Imitation of Wife

by La Jill Hunt

  “Ma!” Peyton’s voice was now in her bedroom.

  “What is it, Peyton?” Sylvia put her makeup down and walked into the room.

  “Can you take me to the beauty supply?”

  The blank stare on Sylvia’s face should’ve been enough of an answer, but in case it wasn’t, Sylvia replied, “What? No. I told you I had a meeting this evening.”

  “Can you take me before you go?” Peyton pleaded. “I only have to get two things, that’s it.”

  “I won’t have time,” Sylvia stated. “Didn’t your dad just take you to the beauty supply this weekend? And you have a hair appointment next week.”

  “He did. But I just saw something on the internet that I wanna try myself. Can you take me after your meeting?”

  “Peyton, no, I can’t. We can stop while we’re out tomorrow.”

  “Fine,” Peyton said before turning and going back to her room.

  Sylvia checked her watch. She was scheduled to be downtown in an hour. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. Maybe because of him, she thought as she looked at her ringing cell phone.

  “Are you sure about this, Syl? Maybe this is a bad idea,” Garry said after she answered.

  “I’m positive, Garry. You’re worried for no reason. We just need to clear the air and get in accord like adults,” Sylvia told him for what seemed like the umpteenth time. “Are you almost home?”

  “Yeah, I should be there by six.” He sighed.

  “Great, we can ride together. I’ll be ready when you get here.”

  As soon as she hung up, her phone rang again, and this time it was Janelle. “Syl, change of plans.”

  “What kind of change of plans?” Sylvia asked.

  “We can’t meet at my office. They’re doing some electrical work in the building and maintenance says we have to be out by five. So Sherrod and I are just going to come there. Is that cool?”

  “What? Janelle, I don’t think that’ll work. You know the girls are here and Aunt Connie,” Sylvia groaned.

  “Can’t you send them out somewhere? Like, to the mall or the movies?” Janelle suggested. “I already told Sherrod, and that works better for him since it’s closer for him to get to and me too.”

  Sylvia sighed. “Let me try to think of something. I’ll call you right back.”

  She sat on the side of her bed and tried to think of somewhere to go other than their house. Going to a restaurant or another public place would be too much of a risk, especially considering the last time the four of them had come face-to-face. The possibility of the conversation getting loud was strong. Cancelling wasn’t an option either. Sylvia needed to think of a plan and think of it quick. Aunt Connie being there wasn’t much of a concern, but Jordan and Peyton were another story. Sylvia dialed Lynne’s number.

  “Hey, are you busy?” she asked her best friend.

  “Just got to the nail salon. What’s up?” Lynne asked.

  “Never mind,” Sylvia groaned. “I was gonna see if you could come and get Jordan and Peyton and get them out of the house for me.”

  “Why? Wait, isn’t the big meeting at Janelle’s office this evening?”

  “Is it, but there’s been a venue change. Go ahead and get your nails done.”

  “Call me later.”

  Sylvia had only one other option. She went downstairs into the den where Aunt Connie was sitting and watching Judge Judy, one of her favorite shows. “Aunt Connie, I need a favor.”

  “What kind of favor would that be?” Aunt Connie barely looked up from the TV.

  “I need you to take Peyton to the store for me and take Jordan with you. And I need y’all to go to dinner, too.” Sylvia hadn’t mentioned anything to her about the meeting with her sister and Sherrod, and now wasn’t the time to tell her. If she had, it would have turned into an entire discussion, and there was not time for it.

  “Say what now?” Aunt Connie turned her head.

  “I need y’all out of the house for a little while, please.” Sylvia gave her a nervous smile.

  “Syl, you ready? Let’s go!” Garry yelled as he came through the front door.

  Aunt Connie’s lips formed a smug smile, and her eyes gave her an insinuating look. “Oh, you do, huh? Y’all need some privacy? I guess therapy’s working out better than you thought, huh?”

  “Really, Aunt Connie?” Sylvia shook her head at her aunt, winking at her.

  “Syl!” Garry yelled again.

  “Dad? You’re home?” Peyton called out.

  “Why does everyone find it necessary to yell in this house?” Sylvia groaned, then walked over to the doorway of the den. “Garry, gimme a minute.”

