Guilty By Association

by Pat Simmons

  “Yes, I want her to know I still love her, even after our recent disagreement …” Kidd’s voice faded.

  Sandra? Was she a “baby mama” back in Boston? Is that why Kidd had to rush home a while back? She never did hear what the emergency was. And who is Imani? Oh no, he had me fooled.

  “I’m sure she will. I’ve never met a woman who has turned down flowers.”

  Should I march up to that counter and raise my hand? Eva silently fumed.

  “And I’ll take these with me. I owe a special lady a peace offering.”

  “That bouquet is beautiful. She’ll love hers, and so will the other ladies. Peace offerings keep us in business,” the clerk said.

  “I’m counting on it.”

  Eva snarled. She imagined Kidd was standing tall, thinking he was the man. Humph! Peace offering? Eva had heard enough. How many blow-ups with women did he have at one time? Either he had a lot of mothers, or too many “baby mamas.”

  Okay, Daddy, I got my sign, Eva thought, as she hurried out of the building before he discovered her.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Finally,” Kidd said, strolling out of the florist shop. Within a half hour, he and Eva would be lounging on the back patio of Hendel’s in Old Town Florissant. There was no way he was going to take Eva out to dinner—formal or informal—without presenting her with flowers.

  Hendel’s Market Café and Piano Bar was another recommendation. This one came from a brother who was a facility vendor. During his last visit, they were talking about sports when Eddie mentioned he had to hurry and finish up. He was taking his wife out to dinner. Kidd perked up when Eddie said the place was voted top ten for crab cakes and outdoor dining.

  “Really?”

  Eddie nodded.

  Hailing from Beantown, the seafood capital of the United States, Kidd doubted it. But he promised Eddie he would check it out. Glancing at his watch, he realized ordering the flowers took longer than he thought. He hadn’t planned to, but once inside the store, signs were everywhere about remembering Mother’s Day. So he ordered flowers for all the women in his life, including Imani, so she wouldn’t feel left out.

  Surely when Eva saw the flowers, she would forgive him for being late. He called her cell phone and got her voice mail but didn’t leave a message.

  Kidd walked to the parking lot. He knew where Eva was parked, but her car was gone. He called her again, and this time left a message.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting more than ten minutes, but I don’t see your car. I’m still at work, so call me back with your address, and I’ll pick you up.”

  Kidd double-checked inside to make sure she had left. She had. He walked back to his car and Eva still hadn’t called. He glanced around the parking lot, wondering what could have happened. Finally, he made one last attempt to reach her. “Eva, this is Kidd again. You have my number. Call me.”

  Mad, he disconnected. Eva had just stood him up. Deactivating his car alarm, Kidd threw the bouquet in the backseat and slid in behind the wheel.

  All the while driving to Parke’s house, his temper was building. He was not a man to be played with, and she had played him. If Eva wasn’t ready to take things farther, then she should have told him.

  “Grrrr.” He pounded the steering wheel and accidently hit the horn. A driver honked back. When he glanced to his left, the woman behind the wheel was waving frantically at him. She looked to be about a hundred years old.

  Kidd groaned and pulled off when the light turned red. He was clueless to what could have caused Eva to change her mind. Arriving at home, he parked and activated the alarm.

  As he ambled up the walkway and stepped up to the porch, Kidd heard voices coming from the backyard. It was an area that opened to a small common ground, which the Jamiesons shared with a couple of neighbors. Kidd walked around to investigate and found Parke playing softball with Pace and Kami. Paden was off to the side, pulling up colorful tulips.

  Kidd smirked, wondering who would get in trouble from that violation—Paden, probably not—Parke, big time. He opened the wooden gate at the same time Pace connected with the ball. Parke yelled for him to run to first base, which was a tree trunk. At the same time, Kami yelled she had the ball: “I got it! I got it, Dad!”

  She didn’t, and she was mad about it.

  Amused and shaking his head, Kidd walked further into the yard. There he detoured to the customized double deck with a gazebo on the second level. It was huge, running from one end of the back of the house to the other. Setting the flowers on a side table, he eased down on a lounger. What happened? He refused to let that question plague him all weekend.

