Tangled Web

by Yolanda Buick

  “Alan…uh…please…” Alison grabbed her husband’s head, holding it steady.

  “Let it go, girl.” He pushed in deeper with his tongue while his finger played tricks.

  “Aah, Alan…aah it feels good…” She exhaled and her legs tightened around his head. Once her body stopped dancing, Alan released her.

  “You okay, baby.” He snuggled against her.

  “Boy, I could slap the taste from your mouth that felt so damn good, ooh I don’t know what to do.” She squeezed his arms and cradled more into him.

  “I’m glad you like it…I aim to please.”

  “Don’t you want me to return the favor or something?”

  “Not at all. This was for you, I’m cool.”

  “I knew there was a reason I loved you so much.”

  Chapter 14

  Alison

  The sun shined and the weather forecast was predicted to be a hot and humid day. Alison cradled the cell phone between her shoulder and neck.

  “Tonya, I wish I could talk longer, but I’m leaving for a trip?”

  “A trip? Another one? Didn’t Alan just get home?”

  ‘Wow.’ Alison thought. Could Tonya have asked any more questions. She wanted to be home with her husband too. But their schedules had now overlapped.

  “He came home a few nights ago. Work calls, I have to make my money.” She flipped through a make-up case.

  “I was thinking we could get together for a girl’s day. Lunch.”

  With a light peach blush, Alison applied it to her cheeks and a swiped down her nose. She fluffed her eyelashes with a waterproof black mascara. Reaching further into her make-up bag, she lined her lips and smoothed on a peach and amber lipstick. She moved her lips in and out then gave a smack.

  “Lunch will be good. So, did you get to spend some time with Daryl?”

  “Girl, no. He doesn’t seem interested.”

  “Really?”

  “Mmph, nope, not at all.”

  “That’s weird. He seems like a guy that wants to date.”

  “That’s okay. I have gone this long without a man; I can continue on. But, the va jay jay does need some attention.”

  The ladies laughed.

  “I know what you mean. Listen Tonya I have to go, we’ll talk when I get back.”

  Alison stuffed the remaining make-up essentials in her shoulder bad. Walking to the nightstand she slipped into a pair of blue skinny jeans, white halter top, and a pair of white tennis shoes. Her hair was twisted and pinned up with a few strands straddling her long neck. Her large hooped silver earrings dangled while she looks herself over. Satisfied with her look, she grabbed the large shoulder bag.

  “Alison are you ready?”

  She heard Alan approaching. “Yes, dear.”

  “Hey.” He kissed her. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you more.”

  They walked hand-in-hand down the corridor.

  Alison’s feet anchored to the floor. “Baby, I forgot something, go on down, I’ll meet you.”

  Alan brows furrowed, “Okay.”

  She smiled, walked back to the bedroom, while watching Alan. Alison sighed a sense of relief. She fumbled in the bathroom drawer, found her case, pushed a pill through the foil, and popped it in her mouth. As she turned the dixie cup of water up, her eyes met Alan’s. Still holding the case in her hand, she sat the cup down slowly.

  “What the fuck is that?” He pointed to her hand.

  Should she lie? Should she act ignorant to what he was asking? Her stomach entertained butterflies.

  She looked at the case and with her eyes down, “My birth control pills.”

  There were no words between them. She could feel the hurt and deceit she has caused.

  “Birth control pills? What? Wait…”

  “Alan, I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I’m not ready for a family and honestly I don’t think I want to have children.”

  “So, you sneak behind my back taking this shit.” He snatched the case from her and hurled it across the room.

  Alison startled, “Sneak? I wasn’t sneaking, I—”

  “What the hell do you call it? We talked about this and—”

  “Actually, you talked about it. True, I wasn’t upfront and honest with you. I lead you to believe that someday we would start a family, but after our anniversary dinner, I, I just don’t think I want to.”

  She could smell the anger; Alan was close to her. Looking up into his eyes, she saw hues of red settled with water. Alan stepped back from her and turned his back.

