by Anna Black
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” He turned to her, wrapped his arms around her, and held her tight, crying. “I didn’t mean to grab you like that. You know I would never hurt you. Please forgive me. I will never treat you like that again,” he said, kissing her hands.
“You are the first woman I’ve ever loved like this, and I just keep thinking, ‘As soon as I get comfortable, I’m gon’ catch her doing some foul shit.’ But you keep showing me a better person. I’m sorry for putting you through the drama and making you responsible for something someone else did. This is my issue, and I’m going to promise that I will control myself. Can you give me a chance? Can you be patient with me? I am going to change, November. I promise you, baby. Just, please, don’t leave me. I’m so fucking sorry. Don’t leave me, babe. Please,” he begged. “I know I have to change. I can’t lose you. I love you too much.”
“Tracy, I’m here, and I will be here and give you a chance. You just have to mean what you say this time. We have talked and talked, and you keep promising me that you are going to change and I keep believing you. You have to really mean it this time.”
“Baby, I promise. I mean it, Novey, and I love you so damn much. I love you, and I can’t live without you.”
“I love you too, Tracy, and I am here to stay,” she said and they kissed.
Chapter Thirteen
Things improved between November and Tracy. He showed enormous change in his behavior. He eased up on the calls and the questioning, and November was able to breathe. It was weird to her at first, because she was used to the back-to-back calls and not being able to take a piss without having to explain herself. She was able to get things done and go from place to place without checking in, and it felt pretty damn good.
Her condo was not lived in because she was at Tracy’s twenty-four seven. It still looked brand new. All she did was pay the mortgage there and keep up the utilities. She couldn’t remember the last meal she had cooked in her own kitchen.
Spring was approaching, and her sister was blooming like the flowers and grass. She was pregnant and glowing, and she was beautiful. November was happy for April, and she found it hilarious when she found out she was having another girl. April’s husband made it clear that after this one he wanted to give it one more try for a boy. November just shook her head. She had no clue how they did it.
Work was good for November and business was growing, causing her to be at work later, which made her fiancé uncomfortable, but he maintained it well. She spent less time explaining and pleading, and she felt like their relationship was growing and had a good chance of making it. She didn’t want to have to continue to put up with Tracy’s jealous rages, and she thanked God that he had calmed down.
Summertime came, and it was hot and full of wedding talk. They had finally set a date. Her condo and his loft were on the market, and they hoped to sell quickly so they could buy their first home together. They were looking at houses that November thought were too expensive, but her fiancé acted like money wasn’t an object. She tried to enjoy looking at the lovely houses Jonathan showed them, but the price tags had her concerned.
“Baby, we need to talk,” she said to Tracy while he was doing his workout.
She wondered how her man, sexy and fine as he was, never once complained about her thick thighs and plump ass. When they met she was a solid fourteen, and she had gained a few pounds along the way, but he never said a word. Not that she was sloppy, but her body was far from tight. She now claimed a size fourteen in some clothes and a sixteen in others, because her ass and hips were out of control. She still had a semi-flat stomach, and her waist was still good, but since she was getting married, she had vowed to work out with Tracy, but that day hadn’t come yet.
“What’s up?” he asked between curls.
“Come on, babe, I need to talk to you with you not working out.”
“Give me five minutes,” he said, and she went into the kitchen.
She sat at the table waiting for him so they could discuss their finances. He had never asked her about money, what she made, what she could afford with the new house, or what bills she would have. She took care of her bills at her condo, and he took care of his bills at his loft. She never asked him either, but since they had been engaged, he had been paying her truck note. He always paid when they went out to dinner, and he had her beauty treatment money on the night table every Thursday morning for her hair, nails, feet, and eyebrows.
He came out of the spare room where he was working out and joined her at the table. “So, what’s up? What do you wanna talk about?” he asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel.
“Money,” she said nervously.
“Money? What about money?”
“Well, we have been looking at houses, and they’ve been on the pricey side. Now, there have been some beautiful houses that Jonathan has taken us to see, but I know what I can afford, and even with me selling my condo, the stuff we’ve been looking at is way out of my budget.” She opened a folder on the table in front of her. “Now, we’ve never discussed this, but this is what I make a year. This is what I have in savings, and this is what I have in my checking.” She laid it all out in front of him. She wasn’t embarrassed, because she did okay, but she was concerned.
“Wow,” he said, smiling.
“Wow, what?” she asked, wondering if he was laughing at her.
“You are truly amazing, you know that?”
November frowned. “Why would you say that? What do you mean?”
“You are amazing because you are concerned about how you can contribute to our lives financially, versus ‘my man gon’ take care of me,’” he said, rolling his neck and snapping his fingers. November laughed. “This is exactly why I love you so much,” he said, getting up and walking away.
November was confused and wondered where he was going. They hadn’t talked about anything, and she wasn’t finished.
