If You Don't Know Me

by Mary B. Morrison

  Beaux laughed. “Better not get rid of your things, bro.”

  When the door opened, Beaux wasn’t laughing. His mouth hung open.

  Granville said, “Wow!”

  “Remember what I told you, Granville.” He probably hadn’t heard a word after he’d stepped inside but that was okay. I was not crossing that threshold. “I’ll take care of setting up your account later.”

  My work for today was done. Now I had to get ready for dinner with Numbiya. All of my chess pieces would be in place before Madison was released from the hospital. It wouldn’t matter which direction she’d move. I’d already won.

  Checkmate, bitch!

  CHAPTER 34

  Madison

  Day two into my hospital stay I was depressed.

  Madison Tyler-DuBois was my name for a solid twenty-nine days.

  Then what? This is not my life. I was supposed to be married happily ever after. What I had was a baby that wasn’t my husband’s and a husband who didn’t want me. Even if he stayed, I wouldn’t have his heart.

  That man lied to me without any reservations. Then he told me the truth with no remorse. I told Papa not to visit me. I meant that for the duration of my hospital stay but there was no time frame. Our time apart could be months or years.

  I was too hurt to cry. Too weak to push aside the pain pressing down on my implants. Inhaling deeply, I took shallow breaths; a side effect from the medication and my fucking Granville. That one night, I . . .

  “Hey, Madison,” my mother said entering my room.

  “Hi, Mama.” I forced back my tears.

  She kissed me on the cheek. “I love these flowers Johnny brought you.” She inhaled. “They smell exactly like the bouquet your father gave me.”

  All of sudden my mother was in love again. I should be happy for her but I wasn’t. Papa had ruined my life and moved a step up with his. Mama sat in the chair where my father was seated during his last visit.

  “How do you feel, Madison? You look amazing.”

  “I’m good, Rosalee.” Since she’d either forgotten or refused to acknowledge me as sweetheart or honey, I could do the same. Bet she’d stop calling Papa Johnny.

  “Madison, don’t alienate me like you’ve done your father. He loves you.”

  “Are you serious, Mother? If that’s his way of showing love, I don’t need it!”

  Rosalee sprang to her feet. “Don’t you raise your voice at me, little girl!”

  Pissing my mother off would leave me dependent upon Roosevelt’s family for support. After Christmas, I’d have Tisha. “Mama, I don’t get it. You act as though what Papa did was acceptable.”

  “Acceptable? No. Forgivable? Yes, Madison. He’s done far more to hurt me and I’ve made peace with him,” she said sitting in the chair.

  There she went again calling me by my first name. Peace? With a liar. “For how long? Until he has sex with another woman. You know he’s going to.”

  “Hush, Madison. I’ma let that one go because those meds must be messing with your mind.”

  No. But she was definitely aggravating me. If I didn’t have my baby, I’d have a surgeon inviting me out before I was discharged. I was pleased with the results of my breast augmentation. My being quiet helped calm my mother.

  “Madison, the only reason you see your father’s faults is because you’re exactly like him.”

  That was a lie! She needed medication. “What have I stolen, Mother? And you can’t compare my cheating once to all the times he’s taken money out of our pockets and put pussy on payroll. Where are your friends, Mama? Did you get rid of them because Papa was sexing them too?” I regretted what I’d said but like having my son, I couldn’t take it back.

  Rosalee leapt from her seat, grabbed her purse. “I don’t want to be alone and I don’t want to start over. That’s why I’m staying with your father.” Her voice escalated. “You have implants. I don’t. What man is going to want me at my age with no breasts?”

  My mother started crying. I should’ve consoled her but didn’t. Were her reasons to stay good ones? She stood there waiting for a response that wasn’t going to come. I was tired. Of listening. Tired of caring.

  She’d calm down. “Madison, at least I never lied to Johnny the way you’re lying to Chicago.” Mother put her hand on the doorknob, then said, “If you don’t tell Chicago the baby isn’t his, I will.”

  The second the door closed, I exhaled. I wasn’t telling anyone what my daddy had done. I called my husband.