  “Why don’t you call a car to take you to…” He wiped his face.

  She reached for him. He moved further away.

  “Alan, baby, I’m so sorry. We are happy with the two of us. We can do so much in life; do we really need a baby?”

  Alison saw the nostrils flare out and in. She never seen her husband this angry or hurt.

  “You need to go Alison. I can’t be around you right now.”

  She pulled out her phone and called a car. She felt weak dragging the shoulder bag behind her. When she reached the corridor, she looked back to her husband. She just struck him down, by his Achilles heel, a baby.

  ***

  Alison leaned into the plush leather seats. No appetite for her. Couldn’t sleep. Her hair stylist Chantay sat comfortably besides her reading a style magazine. Alison tucked her personal travel pillow behind her head and closed her eyes. She took in the silence that surrounded her, then the common noise…the plane engines, small chatter from nearby passengers, food carts pushed by flight attendants, and Chantay flipping through her magazine.

  The soothing sound of the engine began to hypnotized Alison. Sleep over came her. Her dream was of a pond surrounded by beautiful red, yellow, and white roses. The money green grass was tall and shifting with the wind. She stood next to Alan. He looked at her and rubbed her stomach. She rubbed his back and lay her head on his shoulder. In the pond she saw two over-sized gold fish swimming freely. Just as she turned to kiss Alan the sky turned grayish black, with clouds twirled within the mixture. Lightning struck inches from them. Alan pulled away from her, running to a figure in the distance. Alison cried out to him. No response. Rain poured down, drenching her. Roses once beautiful turned black, the goldfish died, and Alan stopped running. Alison called out again to him. He turned to her, smiled, and waved. Her stomach in unbearable pain, Alison fell to her knees. One hand on her stomach the other planted against the wet ground. She cringed and frowned in excruciating pain…Alan’s departure with someone other than her and the pain she now endured.

  Slowly she managed to stand and grass stained with blood…her blood, covered the white dress. Something hung between her legs, she couldn’t figure out what. She looked up and, in the distance, again she saw Alan and the figure holding what appeared to be a baby. They pointed and laughed at her before disappearing again…this time for good.

  “No, God, please.”

  “Wake up.” Chantay shook Alison.

  Alison shook and wiped her eyes. She looked at Chantay. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I had a strange dream.” She turned toward the window.

  “You okay, girl?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “No, I don’t want to talk about it. Will you just mind your own damn business?”

  “Okay.” Chantay let the words linger. “You know what, you better apologized because that wasn’t called for.”

  Alison knew it wasn’t called for. Childish. The way Chantay demanded an apology didn’t warrant Alison to move quickly, instead she pushed the attendant button and turned back to the window.

  “Yes, ma’am, can I help you?”

  “A bottle of water please and thank you.”

  “Aren’t you something,” Chantay tearfully began. “I was only trying to help you and you act like this with me. What in the hell did I do to you? I’ve been working with you over two years now and ne
ver have you spoke to me like this.”

  “Chantay, I’m sorry. The dream I had…very strange—”

  “I don’t need to know, but thank you for the apology.” Chantay continued flipping through the magazine.

  At the Grand Hotel & Suites in Toronto, the bell boy strutted behind wheeling both her and Chantay’s designer luggage. They would share the two-bedroom suite with two full marble bathrooms a full kitchen, living room, and patio. Alison actually enjoyed having her in the same room. Chantay wouldn’t have to lug around her tools. They would sit up all night after a long day of shooting and talk about any and everything. Strange thing though outside of work Alison and Chantay never hung out. Chantay would occasionally style Alison long mane for special occasions, but that was the extent of their friendship.

  Alison ventured into the kitchen and prepared a small pot of French vanilla coffee.

  “Chantay when you’re done unpacking can I speak with you?”

  “No problem, boss.” Chantay chuckled.

  She held the small cup of steaming coffee and inhaled the aroma. She sipped, sat down Indian style on the sofa, and stared at the phone.