He came back to the table with his briefcase. “Now,” he said, opening the case. He shuffled through some documents and pulled out some papers. “Here we go.” He moved the briefcase to the side. “First of all, baby, don’t worry about anything. We are good. This is what I make annually,” he said, pointing to a figure that was three times her salary. Her eyes widened. “This is what we have in the bank.” He pointed to another figure on a bank statement and November thought she was going to fall out of her chair.
“What? How? I mean, what the hell? What are you doing besides towing cars?”
“Well, I have properties and investments, plus I own half of the dealership. My daddy started us young, and once I got my degrees, I chose to run the towing company versus real estate, and these other avenues,” he said. “So, every month, we generate revenue from this and this and this, plus I get this from the dealership,” he said, showing her more paperwork. He laid it all out, and November was shocked.
Tracy had a whole lot of money, and she’d had no idea. He was loaded. She knew he wasn’t broke, but damn, he was good for a whole minute, and he could afford a house three times as much as the houses they were looking at.
“So don’t worry about anything. I’m gon’ make a piece of change when I sell this loft because the value has skyrocketed since I purchased it, even though the economy is in the toilet. I bought it years ago a lot cheaper than what it’s worth now. After all the rehabbing in the area, this place was a steal, so we are good. You are going to have an amazing home, so stop acting like you don’t like the houses we’ve been looking at. You’ve found an excuse not to put in an offer on every house we have looked at. And I know you loved the one we saw yesterday.”
“I did, but all I kept wondering was how could we afford it.”
“Well, stop worrying. Whatever house you want we are going to get,” he said.
“Why are you so good to me? Why am I so special?”
“Because you are.” He caressed her cheek.
She smiled. “Well, since you got this, I can go shopping.”
“Yes, I want. Man, I’ve been watching every dime here lately, wondering how I was gon’ help you with these damn near million-dollar homes you’ve been showing me.”
“Yeah, I can see why,” he joked, looking at her bank statement on the table.
“Shut up!” she said and popped his arm.
“I’m just playing,” he said, and they laughed.
“I just can’t wait ’til I sell my condo.”
“You will soon. Jonathan is a good agent. He will have us both sold in no time so, baby, we have to find a house.”
“I know, but first things first. We still have to finish these minor details for our small but elegant wedding.”
“I thought that was all done.”
“Me too, but my momma keep on saying just one more person, just one more person. You know I wanted it to be intimate, Tracy. I don’t want all these people she keeps adding to come. This is getting out of control.”
“Well, just tell your moms not to invite any more people.”
“Are you crazy?” she said, looking at him like he had lost his mind. “You call and tell her.”
“Well, on second thought, just order more chairs and more food.”
“Yeah, whatever. I just can’t wait to do it.”
“I can’t wait either, my love,” he said, putting his papers back into his briefcase.
“Tracy, do you remember me telling you about wanting to get my own business?”
“Yes.” He didn’t sound interested.
“I still do, you know. Once we are married, I don’t want to continue working at the agency.” She had tried discussing the idea before, and he had always seemed uninterested.
“Well, we’ll see. Just relax, baby. You got plenty of time to think about that. Once we get married, get settled in the house, and start a family, you are going to be so busy. Let’s just see how it goes.”
“I know, Tracy, but I worked so hard to get through school. I just want to run my own show, you know? I’m tired of getting disapprovals for my ideas or getting a no answer to something I know is a great idea. I feel like they are holding me back.”
“I know, baby, but don’t worry. It will work out.”
“You sure?”
“Yep, don’t worry.” He got up to put his briefcase back and then headed back into the other room. When that conversation came up, he’d make an exit or change the subject altogether.
November sat there waiting for him to come back so they could talk some more, but after a few moments, she realized he wasn’t returning to that conversation.
Chapter Fourteen
On moving day, November was sick as a dog. She didn’t know if she had the flu or what, but she couldn’t keep anything down. She had thrown up everything she had eaten over the last four days, her face was pale, and she was just so tired and weak.
“Baby, how are you feeling?” Tracy asked, touching her head.
“Aww, Tracy, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You want some orange juice?”
“Yes, please.” She put her head back down then turned and looked over at the clock. It was ten until nine. The fellas would be there soon to move her things from her condo to storage. Her unit had sold, and she had four days to move all her things out and get it professionally cleaned. She was supposed to be excited, but she was too sick to be happy. She sat up when Tracy came back into her room with the juice.
“Here you go, baby. Drink this,” he said, helping her with her pillow. “When Trent gets here, I’ll have him run you over to the loft, and once we get everything into storage, I’ll be home to take care of you.”
“Baby, no. I need to tell you what goes to storage and what goes to the loft,” she argued.
“No, you are sick, and I can handle it. Whatever we take that we shouldn’t, I’ll get it out or buy it. You need to rest.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, don’t worry. Everything is everything,” he said, smiling.
