by E. W. Brooks
“Hello,” she bellowed into the phone with a deep, cracky voice.
“Good morning, Lovely,” James crooned from the other side of the phone.
“Who the hell is this?”
“Open the door, Woman. I got breakfast.”
Tesha smiled, “Nigga, what you say?”
“I said, I’m at the door with breakfast. Get up and let me in. You can’t keep your future husband locked outside.”
She ran to the mirror and pulled off her scarf. Her curls from the night before had fallen, and she must have sweat in her sleep because her $150 hairdo was gone. There were no curls, the hair just hung lifelessly. Oh, hell no. He can’t see me like this. Tesha thought momentarily before throwing her bedazzled head scarf back on.
“Damn, woman,” James said when Tesha opened the door. “You got on a damned head rag and you still fine as hell.”
“Is that why you came by so early?” Tesha asked, reaching for the drink tray to lighten James’ load.
“Hell yeah, that’s why. Do you know how many tricks walk around here looking like goddesses only to get them home and have the size of their stomach triple when they take that damned girdle off? Or they had on so much make-up that you don’t even recognize their acne covered face the next day? I just had to be sure, Baby.”
“Boy, you a trip. Come on in here with those IHOP bags,” Tesha chuckled.
“I guess I can come on in here. You didn’t turn me into stone with that head scarf,” James laughed as he walked into Tesha’s house. It was small, but very cozy. Everything was neat and had its own place. Things looked good so far, but he had to check the bathroom. He couldn’t stand a bitch with a nasty bathroom.
“Hey, Tesha, which way is the bathroom? I need to wash my hands.”
“Stop lying, I know you want to see if my bathroom is clean or not, but don’t worry, it is. You used to them nasty bitches with toilets so nasty they look like stuff is living in them. Ain’t ya?”
“Hush, Tesha. Did it ever dawn on you that I may just like to wash my hands before I eat?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Take your time. I’ll get this stuff heated up,” she responded, shooing him away.
“Oh, Tesha, before you go to the window, let me save you a little trouble. My car is the black Benz parked right behind yours in the driveway.” Tesha couldn’t hold her composure and blurted out a hearty laugh.
“You see, we were meant for each other. We’ve both been around the block enough to check for the bullshit early,” she said before she knew it. James nodded his head and made the corner, headed to the bathroom. Maybe his son was right. Maybe this could be a very advantageous partnership.
Love could come later. This was legacy business.
***
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold out, Dad,” Lena St James-Marlowe complained.
“What do you mean, Lena?” her father asked.
“Do you know how hard it is to look at that baby knowing that’s Mandell’s daughter outside of our marriage and remembering all he was willing to sacrifice for them? That shit kills me every time I see her face. What am I gonna do, Daddy? How do I keep my feelings from showing?”
“It’ll be easier that you think in time,” Julius responded, trying to motivate his daughter, but growing annoyed with the conversation.
“It’s been almost 20 years ago, and the thought of what I did still haunts me sometimes. And now, seeing this baby’s face is like putting salt on a wound.”
“Baby, I’ve stood by as long as I could because I didn’t want to hurt you even more, but it’s time you open your eyes. Are you ready for a dose of truth?”
“Uh oh, here we go Daddy. What is it?”
“You know good and damned well that baby ain’t Mandell’s,” Julius blurted out, as if tired of holding the secret.
“Of course it is, Daddy. No one would risk their marriage by claiming to have fathered a child they know isn’t theirs.”
“Wake up, Baby. The young lady played you both. That man’s been gone for over 19 years, and he died thinking that baby was his, but he was dumb as hell, too.”
“What, so he was gonna leave me over a baby that wasn’t even his?” Lena asked.
“Yep. You know both of them together were too damned black to have a baby that white with all that stringy, fine hair. Where was your mind? Did you never consider this?”
Lena fell back into one of the two chairs facing the desk in her office.
“I did the research and her father is Cannon Keen.”
“Cannon Keen? Do you mean the Cannon Keen that just turned in his bid to run against Marcellus for the governor’s seat?”
“Yes, Lena. They are one in the same,” Julius responded.
“Are you sure, Dad? How did you find out?”
“I had her checked out after that craziness at Thanksgiving. At first, we didn’t find anything, but after seeing all the zeros in Tesha Edwards’ checking account, I had to look at how they got there. We almost missed it, but then we saw a monthly $10,000 deposit going to Tesha from Cannon. From there it wasn’t hard to figure out at all. You always have to follow the money to figure these kind of things out, so what are you gonna do?”
“I am gonna hold onto this. It may help Marcellus.”
Lena let out a yelp as a hand crossed her face. She lifted her head to see her father, a tear hanging on his eyelash, with a look on his face she’d never seen. Fear shook her body as Julius St. James spoke.
“You don’t keep that news to help Marcellus, My Heart. You use that information to help yourself. He is your husband, so do it in a way that can help you both if possible, but never give away something of such value for no reciprocity. He isn’t your blood. He is your husband. You two may love each other, but you have to look at yourself in the mirror everyday even if he does not. You have to take control of your future and the only thing that secures your spot is what you know and who you know.”