  She sat the cup on the table reached for her phone. She went to her favorites list and pressed Alan’s name. Alison listened as the continuous rings belted through. She hit the red x button and repeated the cycle. Three times she had tried to call Alan. Her phone chirped. She looks down and a message appeared in a green bubble.

  “I’m busy. Going out tonight with Daryl.” The message read.

  Alison huffed…

  “So, what did you want to talk about?”

  “Chantay, I know I already apologized on the plane, but I’m really sorry how I spoke to you. That wasn’t called for and I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Is something bothering you?”

  “No-no everything is fine.” Waving her hand, Alison tried to laugh it off, but she knew Chantay didn’t believe it. Chantay never dug into Alison’s personal life. If she didn’t offer information, Chantay didn’t ask.

  Chapter 15

  Drew

  Drew was happy that Alison had listened to him. He was glad she was happy even though he wasn’t a part of her life the way he wanted. Just to know that she knew the truth of their break-up made him feel like he could now move on. The first thing he had to do was figure out what to do about Mallory. He didn’t love her or the child she was carrying. He knew his uncaring attitude about his love child was sad and disgraceful.

  Days at work for Drew were long and suffering. He couldn’t avoid Mallory. He caught the wicked stares of her drama-filled, male-bashing, trampy friends. Office gossip was surely not on Drew’s agenda, but somehow, he had to make it go away.

  “Mallory, could you come into my office please.” Drew fidgeted with a pen, making circles on his desk calendar. What did he have to lose now since his wife put him out? He studied the grooves in the ceiling, never noticing they were there. He stood with his hands in a praise position and closed his eyes.

  “Hey, Drew.” Each word slowly slithered from Mallory’s lips. “You wanted to see me?”

  “Damn, Mallory, you could’ve knocked.”

  “I did, guess you were thinking about something.”

  “We need to talk. First, I want to apologize how I spoke to you the last time you were in here. I was wrong and selfish.”

  “Drew, honey, you don’t have to apologize and I understand it was a shock to hear you are going to be a father. Drew cringed. She rubbed her flat stomach and continued, “By someone other than your wife. I’m the one who should be sorry for going to her with the news, but—”

  “Look, the damage is done, Janice put me out.”

  Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  “Don’t act surprised, it’s probably what you wanted, but that doesn’t mean I want to be away from her. I love her, Mallory…that’s my wife.”

  “What about me, our baby, or us?”

  The tension grew more and both stood in a combative stance. With the back of his hand Drew wiped his mouth, while Mallory clasped her hands together.

  “I don’t know how to say this, but to say it…I’m not leaving my wife.”

  “Oh yeah, so you just fuck me, get me pregnant, and vanish from my life. You ain’t nothing, but a no good—”

  “I’ll choke the living shit out of you, stupid bitch. Don’t you ever fix your mouth to call me anything other than my name.” His eyes bulged and arms stretched before him.

  Mallory scurried across the room. Her cheeks turned rose red and her blue eyes were lost in a sea of tears. “Drew, please, I’m sorry don’t hurt me.”

  “Please, you ain’t worth hurting. All I wanted to say, I will be a part of our baby life, but you and I, we can’t have a relationship other than co-parent this baby.”

  She buried her face in her hands. He didn’t know if it was angry crying or happy. She was a total nut case at times. She wiped her eyes, looked at Drew, smiled, and turned to leave. He exhaled, sat down, and began working.

  Mallory held her head up. “Drew, I can live with that…you being a part of our baby’s life. I promise to stay off your back and work with you on raising the baby and working together.” She wiped her eyes, sniffled, and laughed. “I’m sorry for my behavior.”

  How was Drew to accept her monumental apologies? She scared him, but he would never let her know it. He knew one thing—he should’ve listened to Tim and stayed the hell away from her, now he had a case of two women scorned.

  “All right, Mallory, we’ll talk later I have a lot of work to do and I know you do as well.” He smiled.

