Confessions

by Sasha Campbell

  I punched her playfully in the arm. “Looka here. My girl’s tryna change! She’s finally bringing her head out from the clouds.”

  She gave me a sad look. “Yeah, I just wish I did it while Leon and I were still together.”

  “It’s not too late,” I reassured her.

  She rose and tossed down enough money to cover the bill. “I’m not so sure.”

  I got up from the chair, shaking my head. “I don’t care what you say, Leon loves you and I know he’ll take you back.”

  “I hope you’re right, but I need to make sure I am ready this time. Come on, let’s ride in my car. I’ll bring you back after we get done shopping.”

  “Cool.” I loved her Benz. It was so smooth, I see why people spend the money to own one.

  We got into her car and had gone three blocks when I looked into the side view mirror and noticed a black car was riding on her ass. “You see that car on your bumper?”

  Trinette glanced up into her rearview mirror and nodded. “I see her. That’s the same bitch who tried to run me over.”

  “What?” This was the first I’d heard of that, or maybe I hadn’t been listening.

  “I bet you it’s the same female who sent Leon that letter.” She made a quick left at the next light, and the black car turned as well. “Hold on.” Trinette made a U-turn at the corner, and sure enough the car followed. “Told you that crazy bitch is following me!”

  She wasn’t lying, the car was coming up behind her and riding on her ass again. I tugged on my seat belt to make sure it was secure, then gave her a sidelong glance. Trinette had the look in her eye that she was ready to fuck somebody up.

  “I bet you that bitch is the one who also slit my tires.”

  I looked over at her, mouth wide open. “When did that happen?”

  Shaking her head, she spat, “You don’t wanna know, but I’ve got a sneaky feeling it really is Maureen riding my ass.”

  “That is a strong possibility, considering you were screwing her husband.”

  Trinette briefly took her eyes off the road. “I also caught her screwing the security guard.”

  Damn. DFS was a regular soap opera.

  When Trinette stopped at the next red light, I swung around on the seat and looked inside the car behind us, trying to catch a glimpse of who was behind the wheel, but the windshield was tinted too dark.

  “Can you tell who it is?” she asked.

  I stared a little longer, then turned back around. “Nope. I can’t even tell if it’s a male or female.”

  Trinette released a crazed laugh. “Oh, it’s definitely a female. Trust me.” She peeled away the second the light turned green, and the car was close behind. “What the hell does she want with me?” she screamed.

  I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was worried about how it was gonna turn out. “I guess she wants you to leave her man alone.”

  “I stopped fooling with Michael a while back,” Trinette barked as she turned on the main road toward the mall. “I wasn’t lying when I said I was committing to my marriage.” She glanced out her side view mirror. “Why’s she playing? Don’t she know I will whup her ass?” She stopped at another red light.

  “I guess she doesn’t think you’ll go there.”

  “Then I’ma have to show her. Hold on!”

  I braced myself. The light turned green, and Trinette started to pull away when she suddenly slammed on her brakes so hard the car behind her crashed into hers, throwing me forward in my seat.

  “You okay?”

  Thank goodness I was wearing my seat belt. “I’m fine but your airbag doesn’t seem to be working.”

  Trinette released her seat belt. “I’ll worry about that later.” We climbed out the car just as the woman in the car behind us took off running. “Oh, no, you don’t, bitch!” Trinette reached for something on the floor in the back of her car, then took off after her.

  “Netta, where you going with that hammer?”

  “I’m about to get my life back!”

  Traffic had stalled in both directions, but there was no way I was letting Trinette go after that woman without a witness. As angry as she was, there was no telling what she was liable to do. I turned off the car, locked our purses inside and headed in the direction I saw her heading.

  The female was tripping over her heels while Trinette was too stubborn to leave her fifteen hundred dollar Jimmy Choos in the street. Whoever the woman was, she had long dark hair, and from what I could tell she was thick. Before Trinette went back to school, we used to jog three evenings a week, so running was not that big of a deal, although we hadn’t done so in months.

