“We will for now,” Jamone says. “Did he tell you that we’ve been to his house? We’re working on a new piece for his place. His condo is dope, man.”
“No, he didn’t tell me.”
“Haven’t you noticed that our cars are at our studio more often lately?”
“No, I’m in court all day. I haven’t seen your cars at the house.” I pick up my purse and prepare to leave.
“We should be finished by the weekend,” Jamone offers. “He’s paying us top dollar for our work. We can’t help but wonder if it’s because of you.”
I walk to the doorway. “Just consider yourself talented artists and that’s the reason he’s paying you well. After all, haven’t you two always told me that your paintings are gaining national exposure and your work is worth more money now?”
“Yes, that’s true,” Jamone says. He comes over and gives me a hug. Javed follows. “Javed and I just want you to be careful out here. We don’t know how long you and Pops are going to be separated, but we don’t want you dating anyone else for a long time. You need some time to yourself first.”
“Word,” Javed says.
“Boys…men, listen to me. I’m not going to date anyone until the divorce is final.” I put my hand on the doorknob. Jamone’s hand covers mine.
“Mom, Javed and I need to hip you to something.” They exchange glances. Javed nods at Jamone. “It’s about Pops.”
I step back, my interest piqued. “What about your dad?”
There is a long silence. Javed and Jamone look at each other again.
“What is it? Tell me.”
“We think that Dad’s seeing another woman,” Jamone says. “We spotted him and this young lady at Horizon’s Dance Emporium last weekend.”
I’m momentarily speechless. Jett out dancing? And with another woman? “Are you sure it wasn’t April?” I ask.
“Yes, we’re sure,” Jamone says. “We even stopped to talk to him. He introduced Marla to us. It was kinda awkward. I’ve never seen Pops at a club before.”
“To tell you the truth, it was kinda embarrassing. Pops had to be the oldest dude in the place.”
I put my hands on my hips. “And how old is Marla?”
“About thirty, thirty-five,” Javed states.
I start to pace the floor. “I’m sorry, guys. I hadn’t expected Jett to act this immature. I’m saddened that you guys had to see him like that.”
“He gave us a hundred dollars apiece and said, ‘Keep this between you and me, will you?’”
Javed looks annoyed. “We told him yes, but we knew what the real deal was: Tell Mom. That was some bold stuff. You two haven’t been separated that long.”
I stop pacing. “You’re right.” I know I have to report this to my attorney, but I feel an urgent desire to confront Jett first. “I’ve gotta go.” I force a smile, but inside I’m hurting like hell. “You two stop by and have dinner with me on Sunday.”
“What time?” Jamone asks.
“Five o’clock.”
“We’ll be there,” Javed says.
I walk back to the door and turn the handle. I hold my head up high. “See you on Sunday.” I close the door behind me.
When I get into my car, I can see my sons looking at me from behind the blinds. I’m holding back tears, and refuse to let them see me cry. I push the ignition start button and slowly drive off.
It seems like my car knows where it’s heading. I drive to Jett’s job on Mt. Moriah Avenue. I’m so mad I’m seeing purple dots. How could Jett be so insensitive? Doesn’t almost thirty years of marriage deserve a little more respect than that?
I get a few whistles about my car. I ask one of the black salesmen, “Is Jett Evans here tonight?”
King Ford is an old dealership. It’s blue and silver, like the Ford emblem, but could use some remodeling. Even so, they’re one of the top selling dealerships in Memphis. They’re purported to have a loyal customer base.
He smiles. “Yes. He just took a break. You want me to get him for you?”
“Yes, please.”
“And you are?”
“Charity Evans. His wife.” Those words sting my tongue. I feel like the biggest hypocrite alive. After all, I started this bullshit by having Herman over for dinner. But I hadn’t expected Jett to retaliate and go dancing with a woman, especially since we haven’t been dancing in more than fifteen years. He’s got some damn nerve. I can’t wait to see his lying ass.
