Sequoia’s mouth flopped open. Her eyes were stuck on Mercedes.
Mercedes continued, “Yes, it has been a long time . . . Everyone’s okay, thanks. How’ve you been? . . . Uh-huh . . . He’s that old already? . . . You did? I’ll bet he is . . . So you waited all this time to try and get child support? . . . No. I know you tried to tell him. Well, why don’t you wait until the lab results come in and go from there? . . . True. Listen, it’s good hearing from you.” She looked at Sequoia like she would rather slit her wrists than talk. “Keep the faith. It’ll all work out for everyone . . . Excuse me . . . Huh? Oh, I’m sorry, Colette, but I can’t get you any work. I have very few shows coming up and too many models. Not a lot of requests to book outside of my Simpson Models productions, either. You understand . . . Okay. Well . . . I’m sorry about that. Listen, you take care. Bye.” She hung up and put the phone back on the table, looking relieved to be done.
Sequoia finally closed her mouth. “Oh, no she didn’t.”
“Yes, she did. I dang near hung up on her. Almost didn’t answer, but I wanted to know what the hell she was up to.”
“She’s talking to you about her filing for child support from Torino?”
“Yep.”
Sequoia looked through her papers again, shaking her head. “That woman. Why is she so desperate after all this time? It’s like she has a motive that just popped up out of the blue.”
“I agree. When it comes to her, who knows?” Mercedes sipped more of her water.
“And she actually had the nerve to ask you for work?”
“She did. She does sound desperate, you’re right.”
“Oh well. I don’t know what’s up with Kyle’s income, but you can’t depend on some back-child support scheme to live off of.” Goosebumps formed on Sequoia’s skin and she shivered. “Umph. Her name makes my skin crawl. If Torino is the dad, that chick will be in my life for the rest of my life. That would be one hot mess.”
Mercedes said, “The most important thing is that Kyle Jr. knows who his birth father is. Nothing else.”
“Well, when we saw that boy years ago at the restaurant, I think he was barely two, we asked ourselves then why he didn’t get his parents’ eyes.”
“Yeah, but you know, brown eyes are dominate, even if both parents have light eyes.”
“That boy looked like Torino, light eyes, brown eyes, purple eyes,” Sequoia said, as though sure. “Actually, Torino Jr. looked like that when he was younger. I’ve thought about that all this time.”
“I guess we’ll know soon enough, won’t we? Maybe it’s good we’re finally getting everything straightened out.”
“I guess so. Torino got served. There’ll be a hearing for the paternity and child support.”
“How’s Torino handling it?”
“One minute he says the boy might be his. Then he says he couldn’t be. But then, and this is what I wanted to tell you . . .” Sequoia leaned toward her friend and spoke lower, “when Colette came into the club the other night, she told Torino she used sperm from a condom he’d tossed.” She nodded for emphasis. “Yes she did.”
“Ewww. No she did not.” Mercedes turned up her nose.
“Did. And knowing her, I’m sure she did that more than one time. That’s so Colette.”
“Oh Lord.” Mercedes fanned her hands through the air. “That’s so nasty, is what it is.”
“Yeah, well, there you have it. Crazy Colette. And hell, I say we need to check Torino’s crazy level, too. I mean he hit that repeatedly, even after he knew she was special.”
“She is that.”
Sequoia’s assistant approached. “Mrs. Wilson. Do you need me to hostess the event, or will you?”
“Oh, I’ll do it. Just have everything there and ready to go. It won’t be a big party, so I’m fine.”
“Okay. We’ve got the main course in the freezer, the meatballs and Shepherd’s pie. And we’ll come back tomorrow to do desserts and vegetables. And those cheese biscuits.”
Mercedes licked her lips, acting like her mouth was watering. Her hand was to her chin. “Dang that sounds good.”
Sequoia told Mercedes, “I’ll save you some.” She then told her assistant, “Okay good. Thanks.”
