Between Sisters

by The Queen

  I burst out laughing. The alcohol was kicking in. We continued drinking and laughing until we passed out.

  12

  Harmony

  Bitches! Bitches! Bitches! Every last one of those sisters of mine. I have been gone for four weeks, and they have collectively managed to tie up my home, work, and cell phone voicemails. All of my voicemail boxes are filled and won’t take any more messages. I have two messages from work-related items and forty-eight messages from them.

  I absolutely refused to check any voicemails or emails while I was away. I’m sure I would have had more voicemails, but the poor mailboxes ran out of space two weeks ago. Those were the last sets of messages, and they were on my work voicemail. They had the audacity to leave me a message on my work line informing me that my other voicemails were full. I haven’t bothered to inform them that I’ve been home for the past two days. I’ve spent that much time checking both voicemails and emails.

  So now, Charise and Sandy are pregnant, possibly by the same jackass. That or Sandy is pregnant by the same man that both of her sisters are screwing. Sounds like some nasty-ass soap opera, where everybody is sleeping with each other’s men. I really laughed at the fact that these idiots left a whole therapy session recorded on my voicemails, sharing all their foolishness. Now what if I never made it back to hear these messages? Some government authority would have had the laugh of a lifetime listening to their mess. Silly bitches!

  My vacation was wonderful. Well, actually, it wasn’t all vacation, but anything away from my family is a vacation. My first week was spent in Hawaii. My second week was in the Mexican Riviera. The third week I spent in Houston. I went there for a new job that I’ll begin in six weeks. I also used that week to check out some homes. My fourth week was spent in Cancun with Todd, the absolutely gorgeous 6’2” doctor I met while at a restaurant in Houston.

  The Cancun thing was very spur of the moment. Todd had just started his vacation the day before we met. When I let him know I had time left before my anticipated return to work, he suggested going away somewhere together. He suggested somewhere in Europe, but I know I couldn’t handle too much more jetlag. So, we ended up in Cancun since I just did the west end the week before. It was a free trip with a gorgeous man, so I didn’t put up too much resistance. Todd covered every cost of our vacation, and he wasn’t a cheap tightwad. Out of all the places I’ve been in my life, nothing will ever top my week in Cancun. I couldn’t have thought to pray for a better experience. Everything was perfect.

  Todd is forty-three years old with two sons, ages 21 and 23. He owns a thriving medical practice in Houston, as well as a very nice home on a good piece of land. He has a wonderful sense of humor, excellent fashion sense, and a diverse dining style, all of which I greatly appreciate. Oh, did I mention how smart he is and that he has a smile and body to die for? I can actually have an intelligent conversation with him, and he respects our differences of opinions.

  I had the opportunity to meet his parents, two of his four sisters, and one of his three brothers when we returned to Houston. They were a pleasant diversion from my own family. It’s funny because before meeting Todd, I hadn’t had any thoughts of marriage. After meeting and spending time with him and his family, though, I could actually see myself with him. Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself, but it’s a nice thought. Todd certainly differed from my last boyfriend, who wanted me to choose between him and my family. Todd promotes family closeness. When I shared some of my family insanity, he laughed and let me know he’d be my sounding board when I needed to vent, but reminded me that I’m the glue that holds the Wiggins family together, no matter where I relocated to.

  I have given my four-week notice at work. I figure I’ll use the other two weeks for my relocation to Houston. I still have to take a couple trips down there before I can leave D.C. for good. Now I have to get my home on the market. That part I’m not looking forward to. Oh, but I can’t wait to get far, far away from D.C. and all the drama that my sisters keep.

  The coup de grâce will be when Sandy moves back to D.C. and learns her sister is carrying her husband’s baby. I’m trying to get out of dodge before that happens. The irony of it all, according to their many messages, their due dates are only two days apart. Oh no, I almost forgot! Sandy’s other potential baby’s daddy has been shamelessly stalking Shawnee. Go figure. I need to write a book about them. It’ll probably make it to the bestseller’s list.