  “Hey, old man,” Parke called out and waved. “Come on and get some exercise.”

  “Nah. You need it more. I jog every morning, remember?”

  Paden lost interest in the flowers and trotted Kidd’s way, climbing the few wooden steps. He grinned at Kidd, holding a broken stem with one petal clutched in his small fist. Mischievous. Kidd loved it.

  “Hi, Uncle Cousin!” From his spot at the tree trunk, Pace shouted with his hand cupped to his mouth.

  “It’s Cousin Uncle!” Kami screamed from her position in a makeshift outfield.

  While Parke ordered them to stop arguing, Paden dropped his flower and set his sights on the bouquet. Kidd scooped him up in his lap and lounged back. What reduced his romantic dinner for two on a hidden patio to a backyard baseball brawl with him as a spectator, sitting on a wooden deck?

  Suddenly, his iPhone chimed. Pace ran across the yard and made a beeline to the seat next to Kidd, as if it was home plate. Reaching down to pick it up, Kidd had to wrestle his iPhone from Pace’s baby brother Paden. He read the text:

  Kevin, let’s keep us simple. I want nothing from you, including your flowers. I hope not to see you at work. Eva.

  His eyes bucked as he reread the text. He frowned. “What in …” Catching himself, Kidd paused and eyed his audience. After clearing his throat, he finished his thought, “… the world is wrong with her?”

  “Are you having women problems, Uncle Cousin?” Pace asked in a serious adult tone.

  Kidd groaned at being busted by a third grader. “What makes you think that?”

  “Your face looks sad, like the men in the movies Mom watches. She says they’re romance classics.”

  “Never seen them.” Kidd slid his iPhone back in his case, which was hooked on his belt.

  Pace glanced around the yard and back at Kidd. “It’s okay to be scared. I hope I can get a wife too someday.”

  “A wife?” Kidd stuttered, stunned by the assumption. “I’m not trying to get a wife, little cousin.” I’m perturbed that a woman had the nerve to stand me up.

  Tilting his head, Pace twisted his lips. As if he was a doctor about to make a diagnosis instead of a child in a Cardinals baseball uniform, he declared, “I think you need a wife.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Kidd Jamieson was a liar, a cheat, a hustler … and an array of other endless adjectives Eva silently called him, as she drifted off to sleep Friday night. On Saturday morning, it seemed as if her mind picked up right where it left off the night before.

  At least she and Angela were committed to work on a weekend project. Eva hoped that would keep her mind occupied with thoughts other than about Mr. Jamieson.

  Before she overheard Kidd’s deceitfulness, she could have imagined a weekend with him, filled with so many possibilities—a picnic, bike ride, roller skating—anything fun. On Sunday, their time together could have culminated with them sitting side-by-side in church, enjoying an electrifying sermon.

  Her very next thought was about the names that had rolled off his tongue: Imani, Sandra, Cheney, and another name she couldn’t recall. Her mind began reciting another laundry list of words that collectively painted him as a monster. She was becoming a regular walking, talking thesaurus.

  Eva felt like a fool. If it wasn’t for her following Kidd into the flower shop, she might not ever ha
ve known he was a charming womanizer. At first, she scolded herself for not confronting him. However, in hindsight, the day after the disaster, Eva decided she had done the right thing. Not only was she disappointed in his lack of sincerity—he had been stringing her along—but she was disappointed in herself for letting her guard down. Thank God, Kidd hadn’t tried to call or text her after she sent that message. There really was no reason; she had busted him.

  “Would you concentrate on what you’re doing,” Angela fussed, as they worked alongside each other in Eva’s kitchen.

  “I am concentrating,” Eva defended, but just not on the task before her. She shifted her thoughts, as she tied ribbon bowties around stuffed animals. Angela’s students had collected contributions to purchase the toys as part of their community service.

  “Angel, you and your class are a big help again this year.”

  “Not a problem, sis. The students were thrilled they didn’t have to beg for money. As soon as people heard them mention ‘stuffed animals’ and ‘nursing home’ in the same sentence, the donations poured in.” Angela grinned.