In just under five minutes, Jett comes outside. It’s dark now, but I can still see the angry snarl on his face. I roll down my window and say, “Get in.” He does, and I drive to the back of the lot. I turn off the ignition and say, “We need to talk.”
“About what?” He turns toward me and slips a toothpick in his mouth.
“You and Marla.”
“Oh, so the twins told you?”
“What did you expect?”
“Some loyalty.”
“Why? You’re the guilty one. You’ve almost cut the boys out of your life and put April before them. How do you think they’re supposed to feel? I can tell you, betrayed.”
“My sons know that I love them.” He looks over his shoulder to see if anyone is watching us. “But what I do with my personal time is none of your business.”
“You bastard. You started this bullshit. I didn’t file for a divorce, you did.”
He rolls the toothpick over his tongue. “And seeing you with Herman let me know that I did the right thing. You two have probably been fucking behind my back for years.”
I’m appalled. “You know that’s a damn lie.”
“Oh, do I?” He caps his hands over his left knee. “I know that you two are entirely too close. I know that you know that I don’t like him, but you see him anyway. I’m from the South. Women do as their husbands command. It’s in the Bible that a woman should submit to her husband. I’ve told you that I didn’t want him in our home, but you bring him over anyway. Why is that?”
“Because you can’t choose my friends. For your information, Herman and I have never been intimate. I’ve told you for years that we’re just friends. A woman can have a male friend, you know.”
“Not in my world. I see how he looks at you. I know he wants to jump into bed with you the moment I’m out of the picture.” He pauses. “Well, now you’ve got that chance. You two can go at it like muskrats. I don’t give a fuck. Just leave me, my daughter, and my woman out of your business.”
“Oh, so now Marla is your woman?”
“Matter of fact, she is.”
I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. How dare this bastard sit in my face and tell me that he’s screwing another woman? Doesn’t he have an ounce of respect for me? Didn’t the thirty years we spent together mean anything to him?
“Okay, then. You’ve got a lover. I’m going to have to share this information with my attorney. I hope you know you’re limiting your chances of getting any money out of the divorce.”
He bites down on the toothpick. “I never needed your money. I’ve got my own.”
“That’s a damn lie and you know it.”
He looks around the inside of the car. “It appears that you’re a little greedy. Did you pay for this car with food stamps?”
“Fuck you, Jett. You don’t tell me what to do with my money.”
“You’re right. I never could.” He looks out his window. Customers are beginning to look at the vehicles at the back of the lot. They’re laughing and high-fiving one another. “Take me back to the front. I’ve said all I’m going to say.”
“Fine.” I start up the car. Then I pause. My heart is heavy. I don’t want to lose this man. Even though I told him before that he wasn’t welcome in my home, Lord knows I still love him. Tears threaten to fall, but I hold them in.
“Jett,” I say, “would you consider going to a marriage counselor? Maybe we can work things out. I know that I don’t want to give—”
“Hell no. I don’t need some white chick
telling me how to treat my wife.”
“I could find an African American counselor,” I offer weakly.
“Same damn thing. I’m a man. Ain’t no man or woman alive can tell me how to run my marriage. That’s for me to decide.”
“Marriage counselors help, Jett. They really do. You said before that you would consider it. Just give it a chance. Please.”
I hate myself for begging, but feel that I have no choice. I don’t want our marriage to end. I want to live the rest of my life with him, laughing like teenagers, doing our gardening, and going to church on Sundays. Of course, I’ll stop drinking again.
“Tell me something, Charity. Are you still drinking?”
I lower my head. “Yes.”
“That figures. You’ve always been weak to alcohol.”
“I can stop, Jett. I promise you that I’ll give it up.”
“No. I’m through.” He opens the door, spits out the toothpick, and gets out. With the door open, he looks down and says, “Please don’t come back to my job again. I don’t need my coworkers knowing any of my business.” He slams the door.
