Fateful Renuion

by Haze, Joanna A.

  *****

  Dante knew the conversation would come up but didn’t know when. He sat around the patio with his mother as he watched Mandy play catch with his three-year-old cousin.

  “No ha podido encontrar una linda mujer latina?” Rosa looked from him to Mandy. “I’m not saying she isn’t a nice girl, but I didn’t expect her to be black. What’s her family like?”

  “They’re retired and live in Arizona. If they’re anything like her, then I know they’re kind and hard working.”

  “Arizona? Why so far away?”

  “Everyone’s not from California, and she went to the university here so she chose to stay.” He knew his mother would have her views no matter what. The best he could hope for was for Mandy’s personality to keep shining through.

  “At least she has a nice name. Better than the little girl down the street. Her mother called her name over and over one day. Nautica! It hurts my ears to say it.” She covered them up with her hands for emphasis.

  “No, Mom. Mandy is a very professional woman with a simple name. I also don’t think if she had any children she’d give them outlandish names either.”

  “So you do want to have children with her?”

  “One day…maybe.” He envisioned small brown babies running around.

  His mother made the sign of the cross. “She doesn’t even speak Spanish.”

  “I’m sure she’ll learn.” He gave his mother a kiss on the cheek. “We need to head out. Both of us have jobs to wake up to.”

  “If she’s the one, she’s the one. She definitely cares for you. I still wish she’d at least be from a Spanish speaking country. American girls…eh.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll see you next week.”

  He rescued Mandy from throwing the ball for the hundredth time. Sweat formed at her brow, and her natural curly hair frizzed up. The smile she gave him upon approach lightened his mood. This beautiful woman brought him pure joy.

  “You ready to go, darling?” he asked.

  She gave a sigh of relief. “Yes.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “It wasn’t so bad, was it?” Dante massaged Mandy’s pedicured feet as they watched a movie on Netflix. His mother’s words still bothered him. He’d kept her comments to himself, but nonetheless Mandy was quiet the entire ride home, and when he asked her about it the following day, she shrugged her shoulders and nodded. It would hurt his soul if she were really upset about it and keeping it from him.

  “For the hundredth time, no. It’s been a week. Let it go. Your mom was just being a mom. She wants you to be happy.”

  “True, but she can be overbearing.” He continued kneading his thumbs across the balls of her feet. “Yesterday she asked if you’ve started your Spanish lessons.”

  She let out a giggle. “I learn very well in the bed, darling. Aye, papi es tan enorme.” She batted her eyes and brought her hand to her chest, giving it her very best Sofia Vergara impersonation while describing the size of his penis.

  “You’re so bad.” He kissed her foot. Their last go-round was the day prior. After a twelve-hour shift, he was drained. Just being next to her was enough for him.

  “Don’t worry. I know you had a long day. I did too. No hot monkey sex for you.” She blew him a kiss.

  “No complaints here.” He studied her a while before adding, “I want you to know you mean the world to me, and I’m glad you’re the woman in my life. I couldn’t be happier and haven’t felt this way in a long time.”

  She slid her feet out his hands and came to him. Her soft skin melted against his as they embraced. “Dr. Perez, you had me at hello. You’ve hijacked my heart the moment you walked in the coffee shop.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and gripped her tight. “So what are your true thoughts on kids?”

  “Jeez, is this your mom again?” She feigned pulling away from him.

  “No. Es todo mí.”

  “Okay. In that case.” She sat up and looked deep into his eyes. The dim lighting cast a subtle glow upon them. “Yes, I do want kids one day. I just don’t want to do it alone. If I’m going to have a child, it will be with my husband.”

  Her confession caused his manhood to rise. “Sweetheart, about that break…”

  *****

  Mandy’s spirits were high in the clouds as she made her way back from lunch. She had a sexy and caring man to spend her evenings with, a phone call from a talk show about the release of her book, and her client base had grown, jumping up her income. If she lived among the story books, birds would have sang as she walked the short distance to her office.