  “We gotta go. Traffic is heavy out there.” Garry pointed to his watch.

  “There’s been a slight change of plans.”

  “What kind of change of plans?” He frowned.

  “Hey, Garry, welcome home.” Aunt Connie now stood behind her, still smiling.

  “I’ll explain in a few minutes. Go upstairs,” Sylvia told him.

  “Yes, Garry, you go on upstairs. She’ll be there soon.” Aunt Connie winked.

  After giving Aunt Connie an odd look, he shrugged and went up the steps. “Yes, P, Daddy’s home.”

  “It’s not what you think.” Sylvia turned to face her aunt.

  “Hey, you don’t know what I’m thinking. Trust me, if my husband had just come home after being gone for over two weeks, I guarantee my thoughts would be way freakier than yours. But I do have a question,” Aunt Connie said.

  “Yes?” Sylvia was afraid to even ask.

  “How are we supposed to get there?”

  “You can take my truck, Aunt Connie.” Sylvia reached for her keys hanging on the holder near the door and handed them to her.

  “Your truck is too fancy. It’s got all those knobs and computer gadgets.”

  “Aunt Connie, it’s the same as any other car. Arrange the mirrors, put it in gear, and press the gas. Don’t even worry about all the other stuff. You’ve been driving since you were sixteen. I’m not worried.”

  “Fourteen. My daddy taught us early on,” Aunt Connie pointed out. “But I don’t know.”

  “Peyton, come down here!” It was Sylvia’s turn to yell over her aunt. “Jordan, come out of your room!”

  A few moments later, both girls appeared.

  “Yeah?” Jordan asked.

  “Aunt Connie is gonna take y’all out,” Sylvia announced.

  “Out where?” Peyton frowned.

  “To the beauty supply and to get food,” Sylvia told her, hoping her daughter wasn’t going to object and have an attitude. She didn’t have time to deal with it. Time was ticking.

  “Oh.” To Sylvia’s surprise, Peyton let out a sigh of relief and even seemed happy to hear this. “For a second, I thought she was about to make us go do something down at the church.”

  “And what if I was? Then what?” Aunt Connie’s tone was threatening as she tilted her head and waited for Peyton’s answer.

  “Uh, nothing, Aunt Connie,” Peyton quickly responded. “We can go wherever you wanna go. I’m happy to go with you.”

  “Good, now go get your jackets and let’s go,” Aunt Connie told them.

  As entertained as she was by the family moment, Sylvia needed for them to hurry and leave. She still had to go upstairs and update Garry that her sister and Sherrod were both on their way.

  “Thanks, Aunt Connie,” Sylvia said.

  “Young lady, isn’t there something else we need to discuss?” Aunt Connie asked.

  Sylvia paused, knowing that somehow Aunt Connie must’ve sensed that there was something else going on. “I . . . we—”

  “How am I supposed to pay for this little outing you’re sending me on?”

  “Oh, yes. No worries, Aunt Connie. You know I got you. One sec.” Sylvia rushed into the kitchen to grab her purse, taking all the cash out of her wallet and her check card. By the time she was putting it all into her aunt’s hand, the girls had returned and
were ready. “Y’all have fun.”

  “Oh, we will.” Aunt Connie grinned as she stared at the money and card.

  Finally, they were gone. Sylvia raced up the stairs where Garry was waiting in their bedroom.

  “Now what’s going on?” he asked.

  “Janelle and Sherrod are coming here instead. They’ll be here in a little while.”

  “Here? They’re coming to our house instead? Syl, I told you I had a feeling—”

  “Garry, stop it. Listen to me, this is happening whether you like it or not. You don’t wanna be here, then fine, you need to leave now because in the next ten minutes, they’re gonna be here. The choice is yours,” she told him. “But if you stay, understand that you have to trust whatever I say during this process, Garry. This ain’t gonna be your way or no way. Those days are over.”

  Garry’s slight frown was noticeable as he inhaled deeply. “I’m staying.”

  “I’m glad.” Sylvia nodded. For a brief moment, she thought about giving him a hug, but now wasn’t the time, and she didn’t want him to think that his agreeing to be a part of this conversation with her sister and Sherrod meant that their marriage was resolved. It wasn’t. They’d made progress, but she wasn’t ready to just kiss and make up. Not yet, anyway. Besides, there was no telling how this was going to play out, but she hoped the odds were in her favor for all of their sakes.

