When He Cheatin' and You Still Love Him 2

by Cachet

  Both Kendrick and Terrance Jr. come into the dining room with a smile on their faces because they love it when we play games. Each of them takes a seat on opposite sides of the table while I sit the stack of games on the floor beside me. The first up is Monopoly Deal. It is one of Kendrick’s favorite games to play because most of the time he’s usually the one who wins. We go back and forth with that one for close to an hour before it’s time to move on to UNO which is Terrance Jr’s favorite. The last game for the night is Sorry. I busted their heads as I’m the first to get all four of my pawns home before they get a chance to. After kicking their butts for the fifth time both boys are yawning, and ready to turn in. Even though it’s after midnight, I’m not sure if they are actually sleepy or bored by getting whipped. Either way, we wrap up the game.

  While I clean up the mess, I instruct each of them to head upstairs and take showers so they can go to bed. Once I’m finished putting the games back, I vacuum the floor of the living room, sucking up all of the fallen chips and candies that the boys missed. With my floor now clean I go into the kitchen and put the leftover food in the fridge. While there I rinse and place all of the dirty dishes into the dishwasher and cut it on before wiping my stove and counters off. I usually do this right after dinner, but I was so in a hurry to confront Terry that it slipped my mind. The last thing I do is turn out the downstairs lights before I head upstairs myself.

  By the time, I make it upstairs both Kendrick and Terrance Jr. are out the shower and lying in the bed watching television. I can tell that they will be asleep in a few because their eyes are glossy, and they can barely keep them open.

  “Good night boys,” I say stepping inside the room. I walk over to them and place a kiss on each of their cheeks.

  “Good night mommy.”

  “Good night Shanair.” I hear.

  “Don’t fall asleep with that TV on, you hear me?” I ask making my way back over to the door.

  “Yes.” They say in harmony.

  By the time I hit the corner, I can hear the television being turned off. I guess they were sleepier than I thought. Inside my room, I take a seat on my bed. Using the remote, I turn on the TV and catch the end of the news.

  “Firefighters rescue an elderly woman from her blazing home.” The young female reporter stated as she stood across the street from a house that was smoking. “Fire crews responded to a home on Riverdale Road on a report of a working fire, Chief Geoff Harris said. Harris said fire crews arrived to find the home engulfed in flames. An elderly woman was inside the burning inferno, but firefighters were able to get her out. She suffered third-degree burns and was transported to an area hospital, where she is listed in critical condition.” She turns back to look at the house before facing the camera once again. “Investigators believe that some type of accelerant was used because the flames consumed the house in a just a few minutes. They are asking if anyone has any information to contact the police department. We’ll have more details as it comes in. This is…”

  I zone out as the reporter wraps up the segment. With my head in my hands, I think about how bad things could have turned out for that woman. The news could have gone an entirely different way because she could have easily been killed in that fire. Things like that make me realize that life can take a turn for the worse in a split second, and all the things that we worry about today don’t really matter in the end. Now that the boys are asleep, the silence in the house allows my mind to drift to Terry. I immediately I wonder what he’s doing, and who he’s with. Stop it! That’s not your problem anymore. I mentally coach myself. Don’t drive yourself crazy thinking about what he’s doing because he’s going to do what he wants no matter what. Think happy thoughts. Shaking those bothersome thoughts from my head I remove my phone from the base and dial-up Naomi.

  “Hello,” she answers, sounding like she’s lying down.

  “I’m sorry, are you sleeping?”

  “Nah girl, I’m just sitting here watching TV. What’s up?”

  “Nothing, I was just returning your call.”

  “Well damn bitch!” Naomi laughs. “Is that the only reason you’re calling me?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well fuck you too then!” She yells causing me to release a giggle of my own.

  “You know I’m just playing. I was calling to tell you that I’m sorry about earlier. You know I didn’t mean to take it out on—”

  “Say no more.” She cuts me off. “I already knew what it was, and I’m not mad at you.”

  “Well, you could have fooled the hell outta me!” We share another laugh. “Nah, for real,” I speak in a much more serious tone. “You know I love you Naomi, and I appreciate your advice as well as you always being there for me.”

  “I know you do. I’m sorry for blowing up on you like I did. That was not cool.”

  “There’s no need—”

  “No, let me say this. I know that I can come on strong sometimes when it comes to Terry, but you have to understand that you are more than a best friend to me. You’re the little sister that I never had, and I hate to see you being treated like that. What kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t tell you that you deserve better because you really do.” Naomi pauses for a second, and I can tell that she’s getting choked up. “I love you Nair, and I know that you don’t want to hear it, but Terry is no good for you. I just wish that you can see what I see.” By now tears are spilling down my face. “You’re beautiful inside and out, and I know that there is someone out there that will love you the way that you deserve to be loved. All you have to do is let go of what’s holding you back.”

  “I know,” I sob into the receiver. “Everything that you’re saying is true. Terry is no good for me. I finally see that.

