“No, I didn’t know that. You’re welcome,” I said as I handed the phone back to him. Within minutes his phone started ringing nonstop. All his country family began calling from Louisiana to Florida back to Atlanta. I just found out I was pregnant and they were talking about what we were going to name the baby. DeCarious got online and began seeing everything a pregnant woman needed. As soon as DeCarious left I called my mother. She was a little suspicious. She asked what I was doing with my life. She was mad at me basically for leaving her in Philly with Pops. I told her just be happy that she was going to be a grandmom. I called Tanisha to tell her I was pregnant. I knew she would be more excited.
“Yup, what if I’m in the house?”
“You told him. What did he say?”
“He is so happy. He called and told his whole family.”
“Really? That is so great.”
Chapter 45
Tanisha
It had been two months since I had seen Kevin and I didn’t think I could deal with this. I was literally hurting for him. I missed him, but I was dealing with it. I was also dealing with my head being tight with headaches and dizziness, and the only time I get severe dizziness is when I am pregnant. I hadn’t had my period since before I visited Kevin.
So many things went through my mind. I was pregnant and it wasn’t on purpose. I wasn’t on anything because I was about to get my tubes tied. I didn’t know what I was going to do or how I was going to tell him. But how was I going to be pregnant by a man who didn’t even know how old I was really? What if he was not happy? How about if he got upset? Our relationship was solid, I think. I mean it was real. But he was in Europe; he was not my husband. But how about if I was a long-distance fling and I didn’t know it? No, I was not a long-distance fling. The whole time I stayed there his phone hadn’t rung once. I didn’t know what to think. I had to talk to Adrienne.
“You are not going to believe this. I’m pregnant, too!”
“Yes, mission accomplished. Who said lightning don’t strike in the same place twice?”
“Adrienne, it wasn’t intentional. I don’t want another child. I just wanted to have a life, not make a life.”
“Whatever, did you tell him yet?”
“No.”
“Call him and tell him. Ooh, I’m so excited our babies are going to be cousins. Call him, give him the good news, and call me back.”
I told Adrienne but I couldn’t call Kevin yet, not now. I had to finish thinking about this. What the hell was I going to do with another child? Four children? Instead of me calling Kevin, Kevin was calling my phone. I couldn’t pick up the phone. When I didn’t answer the phone he text-messaged me:
ANSWER YOUR PHONE. WHAT’S WRONG?
What, could he read minds? I didn’t answer; then he called two times back to back. It must be important, so I finally picked up.
“Hello.”
“Baby, I got some news.”
“You do? Me too!” I said, less excited. “Your news first!” I said, thinking my news was going to require the most discussing.
“I’m coming home.”
“Coming home? Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, holding on to the phone.
“Well, not home home, but to the States. I didn’t tell you my agent was working to get me back to the States.”
“Okay, so what happened?”
“Well, he pulled it off. The Sixers signed me for a one-year contract.”
“The Seventy-Sixers?”
“Yes, I’m coming to Philly.”
I was trying to sound happy, but I knew I was about to get exposed. “That’s great, baby.”
“I know, I am so happy. I’m packing right now. Everything will be finalized in the next couple of days. So, what did you have to tell me?”
“It wasn’t important. I’ll call you later.”
Chapter 46
Dionne
Darren and Jasmine were back up to their double-date antics again. It was not that I really minded going out with them, I just had work to do at my job and planning my wedding. And of all the damn places to go they picked a basketball game. No one liked the Sixers since they traded Iverson to the Nuggets. The game started at seven; it was six forty-five when we arrived. I saw Jasmine waving at us.
“Hey, lady. How’s the job coming along?” Jasmine asked.
“Good,” I said as Terrance took my coat off and got comfortable.
“You want me to go get you anything? I’m getting a pretzel,” Darren said before he left.
I said yes and told him to get me a soda and started checking my cell phone for messages.
“No phone tonight,” Terrance informed me as he took my phone out of my hand and shut it off. The Philadelphia 76ers were playing the Washington Wizards.
The team was announced, and when I noticed my Kevin Wallace run onto the court, I almost turned red. Oh my God, he didn’t tell me he was back, I thought. I wanted to scream; instead, I just took a sip of my soda nervously. Talk about a surprise.
“That’s her little boyfriend from college. She used to like the jocks; now she like them smart,” Terrance laughed as he nudged me playfully in the arm.
“I didn’t know you were an athlete chaser in college,” Jasmine said. I didn’t dignify that with a response. Jasmine was stupid and I couldn’t deal with her right now. I had to find a way to talk to Kevin without them missing me.
By the third quarter of the game it was hard to keep my composure. I was fidgeting and twisting.
“What’s wrong with you?” Terrance asked.
“Nothing. My stomach is feeling a little funny.”
“Uh-oh, sounds like a baby is on the way,” Jasmine publicized inaccurately.
“Yeah, maybe. I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be back.”
“You need me to walk you?” Jasmine asked.
I told her I was fine, but she still trailed behind me. Bitch, didn’t I say I was fine? I thought. I went into the stall, made some coughing and gagging noises, and flushed the toilet a couple more times.
