She's No Angel

by Janine A. Morris

  “Hey there, angel face,” Mrs. Tanner sang in Charese’s face.

  Charese cooed and kicked her feet as her grandmother wiggled her finger by her side. Isaac sat by and watched the loving fun they were sharing. Isaac had been by at least four times since the baby was born, and Mrs. Tanner had been by his condo quite often as well. Still, it was never easy to see his daughter in the arms of the mother of his lost love. Not only did Mrs. Tanner look so much like Charlene it made it hard for him not to think of her, it was a reminder that Mrs. Tanner would be the closest that Charese would ever get to her mother in the flesh. The look in Isaac’s eyes showed both his pain and pleasure at the sight of them together. He often felt thankful that Charlene had given him such a beautiful gift, but he also was wracked with guilt for wanting to have this child, knowing it was a risk. He’d been filled with mixed emotions since Charlene’s death. Only time would make these visits easier to deal with, so meanwhile Isaac carried himself the best he could.

  “She looks just like her mother,” Mrs. Tanner said.

  “I know. Everyone says that,” Isaac replied.

  “As she gets more of her features, I can see she has your eyes, but when I look in her face I see Charlene.”

  “I know. I’m happy about that but I will admit it doesn’t make it easy to look at her sometimes.”

  “Amen. That’s OK, that’s why this is my little angel face.”

  The room fell silent for a second, as Mrs. Tanner rocked Charese and gazed into her eyes.

  “I’m really happy you put Tanner in her name as well so she can grow up and never forget her mother.”

  “I wouldn’t let that happen,” Isaac said.

  Isaac’s eyes began to moisten, and his voice began to crack and he knew at that point he couldn’t take much more of the emotional moment. He walked toward the couch to take a seat, hoping to break the momentum.

  “Isaac, I never mentioned it before, but I heard about all what you and Charlene went through during her pregnancy, and I wanted to make sure I told you that I’m happy to see you guys were strong enough to get through it.”

  “Thanks,” Isaac said, trying to keep it short. He really had no desire to have a conversation about Charlene right now. With both his father and fiancée passing months apart, Isaac had been an emotional wreck. He had been doing his very best to remain strong for his daughter, but it didn’t take much to weaken his spirit so he didn’t want to take the risk.

  “It was my fault she was that way. I was so strict on her,” Mrs. Tanner continued. “I never trusted her to do the right thing, so she didn’t trust herself. I know that now. I wish I had the chance to tell her that.”

  “If we all had one more chance to tell her some things, I’m sure we would all take it.”

  Footsteps began to approach the living room doorway and after a few moments Webster Tanner was standing in the living room.

  “Is that my little angel?” Mr. Tanner asked as he walked toward his wife and swooped Charese out of her arms.

  “This is all he talks about these days, Isaac,” Ann said to Isaac. He is driving me crazy ... Charese this, Charese that.”

  Mr. Tanner took a break from cuddling with Charese to extend his hand to shake Isaac’s hand.

  “Hey, Mr. Tanner,” Isaac finally said.

  “Hi, Isaac. My apologies, I been looking forward to seeing her. Excuse my manners.”

  “I understand, she is the new addition to the family, she excites everyone,” Isaac said.

  Ann stood up after the room fell silent.

  “Would you like anything to drink?” she asked Isaac.

  “No, I’m OK for now,” he replied.

  “I’ll take a glass of water, Ann,” Mr. Tanner said.

  Isaac and Mr. Tanner sat in the room alone for a few moments. Isaac pulling himself together from the intense talk he’d just had with Mrs. Tanner, hoping that was the end of it. Mr. Tanner was never very talkative, and today was no different. He sat and played with Charese in his arms and was in his own little world. Mrs. Tanner returned with the glass of water and sat down beside her husband.

  As the four of them sat there in the room, Charlene’s presence was felt. There was a picture of her sitting on the end table taken when she graduated from junior high school. She looked absolutely gorgeous, holding a rose, wearing a blue gown, with a huge smile on her face. As Isaac sat there he smiled at the picture sitting across from him and at Charlene’s daughter. And with Charlene’s parents in their happiest state, it was as if Charlene was telling him, “Izzy, everything is going to be just fine.”

