The ladies sat paralyzed for a second time tonight. “Ready to go?” Sylvia asked.
“Yeah,” Claudette almost screamed.
“Look, it was nice meeting you, Earl,” Sylvia said. “I hope everything works out for you, Peaches.”
“For damn sure, or else,” Peaches said to no one.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Clickity, click. Clickity, click. Clickity, click. Sylvia, Mona, and Claudette almost toppled over each other running from the tavern. The rain had stopped, but they couldn’t wait to get into Sylvia’s car.
“What are we going to do, Sylvia?” Claudette asked, shutting the door on her side of the car.
“Yeah,” Mona chimed in. “You’re the one heading up this mission—”
“You mean the mission you tried to take over?” Sylvia asked.
“Moving too slow for me.” Mona huffed. “A big old tough man like Earl wasn’t going to just up and tell you anything. You had to knead him, rub his temples, make him salivate before preparing him for the kill.”
“Whatever, Mona. I was with you, but sometimes you take things to the extreme.”
“Sylvia, you asked me to be part of this mission, and I delivered. He was into me. You see how he reacted when Peaches came rolling up in there. He was on the defensive, and if she had said anything out of order, he would’ve put her in her place.”
“Peaches said she wasn’t scared of you, Mona,” Claudette added and then cracked up. “How did she say it, Sylvia?” Claudette and Sylvia mimicked Peaches.
“You heifers,” Mona wailed.
“Remember, you’re the heifer,” Sylvia said, laughing. Claudette joined in. “Mona,” Sylvia continued, “in spite of all that, you did a good job.”
“Yeah, yeah. The question is what are we going to do with the information? I’ve got to get Rachel out of my house tonight.”
“We’re going to tell Rachel what we heard,” Sylvia began, “as well as Marvin and Kenny. Earl was talking about them when he mentioned the two men that came into the bar.”
“We figured that,” Claudette said.
“Anyway,” Sylvia continued, “Peaches is a dangerous woman. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea for Rachel to go home. What if that crazy Peaches goes back to their house and threatens Rachel again?”
“I don’t think she’d go there a second time,” Mona said. “For all Peaches knows, Marvin may have set up surveillance, and while she’s crazy, I don’t think she’s stupid. And I need Rachel to go home to her husband. She’s high maintenance.”
“Look at the pot calling the kettle black,” Claudette roared. “But we’ve got to call everyone together tonight and decide what we’re going to do with this information. Since we’re going to your house, Mona, sounds like the place to be.”
“Whatever.” Mona sat in thought. “I wish I could have punched that ghetto mama right in the mouth. Talking to me like I was a nobody. If we weren’t on a so-called ‘mission,’ she’d be missing a couple of front teeth and eating cement sandwiches. Then I’d take those big-behind earrings of hers and slip them over my hips and play hula hoop. Mess with me.” Claudette and Sylvia laughed.
Sprawled out on the couch, Marvin jumped as his cell began to ring. He sat up and grabbed it off the coffee table, praying that it was Rachel. There had not been any contact between the two of them since she left the house. Now Serena’s absence was taking loneliness to a whole new level, but Marvin was going to do everything in his power to settle the rift between him and Rachel. Sadness clouded his face when he saw that the number didn’t belong to Rachel, but all the same he was happy to hear a friendly voice.
“Hey, man, what’s up?”
“Marvin, my man. Tell me the good word. Checking to make sure that things are going in the right direction.”
“Harold, I wish the good word was Peaches is out of our hair and the company is making a comeback. The good news is that the board of directors have decided to stand behind me in trying to secure my stocks back from Regal Resorts and will work with the plan that we came up with.”
“Well, that’s good news, Marv. What are you fretting about?”
“Cecil Coleman thinks it’s going to be a fight to the death, and it’s going to cost all I’ve got to fight these mothers.”
“Look, Marv, I know that things have been distant between us, but I’m doing good here in Birmingham, and if you need my assistance, I’m offering it. It’s the least I can do.”