  “Netta, wait up!” She looked like a damn fool running down the street swinging a hammer in the air. I tried to run as fast as I could because there was no telling what my girl was bound to do when she caught that female. Trinette’s life was a mess. She had lost Leon because the woman she was chasing had sent her husband a damaging letter. There was no telling what Trinette would do to her if I wasn’t there to stop her.

  As soon as I turned the corner, I spotted Trinette heading down an alley. I increased my speed and started gaining on her, which wasn’t hard to do, considering she had on designer pumps and I was wearing flats.

  “Trinette, wait up!”

  She ignored me and kept on going. I have to say that stalker chick was running for her life. Someone must have given her the memo and told her Trinette was not to be fucked with.

  Then everything happened so fast. That female dodged between two cars, and another car was backing out of his garage and tried to stop but wasn’t quick enough, and that chick went flying over into some trash cans near a fence.

  “Oh, shit!” I screamed, and whizzed my way down the long alley, because I didn’t need to get hit, and grabbed Trinette just as she was prepared to pounce on the woman.

  “Let me go so I can beat that fuckin’ bitch’s ass!” she cried, and tried to break free of my grasp while swinging the hammer in the air.

  “Uh-uh, she’s already laid out. What more do you want?” Holding onto her, I moved up closer. “Who the hell is that?”

  “If you let me go, I can find out!” Trinette replied, then pulled free, but not before I snatched the hammer from her.

  The black man who had been backing out of his garage was standing over the woman, and his fat stomach was blocking our view. “Ma’am, are you okay?” He looked scared to death. So was I. Luckily, we were in an alley and there was no one else around.

  Trinette and I moved in closer just as the female sat up, leaving the long black wig lying in the grass. My mouth dropped and I heard Trinette suck in air. That wasn’t a female. It was a damn man!

  “Who the hell is that?” I looked to Trinette for answers. Her eyes grew large, and then she dove on top of him.

  “Cory…you bastard!” she screamed, and started clawing at his ass, kicking and punching. It took the man and I both to pull her off him.

  Cory sprung to his feet and started laughing hysterically while Trinette continued to kick and scream. This was Mr. Lottery winner?

  “Gotcha!” he cried.

  “You mothafucka! You ruined my life!” Trinette screamed, and balled up both fists. Just as she was about to lunge at him, I stepped in between them.

  Cory quickly sobered. “And you ruined mine! You can’t be playing with people’s emotions. You told me to get rid of that bitch car, so I did. I test drove a different car every week, trying to get your attention, but you were too busy messing with all them other dudes to notice. Then I finally found out who the man was in the photo I found in your drawer…your husband. I was so mad, I flat your tires, tossed a brick through your window and left you a lovely message on your windshield.” He shrugged. “And when none of those things worked, I felt it was time Mr. Leon knew who his wife really was. Doesn’t feel so good, does it?” he added with a smile. “That will teach you not to call my mama!”

  Cory started laughing again, and I didn’t even try to st
op Trinette when she reached down, grabbed the hammer off the ground and threw it straight at his forehead, knocking him flat on his ass.

  The driver of the car and I looked at each other at the same time.

  “You see anything? I didn’t see nothing,” he said.

  “Neither did I.”

  “Me neither.” Trinette and I replied at the same time.

  All three of us turned around and got the hell out of there.

  48

  Trinette

  “Trinette, Maureen wants to see you,” Patricia said the second I returned from lunch.

  I looked over at my coworker and rolled my eyes. My lunch hour wasn’t even officially over for another five minutes. “What’s she want?”

  “What does she ever want? Something to complain about.”

  I took a seat and reached for my compact. There was no way I was stepping into her office with a hair out of place. Ever since Maureen got the director’s position she had been in my ass every chance she got, that is, when she wasn’t rubbing it in my face. Let me just say, working under Maureen had been a chore. She did everything she could to piss me off, hoping at some point I’d simply just go off on her ass and quit, but I had other plans.