  If you enjoyed She’s No Angel,

  don’t miss Sasha Campbell’s sizzling debut novel

  Confessions

  In stores August 2010

  Turn the page for an excerpt from Confessions ...

  1

  Nikki

  “It’s ten o’clock and you’re listening to Nikki Truth, the host of the most talked about radio show in the Midwest, Truth Hurts. As my listeners know, I don’t believe in holding your hand. If you want my advice then you better have the balls to accept the truth ... even if it hurts. Caller, you’re on the air.”

  “Hi Ms. Nikki. My name is Kimberly.”

  Obviously, Kimberly’s been listening to my show because everyone knows if I’m not referred to as Ms. Nikki, I’ll have straight attitude. “Hello Kimberly. What can I do for you?”

  “I’ve got a little bit of a problem.”

  I leaned forward on the seat ready to hear what crazy drama was about to unfold. “I’m all ears.”

  “Well Ms. Nikki, I’ve been married to my husband for thirteen years but for the last year our relationship has grown distant. I tried talking to him about it, even suggested maybe we get counseling, but he refused, saying nothing was wrong with our marriage. But I knew something wasn’t right, because we haven’t had sex in four months.”

  “Yep, that would do it. So what did you do?” I asked while adjusting my microphone.

  “Well, something told me my husband was messing around.”

  “Something like what?”

  “Like locking his cell phone, coming home at all hours of the night.”

  “Hmmm, those are definitely some signs.”

  “Well, yesterday I waited for him to get off work and followed him to this house. When I knocked on the door, guess who answered?”

  “I hope for your sake it was a woman, and not a man,” I said with slight laugher, trying to make light of the situation.

  “Oh, it was definitely a female. He came up behind her in his underwear. I confronted him. He screamed at me and acted like we’ve been separated for years instead of still living in the same house!”

  “Okay, wait a minute. The brotha tried to pretend the two of you weren’t even together?”

  “Oh, yeah, and I went off!”

  “Good for you, Kimberly.”

  “I finally asked him to choose and he told me on her front porch, in holey draws and a dingy wife beater, he was in love with the other woman.”

  “Ouch! Girlfriend, say it ain’t so!”

  Kimberly breathed heavily into the phone. “Yep, I’m afraid it’s true. I was devastated. I got back in my car and drove home.”

  “Daaayum, girl! I wouldn’t wish that kind of drama on anyone. So tell me, what did you do when he got home?”

  There was a noticeable pause. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?” This female was stuck on stupid.

  “Ms. Nikki, that’s the problem. I love my husband and I’m willing to do whatever I can to save our marriage. That’s why I called. Because I need someone out there to tell me what I need to do to bring him back to me.”

  I shook my head and glanced through the glass at my producer, Tristan, who was shaking his head was well. There are some women out there who allow a man to get away with just about anything.

  “Kimberly, honey, obviously you don’t know anything about respecting yourself ’cause if you did, instead of
calling me, you would be packing his shit and burning it in the nearest Dumpster. Why in the world would you want a man who obviously doesn’t want you?”

  “He’s the father of my kids.” Don’t you know she had the nerve to sound defensive?

  “And that’s supposed to make it right? Men can only get away with what women allow them to. He disrespected and played you in front of another woman. That’s more than enough reason to dump his sorry ass.” Tristan was going to have to do a whole lot of bleeping tonight.

  “Hold up, Nikki. I love him and I don’t appreciate you talking negatively about my husband!”

  “Excuse me, but it’s Ms. Nikki to you, and if you love him that much then why you even call my show? Next caller.” I ended the call. Damn! I hate to say it, but women like her deserve what they get.

  “Hi Ms. Nikki. My name is Tasha and my family thinks I need to leave my man.”

  Oh Lord, not another. “Why is that?”

