by Shea Lynn
I exhaled and sat up. “Thank you.”
Mama smiled then and her dark brown eyes twinkled. “Thank you. Your mother has all the benefit of her infinite wisdom and it feels good to finally be able to use it. Thank you for letting me play therapist.”
My mother’s smile fell away then. “Speaking of therapists, how is that going? Is she helping you?”
“I don’t know, Ma. I think she is. She’s easy to relate to. I don’t mind speaking with her,” I replied. My answer was a hedge. I thought Dr. Williamson was great. She was highly skilled and deftly able to unwrap the layers that masked the real me.
And therein lay my problem.
She was almost too good. In every session she’d pull back a layer and hold up her mirror of words to my face. She forced me to deal with the mastery of life I’d created in an attempt to avoid the discomfort of that pea under my mattress.
She was so good that I’d avoided her that week. We’d had an appointment for Thursday, but I’d called and cancelled; afraid that she would see right through my “happiness in a pill” plan and call me on the carpet.
When I left my parent’s house, I followed my mother’s instructions. I went home and ran an actual bath in the actual bath tub. Not a shower. But a real bath. I poured in bath salts and bubbling concoctions I had been gifted eons ago and had never used.
Just as the water stopped running, Aaron called me. He told me that Mama had called him and that he was taking the kids over to my parent’s house for the weekend. He also told me that Darnell was coming up to the house later and that they planned to go out.
I wondered if my mother had also orchestrated Aaron’s evening plans.
After responding with what I hoped was the appropriate amount of interest, our call ended and I slipped into the warm water of my first bubble bath in five years.
The water was wonderful. It seemed to ease tensions I didn’t realize were present and I leaned back in our oversized tub, my arms fitting comfortably into the tub’s molded arm rests. I closed my eyes and inhaled a soothing mix of the scented bath bubbles and a few scented candles I’d lit for ambiance.
The more my mother and I talked, the more convinced I became that she didn’t know I was living a double life. She didn’t know about the intimacy I shared with my best friend.
Like everyone else, she thought the stresses of being wife, mother, and lawyer were the source of my weariness.
A sad smile eased across my lips as beads of sweat slipped down the side of my face.
I wished that everyone was right.
Chapter Fifty-Four: Aaron
My mother-in-law was special to me. She was my second mother. Most of my friends despised the hated MIL in their life, but I didn’t have one bad word to say about Mrs. Campbell. She had welcomed me into her family with open arms. In the beginning, she had been cautious and until I’d been around long enough to gain her trust, she’d held me at arm’s length. But in the end, she treated me as her son. As another member of the Campbell family.
And so when she phoned me on Friday afternoon, worried about her daughter, all I could do was follow the orders my second mother gave me. I was to bring Devann and Aiden over to spend the weekend and was to try and give Sidney a little space so she could unwind and relax.
I was a little confused. It seemed to me that Sidney had been doing great over the past week. Our sex life had returned and she seemed happier at home. Happier with me. Happier with our family.
She had seemed tired. A little too tired and too run down. Maybe that was what had my MIL so worried. I didn’t ask a lot of questions when Mrs. Campbell phoned. I just answered her with a bunch of ‘Yes Ma’am’s’ and pulled together a game plan for the evening.
It was a little after six when I finally made it home. Sidney was reclined in an easy chair in the family room. She was wearing a set of comfortable pajamas and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw her. I always smiled when I saw her.
“Hey Babe,” I said.
“Hey Sweetie,” she replied, pushing at her legs so the chair would swing back into an upright position.
I held up my hands. “Don’t get up. Don’t get up. I’m under strict orders here.”
She chuckled. “You are?”
I kissed her forehead and bent down to meet her eyes. “Yes, I am. Your mother gave me strict instructions. So you just sit on back and relax. I’m gonna go change and pack a bag for the kids. They are already at your mother’s. And they were so excited at the possibility of being spoiled senseless that they could care less about missing the two of us. So no worries there.
Sidney sighed. “I see you’ve got it all under control.”
I nodded. “I do. Darnell is going to be here shortly and then we’re going over to Cameron’s crib to pick him up.”
Her smile faded then and her soft brown eyes were laced with curiosity. “Cameron?”
“Wilkins. Dayna’s husband. Well, maybe not Dayna’s husband for long from what I hear,” I replied.
“What…what do you mean?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Cam called me last night, asking about hanging out. I told him I would probably be busy with my family this weekend, but….now that plans have changed, I called him back. Told him we could get together. Apparently he and Dayna aren’t doing so well. He’s back out of the house. They’re probably headed for divorce, but it’s not official yet.”
“Why?” she whispered.
Another shrug was my reply. “I don’t know. Don’t know if he was out in the street again, you know? I’ll probably hear about it tonight. Dayna hasn’t mentioned it to you?”
She blinked quickly and gave a soft smile. “No. We’ve both been so busy lately. We haven’t really had time to talk.”
I stood up then. “Well, that’s probably for the best. You know how it is. Couples with drama always tend to bring more drama. I just hope everything works out with Cam tonight. He’s been trying to clean up his act, but I don’t know. I don’t want him dragging me into any bullshit. That’s part of the reason I called Darnell. I like having someone around that has my back. You know what I mean?”
