by Anna Black
“You do not want to concern yourself with that, Ms. Simms. My issues with Tiffany are my issues, and how I handle her and my issues is my business.”
“But you do have a plan, right?”
“Just watch and you’ll see.”
With that, Tressa pushed back from the desk. “I have things to do, so if we’re done . . .” she said with authority. She wasn’t Tracy’s boss, but she was the owner’s daughter, so Tracy gave her respect.
“Yes, we’re done, and I’ve heard you loud and clear.” Tracy stood and hurried back to her office. She had two messages, one from Colby and the other from Mike. She hadn’t gone to see Mike in a couple of days, and he was blowing up her phone. She dismissed him and dialed Colby first.
“Hello,” Colby answered.
“Hey, Colby, it’s Tracy,” she said. She had known why he left her a message because she had called him earlier. She had been trying to bed him since day one, but she hadn’t broken down his defenses.
“Yeah, you called earlier. What’s up?”
“I called to go over a couple of rewrites. Can we meet at my place tonight, say around eight?”
“Just e-mail them to me, Tracy. I can take a look at the changes.”
“I’d rather you meet with me, so we can go over them together and make revisions once, instead you playing ping-pong with the script.”
She heard him let out a breath of air. “Okay, eight is fine. Text me your address.” He then disconnected the call. She smiled, and then got back to work.
We Just Want a Baby
Episode 15
Tiffany
Tiffany paced the warm tiles of her heated bathroom floor. She had set her alarm for three minutes, and it took everything inside of her not to peep at the test. “Please, Jesus, let it be this time, Lord. I have everything but—” she was cut off.
The alarm sounded off before she could finish her sentence. With her fingers crossed tightly, she looked at the little window that only had one line, indicating that the test was negative. She picked up the stick and blinked at the test, hoping the second line would magically appear, and before long, her lashes were wet from the tears that fell. “Negative, again,” she sniffled. She put the stick down and put her palms down on the granite vanity.
It had been six months and no pregnancy. “God, why me? I mean, I have everything a woman could ask for but a baby, Lord. Please, God, just bless my womb to give my husband children,” she cried. She took the stick and tossed it into the wastebasket, and then she started the water to wash her face. Kory would be home soon, and she didn’t want to look like she had been crying because she’d have to tell him why.
He’d told her that morning to wait until she missed her period, but she was too anxious, and knew in her gut she was, but now she had the results that she wasn’t.
She headed down the steps and went into the kitchen. She wasn’t pregnant—again. Again, another negative, so she reached for her favorite thing—wine. After pouring a glass and savoring the flavor, she grabbed her phone and called Asia.
“Hey,” Tiffany said after hearing Asia’s voice.
She also heard the sounds of a screaming baby, and then Asia said. “Tiff, mi must give yah ah call back,” in a Jamaican dialect rush.
“China?” She asked, knowing it was Asia’s baby girl screaming at the top of her little lungs.
“Yes, she’s in a mood. I’ma hit yah back.” Asia hung up before Tiffany could say okay. Asia went into labor two nights after her wedding. Tiffany didn’t understand how she tried to hide it anyways, because by the time she walked down the aisle, she was thirty-five weeks and looked pregnant, so her secret was out.
Tiffany scrolled through her contacts, and then called Rose. She needed someone to vent to, to cry to, and to get answers from, because God wasn’t telling her anything. The doctors said she was fine, and that Kory could impregnate a small village, so she was stumped why there was no baby inside of her after six long months of trying.
“Hey, lady,” Rose sang.
“Hey, girl, why so cheery?”
“Do you have to ask?”
“It must be Levi again.”
“It is, it is. Girl, he is a great guy, Tiff, and you were right. I’m falling for that man.”
“I bet. I told you.” Tiffany thought twice about bringing up her issue now. She didn’t want to bring Rose’s mood down.
“Girl, yes, so what’s up? To what do I owe this call? I mean, all you do is stay in bed with your man if you’re not at the studio.”
