Color of Deception

by Khara Campbell

  “Yeah. But they wanted a change of scenery, so Maryland it was.”

  “Would you want to move back to Florida?” He had to know if his chances with her would abruptly come to an end soon.

  They were interrupted by the waitress placing their dishes in front of them. Pete said grace before they ate.

  “To your question, I haven’t really given it much thought. I like it here, but I guess maybe down the line I may decide to move back to Florida.”

  They continued talking about each other’s background and childhood. They soon relaxed and were enjoying each other’s company.

  “You were right; the red snapper was delicious. As you can see I only left the bones,” Debra laughed, looking down at her plate.

  “Next time we come you should try the conch. It’s imported fresh from the Bahamas.”

  Debra noted that he’d implied there would be a second date, but she was in too good a mood to tell him there probably won’t be. They needed to stay only friends for the sake of raising Carl and her being his new employee. Getting off track is not an option for me, despite how attracted I am to you.

  “Okay, I think I will try the conch next time.” She drank the last drops of wine in her glass.

  Pete blew a breath, hoping what he said next didn’t have her running for the hills, like he’d wanted to do when he pulled up in her driveway. He didn’t know what it was, but from the moment he saw her in the grocery store he knew he had to get to know her better.

  “I really like you Debra.” he waited for her reaction, gauging whether or not he should continue. She didn’t run, so that was a good sign. “This whole dating thing is new to me. But every time I’m around you I feel so alive, more alive than I’ve felt since my wife died…”

  “Pete, please don’t,” she placed her wine glass on the table. “I’m not ready for…”

  “A relationship,” he finished her sentence. “Trust me, when I pulled up to your house this evening my intentions were to tell you the same thing. That perhaps going out on a date wasn’t a good idea. But I want to get to know you better Debra. Tonight only increased that need.”

  “Honestly Pete, are you just attracted to me because I’m filling a void? You’re still grieving your wife. It’s been what..?”

  “Seventeen months. And you’re not filling a void. I really do like you.” He couldn’t tell her that he really was struggling with his developing feelings for her and guilt of possibly betraying his wife’s honor by wanting to date her, among other things. That was something he would deal with on his own. He didn’t want to give her a reason to squash anything happening between them. Hell maybe she’s right, maybe she is just filling a void – nah, she’s not! “This is all new to me, dating. But I want to give it a try. With you,” Pete confessed honestly. He watched the perplexed look on her face.

  “Charles?” Debra stared at a couple walking toward their table. Pete turned to see who’d captured her attention. A white man in his late forties walked purposefully toward their table with his companion, a black woman looked to be in her mid-thirties, had her arm draped over his as they walked. They looked like a cute couple wearing matching colors. Charles had on a red button down, long sleeved shirt with dark jeans and his companion had on a matching figure hugging red dress. Debra instantly began to feel self-conscious of her extra pounds in her black dress, although Pete couldn’t take his eyes off of her all night. Seeing her ex with his beautiful new wife made her feel inferior.

  “Debra, it’s so nice to see you,” Charles said, standing in front of their table now. Debra willed the floor to open up and swallow her whole. The last thing she wanted was to see her ex-husband and especially with his wife. The woman he left her for and had a child with. A child she couldn’t give him herself.

  Debra picked up her wine glass and took a sip, hoping the liquid would calm her nerves. The sight of Charles had all the ill feelings she had harbored toward him rushing back to the forefront of her mind.

  “Hi, I’m Peter,” Pete said, seeing that Debra hadn’t the least bit of interest to speak. “You are?”

  “My ex-husband,” Debra spat. “And his new wife, Cynthia.” She placed her empty wine glass back on the table, grateful that it had been refilled minutes earlier. Cynthia vehemently looked down at Debra, throwing daggers with her stare tempting Debra to pick up her fork and stab her in the eye. This can’t be the highlight of my freaking evening! Debra trembled with anger at the gall of her ex approaching her on a date like they’re good ole’ pals.