  “It’s just that Sherrod is so damn—”

  The sound of the doorbell interrupted him. Sylvia whispered, “Saved by the bell. And Garry, again, you’re going to have to let some of that stuff go. It’s not about you.”

  “I get it.”

  “Look, let me go down first, and you wait a little while, then join us.”

  “You don’t think we should go together, like a united front?”

  “Not initially. You said you trust me, Garry. And of course, we’re united. You are still my husband, despite our issues.”

  “Okay, I’ll wait.”

  Sylvia went downstairs and opened the door, expecting to see Janelle, but only Sherrod was there. “Oh, uh, hi.”

  “Hi, Sylvia.” He looked just as nervous as she felt.

  “Come on in. Where’s my sister?” She led him into the living room.

  He sat on the sofa. “She should be here any moment. I think I got like a five-minute head start on her. I guess I should’ve waited in the car for her, huh?”

  “No, you didn’t have to do that, Sherrod. Can I get you something to drink?” Sylvia offered.

  “No, I’m good. Where’s Jordan?” he asked, then added, “And Peyton?”

  “They’re out with Aunt Connie,” Sylvia told him, sitting in one of the chairs.

  “Oh, goodness, how is Aunt Connie?” Sherrod laughed.

  Sylvia had almost forgotten that Sherrod was her aunt’s pharmacist. “She’s still Aunt Connie. I’m sure the girls will be quite entertained while on this outing.”

  “No doubt they will,” Sherrod said. “Listen, Sylvia, I want to just thank you for agreeing to sit down and have this discussion with me. Like I told you before, I couldn’t love Jordan any more if she were my biological daughter, and her mother knew that, too. And in all honesty, Garry did. And because of that, for some reason, he felt like I was a threat to him, which I never wanted to be.”

  “Uh, maybe we should kinda wait for Janelle, Sherrod,” Sylvia told him.

  “Yeah, you’re right. She should be here, because we’re gonna need her legal advice on our strategy on how we’re going to team up and fight Garry and win custody.” Sherrod nodded.

  “And do what?” Garry walked into the living room, taking both of them by surprise.

  “What the hell? Why is he here?” Sherrod asked.

  “What the hell do you mean, why is he here? I live here. You’re sitting in my house!” Garry told him, then turned to Sylvia. “What is he talking about, teaming up against me? You said he wanted to sit down and talk about a resolution, Syl.”

  “He is, Garry. Calm down and sit down.” Sylvia stood and reached to touch him, but he snatched away.

  “Calm down? Nah, ain’t no calming down.” Garry shook his head.

  “Man, I ain’t even know you were gonna be here,” Sherrod told him. “I thought this was going to be a sit-down with Sylvia.”

  “A sit-down to do what? Take my daughter? You really thought that shit was gonna happen? That my wife would actually agree to something like that?” Garry asked him.

  “I’m here, ain’t I? I ain’t just pop up over here uninvited,” Sherrod told him.

  “Is that what he thought he was coming here to do?” Garry directed the question to Sylvia, who stood beside him.

  Her heart pounded in her chest. All she wanted was for Garry to sit his ass down for one second so she could explain to both of them what was about to happen, or what she thought was going to happen, because at this point, it wasn’t looking very hopeful. “Garry, I did agree to sitting down with—”

  “Wow, ain’t this some shit?” Garry threw his hands up in disgust.

  “Like I said, I ain’t come here uninvited, man,” Sherrod said.

  “Man, shut the hell up,” Garry told him.

  Sherrod stood. “Who you talking to?”

  “I’m talking to you.”

  The two men squared off, and Sylvia jumped between them, a hand on each of their chests, in an effort to separate them. “Both of you, stop it now!”

  “What the hell is going on?” Janelle came running into the living room just in time and pulled Sherrod toward her. “Garry, what are you doing here?”

  “This was probably your idea, wasn’t it? You want this dude so bad that you’re willing to do anything to help him, huh? Even try to take my daughter? Well, you know what? All of y’all can go to hell.” Garry said to Sylvia, “But you want me to trust you, right?”

