No Way Out

by Ancelli

  Alicia knocked on the wooden front door.

  “Coming!” Lorie yelled. She swung the door open glaring at Alicia. “What are you doing here?” she asked, holding on to the doorframe and creating a barrier.

  “I’m here to pick up my daughter.” Alicia stared at the brunette. “Is that a problem?” She couldn’t stand the bitch, but she’d learned to be civil toward her, out of respect of Perry. Lorie was Mia’s stepmother. Even so, every time she said those words she would gag, mentally.

  “I don’t have a problem with you picking up your kid,” Lorie said with attitude. “I thought she was spending another night with us?” The woman watched her closely.

  “I changed my mind.” Alicia looked through the cracked door and saw Mia and Tiffany watching TV. “Mia!” she called out.

  “Mommy!” Mia strolled up to them and pulled the door open with a wide smile. “Is it time to go?”

  “Yes, baby.” Alicia kissed the top of her head. “Get your things.”

  “Okay, Mommy!” Mia ran up the stairs.

  “Why did you change your mind?” Lorie asked. “The girls like spending time together.”

  “I don’t owe you any explanation, but I don’t want my daughter in this type of environment.” Alicia took a shallow breath.

  “What are you trying to say?” Lorie placed her hand on her hip.

  Alicia grabbed Lorie by the wrist, pulling her out, and then closed the door.

  “Don’t touch me!” Lorie smacked her hand away.

  “We need to talk, and the girls don’t need to hear us,” Alicia said sternly, ignoring the way Lorie had just hit her hand. She must have forgotten that Alicia wasn’t Perry, and she wasn’t about to turn the other cheek. Any hint of violence, and she would fuck the woman up. “Let’s be real, you don’t care for me, and I don’t like you.”

  Lorie stared at her through narrow eyes without denying what she’d just said.

  “I don’t want my daughter thinking it’s okay for a woman to disrespect the man of the house. I want her to respect and demand respect from the person that promised to love and keep her.” She rubbed her neck. “I believe a man should never lift his hand to hit a woman, and by that same token, I believe a woman should also keep her hands to herself.”

  “Like you did when you learned about me and Perry?” She smiled. “You jumped on him like a madwoman.”

  Alicia swallowed, remembering that night. “What I did was wrong, but I don’t have an anger pattern. You do.” She said without raising her voice. “I may have hit him once, but it was on pure emotions. I would never try to run him over with his own car because he wanted to go to the gym.”

  “What?” She cocked her eyebrow.

  “Mia is seven years old, Lorie, and she adores her father. Did you really think she wouldn’t tell me the awful way you treat Perry? You almost ran him over. That’s abuse.” Alicia’s nose flared, because no one deserved to be abused. “When you are arguing with your husband, don’t do it in front of the kids. You shouldn’t involve the girls or use them as a weapon.”

  Perry’s parents had left him with his aunt when he was a baby and never looked back. Alicia knew how much that affected him, and she had a feeling that was one of the reasons Perry hadn’t left Lorie. Every time he left, she threatened to take Tiffany away, permanently. Alicia regretted taking Mia away from him for a year because of a job offer. She was selfish and that was the reason she’d come back home. Mia deserved to have a relationship with Perry, not by phone calls or vacations. Perry had done so much for himself and his kids, and this bitch was ungrateful. She didn’t care that the girls were at the table when she called him a pussy, or punched him. Mia said Perry would always walk away, and stay away, until Lorie was calm enough to talk to.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lorie smirked. “Look at me. Does it look like I can abuse someone like Perry in any way? Really?” She laughed. “That would make him a weak man.”

  Alicia twisted her lips in frustration. She wanted to slap the shit out of Lorie. Alicia herself was loud, outspoken, always speaking before thinking, but whenever Alicia and Perry argued, they never did it in front of Mia. “That doesn’t make him weak; it makes him a real fucking man. It takes a real man to hold back, when a woman hits him like she is a man. Let me tell you something you may not know about your husband. Perry wasn’t always the stand-up guy he is now. He would fight anybody at any given time. Perry didn’t care if the person was smaller or bigger than him, but they all had one thing in common: they were men.” Alicia glared at her. “Now, I’m warning you, Lorie. When you play with fire, you will eventually get burned. You are pushing the limits with Perry, and if you keep pushing him, he is going to snap—and when he does, it will be your entire fault.”

