Tamara was getting tired of her family thinking that she needed someone in her life in order to be happy. Images of Micah drifted through her mind and filled her with certain sadness.
As they finished their meal, Tamara steered the conversation back to Callie and her baby. So far, her sister had experienced no morning sickness or any other symptoms associated with pregnancy. She actually looked radiant.
“I hope pregnancies like that are in our genes,” Tamara stated. “With my luck, I’ll be the one who’s sick all nine months.”
Callie chuckled. “Don’t say that.”
Tamara hoped that her mother would become so enthralled with being a grandmother that she would forget about her state of singleness.
At home, she made another entry into her journal. Tamara wrote about her feelings regarding her sister’s marriage and pregnancy. She thought it was all nice and wonderful. Tamara wasn’t jealous of Callie’s happiness—she just wanted some of her own.
Tamara wanted a family. She wanted the house with the white picket fence and filled with love. She was beginning to tire of coming home to an empty house. Jillian would be so pleased if she knew this was how Tamara really felt.
She would probably throw a party.
Tamara chuckled a little at the thought.
The trouble with finding a husband was the fact that her heart already belonged to another man. However, that same man hated her with a passion.
Chapter 12
The week before homecoming, a trembling Tamara sat in her car for a few minutes; trying to digest the shocking news she had just received from her physician.
Despite how she and Micah had left things when she was in California, Tamara knew that she had to reach out to him once more.
She called and left a voice mail message on his cell phone. She also placed a call to his office and spoke with Bette, his secretary.
“Please call me back,” she whispered. “I really need to talk to you.”
The next day, there was still no word from Micah.
Tamara opted not to call him again. She had too much on her mind to have to try and chase after a man who didn’t have the decency to return a simple phone call.
One thing she had learned about Micah was that the man could really hold a grudge. He could use a lesson or two on forgiveness, she thought to herself, then felt like a hypocrite. Tamara carried a load of unforgiveness in her own heart, although she kept telling herself that she had a valid reason.
In the five weeks that she had been home since that night she spent with him, Tamara felt a rush of emotions. She loved Micah, and if she could, she would be with him right now.
Tamara still held on to her questions about that morning—mainly why Micah didn’t trust her anymore. They no longer mattered, she supposed. The fact remained that something happened the night before that affected and changed her life for all eternity.
As much as she wanted to do so, Tamara would never be able to forget that night she and Micah made love. It would forever be imprinted on her heart in many ways.
Dazed, she made the drive home in the midst of the distraction of traffic noises, the radio and her turbulent thoughts. Tamara had a headache and just wanted to lie down and sleep.
At home, she put on some soft jazz, made some hot tea and sat down in her den in an attempt to force her body to relax.
Tamara finished off her tea as the music playing in the background soothed her. She never made it up to her bedroom because she fell asleep on the sofa. Her last thought before Tamara closed her eyes was of Micah.
She slept for almost two hours, waking up when the telephone rang. Tamara sat up, stretched and yawned. She swung her feet off the sofa and stood up.
Tamara felt light-headed for a moment so she sat back down. She had an upset stomach to add to the dizziness. Groaning, she lay back against the plush cushions with her eyes closed.
Fifteen minutes passed.
She made a second attempt to stand up and made her way to the kitchen where Tamara prepared a pot of chicken noodle soup.
I’m not sure I can keep this down, but I need to put something in my stomach.
Tamara’s eyes filled with water. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m not doing this,” she uttered. “I can survive this. It won’t be easy, but I’ll manage.”
Her eyes traveled to a nearby calendar.
Homecoming was next Friday. She had heard that Justice Kane was performing at the reunion dance, so Tamara was fairly sure that Micah would be in town for the weekend.
She felt a tinge of apprehension at the thought of seeing him again. Regardless, she needed one final conversation with Micah. After that, the ball was in his court and Tamara would follow his lead.
Friday, October 16
It’s Friday and tonight is the cocktail party the university hosts for the largest contributors and VIP alumni. I’m going to cover the event for the magazine. I look forward to homecoming every year, but this one is special because it is my ten-year reunion.
The committee members have some events planned to celebrate in addition to the regular homecoming activities. We have an alumni dance tomorrow night and we’re having a picnic on Sunday.
As soon as Micah arrives, I am going to pull him off to the side so that we can talk. I need to know what made him so angry or if that was just part of his plan to humiliate me. I need to know so that I’ll know what I need to do next.
If he wants nothing to do with me it will break my heart, but I have survived worse. I love Micah, but I refuse to make him my entire world. He and I need a real discussion because the truth is that I don’t know if I can deal with his mood swings and tantrums.
I just really need to talk to Micah.
Tamara put away her journal.
She went downstairs to the kitchen to make a light lunch of tuna salad and crackers before heading back to her desk to work on the article that was due in a couple weeks.
Around two o’ clock, Tamara found that she could not keep her eyes open or concentrate on her writing. She gave up and went to lie down on the sofa. Lately she found that she tired easily and needed to take naps during the day.
