Sade's Secret

by Sparkle

  Calvin's smile turned into a frown. “Wait a minute Joyce. You have no business talking to me like that.”

  I stood up and threw down my napkin. “This is my place and I will talk any way I please. Until you start paying more bills around here, you can shut your trap.”

  Calvin clinched the fork in his hand. His forehead crinkled. “Joyce, I'm warning you.”

  “Please. I'm going back to bed.” I eased away from the table.

  As I was passing Calvin, he grabbed my arm. Too tight at that. “Don't you ever raise your voice and talk to me like that again. You hear me?”

  He caught me off guard. Words eluded me. His fingernails dug into my arm. I tried to jerk my arm away, but Calvin had a firm tight grip and squeezed my arm tighter. Before I could react to the pain of his fingernails, Calvin slapped my head with his hand.

  “Oh my God,” I yelled out in pain and in shock.

  At this point, I'm able to free myself from his grip. I cursed him.

  Calvin tried to reach out to console me. He said, “Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. You made me do it.”

  “Leave me alone!” I ran down the hallway to our bedroom. I slammed the door and locked the door from the inside.

  My back was on the door as Calvin banged on the door yelling out apologies. “Joyce, I'm sorry. It's the stress. It's getting to me. Please, baby, open up.”

  “Calvin, go. I don't want to see you right now.”

  My body slid down the door onto the floor as I thought about what had just transpired. I never thought Calvin would raise his hand to hit me. “Ouch,” I said aloud as my hand touched the bruised spot on my face.

  Calvin kept yelling from the other end of the door, but I refused to open it. I remained sitting on the floor in the same position until I heard the front door slam shut. I unlocked the bedroom door and to my surprise, Sade was standing right on the other side.

  “My baby, I'm so sorry you had to see that.” I immediately embraced Sade.

  “Mama, are you okay?” Sade asked.

  “I'm fine now, honey.” I pulled away and looked at Sade. “I'm fine. Just fine.” I repeated myself, but didn't really mean it.

  ~26~

  SADE

  I went back to my room after my mom assured me she was okay. I laid across the bed and thought about what had happened. As much as I was mad at my mom for believing Calvin over me, I couldn't bring myself to hate her. When Calvin attacked my mom, I felt helpless. Instead of helping her, my body remained glued to the chair. This was the first time I'd seen Calvin physically attack my mom. I now wondered if this was a first time thing or did it happen before and I just didn't know. Like my mom didn't know Calvin was doing those things to me.

  Soon as I heard Calvin leave, I ran to their bedroom. It broke my heart to hear my mom cry from the other side of her bedroom door. Soon as my mom opened the door and pulled me into her arms, I forgot about being angry with her. I held on to her so she would know that she wasn't alone. Although my mom hadn't been there for me, I didn't have the heart to abandon her at this time.

  Since my door wasn't completely closed, my ears went on alert when I heard the front door open. I rushed to my door, but didn't close it. I peeped through the crack. Calvin eased by my door and headed to their bedroom. Their door wasn't locked because Calvin turned the knob and walked right on in.

  A few minutes later, I heard Calvin and my mom shouting at each other. They were so loud; I didn't have to stand by the door. I sat in my bed and heard their verbal exchange. After arguing for what seemed like half an hour, I expected to hear Calvin leaving again, but instead, I heard them making sex noises.

  “How could she take him back after that?” I couldn't wrap my head around what I was hearing.

  I hated Calvin more and more with each passing day. I couldn't figure out what kind of hold Calvin had over my mom. It irked me so much I wanted to scream, but screaming wouldn't do any good, so I didn't.

  I sat there and dealt with conflicting emotions about my mom. A part of me hated her for allowing Calvin to hurt her and me, but Joyce was my mother, so I still had a soft spot in my heart for her. It would make life so much easier if I could outright hate my mom.

  I dialed Crystal's number and told her about Calvin hitting my mom. “Can't she see Calvin's a menace and needs to be put out of our lives?”