  “So you’re condoning him hitting me?” Lorie raised her voice.

  “I will never condone domestic violence.” Now it was Alicia getting louder. “I pray that he doesn’t touch you, and that’s not what I’m talking about.”

  “Then what?” Lorie asked, agitated.

  “Instead of you taking Tiffany away, he will.” Alicia pressed the fob to unlock the car. “And I will support him every step of the way. Fathers get custody, too.”

  “He will never take Tiffany from me. I will kill him before that happens.” Her chest heaved up and down.

  “Did you just threaten the father of my child? Lorie, you need counseling for whatever it is that has you so mad at your husband. Perry’s a good man,” Alicia said.

  “If he’s such a good man, why did he leave you?” Lorie’s lips curled up.

  Alicia bit the inside of her cheeks, as she tried to control her tongue. “I’ve asked myself that same question a lot lately, but you already know the answer. Someone trapped him.” Lorie’s smile disappeared. “Now, now…why the frown? You got what you wanted? He married your ass, even if he didn’t want to.”

  “I didn’t trap him,” she blurted out.

  “Whatever.” Alicia was done talking to this heifer. “I didn’t come here to talk about the past.” It seemed like everyone wanted to reminisce about the past today. “I’m here to pick my daughter up and tell you to keep your hands to yourself.”

  “Or else?” She rolled her shoulders.

  “Or else the mistake that Perry made, by leaving me, will be undone.” Alicia grinned. “He isn’t perfect. He made a mistake, and I should’ve heard him out when he came begging me to take him back, but instead, I told him to do right by you.” She twisted her lips. “And now I regret not opening my door, and letting him in. I should’ve forgiven him, because I’m not perfect, either. Perry has learned that the grass isn’t greener on the other side.”

  “When did my husband come begging you for shit?” Lorie’s nose flared and her face began turning a hue of red. “Wait until I see that bastard. Why the hell would he run back to your black ass?” she yelled.

  Alicia chuckled sarcastically. “You even have to ask? You and I both know where Perry’s heart lies: right next to mine—”

  “He doesn’t love you!” Lorie took a step forward.

  “Take another step and I will give you the same medicine you give him.” She glared back, waiting for Lorie to make a move. Her face was now a hue of pink as she inched back. Alicia took a deep breath. Why did she let Lorie get to her? Alicia was done getting down to her level, she wasn’t the petty type. She pushed past her and opened the door. “Mia, let’s go now!”

  Mia ran down the stairs with Tiffany right behind her. “Bye, Tiff.” Mia hugged her baby sister. “Bye, Mrs. Lorie!” She scampered down the path to the car.

  Alicia made sure her daughter wasn’t in earshot of what she was about to say. She’d taught her that violence wasn’t the way.

  “Keep your hands to yourself,” she said to the woman that had come between her and her one chance at forever. “Perry might not be able to hit you back, but I surely can.”

  “Are you threating me?” Lorie balled up her fist,
making Alicia chuckle.

  “Actually, I am. I think this makes twice today.” She glanced at the woman’s fist. “I was trained by the best…” Alicia winked and waved, then strolled down the path to her car, hearing the door slam behind her. She got in the car and sighed. She’d made things worse for Perry. She gripped the steering wheel, closing her eyes. Lorie got to her, but even so, she’d told the woman what she was really feeling. Alicia hadn’t gotten over her first love. Do you want him back? She asked herself. But what about Byron? He’s a good guy.

  What have I done?

  “Mommy, are you okay?” Mia asked.

  “Everything is peachy.” She started the car and drove down the road. “How was the aquarium?”

  “Fun! Me and Tiffany played in the water park…” Mia went on and on about her trip with her step-mother and her baby sister as Alicia’s mind ran a hundred miles an hour, thinking of Perry. She just nodded her head.