She nodded. “I get it.”
“Well, let me get moving. If the bell rings, don’t answer it. I’ll be back in a flash to get it.”
My wife smiled at me and told me she would stay put. She went back to watching the movie she’d put on and I hurried up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I changed quickly into a pair of comfortable jeans and a dark blue polo shirt. I threw some clothes for the kids into a small duffle and just as soon as I’d done that, the doorbell chimed.
“I’m coming,” I yelled before bounding back down the stairs and opening up the front door to meet my cousin’s wide smile.
“What’s up, A?”
I gestured him inside and replied, “I can’t call it man. Come on in.”
“Good to see you, too. You ready to head out?” he asked.
I nodded. “Just about. I’ve gotta go brush my teeth and what not. Just let me run up stairs real quick. Keep Sid company for a minute. I’ll be right down.”
Darnell’s dark brown eyes blinked and he nodded. “Okay. I’ll be here.”
It didn’t take me long to handle my business. I hugged Sidney and as we separated, she pulled me back to her. She slid her hands behind my neck and eased my mouth down to meet her lips. She kissed me. Softly at first and then more hungrily, her tongue slipping to meet mine.
My breath grew ragged and when at last she was done tasting me, I leaned down at her, my forehead on hers.
“What was that for?” I whispered, my chest heaving as I spoke.
Her eyes shone with water as she replied. “I just missed you. Where are you going tonight?”
“Grab a bite to eat. Maybe play some pool. Catch a movie. Not sure yet.”
She nodded. “Have a good time, Aaron. Don’t worry about me, okay?”
I sighed. “You make it hard
. You sure you’re alright?”
“I am. Now get going before I get you in trouble with my mother.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. I’m already cutting it close. I love you, Babe.”
“Love you, too,” she whispered before kissing me softly again.
The next stop was my in-laws’.
Mrs. Campbell greeted me with a big hug. “Come on in for a minute. Let me look at you,” she said.
“Yes Ma’am,” I answered.
“Is that your brother you got with you? Tell him to come in, too. I haven’t seen him in such a long time.”
Darnell was still sitting in the front seat of his car with the engine running. I gestured for him and he nodded before shutting off the engine and jogging up the front steps.
“Good evening Mrs. Campbell,” he said, a wide smile on his smooth brown face.
“Come here and give me a hug. Boy, you look so handsome,” Mrs. Campbell exclaimed.
“Thank you,” Darnell replied.
“Why don’t you come see me?” she asked him.
Darnell was still smiling. “You know… I don’t have a good excuse.”
“You sure don’t. You make sure you stop by more often. And I always cook on Sundays. You need to go to church with this one here and make sure you come in for a good meal. I always make too much and you’re as thin as a rail.”
Darnell was still smiling. “Yes Ma’am. I’ll be sure to do that.”
“You got ‘em hemmed up in the doorway?” came Mr. Campbell’s voice from around the corner. He eased into the foyer then, his signature walk both comforting and familiar.
“Oh, I’ve done no such thing,” Mrs. Campbell protested. “I just had to get a good look at ‘em. Been so long since I’ve seen a handsome young man and now I’ve got two at my door.”
Mr. Campbell tossed up a hand and smiled at Darnell and me. “Do you hear this foolishness? It’s good to see you boys.”
“Good to see you, too,” I replied.
My father-in-law gestured at his wife. “One of these days, I’m gonna teach her some manners. Ya’ll wanna come on in? Have a drink with me?”
“We would, but we have to meet up with a friend. He’s kind of waiting on us,” I replied.
Both Campbell smiles fell. “Aww, I wish you didn’t have to rush off.,” said Mrs. Campbell.
“Well, let me get the children,” Mr. Campbell said. He called to Devann and Aiden and in moments they appeared.
Aiden was nursing what he proudly told me was his second popsicle and Devann had been watching television in her grandparent’s bedroom. They were excited to see Uncle Darnell and gave him way more hugs and kisses than I got.
We said good-night to everyone and I reminded Aiden to be on his best behavior.
Mrs. Campbell waved at us from her front door until we were gone and as we made it down the block, Darnell said, “They are really good people. I probably should come around more.”
“They’d like that. I think they really miss having a son.”
“I forgot about that.”
“Yeah. Nobody’s heard from him in a long time. They don’t even really talk about it anymore. They miss him though. Sidney misses him.”
Darnell nodded.
I called Cameron and told him that we were on our way. When we pulled up to the front of his building, he was waiting outside. He jogged over to the car and slid into the back seat.
Chapter Fifty-Five: Cameron
I needed to get out of the house.
The shit with Dayna was messing with my head and my natural reaction was to go out and get some ass. Dayna had told me she was ready for a divorce. That she was ready to move on. But fuck that. I didn’t believe it, I didn’t want to mess up any chance I might have at reconciliation.
So I chose not to try and not drown my misery in sex.
But I did need to get out and relax.
Aaron King and I had hung out a little back in the day. We weren’t great friends but I knew him. And I knew he was good people. I figured I wouldn’t get into any trouble hanging out with him. I was also glad to see him with his cousin.
