“They say good sex will do that to you,” Monica responded, smiling. “What are you doing? I cooked you a big birthday brunch.”
Monty reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He saw the missed calls from Candy and the birthday text messages from the others. Damn! Candy is going to kill me! What in the hell was I thinking, falling asleep over here and shit? Monty thought while quickly getting dressed. She sent me four messages and I didn’t even know it.
“I’m sorry about the brunch, Monica. It really does look good, but I’ma have to take a rain check. I gotta go. I’ll explain later, ya know. I just have to go right now,” said Monty as he walked toward the door.
“Hold on, Monty, let me write you out a check for your services. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” Monica asked, hoping to delay him some more.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Maybe, you can just pay me later.” He opened up the door.
“No, let me pay you now. And, maybe later, if things work out, you won’t look for a payment from me.”
Monty smiled as he thought, Not right now, Monica. I can’t deal with the sentimental feelings you might still have for me. I gotta get to Candy and explain where I’ve been all morning.
Monica grabbed her purse and wrote out a check, and then handed it to him. “Go to the Wachovia Bank and cash it there. That is who I bank with. Maybe you can cut loose your other clients and keep the one that pays you the best. Think about it.”
Monty took the check and walked off. “Yeah, holla at me later,” Monty yelled before he got in his whip, cranked it up, and left. He drove down the street as he held the check up.
Monica gave him fifty-five hundred dollars. Monty was a little shocked, not only by the amount, but that his ex-girlfriend paid him for sex and that he really enjoyed being with her again. Damn, what do I tell Candy? he wondered.
Chapter Eighteen
M
Monty pulled up in Candy’s driveway, but didn’t see her car. Maybe she’s parked in the garage, he thought, then got out and knocked on the door. Candy didn’t answer, so Monty figured she was already over his house with Mona, actually waiting on him. Monty turned around, got back in his car, and headed home. He looked down at his phone and noticed that there were voice messages that he hadn’t heard. As he was slowly driving, he dialed his voicemail and began to listen. The first was from Candy.
“Hey, Monty, I’m trying to get in touch with you to apologize about last night. I was wrong for allowing another man to touch my stomach, and even though I thought I had a reasonable excuse, I didn’t. I am sorry. So, call me when you get up.”
Monty continued to listen. The message was left at eighty-thirty. The next message was from Candy as well.
“Hey, Monty. It’s me, again. I don’t know why you haven’t returned my call. It’s 10:43 and I’m kinda getting worried about you. I haven’t called your house yet, because I’m hoping you’re just tired and still sleeping. Call me as soon as you get up, okay.”
Monty felt bad for the way he put Candy out and wanted to make up with her as soon as he could. He began to think as the next message played. It, too, was from Candy.
“Monty, it is a little after twelve-thirty and I’m over to your house. The funny thing is that Mona told me she thought you and I were together. It’s obvious we’re not. I don’t know what is going on with you, but I’d hate to think you put me out and went to sleep with one of your pawns on the most important night of your life. I don’t care what you might think or say, but this day should’ve been spent with me and your unborn child, not with one of your sleazy pawns. Please call me back ASAP before I do something I don’t wanna have to do.”
What is she talking about? he wondered as he pulled up in his driveway. Monty listened to the last message on his phone, which was from Melanie. “Hey, sugar. You missed out on some good shit last night. I hope you intend on making it up. Ciao, I’ll talk with you later.” Monty sat his phone down as he continued to think while parked in the yard.
Candy drove to the Department of Corrections on Phinizy Road. She sighed because she had a lot on her mind. She pulled into an empty parking lot and sat there for a minute. She began to think about her mom being in such a horrible, confined place, and then her thoughts reflected back to Monty and his whereabouts. She tried her best to not get upset about the things she couldn’t change about him. She refocused her attention back to Nancy’s situation as she slowly got out of her car. She dreaded walking into the place.
