The Score

by Demetrius Sewell

  Seth stared down.

  “Was it that night?”

  “What night?”

  Tatum sighed. “The time we argued and you didn’t come back home until the next day.”

  Seth shook his head but didn’t verbally answer.

  “You can tell me the truth.”

  “I am telling you the truth.”

  “When did you last sleep with her then?”

  “Listen, that night I went to the bar and drank myself into oblivion. I called a friend and he let me crash on the couch. Babe, we’ve come too far for this to happen.”

  “I know that. I’m not saying I’d end things. I just want to know the truth.”

  “I told you the truth. That’s all I can do.”

  Tatum stared at him and listened to both of the little voices in her head — the one that re-emerged to tell her the family was right and then the one that told her she couldn’t go back to that life. She loved her new self and Seth too, too much to go back. But it wasn’t easy.

  She had no choice. She’d run out of options. “Are you telling me the truth?”

  “Yes.”

  “You aren’t that baby’s father?”

  “No.”

  “Gabby is lying?”

  “Yes.”

  She stared at him silently for a long moment. “I trust you. Even if you’re lying, I trust you.”

  Love surged through her like a bolt of electricity. Tears stun her eyes. She double blinked to stop them from emerging, but they did the opposite. Her tears flooded her eyes, overflowed, then spilled down her face.

  Seth kissed her, thanking her between kisses. Tatum stepped back, looked at him and warned. “So help me God, if you’re lying, I will make you regret it.”

  He laughed. “Trust me, I know.”

  “I’m serious,” she warned him again.

  “Can we move on to something fun?”

  Seth kissed her. Then he got on one knee and grabbed her left hand. Tatum back peddled, unsure of what he was doing to do. Seth took a small blue box from his pocket.

  “What are you doing?”

  “When you sent the letter to me, I knew you’d shared your most intimate part of yourself. I appreciated that more than you’ll ever know. Now, it’s time I made my move and share the most intimate part of myself with you.”

  “I…”

  “Shh. You’re not saying anything that will change my mind. Now…will you marry me and share my world?”

  She stared at him. In shock. She needed him to slap, pinch or shake her. She needed to wake up from her dream. “Yes?”

  “You can’t answer a question with question,” Seth joked.

  “Yes.” She tried to make it more definite.

  He opened the small box and showed her the ring. It was a huge ruby rock attached to glittering gold. She wasn’t usually surprised by jewelry, but this one reminded her of his other gifts. He couldn’t match blankets, but he definitely knew how to match jewelry.

  He slipped it onto her finger then stood to kiss her.

  “How…”

  “Did I manage to match the jewelry perfectly?”

  She nodded.

  “It was Mama’s. She gave it to me the summer I went to college. She’d heard that most men find their wives at school. It was her prize possession from grandmamma and now it’s yours.”

  “Kate’s?”

  “She thought I’d find my one true love, but she just wasn’t right about the place. I love you.”

  Tatum kissed him passionately. “I love you.”

  Chapter 20

  Karla didn’t have to hear the news—she saw the ring. They sat on the swings in Eden Park on a day far warmer for late spring than usual. Karla had reached out to Tatum because she was close to depression. She hadn’t had a job in nearly six months, and there were no prospects. No one called her for an interview because her name was mud in the local marketing world.

  She needed help. She needed her friend’s shoulder to cry on but seeing Tatum’s ring reminded her why she was unemployed.

  “He proposed,” Karla said. “You don’t seem like a blushing bride.”

  Tatum looked down at the ring. “I’m happy.”

  “Girl, you’d never know it.”

  Tatum slowly moved the swing back and forth. “Seth proposed, but Gabby says she’s pregnant with Seth’s child. He says it’s not true, but it doesn’t make sense. If he’s not the father, then who is it?”

  Ralph.

  When Karla didn’t reply, Tatum continued. “I can’t believe it. The happiest moment in my life is also the worst. I could be forced to help raise Gabby’s child.”

  “Wait, girl.” Karla was confused. “You’re making it sound like she told you about the pregnancy before he proposed.”

  Tatum nodded, glanced down. “I love him.”

  “What is wrong with you girl?” Karla rolled her eyes. Suddenly, there was this old, familiar weight on her. The first time, it was her problem. She’d made the deal with Seth, but now she’d been placed in the middle. Ralph put her there when he told her about the relationship.

  “Do you trust him? I mean, do you believe him?”

  “I do. I know I may be a fool, but I do.”

  “Then…”

  Tatum waited for Karla to continue. She didn’t.

  She looked at the protective mat under the swing to protect children who might fall. “Then what?”

  Karla couldn’t do it. This wasn’t the right time. “Then I think you should follow your gut.”

  “I will.”

  “You’ve changed a lot.”

  “I’m trying. If Gabby’s right, then he’ll have to answer to me.”

  “What’s so different about this situation than previous situations?” Karla asked with a hint of bitterness.

  “I was fighting the world to protect a family I knew was wrong. I punished you the hardest because you weren’t supposed to hurt me. I didn’t punish Seth enough because I loved him.”

