And besides, she had too much going on in her life to be worrying about her weight. Christmas was right around the corner and Santa was probably going to be forced to skip her house. And to top that off she had an even bigger problem. The rent was due on the first, which was last week and she didn’t know how she was going to pay it. It wasn’t like she could just go in the backyard and pick money off of the trees. She’d applied for a janitorial company because that’s about all she knew how to do but that was a couple of months ago and they still hadn’t called her in for an interview. She prayed to God they would.
Just like that she’d convinced herself to crank up and head home. She’d just forced the gear in reverse when the man that’d pulled into the parking space beside her asked her to roll the window down. After realizing that she knew the distractingly attractive man sipping out of a water bottle standing beside her door she switched off the engine. She didn’t have any money to be wasting gas by letting the engine run. Brandi rolled down her window, propped her arm on the doorframe and cuffed her chin inside the palm of her hand.
“Hey Ms. Hardnett, how are you?”
“I’m doing pretty good” She lied.
“Trent hasn’t been to practice in a while, is there a reason why?”
“I just can’t afford it anymore. His dad and I separated and I had to make a few changes.”
“I sure hate that. He’s one of my best student’s. Let’s say that we just don’t worry about the expense for now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m sure he misses it. Did you have a good workout?”
Brandi was thinking, Does it look like I had a good workout? But “No” She said. “ I didn’t go in”
“And you’re leaving?”
“Yeah, I know I shouldn’t be leaving big as I am but I don’t want everyone staring at me like I’m a visible incurable disease.”
Raymond started cackling. “Don’t worry about other people. Come on, I’ll walk in with you.”
“I don’t know...”
“Come on a little exercise is good for you.”
Brandi had never noticed how fine Raymond was until now. Probably because when she was with Trae she never noticed the looks of any man other than him. Now that Trae was no longer blocking her brainwaves she could see why all the other moms were always drooling whenever Raymond was present. This average height, brown skinned man, in the perfect shape was more than enough to drool over. Secretly Brandi was thinking, I’d loved to be held in those arms. His chest was massive and his arms looked strong, extra strong in the tight black spandex shirt that hugged his upper body causing his broad shoulders to looker even more expansive. Her eyes roamed to his abdomen, and this find specimen even has the nerves to have a six-pack she thought.
Brandi pulled on the handle and pushed against the door to open it but it was stuck. “This raggedy old thing” She mumbled adding a little more strength to her push. “There” She said and climbed down from the seat.
“Come on. It’s not going to be a bad experience I promise.”
With short hesitant steps she moved towards the entrance doors. “I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into doing this. The moment I feel like everyone is looking at me I’m going to leave”
“Ms. Hardnett,” He laughed. “Don’t get yourself all worked up over nothing. Trust me, it’s not going to be as bad as you think” He pulled the handle to one of the glass doors and watched Brandi walk inside.
“I’ll be the judge of that” She told him.
“Follow me” Raymond insisted. They walked pass Treadmills, Ellipticals, Weight Benches, Bike Machines and several different types of fitness equipment. “The first thing we need to do is stretch” He turned to her and said, “Stretching is important. The last thing you want to do is cramp up. If you do you’ll wish you never walked through those doors”
“I already do”
They were now in a small space with a few other people that were stretching and warming up. Raymond showed Brandi the proper techniques of stretching and they both did a few workout exercises before they headed back into the oversized room filled with fitness equipment. “Where do you want to start?” He asked.
“Let’s start with the treadmill”
And that’s where they headed.
Raymond turned on Brandi’s treadmill. “What you’re going to want to do is walk as fast as you can for at least two minutes. Make sure you walk at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Then you should jog for two minutes. Try to keep going back and forth for at least fifteen minutes.”
She stepped on, “I’ll try” she said. Once she’d adjusted the speed on the digital control board she started walking. Raymond was right, the environment wasn’t bad at all. She pushed in the arrow that accelerated the speed and increased her pace.
Raymond turned to her. He was running on the treadmill adjacent to hers. “See it’s not that bad after all” He smiled.
She smiled too, something she’d forgotten she knew how to do. “I’m glad I took your advice and decided to come in.”
“Look at you, you should be proud of yourself.”
She increased the speed again and now she was practically running. “It’s feels good to”
About ten minutes into her run things started to get blurry, everyone and everything started to look like a great big puff of fog.
Brandi staggered down to the track of the treadmill.
“Can you hear me?” She heard people asking her as she came too. Her vision was still unclear and she was so weak. She wondered why all these people were surrounding her as if she was a celebrity? And why’d look like everyone there had an identical twin?
“Thank God you’re okay” She heard Raymond say.
She was trying to get up.
“No...no, you need to lie down. You were out for about five minutes. The paramedics are on the way.” A white man who she assumed was the manager said.
“I’m fine” Brandi insisted, trying to get from the floor. “A little embarrassed but I’m fine.” It seemed that everyone in the gym had formed a huddle around her and had focused all of their attention on her, the fat woman that had fainted in the gym.