“Sure.” Her assistant walked away.
“So, where’s TJ?” Mercedes asked.
Sequoia looked at her watch and gathered her things. “Actually, I’m about to run off and get him. He gets out of pre-school in about thirty minutes.” She got up.
“Okay.” Mercedes stood with her purse in hand.
“I love you, girl. Thanks for coming over.”
“No problem.” They hugged. “But, hey, cheer up. You know you can expect some roller coaster rides with these Wilson men.”
“Seems Mason’s good. He’s behaving.”
“He is.”
“He’s not tripping about Vegas?” Sequoia looked like she intended to make a joke.
“No. You’re the only one tripping about Vegas. Let it go.”
As they walked to the front door, Sequoia looked at Mercedes with a side angle. “Is something up?”
“No. Stop.”
“Okay,” Sequoia said. “I know you.”
“Actually, I thought you did, but obviously you don’t.” Mercedes stepped over to her white CLS that was parked in the driveway next to Sequoia’s white Range Rover.
“I guess if I don’t by now I never will.”
“Then you never will. I’m good.” Mercedes put on her burgundy shades. “I’m headed back to the office. Kiss TJ for me.”
“Will do. Ciao, Sis.” Sequoia smiled, but still knew in her heart, though not in her head, that her sister-in-law cheated on her husband.
7
Mercedes
“What was that about?”
That evening, Mercedes was back at home spending time with her mother-in-law, Mattie. Mattie’s hair was thick and long and wavy just like Star’s. It had always been the texture of an Indian’s hair, dark with a few platinum strands. It was down her back past her backside. These days, however, it was fully gray and always cornrowed, flowing down into a long braided ponytail by either Star or Mercedes or Lucinda. If Mattie touched the top of her hair and it felt like it was undone, she would point to whomever and put them to work. She swore by Camay and always smelled of White Shoulders. She was one who always had it together. An original diva.
Today, like the other days, the smell of White Shoulders was in full effect.
Mattie’s room was average size with a queen bed against one wall and a big dresser with a wide mirror along another wall, positioned perfectly so Mattie could see herself. There was a rocking chair and a large television, and also a beautiful shelf that had family pictures ranging from when she first got married to Jesse, to a photo of blue-eyed Nadia. There was a glass vase full of white tulips along her nightstand. Mason would make sure to bring her fresh flowers every week.
The décor was green. Always green. From the chair, to the dresser, to the bedding, to the carpet. Hunter, jade, moss, it didn’t matter. The only splash of color other than green was a big, red, framed photo of a heart, and the bold word, LOVE.
Mercedes, barefoot in a short cotton robe, dialed Mason’s number and he answered, but just as he greeted her through the phone, she also heard him answer from behind her in the hallway. She turned around at the same time that he walked in. She hung up looking surprised. “Where’re you coming from?”
“Starbucks.”
“No, I mean, you were down the hall?”
“Yeah. Looking for Lucinda. I thought Mom was with her.”
“Mom’s always in this room.”
“No. Lucinda has her in the wheelchair at the front window of her room so she can look outside at the street. Mom was just in her room last week.”
Mattie grunted. Her weathered face told on her years.
“Anyway,” Mason said, coming over to stand at Mattie’s bedside. “Hey Mom.” He kissed the soft, red-clay skin of
her cheek.
Mattie gave another grunt and turned her head toward Mercedes.
Mercedes remarked, “She’s saying stop messing with me.”
He talked to Mattie even though she still looked at Mercedes. “Mom, she’s the one who asked me where I’m coming from in my own house.”
“Whatever. Mom knows.”
“What she knows is, you still don’t trust me.”
“Oh, please. Whatever, man.” Mercedes put up her hand.
“Next subject. Mom, you look pretty.” He looked down at her hand. “Got your nails all done up. Can I get some of that manicure treatment?” He extended his left hand toward her.
Mattie looked at his hand and turned up her chiseled nose.
