The Ex-Wife

by Dow, Candice

  “Last house went up this past August.”

  “I love this community.”

  As we pulled into his driveway, I took a quick glance at the quintessential Colonial with an exterior of stone and beige stucco. When he pulled into the side-loading three-car garage, he stopped and smiled at me. Looking into my eyes he said, “Good. I’m glad you like it.”

  When we got out, we headed into the kitchen. There was a card table with four folding chairs, similar to the table in my empty condo. The kitchen was large, with antique white cabinetry and multicolored brown granite countertops. His appliances were all stainless steel, but the massive home looked lonely and unloved. I took a few steps to see the rest of the place and my footsteps made an echo.

  Cam noticed my confused look and said, “I figured I’d wait for you to decorate.”

  I laughed. “Wait for me?”

  “Yeah, I settled on the house last July and since I had to keep it on the low, I really haven’t settled in yet. You know?”

  “She really doesn’t know you live here?”

  “Nah, she would act a fool.”

  “Is this the one place you feel like she’s not watching?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Do you think she’s a stalker?”

  “She’s a harmless stalker but yeah. Her whole mode of op is to tell women I date that we’re still married. She can’t do that anymore. And most of the time, I was going on dates for the hell of it. I wasn’t really into those women. So when they would question me about me and her, I usually wouldn’t fight to get them to understand.”

  “Kind of like you did with me?”

  “Nah, I knew for sure I was going to fight for you. I just had to come correct.”

  “Why were you so sure that you wanted to come back for me?”

  He laughed. “Having an older mother gives you a certain kind of wisdom that the average dumb dude doesn’t get. My mother taught me what I should be looking for in a woman, so I’m only attracted to a certain type of chick.”

  “What kind of woman is your ex, if you don’t mind me asking, because obviously you have a character requirement when it comes to women. It just seems like she’s not that certain type. I mean, based on what you’ve told me.”

  “It takes a certain level of maturity to really get the lessons you’re taught as a young man. When I met Yasmin, I had just graduated from college and I knew I wanted to be a businessman. And all the successful businessmen I knew had a wife at home taking care of the day-to-day while they provided for the fam. I wanted that. She was cool and fun. She didn’t have a close family, so she just fell into line. We got married and she was cool until after we had Caron. I sometimes think she went through postpartum depression and never recovered. The woman I took to the hospital ain’t the same one that came home,” he said, chuckling nervously.

  “What initially attracted you to her?”

  “To be honest, Yasmin is very pretty and she can pretend to be normal.”

  “I’m sure there were signs.”

  “Yeah, there were some signs, and even after we got married her personality changed.”

  “Do you think she had bipolar disorder or something?” Before he could answer, I said, “Does anyone in her family suffer from mental disorder?”

  “Well, not that I know of. She’s never been diagnosed, but she does take medicine for anxiety.”

  “Really? You know that anxiety disorder is a mental illness.”

  “Word? I didn’t know that.”

  “Anxiety can be caused by chemical imbalances, other changes in the brain, or environmental stress. Treatment for anxiety isn’t always effective, especially if her therapists haven’t fully identified her triggers.”

  He said, “I wish someone would have explained that to me a long time ago.”

  He looked slightly saddened that he was just discovering this information. I wondered how he would have handled their relationship if he had known.

  “Do you think you two would still be together if you would have known?”

  He shrugged. “Doubt it very seriously, but I probably could have handled her differently.”

  “Yeah. It’s never too late.”

  His neck snapped back. “Oh, it’s definitely too late for me and her.”

  “I’m saying it’s not too late to help her.”

  “In that case, you’re right.”

  I could tell it was still emotional for him. From all the body language, I knew he was ready to scrap that topic and move on. I hugged him.

  “I’m sorry I brought her up.”

  “Nah, you’re good. Sometimes you got to put the car in reverse to get to where you’re going. Right?”

  “You’re right.”

  “I come across a lot of women, especially in my profession because I network so much, but most of them aren’t even sure of what they want in a relationship. If I just want to get laid, I can do that every day, four and five times a day if I want.”

  “Spare me.”

  “Nah, I’m just saying. But that’s not what I want. I like having a relationship, but it has to be with the right woman.”

  I was puzzled. Either he was speaking generally or he was saying I was the right one. Or was he saying he was still looking? I didn’t know so I just nodded. “Understood.”

  “When a man gets ready he’s ready. But I guess you already know that, Dr. Blue.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He invited me up to his bedroom. It was the only place in the house that looked lived in. He pulled his shirt over his head and I stood in the middle of his large bedroom, feeling awkward. He walked over and kissed me.

  “I like being with you.”

  I was so wrapped up in the unveiling of the real Cameron Small that I had forgotten about my car, so my response to his compliment was an irritated huff. “This is so crazy.”

  He backed up. “What? Me and you?”

  I laughed. “Nah, my car.”

  “We’re going to handle it tomorrow. Don’t worry. You need something to sleep in?”

  “Yeah.”

  He went into his walk-in closet and tossed a T-shirt to me. “Here you go, baby.”

