by Anna Black
“What?” Christa asked. “Miles dumped you for me, and you weren’t woman enough to walk away with class.”
“No, I came home, and you had already moved in and had my stuff boxed up and out in the damn hallway. How could you do that to another woman?”
“Hold on, I’m confused,” Leila said. She wanted to know the details of this drama.
Cher crossed her arms. “Well, Miss Christa, here, was my younger replacement. She moved in while I was having a spa day, and I had to move in with my best friend because of what she did.”
“Yeah? And word on the street is that didn’t work out too well, backstabber,” Christa yelled.
“Hey, Kennedy and I are just fine,” Cher said defensively.
“Yeah—now. After she kicked your sorry ass out on the streets,” Christa spat.
Cher’s eyes welled up with tears. “You know what, Leila? We need to reschedule.” She turned to walk away.
“Wait, Cherae, wait. I don’t have much time. As you can see, I am close to my due date. Can we please go inside and take care of business? Christa can stay outside.”
“Yeah, sure,” Cherae said. “Look, Christa, we all have a past, and mine ain’t nowhere near perfect. But at least I’m woman enough to admit that I did a sister wrong, something you can’t do.” When Christa nodded, she continued, “We were both in the wrong. Miles was married, and you moving into my downtown condo while I was on a spa day was devious. Miles had both of us on a side-chick high at that time, and neither of us cared who we were replacing. You and I used to do the same thing—chase the men with money. But you know what you did wasn’t right to his wife or me.”
“You know what, Cherae? You are absolutely right. I assisted Miles in hurting you, and I apologize. And, for the record, he did the same thing to me one year later, so at least you had two years.”
“Yea, I had two years, but if I had to do it all over, I’d decline both,” Cher said.
They all laughed and walked inside the empty store.
After the walk-through, Cher said, “Leila, have you thought about just renting this place? I mean, it’s in a great location, and with some minor upgrades, it could rent easily.”
“Nah, I just want to be done.”
“Are you sure?” Cherae asked.
“Wow, Leila,” Christa said, “she may be on to something.”
“Yeah, like what? Making this a pole-dancing school?” Leila joked.
“Well, I thought about what you said about me not being able to model anymore. The reality is, I know I won’t be able to model forever. Hell, look at Cherae now. She had to get a real job. Gold digging got played out,” she joked.
“Hey, watch it,” Cher said.
“I have always wanted to open a modeling agency, and what better time for me to start than now? I still can do a few modeling gigs, but I know my time is passing. I want to help other young women and men do what I was fortunate to do.”
Leila thought for a second. “Wow, Christa. I had no idea you wanted to do something like that. Let me run it by Ray, and then we can go from there.”
“That sounds good,” Cherae said.
“Well, won’t that be bad for you, Mrs. Brooks?” Christa asked.
“Nope, because Christa will be the tenant, and I’ll make sure it’s done the correct and legal way by being your rental property manager. That way, she will be subject to the same terms as any other renter. That will save your friendship, trust me,” she said.
Chapter Six
“Hey,” Karen said when she saw Rayshon coming from his office. Their session was over, but she wanted to talk to him.
“Hey, Karen, what’s up?”
“I just need someone to talk to right now,” she said. Her eyes watered. “Do you have a minute?”
Ray hesitated but agreed. “Ummm, sure. Yeah, hold on,” he said. She watched him go over and talk to his desk agent. “Come on,” he said when he finished, and they walked out the door.
“Listen, my place is several blocks down. Do you mind if we go there?” she asked.
Ray paused. “Look, Karen, you know I’m married. Going to your place may not be a good idea.”
“That’s cool. I totally understand. We can walk across to the hospital and sit,” she suggested.
“Yes, a public place would be better,” he said. He followed Karen to a spot in the back of the hospital, and they sat on a bench. “So, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“Everything,” she said.
“Everything like what, Karen? Can you be a little more specific?”
“Wow, Rayshon. What do you think is wrong with me?”
“Nothing. You are fine, beautiful, smart, and independent.”
“Well, with that said, why do you think I can’t keep a man?” she asked.
“I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that question. I wouldn’t know how to answer that. I mean, you and I didn’t date, so I don’t know what guys may like or dislike about you,” Ray said gently.
“Okay, then, tell me why you didn’t like me, Ray.”
“Karen, I told you that it wasn’t you. I had already fallen for someone.”
Karen didn’t reply right away. “My boyfriend just sent me a text message saying it was over. That bastard had the nerve to say it was because I was too good for him.”
“Okay, maybe that’s his truth,” Ray said.
“How can you break up with someone and tell them that they were too good for you?”
“Well, truthfully, the brother could have been being honest with you. He knows himself, and he may know that he’s an asshole, or maybe he’s not where you are in life, or he doesn’t wanna damage you because he isn’t ready to do what you’re trying to do right now. Consider yourself lucky.”
She smiled. “You know what? You are right, Ray. That is exactly why I wanted to talk to you. Because you are one of the good ones.”
“Yeah, so I’ve been told. Someone needs to email my wife that memo.”
“Trouble in paradise?”
“Man, you have no idea,” he said and leaned back against the bench. “It’s like every time I try to say the right thing, it’s the wrong thing. And every effort I put in to make it right, it’s wrong. It’s wearing me out.”
“Well, maybe you are too good for her,” Karen suggested.
“No, Leila and I are a perfect match and just right for each other. We’re just having a rough patch.”
“OK. Is there anything I can do to help you through your rough patch?” She touched his leg. She knew she was being forward, but she had never completely gotten over him.
“Naw, Karen, I’m good. I need to get back. My day isn’t done yet,” he said and stood.
She watched him head back to the gym without slowing up for her. Then she went back into the hospital to work.
