by Sammie Ward
Her gaze landed on Darius standing in front of her. “Yes. I’m so full right now I could just fall asleep.”
Darius tapped her on the leg, gesturing for her to slide over. He rubbed his stomach. “I know what you mean. I’m really glad you came.”
“Me, too.”
“I really had a good time the other night. I was looking forward to seeing you again.”
She sat up straight. “I’m glad you enjoyed the show.”
“I enjoyed your company.”
She dipped her head. “I wasn’t sure.”
He reached out, cupping her chin so that she looked him directly in the face. “Look at me.”
She locked her gaze with his.
“You still don’t trust me?” Darius inquired.
Trinity searched his handsome face for reassurance. “I would like to.”
He threaded her fingers through his, squeezing gently. “Were you hurt in your last relationship?”
Trinity squared her shoulders. She didn’t know him and wasn’t going to share her past personal life. “Just because I have reservations about you doesn’t mean I was in a bad relationship.”
Darius leaned back. “Excuse me. I want to make sure I see you again.”
Trinity dropped his hands. “Darius, I’m not looking for a casual relationship. I’m looking to settle down, get married, and have children.”
“I’m looking for the same, Trinity,” he said.
* * *
As Trinity settled into bed later that night, she could have kicked herself for not listening to her initial instincts about Darius. She had been fighting not to fall in love with him. She dreamed of becoming a part of his life, until he showed her his meaning of settling down. A year into dating, Trinity wanted to know for sure what direction their relationship was taking. She knew Darius loved her. She loved him and believed he wanted to marry her. He’d been talking about marrying her, but going into the second year the subject disappeared. She could soon feel Darius withdrawing from her. When she asked if they were still getting married, he’d say, “Trinity, we are getting married.” When her father and friends asked, he’d say, “We haven’t decided on a date.” It was one excuse after the other. She’d had enough of Darius’s indecision and ended the relationship. Now he was back in her life, but she was determined not to open old wounds.
* * *
“Hello, Garrett,” the familiar voice spoke when he let himself into his parents’ house. He looked up to see Imani sitting in the living room with his parents. His heartbeat couldn’t help but speed up. She was a beautiful woman; she was expensively clothed, her makeup was flawless, and not a strand of hair was out of place.
“Imani.” He couldn’t conceal his surprise.
She walked over and pressed her lips softly to his cheek. “Surprised to see me?”
“Yes,” he mumbled, noticing the curious glances from his parents. “You should have told me you were coming. I would have met you at the airport.”
“I tried to phone you after I received your phone call.” Her smile dimmed a little. “I couldn’t reach you.”
Garrett cleared his throat. “I…”
Imani pressed a finger to lips. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Garrett was irritated. “I was just going to say that it’s been tough around here the last couple of days. That’s why I haven’t called you back. But I was going to phone before I turned in tonight.”
“Well, I’m here in person. We can discuss whatever it is that’s going on.”
Garrett could easily read between the lines. She wanted an explanation for the photo of him and Trinity.
He shrugged. “Of course. Where are you staying?”
“At the Hotel Washington.”
Garrett wasn’t surprised at her choice of lodging. The Hotel Washington was one of the most expensive hotels in Washington, D.C. Imani always traveled first class. “Let me have a word with my parents, then we will leave for the hotel.”
Imani grabbed her scarf and purse. “It was really nice meeting you both,” she said politely to Otis and Ginger.
“Nice meeting you, Imani,” Ginger said. “I hope we see more of you soon.”
“So do I,” Imani replied with a wide grin. She glanced back at Garrett. “I’ll wait for you in the car.” She patted him gently in the chest.
“She seems very nice,” Ginger said when the door closed. “It’s a shame we never met her before.”
“Imani is nice,” Garrett answered.
“The pictures of her don’t do her justice,” his mother continued. “She’s prettier in person. You two make a nice couple.”
“Thanks.”
“Why haven’t we met Imani before?” Pastor Martindale inquired.
Garrett shrugged again. “I don’t know.”
“If she hadn’t shown up today, we still would not have met her,” Ginger said. “Is it serious?”
Garrett frowned for a moment. “ Maybe.”
Pastor Martindale repeated, “Maybe?”
Garrett felt strange answering questions about his private life. It was something he’d never done before. Growing up his focus was on music, except for the crush he’d had on Trinity. He didn’t find time for dating until after he became successful and left home.
“We break up, then get back together. I don’t know.”
“Is she someone you may want to spend your life with?” Pastor Martindale asked.
From that question, Garrett knew where the conversation was headed: A sermon about abstinence, fornication, marriage, and the consequences of not obeying scripture. In other words, everything he didn’t want to hear.
“If she isn’t,” his father was saying, “why waste your time?”
Garrett sighed. “I don’t know. I know I like her.”
Pastor Martindale shook his head. “You never listen.”
“Is she a Christian?” Ginger asked.
The question threw Garrett. He didn’t know how to answer. He knew Imani went to church and had a good heart.
“She goes to church,” Garrett answered.
