The Other Side of Divine

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  “We’ve both been so busy, especially lately. Me working all the time at my job, coming home and taking care of the children, cooking and taking care of our house; and you searching hard for a job. So how’s the job hunt coming?”

  Darius wrinkled his nose, then smiled. “About the same. But don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I’m working on something that, if I play my cards just right, I believe is going to come through. I can feel it. If it does, then financially we’ll be sitting pretty, maybe even finally able to catch up on these past-due bills that are dogging us like pit bulls. And at least we can be thankful that I get an unemployment check. I know some folks who can’t even get that. For now, there’s something coming into our household from my end to help out so I’m not completely hating. Looking for a job these days is no joke though. It’s hard out here; I ain’t gonna lie.”

  “Darius, your unemployment check is a blessing, but we both know it’s not close to being enough. We were barely making it when you were bringing in a full check with overtime.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Listen and hear me out: I saw an ad for a part-time job I’d be perfect for. It would take some doing, with me working full-time already, but if you would take care of the children while I’m not here, I could—”

  Darius placed his index finger over her lips, effectively quieting her. “Woman, what have I told you already about that? Didn’t I just tell you not to worry? I’m going to take care of us. Haven’t I been hitting the streets almost every single day trying to secure something? I’m applying for jobs over the Internet, which apparently is the new way of putting in applications no matter who’s hiring. I’ve been networking when and where I can, which is still fashionable no matter how high tech the world gets. There’s nothing like getting out there mingling with folks, meeting someone who knows someone who knows someone who can hook you up. I’m working on it. Okay? I got this.” He smiled and nodded his head with the words, “I got this.”

  Tiffany smiled back, her lips going from what looked like a line drawn slightly downward to an upturned curve. “If you’re sure? Because you are good at getting people to do what you want. I do have to give you that much.”

  “Oooh! Ouch! I’m not sure if that was an openhanded front slap or a backhanded compliment.”

  Tiffany placed her hand on his chest. “Don’t try to play me, Darius. You and I both know you can be a little slickster when you want to be. You have a gift of luring folks over to your side before they even know what hit them. If there’s something locked in your targeted scope, you’re going to keep at it until you bag it.”

  “So, was that Fatima you were talking to on the phone?” Darius wanted to get around to what he really wanted to know. Talking about job hunting was depressing, to say the least.

  “Yeah.” Tiffany slid out of his lap, sitting beside him now.

  “So, what is she talking about? Besides, of course, dance stuff.”

  “Like you really care about what we talk about,” Tiffany said with a sideways, playful glance.

  “I care,” Darius said with a full grin and true conviction. “You know I care. What matters to you, matters to me. That’s why I’m out there doing whatever it takes to ensure you and our kids are taken care of. You and I are a team. We roll like that.”

  “Is that right? So we roll like that, huh? And here I was thinking you were merely looking for any old excuse you can find to get out of the house and away from us as much and as often as is permissible and possible.”

  Darius didn’t care for that remark, mostly because it hit so close to home. He wasn’t going to holler though. His grandmother used to say when you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that hollers is usually the one that was hit. No, he wasn’t a homebody sort of guy. He didn’t like much being cooped up in the house. But he didn’t want to get off the subject at hand to argue the point and convince her otherwise. “Okay, so back to Fatima and you: What were the two of you talking about? Seriously.”

  Tiffany sighed. “You remember I told you about our dance director, Gabrielle Mercedes, taking a leave of absence several months back when she was helping that woman whose child had that bone marrow transplant?”

  “Yeah. You’re talking about Jessica Noble and her daughter, Jasmine.”

  “Yes.” Tiffany smiled as she pulled back her head a little. “Wow, I’m impressed. You remember both of their names. Well, when the mother died last month, her nine-year-old little girl, Jasmine, effectively became an orphan. I told you all about that and how Gabrielle took her into her home with fast-track plans to adopt her.” Tiffany looked at Darius.

  “You know, I still don’t get that. I mean: I don’t get how Gabrielle ended up so deep in all of that in the first place. Did Gabrielle know them before all of this took place or something? I’m talking about even before the little girl needed the bone marrow transplant. I just can’t see a mother turning over her child to a complete stranger the way she seemed to have done with Gabrielle. Especially with some of the things we know about Gabrielle and her past. I’m not gossiping, just stating a fact.”