Tamara did not wake up until 3:30 p.m.
Nauseous and nervous over the thought of seeing Micah again, Tamara almost changed her mind about attending the private party, but if she wanted to be taken seriously as a writer she couldn’t miss this opportunity. Besides, she promised Chloe that she would write an article on the event for Luster magazine. Tamara wished fervently that she felt better, however.
She made her way to the master bath where she showered and flat-ironed her hair straight, bumping the ends with a large barrel curling iron. Still feeling sick to her stomach, Tamara took her time getting ready, pausing every now and then to take tiny sips of ginger ale.
Tamara chose to wear the black Carmen Marc Valvo designer lace and sequins dress with a lace bust, sequins around the empire waist that flowed into layers of pleated chiffon. Strappy high-heeled sandals with an ankle wrap, black diamond earrings, matching ring and bracelet completed the look.
She stole a peek at the clock.
It was 4:45 p.m.
The event started at six, and she did not want to be late. Tamara would be traveling in rush hour traffic. She grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
Tamara got in her car, slipped in her favorite Mary J. Blige CD and drove out to the freeway, humming to the music.
Her thoughts traveled to Micah. What if he decided not to come for homecoming after all?
A wave of apprehension washed over her as the thought tore at Tamara’s insides. She hadn’t really considered it until now that he could’ve changed his mind about coming.
What would she do then?
She didn’t have an answer. If he didn’t come, she still had to straighten things out with Micah and soon.
Never speaking to her again wasn’t an option anymore.
Micah gave the valet his keys before strolling in
to CORK, a wine bar located in downtown Atlanta, with Sunni.
“Honey, I have to go to the little girls’ room,” she told him. “I’ll be back shortly.”
A couple of women recognized him and began a conversation.
“Do you remember us?” they asked in unison.
He studied their faces. “June? We had a history class together, right?”
She giggled and nodded.
Micah glanced at the other woman and said, “Your face is familiar but I’m sorry. I’m at a loss.”
Her lips turned downward. “It’s Christine. We didn’t have any classes together, but I dated your roommate for about six months.”
He remembered her then. “It’s good to see you again, Christine. Have you and Ron kept in touch over the years?”
She smiled and nodded. “He and I just started seeing each other again. Ron will be in town tomorrow morning. He had a business meeting and couldn’t get here in time for the reception tonight.”
Sunni blew out of the bathroom as if someone was after her. She flung her hair over her shoulder as she sauntered toward Micah and the women.
“Are you ready?” she asked him before greeting the two females standing beside him.
He introduced her to the women.
When they left, Sunni asked, “So when do I get to meet some of your friends?”
“How do you know those two women weren’t friends of mine?” he demanded.
She turned and surveyed his face. “You’ve been in a weird mood since we arrived here in Atlanta. Micah, what’s going on with you?”
His mouth tightened a moment before he answered her. “I’m fine.”
Micah and Sunni navigated through the wine bar. He walked up to his longtime friend, saying, “Hey, Kevin, what’s up?”
The two men embraced.
Micah introduced Sunni to his friend. He was beginning to regret bringing her to Atlanta. Actually, she invited herself, and he didn’t bother to talk her out of it. Sunni could be great company when she wanted to be.
She accepted a glass of wine from a passing waiter and took a sip.
“Man, it’s good to see you,” Kevin told him. “Thanks for bringing Justice Kane to my club tomorrow night, man.”
“Hey, this is how we roll, bro,” Micah stated.
Kevin nodded. “The place is gonna be jumping tomorrow night.”
Micah chuckled. “I hope so.”
While they talked, Sunni strolled away to pose near the bar. Micah assumed she must have spotted a photographer or TV reporter hanging around.
His eyes traveled the length of the room, searching. Turning his attention back to Kevin, he said, “Hey, I was surprised to hear that you and Chloe are dating. When did this happen?”
“We’ve been together for about three months and we click. What can I tell you?”
“That’s great, man,” Micah stated. “I’m happy for you both. She’s a nice lady.”
“I have something special planned for her tomorrow night,” Kevin stated. “I hope you plan on sticking around for a while. How are things between you and the supermodel?” Kevin inquired, his eyes traveling over to where Sunni stood surrounded by fans and admirers.
“Kevin, she and I are just friends. I told you that.”
“Man, what’s wrong with you?” he wanted to know. “That woman is fine, and it’s obvious that she loves you. What’s holding you back?”
“She and I want different things out of a relationship,” Micah replied. “We do have a good time together, though.”
With those words, Micah’s eyes surveyed the room, looking for the one person who had dominated his thoughts night and day for the past couple months.
Tamara Hodges.
Tamara made a pit stop to the restroom as soon she walked through the doors of the wine bar. She rushed into the nearest stall and emptied the contents of her stomach. When she came out, she found that she wasn’t alone.
“Are you okay?”
Tamara eyed the woman’s reflection in the mirror, recognizing her. “Hey, Beverly. I’m fine,” she responded. “At least I will be in a few minutes.”
