by H. H. Fowler
Women were inherently nurturing by nature. Marrying a man who could be in set with their sons tended to obscure the roles. It wouldn’t be long before Annalise thought that she was Armando’s mother rather than fulfil her wifely duties in submission. So while Armando was in the bathroom, Suanne took the opportunity to unleash some of her displeasure.
“I have a question for you,” Suanne said, clearing her throat.
Annalise looked up, pretending not to be bothered by Suanne’s penetrable gaze. “Ma’am?”
“Please don’t call me that,” Suanne lashed out, “when you and me are practically the same age.”
“Yes, ma’am…I mean, yes.”
“Why did you marry my son?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t play dumb. You heard me quite clearly.”
Annalise swallowed the proverbial lump that was in her throat. “It is a long story, Mrs. Beckford.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world,” Suanne said and then switched to a different subject within the same breath. “You didn’t want my son to sleep in his old room last night. But as you can see, he didn’t listen to you.”
“Mrs. Beckford, forgive me if it seemed as if I was trying to do that. I simply didn’t want to intrude.”
“Intrude?” Suanne clucked her tongue in disbelief. “I raised three boys in this house with a husband who went MIA for weeks. But I made sure my boys got a lot of love. Taught them to be decent and to embrace their humble beginnings. You have to be a plumb nut to think that Armando is going to forget that I was the one who rocked his cradle…over my dead body he would. You hear that? Over my dead body!”
“Mrs. Beckford, I meant no harm –”
“Sure you did. Coming up in here disrupting my family gathering with your big belly and your nasty expression. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. What on earth possessed you to marry and then get pregnant for a man who could be your son? Were you that desperate?”
Those words stung Annalise so hard that tears quickly flooded her eyes. “May I be excused?”
“So that you can go and hunt for Armando? Keep your seat until he’s done. We have lots to talk about and I’m just getting started.”
Thankfully for Annalise, Armando showed up right on time and made a way for her to escape the wrath of Suanne Beckford. She pushed slowly to her feet and wobbled to Armando’s side as quickly as her swollen feet could carry her.
“Please take me to the hotel,” she pleaded, her Trinidadian accent stronger than it had been a few minutes ago. “Your mother is very frightening and I don’t think it’s good for the baby.”
“I heard that.” Suanne twisted her neck in Annalise’s direction so that Annalise could get a good look at her no-nonsense face. “You ain’t see frightening yet.”
“Ma, behave yourself,” Armando chided. “You should get to know Annalise as a person and not attack her because you don’t feel she is right for me.”
“I know all I need to know,” Suanne retorted. “And since when did you pick up that bloody accent and allow your hair to grow so long?”
“I was here in February for Drake’s wedding and my hairstyle hasn’t changed. It’s been this way for the last four years. I’m surprised you’re just saying something about it now.”
“I don’t remember it being that long.”
“Because I tucked it under for a shorter look.”
Suanne stubbed a hand to her side. “So what? You wanna be Bob Marley? I want you to cut it because the Bible says it’s a shame for a man to have long hair.”
The smirk on Armando’s face suggested that he did not take Suanne too seriously. From a young boy, they’d always had these benign squabbles, especially about his appearance, the way that he kept his room and his loud music. Twenty years later it seemed as if he was experiencing déjà vu.
“Wipe that smirk off your face!” Suanne instructed. “This woman has got you acting like you don’t have any sense. The least you could have done was invited me to the wedding. Why didn’t you tell me that you were married and were expecting a baby?”
“Which is your first grandchild, by the way,” Armando reminded Suanne. He pulled Annalise closer to him as a way of providing emotional support. Annalise was very fragile in her emotions and trusted no one more than she trusted Armando, which was one of the reasons why she was so clingy. “Like I tried to explain to you yesterday, Annalise and I did not have a wedding ceremony. We went to the Justice of the Peace just over three weeks ago. Annalise felt she couldn’t pull off a wedding dress, being seven months pregnant.”
Well, she should have thought about that before she spread her legs for you, Suanne wanted to say, but instead she parked her gaze on Annalise. “You were indeed desperate to marry my son,” she said, “and anxious to have his baby. What do you have on my son?”
“Ma, it wasn’t anything like that,” Armando said in his wife’s defense. “Annalise is a very nice person. You should get to know her while I’m here in Devin’s Cay. I would rather she fill you in on how we met.”
I’m not the least bit interested. Suanne took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. “For you, my son, I will bury the hatchet. But I’ll be watching her like a hawk, even though I know she’ll be on her best behavior.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just yet. How long do you intend to stay in Devin’s Cay?”
“I’ve told you I’m staying for one week, but will only be performing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We leave next Wednesday for Jamaica and then on to Belize, which are all part of a six-week Caribbean tour. Do you need me to write this down for you?”
Suanne harrumphed at her son’s attempt at humor. “Still shaking your hips to the devil’s music. I love you dearly, boy, but don’t look for me to come out and support you in that worldly atmosphere.”
“You could watch me on TV.” Armando grinned. “And I’m cool with that, because I don’t want Annalise to be out in that draft anyway. This November breeze reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner.”