Silence ensued, then shallow breathing. Marvin swallowed hard trying to completely put out of his mind the image of his ex-wife and his cousin, Harold, naked in his townhouse. Marvin had reminded himself frequently that he was over that period in his life, and his marriage to Rachel had been the beginning of his new life. It was like peeling off old layers of skin and uncovering the new.
“Marvin, are you still there?”
“Yeah, Harold. I...I was just thinking.”
“Man, I’m sorry. I was not trying to awaken sleeping giants. I do want you to be comfortable about me and Denise being together and our impending marriage.”
“I am. I am, Harold. Really, I am. Every now and then something triggers old memories, but I’m good. Back to the company...I appreciate your generosity, but I’m going to try to work things out on my own. But I’m glad to know that if I should need to call upon you, you’re there.”
“No doubt, cuz. No doubt. Now what’s up with this Peaches woman?”
“She made a visit to my house and handed Rachel the picture of us in her apartment with me in my birthday suit.”
“Oh, crap. How’s the little lady taking it?”
“She walked. Didn’t go far. She’s at Mona’s. Kenny and I went to Earl’s this afternoon to see if we could get Earl to give us some information on Peaches. No luck. His mouth is permanently sewn shut where she’s concerned. I wonder what Peaches has on him. I just feel this woman has a dark side that we need to uncover.”
“She’s still demanding the fifty thousand?”
“Yes. I guess giving that photograph to Rachel was to put the pressure on. But she’s not getting one red cent.”
“I can hire a private detective, if you want.”
“That’s not a bad idea, Harold. Maybe you can help. Hold on a second, my other line is beeping.” Marvin clicked the call over. “Hello.”
“Marvin, this is Mona. Look, I need you to come to the house as soon as you can get here.”
“Something wrong with Rachel, Serena?”
“No. No. They’re fine. Sylvia, Claudette, and I went to Earl’s this afternoon. Guess who walked in?”
“Peaches?”
“The one and only. I don’t know what you saw in that huzzy.”
“C’mon, Mona. There’s not one thing about that woman I like. In fact, I detest her.”
“Umph. So how did you end up naked with her?”
“Okay, Mona. I’m through. I’m on another call.”
“Wait, Marvin. I’m serious now. Just messing with you. We really need you and Kenny to come over so we can discuss what to do with the information we have. And...I think Rachel is ready to come home.”
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“No, brother. You’ve got that girl’s nose wide open. She may have been mad at you, but she needs her Marvin.”
“Do I need to call Kenny?”
“No, Sylvia is doing that. Just bring your ass on over now. See you in about a half hour.”
“Okay.” Click.“Harold, don’t do anything about the private detective yet. It appears that we’ve got our own private detectives in the form of Rachel’s girlfriends. Seems that they, too, went to Earl’s but came away with much more than we did. Mona wants me to come over so they can discuss whatever it is they found out. I’ll hit you up later with an update.”
“Okay, Marv. I’m here if you need me.”
“Thanks, man.” The line was dead.
Marvin put on his shoes and grabbed a light coat from the gue
st closet in the hallway. He ran to the kitchen to look for his keys, shuffling mail and the newspaper. Still not finding them, he ran down to his office and found them on his desk. Like a kid on Christmas Day, he took the stairs two at a time and raced out of the house and into his car. He reached for his phone to call Kenny, but thought better of it. If Rachel was truly ready to come home, he wanted to be alone with her and Serena—a hopeful beginning on the path to healing their fractured marriage.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Margaritas were flowing and loud laughter along with them. Mona was imitating Earl trying to come on to her. “He would have looked just like Shrek if he was green,” Mona said. The girls went to howling.
“But you told him he was handsome,” Claudette chimed in. “Didn’t she, Sylvia?”
“You know you did, Mona,” Sylvia confirmed. “Rachel, it was disgusting to watch. Mona even blew a kiss at those sloppy lips.” Rachel shook her head and began to laugh. The others joined in, holding their sides from laughing too hard.