  “Don’t talk to my sister like that,” Janelle snapped.

  “Janelle, just chill,” Sylvia said.

  “I’ll talk however I wanna talk,” Garry screamed. “Y’all think I’m gonna just sit back and let y’all take my daughter from me?”

  “So, you just gonna act like you ain’t the one who called this meeting, Syl?” Janelle frowned.

  Before she knew it, things were out of control, and they all were yelling at one another. It was hard to even determine who was siding with whom. It was total chaos, and Sylvia didn’t know how to regain control of the situation.

  The sound of glass shattering caused all of them to stop and turn just in time to see Aunt Connie standing in the foyer holding another plate over her head, about to smash it to the floor and add to the broken glass by her feet.

  “Aunt Connie,” Sylvia gasped.

  Aunt Connie walked into the living room and slowly looked at all of them. “What is wrong with all of you? Have you lost your minds?”

  “No, Aunt Connie.” Janelle was the first to speak. “Our conversation just got a little heated.”

  “It was more than heated. Y’all been going at it for the past five minutes. I know because that’s how long I stood in the doorway before deciding to get your attention,” Aunt Connie told them. “Now, I don’t know how this meeting came about, and I don’t even care. But I know it’s about the well-being and welfare of a young lady we all care about. Or so you all claim to care about.”

  “She’s my daughter. Of course I care about her,” Garry said.

  “And what’s that supposed to mean? That we don’t?” Janelle glared at him.

  “Now he wants to brag and tell everyone that she’s his daughter. Seems funny he ain’t mention her a couple of months ago, isn’t it?” Sherrod shook his head.

  Garry pulled his fist back and aimed it. Before he could release the punch, Aunt Connie touched his shoulder. “No, you will not.”

  Sylvia slowly released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding as she saw her husband’s arm drop to his side. This was all her fault, and she knew she had to accept responsibility for the
madness that she’d caused. “This is on me, Aunt Connie.”

  “I don’t give a damn who it’s on. I’m sick of this nonsense between all of y’all. Now listen to me and listen to me good. Y’all figure this shit out and figure it out quick. Because if y’all don’t, you better believe I’ll be the one with full physical and sole custody of Jordan and dare any of y’all to fight me on it. Quiet as it’s kept, that might be the best decision any way. All of y’all are claiming to love her so much, then damn it, put the bullshit to the side and act like it.” Aunt Connie’s words resonated in the room, and they all stared at her. “We all love her, and whether y’all like it or not, that makes us all family.”

  As Aunt Connie stormed out, Sylvia rushed behind her and stayed on her heels all the way up the stairs into the room over the garage that was now her bedroom.

  “I’m sorry, Aunt Connie,” Sylvia said as she watched Aunt Connie snatch her purse that was lying on the edge of the bed and toss it on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean for this to happen at all. Janelle told me Sherrod wanted to talk to me about Jordan, and I agreed. I knew if I told her Garry would be there, he might’ve changed his mind. So they came over here without knowing Garry was gonna be home. I messed up.”

  “Yep, you shole did. Sounds like those people downstairs are the ones you need to be apologizing and explaining to, not me. I’ve said what I had to say to all of y’all about the situation. We’ll be back in a little while,” Aunt Connie told her.

  They went back downstairs, and her aunt slipped out the door without saying another word. She peeped out the window and almost did a double take as she saw her aunt climb into the passenger side of her SUV. Sitting on the driver’s side was Peyton. Her daughter checked the mirrors, then backed out of the driveway like a pro. Instead of opening the door and protesting, Sylvia found herself smiling. Leave it to Aunt Connie to always somehow lead by example and always be right. Now it was time to follow the advice she’d been given and make sure the rest of their family did too.

  Chapter 24

  Janelle

  The fact that Garry didn’t take off behind his wife came as a surprise to Janelle. She at least expected him to leave the room. But he didn’t. Oddly enough, he and Sherrod both paced back and forth for a while before they each took their seats. No one said a word. It was as if they were all deep in thought, contemplating what their next move would be. The quiet did nothing to ease the thick tension, but Janelle figured it was better than the yelling and fighting that had taken place moments before.