Tangled Web

by Yolanda Buick

  Mallory stood over Drew’s bloody body and wickedly laughed. “You black bitch. If I couldn’t have him neither could you. Oh, and this baby won’t breathe a day of fresh air.” Mallory stabbed herself in the stomach and pulled the knife upward.

  Janice screamed as Mallory’s body fell limp next to Drew’s. Janice scooted next to Drew’s other side and grabbed his hand. She whispered lightly into his ear, “Wake up, Drew. Please, baby, wake up. You promised that you would be a better husband for me.” Tears mixed with blood ran down Janice’s face as she lay her head on her husband’s beatless chest.

  Chapter 33

  Tim

  “I’m sorry, Alison. “Tim sniffed, “Drew is gone. He got caught up with that girl.”

  “This can’t be real…”

  “Wait, it’s on the news let me turn the volume up so you can hear.”

  “This is Dari Alexander for Fox 5 New York’s news at 6, we have breaking news. Last night Drew Langston was tragically murdered. His wife, Janice Langston, was injured, but survived. The attacker, Mallory James, apparently took her life as well as unborn child.

  “Alison, do you hear it?”

  “Yes, that’s enough I don’t want to hear anymore.” Alison sniffled.

  “Did he call you?”

  “No...” She sniffed again. “He was going to call and keep me updated on his new transformation.” She gave a weak snicker.”

  “We talked last night and I told him to make sure he didn’t forget, but I guess—”

  “Why did this have to happen, Tim, why? He didn’t deserve this.”

  “The only thing we can say is, it was his time. I feel sorry for Janice though.’

  “How is she holding up? I know this just happened, but, Tim, she’s going to need all the support there is now and after…”

  In a low voice Tim said, “The funeral, are you coming?”

  “I don’t want to intrude. You know how Janice felt about me, but I will send flowers.”

  “I understand. How’s things been going with you?”

  Alison took a deep breath. “I have been seeing a therapist, you know for my mood swings—”

  “A therapist. Is it that serious?”

  “I’m okay. A therapist isn’t bad. Someone to help me figure out how to manage my anger or stress. Hey, Tim, if at any point, I was flip floppy with you, I apologized for that. I have something I’m going to talk to Alan about as well. You know trying to keep my marriage intact.”

  “What do you have in mind to tell him?”

  “I’ll let you know after I do.”

  “Baby girl, everything will be all right just believe and talk with Alan.”

  “Tim, I love you too.”

  “What. I didn’t say anything.”

  “You did months ago when you told me about your illness, remember?”

  Tim flicked through the channels. “Good memory, baby girl. You’ll always be a part of my heart and life Alison, always.”

  “I know and tell Janice I’m truly sorry for her loss.”

  Chapter 34

  Alan

  “Alan, thanks for being the gentleman that you are. When I was over there last, I don’t know why Alison’s mom attacked me like that?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I consider it old news. Just don’t let it get you down.”

  “Where’s the wife?”

  “She wanted to be alone for a while. She just got word that an ex-boyfriend of hers was stabbed to death by his mistress.”

  “Get out, are you serious?”

  “Very much, I mean from what she told me the girl that did this was crazy as a bat.”

  “What happened to the girl?”

  Alan let the vanilla coke glide down his throat. “Dead.” He exhaled, “she killed herself and the unborn baby.”

  Quiet, crept from Tonya’s end back to Alan. Tonya cleared her throat. “Oh, she was pregnant.”

  “I don’t know what I would do if someone killed my baby.” Alan munched on chips.

  “Alan, if it’s possible I need you to come over just for a little while.”

  “I don’t know, Tonya, this is sort of a bad time with the news Alison received and—”

  “Please…I never begged you before, for anything, but this one thing I need you here, please.”

  “If it’s that important I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks Alan.”