“I understand, but did you have to slap me?”
“Will you ever forget this lesson?” Her father asked.
“Nope.” Lena responded as she rubbed her face.
“Then, yes. I had to slap you. Now you will never forget.” Julius said as he hugged the person he loved most.
Did Someone Say Engagement Party
Tesha hadn’t been this happy since before Mandell was murdered. There was something about James that excited and intrigued her. She didn’t know if it was the subtle way her ordered her around or the money their partnership could generate. She’d always lived off Mandell’s money and banked the $10,000 per month from Cannon. So, after 18 years of this, Tesha was quite well off even though she hid it.
“Good afternoon, Love.” The voice flirted from the other side of the phone.
“Hey, Babes.” Tesha responded. “What’s up?”
“Don’t, what’s up me. Are you excited?”
“You damned, I mean – you are most certainly right. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. No one has ever really given a damn about my feelings, but you do. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some men that were very good to me, but there was never the closeness or intimacy I wanted. Then you fall out of the sky. You damned right I’m happy. I’ve never been this happy in my life.” Tesha smiled.
“Shouldn’t you be getting that happy ass of yours off to the salon? We wouldn’t want to be late for our own engagement party.” James commented, trying to keep Tesha on track.
She was a procrastinator and he knew it, but he didn’t try to change her. If anything he loved her more for the opportunity to guide such a beautiful and misguided woman in the right direction.
“Yes, James. I’m heading out the door as we speak. I just got back from Charlotte. You’re gonna love the dress. It’s a Tay-Beria Fashions original by Shantay, created by the city’s finest indie designer.”
“I don’t know what all of that means, but I don’t care as long as it makes you happy. I won’t hold you up, Babe.” James smiled in
to the phone.
It had only taken a couple weeks, but James and Tesha became inseparable. They were both tired of playing the game and things with the two of them just worked. Aside from the comfort of companionship, they also wanted to be rich. Their goal as a couple was to take their rightful place at the top and that feeling drove them both more than love.
***
Lena laid back in Marcellus’ arms as she thumbed through the society section of The Charlotte Observer and he read the business and politics section. He reached over to the night stand to take a sip of his coffee, but found himself struggling to hold on to the cup as Lena began to scream.
“What in the world is wrong with you?” Marcellus asked, trying to keep the warm liquid from spilling over onto the white sheets.
Lena found herself speechless now and pointed to the picture gracing the cover of the section. Marcellus spit out his coffee.
“What the fuck is this?” He asked looking at a picture of his brother and Tesha Edwards on the front of the damned lifestyles section.
“It says they’re getting married and . . . oh shit.” Lena remarked. “Their engagement party is today at five.”
“How in the hell did Tesha link up with anyone this rich?” Lena asked.
“I can only imagine.” Marcellus responded, trying to hide his aggravation.
Lena waited for Mandell to tell her that James was his half-brother, but he never did and that made her all the more content to follow her father’s advice and hold the most important information until it could help her as well.
“Who is this guy she’s marrying?” Lena asked, trying to push her hubby to tell her the truth, but just as a politician, he stuck to the script he created so long ago.
“I’m not really sure, Babe.”
Lena grimaced as she listened to another man she loved lie to her. Her first instinct was to pull her Baby 380 from beneath the mattress and plug his shoulder with a bullet, but she decided against it. Instead, she smiled as she pressed her husband even harder for the truth.
“Oh, my. Call me crazy, but you two actually favor.” Lena chuckled as she pointed to the picture. “See he has your nose and eyes. Are you sure you aren’t related?” She pried.
“Get outta here. We do favor, but he’s far too dark to be related to me at all.” Marcellus said as he fixed his messed hair back into place.
Lena watched the liar lying next to her fidget as he laid lie on top of lie. Finally, Lena had enough. She couldn’t sit there another minute.
“Do you know what I hate most?” Lena asked.
“What is that, Baby?” Marcellus asked, following Lena to the door and wrapping his arms around her.
“I hate that this woman is still trying to steal her daughter’s limelight? Why won’t she just let her be happy? Instead she has to have an engagement party one week before Edwina’s. How fucked up can you be?”
“Calm down, Baby. The world is full of people who just want to live. They live life on their own terms and don’t check anyone else’s calendar or schedule when they do. It’s all about them. Tesha is like that. You aren’t afraid that her party will be nicer than yours, are you?”
Lena punched Marcellus in the chest, playfully. “Boy, Bye. There is no way that hood booger bitch can throw a better party than me.”
Marcellus laughed as he pushed his wife’s buttons.
“Lena, why didn’t you tell me that Edwina was your former husband’s daughter?” The inquiring mind asked.
“Probably for the same reason that you didn’t tell me that James is your brother. I could ask how your brother is dark skinned and you are white, but it is obvious that the two of us have kept too many secrets to open this can of worms now.” Lena told her husband.
“Things aren’t always in black in white when you’re trying to create a legacy, Lena.”
“I guess you’re right, but let me tell you this, Mr. Marlowe. The next time you hide something this serious from me, I am gonna wipe the crack of my ass with your campaign.”