  I go on to tell her what had transpired once he came home. I told her about him lying, and how I told him that he had to leave. Naomi was doubtful when I told her that it was officially over, and even though I was serious, I couldn’t’ blame her for not believing me, seeing as though I’ve said the same things many times before. After growing tired of talking about Terry, we changed the subject and started to focus more on Kendrick and the baby. Naomi promised me that she and Derrick would be there for anything that I needed, and I promised not to hesitate when it came to calling them. We spoke for another hour about random things before we ended the call promising to meet for lunch within the next few days.

  Chapter 10

  Brittany

  Three weeks later…

  Fresh from the shower, I take a seat on the bed and begin to lotion myself up. The chill of the air conditioner gives me goosebumps when it makes contact with the droplets of water that are still on my back, but I don’t mind because I’ve been burning up lately. Somehow I’ve contracted the flu from someone, and for the last few days I’ve been extremely sick. My nose has been running nonstop, I’ve had a fever, and it’s been hell keeping anything down because every time I turn around I’ve been running to the toilet to throw up. It was terrible. Today is actually the first time in about a week that I actually feel somewhat normal.

  With the lotion bottle tilted, I pour a nice amount into my hand before slathering it onto my legs. I repeat the action as I move up my body. Once I land on my stomach, I smile. I just turned four months and just thinking about the fact that I have a life growing inside of me makes me happy. I can’t wait to be a mommy. The name itself is such a joy to hear. Soon I’ll have a little boy or girl calling me by that name, and I can’t wait. There aren’t many things to be happy about in the world we live in today, but childbirth is at the top of the list for me. Well, that and getting married to my soul mate. I’m looking forward to that as well. Of course, Terry and I are doing things backwards because you’re supposed to get married before you have children. That’s fine, though, we can be different. People can judge all they want, but my attitude is, it’s better late than never. Their opinions won’t change the love that we have for each other, or the way that we will raise our child t
ogether in a loving home.

  Speaking of Terry, I haven’t heard from him in weeks. Well, it’s been three to be exact. The last time we spoke he hung up in my face which was rather rude if you ask me. He must be still mad about the fact that I sent his bitch that picture of us lying in the bed. He can be mad all he wants, but it had to be done. That bitch needed to know that I was still in the picture and there was nothing she could do about it. So what if she got mad. Hell, I’m mad too. I’m mad because my man has been ignoring me. Terry will get over it, though, I know he will. When he does, he’ll come crawling back, and guess what? I’ll be right here waiting on him because we have a family to build. I’ll admit that it’s kind of annoying to keep calling only for him to completely ignore me as if I’m nothing. I know better, though, and that’s the reason why I continue to dial his number.

  Thinking back, the last time we spoke was also the same day that dumbass Daniel came over to us at the grocery store. I don’t know what the hell was on his mind when he did that. When I first saw him, I played it off like I didn’t. It wasn’t until he started to walk over toward us that I got scared. I remember fear immediately taking over my body because I was afraid of what he would say to Terry. I didn’t need him bringing up old shit, and messing up what I had going on. I was over Daniel. It had taken some time, but he was no longer a part of my world. I had left him to be with whomever he chose, and if he were smart enough he would have left well enough alone. Of course, you already know that he didn’t.

  My blood boiled when Daniel spoke to me like we were friends. I wanted so badly to spit in his damn face. He knew what he was doing. He was trying to fuck up what I had going on because he realized that I wasn’t worried about his ass no more. After he walked away, I felt Terry staring a hole in my back. I didn’t know what to say to him, so I ran out of the store. I wasn’t about to stand and face his accusing eye. I’m not sure what he thought, but by the look he gave me, it wasn’t nice.

  Later that day after Terry dropped me off, my father came over. He consoled me while I explained the way that Daniel had approached me. He wasn’t as angry as I was because he said that maybe Daniel just wanted to say hello. That was bullshit to me. I’m not as gullible as my father is, and I know that Daniel was just being an asshole. My father knows how I am, and told me to leave well enough alone. I told him I would, but he still made me promise not to do anything to Daniel which I did. I already knew that Daniel would be off limits because he was no longer accessible. You see, although we were no longer a couple, and I had moved on, I was still keeping up with him. Before he slyly mentioned him catching a plane, I already knew that he had moved to Virginia and was expecting his first child with his fiancé. Finding out that part stung a little, but like I said I’ve moved on. Knowing that he had another woman made me really question why he thought it was a good idea to say anything to me.

  Once my father left, and I was finally alone with my thoughts, I began to get angrier because I knew that Daniel’s little ‘Hello’ was more than that. He knew that it would upset Terry, and have him questioning our dealings with one another. I’m not showing a whole lot, but my stomach is there. I’m sure he put two and two together and figured out that I was pregnant. Him approaching me while I was with Terry was his way of throwing a monkey wrench into my happily ever after. He wanted Terry to doubt my child. Yeah, that’s what it was. He was mad that I’d finally moved on, and couldn’t deal with it. The funny part is the fact that Daniel actually thought that since he was no longer in my city that I couldn’t or wouldn’t touch him.

  Needless to say, he was dead wrong and I was damn sure going to show him that. As I sat in bed, a plan began to formulate in my head. Twenty minutes later I knew what I was going to do. I would get Daniel back once and for all. He would know not to ever fuck with me ever again. I was going to do it all while keeping my promise to my father. I wouldn’t do anything to Daniel because I had someone else in my line of fire.

