not Cheri, and you need to remember that shit.”
I nodded, allowing him to eat some more while I sipped the champagne.
“Can I ask you something and you be very honest with me, Wade?”
“Always.”
“Did you have a vasectomy?”
“What? Why would you ask me some shit like that, Shanece? If I had one, why would I be actively trying to impregnate you?”
“To make me happy?”
“You honestly think I’m that type of dude to try to play you with something as serious as that?” He frowned. I could tell I’d angered him. He was right.
“No, you wouldn’t. I’m sorry. Cheri told me you had one, and I guess I was just so up in arms about you not wanting to see a doctor that I let it get to me.”
“Cheri told you what?”
“That you had a vasectomy.” I watched as he scooted his chair back roughly, shot up, and threw down his napkin. “Wade, where are you going!”
“To talk to her ass!” He stormed out the den, hit a left, and started toward the back so he could get to the guesthouse.
“Honey, wait!” I chased after him.
Wade was on go, however, and by the time I caught up to him, he was banging on Cheri’s door so hard I thought it would fall off the hinges.
“What the hell!” Cheri came to open up, and Wade wasted no time barging in.
I was right behind him, eyeing the bowl of popcorn and the sweet candle she had lit. Wade had shook up her little chill session.
“Why the fuck did you tell my wife I got a vasectomy!” Wade roared down into Cheri’s face. If he hit her ass, this would be all my fault.
“It’s not that big of a deal, baby!” I tried to save Cheri’s life.
“Shanece, be quiet,” he warned me without looking.
I shut up because I didn’t know what he would do. I’d only seen Wade mad once, and it wasn’t this mad, so I wasn’t sure how he reacted to being provoked.
“I did not tell her that! What are you even talking about?” Cheri lied, causing my eyes to buck and lips to part.
“You did too!” I hollered.
“I would never say anything like that! She’s the one who told me she believed you had one because of how mad you got about the sperm count appointment! Now how would I know about that unless she told me!”
When Wade looked to me for an answer, I said, “Oh my gosh. Are you fucking serious right now? She’s at the house all of the time! She overheard us! You can hear a mouse piss on cotton in that damn house!”
“I stay all the way in the kitchen, cooking. When have I ever been up the stairs and outside of your bedroom door listening?” Cheri raised a brow, folding her arms. Since Wade wasn’t looking her way, she wore a smug look that I was ready to punch off.
“Wade, I did not say that. She told me you got a vasectomy. She even claims the reason you guys broke up is because you didn’t want children and she did. She said you led her on like you’re doing me, knowing you got a procedure.”
Without a word, Wade stormed from the guesthouse.
“You can go too, liar.” Cheri laughed.
WHAM!
I hit her right in the eye, causing her to dodder a bit, tripping over the coffee table.
Leaving in a hurry, I went to find my husband, who was already upstairs in our en suite, preparing for a shower.
“Wade, I know you don’t believe what she said, right?”
“I don’t know what to believe, Shanece.” He wouldn’t look at me.
“Wade,” I moved further into the bathroom, “I am your wife. Why would I make this up? She told me those things to break us up.”
He inhaled deeply.
“It’s just she ain’t ever lied while we were married, not to that extent.” He finally made eye contact.
“Wow. Okay, well since you don’t know who to believe, maybe we should get a divorce and you can remarry her.” I turned around to leave, but he grabbed my arm. I promptly snatched away to get my duffel bag, with him trailing me.
“Shanece, stop!” He spun me around to face him, using my bicep. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be! You know I would not make something up, no matter how badly I want her ass out.”
“I know.” He brought me into a hug. “But I’m also sorry for making you deal with my ex-wife the way you have been. I should’ve had her out before I even moved you in here.”
“That’s what I wanted.”
“It’s just hard when you’ve been with someone for so long, to toss them to the side.”
“Trust me, I know.” I looked up into his eyes. “But it has to be about just you and me now; it can’t be a threesome.”
“You forgive me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go to the appointment, but I’m letting you know right now that nothing is wrong with either of us.”
“I just do. God put you in my life for a reason, and one of them is to bear my children. He makes no mistakes, so there was logic behind us not making babies with our previous spouses.”
“What if it just never happens?”
“If it never happens, we will find another way, like adopting, or maybe we won’t. I married you because I loved you, not to see how quickly you could reproduce. I’m not a damn king who needs heirs as soon as he says ‘I do’.”
He laughed, and I joined him before we kissed slowly.
As I looked up at him and him down at me, sharing coy smiles, it just solidified that I had done nothing wrong in choosing to marry him. We were in love, and our union didn’t feel wrong or rushed in the slightest.
“So you’re going to put her out before I beat her ass, right?”
“Let me handle it all.” He winked.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I wanted to go finish the food I’d made, but Wade had other plans for me in that shower, and I wasn’t going to complain.
24
Eitan
A few days later…
“I wanna thank everybody for coming out to see ya boy tonight!” I smiled after speaking into the mic, liking the sight of all the screaming fans in the audience. It was about fifteen thousand people in here, which was wild. I still remember performing in small ass karaoke clubs where I could see every face in the audience. “But before I let y’all go, I wanna share something special. Y’all know I got a beautiful girlfriend named Rubie.” I glanced to see her on the side of the stage, and laughed when her eyes got wide. She immediately started shaking her head ‘no’ while the crowd roared. “We just had a perfect little boy, so I think we can all agree that it’s time to ask her something, right?”
Again, the audience went insane as I waved for Rubie to come on. She was frozen, but Camarih, Jilly, and Shanece pushed her out far enough to where everyone saw her and she couldn’t retreat.
“Eitan…” She said my name lowly.
Ignoring her, I handed the mic to my deejay, reached in my pocket for the ring I’d bought her, and kneeled down.
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