Scarlett 3

by Tiece

  “I’m outside,” Mrs. Grand stated. “You know I have to get this car back by three o’clock.”

  “I know,” Sheila said. “I’m on the way out.” She grabbed her purse, and then looked over at Jay. “Come on, now.”

  ____________________

  Twenty minutes later, Sheila looked over at her mom as she drove in silence like she had a mind full of thoughts. “You’re looking good, Mommy.” she said.

  “Thanks, baby,” Mrs. Grand responded.

  “You seem like you have more on your mind than Dad cheating. Did this trip not clear some things up for you? You are moving back home, right?”

  “Yes, I’m moving back home. I just realized that life is short and I don’t wanna spend it running behind your father. I’ve always thought that he was cheating and maybe he wasn’t, but I had to know that if I kept looking for something that I’d find it.” She said, turning on her signal light to turn in the parking lot of the rental place. Her eyes widened. “And God knows that I wasn’t looking for this.” Sheila looked at her with a frown. “Sheila, that’s the car right there that I saw that night pulling out of the park.”

  “Oh my God, Mom,” Sheila said, shaking her head. “When they make one car they make another one.”

  “I’m telling you, that’s the car.” She said, going right back into her possessive mode. Sheila shook her head as they parked.

  “Don’t go in this place acting a fool. You hear me, Mom?” Sheila said as they got out of the car and headed inside the rental place. While they were walking, Mrs. Grand’s eyes were fixated on the car.

  “I hear you,” she said as Sheila opened the door up to the rental place walking in with Mrs. Grand anxiously on her heels.

  Five minutes into the conversation about returning the rental car, Mrs. Grand was already trying to dig for information concerning the car outside.

  “You seem like a really sweet girl.” Mrs. Grand smiled. “Is this all you do for a living?”

  “Mom,” Sheila said with a serious smile, attempting to put a stop to her prying.

  Mrs. Grand ignored her as she listened to the representative. “I work here and I’m also in school.”

  “Would you like a little side money to put in your pockets?” Mrs. Grand eagerly asked.

  “Sure,” the representative stated. “Who wouldn’t like to make extra money, right? I have books to pay for.”

  Mrs. Grand pulled out her wallet. “I’ll give you two hundred dollars if you tell me who rented that car about two months ago.” She pointed out the door.

  “Huh?” The girl questioned then frowned as she peered out the window of the rental place. “What car?”

  “The metallic blue Audi S4,” she quickly answered, knowing her cars all too well.

  “Mom,” Sheila said, looking at her side-eyed. “What are you doing?”

  Mrs. Grand ignored her daughter. “Come on. I’ll give you two hundred dollars right now if you just give me a name of the people who rented this car around two months ago.”

  The girl looked as if she wanted to take the money, but she wouldn’t give in. “I’m sorry ma’am, but I can’t give out information like that.”

  “Yes you can if you want these two hundred dollars.” Mrs. Grand stated.

  “I’m sorry ma’am.” The representative said as she looked from one to the other.

  Mrs. Grand flipped through her wallet, but all she had was charge cards, no more cash. “Sheila, let me borrow a couple of hundred dollars until we go to the ATM.”

  “No,” Sheila impatiently responded. “You’re embarrassing me and I don’t have any money on me, anyway.”

  Mrs. Grand was desperate. “Check your wallet.”

  “Mom, go get in the car,” Sheila insisted, like she was a child being scolded. “I’ll finish signing your paperwork.” Mrs. Grand just stood there looking distressed. “Mom, please go get in the car.” Finally, Mrs. Grand unhappily exited the rental car place.

  Sheila looked at the girl with a smile. “I’m so sorry. My mom can be persistent at times.”

  “It’s okay,” the representative stated.

  “But, uh,” Sheila said, pulling out her wallet and flipping off five one hundred dollar bills. “Can you give me that information? It’ll be between us.” She said. The girl looked at her then she looked at the crispy new one hundred dollar bills.

  “I don’t know,” the girl said, looking around to make sure that no one was standing over her shoulder.

  “Nobody has to know. I promise.” Sheila said, looking around an empty office. She then added another one hundred dollar bill to the total. Mrs. Grand was making her just as anxious to know what was going on by the way that she was acting.

  Five minutes later, the girl had called off three names that Sheila wasn’t familiar with, plus they were all men then…

  “Adonis Jones,” the representative called out.

  Sheila’s eyes widened. There was only one person in the world that she knew by that name. “Adonis Jones, you say?”

  “Yeah, he had someone pick up the car, though. She is also on the paperwork as a driver.”

  Sheila frowned. “Who might that be?” She questioned.

  “Uh, someone name Scarlett Harper.”

  ____________________

  Sheila got inside the car with her mom. She was fuming inside, because things were starting to add up. She couldn’t believe that Scarlett was seeing her dad behind their backs. She was a conniving, scheming little bitch and Sheila was ready to spill the beans on her ass. At this point, she didn’t care about her losing her job or being known as a backstabbing home wrecker.