  I waited until the sun went down to put my plan into motion. After I had put something in my stomach, I got dressed in an old pair of black overalls that I used when I painted my bedroom and covered it with a dark hoodie. Once I was dressed, I slid on my black boots, grabbed my keys and left the house. My first stop was to the gas station, where I filled up the brand new gas can that I’d kept in my trunk just for emergencies. When I had everything I needed, I headed to my final destination. I recall feeling excited about what I was about to do. My heartbeat sped up as I pulled onto the street, and her house came into view. Since I wanted to make sure that there were no witnesses, I circled the block a few times. When I was satisfied that everything was safe, I pulled to a stop on the back street not far from her house.

  Carefully I slid a pair of latex gloves on my hands before placing a pair of leather ones on top of them. I sat in my car for a moment as I tried to collect myself. I knew that what I was about to do was not only dangerous, but against the law as well. I couldn’t afford to be caught red handed because I knew that there were only so many things that my father could get me out of, and arson was not one of them. It was a very serious crime that I was about to commit, and even though I knew that my dad would try his best to get me off, I couldn’t take that chance. Because of that, I did everything that I could to cover my tracks. With my hair in a ponytail under a tight-fitting swim cap, I pulled the hoodie over my head and placed a pair of dark sunglasses over my eyes.

  I climbed out of my car, reached in and grabbed the gas can from behind the seat and closed the door just enough so that the interior lights would go off. As quickly as I could I raced across the street, looking around for any movement as I made it to her backyard. The patio is where I first started to pour the gas because not only was it closer to me, but I knew that it was also where her bedroom was. As I made my way around the house, I continued to douse the home with the gas, adding a little more to the doors and windows. I wanted to make sure that the bitch couldn’t get out of the house without getting burned the hell up in the process.

  When the can was empty, and the house was completely surrounded by gas, I tightened the cap on the can, pulled out the book of matches, and struck one. As I stood there once again in the backyard with the small flame flickering on top of the match, I thought, Are you really going to do this? A few seconds had gone by before I answered myself with, Hell yeah, this is what the bitch and her shit starting ass grandson deserves before I tossed the match into the patio area. All I heard was a whoosh sound, as I watched the flames suddenly come to life. It immediately created a blazing ring around the house. With the gas can gripped in my hand, I hauled ass back to my car as fast as I could. When I got there, I tossed it into the passenger seat and cranked up the engine. As I pulled away slowly, I watched as the house continued to burn with a smile on my face.

  When I was a few miles away from my apartment, I pulled to a stop behind a restaurant that was closed for the evening. I hopped out and discarded everything that I had used during the crime before burning the latex gloves. I was pretty sure that Daniel would put two and two together, and I didn’t want the police to find anything that would connect me to the fire. Clad in nothing but a pair of leggings, a t-shirt, and some flip flops, I parked in the lot in front of my apartments and just sat in my car. I smiled because I was truly satisfied with myself.

  When I found out from the news that night that the firefighters were able to pull Daniel’s old senile ass grandmother from the fire, my heart broke. I was counting on the fact that she would perish right along with that raggedy ass house of hers, but I guess I can’t have all the luck. Knowing that she’s in critical condition with burns covering forty percent of her body is good enough for me because now I know she can’t look down her nose on me anymore. She’ll be too busy trying to cover that burned up ass body of hers. For as long as I can remember, Mrs. Wade always had something negative to say about me and my family. Even though I came from a good two-parent household, she never thought I was good enough for Daniel.
Never did she once stop to think that maybe it was he that wasn’t good enough for me. I was always the ‘spoiled bitch’, who would try to take her baby from her. If she could only see me now, she would know that Daniel is the furthest thing from my mind. She can have her baby because he’s old news.

  Just like I expected, Daniel tried to pin the fire on me. A few days later two detectives came to my apartment. When I answered the door, I pretended to be surprised by their visit. They asked me a couple questions about the fire, and where I was at the time of it, and I answered them as if I were telling the truth. Once they found out who my father was, their visit turned into more of a friendly one. They explained to me that it was Daniel who basically named me because he figured I was upset with our run in that day. Again, I pretended as if I had no clue what they were talking about. We wrapped up our conversation, and they thanked me for my time before they left. Since Daniel didn’t have any evidence to prove that it was me who burned down his grandmother’s house, I wasn’t named as a suspect, and since then the case has gone cold.

  The sound of the doorbell snaps me out of my thoughts. I pull a nightshirt over my head, grab a twenty dollar bill that I left on the nightstand and shuffle into the living room. After telling the Chinese delivery boy to keep the change, I close the door and head into the kitchen. With my dinner on my plate, I walk over to the fridge and see what I have to drink. My eyes scan across everything inside, before landing on a bottle of wine. At first, I start to just grab some water, but I remember my doctor said that I could safely have a glass of wine a day. Since I haven’t had anything to drink during this pregnancy, I grab the wine and pour me a glass before taking a seat at the table.