  After what Cory put me through, I was a changed woman. I drove by the gym the day before. He was back at work with two big knots on his forehead and way too embarrassed to tell anyone what really happened. And that was fine with me. The last thing I needed was to go to jail for clocking that fool with a hammer. In no way did those knots compare to the damage he had done to my life. However, while his ass stayed in the hospital overnight for observation, I paid a visit to his mama and told her everything her son had done to me. I think that’s where the second knot on his head had come from.

  Nikki left that morning to join her husband in Miami, leaving me in St. Louis with all the psychos. I was so fucking jealous. If only it could have been me and Leon. Trust and believe, Ms. Netta hadn’t given up hope just yet.

  I fixed my lipstick, and as soon as I was certain I looked my best, I walked to her office, knocking once, then entered. Maureen frowned at the sight of me.

  “There you are. I was wondering when you were getting back.”

  I glanced down at my watch, then back at her. “Last I checked my lunch hour ended at one.”

  She sneered her lips up and then leaned forward in her chair. “There seems to be a bit of a problem.”

  I took a seat in the chair across from her. “What kind of problem?”

  “Cimon Clark filed a complaint against you.”

  That gutter bitch just didn’t know when to quit. I leaned back in the chair. “What kind of complaint?”

  Maureen gave me a hard, penetrating look. I didn’t know who she was trying to scare, because it definitely wasn’t me. “Said you were dating her father and because she disapproved you cut off her benefits.”

  I laughed. “She’s lying and not even my client anymore, so you can deal with her.”

  “She’s still your problem. I’m endorsing the complaint, and it will be up to the board to decide how to handle it. I guarantee you’re going to be terminated. In the future, if you want to screw a client’s father, then keep it out of my office.”

  “You know, I am really getting sick of working with you,” I spat.

  Maureen cocked her head to the side. “Well, guess what? I’m the boss. Either you get it together or I’m going to have to find someone who wants a job. I don’t know if you heard…but times are hard.” She gave me a phony smile.

  “Really now?” I was so sick of her ass. “You know what…hold that thought.” I rose and walked back out to my desk.

  “What she say?”

  I ignored Patricia and reached inside my desk drawer for an envelope, then returned to Maureen’s office and took my seat. The smirk on my face must have scared Maureen because she gave me a curious look.

  “Can I help you?”

  I tossed the envelope across the desk.

  “What is this?” She flinched and stared down at it as if it were anthrax.

  “Go ahead…open it up and see,” I encouraged.

  Maureen cracked open the seal and reached inside. I watched her face drop as she looked at the photos of her and Chuck getting their freak on at the condo. “W-Where did y-you get these?”

  I pointed a chastising finger at her. “Don’t worry about that. All that matters is I got them and there are plenty more where they come from. In fact, I already have an envelope addressed and ready to mail to Michael the next time you fuck with me.”

  She didn’t say shit.

  “Now…I want you to make the complaint go away and reassign that hood rat back to my caseload. It’s time Cimon started looking for a job.”

  I left her ass sitting there speechless as I moved back out to my desk long enough to log off my computer. I think I just earned the rest of the day off.

  Patricia was staring me all in my grill. “What happened?”

  “Girl, quit being so damn nosy!” I didn’t mean to yell, but damn!

  She sucked her teeth like a horse and had the nerve to roll her eyes. “Whatever…you gotta call holding on line one.”

  I wasn’t even in the mood for another client complaining about not getting enough money to support them and their bad-ass kids. “This is Trinette.”

  “Trinette, this is Donovan.”

  Something in his voice scared me. “Hey, what are you doing calling me?”

  He gave a nervous laugh. “I was wondering if you’d seen my wife.”

  “What do you mean? Aren’t you meeting her in Miami?”