  Roosevelt answered, “Hey, Madison. How are you?” His tone was flat.

  “Can you come visit me?”

  “I don’t have time. I’m preparing for an away game this upcoming weekend. You home yet?”

  “No, in a lot of pain though.”

  “You should be better in a few days. Zach is doing great. I know you didn’t ask.”

  “A few months,” I reminded him.

  “So you say. I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself.”

  “Roose—” He’d ended the call? “Hello.” I looked at my caller ID. His name and number were gone.

  Papa had ruined my hopes of convincing myself that Roosevelt was Zach’s father. How was I to make certain this secret remained? Well, I had four weeks to figure something out.

  Knock. Knock.

  “Come in,” I called from my bed. I could get up. I didn’t want to. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

  “Hello, dear. How are you feeling?” Helen asked. “Forgive us for not calling first.”

  The light of my life was in her arms. I got out of bed, took Zach, and kissed his little face a dozen times. I wasn’t surprised Helen hadn’t called. Roosevelt had given her my cell number after he’d proposed but Helen hadn’t called me once.

  “These are for you,” Martin said placing a red vase filled with white long-stemmed roses on a table in the corner. He placed a diaper bag next to the vase. “Chicago couldn’t come but he wanted us to bring the baby.”

  I cuddled Zach to my new breasts then smelled the flowers. “Oh, thank you so much,” I said.

  Helen sat in a chair beside the bed. Martin dragged the other seat next to his wife. I stood in the middle of the floor. They looked at me. For a second, my guilty secret haunted me.

  “How are you, dear?” Helen was dressed in a yellow tapered long-sleeved dress that stopped slightly below her knees. The pink and purple three-inch heels coordinated well with her pink diamond earrings.

  Sitting on the side of the bed, I rocked Zach. “I’m much better now. Thanks for bringing my baby to visit. I miss him so much.” I kissed him again then stared at him.

  I unwrapped his blanket and placed it on the bed. Zach felt as though he’d gained a few ounces and grown almost a half inch. I pressed my lips to his foot. He smiled. “Mommy loves you.”

  Helen’s eyes shifted to the corners toward Martin then back at me. “What do you want from our son?”

  Zach laughed but her question wasn’t funny to me. “What do you mean?”

  “Dear, you’re a smart girl. We know our son wants you out of his house.”

  “Our house,” I retorted.

  She looked at Zach, then at me. “I’m giving you one last chance to name your price. If you don’t, once we walk out of that door,” she said pointing, “You’ll have to fight it out in court.”

  Martin said, “You don’t love Chicago. Do the right thing and let our son go. We’re prepared to make you comfortable, give you back your company, and take care of our grandson.”

  Helen focused on Zach, raised her brows, looked at her husband, then sighed heavily.

  What would I do without Roosevelt? “I have to discuss this with Roosevelt.”

  “Your augmentation won you an extension, dear, but it’s not going to win back your husband. Only love can do that and you’re incapable.”

  “If the two of you came here to insult me, you can leave.” I wasn’t ready to end my time with Zach but I’d had enough of Roosevelt’s parents.

/>   Martin stood, reached for my baby. Helen touched his arm. “He’s where he belongs. Let him stay with his mother. Let’s go.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Granville

  Thanks to Sindy, I was ballin’!

  For the first time in my life, I was going to have a personal banker. Next time I saw her I’d kiss her feet. That might not be a good idea. What if she kicked me? Her hand was better. Yeah, that was what I’d do.

  I rolled around in the king-size bed. A two-bedroom fully furnished condo? For me? She’d called and said I didn’t have to clean up after myself, a maid would come by and do it. The Jacuzzi tub was the biggest I’d seen and the first large enough for me to fit in without having to have my knees touch my chest.

  Beaux had to go but he could come back tomorrow. He wanted to stay but I had plans to get me some pussy. Tonight, I had to fuck a woman or my balls were going to explode. Meeting Mahogany, she was meant for me. I’d invited her over for dinner. The table was already set with more plates and forks than I’d seen. Growing up we had one of each for Mama, Daddy, Beaux, and me. I cracked myself up. My mama would dig herself up if she’d heard me say that.