  “She's in love,” Crystal said, dragging out the word love.

  “If love make you do stupid stuff like that, I don't ever and I mean ever want to be in love,” I responded.

  Crystal smacked gum in my ear as she talked. “I know that's your mom and things, but somebody need to tell her a thing or two. My mama said, if it was her, she would have been kicked his sorry behind out of her house.”

  I could hear my drunken mother slurring those words too. “Well, maybe she could talk to her because he's cheated on her, he's now beating her. I don't know what else has to happen to get her to get Calvin out of our lives.”

  “I'll ask her. Do you want me to share with my mom about what Calvin used to do to you? My mom did ask me if I knew who your baby daddy was.”

  “Your mom needs to mind her own business,” I said to myself. To Crystal, I said, “I don't care. I ain't trying to protect Calvin's reputation.”

  “I'll tell her and we'll see what happens.”

  “I doubt if it works, but anything is worth the try.” I laid on my back and rubbed my stomach.

  “Tomorrow after school, Jada's going to take us to deposit our check,” Crystal said.

  “With all of the drama going on around here, I haven't even been able to think about our winning and what it means,” I admitted.

  “Cheer up. If this works out, you can move out of your mama's house and never have to see Calvin again.”

  I sat up in bed. “It happened again.”

  “What happened?” Crystal asked.

  “It,” I repeated.

  “Nooo. Say it ain't so. I thought you kept your door locked now,” Crystal said.

  “I do, but he cornered me in the kitchen yesterday. I tried to fight him off, but he's stronger than me and the next thing I know, he's all over me...” my voice trailed off. I wiped the tears that fell from my eyes and cleared my throat.

  Crystal said, “Sade, you got to get out of there. He can't keep doing this to you. It's just not right.”

  “What else can I do? I called the police, but that didn't work out. They sent out a social worker one time and I guess her report came back good because I haven't seen another social worker.”

  “If your mom isn't going to do anything about Calvin, Sade you have to do something.”

  “But what?” I really wanted to know. I was tired of playing the victim.

  Crystal responded, “I'm going to tell my mama, now.”

  Before I could protest and stop Crystal, Crystal had hung up the phone.

  A few minutes later, Crystal called me back. “My mom said she's coming over there right now.”

  “Is she drunk?” I asked.

  “Uh, no and even if she is, she knows how to handle her liquor.”

  “Yeah, right,” I responded.

  “So open the door. I'm coming with her. We'll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Crystal, maybe you should stay at home. There's no telling how my mom's going to react.”

  “I know. That's why I'm coming. I wouldn't miss this for the world,” Crystal responded.

  ~27~

  JOYCE

  Baby, I got an errand to run and it won't take long,” Calvin said as he slipped on his pants.

  “But, you just got back.” I pulled the covers over my body.

  Calvin leaned over and kissed me on the lips. “I'm so glad you forgive me. I had to come home to make sure things were okay with you. I can't stand for you to be mad with me.”

  “Just make sure you never do what you did to me again.”

  “I promise. It's Sade. She just gets under my skin sometimes and I took out my frus
trations on you, baby. I promise to never do it again.”

  I watched Calvin leave, but since I wasn't sleepy, I decided to go to the bathroom to wash up and get dressed.

  As I was leaving the bathroom, I heard a knock at the front door. “Sade, can you get the door?” I yelled.

  Sade didn't respond. Not in the mood to deal with one of my nosy neighbors, I cursed under my breath. I didn't bother to ask who was on the other end. I yanked the door open.

  Crystal and Maddie, Crystal's mother, were standing right in front of the door.

  “Maddie, how are you? What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised to see them both standing there.

  “Came to check on you,” Maddie responded. She stood a few inches taller than me and at least twenty pounds lighter.

  “Come on in.” I moved to the side and allowed Maddie and Crystal to walk in. I addressed Crystal, “Sade's in her room. You're welcome to go on back.”

