by Jade Royal
“So, who was that woman?” James asked.
“My ex,” Denzel replied. “She’s, um, adjusting to that title. But what she said to Charm was uncalled for and completely disrespectful.”
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” Brianna said to her. She handed Charm a slice of pizza. Charm was starving, so she took the slice without question. Denzel sat next to her and took a pizza slice of his own. Brianna saw the scratches on Denzel’s neck and forced herself not to tease him about it.
“Are you sure that you never talked about it around her?” Brianna asked Charm. “About the miscarriage.”
“Yes, I’m positive. Why would I want to tell her that? I was already dealing with Destiny in my face. I didn’t need to give Gabrielle any other leverage to hold over my head. But I guess that doesn’t even matter. I’ll always be the woman who just can’t have babies.”
“That’s not true,” Denzel spoke up. “And I won’t allow you to believe that either.” Charm just shrugged. James didn’t know how deep of a turmoil Charm was really in. First, with Terrell cheating on her, and that same woman probably threw her pregnancy in Charm’s face all the time. And now she was dealing with an ex who couldn’t let go. And that woman was too throwing something in Charm’s face that would hurt Charm probably more than any of them could understand.
Charm looked at Denzel. He smiled at her, trying to convince her that he was with her a 100 percent, and Charm felt that. Especially in the way he spoke to her and how he was caressing her neck slowly.
“I didn’t just fuck her up for me,” Charm told him. “Some of it was for you too.”
“Thank you for that. It actually makes me less angry when I think about what happened, knowing you beat her ass.”
“I tell you. It’s always one shit after the other,” Charm sighed.
“What else happened?” James asked.
“I went to see Terrell to say thanks for hiring you and the bail money. Turns out, he really hasn’t changed that much; not like I was expecting him to.”
“What’d he say that upset you? I noticed your eyes were puffy when you first got here.” Denzel’s voice was hard, and sure enough, when Charm looked at him, he was clenching his fist.
“It was nothing he said,” Charm assured him. “Destiny came into the room with an ultrasound and they shared a moment. And I don’t know, I couldn’t handle it. I just thought about the fact that I once had a happy ultrasound moment, and then I had an ultrasound that took all my happiness away. And then I got to thinking that I’d never have one of those happy ultrasound moments again.” Everyone was quiet for a moment. What could you say to a woman that was having that kind of hurt? Everything would seem too generic and meaningless.
Breaking the silence, Jason came through the gallery door. He was huffing and puffing as if he was driving for a mile.
“There was no close parking,” he huffed. “And I needed to get in here and hear about this damn fight!” He looked at Charm.
“She bit you pretty good, I see,” He said looking at a bite mark on her neck. Charm covered it and smiled.
“That wasn’t from Gabby,” she smirked. She looked at Denzel and Jason knew what she meant.
“Oh! I see,” he smiled. “So tell me, you won or what?”
“Bruh, you should have seen Gabby running out of here crying and shit. Nose all bleeding, eye swollen, every fucking thing,” Brianna exclaimed.
“Damn, Charm! I haven’t seen you get all Mike Tyson since college. Didn’t know you still had it in you.”
“Whatever,” Charm scoffed.
“What’d she say to trigger you?”
“She talked about my miscarriage. That no one seems to know how she found out.” Jason immediately looked at Denzel.
“I promise, it wasn’t me!” Denzel exclaimed.
“Well that’s another mystery,” Jason sighed.
“James, I need to talk to you,” Brianna said, standing up. Everyone looked at her, but then retreated back into their own conversations as she led James away from the group.
“What’s up, firecracker?” He asked. Brianna had to force herself not the smile at his term of endearment for her.
“When Charm was in jail, me and Denzel were at his place that night, trying to figure out how we were gonna get her out, and any other possibilities on how we could get the blame of this off Charm. Gabrielle was there, and she was all in at first, talking about how Charm was guilty.”
“Yeah?”