  “Well ... uh ... a couple of weeks ago we were at my cousin Boo-Man’s birthday party and one thing led to another and my man hit me. I know he didn’t mean it and he swears he won’t do it again.”

  It must be something in the air because tonight everybody is acting cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. “Let me tell you something, Tasha. Any woman who takes a man back after he hits her, all she’s doing is telling him it’s okay to do it again.”

  “But he’s going to counseling!”

  “Good, he needs to. And what you need to do is find a man who respects you.”

  “He can’t help it. His father used to abuse him.”

  “And that makes it right? Girlfriend, you have to respect yourself first before you can expect a man to show you respect.”

  “I know, but I’ve prayed on it, and God wants me to take him back. I’m certain of it.”

  “Nooo, the Lord helps those who help themselves. If you got back to a man that hits you, that means you don’t feel worthy of a man who won’t.”

  “I believe everyone deserves a chance to change!”

  What’s up with these defensive women tonight? “True, but are you willing to risk your life on it? What if he really hurts you next time?”

  “That ain’t gonna happen, I’m certain of this. He’s been trying real hard to work on our relationship. In fact, last week he asked me to marry him and I accepted. So there’s no way I’m letting my family or anyone else stand in the way. I just wanted to go on the air and say that, ’cause I know my cousins Alizé and Lingerie listen to yo’ show.”

  “If you’re adamant about staying with him then all I can do is wish you the best of luck, In the meantime, do me a favor ... take some boxing classes.” I ended the call and the phone lines lit up with callers anxious to put in their two cents. “This is Nikki and you’re on the air.”

  “Tasha, you are pathetic. I would have taken a frying pan to his head!”

  I had to laugh at that one. “I know, that’s right, girl.”

  “Trust and believe, I used to date a man who hit me. Used to think it was my fault. That maybe if I did things the way he asked me to instead of the way I wanted, maybe he would love me more and stop hitting me. But you can’t change people like that. The more I tried to make him happy, the angrier he got and the beatings got worse until one day he hit me in front of my son.”

  “What!” I cried, adding dramatic effect. “Girlfriend, what did you do?”

  “Ms. Nikki, something in me snapped. I picked up my son’s baseball bat and I swung and knocked that fool hard in the arm, then I kept on swinging. I had him running out the door in his drawers screaming murder!”

  “Good for you.” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “I like to hear about a woman standing up for herself.”

  “Humph! I might be a big girl but I know I deserve better.”

  “Yes, you do. Next caller.”

  “Ms. Nikki, this is Petra and I’m calling in response to the call you got from Kimberly. Yep, that was me she was talking about. I’m the other woman and as far as her husband is concerned, I’m the only woman in his life. Kimberly, get it in your head, Daddy ain’t coming home!” Click.

  “Oops, there you have it! Kimberly, dear, if that don’t give you a reality check then I don’t know what will.” I noticed Tristan waving his arms in the air. As soon as he had my attention, he signaled for me to take line two. “Caller, you’re on the air.”

  “Hello, Ms. Nikki.”

  I groaned inward the second I recognized the voice. If it had belonged to anyone else, I would have considered the sound sexy and soothing. Instead, I was on the line with Mr. Loser.

  I looked through the glass at Tristan who was cracking up laughing, and stuck up my middle finger high enough for him to see it. “Caller, please introduce yourself,” I said as if I didn’t already know.

  “Ms. Nikki, you hurt my feelings. I just knew you would never forget my voice.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Sorry, Charlie, but I hear hundreds of voices every week. I can’t remember just one.”

  He chuckled. “It’s me ... Junior.”

  “Hellooo Junior!” I said, trying to sound excited to hear from him. This man was like nails on a chalkboard—annoying as hell. “Long time no hear. What’s it been, a month, maybe two?”

  “It’s been one month, two weeks, and three days to be exact.”

  “Oh boy. I take it your newest relationship didn’t work out either.”

  He sighed. “No, and I don’t understand it because she was perfect. I really thought she was the one.”