  What was a man to do? Torn between two women? He owed it to Alison to be by her side and for that matter Tonya’s too, since he swayed between the sheets with her on more than one occasion now. Little thought he gave, but Tonya had become his mistress as well. He found himself paying her utilities and essentials. He even tossed a couple of hundred on a new wardrobe.

  He tiptoed through the open kitchen and stopped. He looked at the copper pots that hung above the counter where he and Alison enjoyed a romantic interlude. He did not know what he was doing, but common sense had left long ago. Slowly, he walked to the foyer. With his head hung down, he trudged up the staircase.

  At the landing he looked at the different portraits. He in his football uniform, kneeling, holding the ball in a throwing position. A picture of him standing tall, with jeans, cowboy boots, black tee shirt, fitted black cap, and hands behind his back. To his right, a picture of Alison. She looked so soft and elegant. He admired her long frame draped in an ivory layered gown. Diamonds and pearls dressed her arms. Another picture, Alison’s smile was wide. She looked happy to him. She leaned to smell a bouquet of flowers. Her fitted jeans, accented her bottom. Her waist peeked beneath a pale pink belly top.

  He didn’t know how he got to the state of mind he was in and now would be the best time to end the carefree affair he allowed to settle into his marriage.

  “Hey, Alison, how you doing?” Alan lay next to her.

  “I’m okay. I feel sorry for Janice though; she has been through a lot with Drew. They were going to work out the situation and his life was snuffed out—” Alison sobbed into her hands as Alan rubbed her shoulders.

  “It’ll be all right, I promise. “Hey, I’m going to run out…to the store. Do you want something, ice-cream maybe?”

  “Alan, I want a baby.”

  Alan looked around the room. “What did you say?” He sat completely up.

  “I want to have a baby…with you. I realized how important it is for us. I am so sorry for being selfish. I don’t want to lose what you and I have and now hearing what happened to Drew, life is too short.”

  “Thank you, Alison.” He embraced her. “You continue to rest; I’ll be back with the ice cream. We can continue this conversation okay, baby.” He kissed her. He loved her.

  Alan knew what he had to do. End the affair.

  ***

  Alan sped on I270 and listened to Toni Braxton’s Secrets cd. In front of Tonya’s home, he sat for a moment. He loved his wife too much to allow his behavior to continue. If Alison found out, she would definitely file for divorce. And now she tells him she wants a baby. This was all he wanted…to complete his family, a baby. Alan sat there in the car. He contemplated how he would tell Tonya. Maybe assure her, she was a great person, but this thing they had, had to stop. Or maybe, he thought. He could look her in the eyes and say it’s over and leave. Whatever he decided, it needed to be done. He pulled the hoodie up and stepped from the car. Briskly, he walked towards the dark home. Before he could ring the bell, Tonya appeared in the doorway.

  “I thought you were going to sit out there all night.” She pulled him in.

  “No just, um, thinking.”

  Tonya frowned. “Thinking about what?”

  Alan paced the floor. “Tonya, I like you a lot, but my family means so much to me. I don’t know how you and I got to this point, but—”

  “What do you mean your family?”

  He turned to her. Palms up. “Alison told me she wants to have a baby.”

  Tonya, wringing her hands, “Alan, I’m pregnant?”

  “Say wh
at?” Alan head snapped.

  Tonya reached for Alan. He pulled back.

  “Alan, please, I found out today…”

  “What do you mean you found out today…can’t you women tell sooner?”

  “I’m a month late and I decided to take a test today and—”

  “And I thought you were on the pill. What happened with that?”

  Tonya tried to hold Alan. “I sort of forgot some days.”

  “You forget to buy milk or you forget to renew a membership, but you don’t fucking forget to take your birth control pills, Tonya.” He rubbed his chin and turned quickly. “You forgetting to take your pills and Alison sneaking behind my back taking hers. What the fuck?”

  Tonya wiped her eyes. “Alan, I forgot. I’m sorry.”

  “What are you going to do?” Alan stood erect.

  “If you’re insinuating that I have an abortion, you’re crazy. That’s why I called you over so we can discuss this.”