  “At least you admit it.”

  “I know and I’m sorry.”

  “You know, it doesn’t matter anymore. It was my mistake. I took the deal because I didn’t feel confident in my skills.”

  “And now you’re being punished by the absence of what you love the most, the job you were so good at.”

  “I used to love it. Now, I’m trying to figure what to do. I’m such an idiot.”

  “Do you have enough money to see you through?”

  “I’m getting low. James has been helping me, but I know he’s getting tired. I know I would get tired of helping someone for so long too.”

  “Do you need a loan?”

  “Not now, but if I don’t find a job soon…”

  “Maybe you should plan my wedding.”

  “I’m not a wedding planner,” Karla said.

  “You never know until you try. I’ll pay you.”

  “How about Seth? He’s probably going to nix the idea.”

  Tatum shook her head.

  “Come on girl, be honest.”

  “I’ll talk to him tonight.”

  Karla wasn’t satisfied.

  “Ralph.” Seth peeked out of his office. “I need to see you for a moment.”

  Everyone stared at Ralph, then at Seth. Seth didn’t care. He returned to his desk and waited. Ralph entered the office looking ready to do battle.

  “You’re going to fire me now?”

  “Yes and no.”

  If Ralph was being sarcastic when he asked the question, Seth’s answer sobered him up fast.

  “I want to talk about the lawsuit.”

  “Anything you have to say,” Ralph told him gruffly, “you can say to my lawyers.”

  “Your lawyers already know. They’ll be calling you tomorrow. I want to discuss it now.”

  Ralph walked to the door.

  “I’d reconsider if I were you.”

  “Why? So you can play Master?”

  “No. So I can tell you that I’m
ready to settle the case.”

  Ralph turned around. “You want to settle?”

  “I’ve already done it. I instructed my lawyer to draw up the papers. It’s up to you to accept or reject the offer.”

  “What’s the deal?”

  Seth paused. It was his last moment to reconsider. He wanted to. He couldn’t see his dream deflate. But then he thought about Tatum and realized he couldn’t cop out on a promise. That was what had gotten him into this mess.

  “First, let me say this…”

  “Come on man, say it.”

  “Wait,” he told him gruffly. “I’m going to tell you but let me get this off my chest.”

  Ralph waited.

  Seth exhaled. “You’re right. I promised you the job. I was going to give it to you when I saw…”

  “Me with Gabby,” Ralph interrupted.

  “For the last time, this had nothing to with Gabby. It was about you and Tatum.”

  “There was no me and Tatum.”

  “I know that now, but when I came from LA and saw you together…anyway, like I told Tatum, I trusted her, but I didn’t trust you.”

  “Why? Am I just the sex crazed black man?”

  “No. It was nothing to do with you. I…Tatum and I had some problems and…”

  Ralph raised his hand. “Don’t say anything more.”

  “Anyway, like I said. I apologize.”

  The busboy ignored the comment. “What’s the deal?”

  “The club, Score—it’s yours.”

  Ralph knew he didn’t hear what Seth just said. “Excuse me?”

  “My lawyer has drawn up the papers. I’ll sell Score to you.”

  “My credit is shit. I can’t get a loan.”

  “You can when you have me as co-signer.”

  “No, no.” Ralph walked to the door.

  Seth knew he didn’t understand the terms of the deal. They made sense, but he didn’t know how much Ralph knew about the finance world.

  “Listen, I will co-sign for you, but I won’t be an investor. It means I have nothing to do with the club. If you were to fail, I would be stuck paying the creditors.”

  Ralph stopped in his tracks. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. Default on your loan and I’ll be stuck with the bills.”

  “I…”

  “Just promise me one thing,” Seth requested.

  “What?”

  Seth cleared his throat, trying to block the emotions from his voice. “Just make this place a success.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “Tatum’s not here, but you’re welcome to wait.”

  “Do you love her?”

  Seth stared at Karla. He was confused by her question, but he knew he was under attack. Tatum and his mother had gone out to lunch, so he’d spent the day sulking in her apartment. He’d have to sign Score away tomorrow and he had yet to tell the most important women in his life. Seeing Karla wasn’t helping matters.

  He stood in the middle of the room, ignoring her studious gaze. “What do you want from me?”

  “I want to know if you love Tatum.”

  “Of course, I do. I asked her to marry me.”

  “I know that,” Karla told him. “I just want to make sure you do.”

  Seth could tell there was more to the questioning. ““How can I convince you I’m trying you the truth?””

  “Have you talked to Gabby?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “I know, but Tatum is my friend.”

  “A friend whom you hurt.”

  “I know, but you hurt her too.”

  Seth sighed. “And I’ll never hurt her again.”

  “So Gabby’s lying?”

  “Of course,” he answered, frustrated.

  Karla walked up to him, pointed her index finger in his face. “If you hurt her, I’ll hurt you.”

  He smiled. “Okay.”

  Karla left and Seth stared after her in confusion.

