Almost Doesn't Count

by Angela Winters

  “You know what’s a turn-on, Justin? Trust.” She walked over to her closet. “Yeah, trust is hot. Don’t you think?”

  Justin’s impatient expression grew darker. “I know what this is about.”

  “I’m sure you do,” she said.

  “You’re trying to make excuses to avoid having another baby with me.”

  She turned, her eyes wide. This was unexpected. “I’ve given up my life to have another baby with you.”

  “Really?” he asked. “You seem to have been working a lot lately.”

  She laughed. “Is that why you think I’m not pregnant? Because I’ve taken on a small project for the last couple of weeks? It has to be me, right?”

  “I’m trying,” he said as he reached for the tie she’d laid out for him on the bed.

  “Are you really?” she asked. “Or maybe you’re trying, but just not with me.”

  “Fuck this!” He tossed the tie on the bed. “I don’t need this.”

  “You started it! I guess it’s okay to accuse me of being a bad wife, but once it goes the other way, the conversation is over.”

  “Conversation?” He laughed. “We haven’t had a conversation in months, Sherise.”

  “Where are you going?” she asked as he headed for the door.

  “There’s a game on tonight. I’d rather watch that than deal with your passive-aggressive bullshit all night.”

  “Justin!” She rushed to the doorway. “You have to come tonight! I can’t show up there alone!”

  “The way you ignore me lately, you’d be alone even if I was with you.”

  He rushed down the stairway. She knew he wasn’t going to come back. In the end, she probably thought it was best, considering she didn’t want him knowing about her real reasons for helping out with the event.

  “At least make yourself useful and get Cady from the babysitter!” she yelled after him.

  Sherise wasn’t sure what her problem was. She was angry with him, feeling certain he was cheating on her, but she knew she still loved him and wanted to keep her marriage together. So why wasn’t she doing something about it? She was a planner. She didn’t jump into the important things like other people. She was waiting for definitive proof, but she wasn’t sure she would get any. She had to do something about this now or there was going to be nothing left of her family.

  But first things first.

  Billie, looking amazing in her cobalt blue Ralph Lauren off-the-shoulder floor-length dress, was not the least bit surprised when she saw Sherise show up at the hotel without Justin. She was surprised she was showing up as late as she was. She looked flawless in a fire red Allen Schwartz strapless cascading gown. Anyone who didn’t know she was having trouble in her marriage couldn’t tell.

  “Where’s Justin?” she asked as soon as she reached her.

  Sherise was waving at LaKeisha across the room. “He’s not coming. Asshole.”

  “It just makes this easier.” Billie reached into her small clutch and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “This is all I could get.”

  “Thank you!” Sherise grabbed the sheet of paper and unfolded it. It was Justin’s Outlook calendar schedule for the next week.

  “I don’t like doing this,” Billie offered.

  She had actually gotten lucky. His assistant had printed out a copy of his schedule and placed it on her desk for reference. It took Billie only ten seconds to grab it, copy it quickly, and replace it.

  “I know this will help me get something on him.” Sherise folded the paper back up and placed it in her small purse.

  “He’s not going to have a ten A.M. meeting with mistress on there,” Billie said.

  “Of course not, but—”

  “Hey, girls.”

  Erica, wearing a brown and white striped satin sundress, joined the two of them and leaned forward for a kiss. Only Billie kissed her. Sherise was busy giving Terrell, who was standing about ten feet away, the stink eye.

  “You brought him anyway,” she said. “Even though I told you not to.”

  “We’ve been through this.” Erica rolled her eyes. “What is this about a mistress?”

  “What have you heard?” Sherise asked anxiously.

  Erica noted her quick reaction. “Billie just said it.”

  “She thinks Justin is cheating on her,” Billie offered.

  “Keep your voice down!” Sherise sent her a dagger glare.

  “This again?” Erica asked. “Where is he?”

  “He’s not here,” Billie added.

  “Why not?”

  “Never mind that!” Sherise said. “Why did you bring that thug to a presidential political fund-raiser?”

  “At least I can trust that thug,” Erica said in a biting tone. “Can you say as much about your man? Or better yet, can he say that about you?”

  “Erica,” Billie warned.

  “You’re such a bitch.” Erica waved a dismissive hand and headed back for Terrell. “Whatever. I’m done here.”

  “What did I say?” Sherise asked.

  Billie looked at her like she was crazy, astounded that she really didn’t get it. “Let me go talk to her.”

  “I don’t have time for this,” Sherise said.

  Just then she felt someone behind her and noticed a familiar, unique cologne. She slowly turned around.

  “Hello, Sherise,” Jonah said in his textbook deep, commanding voice.

  Jonah looked amazing as usual in a tailored black suit.

  “I didn’t know you were going to be here,” she finally said, hoping that her voice would not betray the unease she felt.

  More than seven months go by with no word from this man, then suddenly . . . She was suspicious to say the least.

  “I’ve been a supporter of Northman since his days as a state congressman.” He looked her up and down, his expression not so much pleased as remembering. “You look lovely as usual.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I just wanted to say hello,” he said. “Is that forbidden?”

