Unfaithful Ties

by Le'Shea, Nisha

  Brandi took a deep breath, handed the photo back to Lenise, watched her walk back to the sofa “You’re not actually suggesting that she should keep the baby, are you?”

  “Of course she’s going to keep the baby. My husband and I don’t believe in abortions.”

  “Are you guys crazy! An abortion is the best option for both of them. A baby is going to mess up their lives.”

  This time Lenise sprang up from the sofa and tossed her purse straps over her shoulder, gripping it tightly. “I’ve had enough. There is no way I’m going to allow my sixteen year old daughter to lie on some table while some doctor performs an operation that will haunt her for the rest of her life. Trust me I should know. My parents did that to me when I was seventeen. Tremaine helped Chelsea make this bed and he’s going to lie in it with her because she’s not getting an abortion.” She stormed out of the living room.

  Brandi followed dead on her heels. “Since you insist on destroying their lives I think you should know that when the baby is born a DNA test is definitely in order.”

  Lenise stopped in her tracks right in front of the door, turned to Brandi and rolled her neck. “I wouldn’t have it other way”

  Snatching the door open for Lenise, Brandi hissed. “I’m glad that we can agree on something”

  Lenise stepped onto the porch. “I can’t wait to see your face, when you get the results of the DNA test. My daughter isn’t a whore. She knows exactly who the father of her child is”

  “Let’s just hope she does. You have a good day” Brandi said and slammed the door.

  ****

  It was noisy, a constant barrage of different sound effects. Slot machines were spinning, games ding and dong, coins hit metal. There was dice being rolled, bets placed, cards dealt, the pitter-patter from players winning or running the games, and wheels being spun all in a constant continuing rhythm. People seemed to be having the best time of their life. They craved the adrenaline rush of winning.

  Trae was sitting at a deluxe table in the (Royal Grande Casino, Hotel) in Las Vegas, where he’d been vacationing all week, playing a game of Blackjack. He’d just grabbed a free glass of booze from a waitress in skimpy clothing when his phone rang again for the fifth time. It was Jason.

  “Jason can I call you right back man?” Trae said loudly into the speaker. He was trying to talk over the loud noise.

  “It’s important man”

  “I’m in Biloxi Mississippi and I’m in the middle of a game right now”

  “It’s urgent man. It’s about Brandi”

  Trae repeated the question irritably “It’s about Brandi? That’s what’s so important? I’ll call you back”

  “Damn are you really that damn cold hearted? What did that woman ever do besides be a good woman to you? You need to get your head together and get your priorities straight”

  Trae excused himself from the table and headed outside of the Casino, walking hurriedly and furiously. “I’m a grown ass man. I don’t need you calling me trying to give me a goddamn lecture.”

  “I had to stop Brandi from Killing herself the other day man. What’s wrong with you? Don’t you care about anybody other than yourself?”

  “I’m no longer with Brandi. And what Brandi does is no longer my business. I’m about to marry a woman that has the money to take me around the world and back and I don’t have time to be worrying about Brandi’s deranged ass. Why don’t you do yourself a favor and stay the hell out of my business.”

  “How can you do that to a woman that’s had your back since we were kids? How could you leave her for the woman next door? What’s going on with you man? You haven’t even tried to call and I know that you know about my wife’s accident?’

  “Your wife can’t stand my ass. I don’t even know why it shocks you that I haven’t called.”

  “It’s not about Vanessa. You and Vanessa aren’t friends and I get that. But you and I are best friends and you haven’t even shown one ounce of concern. I almost lost my wife.”

  “Well you didn’t”

  “You’re never going to grow up. You’re still the same inconsiderate asshole you’ve been since we were kids. You’re not a kid anymore. What kind of example do you think that you’re setting for your boys?”

  “You have kids of your own first before you try and school me about parenthood. Owe I forgot you must be shooting blanks since you been trying for the last six years and you still haven’t knocked Vanessa up yet. That’s why she had an abortion. Because it wasn’t yours.”