  “Forgive me for saying, but I’m not leaving my wife.”

  “I figured you would say that; you’re a good man and I wouldn’t have expected less.”

  “So, what is your plan? You’re going to tell Alison that some stranger fathered your baby?” Alan breathed heavily.

  “We’re not going to tell her anything. I told you before this love affair is our secret. She never has to know.”

  Alan rubbed his head. “How do you plan for this to work, besides if her mother finds out—”

  “There’s nothing here for me in Atlanta anymore except you and I can’t have you. Tonya slowly exhaled. I’ve decided to relocate. Of course, with your help?”

  “I knew it.” Alan shook his head in disbelief. “That’s the catch huh?”

  “Damn it, Alan, there’s no fucking catch. I can’t possibly afford to pick up and leave town, you of all people know that. If you pay for a down payment on a place to live, give me some money for a few months of expenses, I should be fine. I was online earlier today searching for jobs in Chicago.”

  “That’s all you want? What about the baby?”

  “That’s your decision solely. If you want to help me out then we can work that out or if you want nothing to do with this child that’s fine also, but I hope you try to have some interest in your baby’s life.”

  Alan sat on the sofa with his head in his hands. He looked up at Tonya and pulled her close until his face was against her stomach. “I can’t let you raise this baby without any support from me. I’ll help you, but Alison can’t find out about this baby, fuck, at least not now.”

  Tonya wrapped her arms around his head. “I know, Alan, I know. We’ll get through this I promise.”

  Alan kissed her on the cheek and left. He drove to the nearest Publix, picked up Alison’s ice cream, and headed home.

  Chapter 35

  Alison

  Over the next months, Alison noticed how happy Alan was. She watched him begin to transform a baby’s room. With gender neutral colors, Alan, plastered giraffes, trees, birds over yellow hues. She sat next to her husband whom had fallen asleep watching a mystery movie. Gazing at him, Alison, smiled. She was happy too. Their lives seemed to be going well. She continued her therapy and meditated.

  “Alan.” She nudged him. “Wake up baby.”

  He wiped his eyes and squinted. “Yeah.” He yawned.

  “Place your hand here.” She guided his hand to her stomach.

  Alan sat up. “Is that the baby?”

  “It is.”

  “Alison, I’m so happy. Thank you, baby.”

  “Thank me, for what?”

  He pointed to her stomach. “For this. Our baby. Our legacy.”

  She kissed him. “Our legacy.” She smiled.

  Alison led him up the staircase, pointing out areas for portraits of their pending arrival. They giggled and hugged one another.

  “Alan.” She snuggled up to him. “I would very much like a foot rub and maybe, just maybe if you do it right, I’ll let you play around.” She winked.

  With a wide grin Alan spoke. “Oh, I definitely, believe I can do it right.”

  ***

  The Spring daylight creeped between the half open drapes. Alison toward a sleeping Alan. She moved her naked body, stretching a leg over Alan’s. Her arm fell around his waist. She sniffed his back. The sport body wash still fresh and intoxicating to her nostrils. Her full breast and erect nipples squeezed between her and him. Her lean finger traced his arm lightly up to his ear. She tightened her leg around his. Alan shifted. Alison was searching for something. Now, on his back, Alison saw exactly what she searched for. Attention it was. Her body hungered for the soldier that stood erect.

  “Alison, what are you doing?”

  She knew he wasn’t asleep for a while. Just playing the role. “I’m doing you?” She straddled him.

  “Wow, you didn’t get enough last night?” He bucked her.

  As long as I can get it, I’m getting it. “She held on.”

  “I love you baby.”

  “I love you too.”

  Around a protruding belly, Alison wrapped her silk robe. She opened the drapes. Beautiful greenery met her. Some red, pink, blue, and yellow flowers were escaping from the buds that held them in all winter. She opened the bedroom double doors to a small balcony and stepped out. Inhaling the morning’s brisk air, she smiled.