  Dante couldn’t join her for lunch, but he did send her a nice picture of him prior to going into surgery. Even behind the blue mask, he made her juices flow. She nodded to the Hispanic lady sitting in the waiting area as she unlocked her office door.

  “You have a lady waiting to see you,” the receptionist voice called through the intercom.

  Mandy’s next appointment wasn’t for another fifteen minutes. She pushed the reply button. “Send her in.” She’d give the woman a quick prescreening and send her on her way.

  An uncomfortably low-cut blouse with D size cups threatening to spill over greeted her on the other side of the door.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Sanders. Please come in and have a seat.”

  “I know who you are.” A thick accent accompanied the words, and the woman leered at her. “I just want you to know that Dante Perez is my man, and you need to stay the hell away from him. Cause if you don’t…” She ran her hands across her neck in a swiping motion. “I don’t play well with others.”

  The woman turned on her heels and rushed out the office before Mandy had a chance to respond. Confusion followed by hurt, and then anger took over. How dare that woman? How dare Dante?

  Mandy snatched up her phone, primed to give him a good ass chewing. Voicemail. She’d forgotten he was in surgery. No way would she leave a message to give him a chance to come up with a crafty response.

  She pushed the intercom button. “Bridgett.” The receptionist was a temp filling in for the normal one. She hoped she’d remembered her name correctly. If not, oh well.

  “Yes, Dr. Sanders.”

  “Did you get any information on that woman?”

  “No, ma’am, she said she was a friend and you were expecting her.”

  Irritated, she mouthed the words, “Shit!” before responding, “Okay, thank you.”

  She let out a breath. Get it together. Woosah or something, girl. You have clients coming in at any moment.

  For the rest of the day, she sat stone-faced as groups of clients piled in and out of her office on the hour. Lucky for her, they knew the drill. They sat down and started replaying their progress or lack thereof with minimal input from her.

  Mandy half tuned in to her three o’clock, wishing they’d do her a favor and jump out the window, putting her and their spouse out their misery. The wife was a prude, and there was no way around it. Her idea of sex was missionary.

  “The bible says sex is for procreation. I’m unable to have children.”

  “The bible does say that and a lot more.” Though she hadn’t been to church in eons she recalled more than a procreation passage. “He’s your husband, and if you want to keep him, you’ll need to fulfill his needs as well as your own. Changing positions in bed isn’t too much to ask.”

  Mandy tuned back out as the wife went on and on until their time was up. No sooner than their feet crossed the threshold, she snatched up her purse and headed straight for Dante’s house. In less than twenty minutes, she blared on his doorbell.

  Her insistent ringing was met by Aaron. His gym shorts, tattered t-shirt, and hair that hadn’t seen a brush in days told it all. He was in-between acting jobs yet again. With a glance, he took in her flared nose and hand on the hip.

  “Dante!” He backed away and walked in the house. “You have an angry black woman here to see you, or punch you in the face.”

  Mandy didn’t wait for an i
nvitation. She stormed through the foyer and into the living room. Dante sat feet propped up in his favorite chair. A decent person would have made themself invisible but not Aaron. He plopped down on the couch with a grin on his face, eager for a show. All that was missing was a bag of popcorn.

  “You want to explain to me why some woman showed up at my office telling me that you’re her man?”

  The smile he wore upon seeing her faded into one of confusion. His eyebrows furrowed. “Excuse me? You’re the only woman in my life.”

  “And the woman at my office was just a figment of my imagination?” She’d been a fool before and wouldn’t be again. “You’re a two-timing son of a bitch! What is this, some game you two play? Meet women online and make them fall madly in love with you while seeing other women?” She fought back the tears threatening to spill over her eyelids.

  Dante rose off the chair and came to her. She snatched away when he tried hugging her. “You’re the only woman in my life, Mandy. I haven’t dated anyone in months.”