  “Considering our last conversation, I didn’t expect another word to be spoken between us.”

  He nodded hello to a man who called his name while passing by. “That’s all in the past, don’t you think?”

  “You’ve said hello,” she said, “so I guess this conversation is over.”

  She turned to leave.

  “Sherise, wait.”

  She didn’t turn around because she wanted to. She couldn’t resist. There was something about a man like Jonah that made people do whatever he told you to.

  “Erica and I are on the verge of turning over a new leaf,” he said. “I think you and I making peace would go a long way in helping her.”

  “Helping her?” Sherise laughed. “Yes, I’m sure that’s your main concern.”

  His expression stilled and grew very serious. “I care about Erica and I know you’re important to her.”

  “Which is why I’m still here, right?”

  “The things I said to you were just angry knee-jerk reactions to being rejected. It’s something that doesn’t happen to me. I’m not angry at you anymore.”

  “Really? And I’m not supposed to believe there’s some coincidence in you showing up now to make a point of telling me you harbor no ill will toward me.”

  He frowned, seeming unable to comprehend what she was insinuating.

  “Just remember,” Sherise warned, leaning in. “No matter how close you can get to that daughter you’re too ashamed of to tell anyone about, she will always love me more than she loves you. If you fuck with me, I can turn her against you.”

  Sherise knew that Jonah was not used to getting threats, and from the expression on his face, he was about to let her know it. She didn’t care. If somehow he was behind this, he had to know who he was dealing with.

  He smiled kindly in that way a man does when he thinks the woman he is talking to is crazy and Sherise considered that a good thing.

  “We’ll see,” he said soft
ly before turning and heading for Erica only steps away.

  “I thought you had left me,” Robert said as he reached Billie.

  Standing at the rail overlooking the lobby of the hotel, Billie turned and smiled at him. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that she was kind of leaving him. She liked Robert enough, but he was such a schmoozer that she needed a break from watching him. He liked power and there was a lot of it in the ballroom. She, on the other hand, was thinking of only one thing. How she almost kissed Ricky and put her case in jeopardy.

  “Just need a break from all that hot air,” she said.

  He looked nice in an ordinary gray suit and white shirt. It impressed her that he chose to go a little off-color, out of the ordinary.

  “You’re not enjoying yourself,” he said, joining her as he leaned against the rail. “I think it’s great in there. I’ve already gotten seven business cards. A lot of wealth-management opportunities.”

  “Enough,” she said. Mostly because she wanted him to shut up, but also because she wanted to think about someone other than Ricky, Billie reached out and grabbed him by his expensive tie. She pulled him toward her and leaned up. She planted a kiss on his lips.

  “This is nice.”

  She separated from Robert and turned toward the familiar voice. Could he have worse timing?

  “I’m surprised to see you, Porter.” She pasted on a saccharine smile that doubled as a get-the-hell-away-from-me signal. “You must be a plus one, because I know Sherise would have never let you get on this invitation list.”

  Porter was ignoring her. He had eyes for only Robert as he approached.

  “I was wondering when I’d meet you,” he said.

  “There’s no reason for you to meet him,” Billie added, resenting the possessiveness of that statement.

  Porter offered him a tepid smile before turning to Billie. “So, what have you been bugging me about?”

  “Now is not the time,” Billie said.

  “You’ve left me three messages,” he answered back. “Now is your chance.”

  She had been trying to talk to him about Tara, hoping he would reconsider what she felt was punishment for being a teenaged girl.

  “Can we meet at another time?” she asked.

  “I guess Tara is only important enough to not interfere with your love life.”

  “You know that’s not true.” Billie could see Robert’s growing discomfort.

  “Then talk to me.” He smiled as if he was proud of his disruptive presence.

  “Stop being a child,” Billie demanded. “Wearing your jealousy on your sleeve is not a good look.”

  Porter’s grin vanished. “I was just giving you a chance, but I can see that your little date is more—”

  “You can’t see anything,” Billie said. “You can’t see anything beyond your ego and pride. I’m on a date. Grow up and deal with it. If you can’t do that, then go away and show out somewhere else.”

  “Classy, Billie.” He tried to hide behind a disappointed glare, but it wasn’t working. He seemed to know it and, after giving Robert one last disapproving glare, turned and walked away.

  Billie turned to Robert, who was the poster boy for awkward. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “I like you, Billie,” he said after a short hesitation.

  She recognized that tone. “But?”

  “But I’m not a fool,” he added. “There is still something between the two of you.”

  Billie laughed, but stopped when she realized he wasn’t laughing along with her. “You’re serious, aren’t you? Jesus, Robert. No, there is nothing between us.”

  “Are you sure about that?” he asked.

  “Not that it’s any of your business,” she answered, “but I’m sure.”

  “Trying to keep a man in your life through his kids is textbook,” he said.

  Billie was frozen in place, her jaw almost dropping to the floor.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean to offend you, but it’s the truth.”

  “Well, you did offend me and it’s not the truth. I care about Tara like a daughter, and the only reason I’m trying to . . . Why am I even saying this? I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

  “You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry, I just . . .”