Marvin stood outside and rang the doorbell for the fourth time. He could hear the noise coming from inside and was concerned about what he was getting into. He buzzed a fifth time and was about to turn around when a friendly face appeared at the door.
“Marvin, come on in,” Michael Broussard said.
“Man, how can you stand it up in here?”
“You know how Mona is when she gets it in her mind to entertain, regardless of the occasion.”
“Well, I was told to get here right away. Is Kenny here?”
“Not yet,” Michael said. “Come on in and take a load off. You might as well get a Margarita, too.”
“No, I’m laying off the alcohol. That’s what got me into the mess I’m in now.”
“Okay, brother, but don’t mind me if I have a stiff one. I’m going to need it to get through this evening.”
“Knock yourself out,” Marvin said, following Michael into the house.
The laughter ceased as Marvin edged his way into the room. His eyes immediately latched onto Rachel, but she turned away as soon as their eyes met.
“Hey, Marvin,” Mona, Sylvia, and Claudette said in unison.
“Let me take your jacket,” Mona said. “Take a seat. What you drinking?”
“Water,” Marvin said, not taking his eyes away from Rachel.
He sat in one of Mona’s colorful chaise longues. Inching his way to the edge closest to Rachel, Marvin whispered her name. But she refused to acknowledge him, keeping her face turned away. Marvin sat back.
“Rachel, can we go somewhere and talk?” he asked.
Rachel kept her back to him. “Not now, Marvin. I’m not ready.”
Mona returned to the room with Marvin’s water. “Okay, what’s going on in here?” She handed the water to Marvin. “Do you see your wife sitting in the chair next to you?” Mona instigated.
“Yes, Mona,” Marvin said without a smile. “I’m very well aware that Rachel is sitting there.”
While looking at Marvin, Mona nodded her head toward Rachel and mouthed the words Get over there. Sylvia and Claudette walked out of the room so they wouldn’t have to participate in Mona’s manipulations. Rachel got up from her seat and walked out of the room with them.
“Boy, you’re so slow,” Mona lashed out at Marvin.
“Mona, I tried to talk to her, but she didn’t want to. You said we were going to talk about what happened at Earl’s. So let’s get to it.”
“We’ve got to wait for Kenny. Now I suggest you work a little harder on Rachel. You know how she falls apart when you flash those teeth at her.”
Michael walked in the room just in time to save Marvin. He sipped his drink, and looked at his wife. “Marvin, don’t mind Mona. She’s a lot of hot air sometimes. Mona, leave my buddy alone, and go in that kitchen and convince Rachel that she needs to talk to Marvin.”
“Oh, Michael, you just won’t let me have any fun.”
“If you’re a good girl, you’ll get paid handsomely later on. Deal?”
“Deal. I like them odds, baby.” Mona walked over to Michael and gave him a kiss on the lips. “I’ll be on my best behavior the rest of the evening.” She walked over to Marvin and gave him a kiss on the temple. “Just messing with you, my brother. I’ll go in and talk to Rach.”
“Thanks, Mona.”
“Ready for that drink, Marv?” Michael asked.
“I’m going to play it safe and drink my water. I was just about at the threshold though. But I’ve got to keep focused.”
“Don’t worry, man. It’s going to be alright. I’ve heard what the girls did, and you’ll be proud of them. If it means anything to you, Marvin, my money is on you. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, Michael. That’s encouraging. Now, if I can get my life back on track.”
“You will. You will.”
“Why didn’t you heifers tell me that Marvin was coming over?” Rachel shouted. “First, you run out of here talking about getting information on Peaches to clear Marvin’s name. Nothing is going to erase what I saw on that piece of paper. He was screwing that woman, and you can’t tell me any different.”
“Hold up, Miz Rachel,” Mona broke in. “These heifers—Sylvia, Claudette, and myself are distraught that you would call us out of our name, especially when we went to great lengths to get information to clear your husband’s name. Put our lives on the line.”
“Nobody told you to do that.”