“You sure you okay?”
I came out, then wiped my hands. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Then I walked back to our seat and acted like I had to go back to the bathroom again. This time she did not follow me. I left the moment I was out of her sight. I ran to a handicap stall, closed the door, and dialed his phone. His voice mail came straight on and I left him a real sweet message. “Baby, this is Dee. Umm, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back to the league? Call me. I can’t wait to see you and get together. Love you, and oh, congratulations.”
Leaving the message was not enough. I was trying to figure out a way to sneak and say hello at the end of the game. But there was no way I could until the game was over. With two minutes left in the game, I said I had to go to the bathroom again. Instead, I went down to the locker room. The game was over. I saw Kevin and was about to go and give him a big hug, but the press had got to him before I did. I’ll just call him tomorrow, I thought. Just as I made that decision my phone rang. It was Terrance. I answered and told him I was going to meet him by the gate. I walked out to the car and closed my eyes and felt like I was about to spit up for real. Terrance brought me in to lean on his shoulder as he drove us home. I didn’t say anything to him. I was frustrated; how could Kevin be back home and not tell me?
“Maybe you shouldn’t go to work,” he said, massaging my back at the light as I stared out the window. “Does seeing your ex have anything to do with this?”
“Of course not! Why would you say something so damn stupid, Terrance? Why would you bring up my college boyfriend? You just don’t know what to say out of your mouth, do you?”
Terrance let it go. I felt a little guilty for going off on him, but what was I supposed to say? Yes, sweetheart, I am mad that my ex didn’t tell me he was coming home.
Chapter 47
Tanisha
Kevin called me when his flight landed. He went straight from the airport to his agent’s office and from there to a Real
tor. The team housing coordinator already found him a six-bedroom house in Gladwyne. He was so busy he didn’t even get a chance to unpack before it was time for him to go to practice.
Kevin’s first game was against the Washington Wizards. It was real crowded; a lot of people were there to see Gilbert Arenas. This man was yelling in my ear, “Hot dogs and popcorn.” I sat nervously watching Kevin run up and down the court. Some guy was trying to block him; he broke in front of him and made a layup. The announcer yelled, “Keeevvvviiinnnn Waalllaaacccccee,” as the shot clock was running out. They went on to win the game. He had scored fifteen points and had nineteen assists. My baby was on fire.
The Sixers won; the score was 101–96. I was so happy for him. He sent me a text message after the game was over to meet him in the private lounge by the press area called the Lexus Room. He had no idea I already knew my way around this place. I went and sat down, and noticed all the women hanging out. In all my days of going out, I never saw this fresh-out-of-high-school crew. They were steadily trying to get Kevin’s attention as he came into the room. He walked past all of them and grabbed my hand and kissed me.
“Can I get an autograph?” one of them called out. She wore these tight jeans and square-toe heels.
“Sure, what’s your name?” Kevin asked.
“Baby doll,” she said as she chewed on her gum, twirling it with her finger. As soon as he stepped away, a reporter came over to talk to him and get a picture. I smiled and stepped back, and let Kevin talk to the reporter, but he pulled me back and made me get in the picture.
We left the arena and drove to his new house. We came in and started to unpack. Kevin’s phone kept ringing. “Damn it, I wish they would stop calling my phone,” he said.
“Who?”
“Everybody, people I know here want me to go out with them to a few parties tonight.”
“Why won’t you go?” I asked. I didn’t want him to stay in on account of me.
“No, not tonight, and I am focused. I was just busting my ass for all these years. I’m not messing that up by clubbing, and I saw you trying to step away from the camera. Don’t be scared of the media. Baby, you have to get used to this. I’m back and the cameras are going to be there.”
“You can be in the spotlight, Kevin. I just want to be in the background.”
“Get used to it. You’re going to be in it too. I want you to buy Kierra a bedroom set tomorrow. I want her to be here with us, I want you to go pack all your stuff and move in here too.”
I was about to start crying. I didn’t know why, maybe because reality was setting in. Kevin walked over to me and picked my chin up.
“You can’t believe I’m here, neither can I,” he said as he shot an imaginary ball across the room. “But I prayed on it, and God answered my prayers. I’m here.”
“I have to go to work. I can’t move in yet, Kevin.”
“I’m here now. Everything is good now, Tanisha. You could quit that job and relax. You’re good. I want your only job to be to make sure you’re at my games cheering,” he said, laughing and tickling me. “I’m going to pay you to be my personal cheerleader. I want you to say, ‘Go, Kevin, go, Kevin.’”
“You so silly,” I said as I began to tear up.
“Stop crying.”
“It’s just.”
“It’s just what, Tanisha?”
“Kevin, I’m pregnant.”
“What? How? When?” Kevin asked.
“When I came there that week.”
All his laughter stopped. He just said, “Really? Damn, this changes everything.”
I hoped he didn’t think I did it intentionally or maybe I did unconsciously. I should have told him no, and gone and got my surgery. He was quiet the rest of the night. He pulled the covers close to him and turned his back to me. He probably is going to leave me. I really got myself in some shit, I thought as I closed my eyes.