“Ms. Hardnett I think that you need to listen to the manager. It’s not a good idea for you to drive.”
“I said I’m fine” She said, finally able to pull herself up. “So just mind your own business and move out of my way.” She forced her way out of the huddle and headed for the door. She felt weak and nauseous but did her best not to show it. Harold and the manager were following closely behind her. “Mam. I can’t let you leave knowing that you fainted in here. It’s our Company’s policy.” The man explained.
She’d reached the entrance of the gym and was standing in front of the two doors when she saw two paramedics jump out of an ambulance truck. “For the fifth time I’m fine.” She yelled to the manager. “So screw you and your company’s policy”
“He just wants to be sure that you’re alright Ms. Hardnett” Raymond explained. “There is no harm in that. Something could seriously be wrong”
“I can’t go to the hospital. I have to pick up Trent from daycare and I have to be home when the twins get there from school.”
“Ms. Hardnett. I’ll do all of that for you. If you’ll call the program director of the daycare he attends and let them know that Raymond Flinch is coming to pick up your son. I’ll be happy to do it. And I have no problem stopping by to get the twins. But you need to go to the hospital.”
Brandi calmed down and decided to take Raymond’s advice and left with the paramedics.
****
The hospital was uncomfortably cold and Brandi was sitting in an even more uncomfortable chair that clearly wasn’t designed for heavyset people, answering questions being asked by an LPN. She’d grown impatient and was really working on the nurse’s nerves. The poor woman had lost count of how many times Brandi had insisted that she was fine and that fainting was no big deal. “Maybe you’r
e right. Maybe there is nothing wrong. But we have to run a few tests to be sure” the nurse said wrapping the blood pressure cuff around Brandi’s arm.
While the cuff tightened, Brandi wondered who’d take care of her kids if something was wrong? She couldn’t depend on Trae and she wouldn’t dare leave them home alone over night.
“Your blood pressure is very low.” The nurse said taking off the pressure cuff. “Follow me” The woman led them to a private room. and assisted Brandi inside. Then she moved across the room, grabbed a gown out of the cabinet and handed it to Brandi. “You’re going to need to change” She said. “ If you go back out into the hallway the restroom will be the second door to your left. The doctor will be in here to see you shortly” and she headed to her next destination.
****
Hours later, Brandi was restless. After all of the diagnostic test, why wouldn’t she be? Her cholesterol level was high, her blood pressure was low and during her breast exam she learned that she had a lump.
She sat close to the edge of the gurney; posture slightly slumped as she looked towards the knock coming from the other end of the door.
Raymond slipped between the crack. “The nurse said you wanted to see me. Is everything okay?”
Brandi stared at her hands before using them to wipe away her tears. “You were right” She said in a flat monotone voice. “There is something going on with me”
“It’s not anything serious is it? They can fix it right?”
“They found a lump in my breast”
Raymond had a difficult time forming a response because he didn’t know what to say. A thick lump settled in his throat. “Ms. Hardnett, I’m-…I’m so sorry! I don’t…I don’t know-”
“You don’t know what to say. It’s okay” She said finally looking at him. “I don’t know what to tell myself. I don’t even know how to convince myself that everything is going to be alright.”
“Do they think that it’s cancerous?”
“They don’t know”
“Well don’t claim it. It may not even be anything serious.”
“With my luck I’d be lucky if it’s not in an aggressive stage by now.”
“Don’t say that” Raymond said sitting down beside Brandi. “Is there anything that I can do. I mean I know you hardly know me and everything but I want to help you in any way that I can. That is, if that’s okay with you.”
“You’ve done more than enough and you don’t have to hang around. I’m sure that you have a family that’s wondering where you’ve been all day.”
“I don’t have a family and there isn’t anywhere that I’d rather be than right here. Right now is when you need someone the most. Is there anything that I can go and get you? Anything you want? Water? Soda?”
“The one thing that I want no one is going to be able to give me.”
“What’s that?”
“A fresh start. A chance to reverse the decisions I made in my life. And more time” Brandi let out an uncontrollable sob, dropping her head into her hands. “I want more time with my kids. A second chance to be the mother that they deserve” She said looking back up at Raymond. “More time to make up for my mistakes. And mistakes that I allowed their father to make.” She cried. “The twins will be graduating high school next year. And Trent, he’s still so young. They need their mother. My children need me. I just want more time to be with them. Have you ever felt like you was falling, and even a parachute couldn’t save you? That’s exactly how I feel.”
“Mrs. Hardnett, do you believe in God?”
“Yes”
“There is power behind that name and I’m a firm believer that God will have the final say in how much time you have left. He’s the only person that can save you from drowning.”
“I’m probably the last person he’ll want to give more time. I haven’t exactly done right by him lately.”
“Ms. Hardnett God doesn’t hold grudges.” Raymond explained. “If that were the case no one would go to heaven. We’ve all done something that wasn’t right in God’s eyes.”