  “Mommy,” Mia softly called her. “Mommy!” She raised her voice to get her mother’s attention.

  “Yes, baby?” Alicia glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

  “I don’t like Mrs. Lorie,” she said, looking out the window.

  Me neither, she wanted to say but bit her tongue. She would never involve her child in grown folks’ business. “What happened this time?” Every time Mia went over to Perry’s house, she had a story to tell. Sometimes all she talked about was how much fun she had with her dad and Tiffany, and other times, she went on about what she witnessed between her father and his wife.

  “I told you before, Mommy,” Mia shook her head. “I don’t like how she treats my daddy. She yells at him all the time, and last night she was so mean, Daddy was about to leave.”

  Alicia sighed; she had to do what was best for her daughter. She wanted Mia to spend as much time with Perry, but not like that. She didn’t want those bad habits to rub off on Mia. If he wanted to see Mia, he would have to visit her at her home. He needed to set some boundaries with his so-called wife, when it came to Mia. A child shouldn’t have to witness abuse of any kind. “Did he leave?”

  “Mommy!” Mia threw up her arms, annoyed. “Are you listening to me? I said he was about to leave.”

  Alicia’s head snapped back to give her daughter a look, and Mia twisted her lips into a smile.

  “Sorry… Mrs. Lorie called us downstairs after she opened the door, and told him he would never see Tiffany again if he left,” Mia stated, sadly. “We begged Daddy to stay. I didn’t want to come home yet and I don’t want Daddy to be sad because he would be sad if he couldn’t see Tiffany again.”

  “That will never happen; Daddy will do anything for his girls, no matter what.” Alicia’s heart was aching for Perry. He didn’t want to be married to crazy Lorie, and in some ways, she blamed herself for telling him to do right by Tiffany. To this day, she regretted that conversation. She’d told Perry that whatever they’d had was over long time ago, and if he wasn’t marrying Lorie because he thought he might have a chance with Alicia, he was mistaken. Next thing she knew, he’d gone to the courthouse and married Lorie.

  “Yes, Daddy is the best daddy in the world, and I don’t like to see him sad.” Mia’s eyes swam in tears. “Why can’t he live with us, Mommy? He could sleep in the guest bedroom like he does now.” She grinned. “He is happy when he’s in our house.”

  “You’re right, daddy is always happy when he’s around us.” Alicia smiled glancing at the child she shared with the one man who would always have her heart. “Why don’t we invite him for dinner next week?”

  “That’s a great idea, Mommy,” Mia said, turning on the monitor behind the passenger seat.

  Alicia would regret what she was about to do, but she had to do what she needed to for the man that still held her heart—even if she would regret it in the morning. She dug in her purse and pulled out her cell.

  Perry, I need you come by my house ASAP

  What’s wrong?

  I need you…

  “You shouldn’t be texting and driving, Mommy,” Mia scolded her. “My life is very valuable!” She cocked her little eyebrow.

  “You’re right.” Alicia dropped the phone on the passenger seat.

  She was going to keep him away from that house one way or another. Her cell began ringing, lighting up her dash board. P&A calling. She rapidly hit the Ignore button.

  “Why didn’t you answer Daddy’s call?” Mia grinned from the back seat. “It might be important.”

  “It’s not.” Alicia stared at her daughter. Mia was a nosey little girl; she took after her grandmother and Lola. “Mia, do you want to go by Grandma’s for dinner?”

  “Yes, today is spaghetti night.” Mia beamed. “I love Grandma’s spaghetti.” She watched the cartoon on the little monitor. “Is Aunty Milan going to be there?”

  “Nope, but her baby is.”

  “I wish I had a baby brother or sister.” Mia giggled, watching Alicia’s expression.

  “You do have a sister; her name is Tiffany.”

  “I mean you, Mommy. Why don’t you ask Daddy to put a baby in your stomach?” Mia asked nonchalantly.

  Alicia chuckled over the things her little girl said. “Daddy and I are just friends.”

  “Friends have babies all the time.” Mia grabbed her book bag as they approached her parents’ home.

  “Really?” Alicia shook her head.