I’m outdone. I sit there for a few minutes and pound my head against the steering wheel. How in the hell did this happen? Did my friendship with Herman really set him over the edge? Or just when, when did he really stop loving me?
42
I cry myself to sleep at night. I’m hurt beyond words. I want to follow Jett and bust him with his woman. I want him to see how much he’s hurting me.
When I speak to Kai, she totally understands how I feel. She was just in a relationship with a man and found out that he was married. She immediately broke it off. Kai believes that Marla has got to know that Jett is married. The bitch just doesn’t give a damn. We both agree that there are some desperate females out here.
The temperature reaches a hundred degrees the last few days in August. Throughout almost all of August, the temperature lingered at ninety-six. Because they don’t have any air conditioners, a couple of senior citizens die from the heat. The mayor is visibly upset and starts a drive to give out over three hundred fans to seniors and low-income families.
One of the air conditioners breaks in my home. I’m so used to Jett handling everything that I don’t know what to do. I call Herman and he comes over. He checks out the unit, figures out the problem, and calls a reputable heating and cooling company. The unit is fixed and is working like new.
It is the first time that I see Herman face to face since our dinner together.
“I know how the trial is going. I want to know how you’re feeling,” he asks me.
“I’m okay. A little tired, but fine.”
“You know you can call me night or day?”
“I know. Thanks.”
We hug each other, and Herman has me laughing with another one of his embalming jokes. I haven’t laughed in a while, and it feels good.
“Charity, I’m not going to put any pressure on you,” he says, “but do me a favor. I just bought a new plane. Yep, a brand new one. I want to test it out and drive it to the Bahamas. Can you think about going with me?”
I feel a tug of emotion. Here is this man, knowing how much I love my husband, still trying to maintain some contact. I tell him that I’ll go with him. My mind could use a diversion.
The trip is planned to take place in three more days. Until then, I’m having non-stop meetings with Teddy. He’s found some new evidence that could help our case. He wants to me to come up to his office to discuss the possibilities.
Feeling remorseful, I take the elevator up to Teddy’s office late Wednesday afternoon. His secretary asks me to have a seat.
Fifteen minutes later, Teddy comes out of his office looking flustered. He waves me in. “C’mon, Charity. Sorry about the wait.”
I go inside and sit before his desk. He takes a seat at his desk that is filled with caseloads and pink message slips. He has on a white shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his elbows. I smell steak and cheese and notice the crushed paper in the trash can. He clears a space and picks up a new pad and pen. “Thanks for coming by. We’ve got a lot to cover.” He puts on his glasses. “Are you thirsty? Can I get you anything?”
“No, Teddy. I’m fine.” I rest my purse on my lap and cross my legs.
“We’ve got a break.”
“Oh, I thought the case was going well.”
“It is. But we don’t want to take anything for granted. I’ve got a new witness.”
“Oh, are we going to use Tyler?”
“No. This woman’s name is Cicely Halleron.”
“I never heard of her.”
“You wouldn’t. She went to Chapel Hill with Lynzee and Heidi Armstrong.” He flips through a few pages. “It seems that she has some damaging information about Lynzee.”
“Oh, what kind?”
“It’s sexual.”
“Don’t tell me that Lynzee was sexually involved with another girl?”
He smiles. “It so happens that she was. But this is no ordinary tryst. This is a threesome, with Lynzee, Heidi, and Cicely.”
I know something bad is coming. Do I really want to hear this?
“It appears that Lynzee dressed up in men’s clothing, along with attaching a dildo to her pelvis. Heidi objected to Cicely’s involvement, but Lynzee wouldn’t hear of it. Cicely was a very beautiful girl on campus, and Heidi was jealous of her. To make a long story short, Lynzee told Heidi to either get involved in the threesome or leave. Heidi was hurt and did as she was told.