  “Yes ma'am,” Crystal responded and left Maddie and me alone.

  “Girl, now why did I have to hear through the grapevine that you got married?” Maddie asked, as she plopped down on the couch.

  I took a seat on the opposite end of the couch. “Well, we just recently did it and I wanted to get used to being Mrs. Thomas first.” I extended my hand to show Maddie my ring.

  Maddie eased over so she could get a closer look. “Joyce, you and I are friends right?”

  What I did in my personal life was my own business, so I didn't feel like I owed her or anyone else an explanation. I squinted my eyes. “Yeah, of course.”

  “I found out some things that I think you should know. Please don't get upset with me. I'm only here to help.”

  I crossed my arms and leaned back in my seat. “Just spit it out.”

  “Is Calvin sleeping with Sade?” Maddie asked without flinching.

  I immediately uncrossed my arms. “Hold up. How are you going to come up in my place and ask me a question like that?”

  Maddie responded, “If he is, you need to get that pervert out of your house. Crystal tells me that he's the father of Sade's baby.”

  “Do you realize how sick that sounds?” I asked.

  “Yes, but do you?” Maddie looked me in the eyes.

  “Calvin is not a child molester and I don't know why Sade is going around accusing him of something he hasn't done. She's been sleeping with some boy and won't tell us who it is.”

  “Stop trying to protect that bastard.” Maddie gritted her teeth.

  “He's not guilty of anything. He's done nothing but love that girl.”

  Maddie shook her head. “Joyce, do you hear yourself? You're taking up for a man who has harmed your daughter in a way that can never be revoked.”

  If this was all Maddie had to say, she could keep her comments to herself. I didn't need her or anyone else telling me how to run my household. This was our problem and we would deal with it. She needed to be concerned about herself, go to AA or something, and deal with her own problems. She's the drunk, not me.

  I was pissed. I stood up with hands on my hip. “Maddie, you are my friend, but for you to come to me with this shows me you really aren't.”

  “Sade is like a daughter to me. Anyone who harms her makes it my business. If you don't get that man out of your house, then I will have no choice, but to call the police.”

  I pointed toward the door. “Get out!” I yelled. “You will not disrespect my husband.”

  Maddie shook her head from side to side and got up out of her seat. “I never thought I would see the day that a woman would put a man before her child. You don't give a damn about nobody but yourself. Have you thought about how this has affected Sade? No you haven't.”

  “I said get out,” I repeated. I was seconds away from jumping on Maddie so if she knew like I knew, she better leave before I did.

  “Oh, I'm going. You don't have to tell me twice. “With you allowing Calvin to harm Sade, you are just as guilty as he is. I don't want to be in the house with two child molesters.”

  That was it. That's the final straw. “How dare you call me a child molester?” I yelled, right before throwing a punch Maddie's way.

  “What the hell?” Maddie staggered back just in the nick of time.

  We swung and hit at each other until we both got tired. When we were through, we both looked a hot mess. I hadn't gotten into an altercation with another woman in years so I was a little rusty, but I bet Maddie would learn to keep her comments to herself from now on. I felt better after getting in a few blows.

  Maddie stammered away from me while trying to brush her hair down and fix her clothes. “Crystal!” Maddie yelled. “Come on. We're getting out of this hell hole.”

  “Mama, I'll walk home later,” Crystal walked out and responded.

  Her and Sade looked at us, but didn't say a word.

  “No daughter of mine will be around a child molester.” Maddie grabbed Crystal's arm. “Come on.”

  Crystal shrugged her shoulders as Sade stood nearby. “I'll call you later,” Crystal said to Sade.

  Maddie stopped in front of me with a look of disgust on her face. “You.” She looked me up and down, with her nose turned up and said, “You disgust me.”

  “Maddie, I said, get out of my house.” Fury seemed to pour through my pores. I was on the edge of pouncing on her again if she didn't leave.

  “Gladly,” Maddie said as she pushed Crystal out of the door ahead of her.