“But because Denzel was pissed at her, and yelled at her for saying that, she started back tracking, and making it look like she was tryna help up figure shit out too. We all think Destiny is the one that did this. But we’re also trying to figure out her motive in wanting to kill Terrell in the first place. Maybe for his money? Then Gabrielle chips in and says that maybe Destiny was just really aiming for Charm and missed.” James’ brows shot up.
“Really?! That actually haven’t even crossed my mind.”
“Exactly! It didn’t cross any of our minds. So when she said it, I just-it made me feel uneasy. Like she knows more about this than we all do. And then now she knows about Charm’s miscarriage, and none of us told her. It just makes me feel uneasy. And I’m not even sure it means anything, that’s why I didn’t say it to the others. But I figured you’re a lawyer, you know how to dig shit up and get information.”
“You’re right. I do. Thanks for telling me. I can definitely look into you. You are onto something. You know, I know you love your music and your art, but you’re really perceptive. Keep your eyes and ears open.” Brianna nodded curtly. James took her hand and led her back to the others where they sat and just continued chatting.
********
“Whoa, what the hell happened to you?” Destiny asked. Gabrielle wanted to meet with her again, so Destiny had left the hospital and came back to the house to wait for Gabrielle to arrive. Now she was standing at the kitchen door with blood crusting under her nose and a puffy eye.
“I got into a fight,” Gabrielle admitted. Destiny pulled her inside and pointed to a chair. When she sat down, Destiny wet some paper towel so Gabrielle could clean the blood on her face.
“With who?” Destiny asked.
“Charm,” Gabrielle gritted. Destiny gasped.
“Wait a minute. Charm did this to you?!” Destiny couldn’t believe that Charm actually had the balls to fight. And it looked like she won too.
“I know she has a whole lot of mouth, but I didn’t know she got down with her fists,” Destiny said. Gabrielle sucked her teeth.
“I told her off and she couldn’t handle the truth and she went fucking crazy,” Gabrielle said. “And Denzel! He just stood there and let her beat on me!” Destiny shook her head while she wrapped cubes of ice in a dish cloth. She held it over Gabrielle’s eye then let Gabrielle hold it herself.
“What’d you tell her?”
“That Denzel is gonna want kids someday and she just can’t give it to him. I don’t know why she can’t just accept the truth.”
“You know, for someone that aborted, you shouldn’t talk about a woman who can’t conceive, or who’s had a miscarriage.” Gabrielle rolled her eyes but then winced in pain.
“So what? Now you have a conscience?” Gabrielle asked. Destiny smirked at her.
“What you wanted to see me about?” Destiny asked.
“I need to know what to do. Charm gotta pay for this shit. I can’t have her thinking she got the better of me. And well, you’re conniving as fuck, I know you’d have some type of idea.” Destiny gasped.
“I resent that!” She exclaimed. “But you came to the right woman,” Destiny smiled.
“That’s what I thought,” Gabby said. “Do you have any liquor around here?” Destiny nodded and went to Terrell’s liquor cabinet. She pulled out a bottle of Grey Goose. She was going to mix it but Gabrielle spoke up.
“Just give it to me straight,” she said. Shrugging, Destiny retrieved a shot glass and poured Gabby the
shot. She downed in immediately, patting her chest as the burn.
“Have you gone to the police?” Destiny asked, as she poured Gabby another shot.
“No,” Gabby sighed. “What would I tell them, huh?”
“I mean, you could get Charm arrested for real this time. For assault.” Gabrielle sat up straight like a lightbulb went off in her head.
“There would be no way she could wiggle out of that,” Gabby said. “I can finally get her away from Denzel!” Gabrielle jumped up, ready to leave, but Destiny stopped her.
“Stop,” Destiny said. “Don’t act so quickly without thinking about all your options,” she warned. “Sit down.” Gabrielle sat down.
“We wanted her in jail in the first place,” Gabrielle said. “So what’s the matter now?”
“Because she has this hot shot lawyer now, that Terrell hired. If she gets put in jail, Terrell will pay her bail… Again. And her lawyer would get her off.”
“I don’t see how. This is clearly an assault. Just look at my face!”
