I Love You But Your Brother Keeps Me Wet

by Stephanie Wilson

  I found a parking spot, overlooked myself in the mirror, then checked my teeth and nose; I was satisfied with myself. Grabbing my purse and resumé, I walked in the bank with my head high.

  “Hello, welcome to Chase, how can I help you?” the middle-aged man asked.

  “Yes, I’m Joy and I have an interview with Kim,” I said.

  “I’ll go get her, give me a second, if you’d like you can have seat,” he said pointing the couches.

  I walked over and took a seat. I looked around and seen how everything was ran. This seems like my new home.

  “Hello, I’m Kim. How are you doing?” a young caramel skin woman greeted me with a handshake and a big smile.

  “Hello, I’m Joy. Nice to meet you. I’m doing well, thanks for asking,” I said shaking her hand.

  “Let’s go to the back and talk,” I followed her in the direction of the back of the bank.

  She took a seat as did I. She pulled my resumé from the files on her desk and looked over it. I sat there and scanned the room with my eyes. Her office was real nice, everything had its place and the room had a light smell of lavender.

  “So, Joy, I’m going to be honest with you. I want to hire you today.” She looked up from the resumé.

  I looked at her and smiled. In the inside I was dancing, I was so happy to start back work and it’s something different.

  “I’m ready to start,” I said excited.

  “Okay, here is the employee hand book, I need you to do a drug test. You also need to fill out these papers. Tomorrow you will start paid training.” She handed me the papers.

  I filled out the paper work that was necessary. She took copies of my ID and Social Security card.

  “What is your top size?” she asked walking over to a closet that had work shirts.

  “Two X,” I answered, she gave me four work shirts.

  “Black pants and black shoes, it can be heels like you have on or flats, whatever you are comfortable in,” she said looking over my paper work making sure I didn’t miss anything.

  “Okay.” I was so happy I wanted to hug Kim.

  “Tomorrow we open at nine a.m., be here at eight thirty. I’ll have your name badge ready for you.” Kim walked me to the front door.

  “Thank you again, Kim,” I said shaking her hand.

  “No, thank you, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She opened the door for me and I walked to my car.

  I was damn happy, I placed my stuff in the back seat of my car. I took the paper with the drug test address, typed it in my GPs and hit the highway. When I go to my destination I parked and checked in, I sat and waited for my name to be called. I tried to call Kevin and tell him the good news, but he wasn’t answering. I hoped everything was going well on his end. I scrolled through Facebook and nothing has changed. I was about to log off until I seen Vivian’s mom posted a picture of a baby, the caption read… RIP to my only grandbaby. She tagged Vivian in the post as well. I read comments that people had left, some people felt bad for her while others dragged her name in the dirt. I shook my head and signed off. My name was called, I went to the back got instructions on what to do. I peed in the cup and signed the paper.

  “How long will it take to get to my employer?” I asked the man.

  “They will have it back by the end of the business day,” he said and signed his part of the paper.

  I thanked him and headed out the front door. I tried to call Kevin again, but this time I was sent to voicemail. I huffed. I wanted to go see him, but I didn’t want to risk running into Anthony. I declined and went to go see my mama. I pulled up to mama’s driveway, knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. I waited a while and no answer. I used my key and opened the door.

  “Mama, mama, are you in here?” I asked walking up the stairs to her bedroom.

  I knocked on the bedroom door and no answer. I walked in and the room was dark.

  “Mama are you sleep?” I turned on the light.

  Mama was laid on the bed sleep. I removed my shoes and laid next to her, feeling like a kid again. I snuggled up to my mama and drifted off to sleep. When I woke mama was downstairs. I followed the smell of spaghetti and garlic bread being cooked, mama was over the stove string the spaghetti.

  “Mama, you got company coming over?” I asked taking a seat at the kitchen table.

  “I got a friend coming by, if that’s okay with you?” she said with her hands on her wide hips.

  “Mama, you don’t need no more babies,” I said picking up an apple that was sitting in the fruit bowl.

  “Girl, if I wanted another baby that’s my business,” she said taking a glass pitcher out the cabinet and making some tea.

  “You right mama.” I wasn’t about to go back and forth with my mama.

  “I know I’m right,” she laughed.

  “Well, it’s getting late and I need to get ready for my new job tomorrow,” I said getting up from the table.

  “A new job, that’s good baby. Where are you going to be working at now?”

  “I got a job at Chase Bank,” I said proudly.

  “Okay, well check you out,” Mama said smiling.

  Mama has always been my biggest fan. She hugged me and kissed my cheek. I hugged her tight. She released me. I went upstairs to grab my shoes. I kissed mama again, she walked me to the front door and waved by as I headed out her driveway. I called Kevin and he answered on the third ring.

  “Hey baby, how did your interview go?” Kevin asked.

  “It went so good baby, I start tomorrow. How did things go at the office?” I asked.

  “Ugh, baby it went bad. I tried my hardest to fight for this, but Mr. Walker wasn’t giving in at all.” Kevin was upset.

  “Baby, don’t stress over it. I know Mr. Walker will be back, just give it some time,” I said trying to put a little light on the situation.