“I’m going to the concert,” Annalise rebutted. “Why else do you think I’ve accompanied you to Devin’s Cay? I’m here to support you all the way.”
Armando looked at her tenderly. “But you’re eight months pregnant. It will become increasingly difficult for you to keep up. You really should have stayed home with your sister in Trinidad.”
“Don’t worry about me—”
“Listen to what my son is saying to you,” Suanne butted in. “He’s trying to keep you and your baby safe. You’re not normally this stubborn, are you?”
Annalise swallowed her response for fear of being attacked by Suanne’s sharp comebacks.
“It’ll be alright, Ma,” Armando assured. “I will have Ms. Hive keep a watchful eye on my wife.”
“What kind of name is Ms. Hive?” Suanne queried.
“She’s my concert planner,” Armando said, taking a casual glance at his watch. “And speaking about Ms. Hive, Annalise and I should have been at the hotel by now. We have a meeting with the crew. Then it’s on to a three-hour band rehearsal.”
“Go along,” Suanne said, as she stood on tiptoe to fix Armando’s shirt collar. “I will see you when you return to your warm bed.”
Armando greeted his mother with a kiss. “My warm bed, huh? I promised you that I’d stay for one night, Ma. I have to be at the hotel where everyone else is at.”
Suanne persisted. “I still don’t understand why you staying at that hotel when I have all this space in this house.”
“Ma…”
“Don’t Ma me! I barely get to spend any time with you. Have some consideration for your old mother.”
That smirk appeared on Armando’s face again. “I don’t leave until next Wednesday,” he told Suanne. “We have a lot of time to catch up. Right now, I have to leave to prepare for a concert.”
“You and your devil’s music,” Suanne mumbled. “I’m afraid you love it more than me.”
“You know that isn’t true.” Armando planted another kiss on his mother’s cheek. “I will call you tonight, so listen out for when the phone rings.”
When Suanne heard the front door close behind her, she hurried to the window and observed Armando and Annalise as they walked toward the rental car. But right before Armando helped Annalise into the passenger seat, she stopped and began jabbing her finger in his face. A deadly look in her eyes.
Suanne shook her head. Just as I thought, Annalise. You’re nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But you have no idea who I am. You mess with my son, you mess with me.
She twirled away from the window and made a beeline toward the room where Armando and his wife had slept the previous night. She grabbed the broom that was already leaning against a wall and began to sweep the floor like sweeping was going out of style. She would spend all day, if she had to, cleaning out Annalise’s negative energy.
Chapter Nine
With her students’ heads down in their books, Sasha took the liberty to look out through the window of her classroom. She had a clear shot of the basketball court and of the boys who were casually sitting around, obviously waiting for their coach. Every now and then, they would toss the basketball into the hoop, but their performance was at best half-hearted and unremarkable. After about forty minutes, they dispersed and went their separate ways.
Sasha was confused over the scene, but her pride would not allow her to enquire of the problem. The last time she’d walked out on that court, she’d ended up in the boys’ locker room with Levi’s tongue down her throat. But come to think of it, Sasha hadn’t seen or heard from Levi all week, as if that really mattered. She was so over and done with Levi. That man would ruin her marriage and ultimately her life, if she allowed him – or herself to be carried away with the unquenchable thirst of lust. Maybe that was what came over her that morning when she’d followed Levi into the boy’s locker room – under the ruse of wanting to pick a fight with him.
However, Sasha chastened herself repeatedly for giving in to her vulnerability and now realized that the love she shared with Drake was real and as secure as it could be, considering the tumultuous predicaments they’d experienced in recent months. This was where her focus should have been –nurturing her marital relationship back to good health – and not harboring such ungodly affections for Levi. The news of her husband becoming the heir to a multi-million-dollar estate was a wakeup call to Sasha’s half-hearted commitment to a man who had been nothing but faithful to her. She should have shown him a little more appreciation.
Instead, she’d whined about Drake’s passion for the church and how determined he was about purchasing their own house when he knew they couldn’t afford it. She’d even made excuses to avoid being intimate with him. All because she wanted to blame Drake for her unhappiness. Was she a hypocrite for feeling relieved now that Drake had become a millionaire? It was a question that she had been tossing around in her head since Sunday. She certainly felt like a hypocrite, having been forced to accept one of life’s most valuable lessons: One’s future was not measured by the adverse circumstances of the past.
Her husband was a true example of Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Sasha took that to mean that her husband had given God his everything, even when his back was against the wall. Taking into account a complaining wife and almost losing his life in a fire, Drake stayed loyal to God through prayer, imploring God’s grace and assistance to aid him in his suffering.
In short, Drake put his whole heart into serving God and God ensured that Drake experienced the joy of what it means to gain victory over one’s trials. Now where did that leave her? Sasha thought. If she were to be honest with herself, there was nothing left for her to do except go to God in true repentance and ask Him to give her the strength to love Drake like he deserved to be loved.