  “Darius, you of all people know that God works in mysterious ways. God knows what’s ahead for us before we ever get there. I believe He places people in our paths even when we don’t know the purpose or the reason. But God knows. He’s omniscient—all knowing. And if we’ll just follow His lead, He’ll order our steps every single time.”

  Darius shook his head. “There you go again: spouting off something Pastor Landris has said. But I don’t know that I’d say God is really the one working here, not in this case. Not that I’m trying to tell God how to handle His business. But the best thing, if you ask me, would have been to not let the mother die in the first place, especially with the father having died earlier. Then the child wouldn’t be orphaned. But when it comes to Gabrielle, it just feels like there’s more to this story than what we’re privy to. I keep telling you that you should talk to Gabrielle yourself and see what more she might tell you. She likes you. I’m sure she’d tell you, especially if you were to ask.”

  Tiffany chuckled. “You’re such a cynic when it comes to things. It’s obvious that you don’t care much for Gabrielle at all.”

  “I’m not trying to be cynical. And I don’t dislike Gabrielle; I don’t really know the woman. She used to be a stripper, she gave her life to Christ, and now she’s not a stripper. But come on, Tiff, you have to admit: It feels like there’s a lot more to this story. There’s a lot being left out that apparently no one knows, or if they know, they’re not saying.” Darius looked at Tiffany. “So what did Fatima tell you?”

  “She was just telling me that even though Gabrielle had planned and even told us last week that she’d be returning as director this week from her leave, she’s not going to right now. Fatima didn’t fill me in on everything, but it appears Gabrielle is running into some obstacles in gaining complete custody of little Jasmine. Gabrielle has decided to direct her energies toward that fight, for now. So she’ll continue to be on leave until further notice.”

  “Obstacles?” Darius tried to set his face just right. He didn’t want to overplay his hand and appear too interested. Tiffany would definitely know something was up if he seemed too anxious to know. “Obstacles like what?”

  “She didn’t tell me much. Just that someone was threatening to challenge or is already challenging her rights to adopt the little girl, even though that was the mother’s expressed dying wish.”

  “Did Fatima say who that someone is or why that person might be doing something like that?”

  Tiffany shook her head. “No. I don’t know if Fatima didn’t tell me because she doesn’t know, or if she didn’t want to feel like she was gossiping—basically divulging too much of Gabrielle’s business. Fatima and Gabrielle are really sort of close. She was merely calling to let me know, as well as the others in the dance ministry, that Gabrielle wasn’t coming back full time yet as she’d said. Fatima was also soliciting prayers for them
. According to her, Gabrielle has vowed she’s not going to let anyone take Jasmine from her, not without a fight. And I’m telling you, Darius: I feel sorry for anyone who tries to get in Gabrielle’s way when it comes to that child. There’s a bond there for sure. Anybody with eyes can see that. And I believe Gabrielle will fight with all that she has if she’s forced to.”

  “I can’t believe someone would be doing something like that,” Darius said. “Trying to stop her from the adoption, I mean. Unless there’s something in Gabrielle’s life, past or present, that’s causing someone in a higher position to give pause. Like I said, we do know that Gabrielle was once a stripper. I’m just saying. Maybe that’s where the problem’s arising.”

  “I don’t know. I just know it looks like everyone we know is dealing with something these days. You lost your job when they shipped the company’s operation overseas. We were already struggling financially before all of this. And now—”

  “And now, baby, I told you we’re going to be all right.” Darius took his hand and lifted Tiffany’s chin higher. “You trust me, don’t you?”

  “I suppose.”

  Darius drew back in a dramatic way and cocked his head to the side. “You suppose?” He smiled and squinted his eyes halfway. “What do you mean, you suppose?”

  Tiffany twisted her mouth. “Okay, I guess I do.” She smiled. “All right, I do.”

  “Now, that’s my baby.” He made a smacking sound. “Listen, I need to go out for a little while.”

  Tiffany looked down at her wristwatch. “Now? You have to go somewhere now? But it’s already after six.”

  “Yes, now. Didn’t I just tell you that I have to network? Well, I have a lead on this job I’d love to get. There’s someone I need to hook up with to prove just how interested I am in getting it, and that I’m the perfect man for the job.” Darius kissed his wife on her slightly pouted out lips. “When it comes to my family, I’m going to do whatever I have to do. If it means going outside of the norm, then so be it. And if I can’t get something here in Alabama, well, I hear things are booming in North Dakota. Something called fracking, which has to do with oil, has companies begging for workers. If you don’t want me to have to go there to get a job, then you need to work with me here. All right?”