  “What in the hell are you talking about? My wife has never had an abortion”

  “Maybe you should ask her girlfriends all about it.”

  “I don’t believe you. This is what you do. You get some sick kind of adrenaline rush off of making other people’s life miserable. Your little game is not going to work. Vanessa loves kids and I know her better than you. She’d never have an abortion. Furthermore she’d never cheat.” Jason said. “From now on I’m dead to you, you selfish son of a bitch. If you dropped dead tomorrow it wouldn’t bother me at all. I hope you rot in hell”

  “Well I’m going to enjoy my life before I get there” Trae giggled and hung up. Without an ounce of concern for Brandi he headed back into the Casino.

  ****

  Love, hate, hurt, humiliation, exhaustion and depression. What a hell of a combination. Brandi was battling so many different emotions as she lay there across the foot of her bed, that she didn’t know what to feel, or what to do to eliminate them. She felt like she was losing her mind.

  She sat up on the bed and asked herself, where do I go from here? What’s next? Who do you turn to when you have a head full of questions and no answers?

  “Lord if I’ve never needed your help before, I need it now” She said out loud and walked over to the chest drawer. She fished around her purse, pulled out her cellular and powered it on. The first few text messages that caught her eye were from her mother. So she called her. “Hey ma” She said.

  “Well look who finally decided to call”

  “You busy?”

  “No. I’m just out here digging in my garden. I must’ve left you a million messages. I been worried sick. Stacy called and told me about your little episode. They been worrying bout’ cha’ like crazy. They just called me a few minutes ago but I was out here on my hands and knees digging in dirt so I told em’ I’d call em’ back.”

  “Mama you’re supposed to maintain your garden during the spring and summer months, not the winter.”

  “It feels like summer out here to me. How com’ you just now picking up the phone to call me chile?”

  ”I’ve just been busy mama”

  “Too busy for me?”

  “No. That’s not what I meant. I’ve been busy with life ma.” Brandi sighed. “My life is a disaster.”

  “Life can’t be that bad. You breathing ain’ cha? I tell you, if you quit worrying bout’ Trae your life will be a whole lot betta’ ”

  “Trae left me ma” Brandi’s voice started to tremble. She looked at her hands. They were trembling too. “He’s been cheating on me with the woman next door. He says that he’s going to marry her.”

  “Well ain’ she a fool. I’m just glad it ain’ chu he marrying.”

  “Ma. I’m devastated. How can you be so happy when this is tearing me apart?”

  “You oughta’ be glad it ain’ chu that’s gotta’ deal with that headache no more.” Mrs. Bette said. “You act like it’s the end of the world. Trae ain’ never meant you no good. I’m glad he left. Cause’ you never would’ve had sense enough to leave him.”

  “Mama what do I do now? Where do I go from here? My life is so screwed up I don’t know where to start to fix it. Trae is all I know”

  “Chile’ Trae ain’ the only man in the world. Your life shouldn’t revolve around him. He ain’ God. You fix it with prayer. By learning how to be strong. I didn’t raise you to be weak. You’ve let that man control you for so long that you don’t know how t
o stand on your own two feet. He don’ drained everything out cha’ and now you ain’ got nothin’ left to give nobody. Not even your children. How are my grandchildren anyway?”

  “Trent is spoiled. He’s going to throw a fit when he finds out that he has to quit Karate class because I can’t afford it. Trevon is doing good…getting straight A’s. And Tremaine, I don’t even know where to begin with him.”

  “That boy’s problem is, he didn’t get enough spankings. You didn’t never wanna’ whip him. Now you paying for it. The bible says spare the rod spoil the child. But anyway I ain’ gon’ preach to you today. What that chile don’ did now?”

  “Some girl claiming she’s pregnant”

  “What?”