She entered in the building and stood in the long line of people waiting to sign in. She stood there feeling so out of place because she never thought she’d be going to a jailhouse to visit her mom. That reality still was unreal to her. As she got closer to the desk, she became uneasy. It was a familiar feeling because each one of her visits brought back the memories of that tragic day, something else she would never be able to change.
“Yes?” said the light skin lady as Candy was next in line. Candy cleared her throat while looking at the clerk.
“Um, yes, I’m here to see Nancy Smith.” Candy fidgeted. It was strange to have to call her mother’s government name like that.
“May I see your ID?” the lady asked as she looked directly in Candy’s eyes.
“Oh yeah, I’m sorry. I meant to have it out already.” Candy felt through her pockets, and then pulled out her driver’s license and handed it to the lady. The clerk checked over Nancy’s visitation papers and gave Candy clearance.
“You can have a seat until we call your name.”
Candy sat in the first seat she saw. She took a glimpse around the room at the other visitors, but tried not to stare. She looked across the room when the elevator doors opened and an officer walked out. He was a tall, thin, white man wearing a tight fitting police uniform. He scanned the room, then walked over to the desk where the clerk handed him a small stack of papers. He walked back over to the elevator, and as he was standing there, he began to call out the names on the papers.
“Candy Smith,” said the officer. He looked her over as if he was quickly checking her out, then, “Laura Hill, Sharon Yates, Alisha Smalls, Mindy Morgan, Wendy Robbins.” The list went on for a few more seconds as the officer checked off every woman whose name he called.
Everyone formed a line in front of the officer as if they were in elementary school, and then the officer pressed the elevator button. The doors opened. All eleven women, plus the officer, squeezed into the elevator, the doors closed, and the officer pressed the number two button. When the elevator stopped, everyone got off and followed him down the hallway. He stopped at the first big, white door and began to call out the women’s names again. Candy waited patiently since her name wasn’t called to enter that door. The officer unlocked the heavy, white door and let those women walk in. Candy followed the officer a few feet down the hallway to the next white door. That time, he called her name and three of the other names on the list before he unlocked and began to open up that big, heavy door.
Candy walked in first, knowing the routine all too well. She looked at the row of short bar stools that sat between cubicles. She sat down on the first one, while looking into the thick glass window that would separate her from her mother. She waited for Nancy.
The big, white door on the other side of the glass window opened up and the women, dressed in their colorful jumpsuits, walked in with smiles on their faces. Nancy, with her red jumpsuit on, was the last to enter. Her hair was pulled back and her skin was so clear and pretty. As soon as she saw Candy, she began to smile. She sat in the seat across from her and they both put their hands up to the glass window, palm to palm and finger to finger, as if they could feel each other’s warmth. Candy lifted up the phone on the wall while her mother did the same thing.
“Hey, Mom, how are you holding up in here?” Candy asked as she cleared her throat.
“Hey there, Baby Girl. It’s been a few months and I’m still holding up. I’ve missed you like crazy, ya know. I’m coming to terms w
ith what I’ve done and am not proud about the decisions I’ve made, but one thing I’ve learned is I can’t rewind the past. I really wish I could.” Nancy held in her tears. Candy just smiled a little while trying to lighten the load. “Candy, this eats me up every day.” Nancy looked around at her surroundings. “I’m so sorry to have taken your father’s life like that. I should have just let him go. I don’t know what I was thinking that day and to be honest, I can only recall bits and pieces of the whole incident. I never meant to kill him. In my mind, maybe I wanted to hurt him the way he’d hurt me. But, in my heart, I didn’t mean to kill him. Please forgive me, baby girl.”
“Mom, please stop it. We go through this every time I visit you. I miss daddy just as you do, but I don’t want to blame you for that. You weren’t well that day and I understand that better than anyone else can. I forgive you, Daddy forgives you, and most importantly, God forgives you. It’s only the people who don’t know you that will judge you and will never understand what happened and why it happened. You have got to let it go now. We need to be focused on the day you’ll be getting out of here. You have gotta focus more on that.”