“Okay, Rachel,” Sylvia cut in. “You’re right; no one told us to be stupid and help a friend, but we wanted to because we believe that there is something to prove and we don’t want to see what was a good marriage go down the tubes. Besides, we got a bingo.”
“Yeah,” Claudette took over. “Your Peaches came into the bar while we were there. That sister is an angry black woman, and I can tell you first hand that she’s not on the up and up. But we’re going to save the conversation for when Kenny gets here.”
“Kenny? What’s Kenny coming here for?” Rachel asked.
“Because we got an earful this afternoon,” Sylvia said. “Marvin and Kenny were down there earlier, and they are convinced that the bartender knows something, but they couldn’t get him to spill anything. But our luscious diva, Miz Mona Broussard, got the ball rolling, and we are more than convinced that Marvin is an unlucky pawn in Peaches’ game. We were almost in a barroom brawl, but we managed to keep our cover to get this information.”
Rachel looked among each of her friends. “I know that you all love me to do this for me. Sometimes I’m selfish and a little stubborn—”
“That’s an understatement,” Mona mumbled.
“But your hearts are like pure gold,” Rachel continued.
“Well, let me cut in on you, Miz Rachel,” Mona said. “There’s a man out there who’s hungering to talk to you. He, too, went out on a limb to try to prove his innocence, regardless of what you saw in that picture.” Mona put her hands on her hips. “Anyway, at least talk to him, Rachel, and see what he’s got to say. You know your man has been through a lot.”
“Hold it, Mona. I appreciate you all, but it’s not that easy. Yeah, I love Marvin—haven’t stopped loving him—but it’s difficult...” Rachel shook her arms for emphasis. “It’s difficult to erase the image I saw on that piece of paper. All kinds of things ran through my head besides why did he do it. Did he even have the decency to wear a condom or did he give me AIDS?”
Rachel grabbed her head. “It’s like seeing Reuben with that teenage girl freebasing in my living room all over again. I thought it would be different when I married Marvin, and for the most part, it has been different. In fact, I believed we had a marriage made in heaven.”
“You do, Rach,” Sylvia cut in. “I can’t pretend that I know how you feel. Sure we’ve all gone through some rough times in our lives, including ex-husbands who were unfaithful, but I believe that your and Marvin’s marriage was made in heaven. I don’t even blame you for the way you feel about Marvin
, but what we’re saying is that we don’t want you to give up on him because we believe he allowed a situation to get out of hand, out of control, and then that picture just made things worse. But Marvin wasn’t a willing participant. And we’re going to prove it.”
Rachel stood as still as the woman who turned to a pillar of salt in the Old Testament. Her eyes searched Sylvia’s, as she absorbed everything her friend had said. Lips turned up, her eyes began to tear, and Sylvia took Rachel in her arms and let her cry on her shoulder. Mona and Claudette fell in line.
There were faint sniffles, and silent tears streamed from the faces of all—their bodies draped over one another, resembling one of the rock clusters of Stonehenge. Seconds turned to minutes, and they jumped when the door leading into the kitchen opened.
Michael observed with interest what seemed like some ritual being performed. “Excuse me,” he said slowly. “Am I interrupting anything? Mona?”
“Baby, we’re done. Just having one of our sister moments.”
“Well, Kenny is here accompanied by his cousin—some cute attorney.”
“Oh, Trina,” Sylvia said.
“We better get out there and protect our men,” Mona said.
“I’m going to call T and tell him to come over since everyone is here,” Claudette said softly. “He’s still part of this group.”
“Good idea, Claudette,” Sylvia said, giving her a kiss. “Didn’t mean to leave T out.”
Everyone began to walk out of the room. Rachel grabbed Sylvia’s arm. “Sylvia, thank you. Thank you, girl. I love you so much. You’re the best friend that I have. I’m going to go out there and be brave. Just have my back if I get cold feet. I want to believe Marvin, I really do, but it’s going to take time. But I’m willing to listen. Thanks, sis.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. I love you, too.” They hugged each other and went in to join the others.
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