  “Really?” Her eyes narrowed. “So why did some Latina Mamacita come into my office and threaten me if I were to see you again?”

  “Whoa, she threatened you?” Aaron spoke from the sidelines.

  “Shut up. This has nothing to do with you,” she snapped.

  “Aaron, stay out of it.” Dante’s shoulders slummed. “I can’t think of anyone other than Elsa who’d do something this outlandish.”

  “Who’s Elsa?” Mandy crossed her arms.

  Laughter erupted on the side of the room. She and Dante both glared at Aaron.

  “What? Look, bro, don’t be mad. I’m trying to help you out.” He turned his laptop around and motioned for Mandy to take a look. “Just read.”

  Her gaze skimmed the Facebook page. The words, “Why isn’t Dante returning my calls?” dated two months prior caught her eye. Then as of the day before, “Who’s this woman I’ve been seeing him with? Answer me!” The profile picture was the same person who’d come to her office. The image showed even more cleavage, barely covering her areolas.

  “She’s been bugging me for months, man. I ignore her.” His argument made, Aaron shrugged his shoulders and sat back on the couch.

  Mandy wanted to stick with her initial discernment, but the truth stared her in the face. She glanced from Dante to the page and back to Dante again. The colored flushed from his skin in a look of horror or embarrassment, it was hard to decipher. She softened. “Is this an ex?”

  At that moment, it dawned on her that a conversation of his exes had never come up. He knew about hers, only because they’d run into him at the reunion, but none of her recent endeavors. Being around him, she didn’t care of the women who came before her. That is, until Elsa made it an issue by walking in her door.

  “Nothing long term. Elsa’s craziness didn’t take long to surface.”

  “Oh.” She dropped her head. Self-consciousness reared its ugly head, forcing Mandy to make comparisons. Elsa was tall, busty, and Hispanic, while she was quite the opposite. “But, she was your type?”

  “My type is standing in front of me. She’s kind, intelligent, and I can’t leave out sexy.” Dante’s brows knitted together as he released a slow breath. “I’m hoping she’ll see I’m head over heels for her and not let a crazy woman run her off.”

  She thought for moment. He’d shown her nothing but his affection. “I do.”

  He reached for her. This time, she accepted his warm embrace. “I’ll call her and let her know to stop it with the drama. You’re my woman, and that’s that.”

  Mandy couldn’t ask for anything more. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions have been truthful. She resigned to not hold the incident against him. But if the woman showed up again, she’d have no problem calling the police.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Mandy’s breath caught in her throat as she stood backstage in anticipation of Ricki Lake calling her on stage. Ricki Lake. Wow. She couldn’t believe her good luck.

  “Welcome to the stage Mandy Sanders!”

  That was her cue. The stage crew motioned for her to start walking. Mandy waved at the applauding audience as she nervously made her way to the couch. Ricki gave her a quick hug and ushered her to a seat. Mandy wondered if she could feel her trembling.

  “Dr. Mandy Sanders is a sex therapist and the author of Putting the ‘S’ Back in Sexy: A Couple’s Guide to Happiness. Ricki held up the hard back copy of the book and showed it to everyone. “What made you write this book?”

  “After dealing with so many couples, I realized the underlying theme of inner happiness. In marriages, people seem to lose themselves and are devastated when their partner goes astray, not necessarily through cheating but by venturing outside the normal program. You add in kids and the stress level goes up.”

  Ricki held up her cue card. “I want to cut you off here. There’s something I’m not telling you. The real reason you’re on the show isn’t for your book. Someone is back stage and is eager to meet you. Monique, come on out.”

  A skinny preteen made her way from the opposite entrance of Mandy. Her hair, pulled up into a natural fluffy pony tail, sat atop her small head. As she got closer, Mandy felt the blood drain from her face. Those eyes, nose, and even skin tone were a mirror image.

  Ricki continued speaking as the girl walked. “Monique has just experienced a devastating tragedy. She lost both of her parents on the train that crashed in Connecticut, and we have come to find out Monique here is adopted.” She gave Monique a hug and held onto her as she spoke. “Mandy, meet your daughter Monique.”

