by Tina Martin
He reclined in the seat and closed his eyes, seeing the face of the woman he loved – June. He was angry at himself, realizing that he was here for nothing, ruining his life when he could’ve been at home trying to work things out with June? He’d called her every day as Bryson had suggested but she never answered. Had she listened to his voicemails?
Around nine, Everson woke up to a bright sun looking around through squinted eyes, realizing he was still in his car sitting in Eliana’s driveway. He got out of the car and stretched. “May as well get this over with,” he said. Then he walked up to the door and rang the bell.
“Hi,” Jaxson said as he opened the door.
Jaxson. Everson froze. Jaxson a brilliant, bright-eyed teenager was innocent in all of this – a child – wanting desperately to have a father but his mother chose to play games with him instead. How could she do that to her own son?
“You can come in if you want,” Jaxson said with a smirk.
Everson had been in a daze. “Oh, right. Okay. Thanks.” He stepped inside and pushed the door closed.
“Mom is still getting ready.”
“Okay. While she’s doing that, why don’t you sit with me for a moment?”
“A’ight,” Jaxson said, sitting on the sofa next to where Everson sat.
“Do you know what we’re supposed to be doing today?”
Jaxson shrugged. “Something to do with determining if you’re my father I guess.”
“Your mother didn’t sit down with you last night to talk about any of this?”
“Nope.” Jaxson threaded his fingers together while his legs bounced up and down.
“Well, we were scheduled to go to a DNA testing center, but—”
“Jaxson, go to your room,” Eliana cut in to request.
Everson looked up at her. She appeared irate, flushed and she wasn’t dressed. She still had on pajamas.
Jaxson frowned. “Why, mom? I thought we were getting ready to go somewhere. You’re not even dressed yet.”
“I said, go to your room.”
Jaxson sighed and grudgingly got up and walked away.
When he was out of sight, Everson stood up and said, “Your son brings up a good point. Why aren’t you dressed yet, Eliana?”
“Because I’m not going anywhere, and neither is Jaxson. You don’t get to come here barking orders at me.”
Everson glared at her. “Oh, so that’s how you were going to get out of DNA testing. I wondered how you were going to do it – if you were going to let me get there and allow me and Jaxson to go through with the test, even when you know Jaxson isn’t my son.”
Her eyes were brighter than a deer’s in headlights.
“That’s right. I know Jaxson’s not mine and so do you, especially since you’ve already tested a man by the name of DeMarcus Sherwood. Any of this ringing any bells?”
Eliana couldn’t utter a sound. How’d he find out all of this?
“What’s wrong, Eliana? You didn’t think I would find out that this was all a hoax? What exactly were you hoping to accomplish?”
When she didn’t say anything, the veins at Everson’s temple nearly ruptured when he snapped, “Tell me!”
Her lips trembled. “I wanted you to feel the same pain I felt. You were supposed to be my husband. The father of my children. It was supposed to be us, Everson! Me and you! But you—you were so easy to just let me go like I didn’t matter. And I loved you. I loved you so much that I was looking for a way to get close to you again and I found that in DeMarcus. He wasn’t you, but he looked like you and that was good enough for me. When I had Jaxson, I was surprised that he looked like you, too. So I convinced myself that you were Jaxson’s father, even though I knew you weren’t. You were the better option. My original choice. Besides, DeMarcus was always in trouble. He’s seen his son once—you hear me—once, and that’s when Jaxson was a baby. When I saw you walk into my office that day, I knew you would believe me when I told you Jaxson was yours. You look like him. It’s surreal how much Jaxson looks like you.”
Everson stared in disbelief as Eliana sat down, rubbing tears from her face. The chick was nuts. He was sure of it.
“It was you who typed up that email, wasn’t it? It was all a part of your plan to do what? Get me back?”
She didn’t respond. She only hung her head and wept.
Through clenched teeth, Everson said, “And you had the nerve to drag my parents into this mess...claim that this email was from them?” He tossed the folded paper to the table along with Jaxson’s photo.