  “I hope so baby. I’ll be home soon.” Kevin said.

  “Okay, I’m leaving my mom’s, so I’ll be home soon as well,” I said, and we ended the call.

  I knew Kevin was going raise hell when he talks to Anthony. He should have been the one that was fighting for Mr. Walker to stay, but he was probably somewhere getting his dick wet. I exited the highway and made a left, Kevin and I pulled up at the same time. He got out his car and slammed the door. I got out and grabbed my stuff from the back.

  “Do you need any help baby?” Kevin asked.

  “Nah baby, I got it, you got enough going on. Let’s just get inside.” I closed my car door and pushed the alarm.

  Kevin held the door open for me. He kissed me as I walked in the house. I placed my belongings down on the couch and removed my shoes. I grabbed Kevin and I both water bottles. Kevin removed his tie and tossed it on the couch. He pulled his cell and dialed Anthony’s number. Anthony sent him to voicemail. Kevin called again and got the same results. He huffed and sat on the couch. He took the water bottle and drank it. Kevin’s phone rang and we both looked at it as Anthony’s name appeared on the screen. Kevin answered and put the phone on speaker.

  “Man, what the fuck do you got going on?” Kevin said with his nose flared up.

  “What are you talking about,” Anthony asked sounding stupid.

  “Man, you’re so stupid, you do know that, right? We lost Mr. Walker all because of you! You told me you had everything under control and you didn’t.” Kevin was now standing up walking back and forth.

  “Mr. Walker is not leaving. We need him just like he needs us, just cool off and let it go. His old ass will be crawling back to us,” Anthony was real nonchalant.

  “Look, I want out of this. You will not bring me down with you.” Kevin was now standing against the wall.

  “I knew you were weak, just like that sorry ass mother of ours. You need to grow some balls!” Anthony yelled.

  I looked at Kevin and the look on face, I knew he was hurt. To hear his brother, talk to him like that and for him to compare him to his mother. Kevin hung up on Anthony who was still running off
at the mouth. I walked over to him and caressed his shoulders.

  “Baby, don’t let that get you down. You’re a strong man, you can have your own company.” I pulled him in for a hug.

  He picked me up and carried me upstairs, he removed my clothes and made love to me.

  Chapter 14

  Three Months Later…

  Work was going great I was progressing and keeping up with the flow. I even worked at another bank for a few days to fill in for another employee. I was counting my register making sure I had enough money for the first few hours of my shift. I was really in a happy place, working and having my own money. Kevin is in the process of running his own business, leaving his brother with the drama he likes.

  “Next customer.” I waved my hand while a lady walked over to my window.

  I looked at the lady and my mouth was open, but words couldn’t come out. I stood face to face with Vivian. Her eye was black, she has a bandage over her nose, her wrist had cuts on them, and her clothes were way too big. Tears fell down her face, I wanted to grab her and hug her so tight. I left the window and went over to my supervisor, I told her I needed to go and take care of something. She looked over at my window, she seen Vivian and hurried me out the door.

  “Follow me,” I said to Vivian. She was in tow.

  We walked to the tables that sat in the quad. We sat down, and Vivian instantly grabbed my hands. I closed my eyes and gathered my thoughts. I exhaled, opened my eyes and looked at her. Her face looked pale, I couldn’t believe she was sitting here looking like this.

  “Joy, before you say anything, I want to say that I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, I didn’t mean anything by that post on Facebook. I wanted the life you have. You have your mother in your life and she loves you unconditionally and you have a man that loves you. I just wanted that lifestyle, but I didn’t know it came with consequences,” she said pointing at her face.

  “Vivian, I’m sorry that this has happened to you, sometimes everyone’s life isn’t all glitter and smiling faces. All you had to do was come and talk to me, I want to hate you, I really do, but my heart won’t let me. Seeing you like this, I feel like I’m looking in the mirror,” I wiped the tear that fell from my face.

  “Anthony is a monster! He beat me because I didn’t cook, like you. I didn’t make love to him, like you did. I didn’t clean, like you and the worst part is, I didn’t look like you. How am I supposed to look like you?” Her face was twisted up.

  “Wow,” I didn’t know what else to say.

  “Did you know he gets high? And not weed high, he smokes crack, sometimes he puts it in his weed. When he gets high like that, that’s when the beast really comes out.”

  “No, I didn’t know he was lacing his weed, he must have just started that.” I was trying to take in this information.

  “I have been in and out the hospital. Every time he takes me, he says, “If you tell them I did this to you I will kill you, do you hear me?” Last week he kicked me so hard in my stomach he killed my baby.” She was now crying.

  I looked at her and shook my head.

  “How did you know I worked here?” I asked.

  “I didn’t know you worked here. I was coming to make a withdraw for Anthony. I was on this side of town picking up my medicine,” she answered. “Well, it was nice talking to you. I gotta go before he calls my phone and start tripping. He even has a tracking device on my phone.” She got out the chair and so did I.

