by Tina Martin
“And she left you because you can’t give her a baby?” Rexford asked.
“Yeah, but it’s more complicated than that.” Barringer scrubbed a hand down his mustache.
Everson shook his head. “I find it hard to believe that after you told Calista about your problem, she still decided to leave you,” Everson said. “That’s a slap in the face.”
“Yeah,” Rexford cosigned. “What ever happened to for better or for worse?”
Barringer grimaced and said, “It’s not her fault. She doesn’t know I’m sterile.”
“You didn’t tell her?” Bryson asked with raised brows above surprised eyes. “Barry, how could you not tell her?”
Barringer blew an agitated breath. “I couldn’t tell her…couldn’t get the words out. This isn’t something I’m comfortable talking about.”
“But she’s your wife,” Everson said. “If you can’t confide in her, who can you confide in?”
“Guess that would be us,” Rexford said offhandedly.
“Wait, fellas…something’s not adding up,” Bryson said. He looked Barringer square in the eyes and said, “Surely if you would’ve told Calista about your sterility, she’d be understanding. Calista’s a good woman. She’s not the type to bail for no reason. So tell us Barry, other than the fact that you know she’ll be disappointed, and besides this issue causing you embarrassment, why would you not tell her?”
“Because I was afraid she’d ask me when I found out about it.” Barringer rested his elbows on the countertop, covering his face with his hands. His back was to his brothers when he said, “I’ve known for a long time…known long before me and Calista were married, but I didn’t tell her. I knew she wanted children. I promised her those children, but I couldn’t tell her. I assumed I’d go through some therapy treatment…something that could fix me, and I tried for three of the five years we were married to fix myself but each and every time the doctor checked me, my count remained the same. I lied to her, and now, I’m paying for it.”
Everyone was quiet. Too quiet.
“How about coming clean with her?” Bryson asked.
“Guess it doesn’t matter now since she’s already gone,” Barringer said.
“It does matter if you want her back,” Everson said.
Bryson stood up, walked over to his brother and pat him on the shoulder. “Come on Barry. You’re not a quitter. Talk to her.”
“That’s going to be hard to do when I don’t know where she is…when she won’t answer her phone.”
Bryson cocked his head to the side. “You have no idea where Calista could be right now?”
“No.”
Bryson frowned, looked over at Everson then back to Barringer. “You have no idea?”
“No. Why do you keep asking me that? Do you have an idea? If so, enlighten me.”
Bryson shook his head. How did Barringer not know the women were having a party for Vivienne? It was difficult to have his brother’s back when he could clearly see why Calista left. In addition to the baby issue, he didn’t take a personal interest in her. If he had, he would’ve known about the party. Calista surely wouldn’t miss it.
“Everson,” Bryson said, “Where’s June right now?”
“At your house,” Everson said.
“You see how Everson knew where his wife was.”
“How’s that helping me, Bryce, unless you’re trying to tell me Calista is at your house, too?”
Bryson exhaled sharply.
“Is she?” Barringer asked impatiently.
“Kalina is hosting a party for Vivienne. The ladies are there now. Not sure if Calista is, but if I had to guess…”
“Then I’ll see you guys later,” Barringer said, heading for the door.
“Just don’t go over there making a scene,” Bryson told him. “Kalina spent a lot of time putting the party together for Vivienne. Don’t ruin it.”
And without replying to his brother, without saying another word to anyone, Barringer exited the front door.
“He really needs to take a step back from work,” Bryson said. “It’s taking too much out of him.”
“I agree,” Everson said, “But try telling him that. It’s like talking to a brick wall.”
“Well, somebody has to get through to him,” Bryson said.
“Don’t count on it. Now that he’s lost a major account, he’s really going to be cranky, working twenty-four-seven to get it back,” Everson responded.
“The sad thing is, he probably wants the account more than he wants Calista,” Bryson said.
“Now that was cold,” Rexford said, pointing his bottle of beer towards Bryson.
“Well, he’s headed to see her now. Maybe they’ll work things out,” Everson said, trying to remain optimistic.
“Yeah,” Bryson said. “Maybe.”
“Hey, where’s Garrison these days?” Rexford asked.
Everson checked his watch. “He’s probably on the way here. Unlike you fine gentlemen, Gary actually knows how to tell time.”
Bryson grinned. “Sorry we infringed upon your two hours of wife-free time, Everson.”
Everson turned up his beer, finishing it.
“I’m curious. What is it? You had plans or something?” Bryson asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Everson said. “I’ll get the chips and dip. Somebody call Gary and Colton to see if they’re going to make it.”
“I’m on it,” Rexford said.
Chapter 7
Still sitting in her car and parked out in front of Kalina’s house, Calista folded down the sun visor to look in the mirror, checking her eyes and makeup. She told herself not to cry anymore about her current situation, but the tears came anyway. When she married Barringer, she thought they’d be together forever. Even while she laid on the uncomfortable floor last night with her head perched up on towels, she tried to reconcile in her head how maybe she was doing this all wrong, acting on emotions and being irrational. Then she remembered what she’d given up for him. A family. A career. That’s when the tears dried up. Nothing about her actions were unreasonable. Barringer was the unreasonable one.