“Where did the fight happen?” Destiny asked.
“At her gallery.”
“See, Charm’s lawyer would be ready to argue that Charm was defending her property. They could say you were trespassing. All types of shit.”
“So then what the hell am I gonna do?” Gabrielle asked.
“I think your man and Charm will be afraid at the possibility of her going to jail again right?” Destiny asked.
“Right,” Gabby confirmed.
“So maybe they’ll do anything to keep Charm from getting locked up.” Destiny winked at Gabrielle. “Use that to your advantage, Gabby.” Gabrielle smiled wickedly. Now she knew what she was going to do.
“You’re a real evil bitch,” Gabrielle said. “What would I do without you?” Destiny giggled.
“Now that, I take as a compliment,” she smiled. “Now get out of my house. I gotta go back to my man.”
“So it’s your house now?” Gabrielle asked.
“I don’t see Charm here. Do you?”
“Right. Keep messing with Charm and you might just get your ass whooped too,” Gabrielle said. She gathered herself and stood, still holding the ice against her eye.
“I’m taking this,” Gabrielle said. Destiny shrugged.
“Whatever.”
“Wait, has the cops asked you anything further about the shooting?” Gabrielle asked.
“Um, yeah a couple questions,” Destiny replied.
“Charm, Denzel, and Brianna, even the lawyer, thinks you did it.” Destiny shrugged.
“They’ve got no proof I was involved. But I’m not worried. You’re the one who really did it. And I’ll warn you, Gabby, if the blame comes around to me, I’m not gonna pretend like I don’t know certain shit. Cause I ain’t ending up in jail for you shit.”
“Don’t worry about it. I got your back,” Gabrielle smiled. She headed towards the door and waved at Destiny before she walked out of the house. She grinned as she walked towards her car. If the blame was geared towards Destiny, Gabrielle wasn’t going to do shit. Hell, she’d put in a couple words against Destiny if she had to, just to keep her name out of the fray. Destiny helped her with her problem just now, but Gabrielle wasn’t looking to make any damn friends. They could be cool, and hang out, but only for Gabrielle’s benefit. And if Gabrielle benefitted from keeping the blame on Destiny, then that’s how it was gonna be.
Chapter Twelve
Denzel was awakened by his front door being knocked on repeatedly, and the sound of his doorbell. After the fight, him, Charm, Jason, Brianna, and James, had spent most of the day in the gallery. James and Brianna left a little after 9pm, so James could take Brianna for dinner, but everyone else stayed at the gallery working until about midnight. When he and Charm had gotten back to his place, they’d crash. And now, someone was banging at his door like there was some sort of fire.
“Denzel,” Charm groaned. “Go answer the door.”
“I know, baby, I’m going,” Denzel grunted. He got up slowly, then leaned over and kissed Charm on the cheek before getting out of bed. When he looked at the clock, it read 9 in the morning. If someone was coming to his house that early in the morning, then he was going to greet them in his boxer briefs. That would just be their sacrifice.
Rubbing his eyes as he walked to the front door, he yawned and tried to shake the sleep from his body. If Gabrielle was at his front door, he was going to have a fucking fit.
“Gabby, I swear-” Denzel swung his front door open and froze. His eyes went wide. The sleep definitely drained from the body in that moment.
“Ma?!” Denzel gasped.
“Good morning!” She said, brightly. Now, Denzel felt completely embarrassed to be standing in his damn draws in front of his mother.
“What-I told you-Ma, I asked you not to pop up on me!”
“You’ve known me for almost thirty years, Denzel, did you really think I wasn’t gonna pop in on you and meet this new lady of yours?”
“I should have known,” Denzel slapped his forehead. “But how the hell did you reach here so damn fast?”
“My friend works at the airport. She got me a buddy pass, and I was on a flight by 4 this morning, and here I am. Why aren’t you letting me in? I’ll stay here with you like I’ve done before.”
“Right, Ma, but this time-” Daisy gasped, cutting him off.
“Is she here?” Daisy asked.