  I still have two more days before I need to return to work. I think I’ll use the time to get my affairs in order. I’m certainly not going to let any of my sisters know I’m back in town until after I return to work. Better yet, until I’ve had an opportunity to consult with my own therapist. I need all the help I can get with this mess. I’m scared to tell Todd any of this for fear of frightening him away.

  13

  Shawnee

  “Kelly, what the fuck am I going to do about this lunatic?” I asked. “I have threatened to call the cops on him, and he won’t quit.”

  “Shawnee, I still can’t believe you got yourself in this mess. Why were you sleeping with him?” Kelly asked. Then she continued before letting me respond. “So let me get this right. You, Sandy, and Elaine have been simultaneously screwing the same man? Sandy may be having his baby, and he has the balls to be stalking you?” She put her hands up in disbelief. “Ooh, no, no, no, no! Charise and Sandy may be having a baby around the same time, possibly by the same man? This is some sick shit, Shawnee.”

  “Tell me about it.” I was an emotional wreck, pacing back and forth in Kelly’s living room before plopping down on her sofa.

  “Okay now, watch the sofa. I paid too much for it,” Kelly warned in all seriousness. “I think you need to come clean with Robert and take whatever legal action you must against Eric. At least if you tell Robert yourself, you won’t have to worry about what will happen if he finds out,” she reasoned.

  “Boy, don’t you make that sound real easy. Robert will flip if I tell him that,” I responded.

  “Shawnee, what do you think is going to happen WHEN, not IF, he finds out? Hell, at least if you bring it to him, you could make it as though it’s his fault for neglecting you. What was that song by TLC, ‘Creep’?” She started singing the song. “Just like they said, no attention goes to show, so you crept. That’s his damn fault. He’s probably creeping his damn self.”

  She didn’t tell any lie there. I really wouldn’t have been so vulnerable if Robert wasn’t neglecting me.

  “Hell, you might have a point there. I do feel like it’s partly his fault. I know I have to do something about Eric. He needs to be stopped,” I said.

  “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you set up a meeting with him, Elaine, and Sandy there, and all of you confront his trifling ass,” Kelly suggested.

  “Let’s see, that would mean someone would have to let crazy-ass Sandy know that her two trifling sisters have been sleeping with her possible baby’s daddy.” I shook my head. “Nah, I don’t think so. Not a good idea.”

  “Well then, I say tell Robert and go from there,” she advised.

  “The problem with that is, if Robert somehow miraculously forgives me and joins forces with me to legally get Eric out of our lives, Sandy will eventually find out it was me that had her baby’s daddy locked up,” I answered.

  Kelly looked as though she was processing everything. “Yeah, you have a point there.” She paused. “Well, you can always move out of the country. That way, you’ll be far enough away from Sandy, Robert, and Eric.” She looked like she could be serious.

  “Are you serious, Kelly?” I asked.

  “I’m just saying…” She hunched her shoulders.

  “Gee thanks!” I said.

  “Look, Shawnee, I really don’t know what to tell you. There are no easy answers, and many people will be affected by your actions. Not just your actions, but Elaine and Charise’s actions. Things may not have been so bad if you all weren’t trying to keep the dicks between sisters.
You could have had your affair with any other man except Sandy’s, just like Charise.”

  “Boy, you know it’s fucked up when you get classified with your baby sister,” I stated. “Kelly, I fucked up, and now I need to sleep in the bed I made. And for the record, I had no idea about Elaine or Sandy when I first started with Eric. I eventually learned that he was Sandy’s ex, and I should have stopped it there.”

  “My God! No wonder Harmony ran away from home without telling us. This mess is too much for poor me. I can just imagine having all your messes dumped on her daily,” Kelly expressed.

  “Wow, you made that sound as though you never drop your bunch of issues on her,” I responded.