“I can’t focus on anything most of the time, Candy. I miss Will with all my heart and I miss home. I miss spending time with you. I don’t know if I’d be able to continue to move on if it weren’t for the love and support you’ve shown me. Linda and Catherine have been very good to me, also. I attend meetings with my psychologist who also helps me through this. But, it is so hard being strong when I’ve found out so much in here that I was blinded to on the outside. Do you know that your father owned a house down in Myrtle Beach and two in Atlanta? He also had three other bank accounts I didn’t know about. I still cry each time I realize that he has a son now. He was hiding so many things from me, and even though he’s gone, I still feel left out.”
“Yeah, I feel ya. I spoke with Pete earlier before I came here and he gave me the updates on the things he uncovered. Daddy also owned a house in Jamaica, ya know? Ebony is now living in that one. Ain’t that something? Even from the dead, daddy’s taking care of her and that baby. I miss him, Mama, just as much as you do, but daddy was doing some shady things that would have eventually gotten him caught up, anyway. I just hate you’re the one paying for it now.”
“I guess Pete told you this morning that I’m pleading guilty, huh?”
“Yeah, he did, and I understood why. He told me a trial would’ve been a tricky one with Ebony testifying against you. Skipping it is the best thing for all of us and you’ll be out in ten years, or seven with good behavior. I just see it as seven. Pete is the best attorney we could have and he adores you. He’ll look out for what’s best for all of us.”
“I agree, and I’m glad that you understand the reason why I chose the guilty plea. Let’s face it, though, honey. I am about as guilty as I can be. I just hate to put you through this.” Nancy changed the subject. “Yeah, well… Enough about me, honey. How are you and the baby?” Nancy smiled as she looked down at Candy’s baby bump, and then back up. She gazed into Candy’s eyes. She thought about her baby being pregnant with her grandbaby.
“We’re doing just fine, Mama. The doctor says I’m healthy and I’ve gotten my appetite back, so things are looking good for us.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. How are you and Monty doing?”
“We’re not doing so good right now. It seemed like everything was perfect, then…” Candy paused. “Well, you know how it is. Things changed. I don’t wanna think about it right now.”
“Well, don’t put too much thought into it. Keep a clear mind and think of your baby. I’ve always liked Monty, but men will be men and you never want to be sitting where I am. Remember that you’re young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t let a man dictate how you feel or what your choices in life will be.”
“I know, Mama. I’ve been giving this some thought all morning and since you’re leaving this week to go to the diagnostic center, I’m going to Aunt Linda’s for a few months. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, I’m actually glad you’re going to go spend some time with her. She’ll love your company. I’m not gonna be here, anyway, and I don’t know how long they’ll make me stay there. I do know that once I leave, the countdown begins. I believe I’m going to be in a women’s center here in Georgia, so that’s good. You’ll still be able to visit me in your condition.”
“Yeah, Pete was telling me about that this morning. Mama, that’s who you should’ve hooked up with a long time ago. He’s a real nice man. I can tell he likes you more than he should. He is handsome with that slick grey hair on his head and he’s straight forward. Let’s not forget, he’s also paid.” Candy giggled.
“Candy, be quiet. You are so silly. I’m not thinking about any other man right now. Your father would be turning over in his grave if he heard you say that.”
“I see you blushing, Mama.”
“Stop it, Candy. I’m serious. You act so much like your Aunt Linda till it’s not funny.” Nancy smiled a little as Candy made funny faces at her. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you.” The officer walked in and opened up the big, white door behind her.
“Time is up,” he said as he waited for the women to finish up their conversations. Candy looked over as the big, white door opened on her side and the other officer stepped in signaling the visitors.
“Damn, that thirty minutes go by so fast. Baby, you do understand that while I’m at the diagnostic center that I can’t write or call you. Pete will keep you updated on my whereabouts. And, as soon as I can, I will contact you.” Nancy and Candy pressed their hands up against the glass window, palm to palm, fingers to fingers. “I love you, baby girl. I will call when I’m able to and remember what I said earlier about those men.”