  Mandy swayed a little. She felt lightheaded. Thankfully she was still sitting down. Ringing in her ears drowned out Ricki and the audience.

  *****

  Dante watched on as the little girl ran from Ricki to Mandy and hugged her tight. What the hell is going on? Better yet, do I want to know? Mandy’s expression was of a deer caught in headlights. She’d checked out.

  “We’re going to take a quick commercial break and be right back with Dr. Mandy Sanders who’s just been reunited with the daughter she gave up for adoption,” Ricki said to the camera marked number two.

  Mandy stared at the little girl as if she were an apparition.

  “Let’s get you some water,” Ricki said to Mandy.

  Her mic was muted, making the conversation barely audible but with Dante sitting in front, he could hear and see loud and clear. The little girl was a mini Mandy.

  One of the crew members brought out a bottled water. Mandy took a few large swallows. Coming out her shock, she held the girl tight and the tears flowed. Dante couldn’t take it. How could she not tell me about a child? She’d played me for a fool. Here they were, making plans for their future, when she had a big skeleton waiting to jump out the closet.

  “Screw this. Mentirosa. Liar.” He snatched off the portable microphone, tossed it back in the seat he no longer filled, and stormed off the set.

  *****

  Seeing Dante abruptly leaving broke her heart, but right now she had bigger issues. The people Monique knew as her parents were dead, and she needed to step up. The brown eyes staring up at her ripped her soul to pieces.

  Back from the commercial break, Ricki asked, “Dr. Sanders, can you explain your reasons for putting Monique up for adoption?”

  She swallowed hard, willing the lump in her throat to go down. “I had just graduated from high school. No one but my boyfriend knew I was pregnant. He made it clear he would have no parts of the child. I was in no position to raise a child so I gave her up and went along with my plans for college. It was an open adoption. I wanted to meet the family who would get her. I wanted to make sure they were good people. I had to see their eyes. They were both so kind. I…” She choked out tears.

  “It’s okay.” Ricki nodded. “You wanted her to have a better life than you could provide. Monique, how do feel meeting your biological mother?”

  She folded her hands in her lap. “I’m happy. When eve
rything first happened, I was really sad. Then, my aunt said she had to tell me something.”

  A plump woman with long brown hair waved from the first row.

  “My aunt showed me a picture of my real mom and told me I shouldn’t be sad because I’m not alone. She said I had someone who loved me enough to give me to my mom and dad for a short while.”

  Mandy’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a large fist. How many times had she wondered how the child she gave away fared in life? Was she happy? How tall was she? What does she look like? Now, she was sitting right beside her.

  “I’m going to go ahead and let you speak with our family counselor. Dr. Eaton is here to help you through this.” Ricki cued them for another commercial break.

  *****

  “When were you going to tell me?” Hours had passed, and Dante no longer felt the urge to grab and shake her.

  She’d met him back at the hotel. During the time, he wavered between leaving her in Culver City and making her catch a cab home. Her head dropped as she sat on the edge of the bed. His pride wouldn’t let him hold her. He needed answers.

  “I was young—”

  “That’s not what I asked you. I said when were you going to tell me?”

  “I don’t know.” She fiddled with her hands.

  “Dammit, Mandy! We were talking about having a family of our own one day. You didn’t think this would ever be an issue? If you were to have my baby, would you honestly pretend it was your first?”

  She opened her mouth and closed it. More tears. Breaking down, he went to her and held her tight. Dante couldn’t continue with her in this state. He wasn’t a brute. Her body shook as he held her, and she let it out.

  *****

  The ride back to her place was one out the Twighlight Zone. Dante put her bags in the car without saying a word. The silence was deafening. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t have the answers to the questions he had. Not telling him filled her with regret. It wasn’t intentional, more so she’d blocked it out for so many years as time passed.