Tangled Web

by Yolanda Buick

  He explained and Alison couldn’t believe what the back-stabbing Janice did. She made a mockery out of them. Of course, Drew was wrong, but Janice knew how much he cared for Alison so she had to make sure they wouldn’t get back together. At the time, Alison, may have given Drew a chance to explain himself and just maybe, gotten back together.

  “Drew, I’m sorry as well, but we were younger and a lot of pressure was out there. Something you didn’t know, but I have always wondered about you. I care about you, but I also had to respect the fact that Alan was and still is here for me.”

  “Of course, you might not like this next shocker, but I married Janice.”

  She pulled the phone back and looked at it. “You what?”

  “I know this is a shock, especially after what she did, but it wasn’t until a few years later. I saw her and quite honestly, Alison, I think I married her because she was a part of this.”

  “Drew.” Alison huffed. “Do you love her?”

  “I do now, but I made a mess of things.” He sighed.

  The doorbell chimed. Alison looked at the monitor and saw Tonya’s car at the gate. Buzzing Tonya through, she returned to the sofa.

  All Alison heard was Drew rambling about sleeping with some girl at his job and possibly getting her pregnant.

  “I tell you, Alison, I used a condom and I can’t believe this is happening. She agrees that a baby wasn’t for us at this moment, but then she went to my home and told Janice everything.”

  “Everything, ooh. Drew, I’m sorry, man, but you shouldn’t have been messing around on your wife. I don’t know what I’d do if I found out Alan did something so selfish.”

  “Well, you might want to show some concern because I need you right now.”

  What the…What was she supposed to do for him? Alan probably would kill her if he knew she was even talking to him.

  “Janice put me out, that’s why I’m here at Tim’s. I can’t stay here for long. I’m going to rent a studio apartment. All I want from you, Alison, is your ear. I really screwed up and since I found out Tim know you; it kicked some pain out of my life, but briefly. I told Tim there was someone I loved a long time ago and no one has taken her place. That’s you.” His voice trembled.

  Alison, noticed Tonya with dark round rimmed sunglasses on, sitting in the garden. She caught a glimpse of Tonya wiping her face.

  “Drew, I have to go, but listen call me later this evening or tomorrow. We could finish talking.”

  “Sounds good to me and Alison, thanks, for listening this much.”

  She pushed the red x and shoved her phone into her back pocket.

  ***

  Alison removed her sandals letting her toes sink, becoming one with the grass. She sat next to Tonya on the sienna-colored stone bench overlooking a koi pond. Alison eyed Tonya’s disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes.

  “Alison.” Tonya wailed out between sniffles. “Eric is taking me to court for Asia. He’s trying to use the fact I’m single and financially unable to take care of her. The only reason it’s so hard, he’s not giving me one damn cent.” She snatched a kleenex from her purse.

  “Tonya, I strongly believe the judge won’t order him custody because of that. What type of man takes a baby…little girl from her mother?”

  “He’s crazy like that. He makes me so angry when he does call. His wife took the phone, claiming he’s a good father to her child and they could give Asia much more than I can.” She pointed to the pond. “Some nerve that high-strung black bitch telling me that. The tramp hasn’t been around long enough to know him.” Her head dropped.

  “Where is he living?”

  “Would you believe he’s here? They had a home built near Stone Mountain. He’s still serving time in the military as a reservist and working full-time at a government agency. She’s doing pretty well, an insurance broker.”

  “I know this hurt—”

  “You damn right it does. And men wonder why women can be crazy bitches when dealing with their trifling asses.”

  Wide eyed, Alison looked around the pond hoping a response would jump right out.

  “Maybe Eric isn’t happy in his current marriage and wants company in his misery.”

  “That bastard should suffer whatever comes his way.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Oh, but I do. And I don’t want her to be any type of mother to my child.”

  “She only told you what she thinks her husband is capable of. I don’t think she meant to be disrespecting. You two need to get along, especially if the judge order joint custody.”

  “Alison.” Tonya’s puffed and red eyes hovered, “What if Alan left you for another woman?”