  “Um…hmmm. She’s six weeks”

  “What’s that boy gonna’ do with a baby. He’s just a baby himself”

  “Hopefully the DNA test proves it’s not his”

  “Well he betta’ hope so. Babies ain’ cheap.” She said “What are you going to do about a place to stay? Ya’ll still living in that rich white folks neighborhood ain’ cha? I know you can’t afford that high rent by yourself.”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Trae offered to pay the rent for the next three months but I’m sure he’s changed his mind since I drove his car into our private lake.”

  Mrs. Betty chuckled. “You did what? As a Christian woman I should say that you don’t fight fire with fire. But I know what he’s taken you through and I almost wanna’ say, that’s what his behind gets.”

  “It was funny to me at first. But it’s not so funny now that it has dawned on me that me and my kids might not have a place to stay soon”

  “You can always apply for some government assistance. That’s what it’s there for. I’m not saying that you have to stay on it forever but it wouldn’t hurt to have until you can get on your feet”

  “I never thought that this is what my life would amount to ma. Absolutely nothing”

  “Sweetie life is full of surprises. Full of ups and downs. But the good thing about life is, it’s never too late to turn it around. It’s never too late to turn your life into something worth bragging about sugga’.”

  “Mama I’m not like you. I’m not strong. I’ve never had to be. I’ve never had to worry about anything. Financially Trae’s always taken care of everything. And before I moved away with him I was a kid and you and dad took care of everything.”

  “Baby you are strong. You just don’t know it yet. Soon you’ll find out just how strong you are. You really ain’ gotta’ choice. When your life has suddenly been turned upside down there are only two things that you can do. You can either learn how to stand on your own two feet and survive, or continue struggling sitting round’ waiting on somebody to be your feet for ya’. I know you and I know you gon’ be just fine. You just need to get down on your knees and pray. You need to pray hard sugga’. And join somebody’s church. You going through a lot and God is your only source.” Mrs. Betty said.

  “Oh mama” Brandi sighed. “ I just wish that you were here to hold me. I could really use a hug.”

  “I wish I could be there sweetie. If the gout wouldn’t have your father down so much I’d be on the first plane to San Antonio.”

  “I know you would mama. Tell daddy I said hey and I’ll talk to you later”

  “Okay sweetie. If you need anything don’t you be scared to pick up the phone and call. I wish you’d just pack up and come back to Alabama”

  “Mama I can’t do that. That would mean the boys would have to transfer schools again. And like you said it’s time I learn to stand on my own two feet. I gotta’ go now mama I have a weight watchers meeting in a bit”

  “Weight watchers?”

  “Chile’ I tell you the truth. One minute you want to take your life and the next minute you trying to lose weight. You young folks now and days. Back in my-”

  “Okay mama” Brandi interjected. “I have to get going if I want to be on time.”

  “Well okay, I love you baby”

  “I love you too ma”

  ****

  She was back sooner than she’d expected because the Weight Watchers meeting had been canceled, which by the way didn’t bother her at all. She stepped out of her vehicle feeling exasperated and walked slowly towards the front door. After the day she’d had all she wanted to do was soak in a hot bath and lay down. The music was so loud when she entered the front door her eardrums started ringing. She stalked up the staircase. A pungent smell greeted her as soon as she reached the top. “I know that’s not marijuana I smell.” She mumbled, heading straight for Tremaine’s room. She didn’t knock; she slung the door open and barged in. “Turn that damn music down” She yelled. Nothing Tremaine did shocked Brandi anymore. Including him and two more of his buddies smoking marijuana in his bedroom. The skunky smell was unbearable and her words choked in her throat when she yelled “You two get the hell out of my house”

  The two young men accompanying Tremaine both dressed in dark baggy clothes, a ball cap with what looked like dreadlocks hanging from underneath and dark sneakers whisked by her with the quickness of lighting.

  Tremaine turned down the volume on his stereo and eased down onto the bed. “What ever happened to privacy? Don’t you know how to knock?” He snapped, hiding the cigar, blunt, or whatever it is they call it underneath his pillow.