Marcellus looked at his wife, completely shocked at this side of her. He had never heard her use such language, but somehow he knew Lena St. James was not to be toyed with.
***
Matthew hid the Sunday morning paper. He had no intentions of letting Tesha’s surprise wedding and engagement party hurt Edwina. How could someone be so thoughtless, he wondered. He threw the paper in the garbage bin as he heard his garage door open.
“Hey, Babe. Your hair looks great!” Matthew complimented his wife-to-be.
“Thanks, Sugar Pie. How was your morning?”
“A little lonely without you to snuggle with, but I’m glad you’re back. Now we can sweat out that perm.” Matthew joked.
“Oh, no hell no, we won’t,” Edwina laughed, “Guess what I found out today?” she asked, the mood turning somber.
“What’s up, Babe?” Matthew asked with concern, as he watched the love of his life’s countenance change.
“I was in the salon today and someone had the lifestyle section open. It seems that my mother is marrying some guy with a gold tooth named James.”
“Oh, so you know about that?” Matthew asked, pulling the paper from the trash.
“Yeah, I’m just glad that she can finally get a little piece of happiness. She was far from a perfect Mom, but I know she had to play the hand she was dealt,” Edwina responded.
“Do you wonder how she’s paying for all of this?” Matthew asked.
“Nah, she’s had it so hard for so long. It’s probably that man,” Edwina responded.
Matthew sat, afraid to move, but knowing he had to be honest with the love of his life.
“Hey, I accidentally opened your bank statement today. I thought it was mine, because I know you bank with the Credit Union and this statement was from Bank of America. Did you know about this?” Matthew asked, handing his wife evidence of a small fortune.
Edwina dropped the statement when she saw all of the zeros in a bank account with her name that listed Tesha Edwards as trustee.
“What is this?” Edwina asked with a confused look on her face.
“From the look of that statement, it seems you are one rich lady,” Matthew smiled.
“Yeah, I guess, but I don’t know where it came from,” Edwina answered, “I can’t spend money that isn’t mine.”
“Let’s call the bank,” Matthew said, “with this kind of money you should have a personal banker and a financial advisor.”
Edwina slowly dialed the number on the statement. After verifying her address and identity, a personal friend of the Marlowe family advised Edwina that a man named Cannon Keen made a $10,000 deposit in that account every month for her lifetime.
“A lifetime?” Lena asked. “Math was never my thing, but I should have more than 1.5 million left.”
“Most recently, there was a large cash withdrawal and a check for $100,000 to Mickens Art and Design. There were smaller ones to the Charlotte Observer and Wilmington Star News.”
“That’s good to know. May I speak to someone about opening an account, please?”
***
“We can’t avoid the conversation forever,” Marcellus said as he handed his wife a glass of wine.
“I know.”
The concerned husband sat down beside his distant wife. She hadn’t been the same since finding out about his brother James.
“When were you going to tell me about your step-daughter Lena?” he asked sarcastically.
“She is not my step-daughter. Tesha fooled Mandell into giving her his heart, his money, and a fake ass life.”
“I’m sorry, L. I don’t follow.”
“Edwina is not Mandell’s child.”
“What?” Marcellus screamed.
“Nope, she lied to him and even collected partial insurance benefits that should have been for the girl.”
“Oh Lord, God knows if she ever saw a dime.”
“No, I think she just found about 1.5 million dollars,” Lena sm
iled.
“Lena, what did you do?”
“Nothing, Babe.”
“What did you have done?” he insisted.
“I was calling Tyler, our banker and just gave her a heads up that my son was getting married and that he and his fiancé were already together. I simply let her know that Edwina needed her address changed on file. There was no harm in that, right? It’s her money and it seems that Tesha has been spending big money to cover her wedding to your brother.”
“That’s pretty smart,” Marcellus laughed, “Did you call the girl and tell her.”
“Nope, but I know she moved everything out of that account. She only left $10,000.”
“And how do you know that?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“That doesn’t matter. Just know your con artist brother isn’t gonna be happy when he finds out his new wife is just as broke as he is.”
“He’s not broke.”
“Yes, he is. I had him checked out, too. I even deposited $20,000 from your account to his because I felt sorry for him. But, that was before I found out about his engagement.”
“Oh, hell. That means he’s really been pouring it on trying to impress Tesha,” Marcellus laughed.
“Yep, he’s gonna be calling in a minute. Do you think he really loves that woman?” asked Lena curiously.
“Doesn’t a dog love the man who feeds and pets him?” Marcellus asked.
“What are we gonna do? This sounds like trouble, and it’s been a while since I’ve had a good challenge. Are you up for it?”
“Damned right I am. You are speaking to the next Governor of the Tarheel State. I’m built for this shit.”
“Okay, so what are you gonna do when this all comes out and the world finds out that Marcellus Marlowe is half black?”
“Let’s win this election, and then we’ll make the biggest announcement the world has ever seen.”
“You are so dramatic.” Lena smiled. “But, that’s why I love you.”
It’s My Money and My Life