“You do have a point.” She agreed. “If the test proves that the lump is cancerous, how on earth am I going to tell my children that their mommy is battling cancer?” Brandi sprang up from the bed. “Oh shoot! I forgot to call the school and let them know that you’d be picking up Trent” She was searching for her mobile. “You need to get a move on it, they’ll be closing in a bit. I’ll text you the address.”
Raymond pulled to his feet. “What about the twins?”
“We live in ColdWater Creek on Sommerset Drive. The address is 5432. They should be there by now.”
“Okay I’ll be back shortly” He said walking towards the door.
“Thanks Raymond, for insisting that I come here today and for everything that you’ve done today.”
He turned to her before opening the door. “My pleasure” He smiled.
****
Signing Trent out of Childcare didn’t go as smoothly as he’d expected but after having his prints taken, and answering a series of questions Trent was released into his care. Now the wheels of his SUV were coasting down Sommerset Drive. His eyes were searching for the numbers 5432.
“That’s our house right there. Turn right there” Trent said from the backseat.
Raymond whipped his vehicle into the driveway, rolling to a stop right in front of the garage. ColdWater Creek was an elegant upscale neighborhood community and the house in front him was definitely one of the most charming houses in the neighborhood. Raymond shut the engine off and turned to Trent, who was busy unbuckling the straps of his car seat.
Tremaine opened the door seconds after the doorbell chimed. “Who are you and what are you doing with my brother?” He asked. “What’ up Trent”
Trent smiled bashfully at his big brother.
“I’m a friend of your mother”
“And? That doesn’t explain why you’re here and she isn’t”
“Your mother had an emergency and she asked me to stop by and check on things. You guys okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?”
“Listen ahhh, Trent says he’s hungry we’re going to go and grab a bite to eat, you and your brother want to come?”
“As long as you’re buying.”
“Well let’s get going.”
“Yo Trevon.” Tremaine yelled over his shoulders.
Trevon came jogging down the staircase. “What are you yelling for?”
“This man right here says that he’s mom’s friend and he wants to take us to grab something to eat.”
“Where is mom?”
“Your mother had an emergency.” Raymond explained.
“What type of emergency?” Trevon quizzed.
“She’ll talk to you guys about it. In the meantime I’m starving.”
“Well I don’t know about you Trevon but I’m starving so I’m going to roll with them” Tremaine joked.
“Don’t count me out I’m hungry too.”
“Ya-ay-y we’re going to McDonalds” Trent shouted with joy.
“McDonalds” Tremaine hissed. “You look like you can at least afford Applebee’s, Carraba’s Italian Grill or something.”
“I know right” Trevon agreed.
As the four of them headed to the car Trae headed over from next-door, looking and walking like a mad man.
“Nigga what the fuck are you doing at my house?”
“Excuse me?” Raymond asked a little bamboozled.
“You heard what I asked Nigga! What in the hell are you doing at my house?”
“Look I didn’t know this was your house I’m just doing a favor for a friend.”
“It’s not his house anymore” Trevon blurted out.
“Shut your mouth you dick loving son of a bitch” Trae shouted.
“Man watch your mouth” Raymond declared. Trent was horrified enough. He could tell because since the moment Trae had approached them Trent had a tight grip on his leg. “These kids don’t need to
here you talking like that. You boys go ahead and get in the car, take Trent with you.”
“Where in the hell do you think that you taking my boys?”
“What’s it to you?” Trevon snapped.
Before Raymond could stop him, Trae went ballistic and charged at Trevon grabbing him by the neck and lifting him from the ground.
“He’s just a kid man, let him go” Raymond said trying to pull Trae away from Trevon.
“Who in the hell do you think that you talking to faggot boy? I’m still your daddy. I brought you in this world and I can damn sure take you out.”
That’s when Tremaine Jr. started jabbing his father. “Let my brother go” He was screaming.
“Daddy stoppppp” Trent cried fearfully.
Raymond was finally able to break Trae away from Trevon. Trevon fell to the ground gasping for air. “What is your problem man?” Raymond roared. “That’s a kid you just treated like a grown man. You lucky I’m a Christian because I’d show you what happens to Grown men that likes to pick fights with boys.”
“He wants to talk to me like he’s a grown man. I’m going to treat him like one” Trae shot back.
Tremaine Jr. was helping his brother up from the ground. “You’ve never given a damn about us and now that you see another man over here you want to run over here and play the daddy role. You are nothing but a sorry excuse for a man and I’m glad that you left.” He shouted.
Trae tried his best to charge Tremaine but Raymond had a lock on him that he couldn’t break away from.
Trent had been screaming the entire time.
“Let him go because I’m going to say what I’ve been wanting to say for a long time. What kind of man walks out on his family? What kind of man beats a woman? What kind of man treats his family the way that you’ve treated us? What kind of man comes home from work and doesn’t say two words to his children? You’re not a real man. Most men want their children to see them as their hero. You’ll never be my hero. Heroes have noble qualities. The one thing that you lack. I never want to be like you because you’re not a real man. Real men take care of their families, no matter how tough things get, they stick around. They don’t run away like a scared little boy.” Tremaine continued.
Unfaithful Ties Page 33