  “Oh.” Pete suddenly understood Debra’s rigid demeanor.

  “I just wanted to say hello, we didn’t mean to interrupt—” Charles spoke.

  “Well you did interrupt us. You’ve said hello, now I’m saying goodbye!” Debra waved her hand, dismissing them.

  Cynthia pulled on Charles arm. “Let’s go honey. Our table is ready. We only have three hours until we have to pick the baby up from the sitter,” Cynthia stated loudly enough for Debra to hear.

  As Charles and Cynthia walked away Debra held on to her fork with a death grip. Silently praying to God to give her the strength to just stay in her seat and not go over and fork Cynthia up. She signaled for the waiter to pour her another glass of wine. She drank it quickly and suddenly felt the warmth of it help her calm down. She looked up and saw Pete watching her.

  “How long have you been divorced?”

  “Two years. But I really don’t want to talk about it. It’s bad enough they’re here.”

  “We can leave. Do you know how to play pool?” Pete asked after signaling for the waiter to bring the bill.

  “It’s been a while.”

  “Good. We’re going to play pool. That will help cheer you up,” he smiled while handing over his credit card for the bill.

  Debra returned his smile, thankful that she wouldn’t be going back home soon to only wallow in tears over seeing her ex and his wife. “I’ll like that.” She picked up her clutch after accepting Pete’s hand and walked with him out of the restaurant.

  Chapter 41

  Pete didn’t have the desire to call or go to Roger’s job and confront him about his letter. He was afraid of physically taking his anger out on the man – a fight he probably would lose, but a fight he would initiate none the less if he saw him. He watched as the teller counted five thousand dollars cash in front of him. He would pay fifty thousand dollars if it meant Carl wouldn’t be taken away from him.

  He still hadn’t told Debra or Rachel about the letter. It was best that they didn’t know. No need for them to worry over something he could handle.

  Pete smiled remembering Carl lying on his stomach this morning scooting toward a toy that was in front of him. His chubby little legs kicked, pushing him forward as his arms reached forward for the toy. He’ll be crawling in no time.

  “Here you are Sir. Five thousand dollars.” The teller placed the money in a large envelope and pushed it over to Pete. “Is there anything else I can assist you with?”

  “No, thank you!”

  A few minutes later, Pete arrived at the bank called out in Roger’s letter. Pete used the key for the safe deposit box that was also inside the letter he received and placed the envelope with the money inside before locking it. He just wanted this whole thing to be done. If five thousand dollars secured Carl’s place with him, it was money well spent. He breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and walked back out of the bank and into his car. He had to go back home to spend a few more hours with his son before heading in to work today because he knew he would be working late.

  **KC**

  “Thank you James for helping me,” Debra said, working on a design program on the computer. She was trying her hand at designing a simple logo for a couple that wanted to incorporate their names as a logo on their wedding invitations.

  “No problem!” James said, sitting in a chair next to her watching as she clicked on a few icons in the program as she tried to familiarize herself. “I taught Carlisha how to wor
k in this program too. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

  “I really like graphic design. I can see myself doing this long term.”

  “James, are you ready to head out for lunch?” Rachel asked, interrupting them.

  James and Debra looked up at her after she approached the counter that they were sitting behind working on the computer.

  “Yeah sure. Let me grab my cell from my desk. I’ll be a sec,” he said to Rachel as he jumped off the stool he was sitting on. “Finish working on this and let me see what you come up with, okay?” he told to Debra before walking away.

  “Okay. I’ll email you the file when I’m done.” Debra turned back to the computer screen and continued working as James walked toward the back, away from the retail store. The air immediately became awkward. Ever since Debra stormed out of Pete’s house after Rachel’s outburst about her moving in on her aunt’s territory, they’d both been avoiding each other. Even though Debra had been working at the printing company for a couple weeks, they had been successful with only communicating with each other for business purposes only which was always brief.

