My Man's Best Friend II

by Tresser Henderson

“And why are you dressed like that? Are you running from somebody?”

  “The way I’m dressed is none of your concern. What you should be concerned with is finding me a damn pay phone like I asked,” I said angrily.

  “And like I told you, ma’am, I don’t know where one is.”

  I sat there fuming. Of all the cab drivers I had to get, I got the one who didn’t know nothing about nothing.

  “Ma’am, I started my meter already and we haven’t budged an inch,” he told me and I glanced at the escalating amount.

  I asked, “Do you have a cell phone I can use?”

  He frowned at me.

  “Please. I’ll pay you for using it. I need to make an important phone call.”

  “Is it long distance? Because I don’t have one of those plans.”

  “It’s local. So are you going to let me use it?”

  He thought about it for a minute before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a flip that looked like it was one of the first ones to come out.

  I started to say something but changed my mind when I found the man staring at me. I flipped the phone open and dialed Derrick’s number. Putting the ancient device up to my ear, I heard it ringing, my heart pounding at the thought of hearing his voice.

  “Hello.”

  “Derrick, please don’t hang up—”

  As soon as he heard my voice, he did just that. I knew he had to be mad but he had to be over it by now. Maybe he was acting like this because he was grieving. I knew my boo needed me and I wanted to go to him. I regretted I never told him how sorry I was about him losing his biological dad.

  I handed the old man his phone back and sat thinking about what I needed to do next.

  “Is there something else you would like me to do, ma’am?” he asked.

  “As a matter of fact there is. Can you sit here and wait for me to come back out?”

  “Yes, I can, but please know my meter still will be running.”

  I said, “Okay,” and got out of the cab, making my way back into the house. Derrick wouldn’t accept my calls. Then maybe he would talk to me in person. It was time for me to go and pay my last respects.

  Chapter 5

  Zacariah

  While the graveside service was going on, I made sure to remain in the background where no one could see me. I had on a black sleek knit dress with side ruching and a black-and-white wide-brim hat with a circumference of twenty-two inches. I made sure to wear a dress that was modest so Derrick could see I was trying hard to win him back.

  As the preacher spoke, I felt like I should be sitting with Derrick and his family. Hell, I was practically family as long as Derrick and I were in our relationship. What we were going through was temporary, just as long as Kea stayed out of the picture. Still that seemed to be difficult. Here she sat in the front row with Derrick at the casket. Sanctimonious trick. There she was still thinking she could take my place. But it would be over my dead body.

  Once the service was over I watched as everyone greeted one another. Individuals lined up to greet Derrick and other family members. I could tell he didn’t like this portion of the service. How could he, when he was sitting in front of a casket holding a father he never knew? The pain was evident on his face and for a split second, I regretted that I played a part in his sadness.

  As the crowd diminished, it was then that Derrick saw me. The expression on his face was one I wasn’t familiar with. It wasn’t one of happiness or anger. It was as if he were an empty shell of a man going through the motions just so he could get home. I hoped when he saw my dependability he would see how sorry I was and would let me help him get through everything he was going through.

  When I made my mind up to approach Derrick, Kea stepped to him. She caressed his arm gently and a bit of jealousy shot through me. Then annoyance crept in and again I tried to remember the words my nurse said to me. But I realized my anger was a part of me and so was revenge. I wanted to beat Kea down right in this graveyard, burying her under one of these tombstones. Hell, she could share a hole and be buried with her rapist father. But I had to maintain my composure. I had to do it for Derrick and show him I was a changed woman. My body trembled as I tried to hold back the feelings of wanting to lay hands on this trick, but I held strong and remembered I was here for my boo.

  I walked over to the two of them carrying on a conversation. I overheard something about getting paternity test results in a few days. Derrick nudged Kea, who turned her attention from him to me. All conversation ceased when I stepped in front of them. I was hoping Derrick would be the first one to speak, and he was, but I didn’t like what came out of his mouth.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked angrily through clenched teeth.

  “Derrick, I wanted to come and show my support. I heard about what happened and—”

  “And what? You came to gloat?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “You have some nerve showing your face here today.”

  “I came here for you, Derrick.”

  “I didn’t ask you to come. Never once did I pick up a phone and say, ‘Zacariah, I need you.’”

  “But I knew you would,” I said, watching Kea sneer and shake her head in dismay.

  “Are you happy that the man I never got to know is dead? Or is this some sick way of you seeing Kea and me together, knowing we can never be lovers . . .” He paused.

  Just him saying the words “Kea” and “lovers” in the same sentence made me cringe. But I held my ground.

  “No. Please. Just hear me out, Derrick,” I pleaded, trying to look sincere, but it was hard seeing Kea get satisfaction out of Derrick humiliating me in front of everyone.

  “Why should I listen to anything you have to say? You have been the worst thing that has ever happened to my life. I don’t even want to look at you right now,” he said, walking away.

  I watched him head in the direction of his mother, who was glaring at me with disdain. That woman never liked me. She can jump in the same hole along with Kea. Treating me like I wasn’t good enough for her son, and acting like this Christian but telling lies all along. Oh, she had a story to tell. And it had to be good for her to have Derrick thinking his entire life the man he knew as his dad wasn’t his biological father.