Mercedes smiled. “She looked at you like, not with those claws.”
Mason looked at his own hands. “What’s wrong with my hands?”
“You need to cut your nails, Mason.”
“They’re fine.”
“They’re long is what they are. Huh, Mamma?”
Mattie winked, reaching for Mercedes’s hand.
“Case closed.” Mercedes chuckled. “Sit down, spend some time.”
His phone rang, “I will. Hold up.”
Mercedes said, “Hey. How come I didn’t hear your phone ring when I just called you?”
“I was on the phone and clicked over. Dang.”
“Dang, nothing. Always on that phone.”
He answered the call giving Mercedes a stare of warning. “Hey there, what’s up shining Star?”
Mattie groaned and tried to lift her head.
Mason asked, “How’s my girl?” He noticed Mattie’s reaction and put the phone on speaker.
“Fine.” Star’s tone was bland.
Mercedes said, “Hi, Star. We’re here with Mamma.”
Star’s voice beamed. “Hi, Grammy. Miss you. Love you. You’re my pretty girl.”
Mattie’s arms shook, and she opened her mouth like she was preparing to be spoon fed.
“You should see her. She’s so excited,” Mercedes said.
“My pretty girl,” Star said. “I’m excited, too.”
“How’s it going?” Mercedes asked her daughter.
Her tone became lower. “Good. Dad, can you take me off speaker, please?”
“Sure. Hey. What’s up?” he asked, walking out of the room, holding up one finger to Mercedes as if asking for a minute.
~~
Ten minutes later, Mercedes sat in a chair at the foot of the bed, rubbing vanilla lotion on Mattie’s feet. “I’ll paint your toes this red color called Hot Sauce. You do look hot, my hot girl.”
Mattie gave a green light smile.
Mason said from behind Mercedes, “That is a hot red, I’ll say that. Nice color.” He put his phone in his pants pocket.
Mercedes asked right away, “What was that about?”
“Nothing,” he replied, only looking at Mattie.
“She’s doing okay?”
“Yep.”
“She couldn’t talk so we could all hear?”
Mason darted his eyes at Mercedes and then back to Mattie, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh. Okay. I guess you’ll tell me,” she said.
“It’s no biggie. She just needs money as usual.”
“Okay. I can put money in her Bank of America account. How much does she need?”
“I’ve got it.” He again gave Mercedes a look like she should drop it. “I’m going downstairs to write.” He stood at the side of Mattie’s bed again. “See you later, Mom.”
Mercedes asked, “So soon?”
Instead of replying, Mason leaned down to kiss his mom. She frowned but puckered her lips. He gave her a loud smack on the cheek and she smiled. “No that’s what I’m talking about.”
“How sweet. Still don’t know why you can’t spend more time.”
He headed to the door then turned around and said, “Actually, come here for a second.”
“Okay.” Mercedes stood up. “I’ll be right outside the door, Mamma.”
Mattie gave a tiny nod.
Mercedes went out into the hallway and he stepped out too, then he closed the door.
He said, “Listen. What’s up with you and this Vegas trip you took last month?”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s up? Someone saw you with some guy.” He looked anxious.
“No they didn’t.”
He spoke fast. “They did.”
“They who?” She put her hands on her hips.
“I’m asking the questions. Tell me what happened.”
She looked back at Mattie’s door and stepped further down the hall.
He followed.
“I was with Sequoia, and only Sequoia. After the fashion show we went to this club inside of the Mirage. I think it’s called Jet. Really, no biggie.”
“I would think people would know Sequoia is not a guy. What went on? With a guy.”
“I danced once. No big deal.”
“I’ll tell you if it’s a big deal or not. With who in particular?”
“This guy.”
“This guy, huh?” He looked away and leaned against the banister, crossing his arms. “You let me sit up the other day and tell you I had a meeting with Ryan Germany. Was he the guy?”
Mercedes aimed her sights anywhere but on her husband. “Yes.”