She took a powder puff from her makeup bag, gently dabbing underneath her eyes. She had to get out of this car at some point, go inside and pretend to be happy so no one suspected anything was amiss. But how could she endure being around a very pregnant Vivienne while thinking about the child she never had, and probably never would have? She wouldn’t admit this, but there were times she envied Vivienne and Garrison. Everything was going perfect for them. After being married two years, they were due to have their first child in a week or so.
Deciding to get out of the car before she talked herself into driving off, Calista grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
“It’s Cali!” Candice said, opening the door before Calista had a chance to walk up the steps to the porch.
“Hi, Candy,” Calista said, trying her best to plaster a smile on her face before she hugged her sister-in-law. “How are you?”
“I’m good. What about you?”
“I’m…okay,” Calista said.
Candice picked up on her hesitancy. “Well, come on in.”
Calista entered the house, feeling the weight of the world on her chest. Pretending to be happy when you were anything but was one of the hardest things for a woman to do. It was the ultimate act of not being true to one’s self. A soul crusher. But today, Calista had to do that very thing. Fake it until the party was over.
She took off her shoes, left them at the door then pulled in a deep breath. You can do this, Cali. You can do this. Forget about Barringer. Sit back, relax and have a good time. She cleared her throat before walking into the family room bearing a bright smile – one which surprised her.
“Hey ladies,” she said, walking over to hug Vivienne first.
Vivienne was comfortable, snuggled into the corner of the couch. Belly and all.
“Hey, Cali,” June said, followed by Kalina.
“Cali, get a plate,” Kalina said, “And help us eat this food. I made pizza bites, honey barbecue meatballs, fried shrimp, macaroni and cheese balls, brownies and there’s more in the kitchen. I figured we’d start off with this first.”
“Looks good,” Calista said, taking a small saucer and helped herself to a sample of everything. Food would help her get through this night. She was starving since she hadn’t had anything to eat today and if she was busy chewing, she wouldn’t have to talk so much. Wouldn’t have to think. Just eat.
“So, we were having some good ol’ fashioned girl talk,” Kalina said before she tossed a macaroni and cheese ball into her mouth.
“Yeah,” June said. “Candice was getting ready to tell us about this handsome stud muffin I spotted her with.”
Candice quirked up her lips. “Stud muffin?”
Vivienne laughed.
“What?” June asked with bright, playful eyes.
“Who says that anymore?” Candice asked jokingly. “Stud muffin…”
The women laughed together.
“He was muscular and cute,” June explained. “Isn’t that what a stud muffin is?”
“All right now,” Vivienne said. “Don’t let Everson hear you talking like that, June.”
“Girl, please. Everson doesn’t care. You know why?” June asked.
Vivienne finished chewing a meatball before she said, “Why?”
“Because he knows he’s the ultimate stud muffin with his fine self.”
“In that case, we’re all married to stud muffins,” Kalina said. “Our husbands look so much alike.”
“And built like solid towers,” Vivienne said.
“Sexy, chocolate towers,” Kalina added. “See, now y’all got me checking my watch, waiting for my chocolate to get home.”
“Ew,” Candice said, faking a gag. One thing about hanging with the girls was, she had to sit through girl talk about her own brothers.
“Sorry, Candice,” Kalina said on the back end of a laugh. “Keep forgetting you’re the sister of these fine men.”
Calista stuffed pizza bites inside of her mouth while forcing herself to grin.
“So finish telling us what happened, Candice,” June said.
“Okay,” Candice said, unfolding her legs and scooting to the very edge of the couch cushion. First of all, let me preference this story by saying, I was minding my own business at the Riverwalk.”
Vivienne narrowed her eyes. “What were you doing at the Riverwalk by yourself, Miss Thang? You know that’s couple central in Wilmington.”
Candice shook her head. “Not really. That’s a stereotype since it’s a popular destination for couples, but I’m not going to stay away from the Riverwalk simply because I’m single. I want to enjoy my life. Since things ended with Quinton, I haven’t even been looking for a man. Mom told me not to look. She said that’s the problem with some women. They look for happiness in other people instead of finding it in themselves first.”
“Amen,” Kalina said.
All eyes focused on her.
“What?” Kalina asked. “I was happy before I met Bryce. I’m much happier with him, though.”
“Aww…” Vivienne, June and Candice said together.
Calista tossed more food inside of her mouth.
“Anyway,” Candice continued, “I decided to take my happy self down to the Riverwalk and enjoy some me time and out of nowhere, this guy, Kurt Hempstead, approaches me and hits me with the line, ‘don’t I know you from somewhere’.”
“Oh, goodness,” June said. “You would think men would try to come up with some new material.”
“Why would they do that when the old material works so well?” Kalina grinned.
“Plus, men are creatures of habit,” Vivienne chimed in. “They are not changing anything unless they absolutely have to.”
“That’s true,” Calista said. She finally found a place to jump in. Nearly six years with Barringer was all the proof she needed that men didn’t change. They lied and told you what you wanted to hear just to shut you up for a little while and then it was back to the same old, same old.