“Well, Rose, you know we’ve been trying to get pregnant and against my husband’s advice, I took a test a few minutes ago, and, of course, it was negative again.”
“Awww, Tiff, I’m sorry. Maybe you took it too soon. Did you miss your period?”
Tiffany sighed because Rose sounded like Kory. “No,” she confessed. “But this time, Rose, I just felt 100 percent sure I was.”
“Well, Tiff, at least y’all having fun trying, right?”
“I guess you’re right,” she lied. Baby making was a chore, and sometimes, it caused strain and making love was now making a baby, not the old passionate take-me-away kind of sex, and as much as Tiffany missed that, she wanted a baby more. It had turned into ovulation kits, temperature taking, elevating the hips with a pillow, just anything to make her eggs and Kory’s sperm come together.
“So relax, girl, it will happen. Maybe you need a break from work. A nice getaway with Kory and a change of scenery. I mean, you’re practically running the company now since Mr. Green is showing you the ropes. You are his protégé.”
“Yes, Rose, I know I have a lot on my plate at the station, but trust, Kory and I get it in, baby. My office, his office—hell, we’ve even done it on the set, so why are we not pregnant?”
“Patience, my sister, patience, even God took six days to create the world.”
“Yes, but it only takes one time to get pregnant.”
“Yes, for some, but not all, Tiff. Relax, girl. It’ll happen.”
Tiffany sipped and heard the door open. “Look, I gotta run. Kory is home. I’ll talk to you later, honey.”
“Okay, tell him I said hey!”
“Will do.” Tiffany ended the call as soon as Kory walked into the kitchen. “Hey,” she said and took another sip of her Pinot.
“Hey, baby, I didn’t expect you home until later.”
“I took a half day.” She went for the bottle to refill.
“You didn’t,” he said looking at her.
“Didn’t what?”
“Take another test.”
“What?” she asked like he had it all wrong. She didn’t want to look guilty, but there was no disguising it, and Kory knew her like the back of his hand.
“Come on, baby, it’s 1:15 in the afternoon, and you’re about to do a refill. I told you to wait, baby. It could be too soon, and you’re disappointing yourself when we could be.”
“Kory, you know I can’t wait. We go through this every single month.”
“And every month I tell you to wait, and every month you don’t.”
“And still every month it’s negative.”
He walked over to embrace her. She couldn’t hold on to the tears, so she let them flow. She was disappointed again, and as soon as he held her she sobbed.
“Come on, baby, don’t do this. It’s going to happen. We are healthy, and we are going to have children. It’s just taking a little bit of time.”
“I know,” she sobbed even harder. “Crackheads can get pregnant, teens with no idea what life is all about can get pregnant, one-night stands can get pregnant, so why not us? We are a loving couple.”
“Shhh! Don’t, baby, stop, okay? Don’t do this to yourself, Tiff. It’s just not our time, and trust, I’ll keep making love to you and planting my seeds until we are blessed with a child.”
“Okay,” she nodded.
“Now,” he said and turned her back to him and pulled her in close to him. He planted a c
ouple of soft kisses on her neck. “I want you to take your glass, go up, and take a long hot bath, and I’ll whip us up something to eat.”
“Awww, Kory, baby, no. I’m not hungry. I’m not in the mood to eat, baby.”
“You’re not now, but after you have your bath, and I put this on you,” he said and grinded his midsection against her ass, “you are going to be starved.”
“Okay, I guess you’re right, baby,” she agreed. “Make something with cheese, baby, I want something cheesy,” she requested.
“Your wish is my command. Now, go up, and I’ll be up soon to work on our baby,” he said and gave her a gentle push.
Tiffany smiled so brightly. It’s like her skin glowed. She topped off her glass and headed up the stairs. She ran her afternoon bath and soaked. Whatever he was cooking had her nose open. It smelled divine, and she was starting to feel a little hungry.
After she was done lathering and close to getting out, he came in the bathroom with the bottle and refilled her glass. The water had chilled, and she was ready to get out, but with the refill, she changed her mind and decided to stay in longer.