  I pulled her in for a hug and she sobbed in my arms, I felt her pain. She thought my life was so happy with Anthony, what she didn’t know is, I was her, I was that broken girl. I was looking for love and Antony gave me that, but it came with a price. Abuse. I went back to work, and time seem to be going slow. I was ready to just run up out of here. Six-thirty came, I counted my drawer, my supervisor checked it and signed off on it. I clocked out and hurried to my car. I hurried home and pulled in the driveway. Kevin was home, so I hurried in the house and told him about my day.

  “Slow down baby, you’re talking too fast,” he said placing both hands on my shoulders.

  I calmed down and took a seat at the table. Kevin handed me a water bottle, I opened it and took a gulp from it. After I caught my breath and exhaled, I repeated what I said. Kevin looked at me like I was speaking another language.

  “Wait so Anthony is back fucking Vivian and he beats her because she is not you? That is some off the wall shit.” Kevin was now standing in front of me holding my hands.

  “Yeah, it is crazy. He needs to get over me, I’m not going to be with him.”

  “We need to get you a gun real soon. We are going to get you a license and purchase you a gun,” Kevin said.

  “I have never shot a gun,” I said.

  “It’s okay, I will help you. We will go get training together.” He caressed my arm.

  “Okay, let’s do that,” I said excitedly.

  Kevin hugged me and I hugged him back.

  “I made dinner, and I have some news myself,” he said taking a pan of enchiladas out the oven.

  “Oh, really, do tell,” I said taking another sip from my water.

  “I may be able to start my own business. I went to go look at a building today, and guess who called me?” his eyes lit up.

  “Who?” I said.

  “Mr. Walker, he told me he wants nothing to do with Anthony. He said if I can get my own business and give him the same deal as he had with my brother and I, he will sign a contract,” Kevin was excited.

  “Wow baby, that’s good, I’m happy for you,” I said while Kevin handed me my plate of food.

  “Thank you, baby.” He kissed me on the cheek.

  “This is good baby,” I said while placing another piece of enchilada in my mouth.

  He laughed as he placed more food in his mouth as well. I was kind of excited about learning how to shoot a gun. We finished our food, cleaned and handled our hygiene. I snuggled up in the bed with Kevin and we watched Chicago P.D. until it was watching us. I woke up at four a.m. I turned off the television and went to empty my bladder. I got back in the bed and tried to go back to sleep. I kept tossing and turning, sleep was not happening. I went downstairs and started a pot of coffee. While the coffee was brewing I turned on the news, the reporter was talking about a woman’s body that was found in a ditch. She didn’t give a name due to the woman’s identity being unknow, but they did say she had a butterfly tattoo on her shoulder.

  When I heard that my stomach started twisting, Vivian has a butterfly tattoo on her shoulder.

  “Kevin, Kevin!” I yelled.

  He came running down the stairs with a gun in one hand, and holding up his shorts with the other. Once he saw it was just me in the room, he put the gun down.

  “What’s wrong?” he was looking around the room.

  “I think Anthony killed Vivian,” I said in a shaky voice.

  “What do you mean baby?” he asked taking a seat on the couch.

  The news was on a commercial. I surfed the channels until I found another news channel. I turned the volume up and we both listen to the reporter.

  “Good Morning, I’m Nikki Brooks. We are here at the location where a young woman’s body was found. Her clothes were torn and her face was brutally beaten. She also had previous bruising on her body, she has a tattoo on her shoulder. If anyone has any information, please call (212) 555-3474. Back to you Mark and Ann in the studio.” I turned down the television.

  I wiped my face and laid my head back on the couch. Kevin rubbed my leg which was now shaking. I laid my head in on chest and said a silent prayer.

  “Let’s go down to police station and see if we can get some more information,” Kevin said helping me off the couch.

  We both went upstairs, got dressed, handled our hygiene, and we were out the door. Kevin drove, my nerves were too bad. The closer we got to the station, the more I felt sick. In my gut I knew it was her. My phone rang and an unknown number appeared on the screen. Kevin looked at me an
d I looked at him.

  “Hello,” I answered.

  “Joy, this is Vivian’s mother, Lucy. Have you heard from my daughter, I haven’t heard from her in a few days?” A lump formed in my throat.

  “Lucy, have you watched the news?” I asked her.

  “No, baby, why would I watch the news, all this terrible stuff going on in the world, so I stopped watching the news,” she said.

  “Lucy meet me at the police station on 123rd.” I said to her.

  “Joy what’s going on, please tell me. My heart won’t let me take any more bad news,” Lucy was now crying into the phone.

  “I think Viviana is dead,” I said.

  “No!!! No!!! Not my baby, please God not my baby, my only child and now she is heaven with her child.” I took the phone from my ear as she screamed and cried. “I’ll be on my way.” She hung up the phone.

  Kevin pulled up to the station and we waited for Lucy. I stared off into the sky, thoughts of Vivian and I played back in my head. So many good times we had, we planned on having babies together, getting married together, and living next door to each other. And now look, she’s gone, all because she wanted what my heart desired. A car parked next to ours, Lucy got out and so did we. I haven’t seen Lucy in a few years. I embraced her with a hug, her eyes were red. I knew she was crying the whole way over here. I grabbed her hand and held it as we walked into the police station. We took a seat as Kevin went and talk to the officer who was at the front desk.