  “You really are getting pretty comfortable here aren’t you?” Rachel spat after James was no longer able to overhear what she was saying.

  Debra head snapped up at her words. She still couldn’t believe the nice, godly young lady she had come to know was being so nasty. Yeah she got that Rachel was being protective and loyal to her late aunt, but this new attitude still stunned Debra.

  “Just as comfortable as you are with being rude and nasty. Do you have to pray for God’s forgiveness every night for that attitude?” Debra looked at her directly, seeing how her words struck a chord in Rachel. A flash of condemnation flickered across her face but disappeared so quickly that Debra would’ve almost believed she hadn’t seen it, but she did. “Pete and I are friends, not that it’s any of your business! And my main objective is to assist in taking care of my godson. Nothing more, nothing less.” This was similar to what she told Pete on their date. After they left the restaurant, they went to play pool at a sport’s bar. She told him that she wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship. And going forward she would prefer if he needed her to care for Carl overnight, that she took care of him at her house and not his. Seeing her ex that night really brought her reasons for remaining single back to the forefront and allowed her to focus on her task of starting a new life for herself. She wouldn’t allow Pete to get her off track. Not even the mind blowing kisses, oh my, the kisses left her numb with awe and had her wanting to do more, would keep her from meeting the goals she had set for herself. Whatever attraction she had suddenly developed for him she had to lock away from her heart and mind with bolts, screws, and torch sealed to not be released again. Pete didn’t like what she had to say, but he respected her decision for them to remain friends – at least that was the impression he gave her.

  Rachel considered what Debra said for a moment. “I think that’s best. Which means you won’t have any issues from me.”

  “I’m ready, let’s roll,” James said after returning with his cell phone in hand.

  “You won’t have any problems with me either,” Debra stated to Rachel before returning her attention to the computer screen. “Unless you dare disrespect me again.” Debra looked up again to make sure Rachel heard her correctly and understood who the grown woman was in their conversation. Debra didn’t go off on Rachel when she first verbally attacked her, she understood her protectiveness of her aunt’s memory, but she would not allow Rachel to cross that line of disrespect again. She’d been through too much in her life to allow a twenty-something year old child talk to her any kind of way.

  James looked back and forth between them trying to decipher what he walked in on.

  “I’m ready,” Rachel spun on her heels and walked toward the door, her long hair bouncing on her back as she went.

  Debra felt James looking at her as she began working on the design on the computer screen again but she didn’t give any facial clues as to what her conversation with Rachel was about. She was sure he had a good guess though. Since working there, she noticed that James and Damian were pretty close, so she had no doubt that Damian pretty much told him about walking in on her and Pete kissing in the break room a couple weeks ago.

  “You want me to bring you back anything?” James asked.

  “No thank you! I brought lunch.”

  “Okay, cool. Be back in a few.” He turned and started for the exit.

  Chapter 42

  A few days later Leah dropped by Minute Print with Carl to visit. “Hi Debra,” Leah greeted, after pushing the stroller with a bright eyed Carl strapped securely in the seat into Minute Print.

  “Hi Leah. What a wonderful surprise. You brought Carl for an afternoon visit!” Debra hopped off her seat behind the counter and came around to greet Leah and Carl.

  “Yes. We just had a walk in the park and I decided to drive over here before heading back to Pete’s to put him down for his nap.” Despite Leah’s objection to Pete wanting to date Debra, she had no problems with her and spoke with her as cordially as before walking in on them kissing three months ago. Leah wasn’t sure if Debra and Pete had pursued dating, she hadn’t heard nor seen them in that manner, so she figured they probably weren’t.

  Carl was now five months old. He was sitting up comfortably on his own, crawling and even pulling himself up to a standing position. He was advancing very quickly. He sat in his stroller swinging a rattle in his hand while giggling showing his two teeth.