“Gosh. I hate you, Everson!” she yelled, still sobbing her face a mess. “I wish I never met you!”
“What’s wrong, Ma?” Jaxson said, coming to his mother’s rescue. He looked up at Everson and asked, “What did you do to her?”
“I didn’t do anything to your mother, Jaxson, and before I leave, I think it’s important that you know this. I’m not you father.”
“Shut up!” Eliana yelled.
“Your real father is in prison. His name is DeMarcus Sherwood.”
“Get out!” she screamed.
“I’m leaving,” he said. “I apologize for this confusion, Jaxson. Maybe your mom will explain herself to you when I’m gone. You’re a good kid. Take care of yourself and your mother.” Everson headed for the door. There was nothing else left to be said.
Chapter 25
On the way home, Everson had ample time to reflect – probably too much time. He thought about Eliana and what he had been through with her. He’d worked with her, spent too much time with her and had crossed the line with the woman. She was an old girlfriend, an old love, but that was history and sometimes, history needed to remain in the past.
He learned firsthand that time changes people. He wasn’t the same man he was fourteen years ago. He wasn’t the same man he was five years ago. Eliana had certainly changed. He wasn’t sure if she had mental problems or what, but trying to convince him that he was her child’s father solely to rekindle what they had in high school did border on psychosis. So did dating someone because they resembled your ex.
And poor Jaxson was stuck in the middle of this mess. Everson actually felt sorry for the boy. Every child deserved a father. Jaxson was at a crucial period in his life when he needed structure, direction and the right kind of guidance – stuff he couldn’t get from his mother no matter how hard she tried to wear both parental hats. His biological father had robbed him of that chance.
For a short time amid all the chaos, Everson felt a sense of pride at the thought of being someone’s father. It was a feeling he’d never felt before. For a brief moment, he was a father, and in a brief phone call, that immense joy was snatched away. It made him realize how much he wanted his own child. A son. Daughter. Twins. It didn’t matter. He was the one who wanted to wait three years after marriage to have kids, but now, he wanted children sooner rather than later and he wanted June to be their mother. But first, he had to get her back and that wouldn’t be easy, given the fact that she hadn’t answered any calls from him.
When he arrived back in Wilmington, he went by the house but didn’t get out of the car. He just sat there, on the street out front with the car still running, music turned down low wondering what June was doing at this precise moment. Was she sprawled out on the bed? Watching TV? Folding clothes? Cooking? Or, maybe she wasn’t home. He didn’t know. At any rate, he wouldn’t barge in. She needed to be ready to see him, and he had no choice but to accept that.
Chapter 26
“I still can’t believe all of that went down,” Bryson said, glancing at Everson.
Everson was stirring his ice-filled Coke with a straw. “You’re telling me. I lived it. I actually thought Jaxson was my son, Bryce, only to find out that he’s not my son at all. It was the ultimate slap in the face.”
“Well, it’s over now.”
“Yeah. It’s over,” he said unenthused.
“You don’t sound happy about it.”
“That’s because I’m not.”
“Huh?” Bryson asked, frowning.
“I’m talking about Jaxson. I’m glad it’s over in the sense that I don’t ever have to deal with Eliana again, but I feel bad for Jaxson. He deserves more, you know. He needs a father.”
Bryson nodded. “He does, but that’s no longer your concern, Everson. Eliana made the decision to lie down with a jailbird and unfortunately, Jaxson has to suffer the consequences of his mother’s actions.”
“I know. You’re right.” He exhaled, feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. “I’m glad Rex called me in advance to let me know what he found out. I should’ve done that kind of research before just accepting the boy as mine. Instead, I brought mom and dad into this mess. Everybody in the family thinks I have a long, lost son.”
“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed. You can always explain that this was a huge misunderstanding.”
“I could. It would’ve been a lot better, though, if I’d just kept it to myself—if I took the time to find out the facts.”
“Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.”
Everson sipped Coke with the straw he’d been using to stir it. “Have you kept an eye on June since I’ve been gone? I went by the house last night—didn’t get out of the car. Just sat there.”