  It didn’t take long for the twins to establish a routine. Once Eva finished her task, Angela smashed a hat on the animals’ heads to give them a funny personality. After a few minutes, Eva ventured into her sister’s personal life. “You and Lance have been dating for almost a year—”

  “Fourteen months,” Angela corrected without stopping.

  “Touché.” Shrugging, Eva mustered a smile. “So, he’s everything you want in a man, besides looks? He is kinda cute.”

  “Cute? Girl, that man is fine. If I wanted a hundred things in a man, he has more than 50 percent, which makes the rest unnecessary.”

  “Personally, I think you two have the most platonic relationship ever. Mom and Dad seem to have more romance going on than you and Lance. He might as well have been born a Savoy. You two act like siblings.”

  “No, you did not go there. First of all, Momma and Daddy’s marriage is strong after a bitter breakup. As a result, Daddy will probably romance Momma until death they do part. No doubt about it, God truly restored them.” Angela aimed a red miniature top hat at Eva and fired it off.

  “Lance doesn’t have to prove his affections or intentions to anybody but me. He’s respectful in public, but when we’re alone, only I’m privy to his sweet words and sexy flirts.” Angela blushed. “Platonic, ha! Plus, you know Elder Taylor counsels us. Regardless of our status—married or single—we are to treat one another as—”

  Eva held up her hand, nodding. “I know. I know. We’re all still brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of our relationships with others.”

  So much for a casual conversation. Still, Eva had a nagging question. At all costs, she wanted to avoid revealing to Angela her misjudgment of Kidd’s character again.

  “Here’s a silly question. Do you think Lance would ever cheat on you?”

  Angela laughed. “That is a dumb question. Nope. My man has too much integrity. Why?” She lifted a suspicious brow.

  “Oh, just wondering.”

  Her mind revisited Friday’s event with Kidd, their first kiss earlier in the week, then his trifling arrogance to disrespect her in a web of deceit. Eva held in a sigh. Maybe men like Lance were worth a second glance.

  A few hours later, when they completed their project, Angela left to get ready for a date with Lance. Eva retired to her bedroom to relax and watch a movie before a little studying.

  The next day, after Sunday service ended, Eva drove her sister’s SUV to Garden Chateau, filled with boxes of stuffed animals for the residents. The deliveries had become part of the pre–Mother’s Day weekend for three years strong and counting.

  Although Angela disliked “old folks,” she believed it was a worthwhile community service. Plus, Angela admitted to the gratification she felt after watching the residents’ eyes light up when they were handed the furry creatures.

  Eva parked near the dining room’s side entrance. Getting out, Angela waited while Eva scanned her security badge to unlock the door. Once inside, they retrieved empty food carts near the wall and rolled them back to the vehicle. After stacking boxes on the carts until there wasn’t room for any more, Angela closed the hatch on the SUV.

  Huffing, Eva rolled her cart inside, followed by her sister “Okay, you ready?”

  “Yep. What wing should I start?”

  Eva thought about Mrs. Valentine and Mrs. Beacon. She would never get out of their suite, so she sent Angela in that direction and she would stop by Miss Jessie’s room.

  Once the first load was gone, they agreed to meet back in the dining room to get the remaining boxes. Eva finished first, so she relaxed in a chair, facing the window with her leg swinging over her knee.

  How could she not be here and think about Kidd? Her mind drifted to their brief kiss. I’m not going there. Blinking, she noted the facility was teeming with more families today. Normally, it made Eva happy when residents were getting extra attention, but today her emotional happiness was on hold. Her eyes misted, and again, Eva felt beguiled.

  “You think you’re funny.” Angela’s voice broke into her reverie. “I know you purposely stuck me with those two Golden Girls.”

  Eva feigned innocence. “Who?”

  “You know who, Grandma and Valentine. If I didn’t have to use the bathroom, I probably still would have been their prisoner.”

  Eva laughed, and a tear escaped, which made Angela madder. “Okay, wait until next year. You’ll be begging me for help.”

  “Okay, okay.” Eva held her stomach, snickering. “I’m sorry … I’m guilty. Let’s hurry up and get out of here.”