“It doesn’t matter. Just because someone goes to church doesn’t mean they’re walking right with the Lord,” Pastor Martindale explained. “You know that better than anyone. Or have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten. Honestly, we’ve never discussed religion. She’s good to me. We get along well.”
“You just said the relationship was on and off. How is that getting along?”
“All relationships go through ups and downs.”
“Son, all I’m saying is you need to find a woman who you’re equally yoked with.”
“Let me tell you, Father, we are equally yoked,” Garrett said, voice raised. “I’m not walking straight with the Lord.”
Pastor Martindale’s jaw twitched. “Don’t you dare—”
Ginger stepped between the two. “Can we discuss this later? Imani is waiting for Garrett. We don’t want to keep her waiting. Let Imani know she’s welcome here anytime.”
Garrett gave his mother a thank-you look. She knew the conversation between the men was about to become heated. Garrett strolled over and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you,” he whispered. He nodded to his father before closing the door behind him.
* * *
“We’ve taught our children right from wrong,” Ginger said, turning down the floral comforter on the bed. She and her husband were retiring for the evening. “We’ve done all we can. We have to let them live their lives.”
Pastor Martindale removed his shirt. “It’s just that I know God has a higher calling for Garrett’s life.” He sat on the foot of the bed, removing his shoes. “I think he does things just to defy me.”
“Oh, that’s not true. Let God handle it. If it’s His will, He will deal with Garrett in His own way and time. There’s nothing you or I can do about it. It doesn’t help the situation when you argue with him all the time.”
“He doesn’t listen to me. It’s
like talking to a brick wall.”
“I wonder where he gets that from, ” she said, fluffing the pillow. “You don’t talk to him, Otis. You preach to him.”
Pastor Martindale swirled around, staring at his wife. She had never spoken to him in that tone before. An obedient wife, she never interfered with his decisions. “Ginger, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying the more you preach to him, the further you’re driving him away.”
“What else can I do?”
“Be more supportive of him.”
Pastor Martindale turned back around, removing his pants. “That’s hard to do when I don’t agree with what he’s doing with his life.” He hung his pants on the back of the chair, and then walked around to the left side of the bed. “What do you think about that woman he’s seeing? He’s not even serious about her. You heard him. That can lead to nothing but trouble. Mark my word.”
Ginger slid under the covers. “Her name is Imani. She seems like a nice girl.”
“Then you approve of her?”
“I just want our children to be happy. If she makes Garrett happy, then I’m happy.”
Pastor Martindale slid in bed next to his wife. “And Tamara?”
“I just wish she would let us know what’s going on. I’m going out of my mind not knowing.”
“Garrett knows more than what he’s telling us,” Pastor Martindale said, adjusting his pillow. “Where’s Brian? He left hours ago and hasn’t returned.”
“I don’t know. I’m trying to understand what Tamara and Brian can be going through that she can’t talk to us about,” Ginger said. “She knows she can talk to us about anything.”
Pastor Martindale rolled onto his side. “We raised them that way.”
Ginger frowned.
“What’s that look for?”
“You—” Ginger began, but stopped abruptly.
“What?” Pastor Martindale prompted. “Don’t you start keeping things from me.”
“Do you think Garrett and Tamara feel they can talk to us about anything?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
Ginger sighed. “When they were growing up, we were pretty strict on them. They were pastors’ children. We never allowed them to be regular kids.”
“They’re not regular kids,” Pastor Martindale said defensively. “They’re supposed to live their lives as I preach it.”
“And that’s why they don’t feel comfortable talking to us about things going on in their lives. That’s what going on with Tamara. Whatever is going on between her and Brian, she feels she can’t come to us and talk about it.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Pastor Martindale huffed. He rolled onto his back. “We’ve always stressed we would listen and try to keep an open mind, no matter what the problem is. That’s how we handled it when she became pregnant,” he said, his voice rising an octave as he thought about the embarrassment it would have caused him to have a pregnant daughter. He insisted they marry. His wife was against the idea, but he’d talk her into believing it was best for everyone involved.
“You know how I felt about them marrying under those circumstances.”
“What else could we do? It was the best possible solution,” he huffed. “The pastor’s daughter pregnant and unwed. I would never live it down.”
“Who was it best for?” Ginger asked. “Not for Tamara.”
“She made her bed. She had to lie in it,” Pastor Martindale said. “How can I stand in the pulpit, teaching against fornication, when I can’t control my own children?”
“That’s the problem, Otis. You’re trying to control them. They’re grown now. Let them make mistakes on their own and learn from them.”
“Tamara wasn’t grown when she became pregnant with Taj. She was only nineteen. That’s too young to be a single mother,” Pastor Martindale argued. “I’m surprised at what I’m hearing from you. You’re her mother.”
“She was too young to become a mother, but if I had talked to her about sex instead of preaching about it, maybe she wouldn’t have been in that situation.”
“You can’t blame us for our children’s sins.”
“I’m not doing that, Otis. I’m just saying we should have done more parenting than preaching. Children rebel when pushed too hard, and you know that. That’s what’s going on with our children: rebellion. Garrett is singing music we don’t approve of and doing heaven knows what. Tamara may be going through a divorce. She’s not happy in a marriage we allowed to happen. Everything is a mess.”