Bryson grinned. “You didn’t get out at your own house?”
“I couldn’t. I know June doesn’t want to see me right now. I don’t want to irritate her any more than I already have.”
“Well, according to Kalina, June is doing okay. They had their girl’s night on Friday. June invited the ladies over.”
Everson raised a single eyebrow. “She did?”
“Yeah. Kalina said June cooked, made cocktails and they had a good time. She didn’t tell me any of the specifics.”
Everson nodded.
“And I don’t want to know any of the speci—” Bryson paused, face went slack when he glanced toward the door and watched June walk into the restaurant with a suited up man – one he didn’t recognize.
“What’s wrong with you?” Everson asked, turning to look where Bryson had been staring when he saw June being escorted to a table by a man. Instantly, his heart dropped to the floor. All of a sudden, it was hard to breathe.
Rocking a frown as hard as stone, Everson stood up ready to break up whatever it was June called herself doing, but Bryson quickly grabbed his forearm and said, “It’s not worth making a scene, especially when you don’t know who that man is.”
“I don’t need to know who he is. I know he’s with my wife.”
“Sit down, Everson.”
“I’m not sitting down. You mean to tell me if that was Kalina with some guy you didn’t know, you wouldn’t go over there and kindly introduce yourself?”
“I would, but I would actually be kind about it. You look like you’re ready to go toe to toe with the guy. I’m telling you to sit down and put yourself in June’s shoes for a change.”
Everson slouched down on the chair and crossed his arms.
“Look at her,” Bryson said. “Look at your wife sitting with a man you don’t know.”
Everson looked at her. He hadn’t laid eyes on her in nearly two weeks, but she was as beautiful as she was the first day he ever laid eyes on her. But today, for whatever reason, she had her hair styled differently. He’d never seen so many beautiful spiral curls on her head before. And she had her makeup done to perfection with a touch of ruby red lipstick on a beautiful pair of plump lips. He watched her smile as she conversed with the guy, gesturing like she was trying to explain something then laughing again.
“Don’t you feel the rage building, swelling your chest and poking at your heart?” Bryson asked. “To me, it looks like an innocent meeting, but to you, it looks like something else because you were out here slipping and sliding, spending time with another woman and lying to June about it. Hold that feeling you’re feeling right now and put yourself in June’s place. Imagine how she must feel to think about you having dinner with your ex.”
“Did you set this up to get to me? To teach me a lesson?”
“No, I didn’t,” Bryson said. “How can you ask me something so ridiculous, Ev?”
“Because this doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”
Bryson sighed. His brother had a lot to learn when it came to pleasing one woman. Before June, he thought he was a big time, hot-shot bachelor with all kinds of women at his reach. He was about to learn, though, that the real strength of a man in a committed relationship was his ability to keep one woman happy.
“You know what…I appreciate the pep talk, Bryson, but I’m doing this my way,” Everson said, pushing away from the table. He couldn’t take much more of whatever was going on with June and this guy – innocent or not. He stormed over to the table where June sat, hovering over her like a drone when he said, “Hey, June.”
He didn’t mean hey, June as a greeting. It was more like, aha…caught ya, June.
June immediately turned around to look up at him, noticing the smug, I-caught-you look on his face, mixed with a little bit of I’m-about-to-blank. “Hi. Um…Leonard, this is Everson. Everson, this is hopefully my soon-to-be boss, Leonard.”
Everson’s eyes narrowed. Soon to be boss. He didn’t give a flip who the man was, and he didn’t appreciate him having lunch with his wife. Frowning, Everson gave Leonard his attention when he said, “I would say it’s nice to meet you but I’d be lying. June, can we talk in private please?”
“I’m busy right now, Everson,” June said as discreetly as she could to prevent the scene Everson was causing to grow any bigger. “Can this wait?”
“No. It can’t wait. I need to talk to you now,” he said, raising his voice.
She was so embarrassed, color filled her cheeks. June looked at Leonard. “I’m so sorry about this. Will you please excuse me for a moment?”