  Kate and Tatum drove the short distance between Tatum’s apartment and their destination. It was Tatum’s idea for the outing. Kate had thought they were shopping for the wedding, but she seemed to have other plans.

  It took so long to find a parking place that Kate grew nervous. She studied the area. It wasn’t an upscale, expensive community like Hyde Park where her son lived. It was a hodgepodge of old and new building with restaurants, shops and bookstores. Young students fearlessly raced in front cars as they crossed the street. Some people walked in groups carrying book bags. Others studied or stood at a bus stop, Kate guessed, waiting for the transit.

  Tatum finally found a parking space. They parked and began walking toward a sign indicating they were approaching the university.

  “Where are we going?” Kate asked, puzzled.

  “I wanted show off my university.”

  Kate didn’t understand why, but she went along.

  Kate expected two emotions. The first was boredom. She was in her sixties and Tatum was taking her to a place where the only people her age worked for the university. There was nothing to see here.

  The second emotion Kate felt as soon as they walked down the brown-bricked path was dismay. She’d assumed she was past these bleak emotions. It had been years since Seth decided against college, delaying her dreams of having the first college graduate in the family. Even though they’d reconnected, Kate still felt the pangs of sadness. She constantly reminded herself that his graduation from college was her dream and not his.

  “Did you know this was the only college to which I ever applied?” Tatum tried to engage Kate in conversation.

  “That’s nice,” Kate said. She didn’t mean to sound bored. She was distracted by the group of boys in front of the red brick building. The plaza area was filled with people studying or talking, but the boys were not. Instead, they chased a small object down, hit it with their feet, head, and legs—everything but their hands.

  Tatum noticed the distraction. “They’re playing hackie sack. It’s like soccer, but with a sack filled with sand or beads.”

  “And they do that for class?”

  “They do it to avoid class,” Tatum joked, then realized Kate didn’t get it as the woman continued to stare. “Students schedule their classes sometimes so that they have time between them. Then they study, eat or…”

  “Waste time?”

  Tatum laughed.

  She explained the college experience to Kate. That the university had different colleges within it. Each college had their own specialty.

  “But you graduate from the university and not the college?” Kate asked, still confused.

  They entered the student union and Kate was shocked. She thought only malls looked like this. Tatum showed her the bank, coffee shop, restaurant chains and game room.

  Tatum even let her know a historical fact: “This used to double as a fallout shelter during the Cold War.”

  Kate loved the building. The Roman type columns and the dark marble and old furniture reminded her of some movie back lot. It was amazing to see where she’d sent her son. Seth hadn’t been interested in touring the university his senior year of high school. He just applied and showed up. Well, really just applied.

  “This is nice,” she said as they walked from the student lounge.

  “You want to go to the restaurant upstairs? It’s a cool place.”

  Kate agreed. They went into the restaurant, which reminded Kate of a mobster movie. It was dark with red and white checkered tablecloths. Some students sat in booths while others ate at tables in the middle of the room. The restaurant was painted red, and huge posters of seventies rock stars in concert were plastered on the wall.

  Kate tried to figure out what she wanted to eat. She couldn’t believe they had what seemed like endless choices here. She could get a sandwich from the cooler or order one from the cook, or she could just have a salad. There were plenty of desserts and drinks. She was like a kid in a candy
store.

  When they finally sat down to eat, Kate was the first to speak. “What was your major?”

  “Legal Assisting Technology, at first. At the time, the university only offered an Associate’s degree in the program. So I got my associate’s in paralegal and bachelor’s in sociology.”

  “You can do that?”

  “Yeah, unfortunately, people with bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies make more money than I do, but I can’t complain.”

  “It’s funny, but I think if my son had continued his education, you probably would have still met.”

  “I wasn’t into the party crowd. Besides, he would have graduated before I came here.” Tatum thought about their six-year age difference.

  “That’s true,” Kate agreed.

  “How do you like it here?”

  Kate excitedly answered, “It’s great. I never thought college was like this. You know, the first couple of weeks, Seth complained about this place.”

  Tatum paused. “Would you like to go here?”

  “Go here?” Kate didn’t understand.

  “Attend. You know, take classes.”

  Kate was shocked at the thought. She wrestled with the question. She couldn’t understand what Tatum was trying to do. Maybe she wants to humiliate you.

  Kate bristled.

  “I know you think Seth was the only one who could graduate, but it’s not true.”

  “Yes it is.”

  “Did you graduate from high school?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you can go,” Tatum told her.

  “What about SATs and all those other scores?”

  “You’re a non- traditional student. Some of those requirements things don’t apply to you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. The university allows you to attend a two-year college if you want. You could start off with your Associates.”

  Kate thought about it. She could go to school. She could get a degree.

  No. She was too old. It didn’t matter if they had programs for non-traditional students.

  “Do you know that I’m probably older than some of the professors?”

  “So?”

  “I can’t sit in class with kids young enough to be my grandchildren.”

  Tatum laughed. “You are as old as you feel.”