  “Okay. Because I definitely don’t want to move. And I sure don’t want to move to someplace like North Dakota. Are there any black folks even in North Dakota?”

  He ignored her question about North Dakota. “Believe me: I don’t really want to leave you right now. You know I’d rather be here with you and the kids instead of out there sucking up to a bunch of bougie folks, begging someone to give me a shot. But a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.” He tapped her on the nose.

  Tiffany stood up. “How long do you think you’ll be this time? I have dinner cooking; it will be ready in about an hour. You know I like for you to be able to eat while it’s hot and fresh out of the oven.”

  Darius stood and wrapped Tiffany up in his arms. “I promise I won’t stay one minute longer than I have to. But don’t worry about me. I’ll just heat mine up in the microwave when I get back. No biggie. And if I get this job, that means I can take you out to dinner and make up for all our lost time together. You know I love you, don’t you?”

  Tiffany frowned.

  “What’s the frown about?”

  “I don’t know, Darius. I want to believe you love me, but—”

  “But you’re still tripping about that nonsense of me having gone to that strip joint those times.” Darius turned his head away from Tiffany before turning back with slightly moistened eyes. “Clarence Walker had no business ever letting you know that. But that’s all water under the bridge. I told you I was sorry. I told you I didn’t even want to go there in the first place. I was merely trying to hang with some of the fellows from work so I could move up on the job. That was all there was to it. You know how it is. It was dumb of me, but it wasn’t even something I wanted to do.” He wrapped his arms even tighter around Tiffany. “Do you really think I care about other women when I have all of this”—he leaned back a little and slowly scanned her body, mainly for dramatic effect, then back up to her eyes—“at home waiting on me? Do you?” He broke into a huge grin.

  Tiffany pulled out of his embrace. “Apparently you did. You went there for, ever how many times you did. And if Brother Clarence hadn’t spilled it, who knows: You might still be doing it, and I would still be in the dark about it.”

  Darius grabbed her and pulled her close to him again. “I made a mistake. Okay?” He squatted his six-foot-six body down a little so his eyes were even with hers. “Baby, it was a mistake. One stupid mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. I am a man. You know how we are. I was merely going along to get along. I asked you to forgive me. You said that you did. But if you’re going to keep throwing it in my face every chance you get, then I don’t know what else to say or do. But I do know that’s not true forgiveness. And not that I want to bring this up myself, but it’s not like you’ve been perfect all of your life . . . like you’ve never done anything wrong, even when it comes to you and me. Come on now; stop fronting.”

  Tiffany looked into his eyes. “I know, Darius. And I want to let it go. I do. It’s just so hard. I can forgive; it’s just a lot harder to forget.”

  “I know it’s hard.” Darius stood tall and hugged her, then looked down into her eyes. “I know that. But I’m trying, Tiff. I’m doing the best that I can. I’m under a lot of pressure here. I don’t want to be worried about you while I’m out there trying to be the man you deserve, a man who takes care of his own. I’m trying. I just need you to meet me halfway. Can you do that? Can you meet me halfway?”

  Tiffany looked down, then back up at him. “I know. And I’m not trying to add to your stress.”

  Darius glanced at his watch. “Look, I’ve got to go. I promise I’ll be back as quickly as I can. I’m going to go meet this person, do what I have to do, and if things go the way I hope, I’ll have some good news soon. Real soon. Okay?” He smiled.

  Tiffany smiled back. “Okay. Blessings.”

  Darius kissed Tiffany on her forehead and held his lips there a few seconds. Tiffany used to say “good luck.” But after Pastor Landris preached last year that as Christians they didn’t put faith in luck, she immediately stopped saying that and began doing as Pastor Landris taught by saying blessings. She left and went to the kitchen.

  After he was sure Tiffany was gone, Darius pulled out his cell phone and texted. Can u meet me n 20 @ our normal spot? Need to c u. Important. He pressed SEND.

  A few seconds later a reply came back. Dare I us?

  Darius grinned. He loved the way she was making a play on his name: Dare I us. He texted back, Dare u us. It’s worth it. He pressed SEND, grinned a little more, then left, hoping—unlike the last time she’d said she’d meet him—this time, she would actually show up.

  DAFINA BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2013 by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publishe r, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  Dafina and the Dafina logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-0-7582-7360-4

  eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-8927-8

  eISBN-10: 0-7582-8927-8