  His voice felt so good to me. Everything about him turned me on. He stood there in his boxer briefs with a towel over his forearm. “You want to take a shower with me?”

  I shrugged, because I did but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure if we were doing too much too soon. As I contemplated, he went in the bathroom and turned the water on. I walked to the bathroom door and said, “I need a towel too.”

  I didn’t want to get my hair wet. Despite having a weave with Remy wet and wavy hair, I wasn’t totally comfortable being this free with him. He said, “Yeah, go in my closet and the towels are in there.”

  I stood in his closet and looked around at all the clothes he had. It was like a miniature men’s store. He had a wall of drawers and cubbies to store his things. His cologne took up two shelves. I’m not certain how long I was there, but it must have been a while because it stunned me when he walked up from behind and said, “You don’t see the towels.”

  I jumped and he pointed. “Right over there.”

  “Oh. I didn’t see them. I was admiring all of your nice clothes,” I said. “I guess you figured you could fill up the closet since you’re the only one living here.”

  He shook his head and gestured for me to follow him. He opened the door catty-corner to his closet and there was an even bigger walk-in closet. It was completely empty. He said, “This would be hers.”

  I said, “Hers or mine?”

  “I told you that I want you to be her.”

  I sucked my teeth. “Cam, you did not tell me that.”

  “I’ve been trying to tell you that since we met.”

  I shrugged. “We’ll see.”

  We headed to the bathroom and the glass doors to the shower were steamy and inviting. I took off my dress and Cam stepped out of his boxer shorts. He opened the shower door. “Afte
r you?”

  When he got in, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. He pushed my hair to the side and kissed my neck. Chills rushed through my body as the steamy hot water splashed on my skin. He turned me around and put his tongue in my mouth. Water ran down our faces and through my hair and it didn’t even matter. Cameron’s muscular body was beautiful and he was close to me.

  I was falling in love with this man and now I wondered why I’d just purchased a condo when he had prepared this palace for us.

  I tingled all over and as Cameron washed my body gently I rubbed every inch of his torso in amazement. How could one person feel so perfect? How could he have every outrageous quality I’d dreamed of? How could he be saying everything I needed him to say? He sat down on the shower seat and invited me to sit on top of him. I sat down, and he stroked his tongue up and down my spine. My back arched as he held me in his arms, pulling me closer. His penis pressed against my lower back. I squirmed, and his hand traveled up and rubbed my breasts. Then he slid one hand down between my legs. He cupped my vagina and stuck his middle finger inside, sliding it in and out.

  “You want it this way or you want me to turn around?” I asked.

  “Turn around, baby.”

  I stood up and turned around to straddle him. I lowered myself down and he positioned himself to slide into me. As soon as we connected, I kissed him. I wanted to be closer than we already were. I twirled on him and he rubbed my back. He made sounds like he was trying to hold back. I wanted to bring it out of him. I said, “It feels good to you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You want it all the time?”

  “Every day.”

  “What are you going to do to get it every day?”

  “Everything.”

  I liked that answer so I figured I’d stop talking and enjoy him. He put his arms under my legs so he could take control. He aggressively shoved himself into me over and over again. I moaned and thanked him for making my body feel so good. I worked harder, and finally he released inside me. It wasn’t until that moment that it hit me: we hadn’t used protection. What the fuck was I thinking? Shit, I wasn’t thinking. Oh my, I like Cameron but I don’t know enough about him for this. My post-sex exhilaration was immediately overpowered by frustration. How the hell could I have been so caught up in the moment?

  I hopped off him and opened the shower door. I covered my face with my towel, partially because I was embarrassed, but the other part I couldn’t quite figure out. From whom was I hiding? Cameron quickly noticed that I was acting strange.

  “What happened?”

  “We had sex with no protection. I should be more responsible, Cam,” I said, frowning.

  “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  “Yeah, I feel stupid and irresponsible.”

  “Well, I can tell you now, I just took out a large life insurance policy and they do a full screening. I’m straight.”

  “Have you been screened for everything?” I asked with doubt.

  “Yeah, baby, you’re good, right?”

  I nodded.

  “It definitely ain’t cool to be sleeping around with no protection but we made a mistake. I think we can forgive ourselves. What do you think?”

  He hugged me and I nodded on his chest. I wanted to see that life insurance policy, but I figured I might as well have a good night’s sleep and not worry about it. I’d already interrupted our enjoyment.

  We lay in his king-size bed and he held me close. “It’s OK, Ayana. I’m good.”

  Seconds passed and Cameron was snoring in my ear. Ugh! I guess he’s not perfect, but he is damn sure close, I thought with a smile on my face.

  The sun had barely peeked through the window when Cameron hopped up. He told me that he had several listings to show and that he was trying to make a move on some land. Basically, it was time for me to go. I thought that was a pleasant way to explain it, but I understood. It’s good to have someone as busy as I am. Most men can’t understand my schedule or give me space so this was a breath of fresh air. I smiled. “Cool. I’m going to need you to take me to my sister’s house. She has my extra house key and I can get her single-chick car.”

  He laughed. “Single-chick car, huh?”