“I love you, too,” said Candy. She smiled while trying to hold back the tears. “You do that and stay strong. I’ll save the sonograms and mail them to you when I have an address for you.” Nancy shook her head in agreement, put the phone back on the receiver, and walked out of the room. Candy hung up her phone and walked out in the hallway, waiting on the officer to escort them back to the first floor.
Monty lay across his bed thinking about how he’d hurt Candy’s feelings when he put her out of his car. He then thought about Monica and the time he spent with her afterwards. He couldn’t believe he was reunited with his first love. He turned over to lay back on his plush pillows and grabbed the remote off of the nightstand by his king sized bed and turned on the forty six inch plasma flat screen TV that sat directly in front of his bed on the wall. As he flipped through the channels, his cell phone rang. Monty quickly grabved the phone and answered it.
“Hello,” he quickly said after noticing the name “Queen” on the caller ID.
“Well, hello to you, too,” said a very calm Candy.
“Hey, I got your messages and tried to call you back.”
“I just noticed you called me after two this afternoon. What happened to you this morning? I’d been leaving you messages and I knew you weren’t home because I stopped by there to talk with you.”
“I, um, was out handling some business.” Monty tried to think quickly as he talked. He didn’t want to upset Candy any more than he already had. “I called you back after I’d seen you called me, but you didn’t answer your phone. What was up with that?” Monty tried to play some reverse psychology.
“Oh, I was visiting my mom like I always do on the weekends, but you just noticed I called you after two? Wow! What was up with that? I called you earlier this morning, honey.”
“I was sleeping. When I woke up, I saw you had been calling me.” Monty sat up because he figured he was in too deep and she was on his trail. He knew Candy was no fool. He had said he was sleep before he knew it. Oh shit, he quickly thought.
“So, where were you asleep? Because we both know you weren’t home, and I talked to Rico and his mama at the Shell gas station earlier today because he was about to drop her o
ff over his uncle house.” Monty couldn’t think quickly enough. “Just tell me, Monty. Where were you? Don’t lie to me, because I can’t take that today.”
“Alright, Candy. I was with a pawn.”
“I already figured that. So, you mean to tell me you stayed the night with your pawn and part of the day?”
“No, I didn’t go there until this morning when I couldn’t sleep for thinking about what you had done last night. I hadn’t seen that you called me ‘til around eight and again at ten, but I didn’t wanna talk right then. I was being stubborn and I’m sorry. I didn’t go over to the pawn’s house until after the second time you had called me.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
“Yeah, that’s so, and I didn’t even sleep with her because I was so tired. I fell asleep on her sofa.” Monty pushed his pillows back to his headboard. He lay back on them while thinking that he had this one in the bag.
“Well, I see you’ve quickly thought this over. I’m no fool and I know you’re lying to me because I was out driving from the time you put me out up until around seven, and you never returned home.” Monty sat back up. “Don’t say a word, Monty, unless you’re going to come at me with the truth. I know you left me and went to be with a pawn. Will you just be honest about that, please?”
“I’m telling you what I did after I put you out. You gotta be trippin’ on something. I know when I walked in my crib my mama was still up and maybe she left in…”
“Oh, shut up,” Candy calmly interrupted him. “Maybe she what? Maybe she left in your car. I don’t think so. I see you can’t be honest with me and I thought that we were better than that. I had a long talk with my mama today and I’m telling you what I told her. I’m going to stay with my Aunt Linda for a few months.”
“No, baby! You can’t leave me.” Monty stood up as he began to pace around his bed.
“Yes, baby! I can. And, I am leaving you. I’m going to stay with my aunt and I’m coming back when I’m good and ready. Please, don’t be expecting me any time soon, either. I’m tired of you running in the streets, and I can’t have that shit running through my mind while I’m carrying our child. You blew it today by keeping up this stupid lie of yours. I’m so tired of it. It’s gotten old, boo, and I don’t wanna put up with it anymore. Maybe this would be okay in another lifetime, but not now. Look at it this way, you can have all the fun you want to have while I’m away and if you’re ready when I return, then we can make things work out between us.”
CheckMate (Play At Your Own Risk) Page 20