  Brandi just looked at him. She was so pissed she could’ve strangled him. “The last time I checked you’re not the one paying the bills around here so I don’t want to hear anything about privacy.” She walked closer to where he was sitting and snatched up the pillow. “Tremaine where did you get this weed from?” She asked holding the evidence in her hand.

  “I got it from some kids at school? What’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal is, you’re too young to be smoking anything, let alone weed. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. You’re getting suspended from school. You got some little girl claiming she’s pregnant by you. Now you’re smoking weed. What’s next? Am I going to find out that you’re gang banging and robbing to?”

  “Ain’ no body gang banging and robbing?”

  “No matter how much I try to lead you down the right path you always seem to make the wrong turn, and go the way you want to go. Why are you smoking that stuff? You think it makes you look cool? You trying to impress your little friends?”

  “I ain’ gotta’ impress nobody. I do it cause’ I wanna’ do it.”

  “Tremaine I’m near the point of washing my hands with you and if you keep giving me a hard time I’m sending you to live with your daddy.”

  “You always talking about daddy-daddy-daddy. I need to talk to dad about sex and talk to dad about this.” He mimicked. “Tremaine Sr. doesn’t give damn about me, Trevon, Trent, or you! If he did he wouldn’t have left us.”

  “Tremaine Jr.” Brandi snapped. “You watch your mouth and don’t you ever curse at me again or it will be the last time your tongue works.” She could feel the tears pooling in her eyes. “You got that?” Her feelings were hurt and she rushed out of the room, ran into the hall bathroom and flushed the brown cigarette down the toilet.

  A knock sounded on the door. “Mom...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Tremaine said. “I just get so upset when you mention dad. I hate the way he treats you. I’ve always hated the way he treats you.”

  Brandi opened the door and stepped out. “Baby I’m okay.” She said pulling him closer and hugging him. “I know you’re hurt and upset about the way your dad handled things but God will handle him. As his child you still have to respect him. Even if you hate some of the things that he’s done.”

  “I’ll try”

  “And what are you going to do about your grades, and your behavior at school, and your little weed habit?” She asked pulling away.

  “I’m going to do better mom, I promise. And if this baby is mines I’m going to be a much better father to my child than my father ever was to
me.”

  She wrapped her arm around his waist and they walked down the hall. “I like the sound of that. I still don’t like the fact that there’s a possibility that you may be a teenage father but I’m glad to know that you’re going to stand up to your responsibility if you are”

  ****

  The following day Brandi was a mad woman. She’d just walked into the house, paused at the light switch in the kitchen and flicked it on. When it didn’t come on she thought that the bulb must’ve blown. She changed the bulb and the light still didn’t come on. After opening the panel box and realizing that all the breakers were still in the ON position, it hit her. That bastard had called to have the electricity disconnected.

  As she stormed out of the house and marched across the pretty green grass, she silently prayed that he was next door. She pounded the door like she was a US marshal in search of a much-wanted criminal. Like she’d hoped, Trae opened the door.

  “Even with a broken heart I loved you. And for what? For you to treat me like this! You are one heartless, insensitive bastard. Did you forget about your kids when you had the electricity disconnected?”

  “No I didn’t. But you should have really thought hard before you drove my car in the lake. You wanna’ play childish games? Well I’m the one for it. I’ll play right along with you.”

  “I can’t believe that you’ll do this to your children. What are they supposed to do in a house with no electricity? How am I going to explain this to them?”

  “You are a single mother now. Do what single mothers do all the time” He smirked. “Figure it out”

  “What did I do huh? What did I do to you to deserve this kind of treatment? Tell me. What did I do?” She cried.

  “Look at you out here crying your eyes out. I bet you got a real kick out of what you did to my car. It’s too bad I got the last laugh.”

  “You think that you’re winning don’t you? You think that you can get away with all the horrible things that you’ve taken your family through?