  “If my memory serves me right, as far as you’re concerned, they’re all ‘the one’.” Junior had gone through so many relationships it was pathetic. Nothing ever worked and it was always the woman’s fault. He was what the show The Biggest Loser should really be about. He would have no problem winning because he was definitely a big fat loser.

  “No, this woman was crazy.”

  Listen to him tell it—they all were. “Come on, Junior. Tell me what happened, even if the truth hurts.”

  “What’s there to say? I loved her, still do, and part of me wished she’d come back to me. I just don’t understand why she ended it. I was there for her, giving her everything she needed and then some, but she had the nerve to say she needed some space.”

  I stuck my finger down my throat. Men like Junior were sickening. “Maybe you were smothering her.”

  “Nope. As soon as she said she needed room, I gave it to her. I guess I just loved her too much.”

  “Ugh! You’re turning me off. Come on, Junior. A woman likes excitement and a little mystery.”

  “I gave her excitement! I bought her roses, surprised her with a massage. I cut her grass, washed her clothes.”

  “Like I said, all that catering is a turn off. That seems to be a pattern of yours.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I mean you can’t keep a woman! I know the truth hurts, but if anyone’s gonna be honest with you, it’s Ms. Nikki.”

  He laughed, It was a soft eerie sound. “That’s what I love most about you.”

  Just like everyone else. “Junior, you call every month to tell me how you’ve gotten dumped. At some point you have to realize they can’t all be crazy. Maybe it’s time you started looking at yourself.”

  “I’m a nice man.”

  “Didn’t you get the memo? Nice guys finish last. As sad as it may sound, women don’t want a man who wears his heart on his sleeve.”

  “I don’t understand that. Women are always talking about they want a good man, yet when they get a man who isn’t trying to take their money or drive their car, they don’t want him.”

  I sighed dramatically. “You’re right, and it’s a damn shame. However, we do know what we don’t want, and that’s a clingy man.”

  “I’m not smothering.”

  “Gotta be. You’ve been dumped five times in the last six months.”

  There was a noticeable pause. “Wow! You’ve been keeping track. You obviously care
more than I imagined.”

  “Nah, don’t get the shit twisted. I just got a good memory and you, my friend, are unforgettable.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Why? I wouldn’t. True, there are some women out there who appreciate a good man who’s also needy. Unfortunately, me and the hundred females I know, don’t. However, I’m gonna let the listeners be the judge. Let’s see if there is one female listening tonight who’d go out with you. In fact, I’m gonna open up the phone lines and see if we can possibly make a love connection. This is Nikki Truth with Truth Hurts and for any listeners who are just tuning in, I’m on the phone with Junior. Junior, say hello to the listeners.”

  “Hello.”

  I almost laughed at the way he tried to sound like Barry White somebody. “Junior is one of my faithful listeners. He is also a good man, who is unlucky with love. If there are any single women out there looking for a special kind of man, give me a call, because I’m about to hook you up.” I couldn’t help emphasizing special because Junior was definitely a head case.

  “I-I prefer picking my own women,” he sputtered. I guess he was uncomfortable with me trying to help him out.

  “Maybe that’s the problem. You might be picking the wrong type, but I’m gonna hook you up.”

  “Damn, Ms. Nikki,” he began with a chuckle. It was obvious I was making him nervous. “I respect your advice but why you always have to be so hard? In fact, why you gotta put a brotha on the spot?”

  “Hey, I’m just telling it like I see it. In the meantime, keep your head up and take my advice for a change.” I depressed the button, then took a few more calls and read several e-mails but no one phoned in interested in going out with Mr. Loser. Not that I was the least bit surprised. By midnight my head was hurting and I was anxious to wrap up the show. “This is Nikki Truth at Hot 97 WJPC, ending another evening. When things get tough, remember the truth will set you free. Until next time.” I leaned back in my chair as I took off the headset. By the time I placed them on the table, the sound of Jennifer Hudson was bellowing over the air. Tristan always knew what song to play at the end of each show. Sitting back in my chair, I had to smile. Tonight had been another fulfilling night. My producer came running over to my desk.