  Pappadeaux’s fried fish platter was in the oven but I hadn’t heated it up. I’d wait until she got here. I hoped Mahogany didn’t fake on me and not show up. I’d kept busy to keep from jacking off. I had to have her. The banana pudding was in the refrigerator. She could eat after I was done eating her.

  “You are the man, dude!” I stared in the mirror. I was sexy as hell. Tomorrow I was going to a tailor to get fitted for some new rags. Folding my arms over my naked chest, I smiled swinging my big dick. It slapped one thigh then the other. Since I knew I didn’t have HIV, she was going to get all of this raw meat.

  For a moment I got sad thinking about Madison and our son. Maybe we’d never be a family. I dressed in blue jeans and a button-down shirt, put on one of the colognes that came with the condo, then stepped into my cowboy boots. Didn’t want to scare my new girl away with my ugly feet.

  The doorbell buzzed. I straightened my collar. Unfastened two more buttons so she could see my chest, then opened the door.

  “Wow!” My tongue fell out of my mouth. I jerked it in. I started breathing heavy. “Whoa.”

  Mahogany had changed from blue jeans to a little black dress. Now I saw why they called it little.

  “Yum, come in.” I closed the door then stared at her. “I’m glad you made it. Welcome to my home.”

  “This is nice. What do you do?”

  “I’m an investor.” I had to say something. She couldn’t prove that I wasn’t. Relationships were supposed to be about trust anyway.

  “That’s cool. I figured you owned a company or something. Two thousand dollars was a lot to give a stranger. Thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  I knew this condo was on lease but she didn’t. She had on high red heels with gold ankle straps; that dress hugged her booty, and showed off her breasts. I hadn’t noticed at the restaurant that her twins were fully grown. She opened her arms. “Thanks for your generosity. You are heaven sent.”

  Me?

  Mahogany continued, “You don’t know it but you saved me from getting evicted. I’d stopped by the Breakfast Klub, didn’t have enough money to buy something to eat. I got tea because the refills are free. I sat there praying trying to figure out what to do . . . and then you came and . . .” She started crying.

  I couldn’t remember the last time a woman hugged me like she really appreciated me. I wrapped my arms around her waist. She smelled amazing. I got hard wood and didn’t want to let go.

  Mahogany held me like I was her man. Never letting me go, she gave me a light kiss on my lips. Opening my mouth, I covered hers. When she didn’t pull away, I let my saliva pour into her mouth. Loretta hated my wet kisses.

  My hands slid from her waist to her booty. My fingers were full of what cheerleaders called “spirit.” Was this how women treated men with money? I could get used to this shit. But I was a one-woman man.

  “Yum, yum,” I growled. “I’m hungry.”

  “Me too,” Mahogany said unbuckling my belt.

  Oh, damn! I didn’t have to ask. I hoped she wasn’t doing this strictly ’cause of the money. I loved her. She kissed my chest, then slowly opened my shirt one button at a time. I held her hand, then led her to my master bedroom. I wanted to be what Mama called “a gentleman,” but my dick was about to burst.

  “This is sizzling,” she said, easing her dress over her head.

  Crossing my fingers, I thought, Please let her have pussy hairs.

  The red bra and matching thong were like them porn stars’ and strippers’ kind. “You’re fucking hot!” I told her, removing my boots, jeans, and shirt. I threw all of that on the floor. When I took off my boxers, her eyes got big.

  “Whoa, big daddy!”

  “It’s not too much for you is it?” I didn’t like when a woman complained about I was too much.

  “I love it.” She sat on the bed and motioned for me to come closer.

  The second she touched me, my dick grew to at least nine inches. She licked my head and I swore another inch popped out. She put her mouth on me and I pushed my head in as far as I could. I didn’t mean to be rude. I couldn’t help myself.

  “Aw, fuck!” My cum came one wave after another.

  She drooled on my shaft then massaged me. “Lay down on your back.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  Mahogany straddled then kissed me. “We’ve only begun. This big ol’ thing can work hard and soft.”