  Sheila pulled out in the street as she drove in silence for a moment. “Mom, I have something to tell you.”

  Mrs. Grand sadly looked over at her daughter. “I have breast cancer and it’s progressing.”

  Sheila’s eyes widened and immediately filled with tears. “You have what, Mom?”

  “That’s the reason why I went out of town. I needed to get a second opinion.”

  “Mom,” Sheila sadly said, feeling distraught by hearing the news. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t want anyone to worry. I’ve known for seven months now.”

  “Oh my God,” Sheila said, grabbing her chest with one hand and continuing to drive with the other. She was hurt. Hearing that news couldn’t come at a worse time.

  She disappointedly drove down the street with tears held hostage in her eyes. The thoughts about telling on Scarlett and her dad hadn’t even occurred to her anymore. She was more concerned with her mom’s health and mental state. When the smoked cleared, she and Scarlett would have their day and that day would come soon enough.

  ____________________

  Scarlett and Nina sat inside Scarlett’s house drinking cherry kool-aid. They were consumed in their own thoughts. Both were thinking about the loveless relationships they’d managed to keep intact over the years like it was something good for them.

  Scarlett couldn’t get her mind wrapped around walking out on Luke after they’d had passionate sex the night before. She’d also become torn in her feelings for Troy. Even though they hadn’t had sex yet, he was mentally and spiritually challenging her heart. She was so into him that she’d even thought about telling him what had happened in hopes that his feelings for her would override the unintentional tragedy of losing his cousin. Somehow, before she’d tell it, she’d come to her senses in thinking that it was all just wishful thinking.

  Nina sat quietly pondering the facts that Stephen had walked out on her three weeks prior, only hearing her out once since the incident, without believing a word of what she’d said. She was hurt. Somehow, she’d allowed a conniving man that she once trusted to come between her and the man that she felt in her heart she was meant to be with. Now, he was getting cozy with another female that was definitely no good for him, but because he was once again hurt by her actions, he’d never be able to see it.

  Scarlett looked over
at her bestie and shook her head. “We are some pitiful women.”

  Nina smacked her teeth. “Speak for yourself. Hell, I’m just downright stupid.”

  Scarlett grinned at Nina’s funny sarcasm. “Don’t say that,” she said. “You had no clue that your baby daddy would come in and set you up the way he did. I still say that you should’ve gone to the doctor and got tested. That would’ve been all the proof that Stephen needed to know.”

  “Yeah, but even explaining to Stephen what I felt had happened he didn’t believe me. Shit, even when I did think that I was getting through to him he would say that I never should’ve let him in to have a drink in the first place. He just doesn’t see any way around forgiving me.” She disappointedly shook her head. “To top it off, he’s outta town with that bitch and they actually have moved in the same apartment.”

  “So, he has taken that bitch back?” Scarlett annoyingly asked with a jerk of her neck.

  “Girl, he claims that they are living together due to the expenses and that they are roommates. Hell, she’s made a trip here with him every time he has come home. I only know that, because when I drop the kids off at his mama’s house, she tells me.”

  “She must don’t like that bitch, either?”

  “Nope,” Nina said then drank from her kool-aid.

  “I understand you not wanting to drink again for a while, but don’t think I’ma be coming over here drinking some damn cherry kool-aid with your ass all the time.”

  Nina burst out laughing. “Don’t you hate now. This kool-aid is good.”

  Scarlett nodded with a light chuckle. “You ain’t never lied.” She laughed out loud then drank from her plastic red cup.

  “Enough about me,” Nina commented. “How are things with you and Luke?”

  Scarlett disappointedly shook her head. “Luke is everything that a woman should want and need. Girl, when I say that he laid it down so good the other night that I wanted to cry, just because something that good couldn’t be real.”

  “Girl, tell me about it,” Nina said, just thinking about how Stephen had learned the art of finessing her and sexing her. He’d become in tune with her mind and body and had finally found out what it took to keep her attention.

  “Well, after we’d had that mind blowing sex I got up out of the bed and grabbed my shit.”

  “You did what?” Nina asked with a frown on her face. “You just led me to the edge of a cliff blindfolded then pushed me off. Where they do that at?”

  “Apparently, where I was at,” Scarlett sarcastically stated. “I just straight up told him that it was over. These test results will be here anytime now. I just have a feeling that the baby is his and I’d rather walk away now than to get caught up in that shit.”

  “Damn, Red,” Nina said, feeling bad for her homegirl. “I still think that you should’ve waited. That baby may not be his.”

  “My gut tells me differently.” She said. “This bitch possibly being in the picture is something that I don’t wanna waste my time with. April is conniving. She’s already proven that she doesn’t play fair and a bitch like that will make me go to jail for her ass.”