Shit, the more the merrier.
We ended up at a sports bar that had great wings and cold beer on tap. We settled into a table not far from three wide screens showing three different sports. Sitting at the table, we’d just placed our orders for wings, fries, and brew when Aaron asked, “So what’s going on, Mr. Wilkins? It’s good to see you, man.”
“Good to see you, too. I really needed to get out. This joint right here is perfect,” he replied.
“No doubt. This place has the best wings on the South side. And don’t nobody know ya’ll this far out so you can act a fool and it’s still all good,” said Darnell.
Our restaurant of choice that night was named “Larry’s Wings and Things”. It looked like a dump from the outside, but the smell of barbeque chicken would still draw you in. We walked through an old and dusty glass front door that was covered in bars. As soon as we stepped inside, the smell of damn-near-heaven enveloped us.
What Larry’s lost in outside aesthetic appeal, it more than made up for in the glorious wonder of 25 flavors of wings, crispy waffle fries, and ice cold beer served with little to no foam.
The inside looked like a scene out of a Mom and Pop pizza shop in 1985, but the televisions were crisp and new. Seating was a mix of burgundy booths, older wooden tables, tall tables, and barstools.
The three of us sat at a tall table with barstools and chit chatted for a long time.
It was nice.
No pressure.
I was on my second glass of beer and nearing the end of my basket of wings when Aaron asked, “So what’s up with you and Dayna, man? I thought things were getting better.”
I sighed and sucked some of the sauce from my fingers. “Shit, I did, too. I thought you would have more details than I do. Sid and Dayna seem pretty close.”
Darnell started coughing then. Coughing loudly and I thought he might choke to death. He sipped from his beer, the ball on his throat moving as he drank.
“You alright?” asked Aaron, a sauce-laden wing in his hands.
Darnell nodded and cleared his throat. His eyes were tearing. “Yeah. I just had a piece of chicken go down the wrong way. I’m cool.”
Aaron gave him a look that expressed his doubt at Darnell’s condition.
“A, I’m alright, man. Don’t give me that look.”
I chuckled. “Leave him alone, Aaron. I think he’s fine.”
Darnell smiled at me. “Thank you.”
Aaron turned back to me. “So what were you saying? You thought I would know what’s up?”
“Yeah. Dayna and Sidney were real tight. I thought she would have told Sidney what happened.”
Aaron sighed. “I don’t know. Sidney’s….she’s up and down right now. Stressed out. She said she was busy. Hadn’t talked to Dayna in a while. She didn’t know about what’s going on with ya’ll. So what happened?”
I took a long swig from my glass and silently burped before I told them about what had gone down between me and Dayna. Telling the story depleted me and I sighed deeply when I finished.
Darnell shook his head. “Damn. Sorry, Cam.”
I looked up and met Darnell’s comforting gaze. “It’s my fault, you know? I fucked up for a long time. Ran around on her like she wouldn’t find out. And the one time I did the right thing, my marriage ends. It’s karma. My own damn fault. If I hadn’t fucked around in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this position.”
“You think she’s serious?” asked Aaron.
I sighed and sipped my beer. When I spoke, the words that slipped from my lips seemed to take with it all the strength I had. “I hope she’s not. I mean, I know she’s serious right now. Right now she’s serious as a heart attack. But I’m hoping that the anger she’s feeling right now will blow over.”
Aaron shrugged. “It might. You think about counseling again?”
I shook my head.
“Not yet. She’s not ready to talk about counseling. Right now…in her mind….we’re broken and she ain’t trying to fix us.”
Darnell shook his head and said, “Been there man. My ex….shit….she wasn’t studying me. I wanted to try and make the shit work. At least to keep my boys close to me. But she just up and quit me. Sometimes….when they’re done…they’re really done.”
“You got kids?” I asked him.
“Yeah. Sons. Two sons. And I don’t even get to see them.”
“How old?” I asked.
“Six and eight. Gettin’ to the age where they need their father.”
I shook my head. “See, that’s what I’m worried about. I got a little girl. She’s five. What’s she gonna think about me? Is Dayna gonna find some other man to have around my child? Sleep in my bed? That shit messes with my head. Am I even gonna get to see her? How do we work that shit out?”
“I hear you. I’m still trying to work it out,” Darnell replied.
Aaron licked his fingers and grabbed a napkin, wiping his hands. “I don’t know man. You been putting in good work. If she can’t trust you, she can’t be happy. Would you be happy with a woman you couldn’t trust?” he asked.
“Hell naw,” I replied.
We let the rest of the thoughts hang in the wing-scented air around us. But maybe Aaron was right. Maybe this shit was really over. And maybe…maybe in the long run, it might actually be a good thing.
We settled the tab and headed over to a pool hall.
It was nice to hang with the fellas.
It wasn’t Dayna so I wasn’t on full guard the whole night trying to make sure she was happy.
It wasn’t some other woman so I wasn’t worried about trying not to hit it and make my situation even worse.
I could just relax and talk trash and have fun.
It was honestly the most fun I’d had in a long, long time.
Chapter Fifty-Six: Sidney