“Yeah,” Everson snapped. “Excuse her.”
“Everson, will you stop?” June said, standing. She followed Everson out of the restaurant to a semi-private area of the parking lot where there were no people at the moment. Crossing her arms, she met his angry gaze. “What’s so urgent that you had to interrupt my meeting?”
“Meeting? Looks like you’re having Sunday brunch to me.”
“I don’t care what it looks like to you. It’s a meeting.”
“A meeting that you had to get all dolled up for? I see you got your fitted, red dress on, looking sexy for a meeting?”
The things she wanted to spew back at him…
June tried to keep a level head. She’d been doing fine for the last week, but this – him interrupting her interview was insane. And it was all because he’d done his dirt. Now, he was on edge, concerned that she was doing the same thing. “Yes, a meeting and I would like to get back to that meeting, so—”
“Why are you meeting with this guy?”
“Why is that any of your business, Everson?”
“Because you’re my wife! Who is he?” he asked, nostrils flaring.
She could hardly stand the tension burning in her chest. Now he wanted to question her? Like he had a right. Playing along, she said, “He’s the manager at the office where I submitted an application.”
Everson’s frown deepened. “Why are you submitting applications? I don’t understand.”
“I applied for a job, submitted an application and I’m meeting with Leonard so he can determine whether or not I’ll be a good fit for the position.”
“You’re trying to go back to work again?”
“Yes, I am.”
“And when were you going to run any of this by me?”
Short of smirking, June replied, “I wasn’t. I don’t recall you running anything by me when you were in Myrtle Beach with that woman. You just went—lied and told me you were someplace else. Oh, and did I get a text message or anything from you that said you were going to be in Atlanta this weekend for some DNA test? No. Sure didn’t. So why should I run anything by you when you don’
t have the decency to run anything by me?”
Everson shoved his hands in his pockets. “That’s a conversation for another time.”
“No, it’s not. It’s a topic for right now, but you don’t want to answer it because you know you’re guilty.”
“I’m focusing on you and this job thing, June. When we married, we agreed, you agreed, that you wouldn’t work.”
“Right, because I was supposed to travel with you. But it’s funny…I don’t recall a stipulation that said I would travel with you only when you weren’t entertaining your ex-girlfriends.”
“You’re having a lunch date with some man! For all I know, you’re messing around with him.”
June chuckled softly. His conscience was eating him up to the point that he was accusing her of something she wasn’t doing all. “I’m not messing around with Leonard or anyone else. This meeting is strictly business. Leonard didn’t kiss me on the cheek or pull out my chair. I’m not secretly arranging a weekend getaway for Leonard and myself at the beach. That’s your M.O., Everson. Not mine. Just because you’re a liar doesn’t make me one. I’m pursuing a job—something I can have as my own because God knows I can’t trust you. I can’t call you my own when so many women can easily have you.”
Dismissing everything she said, he replied, “You said you wouldn’t work after we married.”
June rolled her eyes. “Yes! I said I wouldn’t work, but that was before I knew my husband would be sneaking around behind my back with another woman. Now, I’m going back to my meeting. Do not interrupt me with any more of your nonsense, Everson.” She took a few steps away from him.
His eyes raked over every inch of her frame when he said, “This isn’t over. I’ll be by the house this afternoon.”
“Whatever,” she said, walking farther away. “Don’t waste your time.”
Chapter 27
June thought Everson blew it for her, but after lunch was over, Leonard confirmed that she was the perfect candidate for the position as billing supervisor at Meridian Medical. To celebrate, she went shopping for work clothes. She brought a red pant suit, skirts, a few blouses and a comfortable pair of black pumps, thinking about what Everson said over and over again. He was still hooked on the idea of her not working, but June was no longer thinking like a married woman. She was thinking like a single one – a sign that maybe she didn’t want this marriage anymore. Every day she thought of Everson’s lies. Visualizing him being with another woman drove her further and further apart from him. It wouldn’t matter how much he apologized or how sorry he really was. The damage had already been done and she didn’t know how or if the situation could be rectified.