November managed to get out of bed and put on her sweats. She sat on the sofa wondering what in the hell was wrong with her. She reached for her phone and called her sister.
“Hey, April,” she said.
“Hey, Shareese. You sound horrible, what’s up?”
“Girl, I don’t know. I’m sick as a dog. I’ve been throwing up, and I swear I’ve lost ten pounds.”
“I thought you were moving today.”
“Yeah, we are, but I can’t do it. I am just so tired. I was wondering if you could come over and make sure they don’t break any of my stuff.”
“I would, but you know I’m about to pop any day now. What would I do if my water breaks?” she asked, and November laughed.
“Aww, April, I’m sorry, I just didn’t think about that. How have you been feeling?”
“Tired and anxious.”
“I can only imagine.”
“So, what you gon’ do?”
“I’m going over to Tracy’s while they move my things. How about you waddle over to keep me company?”
“Well, I guess I could since the kids are with Tony and it is kinda boring. The house is so empty and quiet.”
“Well, Trent will be here soon to drop me off.”
“Why don’t I pick you up?”
“That’s cool. How long will you be?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Okay, call me when you are downstairs,” November said and hung up. “Tracy,” she called as loud as she could. She didn’t have the energy to even yell.
“Yes, baby?” He came running to the sofa.
“Listen, my sister is gonna pick me up.”
“I thought Trent was gonna take you.”
“I know, but my sister is gonna come over and take care of me.”
“How can she take care of you, Novey? She is nine months pregnant.”
“She is pregnant, not handicapped.”
“Are you sure? Because I can make the boys handle this and come take care of you myself.”
“No, baby, April can take care of me. That’s my big sister.”
“Okay,” he said, finally giving in.
November waited for her sister to call, and when her phone rang, she told Tracy she was leaving.
He came out to give her a kiss. “Call me if you need anything,” he said.
“I will, babe.”
“I love you, and as soon as we are done, I’ll be right home.”
“I love you too,” she said, and they kissed again.
She went down on the elevator, and she hated that she didn’t take the stairs. The ride made her feel more nauseated, and when she got to her sister’s SUV, it showed.
“Oh, girl, you look bad,” April said when she got in.
“Gee, thanks, April,” November said, rolling her eyes.
“No, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just saying you look like I did when I was pregnant with Angel.”
“What?”
“I mean, I looked pale and lifeless too for the first few weeks. Only with Angel, though. None of my other babies, just her.”
“Well, I’m not pregnant,” November said defensively.
“How do you know?”
“Because I know. Tracy and I take precautions.”
“So are you on the pill?”
“No.” November fidgeted in her seat.
“Condoms?” April asked.
“No, April. Damn!”
“Then, what do you use, Ms. Precautions?”
“The gel.” November put her head back.
“A spermicide? Chile, you know that that mess is not one hundred percent effective, right?”
“It’s been working since we’ve been together, my love.”
“Well, maybe the last time y’all didn’t use enough, because you look pregnant.”
“How do I look pregnant, Cleo?” November asked, making fun of her. Her sister, the psychic wannabe, was at it again.
“Bec
ause I can tell. And we are going to stop at this Walgreens to get a test.”
“No, we are not, because I just have the flu or a virus or something. I’m not pregnant, April.”
“Yes, you are. You don’t have no damn flu. Summer hasn’t ended, and it is definitely not flu season, honey.” April pulled into the Walgreens parking lot and found a spot.
November folded her arms. “I’m not getting out.”
“Fine, stay in the truck. I’ll get it myself.”
November watched her sister waddle into the store. Her sister was a basket case. No way was she pregnant. She hadn’t missed her period, and she didn’t feel pregnant. She didn’t know what pregnant felt like, but she knew she didn’t feel like a pregnant woman.
April got back in the truck and tried to hand her bag to November, but she sat with her arms folded and wouldn’t take it. Her sister shook her head and put it on her lap. They rode all the way to Tracy’s with November’s arms still folded. She refused to touch the bag holding the pregnancy test.
When they got inside, April bugged her and bugged her to take the test, but she refused. “Why are you so scared to take the test? If I’m wrong and you’re not pregnant, then you’re not pregnant. So why are you scared?”
“I’m not scared, April. I just cannot be pregnant two months before my wedding. That is not how it was supposed to be.”
“Well, shit happens.”
“Look, give it to me.” November snatched the test out of April’s hand. “I’ll take this stupid test, just so you can know that you are not psychic, you nutcase.” She marched into the bathroom, peed on the stick, and set it on the vanity. She washed her hands and looked at the spinning hourglass on the test and walked away. She opened the door and found April standing there.
“So?”
“It’s still processing. I don’t want to look at it process.”
“Well, I do,” April said, walking into the bathroom.
“Knock yourself out.” November went into the kitchen to get some water. When she heard her sister scream, she rushed back to the bathroom. “What? What is it, April? Are you in labor?”