  Eva was completing her second round when she headed toward the front entrance and caught a glimpse of Kidd. Her heart pounded wildly. What was he doing here on a Sunday? If she was a crazy woman, Eva would run and jump on his back and wear herself out, trying to beat him down. Thankfully, God gave her a sound mind.

  God, what do I say? How do I act? I’m not ready to see him. Could she trust herself to walk up to him, look beyond his dirt, and treat him like God expected of her?

  The other option was to turn around and leave without letting him see her. She could wait until Monday to deal with Kidd Jamieson. To her dismay, her feet, heart, and head weren’t in sync. She kept walking into a mental battlefield. Her feet were shouting for her to turn around, her heart said everything was a misunderstanding, and her head was gearing up to give him a piece of her mind.

  His back was to her as someone was holding his attention. Eva inched closer.

  “You stood me up—” Kidd accused. He folded his arms and spread his legs, mimicking Will Smith’s and Tommy Lee Jones’s stance in the movie Men in Black.

  “Pardon me?” Angela replied, clearly unaware that the man standing in front of her was Eva’s heartbreaker.

  There was silence.

  “So this is how Miss Eva looks all dressed up and in red.” He whistled. “Wow.”

  Offended and hurt by Kidd’s insincere compliment, Eva angled her body to get a better view of Angela’s reaction. “Sic him, Angel,” she whispered.

  “I’m not Eva—” Angela had the nerve to blush.

  What! You traitor, Eva silently fussed.

  “I know. Your left brow’s not arched. Eva has three freckles on her nose and a beauty mole behind her right ear.”

  Eva sucked in her breath at the same time Angela’s mouth dropped open, speechless. Instinctively, Eva touched her brow, nose, and behind her ear. Her mole was so small; she doubted her parents looked for it as a point of identification. As far as the freckles, Eva never counted them. Plus, she never came to work without foundation to cover her imperfections, and then topped off her look with one brush stroke of blush powder. No lashes, no lipstick, no hair extensions, no jewelry. She kept everything simple, including her life, until she met the man flirting with her sister.

  “Could your name be Kevin or Kidd?”

  “Eva calls me Kevi
n. Kidd’s the alter ego.” He shrugged. “So, she has a sister.”

  “Twin, actually.” Angela extended her hand. “Angela Savoy. It’s nice to meet you. I’m impressed, which isn’t done easily.” She chuckled.

  “Evidently,” Eva grumbled.

  “Believe me, that was not my intention.”

  Kidd’s statement bordered on arrogance. Yet it was that confident personality she both admired and couldn’t stand at the same time.

  “That means she’s probably somewhere around here.” Kidd stuffed his hands in his pants and pivoted around, catching Eva in the headlights. She didn’t even have a chance to duck.

  “So there’s the little woman who stood me up and ruined my weekend.” His accusation was followed by a tender smile that indicated, I’ll forgive you for anything.

  Despite it being Sunday, Eva wasn’t in a forgiving mood. It wasn’t that easy for her to forget what she heard. She didn’t budge. Kidd, wearing a cocky smile, took the opportunity to perform a bold assessment. Starting with her feet, his eyes began taking inventory. Her toes—adorned with red polish—wiggled without her permission. Because she loved open-toed heels, she was wearing strappy three-inch sandals.

  His sweep continued upward, lingering at Eva’s legs and stopping at her mouth, which bore the remains of a pinkish lip gloss. Kidd shot a quick glance at Angela, “Don’t take this the wrong way, Angela, but I withdraw my earlier compliments.” Then returning his attention to Eva, he proclaimed, “You’re absolutely stunning, girl.”

  It wasn’t the first time he had called her “girl.” The first was when he was encouraging her on her test, and it didn’t bother her. Now Eva didn’t know how she felt about him calling a twenty-seven-year-old woman a girl, like she was a stranger off the street. Yet somehow, coming from Kidd’s lips, it made her shiver.

  His eyes locked with hers, waiting for her response. Eva refused to give him the slightest satisfaction of the tiniest blush. She was still hurt by his apparent intent to add her to his list of conquests and “baby mama” drama.