  “My issues are nothing compared to all of your issues. Shoot, now we have to pick a sister to side with. Once all the shit hits the fan, no one will be speaking to anyone, anymore. Momma will be rolling over in her grave. And wait until Elaine finds out about you sleeping with Eric, too. She only knew about Sandy,” Kelly warned.

  “Elaine is not in a position to say shit to me. She knew all along about Eric and Sandy,” I answered.

  “I’m just saying.” Kelly hunched her shoulders again. “Even Charise is going to be pissed after the way both you and Elaine jumped on her.”

  “A baby is a big difference! It’s something that can’t be swept under the rug. A baby is forever. The child will never have the opportunity to spend time with his or her aunt and cousins. Sandy wouldn’t ever have anything to do with that child, even if her baby turns out to be Eric’s baby.”

  “Yeah, no matter how you slice this, Sandy is going to be an unhappy person,” Kelly stated. “Let me ask you a question.”

  “Go for it.”

  “Was the sex really all that to make the three of you just lose your ever-loving minds?” she chuckled. “That had to be one powerful dick, tongue, or whatever to just make you all not give a damn about the consequences.

  “Ha ha! Very funny. But, to answer your question, it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

  “Damn, you’re making me jealous. A once-in-a-lifetime experience?” she repeated. “Wow!”

  14

  Harmony

  “I think you need to tell Eric about the baby,” I suggested in an effort to get Eric to back off from further stalking Shawnee and her having to go public, hurting everyone.

  I haven’t been home a whole week and already trying to do damage control. My therapist made the suggestion, and I thought it might work.

  “Harmony, I can’t do that. What if the baby is not Eric’s, but Lewis’ instead?”

  “I think Eric has the right to know. Just let him know it’s only a possibility. You obviously want the baby to be his anyway. Isn’t that why you’re planning to return to D.C.?” I reasoned.

  “What am I supposed to do about Lewis?” Sandy asked.

  “What about him? You obviously didn’t give a damn about Lewis while you were unprotected with Eric. Lewis has other children that he obviously didn’t stand behind when he left to go to Denver. I don’t see Lewis as someone giving a damn about anyone other than himself.”

  “That you’re probably right about. So how would I do this? Over the phone or in person?” Sandy asked.

  Yes! She’s going for it.

  “Sandy, I think the sooner the better. You’re pretty far along already. Just call him now and tell him. Lewis hasn’t been all too receptive when you told him you were expecting, right?”

  “When I told Lewis, he hit the roof. He asked if I were trying to make the Brady Bunch. He couldn’t understand why I didn’t just go and get an abortion while it was early enough,” Sandy answered.

  “And you didn’t leave his ass then?” I asked, more annoyed than the last time I heard the mere mention of Lewis’ name. “Well then, it’s settled. You make that call now. I don’t think Eric will be so ugly about it. And you say he has no children? I think he may be excited. At least by the time you return to D.C., he will have processed his thoughts and will more likely give you the support you need for this pregnancy. Also, be certain to let him know your plans to return to D.C. I think that will make him happy.”

  I feel so deceptive right now, and all of this to save Shawnee’s marriage and Elaine’s life. There’s nothing I can do to help Charise with that mess, though.

  “Hmmm… I guess. Well, I know you have my best interest at heart, so I’ll call,” she said, still apprehensive.

  “Sandy, I have an appointment coming in right now, so I have to get going. Call me later and let me know how it went,” I said to push things along, although I had another ten minutes before my next patient was due.

  “Okay, sis. Will do. Love you!” she said before hanging up.

  Let’s just hope all goes as hoped for. Eric will be happy about Sandy’s baby and leave Shawnee alone before she has to confess to Robert or take legal action against Eric. Even more so, please let this baby belong to anyone but that sorry-ass Lewis. Bastard doesn’t even take care of the ones he has.