  Mallory walked toward the door and stopped, without turning around she whispered, “I’m really sorry.”

  ***

  “Come on man, let’s, go shoot hoops.” Tim rushed in Drew’s office.

  “Slow your speed, dog. I’m really not into it today. I talked with Mallory—”

  “You trying to get in her bed again?”

  “Get serious, Tim, I’ve learned my lesson. Man, she’s crazy. She cries one minute then cursing my ass out the next.” Drew chuckled. “She apologize too much. Makes me wonder if she’s up to something again. I really don’t know how to take her. I don’t want to hurt her like this, but what she did was bullshit and you know it.”

  “Don’t put all the blame on her, Drew. If you weren’t screwing everything that walked you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

  “You taking up for her? Regardless of what I did, she didn’t have to go to my wife. She knew the condition of our relationship.”

  “So, you had a relationship?”

  What’s your fucking problem, Tim, huh, what? Maybe you’re jealous because you didn’t get some of that coochie. For the last time, she knew I wasn’t interested in having a committed relationship, how could I, being married. She just wanted a piece of me just like I wanted of her…that’s all.”

  They stood tall and broad at each other, nostrils opened and fists clenched. Life dealt them both a handful of hearts, which were made to be broken.

  “Tim, Tim, what are we doing? We arguing like bitches, come on, dog, you my boy, we don’t need this. I understand everything you’re saying, but you have to know we’re different on some things and I have my opinion.”

  Tim reached for Drew’s hand, “You’re right, let’s squash this nonsense and go shoot some hoops. Good thing you drove today, I really didn’t feel like making a trip in the cab.”

  Through stand-still traffic to reach West End Sports Club, it took the guys thirty minutes. Drew flashed his membership Id to the security guard and proceeded into the underground parking.

  “I’m glad we’re here, Tim. I need to release some stress and not the old-fashioned way, if you know what I mean. “Drew slipped on his blue and white shorts.

  “Good. I’m ready to whoop your butt on the court.”

  “Bring it on, man, bring it on.”

  Chapter 16

  Alan


  “Hey man you need to hook-up with Tonya, Alison’s girl.” Alan squinted at Daryl.

  “I ain’t trying to get involved with some money-hungry groupie, man.” Daryl flicked his hand in the air.

  “She’s not like that, man. You should see her, she’s ta-da-bam, fine as hell. Between us, if I wasn’t married, I’ll get with her.” He swallowed frothy beer.

  “Naw, dog, not you the faithful, choir boy, God almighty type. Alison must have pissed you off?” Daryl hit Alan on the back.

  “She did. We had a small argument before she left and I haven’t spoke to her since. She’s called. I text her I was going out tonight.”

  “What you do, Alan?”

  “I didn’t do anything except tell her I wanted us to start a family.”

  “That’s it?”

  “She lied to me. Or rather lead me on all these years. You know excuse after excuse. First, she wanted to wait to get her career going. Okay, I get that—”

  “Let me guess, she doesn’t want any kids now?”

  Alan turned, hit Daryl in the chest. “Exactly. She says we can be happy just us two.”

  “I wish you luck on that Alan. Maybe she’ll come around.”

  “I doubt it. She was taking the pill. I thought she had stopped and this morning, I caught her.”

  “Oh, snap! Wow.” Daryl placed a closed fist up to his mouth.

  Alan swallowed big gulps of his beer. Once the bottle was empty, he waved the bartender for another. Hours passed and the drinks began to consume Alan. He was going to live it up tonight since Daryl was the designated driver. As he tipped the last of five bottles up, he eyes widened. Before him stood a bronze, glowing goddess. He smiled. She smiled and walked towards him.

  “What’s up, man what are you looking at?” Daryl glanced over his shoulder.

  “Ahem. My dear friend, the woman, I was talking about is on her way over here.”

  Daryl wiped his mouth and stood to greet her. “You must be Tonya. I’m Daryl.”

  “Hmm, I must be a hot topic if you know who I am.” She glanced toward Alan.