“Mrs. Beckford…”
Sasha snapped out of her thoughts, turning to see the principal standing at the door of her classroom. Immediately, Sasha became concerned because she knew that this woman had it in for her for reasons she could not explain. Just the look on Mrs. O’Grady’s face was enough to make Sasha cower in fear. But not wanting Mrs. O’Grady to see that she had that much control over her emotions, Sasha stood confidently to her feet.
“Yes, Mrs. O’Grady? How may I be of assistance?”
“Will you step out into the hall for a minute? I would like to have a word with you.”
“Sure, I’ll be right out.” Sasha briefly turned her attention to her class. “While I’m gone, continue reading in your textbook, all of chapters six and seven. And it would be in your best interest to follow my instructions, because I’m giving you an impromptu test.”
Sasha was greeted with a wave of disapproval as she exited into the hall. She was not going to really give them an impromptu test; it was just her way of keeping them from getting into mischief.
“Do you know of anyone who is looking for a job as a basketball coach?” Mrs. O’Grady questioned without preamble. She folded her arms to hide her trembling fingers, a reaction that only happened when she was extremely upset.
Sasha stared at Mrs. O’Grady. “I don’t understand. Why are you asking about a new basketball coach when Mr. Johnson seems to be doing a great job with the boys?”
“Because he resigned today,” Mrs. O’Grady spat, furiously waving a copy of Levi’s letter in her hand. “The national basketball tournament starts in two days. Where on earth am I going to find a reputable coach in two days? Those boys were depending on Mr. Johnson to follow through. He could have waited until the tournament was over before putting us in a jam. What an inconsiderate prick.”
Sasha now understood why the boys on the basketball court looked as if their dog had died. Levi had abandoned them and seemed to have abandoned them since the week began. For once, Sasha agreed with Mrs. O’Grady. Levi was an inconsiderate prick, but Sasha was not surprised. That was Levi’s MO – having little regard for other people’s feelings when he was hell bent on making things go his way.
However, if Mrs. O’Grady thought for one second that she was going to chase after Levi, she had better go and bark up another tree. Because there was no way that Sasha was going to put herself in another compromising position. The further Levi was away from her, the better it was for everyone involved.
“You and Mr. Johnson are friends,” Mrs. O’Grady stated emphatically. “Why don’t you talk some sense into him?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that we are friends…”
“He’s always hanging around you,” Mrs. O’Grady rebutted. “So don’t tell me you two are not friends. I wouldn’t have wasted my time coming to you if I knew you couldn’t help the situation.”
“Mrs. O’Grady,” Sasha tried. “You can’t force anyone to do something that they don’t want to do. Granted, Mr. Johnson chose a very inconvenient time to resign, but these things happen. We just have to figure out another way to handle it.”
“I’m not sure if that’s stupidity speaking or not…but I’ll tell you what: Since you have ALL the answers, you handle it! And you had better not disappoint those boys come Saturday.”
Mrs. O’Grady shoved Levi’s resignation letter in Sasha’s hand and stomped back to her office. Sasha closed her eyes and counted to ten. When she opened them, Myles Deveron – the sixteen-year-old point guard on the school’s basketball team was about fifteen feet away, giving her a good dose of attitude – that bad boy stare Sasha had seen all too often in her line of work. She attempted to speak to Myles, but he turned away and continued through the school’s exit door.
What is that about? Sasha pondered. Am I suddenly being targeted as the cause of Levi’s resignation? God forbid that I should let them make me feel guilty about it. I will resign too, if they push me too far. My husband is now a millionaire and I know that he will take goo
d care of me.
****
Drake was emptying the trash when Hunter pulled up in the driveway in her late model Jaguar. He smiled because the luxury of Hunter’s possessions had reminded him of his inheritance, which included two cars and two homes bequeathed to him by the late Rev. Henderson. Drake hadn’t any idea what he was going to do with them yet. He was too busy thanking God and trying to settle his spirit. How did one react anyway, going from “rags to riches” practically overnight? Drake was still trying to figure that one out, but one thing was certain: All of his prayers concerning provision for his family and for the house of God had been answered in grand style.
“You are truly a humble young man,” Hunter remarked, as she exited out of the vehicle.
“Why’d you say that?”
“You and Sasha have just walked into the biggest blessing of your lives. I wouldn’t have expected you to be home, taking out my trash.”
Drake gave Hunter a guarded look. “So Sasha told you?”
“Please tell me that isn’t a problem,” Hunter pleaded. “Because I don’t want to cause any trouble for you two.”
Drake’s lips twisted into a grin. “Don’t look so worried. I – well, both Sasha and I wondered when would be the right time to tell you. We knew that you would be happy for us, but we were concerned about how you would feel with us moving out of the guesthouse.”
Hunter held up a hand to stop Drake from continuing. “Are you serious? I know how badly you wanted a place of your own to raise your family. I would never stand in the way of that. My home is available to you and Sasha for as long as you need it. That’s why I’m surprised you’re still here – emptying my garbage.”
“It’s only been about five days since we got the news.” Drake chuckled. “I think it will be another few days before everything settles, especially with the banks. And even after that we will need time to think about our next move.”