  “I feel you, because if that bitch wasn’t pregnant I would’ve put my hands on her ass that night at the restaurant.”

  “I would’ve gotten her first since I was already pounding her friend’s face in.” Scarlett commented, thinking about the ass whooping that she gave Faye that night at the restaurant. “April would’ve gotten it before Faye, just because she was the one that set that whole thing in motion.”

  “Yeah, I could’ve seen that.” Nina said, picturing Scarlett pounding April’s face in like she was doing Faye. “She still needs that ass cutting when she have that baby. You know how to teach a bitch ‘bout playing.”

  “Yeah, she better hope that I’m saved by the time she have that baby, because if I’m not and I see her, I’ma put my foot so far up that bitch ass her mama’s mama gon’ feel it.”

  Nina laughed out loud almost choking off her kool-aid. “You so foolish, gul.”

  “I’m so for real,” Scarlett commented.

  “Enough about that bitch; what’s up with your mystifying relationship with Troy?” Nina asked.

  “I don’t know,” Scarlett responded with a shake of the head. “I can’t believe that I’m falling for him, but it’s so easy with all the crazy things going on with Luke and this baby.”

  “I can only imagine.”

  “It wouldn’t be that serious, but knowing that I can’t have babies and this bitch can,” she said, taking in a deep breath. “And by my man,” she sighed. “Just tears me a part.”

  “She won’t win, even though right now it feels like a losing battle.”

  “I’d rather choose to leave than go through the bullshit that you’re going through now with Faye, just to get to the other side of the rainbow. Let’s face it. A thirsty bitch can’t accept when a nigga moves on. She has to try to make his life hell instead of letting go.”

  “You still think that bitch had something to do with Rick possibly drugging me?”

  “Listen at yourself. Nina you were fucked up. Of course the nigga drugged you.” She frowned, scrunching her eyebrows up. “Faye was behind that shit. I just know it and birds of a feather flock together. I’m tryna tell you.”

  “If this bitch was behind anything fucked up going on between me and Rick, I’d kill her. I mean, that’s reaching an all time desperate low.”

  “Well, I think we’ve found the bitch that has reached their all time desperate low.” Scarlett chuckled a little.

  Nina laughed out loud. “You’re probably right.” She said, shaking her head, because it was crazy to think of how low a woman would go to get their claws in a nigga.

  “I still say that you should’ve gone to the doctor and proved to Stephen that the nasty ass nigga drugged you. Hell, I knew it when I saw you. I don’t see how the fuck he couldn’t see it. That’s the shit that pisses me off with Stephen.”

  “You’re right, but I was still so out of it and couldn’t remember what the fuck happened. I feel in my heart now that Rick set me up and I can’t lie; it hurts that he’d stoop that low. However, if he did do some underhanded shit like that,” she smugly grinned, still not wanting to believe it. “Or something as low down as that then he’ll pay for it,” she said. “One thing about it, karma is a bitch.”

  “Yes it is,” Scarlett said, not even wanting to think about it. Karma could either work in her favor or totally be against her. It just depended on how she looked at the situation.

  Scarlett thought about the strangest thing that had happened and wanted to share it with Nina. “Hey, so since Anton has been gone, Tommy has been losing it. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he needs to chill.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?” Nina asked.

  “He came to the house yesterday to talk to Gwen. I was leaving, but he looked a mess. I hate that I sent Ant off, because it seems that Tommy really needs him. I just can’t help but think that he is crumbling.”

  “I don’t know, Red. He’s just going through the motions of killing somebody. That boy is just a baby. Most men aren’t ready for that pressure.”

  “Well, I think that Tommy is about to explode. I’m gonna go over to his house and talk to him tomorrow. He needs a wakeup call and I need to be the one to give it to him.”

  “I can agree, Red. He needs someone in his corner. He’s hurting and it probably seemed like Anton just up and hauled ass on him.”

  “Or that Ant had people in his corner, but Tommy didn’t.”

  “You’re right.” Scarlett stated. “He needs a real pep talk to keep him grounded. I’ll be that person for him.”

  “I think that’s sweet, Red.” Nina said, because she knew it had to be hard on Tommy and he needed the guidance to help him stay focused.

  “I just want him to know that he’s not alone. I know that Ant speaks to him almost every day, but he has to be feeling some type of way
.”

  Nina held up her finger to pause the conversation as her phone rang. “Hello,” she answered, not recognizing the number. She sat quiet for a moment as she listened. “Yes, this is she.” She said then listened to the caller. Her eyes filled with water as she stood up and started pacing in a circle. “Are you sure?” She asked as Scarlett sat on the edge of the sofa waiting to hear whatever news that Nina had gotten. “When did this happen? Are you sure? I just don’t understand. That can’t be right.” She said as her voice cracked in the phone. “Okay, thanks for calling.” She said then hung up.

  “What,” Scarlett quickly chimed in. “What has happened?”