  “I’m going to make us breakfast baby, why don’t you have a seat out here and I’ll bring it up.” Alan swirled her toward him.

  “That sounds good. I’ll shower then make myself comfortable.”

  As she sat, rubbing a coconut lotion over her legs, she heard a light ring.

  “Hello.”

  “Alison?”

  “Tonya?” Alison wondered why her husband, had Tonya listed as Drama for a name.

  “Did I call your phone or Alan’s?”

  “His. Haven’t heard from you in a while. You haven’t returned my calls and those one-line texts. What’s going on?” Alison tapped her fingers against the bamboo chair.

  “Girl, too much. Remember I told you Eric wants custody of Asia. After all that none sense he put me through, I need to make some life changes.”

  “Need to make…what are you doing?”

  With a long drawn out breath, “I moved to Chicago.”

  Alison stood. Moved the phone to her other ear. “What? You moved…already? To Chicago?”

  Just as Alison turned, Alan was standing behind her. She pointed to the bamboo chair for him to sit.

  She covered the phone. “This is Tonya. She moved to Chicago. Did you know?”

  Alan shifted in his seat. Before he could speak, Alison had returned to the conversation.

  “Tonya, Alan is here now. Did you tell him you were moving?”

  “Well…I did, but it just slipped out. I wasn’t going to tell anyone really. That’s why I was calling, to let him know I’m all moved in and things are great.”

  Alison eyes narrowed at Alan. She hmm’d and oh’s. “So, Alan was more important for you to tell. You could’ve text me in one of your one liners.”

  “You are right Alison. I should’ve handled things differently. I felt the time was right for me to go. I had a job offer as well; I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. May I speak to Alan?”

  “You want to speak with Alan?” She looked at Alan. “No, Tonya, I’ll give him the message that you’re okay.”

  Chapter 36

  Alan

  The summer was winding down. Football was back. Alan had been in practice for weeks. Being suspended at the end of last season really taught him a lesson. Only, he now has another situation. The next game would be against the Chicago Bears. On their turf. This would be a bitter sweet visit to the Windy City. He missed the birth of his son, but he will have the chance to see him.

  Since Tonya last called, he made one final call to her, asking that she text him at a certain time and if…only if he could, he would call. He wasn’t trying to disappear from her and his so
n’s life, but biding some time until he could face his wife.

  Alan stood in the work out room watching the swirling gray clouds. The winds were beating against the glass door. He watched leaves dance. The tree branches swayed to the wind howling.

  “Alan.”

  With his hands rested on hips, Alan turned. “Yes, baby.”

  “I don’t think she’s going to wait another two months.”

  Alan rushed to Alison. “Are you okay?” He looked her over.

  “I’m fine. This baby is anxious. She does a lot of moving and kicking.”

  “Kicking. Hmm.” In a circular motion he rubbed Alison’s stomach. “Maybe she’ll be football player.”

  “Um, no she won’t.”

  “Come on Alison. Women play football.”

  “Don’t care. She will not be one of them.”

  They laughed.

  Slowly, he embraced Alison. “I love you baby. I hate to leave you next week.”

  “I’ll be fine. My mom will be here.”

  “I know you will, but I don’t want to leave you ever.”

  “Are you going to see Tonya when you’re in Chicago?”

  That was unexpected or was it. Alan knew Alison had to wonder. He avoided any conversation that Tonya may have come up.

  He laughed. “Should I see her?”

  “I was asking. And no, you shouldn’t. I think people come into our lives for a reason and leave for the same.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Alan attention went back to the dancing leaves.

  “Go ahead and get your work out on. I’m going to lay down for a moment.” She kissed his soft lips.

  Alan smacked her behind and winked. “I love you Mrs. Perry.”

  ***

  “I’m in town. Guess you know that.”

  “Will you be able to come by? I want you to meet your son.”

  “Only for a quick second. You know our time is very tight.”