Beverly Turner was crowned the homecoming queen their senior year in college.
“Tamara, it’s so good to see you again,” she stated with a sincere smile. “It’s been a while, huh?”
Tamara nodded. “Time goes by so fast. You were my first interview for the Atlanta Daily after we graduated.” Tamara worked with the newspaper for six years before leaving to write for Luster.
“You did a great job on the article, by the way—I don’t know if I ever told you.”
Tamara smiled. “You sent me a nice note thanking me. In fact, I believe I still have it.”
They continued to make small talk, catching up with current events.
She soon became gripped by another bout of nausea. Tamara put a hand to her stomach and rushed back into a nearby stall. She prayed for the sensation to pass.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Beverly asked a second time when she walked out.
Nodding, Tamara responded, “My stomach is a little upset.”
“I hope I’m not being too nosy, but are you expecting a baby?”
She responded by asking Beverly, “Do you have children?”
Beverly gave a slight nod, then responded in a voice filled with sadness, “One.”
Noting the pain etched all over Beverly’s face, she did not push her to say anything more.
“I just found out,” Tamara said in answer to the question Beverly posed earlier. “I’m still reeling from the shock when I’m not hanging my head over a toilet.”
They talked for a few minutes more.
“I guess we should make our grand entrance,” Tamara stated.
Beverly smiled and agreed.
They did one final check in the mirror before leaving the bathroom and going their separate ways.
Tamara walked upstairs, following the music and enjoying the quiet ambiance of the bar.
Her heels tapped across the dark wood floors as she walked past the wall of wine barrels, a large mahogany bar with a backdrop of rows and rows of wine bottles and an array of hors d’oeuvres on the countertop.
A waiter approached her carrying a tray of wine.
“No, thank you,” she responded.
Tamara made her way around the center of the room, pausing to chat with old friends. She eventually ventured to one of the tall tables located off to the side and sat down on a stool.
Tamara spotted Beverly Turner, the woman she had encountered in the bathroom, and wished she had gotten her contact information. Beverly designed clothes and owned a boutique. She made a mental note to get her business card before leaving. Tamara had an idea for another feature story.
Her gaze traveled to Chloe who smiled and waved. Kyra walked over to where she was sitting and said, “You look pretty, soror.”
“You do, too,” Tamara responded, fighting the urge to get sick again. Her nose was more sensitive than normal, and the mixture of food smells, perfumes and wine were all doing a number on her.
“Do you want a glass of wine?” Kyra asked after chatting for a few minutes.
Tamara shook her head no. “I’m strictly on ginger ale tonight. My stomach’s upset.” She prayed that her friend wouldn’t get curious enough to start asking questions.
“I hope you feel better,” Kyra told her. “Have you eaten anything? Can I get you something?”
Tamara replied, “No, thanks, soror. I’m not hungry right now.”
“There’s Terrence,” Kyra stated. “I need to go over and talk to him for a minute.”
She looked over at the former football star and gave an understanding nod. “See you later.”
Tamara enjoyed the quiet elegance and the ambiance of the club’s color theme of deep reds and browns.
She found it soothing until Micah’s face loomed before her.
“You look like you’re a million miles away. Are you finding inspiration for
another story?” he asked.
“Hello to you, too,” Tamara responded, becoming increasingly uneasy under his scrutiny. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “Micah, I’m glad to see you actually. We really need to talk.”
“I came over here to tell you the same thing,” he stated. “There’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago.”
Tamara flinched at the tone of his voice and stirred uneasily in her chair. “I see you brought Sunni with you. Are you sure you’ll have some time to spare?” She knew that she sounded like a jealous woman, and there was no denying it.
“I’ll make time.”
She nodded. “Micah, I don’t know what’s going on with you or why you’re treating me like this. I wish you’d just tell me what I did. Do you think that maybe we could go downstairs to the sitting room and talk—”
Micah cut her off by saying, “We can talk right here.”
Tamara sighed in resignation. “Fine,” she uttered. “I’ll go first, if you don’t mind. Micah, I don’t want to keep you from your date so I’ll make this quick. Remember the incident with the condom?”
Without waiting on a response from Micah, she announced, “I’m pregnant. I just thought you should know that you’re going to be a father, and before you accuse me of trying to trap you, I don’t want or need anything from you. Oh, I’m willing to take a DNA test, if you want one done.”
She stood up. “That’s it. I really don’t feel well, so I’m leaving. Enjoy the rest of your evening and your date.”
Tamara walked as fast as she could. She just wanted to get as far away from Micah as possible. She held her tears in check, refusing to let him or anyone else see how much he had hurt her.
Lifting her chin defiantly, Tamara did as she had always done. She plastered a smile on her face and pretended all was well with her world, while on the inside, her heart was breaking into a million little pieces.
Chapter 13
Micah followed Tamara, gently grabbing her arm to keep her from running off.
They stood near the bar on the main floor. Keeping his voice low, Micah told her, “Tamara, you can’t just drop something like this on me and then walk away.”
Teach Me Tonight Page 12