“What are you making, baby?”
“Pizza, with everything.”
“Please tell me mine has extra, extra cheese.”
“I do know how you like it, baby, so yours have plenty of cheese. I’m going to go down and finish up, and then I’ll hurry back up here and take care of you.” Kory was the sexiest man on the planet she thought. She’d never had a moment where she didn’t want to devour him or not have him deep inside of her. He was sexy, smart, kind, and sweet, and she was the luckiest woman on the planet to have him.
“Oh, I’m done. I can get out now.”
“Let me run down, take the pizzas out, and I’ll be right back.” He stood and left, and she went ahead and got out of the tub. Before she could dry and lotion her skin, her husband had returned. There were no words, just screams and moans as he pleasured her body to several orgasms. Afterward, they went down and enjoyed their pizza, salad, red wine, and then they hung out by the pool. Kory reminded her of all they had to be thankful for, and she agreed to stop obsessing over getting pregnant. They both agreed to stop the temperature taking, calendar watching, and pillows under the hips and get back to lovemaking, not baby making.
He was right. Only God could allow them to have a baby, so she had to move out of the way.
I’m Over It
Episode 16
Tressa
“Would you like anything else, Reesy?” Amber asked. They were out on Amber’s poolside patio, enjoying the rays. Amber was clearing the table, and she asked before she headed back into the house.
“No, I’m good,” she told Amber. She was so happy that she and her friend were close again. She didn’t realize how awful she was before until she looked back on some of the conversations she and Amber had had in the past, when Amber tried to convince her to do the right thing, and that was mostly all the time they talked.
Amber returned with a pitcher of lemonade. She topped off both of their glasses, and then took a seat and put her feet up. “I’m so glad you came by today. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.”
“Well, I had a day. I mean, I’m learning so much. I grew up in that studio and thought I knew everything about it, but turns out I didn’t know a damn thing.”
They both laughed. “Yes, hanging out there is an entirely different story than working there.”
“Yes, it is, and I just want to make my parents proud, you know? I’ve messed up so much that I want my daddy to see that I am doing my best to be the best.”
“That’s good, Reesy. I always knew you could do great things, but you just wanted that fast life.”
“I know, Amber, please don’t remind me. I keep trying to leave my past in the past, but no matter what street I go down in this city, my past is in my face. Men I fucked and fucked over, women I spit on, cussed out, and stepped on. All the party people, still doing the same old shit, and if it weren’t for my daddy, I’d leave this place. Get the hell out of L.A. Relocate, go someplace remote, quiet, maybe countryside, by a lake. Somewhere peaceful and serene and start over. You know, live a life like this,” Tressa gestured to Amber’s home and yard. “Like you with a husband a kid and a half,” she said because Amber was already carrying baby number two.
“If you feel that way, Reesy, why don’t you just tell your dad that you don’t want to take over his company or even work there? Tell him how you truly feel. He’ll understand, Reesy. Why won’t you just be honest?”
“Two reasons,” she said, and then paused before answering. She took a sip of her cool drink.
Amber eyed her like a mother would a child waiting for a lame explanation. “Those two reasons are . . .?” Amber inquired.
“I fought so hard and begged my father for an opportunity at his company for so many years, Amber, and now that I have it, I don’t want to just walk away, and I don’t want to leave it all to Tiffany. She’s not my blood or my father’s daughter from another mother, but he still thinks so highly of her, and I have to show him I’m just as smart and capable as she is. I can’t abandon ship. I’m just as good as Tiffany.”
Amber didn’t speak, she just shook her head.
“What? Why are you shaking your head? What is that look for?” Tressa asked.
“Reesy, I thought you were over this competition and obsession to destroy Tiffany.”