  How could Tonya ask her that? She never gave thought to something so foolish, but what would she do?

  “Alison.” Tonya’s gaze darted into Alison’s eyes.

  “I don’t know, Tonya.” She sighed heavily. But I’ll pray.”

  “So, you think praying will help? God don’t answer prayers.” Tonya laughed hysterically.

  Alison knew Tonya was having a hard time right now, but she was letting her faith be affected. That was if she ever had any.

  “Yes, I know praying will help. God does answer prayers, maybe not when we want, but he’s always on time. We have to endure trials so we don’t forget that he is there for us. If we had good all the time, would we ever pray and say thank you?”

  Tonya waved her hands in the air, “Whatever. I don’t want to hear this right now.”

  “If that’s what you want—”

  “It is!” Tonya stared deeply and long at Alison.

  “Okay, then on a better note, how’s things with Daryl, the guy you told me about?”

  Like the character Samantha from Bewitched, Tonya twisted the corner of her lip upward. “He’s Alan’s friend from the team.”

  Alison batted her eyes with mouth opened. Daryl was not the committed type of guy. Hopefully Tonya knew what she was getting into.

  “So, what do you think of him, Alison?”

  Alison watched how Tonya’s tears disappeared and her eyes now had life in them. “I call him a big bear. I’m surprised. Alan never mentioned this to me, neither has Daryl.’

  Tonya lowered her eyes, “I asked Daryl not to say anything yet. I wanted us to get better acquainted. You understand that, right.”

  “Have you guys done anything exciting?” Alison smiled and gyrated her hips.

  “Really? No, but I’m planning on it.” Tonya gyrated back and lifted her arms. “Do you trust Alan?”

  “Trust Alan? Of course, I do. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Come on, Alison, all those fans and his traveling. I would be worried if that was my husband.”

  “I trust him, but not the hoochies.” Alison laughed. Her side ached. “I’ve been through those stages of insecurity back in high school and college.”

  Tonya sucked her bottom lip. “You should be a little more open to the idea Alan is a man and weak by nature. He can only put up a shield for so long before he arms get weak and brings it down.”

  Alison’s fingers found a few strands of hair and twirled. “Why are you saying this? I wouldn’t say anything like that to you if you had a decent man in your life.” Alison said with a slight roll of her head.

  “Come on, Alison, don’t get an attitude. I’m talking as a friend. I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt because you choose to be naïve on the matter. What if Alan did have an affair? That would devastate you, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you kept an open mind about all this, it wouldn’t hurt as much?”

  “Thanks for the advice, Tonya, but I don’t need it. I know my husband and he love me enough not to stray to some lonely, disrespecting, home-wrecking woman. Don’t you forget that.” Alison fumed as she held back wicked thoughts of Alan cheating on her.

  “Alison, I’m sorry.” She placed her hands on Alison’s shoulders and tears filled her eyes. I don’t know why I have been so
careless with my words lately. I guess I’m letting this Eric thing get to me. You’re a good person and I’m sorry.”

  “Do you want to come in have some lemonade?” Alison offered as they walked towards the house.

  “No, thank you. I’m going home. I need some me time right now.”

  As she turned, her high-heeled sandals clicked and clanked against the canyon stone acid stained driveway.

  The evening had come quick as a one-hit wonder show Alison was watching on cable. Alone and sad, she sat in the family room. She started to cry, but couldn’t figure out why. She grabbed a picture of Alan and her standing near the Disney World entrance, pulled her knees to her chest and rocked slowly back and forth. She got up, paced the room, then sat back down. All she kept thinking was what Tonya said. “He’s a man and weak.” It hurt her to even think that. Was she being naïve? He could be with someone as she sat there alone.

  The game, over hours ago, she hadn’t heard from Alan. Every time she called, his voicemail spoke to her. The ritual was, Alison would always get a call if only for a few minutes. Today was different. Her bones ached as she paced the floor again. Then she remembered, Alan, was stand-offish when she returned from New York.