  Squeezing my dick right above my nuts, she licked her fingers, wet her pussy, then said, “Oh my God! You feel amazing, big daddy, I hope you don’t think I do this all the time but you were so nice to me.”

  Her hips rocked back and forth. She cupped her breasts, pinched her nipples, then touched herself down there.

  “You got me. I got you. Your dick is so big and good, daddy, I can stay on top of you all night. At least you not like the other guys that want to sex me for free.”

  I held her hips. “Don’t tell me you one of them street girls.” Even if Mama was dead, I still had to have a woman I would’ve been able to take home to her.

  She sat still. “What you call men that use women for sex? Or the ones that hit me? And raped me? Or the one that got me pregnant and said it wasn’t his?”

  Mahogany hadn’t answered my question. “All that happened to you while you were on the street?”

  Lifting her leg, she said, “No, when I was in a group home. I see you like all the rest. Only difference you don’t mind paying for what you get.”

  When she lifted her hips, I held her. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t leave me.”

  “You sure you want me to stay, big daddy?”

  She called me big daddy a lot. Wow! “Will you marry me?” I asked.

  She nodded. Rocked. Circled her nipple with her fingernail while touching herself down there with her other hand. She might not be a street girl but she sure liked her body. Me too.

  I came again. She kept rolling her hips.

  Tomorrow, I was buying her an engagement ring.

  CHAPTER 36

  Chicago

  Was I wrong for not visiting Madison?

  I’d slept well in my bed the last two nights without her being here. I woke up to a text: Thanks for having your mother bring Zach by yesterday. She left him with me. I thought she wasn’t coming back. A few hours later she picked him up. We’ll be home in two days. We love you.

  I texted back: Do not come to my condo.

  Let’s not create a messy media affair. We’re not divorced yet. See you in two days.

  There was no need to respond. Madison only gave a damn about Madison. I went to the kitchen, got a black garbage bag, and put it on the bed. I opened all of my drawers and tossed padded bras, panties, and nighties, in the bag. I dug deep underneath my underwear, then held up a garter.

&
nbsp; “I’m glad she never wore this.” I stuffed it in with the rest of her things. Maybe she’d brought it hoping Sindy would’ve found it.

  Zach’s clothes, playpen, diapers, and crib could stay. All of his belongings could remain long as Madison didn’t come by claiming she needed them. If she did that, I was packing all of his items and buying whatever he needed. That dude was my heart.

  Some women were pathological liars. Madison ranked at the top. She couldn’t tell the truth unless her life depended on it. The finale was her lying about the recovery period for her surgery. Closing the curtains on her circus act.

  My doorbell buzzed. I closed the drawers. The concierge hadn’t called. It was probably Chaz.

  I opened the door. A tall white man with blond hair and blue eyes stood before me. Beside him was a young man almost his height. They must have the wrong unit.

  “Can I help you?”

  “Roosevelt ‘Chicago’ DuBois, I’m Nyle Carter,” he said extending his hand.

  Looking at his hand, I didn’t offer mine. He was a stranger, knocking on my door unannounced. “I’m going to ask you one more time before I close my door. How can I help you?”

  “Of course. This is my son, Landry.” The young man didn’t offer a greeting.

  His father said, “I’d like to buy your condo for my son. He’s going to Texas State and needs a place to live.”

  Standing on my side of the threshold, I leaned into the hallway expecting to see cameras. I laughed. People in Houston were doing more of this offering to buy properties from homeowners for cash when the properties weren’t listed but this had to be a joke.

  “Madison sent you?”

  “I’m serious, sir.”

  “Me too. I have a meeting to go to,” I said motioning to close the door.

  Chaz walked up. “Who’s this? You ready to roll?”

  “Nyle and son Landry, meet my brother Chaz. Chaz, I don’t know them.”

  “Then let’s go,” Chaz said. “I don’t know them either.”

  Nyle extended his hand, “Thanks for your time. If you change your mind, I have a cashier’s check here with your name on it for two million dollars.”