He looked nowhere else but at her.
“But it was just one dance,” she said.
He said fast and deep, “Stop it.” His frown was major.
She now looked right at him. “Mason.”
He stepped a foot closer to her and spoke like he was fighting to keep it down. “Tell me right now, and cut out all the bullshit. What happened?”
She put her hand up. “Okay. There was a guy named Ryan, and he asked me to dance and I did. I had no idea he was with the city council until he told me.”
“When did he tell you?”
“After we danced.”
“So you spent time with him?”
“He bought us champagne. Mason, there were a lot of people who went out after the show. Actually, he was in the show. He was one of the celebrity models.”
He shook his head. “See, you’re making me put pieces of the puzzle together. You’ve got me working too hard.” His jaw was tight. “You’re about to piss me off. Where was Sequoia?”
“She was right there. It was the three of us talking.”
“Cedes. He wishes you were single?”
Mercedes shrugged her shoulders. “I suppose so. I know Star told you he’s her friend’s dad. I can’t be responsible for what he wishes. I definitely told him I’m married. Very happily married.”
“He flirted?”
“He did.”
“You flirted?”
“No.”
“Were you attracted?”
“Mason, I’m married.”
He asked again, almost twice as loud as the first time. “Were you attracted?”
“Yes.” Mercedes spoke, though in her head holding her breath. “But nothing happened.”
Mason froze and stared. His eyes said, screw you, and his body said, good riddance. He turned and stormed off, down the stairs to the front door. He slammed it as he left. The enormous house shook.
Mercedes took one step in his direction. Her heart said to run after him and calm him down, assure him she was innocent. Yet her head said for her to hold up.
Innocent?
So she let him go.
Half dizzy, she took slow, long steps to Mattie’s door and then a deep breath, adjusting her shoulders and concentrating on holding her head up high. She opened the door and smiled only for Mattie, walking over to the bed.
Mercedes had a tear in her eye that was stuck there from the moment Mason walked out of the house. It stayed where it was while Mattie looked up at her. Mattie’s hands began to shake. She opened her mouth. Mercedes kissed her on her forehead, and this time it was Mattie who made the sound
of a smack.
“Mamma. I love you,” Mercedes said with a voice that was about to break. She closed her eyes and the stubborn tear fell.
Mattie reached up toward her face and wiped the track of her daughter-in-law’s tear.
Mattie’s eyes began to well up.
Still, they just embraced.
~~
Mason arrived back home at nearly one in the morning and woke Mercedes with a kiss on the lips.
She was only half asleep, having kept close watch on the clock, seeming to awake every thirty minutes.
Without saying a word, he pulled back the covers and got in bed, but instead of turning over to go to sleep, he climbed atop of her, using one hand to lift her pink nightie and pull down her panties.
Surprised and relieved, she immediately pulled them down and off in submission, assuming the missionary position to make love to her husband. He inserted himself and she moaned, louder than normal, sinking her nails into his back, and hugging him tight.
Her mind wandered with lust.
Pop!
She fantasized.
His face was buried into her neck, and then his pace sped up as he lifted his head, looking up toward the headboard.
She closed her eyes and allowed her emotions to race. The passion and heat of his hurt could be felt. His heartbeat was fast and hers was faster. She could feel the reverberation of both. Again, his face found its way to her neck and his lips were to her ear just as Mercedes felt herself about to release her worry and tension, when he whispered, “This will be our last time together.”
Mercedes froze while he kept up his thrusts. On her end, all was in pause-mode, even her heart, as though it stopped. Mouth wide open, she looked over to connect with his eyes and tried to push him upward by pressing her hand against his chest. He leaned up for a minute, yet kept making love to her.
“Why?” Her one word was bated and complicated.
His response sounded simple, matter-of-fact and sure. “Because, you slept with another man.”
And Mason climaxed.
8
Venus
“You told Dad where I was?”
Hot Girlz: Hot Boyz Sequel Page 5