  “Yeah, she and her husband said they weren’t having kids for five years after they got married. Baby number one came nine months later. Her BMW coupé sits in the garage because she won’t let it go.”

  “That’s funny.”

  “It’s going to come in handy today.”

  “Just let me know. You can borrow the Audi if you need to.”

  “It’s no problem. My sister’s car is in the garage dying to be driven.”

  Cameron put on a pair of khaki dress pants and a white tailored dress shirt. He left the top buttons open. His cologne smelled edible. I looked at him proudly as we walked out of his bedroom and down the right side of the double stairway that led to the empty foyer. I joked, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was just a house you were showing and you decided to sneak me in.”

  “That’s a good idea, but luckily, I’m not that guy.”

  “OK, I trust you.”

  “I’m glad you do.”

  We headed back to town. Close to eight in the morning, I received a call from the detective telling me that my car had been taken to the pound and I could pick it up on Monday morning. Cam asked, “Where did they find it?”

  The detective said, “In Sage Hill Shopping Center on Briarcliff Road.”

  Cam squinted and looked at me strangely. “Really?”

  I shrugged. “That’s what he said.”

  I asked the detective a few other questions, and based on what he had been told it didn’t sound as if the car had been damaged. The keys were in the armrest. There hadn’t been any crimes committed in it. Everything was one big mystery, but I was happy the police had found it. It appeared that someone had swiped the keys from the valet cabinet and gone joyriding for the evening.

  “Your keys are with the car. I really apologize for any inconvenience.”

  “Thanks for calling.”

  When I hung up, I said, “This just makes no sense.”

  Cameron agreed. He just kept saying, “Wow.”

  After a while I said, “Cam, say something else.”

  He laughed. “A’ight, baby, when we hanging out again?”

  “You know I have a book due that I haven’t really started writing.”

  “So you’re working later?”

  “It depends on what my options are.”

  He pulled up to my sister’s house and I stepped out of his car.

  “I’ll call you later, a’ight?”

  I waved goodbye as I headed to the door and he was still there. He said, “Have a productive day.”

  “OK.”

  “Hopefully I’ll see you later.”

  “Maybe.”

  I had no intention of seeing him later. That was too much face time in a little over twenty-four hours. It was time to reel it back in on Mr. Small. I waved one last time and finally he drove off.

  Yasmin

  Everyone in the salon gasped in shock as the grille of Cameron’s Bentley nearly came through the window of the salon when he sped into the handicapped spot directly in front. He hopped out of the car dressed like a GQ model. He yanked the door of the salon open. “Yasmin!”

  My neck snapped back. He was obviously angry, but I didn’t know why. I hadn’t left any evidence that I had been in his house. Shit. It just dawned on me that he had mentioned twenty-four-hour surveillance. Maybe he saw me rummaging through his things. I got a little nervous, but I planned to defend myself. I headed to the door, because I wanted to take this outside.

  “What’s up, Cam? Why are you here acting like a lunatic?”

  “When are you going to just let this go?”

  I shouted, “It’s not easy letting someone go that you love.”

  “Cut the bullshit, Yasmin. I’m tired of this crazy-chick shit.�
�

  “I haven’t done anything. What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “You stole Ayana’s car? What type of shit is that? What the fuck? Do you have a goddamn LoJack on me?”

  I laughed. “That’s a good idea, but no. You know how I can get one?”

  “Yasmin!”

  He screamed my name so loud that it felt as if the earth shook.

  “I’m not fucking playing with you. I’m telling you now, I’m in a relationship and I dare you to keep fucking with us. I will have custody of Caron so fast your fucking head will spin. I will have your ass psycho-evaluated because I’m convinced you’re crazy.”

  “So you’re in a relationship? You come here to yell and scream at me because you’re in a relationship? You want to take my son from me. Fuck you, Cam. No other bitch is raising my son!”

  “Keep acting like you’re crazy and see what happens. I’ve done nothing but respect you and this is my payback? It’s over, Yasmin. Leave me the fuck alone.”

  I started crying. “After everything we’ve been through, you meet this bitch and in two weeks you’re telling me you’re in a relationship and you want me to leave you alone.”

  “Damn right.”

  “What about your son?”

  “I’m going to keep doing what I been doing, but get me and you being together out of your twisted mind.”

  I looked him in the eyes. He didn’t mean what he was saying. Cam came across strong but he hated to upset the people he loves. I said, “Cam, it’s too hard. It hurts that we are divorced.”

  His anger subsided. “Look, Yasmin, I know it doesn’t feel good, but we have to move on so we both can be happy.”

  “The only way I’m going to be happy is if we get back together.”

  “You need professional help. I’m serious.”

  He turned around and I grabbed his arm. He yanked it away. I hated that he pretended not to love me anymore. I had no intention of letting him go and allowing him to move on without me. Everything that Cam had was because of my hard work. I’d be damned if he was going to take that and give it to some already-privileged bitch. I hadn’t taken her car, but I had some other shit up my sleeve, especially now that he wanted to grandstand and come to my shop to proclaim his love for this freak.