“Wait, wait, wait, y’all,” Kalina said. “I’m dying to know if Kurt Hempstead’s one-liner worked on Candice.”
“No, it didn’t work on me. Short of rolling my eyes and telling him to get lost, I turned around and headed the opposite direction. That’s when he asked me if I was related to Everson Blackstone.”
June sat up tall. “He knew Everson?”
“Sure did. Said they went to high school together. So that’s why you saw me talking to him, June. It’s all Everson’s fault.” Candice took a sip of water.
“So who is this Kurt Hempstead? Tell us more,” Vivienne said.
“Well, he said he lives in Asheville. He’s a marketing manager at some company called TCC according to the business card he gave me.”
June’s brows arched. “He gave you his business card?”
“Yep, after he wrote his cell phone number on the back.”
“Aw shucky ducky now,” Kalina said.
“So are you going to see him again or what?” Vivienne asked.
Candice shrugged. “Not sure yet. I’m enjoying the single life.” Candice ditched her water for a wine cooler.
“So in a couple of weeks, Theodore and Elowyn Blackstone are going to be proud grandparents,” June said, switching up the conversation, looking at Vivienne.
“Girl, if they buy the baby anything else, Garrison and I will have to move into a bigger home,” Vivienne said, then laughed.
“They’re happy, though. I feel their excitement,” Kalina said.
“What about you and Bryson?” Vivienne asked. “Will there be little Blackstones in your future?”
“Yes, in due time,” Kalina said. “We’re in no hurry. Right now, I selfishly want Bryson all to myself.”
“Ew,” Candice said. “Make it stop.”
Kalina laughed. “Sorry, Candice.”
“Me and Everson have been married for close to nine months,” June said. “I know I’m not ready for a baby yet.”
Vivienne looked at Calista, watching her eat. It just occurred to her that Calista had been especially quiet tonight, and this topic of conversation wasn’t the best for her to chime in on. Everyone knew Calista wanted a baby and Barringer didn’t want to give her one. He’d made all kind of excuses, saying he wasn’t ready. Or the company needed him. Give him a year. That year would pass and he’d ask for another year.
“Calista, what’s going on in your world?” June asked. “You’re pretty quiet over there.”
Calista shrugged. “Nothing much. These macaroni and cheese balls are the best, Kalina,” she said, diverting.
“That’s what I told her,” Candice added, taking another one and tossing it inside of her mouth. “How’s my care bear, by the way?” She asked, referring to Barringer, her nickname for him. “Things were pretty tense yesterday.”
“Yeah, how is he doing? Garrison told me what happened,” Vivienne said.
“Well, somebody fill me in,” June said. “What happened?”
“Our biggest client signed on with one of our competitors,” Candice explained. “Barringer took it hard. I tried to tell Barringer to chill…that there would be other big clients, but he was so angry, he packed up and left work early, and you know he never leaves early.”
Calista knew that all too well.
“So how is Barry holding up, Calista?” Candice asked.
Calista shrugged and said, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
And then all eyes were on her…
Wearing a frown, Candice asked, “What do you mean you don’t know?”
“Just what I said. I don’t know,” Calista shot back. She didn’t mean to sound snippy. It just came out that way. The mere mention of Barringer’s name ince
nsed her.
“Did he not come home yesterday?” Candice inquired, sounding worried now.
Calista took a sip of her wine cooler before she said, “He came home. He was upset and—” Deciding not to hide her feelings or what was going on with her, she said, “I left Barringer.”
“You did what!” the women shouted in one form or another.
“I couldn’t take it anymore. I—” Tears slid down Calista’s face.
Candice’s eyes flashed concern. “When did you leave?”
Kalina walked over to Calista, kneeled down beside her and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. “It’s okay, Cali,” she said.
Calista sniffled and dabbed her eyes with a napkin. “I left last night. I didn’t want to leave him, I just…I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I want a family. He doesn’t.”
“But Barry has always wanted children,” Candice said. “I think he’s having problems prioritizing and with the demands of work and all—”
“No,” Calista said, interrupting. “He does not want children. Otherwise, we would’ve had them by now.”
“Where are you staying?” June asked.
“I have an apartment.”
“An apartment?” Kalina asked. “So this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Wow,” Vivienne said. “I can’t believe it. Gosh, I thought you and Barringer would be together forever. I knew you weren’t happy, but—”
“I was supposed to stay and be unhappy, right?” Calista interjected. “Was I supposed to keep my mouth shut and let him take me for granted, pretend we have the perfect marriage when, for years, I’ve known it was over?”
Candice swallowed hard, still in shock. “He just…just let you walk out? Just like that? Didn’t try to stop you?”
“He did try to stop me, just like he stopped me the last few times I tried to leave him, but this time, I waited until he was asleep, got my suitcase and left.”
“Oh my God,” Candice said, burying her face in her hands. She loved Calista like a sister but Barringer was her brother, her real brother – her flesh and blood – and right now, she was worried about him. He looked like he was about to have a stroke when he left the office on Friday and now he had to deal with the fact that his wife left him.