“I am over it, Amber. I don’t want to rip her heart out of her chest with my bare hands anymore, and I don’t even mind being partners with her. That is best for our business, because she is smart and more cut out for this than me. I know I’m going to need her to keep from losing everything that my father and Mike have built, but personally, I won’t lie. I still harbor some ill feelings for some things, but trust me, I’m over it, Amber. I know I was on drugs and did a lot of evil shit, but she got Kory; she can’t have my dad. That’s what puts me on the defense. That’s where I am sore, but I don’t have it in for her anymore at all. She just can’t have my daddy too.”
“And she doesn’t, Reesy. Langley is a supersmart man. After all, he is still giving you an opportunity to be a part of something we both know you don’t deserve. Tiffany didn’t move in on your father, Reesy. She just gave him all the things he wanted from you. You will always have your daddy, Reesy, so let the past truly be in the past and let it go.”
“I’m over it, okay, and I promise you I’m not scheming, nor do I have any ill motives. I’m clean. I’m on the straight and narrow. I go to anger management, therapy, and even go to AA and talk to people who are where I’ve been. Tiffany and I are good. As long as we do well as business partners, I can stand her. Now, on the other hand, she does have an enemy out there. And she is close by.”
“What do you mean?”
“There is this vindictive chick named Tracy Simms over at TiMax that just recently came on and said that Tiffany beat her outta a job over at KCLN. She still harbors ill feelings about it and is trying to come up with this plan to destroy Tiffany. It’s comical to me.”
“Did you tell Tiffany?”
“No, that’s not my business.”
“What? Tiffany is going to be part owner of your dad’s company!”
“Yes, and this little nobody doesn’t have a plan or any weight or clout. She is just a bitter-ass little idiot that needs to move on and get over it. She’s pathetic. Juvenile, if I must say so myself.”
“How do you know so much, Reesy?”
“Because she thinks I still have bad blood with Tiffany, and that I’m plotting on her too.”
“And why would she think that?” Amber’s eyebrow arched with curiosity.
“Because that is what I’m leading her to believe.” Tressa gave a half grin.
“Why do such a thing if it isn’t true?”
“So she’ll trust me. She feels confident that we both have the exact same agenda. So if she comes to me with something life-threatening, of cour
se, I’ll alert Tiffany. Plus, I just like seeing her carry on. I have to contain my laughter most times. And, she will be one of the first ones to be cut from the team after Tiffany becomes her boss. TiMax is family, and as much as I hated Tiffany in the past, I’m over the past and moving forward with no animosity.”
Amber looked at Tressa suspiciously. “For some reason, I’m having a hard time believing you, Reesy. After all, you really, really despised Tiffany once upon a time.”
“Amber, relax. Trust, I honestly don’t want any of that anymore. I just want to get my money, leave, and get on with the rest of what I have in this so-called life. I’ve done the most, Amber. I ruined everything for a lot of people, and everything I used to touch turned into shit. I’m serious when I say I want to get as far away as I can from here. I’m not the Queen of L.A. anymore. L.A. no longer loves me, and I don’t love L.A.” Her eyes watered because she spoke from the heart, but she didn’t allow a tear to fall.
“You’re serious, Tressa,” Amber said looking deep into her eyes.
“Yes, more serious about it as I want to stay clean and sober. I keep myself busy at work and spend way more time than a woman my age should with my parents just to keep from falling off the wagon. Amber, it is so hard, and I feel if I just could . . . get away from here and find that small little place where no one has heard of me, I’ll find a husband, have a couple of kids, and my dad will truly be proud of me for once in his life.
“You know I grew up thinking I was the queen of everything. My dad adored me and to make up for the thousands of hours he spent building TiMax, he just threw money at me. I have never shared this with a soul, Amber, not even my shrink. All the acting out and all the bad girl bullshit wasn’t who I truly was. I was just craving the attention of my father. It was always late nights for him, Amber. Most times it would be days before I saw him.
“He’d be at work when my mom tucked me in at night and gone by the time I came down for breakfast. When I started to get into trouble was the only time my daddy showed up.” Tressa let out a deep breath, and then a sigh. “I know it was stupid and a poor choice to make, but once I fell into bad-girl-bitch mode, it was like who I grew to become.