  “I am in Miami. I’m at the airport, but she didn’t get on her plane.”

  My heart started pounding and I started to get scared. When I talked to her the previous night, she was so excited about her second honeymoon. Nothing would have stopped Nikki from getting on that plane. “Did you check the airline?”

  “Yes, and they said she didn’t get on the plane. I’ve tried calling her cell phone, but it goes straight to voice mail.”

  “Okay, okay. Maybe she got on a later flight.”

  “Maybe.” Donovan didn’t sound convinced.

  “Okay. I’ll go over to her house and see if she’s there.”

  “Thanks, Trinette. I’m trying to think positive, but I have this feeling something isn’t right.”

  I had the same feeling. And it wasn’t about something but someone. A certain nutty mothafucka who came to mind.

  “I’ll call you back as soon as I hear something.” I hung up and reached for my purse.

  “Trinette, what’s wrong?” Patricia asked.

  “I gotta go.” I hurried out the building and out to my dented Mercedes and peeled out the lot. While I drove to Nikki’s house, I called all her numbers including the bookstore, and even Karen hadn’t heard from her. Something wasn’t right, but I didn’t want to believe it just yet. Nikki’s cell phone went straight to voice mail, so I had to believe she had shut it off before boarding a plane.

  I pulled in front of her house. Her driveway was empty, and I frowned. I swore she told me she was taking a shuttle to the airport, but maybe she decided at the last minute to drive and left her car in long-term parking. Maybe the shuttle was late, so at the last minute she had to drive herself and park, and by the time she did all that, she missed her plane and had to catch the next one. I tried to think of every possible scenario. Yep, that was probably what had happened. So then why didn’t she call Donovan and tell him?

  I rang the doorbell twice, and when I didn’t get an answer I put my key in the lock and went inside. “Nikki, you in here?”

  There was no answer, so I moved through the house, looking for anything that seemed out of place. Everything was perfect as usual. The dishes were all dried and put away. I went into her bedroom. Her bed was made and the timer was running on her lamp in the corner. I checked her closet for the red luggage we found at JCPenney, and all three pieces were gone. Her prescripti
on allergy medicine was missing as well. There was no sign of her being there.

  She had to have gone to the airport. I was so confident, I went over to the long-term parking lot she always used to see if I could find her car. After driving up and down the aisles, I spotted her Lexus with personalized plates TRUTH and released a sigh of relief. Just what I thought. She had caught a later plane to Miami. I immediately called Donovan and told him I had found her car.

  “Thank goodness. Thank you, Trinette.”

  “No problem. I’m sure she’ll be calling you shortly. Just have a good time.”

  “I will. Hey, Trinette…Nikki told me about you and Leon. I’m sorry. If you want, I can call and talk to him for you.”

  No, this was one battle I needed to fight on my own. “No, don’t do that. I got myself in this mess. I’ll have to figure it out myself.”

  “Can I give you a piece of advice?” His voice held a degree of concern.

  I sighed. “Yes…anything.”

  “Prayer helps. I did a lot of that while I was in Iraq.”

  “Thanks, Donovan. I’ll try that.” At this point I was desperate enough to do anything.

  “I’ll make sure to say a prayer for the both of you as well.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  I went home, showered and had just fixed a cup of hot tea when Jay called. “What do you want? You know I’m still mad at you for not telling me about you and Ronnie.”

  He blew out a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “Easy…just move your lips.”

  There was a pause. “I guess…I like having you in my life. If I told you I had decided to marry my baby mama, I figured all that would change and…well…I was afraid of losing you.”

  His words brought a smile to my lips. “You’ll never lose me. Friends for life, right?”

  “Absolutely.” I could hear his smile. “Ronnie’s gone to Belleville to her mother’s. I thought maybe you wanted to go to happy hour tonight and talk.”

  “Don’t you and your boy Kenyon kick it for the Juneteenth celebration?”