“This threesome went on for a couple of months before Heidi tired of the attention that Lynzee was showing Cicely. Heidi gave Lynzee an ultimatum: either get rid of Cicely or she was going to kill herself.”
“What? What happened to the basketball player?”
Teddy tapped his pen. “There wasn’t a basketball player involved. That story was made up for Lynzee’s benefit.”
“So, Lynzee had prior warning that Heidi was going to kill herself?”
“Yes. It appears so.”
“And what happened to Cicely?”
“She transferred to another school after Heidi’s suicide. Lynzee graduated a year later and the story died with her departure.”
I press my hands against the arms of the chair. “So, you found Cicely and she’s willing to testify?”
“That’s right. I’ve got her in a hotel downtown. She’s prepared to testify on Friday. I had to give Lynzee’s attorney’s time to review the evidence.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know, Teddy. This new information could ruin Lynzee’s career for good. I don’t know if I’m prepared to go that far.”
“I understand Lynzee is your sister and you still feel some loyalty toward her, but let me remind you that Lynzee’s done everything possible to undermine you and your career. She’s trying to take every dime you’ve got. She’s trying to humiliate you with April, and cause your career irrefutable damage. She tried to turn her daughter, Tyler, against you too. She’s responsible for your upcoming divorce. She’s caused your sons to have a strained relationship with their father. Do you think you owe a person like that any loyalty?”
I ponder his words for a few minutes before I answer. “I guess not. But we’re sisters, Teddy. Blood sisters. I can’t forget about that. So she’s greedy. So she’s a little jealous—”
“A little?”
“Well, she’s jealous. I don’t know what happened to her to make her feel this way toward me. All I know is that deep down inside my sister still loves me, and if the situation were reverse, she wouldn’t use this information to defame me.”
“Are you certain about that?” He taps the pen on the pad and glares at me over his glasses.
“Not absolutely sure.”
“Then take a proactive stance to salvage what’s rightfully yours.”
I rise. “That’s just it. I’ve always copied after everything that Lynzee did. When she cut her hair when we were younger, I cut mine. When she got a job, I got one too.
When she started dating a basketball player, I did too. When she took shorthand and typing in high school, again, I copied her every move. And finally, when she received success as an author, I copied after her once again. There’s no wonder that she resents me. I’m just like her reflection.”
“Plenty of young girls look up to their older sisters. It’s not unusual for a young girl to want to do everything her big sister does. But Lynzee acted with malice. She should have been flattered. After all, you’re a good writer. That alone should have made her proud of you. Instead, she had you blacklisted. That’s not the actions of a loving sister.”
“I agree. But one of us has to put a stop to this madness. I guess it’s going to have to be me.” I get up. “I’m going to call Lynzee, Teddy. I’m going to ask her to agree to a settlement. This time I’ll offer her a half million dollars. I feel that’s only fair.”
Teddy gets up. “I think you’re making a major mistake. We’ve got the case won.”
“Then let me make it, Teddy. I at least have to try. Our mother wouldn’t have expected any less of me.”
“And what would your mother say about Lynzee’s actions?”
“That she’s selfish. That she’s an egotistical bitch. And that she is the real opportunist in the family.”
“I totally agree.”
I slip my purse beneath my arm. “I’m going to go now, Teddy. I’ll let you know tomorrow what I’ve decided to do.”
I leave his office dazed and confused. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I feeling sorry for Lynzee? She’s the one who started all of this bullshit.
I take the elevator down to the garage and take a few moments to locate my car. Finding it, I get in. I start the ignition and head for the booth. The moment I pay the fee, my cell phones rings. It’s Kai.
“Girl, why haven’t you called me?”
“You know I’ve been overwhelmed by this trial.”
“How’s it going?”
“My attorney says that we’re winning.” I exit the garage and make a left on Main Street and a right on Beale Street. I head south on Beale until I get to Riverside Drive.
We Ain’t the Brontës Page 20