  As soon as they walked out, I walked to the door and slammed it. I caught Sade staring at me. “I should beat your ass for telling my business to that woman.”

  “Mama, I didn't tell Ms. Maddie anything. Anyway, everything she said is true. Calvin is a child molester and you're letting it go on.” Sade leaned on the wall and crossed her arms.

  “When Calvin gets home, we're going to get to the bottom of this. I'm tired. I'm sick and tired of all of this.” I threw my hands up in the air and stormed past Sade.

  ~28~

  SADE

  Crystal called me as soon as she got home. “Are you okay?” Crystal asked.

  “I guess. My mom's in serious denial. She's pissed at me and your mom.”

  “She'll get over it. I've never seen my mom this upset. She's forbid me to come back to your house. Says it's not safe with Calvin being there. She doesn't want anything to happen to me.”

  I was disappointed and a little hurt by Crystal's mom comments. “I understand,” I lied. “I'm only here because I have to be. If I had somewhere else to go, I would be gone.”

  “I wish we had room here. Maybe you could come camp out with me. I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind.”

  I rubbed my belly. “If it was just me, she probably wouldn't. I doubt if she would welcome me in with my condition.”

  “Yeah, you're right,” Crystal agreed.

  “Sade, come here,” Joyce yelled from the other side of the bedroom door.

  “That's my mom. Let me go see what other kind of drama is about to pop off. I'll call you later.”

  I eased off the bed and unlocked my door. My mom stood in the hallway. “Come with me to the living room. We're going to have a family meeting.”

  I threw my head back, rolled my eyes, but obeyed my mom. I followed her into the living room. Calvin was there seated on the couch. My mom sat next to him. I walked around them and took a seat in the chair. In the position I sat, I felt like I was in the hot seat as they both stared back at me.

  “Calvin and Sade, I love you both,” I said as she looked back and forth between the two of us.

  “I love you too, mama,” I responded.

  Calvin didn't respond at all. He didn't seem too thrilled to be in our family meeting. His cell phone beeped. He picked it up and looked at the screen. “Can we hurry this up? I got money on this game and I need to make sure I'm winning.”

  My mom placed her hand on his thigh. “This won't take long. Just need you two to be honest with me.”

  I wanted to laugh. Calvin didn't know t
he definition of honesty. I held a smirk on my face. “What do you want to know, mama? I'll tell you everything and I do mean everything.” I looked at Calvin as I spoke.

  Calvin said, “Joyce, I don't have time for Sade's games.”

  My mom pled, “Wait. Sade, be quiet for a minute and let me handle this.”

  “Okay.” I twisted in my seat, sat back, and crossed my arms.

  My mom placed her hand on top of Calvin's. “Baby, you know I love you, so don't get mad at me for asking. I just need to know. I'm not going to love you any less. We're a family and we can get through this together. I just need for you to be honest with me, okay?”

  Calvin had a nonchalant attitude. It was written all over his face. “Joyce, I don't have all day. Just ask what you want to ask so I can go watch my game.”

  “Have you ever touched Sade in an inappropriate manner?”

  Calvin pushed her hand away from his. “How you going to ask me something like that?”

  “I keep hearing these things.”

  “Are you going to believe the stuff you hear out in the streets or are you going to believe me, your husband? The man you promised to love, honor and obey!” Calvin yelled.

  “Calvin, calm down. I'm just tired. Sade's accusing you of stuff and I just need to hear it from you that you didn't do what she accused you of.”

  Calvin stood up. “You're both crazy. No wife of mine should be accusing me of doing something sick. I can't believe you Joyce. I thought what we had was solid, but now I'm not so sure.”

  Calvin grabbed his keys off the table. “Don't go Calvin, we can talk about this,” my mom begged.

  “I'm not talking about nothing. I'm out of here. When you feel like apologizing for accusing me of some shit that your daughter made up, then call me.” Calvin held the front door opened. “Otherwise, I'll see you, when I see you.”