“Ginger, you’re not going to make me feel guilty about preaching the Bible. That’s what I taught our children, what the Bible said. I will never apologize for that.”
“Otis, I’m not asking you to apologize for preaching the Bible. I’m just asking you to be more understanding, loosen the restraints a little bit. Be their father, not a preacher.”
Pastor Martindale didn’t answer. He closed his eyes, a gesture she’d become accustomed to when the conversation was over.
* * *
Garrett stole a glance at Imani as he pulled Imani’s rented Mercedes out into traffic. Even in profile, it was obvious that she was sulking as she looked out the passenger-side window. The only sound in the car’s interior was Carl Thomas on the radio. Garrett always knew when Imani was mad at him because she would ignore him. She knew it would get under his skin.
May as well get it over with, he thought. They were sure to discuss it at the hotel.
“Let’s talk about it,” he said softly.
Startled by the sound of his voice, Imani looked over at him and saw that he was staring at her, his eyes full of irritation. She didn’t answer.
“We may as well talk about it now, get it out of the way.”
The way Garrett nonchalantly spoke of the incident angered her more. “What were you thinking?” she said after a few minutes.
Garrett grew silent. He just wanted her to get it out of her system. He wasn’t in the mood to argue with her about it all night.
“Or you weren’t thinking at all. Who is she?”
“Her name is Trinity Blake. We sang in my father’s choir together. We’ve been friends for years,” he explained. “Nothing happened. I did a show at Cadence, she came to the show, enjoyed it, and gave me an innocent kiss afterward.”
Imani crossed her arms over her chest. She remembered the hurt she had felt upon seeing the photo for the first time. “Innocent kiss, my foot.”
Garrett glanced over at her again. “It was an innocent kiss.”
“There’s nothing going on between you?”
“No. Before that night, I hadn’t seen Trinity in over a year.”
“I didn’t know what to think when I saw the two of you plastered all over the tabloid.”
Garrett had taken his eyes off the road when he brought the car to a stop at the traffic light. He saw the issue of Black Flavor. The headline read, “Garrett, Imani, and the other woman.” He’d dismissed it as he’d done other rumors. He learned since he’d been in the spotlight not to take the media seriously. It was about selling magazines. Imani was the opposite. Her image was very important.
“I’m sorry. I tried to give you advance warning about the picture,” Garrett said as the traffic light turned green. “You know how the media works. They put a slant on everything to make sales.” He leaned forward, and, without taking his eyes off the road, searched for another radio station. He stopped when he found one playing Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy, Mercy Me.” Then he settled back in the seat while the smooth sounds of the music surrounded them.
“If you hadn’t gotten yourself in that predicament,” Imani said, “they wouldn’t have anything to write about.”
“Come on, Imani. I had no way of knowing that Trinity was going to react like that,” he said as the vehicle stopped at another traffic light. Judging from Imani’s reaction, he was grateful that Michelle didn’t photograph what took place at Trinity’s house afterward. The touch of her lips on his, the fee
l of her smooth, caramel skin, and the sensation of her hips moving against his were still etched in his mind.
“How long did she sing in the choir?”
He made a left turn. The hotel was two blocks up the street and on the right. “Five years.”
“You’re telling me the truth? Nothing ever happened between you and that woman?”
Garrett took a deep sigh. “Imani, I’ve already told you we are just friends. Don’t try to make more out of it than there is.”
“I know you’re not catching an attitude,” she snapped, rolling her eyes at him.
“I don’t have an attitude, but you have a habit of blowing things out of proportion.”
“I can’t believe you said that,” Imani said as the vehicle came to a rest in front of the hotel. A valet stood waiting. Garrett relinquished the keys and his car was whisked away.
Garrett escorted Imani through the revolving glass doors and upstairs to her suite on the fifteenth floor. Once inside the room, the conversation picked up again.
“Do you know what people are saying? How it makes me look?”
Imani was trying her best to calm the quivering in her voice. She told herself that she wasn’t going to allow the situation to get the best of her, but every time she thought of Garrett and his “friend,” it bothered her…especially as it looked like Garrett was returning the kiss.
“Baby, I’m apologizing to you again,” Garrett said, giving her a sour look. “It won’t happen again.”
“It better not,” she said after a few moments. She couldn’t stay mad at Garrett, no matter how hard she tried.
“Come here,” Garrett said, taking her in his arms. “I can’t believe you flew to D.C. to check on me.” He leaned forward, giving her a tender kiss.
Imani smiled up at him. “I had to. I thought my man was getting out of line. See what happens when I let you out of my sight? You get into trouble.”
“Is that what I am?” he asked as he closed his eyes and deepened the kiss. “In trouble?” He planted kisses alongside the nape of her neck and then recaptured her lips.
Imani couldn’t help but feel a shiver slither through her. She became moist as she felt the bulge of his manhood. In the blink of an eye, she’d forgotten about the photo. Garrett’s kisses always did that to her.