  “You’re just like him,” she said, looking him over. “You and Porter should date each other.”

  “I think you’re out of line,” he suggested firmly.

  “I’m out of line?” She laughed. “At least with you I know straight up who you are. Porter used to be different. He turned into you. I’m not about to make the same damn mistake again. Enjoy your night of networking, Robert.”

  He didn’t call her name at all as she walked away. It wouldn’t have made a difference if he had, but that fact that he hadn’t only told Billie she’d done the right thing. This man was not what she wanted.

  10

  “Take this,” Erica shoved a glass of wine in Sherise’s face. “You look like you need it.”

  Sherise took the glass even though she knew she needed something much stronger. “You’ve been ignoring me all night.”

  “Um . . . maybe because you’re being a bitch.”

  “I’m dealing with a crisis here.”

  “Justin is not cheating on you, Sherise. Stop it.”

  “Not that.” Sherise stopped herself before she went further.

  “Then what?”

  “No, I mean . . .” She didn’t know how much longer she could keep this up. “Just try and have some compassion.”

  “I was trying,” Erica said. “But you fuck it up insulting my boyfriend.”

  “From boyfriend to fiancé to boyfriend.” Sherise made a mocking gesture. “That sounds healthy.”

  “See, there you go again.” Erica threw her hands in the air. “I’m done with you for the night.”

  Just as she was about to leave, Billie showed up in a huff.

  “Why didn’t you tell me Porter was going to be here?”

  Sherise shrugged. “I’m in charge of press. If I had something to do with the guest list, I wouldn’t have let Porter, Jonah, or Terrell past that door.”

  “Bitch,” Erica said under her breath.

  “Well, he’s here.” Billie snatched the glass of wine out of Sherise’s hand and took a sip. “And he’s being a dick as usual. Not to mention Robert. He’s done. You understand me? His expiration date was today, five minutes ago.”

  “What did he do?” Erica asked.

  “He had the nerve to accuse me of using Tara to stay in Porter’s life!”

  Waiting for incredulous stares from both Sherise and Erica, Billie was infuriated by their hesitation.

  “Ugh!” She slammed the glass on the closest table. “I’m going home.”

  “Stop it.” Erica grabbed her before she could leave. “He was way out of line. Wasn’t he, Sherise?”

  They both looked at Sherise, but she was looking suspiciously around the room.

  “What are you doing?” Billie asked.

  “Nothing.” Sherise shook her head. “What are we talking about? How you use Tara to keep Porter around.”

  “How I don’t!” Billie insisted. “I’m the only woman in that girl’s life. I’m trying to help her.”

  “Excuse me, Mrs. Robinson.”

  The women turned to a member of the hotel catering staff, a middle-aged Asian man, who offered a glass of a dark mixed drink to Sherise.

  “This your drink,” he said, although it was more of a question than a statement.

  “I didn’t order a drink,” Sherise said, even though she took it. She hoped it was stronger than a glass of wine.

  “I was told by a lady you ordered this and I should give to you.”

  “What lady?” Erica asked, looking around. “LaKeisha?”

  “No name,” he said. “Red dress.”

  Sherise took a quick scan of the room. “There are about twenty
red dresses just in my line of sight. Was she black or white?”

  “Yes,” he said before turning and walking away.

  Erica laughed. “Yes? Maybe she’s biracial.”

  “So you got ladies hitting on you now, too?” Billie asked.

  “This isn’t the first time,” Erica said. “Remember when we were at that bar above Marvin’s? That blonde chick came hard at Sherise. She was all like—”

  “Shit!”

  Sherise was loud enough to get some stares from people nearby. Her head shot up and she looked around. She wanted to panic, but she knew she had to get control of herself. She took a deep breath and scanned the room.

  “What is it?” Billie asked.

  Sherise handed her the napkin that she was served with the drink. The words, written in blue pen, were a little blurry from the glass, but the words could not be mistaken.

  What goes around comes around!

  “What the hell?” Billie asked, showing the napkin to Erica.

  Sherise eyed the room like a hawk. Her stomach was fluttering like crazy, but she looked like steel. She wanted whoever it was to know she was not going to be some sitting duck. She was studying every woman she could see in a red dress, but none of them were familiar and none of them seemed at all interested in her right now.

  The only person in the room at that moment who seemed to have eyes only for her was Jonah. He stood several yards away in a circle of people chatting away. He wasn’t chatting. He was looking at her. She caught his eyes and glared.

  “Jonah,” she said. “It’s him.”

  “Bullshit,” Erica said.

  “The waiter said it was a woman,” Billie interjected.

  “He sent a woman to do it,” Sherise said. “Of course, the man would easily point him out in a crowd.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Erica said. “Jonah is having an affair with Justin?”

  Sherise realized that the girls still thought she was thinking about Justin’s affair. She snatched the napkin from Erica and looked at it again. The threat didn’t really fit the doctor’s records situation, but it did fit an affair.

  “Where is that waiter?” Sherise turned around to see if she could spot him. “I’m gonna drag him around until—”