“Yeah. She’s been spending some nights here, last night included.”
“Good. I don’t have to wait to meet her. Let me in.”
“But, Ma-” his mother pushed opened the door and let herself in. Denzel sighed and grabbed the small suitcase that was out in the hall for her then close the door.
“I’ll start some breakfast,” she announced. Denzel rubbed his face. This was gonna be eventful.
“Alright then. I’ll be right back.” He kissed her on the cheek and left her in the kitchen to her own devices. Back in the bedroom, he closed himself in.
“Charm, get up,” he ordered. She rolled over and looked at him.
“No,” she groaned. “Few more minutes.”
“Charm,” Denzel spoke with a hard tone. “You need to get up right now.” Charm opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, then looked towards Denzel. He was looking through his drawers nervously, before he went to his closet yanking out a pair of slacks and a button up shirt.
“Wait, what’s happening?” Charm asked him. Denzel turned to look at her.
“My mother is here,” he said. Charm shot up from the bed.
“What?!” She shrieked.
“I spoke with her yesterday, because Gabby told her I was cheating with a married woman.”
“Wait, so she thinks I’m your mistress or something?!” Charm exclaimed.
“No-no, I cleared that all up. But because she wants to meet the new woman in my life, she just popped up here and I told her not to pop up but I should have known she would have done the opposite of what I asked her!” Charm hopped out of the bed. She was only wearing her bra and panties, and the panic on her face was evident.
“I-I don’t know if I can meet her,” Charm panicked.
“Well the both of us don’t really have a choice now, do we? She’s out there making breakfast. Trust me, Charm, there’s no way outta this one.” Charm hugged herself.
“What if she doesn’t like me because of my situation?” Charm asked, quietly.
“We can’t think like that right now,” Denzel said. “And besides, my mother is not a hard woman to please. She has a little edge to her, but a woman would have to have that kind of edge to deal with my father. But other than that, she’s not gonna be going out for blood. He gave her a confident smile and Charm had to accept it.
“Okay,” she smiled back. Denzel continued to get dressed before he left the bedroom and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Charm went in right behind him, but she showered then brushed her teeth. Denzel wasn’t in the bedroom whe
n she returned, but she could hear him and his mother laughing. The smell of bacon filled his loft, making her stomach growl. She hurriedly combed her hair, leaving it out before changing into a simple sundress. The nerves that racked her stomach almost made her feel like she wanted to vomit. She stayed in the bedroom for a little bit and get herself together before she went out and made a fool of herself. When she met Terrell’s parents, she had been nervous too, but she’d also been young and fresh in college and gotten over it quickly. Now she was wiser and just wanted to make a good first impression. What if the woman didn’t want Charm around her son? How could Charm even combat that?
“Think good thoughts,” Charm breathed. She closed her eyes, let out a deep breath and nodded to himself. She could handle mothers. She knew she could. In the mirror, she looked at herself in the sundress. All she had to do was be herself. That should be easier than anything.
Finally, Charm left the bedroom and headed towards the kitchen. She could hear Denzel laughing at something and that eased her nerves a lot more.
“I bet she’s in there getting cute for me,” his mother said.
“She doesn’t have to get cute, Ma, she’s already cute.”
“I have to admit, you were always a good judge of women. I mean, look at your mom. She’s gorgeous,” she said.
“I would agree, but it’ll only go to your head,” Denzel told her. Charm turned the corner and entered the kitchen area slowly. His mother had her back turned to Charm, because she was hovering over the frying pan. Denzel was sitting around the table looking at her as they spoke. From behind, all Charm could really tell was that his mother was slim with long locks of her own cascading down her back. Denzel noticed Charm standing there first. He smiled and winked at her before yanking on one of his mother’s locks. She turned and looked at him and he nodded towards Charm. She turned around and looked directly at Charm. Charm smiled at the woman who’s eyes were soft just like Denzel’s with vibrant cocoa skin.
“Well, hello,” she greeted, with a smile.
“Hi,” Charm said, entering the kitchen completely.
“Ma, this is-”