  “My God, don’t do this to me. Don’t put my marriage through this kind of test!” Alison screamed.

  The phone rang. “Hey, baby, I miss you.”

  Hearing Alan’s voice made the tears come back. “I miss you too, Alan and I love you.”

  “Baby are you okay?”

  “No.” She sniffed. “I mean, yes. I’m okay. I want you to come home.”

  “Baby, don’t scare me like that. I’ll be home tonight.”

  “I love you Alan.”

  “I love you too. Baby, I have to go. Love and kisses.”

  Alison smiled as she looked at the picture that was cradled against her chest. She went to the bathroom. Showered, with her fingers, fluffed her hair, spritzed floral fragrance and brushed her teeth. Giving herself a once over look in the mirror, her naked body strolled to the bed. Too early for sleep, she picked up a best seller, Indiscretions, flipped to her bookmark and read.

  About an hour into reading, she heard a distant ringing. Her cell phone tucked deeply in the trendy purse. Alison tossed the covers back and sprinted across the room.

  “Hello.” Alison touched the screen.

  “Hey. It’s me, Drew. Did I wake you?”

  “No, I was reading. It’s a good novel. I was about to get to the steamy sex scenes.”

  “Ah, you’re still reading books.”

  “Every chance I get. Is Tim asleep?”

  “Yes, he needs his rest you know with—”

  “With what, Drew?”

  “Nothing. How has your day been?

  “You wouldn’t believe what I was asked today and told.” She said as of matter fact. “But I don’t think I should talk to you about this.”

  “Alison, I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want to mess up your marriage either. I thought we were going to put the past behind us and become friends again?”

  “We are but…” She didn’t know how to confide in Drew of her insecurities. After all she bragged about Alan to his face.

  “But what?” Drew’s voice low and tranquil.

  “Okay, here goes.” She exhaled forcefully. “Tonya, I met her a couple months ago and she asked me what would I do if Alan cheated on me?”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told her I’ll pray about it. She also claims all men are weak and will slip eventually. I think she was venting because her baby daddy wants custody of their daughter. What do you think?”

  Alison didn’t know what was up with her phone lines, but everyone seemed to get pretty damn quiet when serious questions were asked. “Did I not speak loud enough, Drew?”

  “Look, Alison, do you really want to hear what I have to say?”

  “I do.”

  “I’m going to be straight with you. Alan and I never got along true, but I wouldn’t say anything bad about him if I didn’t think it was true. I’m a man and look where it’s got me, put out of my house. Some of us men, try very hard to be faithful, but we fail. We don’t mean to, but it happens. My case is different. I think I wanted to screw around on Janice because I was angry for her participation in breaking us up. I somehow wanted her to feel the hurt I felt all these years. Alan? I know he loves you, but it’s always a possibility. If given the right moment, I’m positive he would.”

  “Really, Drew?”

  “You asked me. Look, he loves you and he’ll be a damn fool to mess that up.”

  He was right. Some men make the mistake of bed hopping, but she sincerely hoped that her husband had more sense than a dog in heat, humping whatever came along just because.

  “Drew, I’m sorry for what happened years ago too. I have wondered if we were together how things would be.” Alison sighed. “But that was a long time ago.”

  “So, you missed me too?”

  Alison breathed heavy. “Are you hard of hearing?” She chuckled. “I have, but I also moved on, with Alan. You’ll always be in my heart. But Alan is my heart.”

  “I hear you and I’m definitely not trying to open a pandora’s box. All I wanted to do was have your forgiveness and figure out what I’m going to do with my life.”

  “Drew, you’ll be fine. If you are sincerely sorry for what you did to Janice it’ll work out. I know you’re a good person and you’ll have all your life to make it up to her.”

  Lying across the giant-sized bed, Alison wide-eyed, stared out the skylight into the star-filled midnight sky, erasing any and all thought of negativity.

  Chapter 13

  Alan

  As they rode in the limousine listening to Usher’s song, Alan flinched each time he heard the word confessions belt from the speakers. That horrible night in the hotel with Daryl and those women was embedded in his mind. He and Daryl never followed up as to why they were drugged and left with their clothes down.