  “And today is a perfect day for a walk too,” Debra said, referring to the cool autumn temperature. She stooped down in front of the stroller. Carl reached for her when he saw her face. She unsnapped him out of stroller and lifted him up, hugging him to her chest. “Hi sweetie! Do you miss me?” She kissed the top of his curly dark head. She inhaled all his baby scent, taking pleasure in it.

  “Looks like we have a little visitor?” Damian said strolling in, joining them. “Hello Leah.” Leah greeted him with a big smile and hello. Damian placed the folder he had in his hand on the counter then walked over and rubbed his hand over Carl’s head. Debra, now standing, still held him in her arms. “Hey lil man. You look so much like your mama.” Carl smiled at Damian as if understanding what he just said.

  “Doesn’t he?” Debra asked, beaming at her godson. Carl reached for the necklace she had around her neck. She caught his chubby hand before he snatched it. “Oh no you don’t. You popped the necklace I had on yesterday.”

  “He such a busy body. That’s why I take him for walks in the park. At least for that few minutes in the park I know he is in one place, and not crawling all over the place being Mr. Inquisitive,” Leah smiled. They all laughed. “That’s one of the reasons I stopped by too. I want to ask Pete if it would be okay if I sign Carl up for a baby and me class.”

  “Oh, I think that’s a fabulous idea Leah.”

  The door chimed indicating a customer. All three adult heads turned toward the entrance. Roger had walked in, dressed casually in dark jeans, dark t-shirt, timberlands and a leather jacket. He stopped midstride when he noticed his son in Debra’s arms. For a moment, he was oblivious of the stares Leah, Debra and Damian had directed at him.

  Debra clutched Carl closer to her chest remembering the last encounter she had with Roger when he was drunk and demanding to see his son.

  “Hey, man,” Damian broke the crackling silence. “What’s up?” Damian walked toward Roger.

  Damian slowly moved his eyes away from his son, his only seed. His heart warmed at the sight of his chubby, handsome face. He definitely looks like Carlisha. But he also noticed, even from the short distance, that there was some resemblance of him in his first and only born. They had the same shaped nose and mouth. Guilt gnawed at him as he remembered not wanting Carlisha to have his baby, denying that she was even pregnant, and secretly hoping that she would miscarry.

  “Hey, I’m cool man.” Roger and Damian did a
quick fist pump greeting.

  “How can we help you?” Pete asked from behind them. He stared at Roger with unhidden hostility in his eyes. From the security camera in his office which was installed after the attempted robbery months ago, he saw when Roger entered the building.

  “I would like to have a word with you,” Roger stated, meeting his hostile gaze.

  Leah and Debra remained quiet, not sure of what to say or do. Fear gripped them both, both with their own reasons of knowing the threat Roger’s presence brought.

  Pete regarded Roger for a second, then said, “Follow me to my office.” He turned and started back the way he came. Roger followed quietly behind him.

  **KC**

  After closing the door behind them, Pete gestured to Roger to take a seat in one of the visitor’s chairs in front of his desk. Pete reclaimed his seat behind his desk. Today was Rachel’s day off so they were alone in the office.

  Pete reined in his temper and avoided going crazy white man. He was tempted beyond more than he thought he could control. But he remained calm wanting to hear the reason for Roger’s unwanted visit.

  “I know I said I don’t want anything to do with Carl, but I want to have visitations with my son. You can keep custody, I just want to see him on a regular basis.” Roger looked at Pete, sickened by the fact that he had to ask a man, a white man at that, to have visits with his own damn son. But he knew he wasn’t in any position to attempt raising him on a fulltime basis, and he sure as hell wasn’t about to bring Carl home to Porsha. He’d rather his son be raised by a white man than have Porsha anywhere near him, doing so would bring his son more harm than good as far as he was concerned. Maybe later on he would fight for permanent custody. Plus Porsha would probably kill Roger in his sleep for bringing Carlisha’s son home – chick was CRAZY! But he had to at least have a relationship with his son. Especially after finding out that the kids he thought were his with Porsha, weren’t his after all. At least according to her, which only confirmed the doubts he’d had for years.