  15

  Charise

  I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to carry this baby. Something about abortions doesn’t sit well with me. Well, actually, it’s that somehow I deluded myself into thinking I could really have something with my baby’s daddy. When I told him I was pregnant, he seemed genuinely happy and remorseful that he couldn’t be here for me through the pregnancy. He would call me at least once a day to check up on me and for phone sex. I even cut back on my one-nighters. Bitch needs some real dick from time to time. That phone shit just doesn’t cut it for me.

  Everything was going great until he told me that Sandy was also pregnant. He said he planned on leaving her to be with me, but now with that baby on the way, matters have been complicated. The last time we spoke, which has now been four weeks, he said Sandy was planning on returning to D.C. I haven’t heard any more on the subject from anyone.

  I finally received an email from Harmony in the form of an invitation. We are supposed to meet for dinner tonight. Perhaps then, I can gather some information. Since the announcement of my pregnancy, I seem to have been cut off. No one calls to check on me or returns my calls. I get generic emails from time to time, but nothing personal. I’m half tempted to pass on having dinner with them because I feel they have been treating me ugly as hell.

  What the hell. I’m at the restaurant already. I may as well park and go in. Fifteen dollars for parking? I ought to make Harmony reimburse me for coming to this expensive-ass side of town.

  When I arrived inside, I looked around for a familiar face. Finally, I saw Harmony walking towards me.

  Wow, she’s glowing. She actually looks happy. She must have found her a man.

  She embraced me when she got to me. I wasn’t too sure how to respond since I obviously knew her disappointment with my pregnancy, which showed on her face just as her eyes made contact with my bulging belly. I decided to hug her back.

  “Good, you made it. The rest of us are in the back,” Harmony said, motioning her arm in the direction for me to go.

  “You seem to be glowing. Is that happy I spied on your face?” I asked as we walked to the secluded area of the 5-star restaurant.

  “Well, I’d like to think I’m happy,” she answered.

  I wasn’t too sure how to take that. Maybe I was just being paranoid, or maybe not. As we approached the table with all my sisters, minus Sandy, I could see the disdain on their faces as I approached. It was more obvious when they gave their half-ass waves as my greeting. I really wanted to cry and run out of there.

  I don’t need this shit. They always seemed to look down on me before this pregnancy, but this takes the cake.

  I hesitantly sat down at the table, feeling some verbal lashings coming on.

  To my surprise, Kelly asked, “So, Charise, how are you and the little one coming along?”

  My paranoia responded, “Is that a loaded question?”

  “Wow, aren’t we a bit defensive this evening,”
Kelly stated, clearly put off by my response. “I was just simply asking a question, but never mind.”

  “Okay,” Harmony jumped in, “we’re getting off to the wrong start tonight. I would like for us to sit here and have a civilized dinner together, then I have some announcements to make, and then we will clear the air right before we probably get kicked out of the restaurant.”

  “Damn, do you think clearing the air would really get us put out of the restaurant?” Shawnee asked. “Why couldn’t we have just met at your house?”

  “Yeah,” I agreed, still annoyed about the cost of parking.

  “All in good time,” Harmony responded. “For now, just put your orders in and let’s eat.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Elaine chimed in. “I’m starving.”

  Through dinner, there wasn’t much conversation. Wow! I must’ve really been missing something. Everyone seemed to have some tension.

  After our meals and very limited conversation, Harmony began with, “As I mentioned earlier, I have some announcements. Do understand that they are non-negotiable. I am not here to get anyone’s input or advice. Nor am I here to impart any advice.

  “I have taken the liberty of assigning each of you with your own personal therapist. Lord knows each of you desperately need one. I will no longer be any of your personal therapists.”

  The look of horror was identical on each of our faces as we listened with open mouths, but speechless.

  “I love every one of you, but I’m so sick of all your foolish antics weighing down my life, which leads to announcement number two. I have a For Sale sign at my home, and I am leaving D.C. in two weeks. When I think you all have gotten your drama under control, I’ll send you a postcard with the address and phone number, but not a moment before then.”

  Elaine literally started choking. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t speak.

  Harmony sternly went on. “Good, the floor wasn’t open for discussions at this point anyway.”