  “Daryl, you gave any thought about that night?”

  “What night?”

  Alan starred at his teammate. “At the hotel.” His eyes darted left to right.

  “Nope, ain’t trying to, and neither should you.” Daryl rocked his head now to a Taylor Swift song.

  “Come on, man, you act like it’s nothing to worry about. Those damn women did something to us and I’m quite sure we’ll pay for it later.”

  “Alan, you are one paranoid dude. Is that how ya’ll Mississippi boys are?” Daryl fist bumped his shoulder.

  “It doesn’t sit well with me, that’s all. Damn, if Alison finds out what happened she’ll probably kill my ass.”

  This time a growl of a laugh escaped Daryl. “You scared of yo woman too. Oh, oh, I get it, she got you whooped, huh?”

  “Fuck you, Daryl. This is all about respect. I love my wife, man, I really do.”

  “I’m sorry, Alan, I guess I let my selfishness get in the way. You right about respect, that’s your wife and I do understand, believe me. Because I’m single it’s hard for me at times to take things seriously. I’m not trying to get involved with anyone and be tied down.” Alan gave a quick glanced and Daryl continued, “I don’t mean anything bad about your situation it’s just not for me.”

  “I know, man…you cool, thanks for the honesty.”

  The limousine pulled up to the black iron gates, Alan reached out and with a few taps the gates opened. The limousine slowly hugged the winding road as to caress each curve. At the front entrance the vehicle stopped.

  “Hey, give me a call later tomorrow, I want some time with Alison.”

  “I hear you, holla.”

  They slammed their fist into one another and Alan was gone.

  He knew by the darkness and quietness Alison was upstairs maybe asleep. He tiptoed up the floating staircase carrying a bouquet of red, white, and yellow roses and champagne. Quietly, he walked down the corridor toward the master bedroom. Light from the tv
escaped through a slightly ajar door. Alan peeked in at his wife sleeping peacefully. Laying the roses on the nightstand, he gently sat beside Alison, caressing her naked body. He lowered his head to her perfumed neck and kissed gently, still holding the champagne. As he touched her soft body his manhood screamed for her love.

  In a light whisper Alison spoke. “Alan, is that you?”

  “Yeah, baby, it’s me. I wanted to surprise you, but you looked so peaceful.” He kissed her forehead. “Look what I have for you?” He grabbed the roses and held the champagne bottle up.

  Alison sat up, hugged and kissed her husband passionately. “Alan, they are beautiful.” She reached for the roses and inhaled. “I’m glad you’re here, I can sleep better now.”

  “Yes, Baby, I’m here and you can sleep all night long in my arms.” He sat the bottle on the nightstand. I’m going to take a quick shower then…”

  “Then what?” she inched closer opening her legs.

  “Get the glasses and we toast to…love. Then we’ll see what happens.” Clothes fell as he neared the bathroom.

  Alan stepped from the bathroom with misty steam behind him. His eyes locked on Alison. A few droplets glistened on his muscular body. His walk tall and steady, reached Alison. He climbed gently on top of her. Alan buried his head between her breasts. He sat up, rubbed her arms, slowly caressed her stomach, and squeezed her thighs.

  He licked her perfumed thighs. Extending her long legs, he continued licking down to her feet. He sucked each of her neatly polished toes. He worked his way back to Alison’s hot spot and blew light breaths. Alison arched her back slightly, giving him more access.

  He spread her legs wider and let his head become relaxed into the moist of his wife. Alan held onto her body as he continued feverishly. Though Alison was a tall woman, compared to his six two height, she felt tiny to him.

  “Alison, you want me to stop?”

  “No, baby, keep going…it’s good.”

  “Damn good, right?” He gently bit her.

  “Yes, Alan, yes!”

  “I feel you Alison, you right there, let it go, baby, let it go. I want to feel your warmth all over my face.” Alan held her tighter with each intense moment.