  “Mentally something has to be wrong with you, Zacariah. You really thought coming here today would be okay with Derrick?” Kea asked with her black clutch in her hand, which matched her black suit. Her hair was pulled back and shades shielded her eyes also.

  I still thought I was better looking than she was and couldn’t see what Derrick ever saw in her. “I didn’t come here for any drama, Kea,” I forced out of my mouth.

  “That’s all you are full of, Zacariah. Everywhere you go there is a theatrical performance with you playing the leading role as queen bitch.”

  I smiled smugly, trying really hard not to reach out and smack the hell out of this trick.

  “And here you are proving my point by reveling in our sorrow at our dad’s funeral. Just when I thought you couldn’t sink any lower, you somehow find new depths of dirt to throw in our faces. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since low down is your customary ranking,” Kea said.

  My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to thump out of my chest. I felt sweat beads building underneath my clothes and one of my hands balling into a fist.

  I said, “I didn’t come here in triumph. Does it look like I have a victorious expression on my face? I’m saddened by what has happened and I came here to support Derrick.”

  “Well how did that work out for you? As you can see he still wants nothing to do with you.”

  “I completely understand that but I won’t stop trying to be there for him. I love him.”

  I didn’t care if she saw how genuine I was because I wasn’t here for her. She couldn’t comfort him like I could.

  Kea removed her shades and looked at me through squinted eyes. “Leave Derrick alone,” she said slowly lik
e I was dense and couldn’t comprehend her words.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. Stay away from him.”

  “And who the hell are you?” I questioned with attitude, wondering why this female always had to test me.

  “Just because you think I’m his sister doesn’t mean I will not be in his life. If anything, I’m going to be there for him even more.”

  “Too bad it won’t be in his bed again,” I retorted.

  “I don’t need to be in his bed when I got his heart,” she countered.

  It caused me to almost choke on the deep breath I took in from her comment. His heart. I have his heart, I thought.

  “I’m going to be there to tell him to stay as far away from you as possible. You are a manipulative, trifling little whore. If you come near him, I will beat you down like I did before. I warned you and you crossed me once. You see where that got you. I showed you what I’m made of so please try me again. I dare you.”

  No, this trick wasn’t threatening me on the sacred ground of souls resting. The pastor who gave the eulogy stood several feet away, chatting to some of the mourners, but managed to cast some stares in our direction. Clasping my hands in front of me, I played it cool. For once I wasn’t going to be the one looking discourteous. Kea was the one getting rude with me. I swore I saw her neck roll and her pointing her little finger at me like I was her child or something. I thought she was trying to provoke me but it wasn’t going to work. Not today. So I nodded, smiling slyly.

  “You caught me off-guard before, Kea, but don’t think I’m going to ever let you get me like that again. You better be glad I’m not sweeping the ground with you now. And some words of advice: don’t you ever threaten me again,” I said like nothing was going on between us. Just a little friendly conversation was what we were having in everyone else’s eyes.

  “Oh it wasn’t a threat, Zacariah. It’s a promise,” Kea said before walking away.

  A promise. Didn’t I just tell her to not threaten me? I chuckled as she made her way back to Derrick and his mom. All of them walked toward the awaiting limousines. I smiled at the pastor, who was still staring me down. I brushed my dress, put my purse under my arm, and proceeded to the awaiting cab, all the while wishing I had jerked Kea by her ponytail and slammed her face into these headstones. But I shook the thoughts off and thought of other ways to get her back.

  Taking out my cell phone I found the number for my cousin.

  “Hey, girl. Do you think you can stop by and see me today? For what? Don’t be questioning me. Just come over as soon as possible. I need a huge favor from you and I can guarantee I will make it worth your while.”

  After the Results . . .

  Chapter 6

  Derrick

  I loved my mother dearly but I couldn’t wait to get away from her. When that nurse revealed that Kea and I were sister and brother, I damn near blacked out. My knees buckled beneath me. The room turned black and the only thing that kept registering in my mind was the fact that I had sex with my sister.

  I didn’t know if I dropped to my knees. All I remembered was looking at Kea and seeing the same shocked look on her face. Her father had his arms around her.

  Leaving that facility, Mom tried to talk to me. Tears filled her eyes and I almost found myself saying, “What in the hell are you crying for? I’m the one who just found out my life was nothing but a bunch of lies.” But I said nothing. I stood as Mama pulled me down to where my chin met her shoulder in an embrace. I didn’t return the gesture. I just stared at the cars passing. I actually contemplated running into the traffic, hoping a fast, speeding car would take me out of my misery. I felt like my life was over. What I knew wasn’t what it was at all. I was second-guessing if the woman who was holding me was really my real mother at this point. Who in the hell was I?

  Mama held me, sticking to me like glue. I knew she wanted to help me but I wanted to get as far away from her as possible.

  “Baby, I’m sorry,” she kept repeating. “I’m so sorry.”