  “Yep. Daddy has a baby with Mrs. Lorie and she is his friend, because they don’t sleep in the same bed like grandma and grandpa.”

  “Very interesting.” That was the second time Mia had mentioned her father didn’t sleep in the same bedroom as his wife. She wondered how long that had been going on? Because then what she had in mind wouldn’t be too difficult.

  “Daddy won’t mind. He will send the big bird a note saying he wants a baby with you.”

  “Why would he do that?” Alicia was curious to know what her daughter would say.

  “Because, silly Mommy…” Mia unbuckled herself when she parked in front of the same house her parents’ had lived at since she was a little girl. “My daddy loves you.”

  Her mother opened the front door, and waved.

  “Bye, Mommy!” Mia leaned forward and gave her a kiss. “Tell Daddy I said hi!” She jumped out of the SUV with a grin on her face.

  How did Mia know she was meeting Perry?

  “Mom, save me some food,” she yelled.

  Her mom laughed. “Yes, dear. See you later.”

  “Bye, Mia!” Alicia waved, driving off.

  Alicia swallowed, scolding herself. Why hadn’t she told him how she really felt back then? Because her ego was hurt. He’d slept with Lorie weeks after they’d ended their relationship. He hadn’t even given it any time. And when Alicia finally got up the nerve to tell him she wanted him back, that they could work through the distance, Lorie, of all people, let her know that she was carrying Perry’s baby. She remembered that day. What she had left of her heart had broken that evening.

  ~~~

  Past

  Alicia and Mia were down visiting her parents and Perry for the weekend. He wanted them to stay with him and she said yes, even though she knew they would end up in bed on the first night. That day, they made passionate love.

  Oh God her body tingled all over, thinking about that night.

  She laced their fingers together. “I miss you.” She kissed his knuckles. “I don’t think a day has gone by that I don’t think about you…us,” Alicia gazed at him. “Do you think we can give this another try? Nine years is a very long time to let go to waste. Don’t you think?”

  “You are the only woman for me.” Perry cupped her face in his strong hands, and devoured her mouth, tasting every crease, and then he gently bit her chin. “Doll, I love you. I made a tremendous mistake and hopefully we can make this work.” Perry combed his fingers through her messy hair. “I don’t want to lose you again.” He moved away from her and sat at the edge of the bed.

  She knew
it was something bad if he pulled away from her.

  “I know I should’ve told you this before making love to you, but I needed you.” He took a deep breath.

  Alicia’s heart pounded in her chest. What could be wrong? Had he fallen in love with someone else? She didn’t know if she was prepared for whatever he was about to tell her. “You’re scaring me.”

  He was about to answer when someone knocked on the door. They both looked up.

  “I’ll get it, before they wake Mia.” Alicia slipped on his T-shirt and headed down the hall without giving him a chance to stop her. She swung the door open and there stood the brunette chick from his job. “Can I help you?”

  The woman pushed past her, into the apartment. “What are you doing here?” she asked, glaring at Alicia. “Perry!” she yelled.

  Alicia twisted her mouth at the audacity of this woman. “Lower your voice. My daughter is sleeping in the other room.” She stared at the woman.

  Perry rushed out of the bedroom, pulling a T-shirt on over his head. “Lorie, what the hell are you doing here?” He clenched his jaw. “Babe?” He turned toward Alicia.

  “Babe!” Lorie yelled. “You two are over, remember!”

  “Perry,” Alicia said calmly. “I’m going to walk away and let you handle your situation.” She was about to walk away when she realized that Lorie was pregnant.

  Lorie chuckled. “I guess he didn’t tell you. We are expecting a baby in four months.”

  Alicia’s eyes widened and her chest heaved. This must be what he’d intended to tell her. “How could you?”

  “Babe…” Perry went to grab her hand and she moved out of his reach, feeling disgusted.

  “Don’t ‘babe’ me! You fucking slept with her without protection.” Alicia spat the words out. “And then have sex with me!” She couldn’t control the tears. “I pour my heart out to you…” she said, in between sobs. “You said you wanted to make this work. How?” she hollered.