The next morning, he poured me orange juice and said, “It was meant for me really to come home. You would have had to move to Italy otherwise, huh?”
I didn’t say anything. He brought me into his arms and said, “So we having ourselves a baby.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m happy.”
“You are?” I said, shocked.
“Yes, I’m very happy. It is sudden; I’m surprised, but I’m happy. Now, I really want you to stop working.”
Chapter 48
Dionne
The Daily News had a write-up on Kevin in the sports section. He had helped his team win the last five games. I just wanted to know who the woman was standing next to him. Under the picture, it was captioned: KEVIN WALLACE WITH FANS AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, TANISHA BUTLER. Girlfriend? Since when does he have a girlfriend? I thought. This was great. Kevin came home and didn’t tell me, and he had a girlfriend. Wasn’t that interesting? As soon as I got out of court I was going to try to call him again and ask him about all this.
After several weeks and attempts I wasn’t able to reach Kevin. He wasn’t answering his telephone and was acting shady. He was all big NBA man now. I did finally get ahold of him though.
“What’s up with you? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for some time.”
“Yeah, I know. I was going to call you back.”
“How is everything going?”
“It is going good, but listen, I am in the middle of something. Can I give you a call back?”
“What time?”
“I’ma going to call you in an hour,” he said, rushing off the phone.
I waited an hour and he didn’t call me back, so I called him again. “Do you have time now? I want to talk to you. I want to see you and talk to you.”
“I’m off today and tomorrow.”
“Can we meet for lunch today?” I requested.
“Dionne, maybe some other time. I’m pressed for time right now.”
“Please, Kevin. I just want to see you. I haven’t seen you since you been back.”
“Okay, but I only have like a half.”
“That’s fine; meet me at the Marriott downtown at the restaurant. In like an hour.” I was ecstatic. I had a meeting but I was skipping it.
Meeting Kevin downtown was a horrible mistake. I should have picked somewhere more secluded because people kept interrupting our conversation asking him for autographs.
“So, what’s going on with you?” I asked as the waiter left the table with our drink order.
“I’m back.”
“I see. So, how is it going so far?” I asked.
“Dionne, life is so good. I have a new house and life is wonderful.”
Wonderful, really? I thought I felt a little tinge of jealousy spike through my entire body. Instead of commenting, I picked up my glass of cold water and drank it. But after gulping the water down, I couldn’t play nice anymore.
“So, why didn’t you at least call me and let me know?”
“Why would I?” he asked. Why would he? Because we were good friends. Because we had been confidants for years. Because we loved each other. There were so many reasons he should have called me. But I didn’t say any of them; I just exhaled noisily.
“Dionne, to be honest, I know you’re about to get married now and I’m back, but I have a lady and am about to have a baby.”
“A lady, a baby?” I stuttered.
“Yeah, somebody who has been by my side for a little. She’s from here. I got to introduce you to her.”
“I don’t want to meet her!” I shouted.
“Why not? I want to meet your husband-to-be,” he said, smiling as he winked at me. I knew that wasn’t going to happen. He looked so handsome and so nice. I grabbed Kevin’s arm and seductively requested for him to go upstairs with me.
“No, I’m a committed person now. And so are you. Who knows, in a few months I might be popping that question to her?” He smiled and crumbled his napkin into a circle.
“You can’t be serious. I mean, you’ve been fighting off groupies since you we
re in college, and now you are giving your heart to one.”
“She is definitely not a groupie. When I met her she didn’t even know who I was or what I did.” The waiter came to clear our table and give us our bill. Kevin reached in his back pocket and handed the waiter his platinum Visa card.
“I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about us. You don’t think you owe me an explanation as to why you didn’t even say what’s up when you got back in the States?
“Not really.”
“Kevin, after all these years, I couldn’t get a ‘Hey, Dee, I’m in the NBA.’ ‘Hey, Dee, listen to this great news’ would have been nice. Or did you forget who had your back for all these years?”
Kevin breathed heavily, then looked away like he was mulling over his next choice of words. As I waited to hear his response I moved in closer to him and looked him directly in his eyes. I wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Dionne, you know it’s like I try to give you the benefit of the doubt, but be clear, I don’t owe you anything. We are not together and I’m moving on. We both had opportunities to be in each other’s life and we didn’t take them then. And now that moment has passed. So, no, I don’t owe you anything and I have to go.”
I didn’t react. I just couldn’t believe he was acting like this. Like I was wrong for being upset with him. The waiter came back with his credit card receipt. Kevin signed his name, stood up from the table, and told me to have a nice day. I waved him away.
As I was leaving, I saw the valet pull his brand-new shiny silver Range Rover up. Kevin got in and then beeped the horn at me and waved to me like I was a fan. I gave him my middle finger. I walked back to my office angry. Our meeting didn’t go as well as I had anticipated, but I supposed he was right. He was in a relationship now and I was about to get married.
James was looking like something was wrong when I sat at my desk.
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