  You damn right you sorry, I thought. How could a mother do this to the son she claimed to love so much? Didn’t everybody know that secrets eventually came out? Why try to hide them? But you see what it is, the older generation doesn’t think about the consequences of their actions. They’re too busy trying to be respected and loved and keeping their kids from knowing not much about their upbringing. Or should I say they only let us know what they want us to know. This here today was something I should have known about. I shouldn’t have found out about it from Zacariah at a cookout given by me at my damn house for all my guests to witness. What in the hell will they think of me now? I’ll always be known as the guy who slept with his sister.

  I gripped Mama’s shoulders and pushed myself from her embrace.

  “I’m going home,” I said blankly.

  “I’m coming with you,” Mama said.

  “No, you are not, Mama.”

  “Son, you don’t need to be by yourself.”

  “Mama.”

  “Don’t try to talk me out of it. I’m going home with you, Derrick, and that’s all it is to this,” Mama said sternly.

  Anger came over me. I tried really hard not to disrespect her but she was making it difficult for me to keep my composure. All I could say was, “I’m going home by myself.”

  “Derrick.”

  “Mama, will you let this go!” I yelled. My sudden outburst caused Mama to jump. But I didn’t care. I tried and tried to tell her but she wouldn’t listen. “I don’t want you or nobody else around me right now. You understand me?”

  She stared at me with tears streaming down her face.

  I continued to say, “I need to process this. And looking at you right now is doing nothing but making me angry.”

  “Baby, I’m sorry,” she apologized again.

  A noise to my left caused me to turn and look in that direction. It was Kea and her dad walking out of the facility. Kea’s dad still had his arms around her. Our eyes met and I turned, looking away from her.

  “I got to go, Mama,” I said, reaching in my pocket and retrieving my keys.

  “But how am I supposed to get home?” she asked, reminding me that she rode with me here.

  “Maybe Kea’s dad can give you a lift home,” I said, pointing at him as they approached. I didn’t give them time to get close to me. I turned and walked away.

  “Derrick.”

  I heard Kea call but I couldn’t stop. Hearing her call out to me was the exact moment that I began to break. Water formed in my eyes as the pressure of the revelation hit me harder than it did when that nurse said, “The test proved by an average of 99.9 percent that Derrick and Kea are brother and sister.”

  I started walking faster. I heard Kea call out to me again.

  “Derrick, wait.”

  I couldn’t be around her now, and like a track star trying to win an Olympic gold medal, I took off running. I was running away from them. I was running away from this result. I wanted to run away from it all because this turned out to be the worst day of my life.

  Chapter 7

  Zacariah

  When a coworker from Essence’s job called to see where she was, I began to panic. This let me know that maybe Essence didn’t take that trip to see her parents, since she didn’t put in time to take off from work. Essence loved her job and wouldn’t just up and leave like that. Something wasn’t adding up.

  Before this call I was getting angrier with her with each passing day, because I couldn’t believe she didn’t have the nerve to check in and let me know where she was or even find out how I was doing since I was in the hospital. What type of friendship was this? We never went more than a couple of days without talking and now it had been almost two weeks. The phone call from her coworker only put more fear into my heart that something was wrong, but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions yet. I had to check with her mother to see if she had arrived. Maybe an emergency caused her to leave so abruptly to the point th
at she couldn’t take off from work or call me to let me know what was going on.

  Searching in the console table where the phone was, I found Essence’s address book. Flipping to the Cs, I found her mom’s number. I dialed it and waited for someone to answer.

  “Hello,” a male voice said like he was surprised the phone even rang.

  “Hello,” I said.

  “Yeah. Who dis?”

  Oh, brother, here we go with the backwoods-ness. “My name is Zacariah and I’m calling to speak to Essence.”

  “Who?”

  “Essence.”

  “Essence don’t live here no mo’. She moved to the city.”

  “I know that. This is her best friend.”

  “What yo’ name is?” he asked.

  “Zacariah,” I said.

  “Who?”

  I knew no matter how many times I said my name, he wouldn’t get it. So I asked in frustration, “Is her mom there?”

  “Yeah,” he said, not saying anything else. He could have said “let me get her” or “hold on a minute,” but this guy held the phone, waiting for me to say something else, and I knew, then, why Essence hated to go home.

  “Well, can I speak to her mom?”

  “Oh. Okay,” he said, putting the phone down.

  I heard some loud voices in the background and some scuffling around the phone. It took awhile before anybody came to the phone.

  “Hello,” an elderly woman’s voice said.

  “Yes. Is this Essence’s mom?”

  “Yes, it is. Who dis callin’?”

  “Ma’am, I’m Essence’s best friend, Zacariah.”

  “Oh hey, baby. How you doin’?”

  “I’m doing fine, ma’am,” I said, loving her sweet voice. “Ms. Clemons, I’m calling to see if Essence is there.”

  “No. Essence not here. Why? She not wit’ you?”

  My heart fluttered a bit because now I was worried. Essence was not with her family, so where in the hell was she? And now how was I going to explain not knowing where she was?

  “No. She’s not here either,” I said.