Chapter Seven
When Ray got home, it was after nine, and he was surprised to see Devon’s car at his house so late. He hoped that the kids were okay. Leila hadn’t called him to say anything. When he walked in, he didn’t like seeing Devon massaging her feet in his lap.
“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked.
“Hey, baby,” Leila said, getting up and moving toward him. “Devon stopped by to bring some things for Deja.”
“Yeah, it’s time for me to head out now.” Devon got up and went to the kitchen. He leaned in and kissed Leila on the cheek. For the first time, Ray was bothered by it. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Lei,” he said. “And make sure you call me if you need anything.”
“Sure, Devon, and thank you,” she said, giving him a warm smile.
Devon headed for the front door. “Good night, Ray,” he said, leaving.
“What the hell was that?” Ray yelled when he was gone.
“What the hell was what? And why are you raising your voice?” Leila asked, looking at him as if he were crazy.
“That! You and Devon and him rubbing your damn feet!”
“Aw. Come on, Rayshon. You know th
at Devon helps me a lot. We were talking, and he noticed how swollen my feet were and offered to rub them,” she said nonchalantly.
“Oh, really? And the ‘call me if you need anything’?”
“Ray, you are joking, right? I am not having this conversation. This is stupid,” she said and walked away, heading for the steps.
“Leila, get your ass back here,” he yelled.
Leila stopped in her tracks. “What?” she asked, walking back into the kitchen with her head tilted.
“Don’t ever walk away again when we’re having a conversation. I don’t want Devon in my house, rubbing my pregnant wife’s feet. If you need anything, you call me, not him. I don’t need Devon taking care of you.”
“Hold on, Rayshon. Stop it with this controlling rage. Devon and I are friends, Ray—that’s it. He and I are close, yes, but he and I are over. And if he is here for me when you are too busy out running one of your damn fitness centers, that’s how it’s gonna be. I have two children to take care of and a baby in my womb that’s stomping on the right side of my body twelve hours of the day, all while I’m dealing with the other stresses of my life, and you are in my face with this nonsense.”
“Leila, don’t go there. Every effort I make to help you, you push me away. Every effort I make to make you smile, you frown. Then I walk into my house and see your damn feet in your ex-husband’s lap and how you give him warm smiles before he makes his exit puts my head in a bad place, Leila, when you haven’t smiled at me in months,” he said. He stopped when he saw the look on her face and her gripping the counter. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I just felt something,” she said.
“Baby, come sit down,” he said, grabbing her arm. Suddenly, a gush of water hit the floor.
“Oh shit, Ray, my water just broke,” she said, taking short quick breaths in a panic.
“I know, baby,” he said. “It’s everywhere.”
“Call Devon,” Leila said between breaths.
“What!” Rayshon yelled in disbelief.
“So he can come back and stay with the kids, Rayshon. So you can get me to the hospital,” she said. She looked like she wanted to slap him.
“Yes, right,” he said, scrambling for his phone. “Where is your packed bag, Lei?” he asked, pacing and scrolling through his contacts to find Devon’s number.
“It’s in the nursery. Look, give me the phone. You go up and get the bag and grab my sundress off the bed so I can take off these wets shorts,” she instructed, and he did what she said.
“Devon, it’s Lei. Please come back. My water just broke.”
“I’m making a U-turn right now,” Ray heard him say on speaker when he got to the top of the stairs. He hurried to grab Leila’s bag and sundress. He was back so fast that Leila was still standing in the same spot.
Less than five minutes later, Devon walked in the front door. He entered the kitchen while Leila was changing. Her sundress was over her head. Ray wasn’t happy about him seeing his wife naked, but his concern was more about her and the baby.
“Look, Ray, hurry and get Leila to the hospital. I got the kids,” Devon said.
Ray was grateful at the moment that Devon was around. He grabbed Leila’s arm and helped her out the door.
Five hours later, Leila had another little girl, and they named her Rayven. She was almost four weeks early and weighed five pounds even. After Leila was resting, Rayshon stepped into the hall and dialed Devon. He had his number, rarely used it, but he had to update him on what had happened. He needed to know if he had to call Tabitha to come, or would Devon take off the next day. Devon answered on the first ring, and Rayshon shook off the feelings of jealously that he had. Maybe Devon was just generally concerned about Leila and didn’t want her back. After Devon said he could stay and take care of the kids until Leila was released, Rayshon went back into the room and picked up his little girl. She was so beautiful, and he felt blessed and decided just to trust his wife.
Chapter Eight
“So, I can’t see you tonight?” Christa asked Devon, gripping her cell phone tightly. She was getting pissed. She was insane to have been saving herself for him. She was done.
“No, I have to go by Leila’s and get dinner for the kids.”
“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you and Leila are married instead of her and Rayshon.”
“Oh, here we go again, Christa. I keep telling you that nothing’s going on with Leila and me. She just had a baby, my hours are more flexible than Rayshon’s, and she needs me.”
“We haven’t been out on a real date in almost four weeks, Devon, and I miss you. Don’t you miss me?”
“Yes, I do. But I can’t leave Leila hanging, okay? I’ve done enough of that in my day.”
The bulb went off. “So, you still feel guilty? After all these years, you still feel guilty for what you did?”
“Come on, Christa, don’t be ridiculous. Leila is my friend and the mother of my child. If we have to keep having this same old, tired conversation about her, then maybe you and I should take a break.”
“Fine, Devon. It’s not like I don’t already feel like we’re taking one anyway,” she snapped.
“Hold on, Christa, I have another call,” he said.
“Leila—”
“I’ll call you back,” Devon said.
Christa hung up and told herself to leave Devon’s ass alone. She went to the freezer and grabbed her carton of Ben and Jerry’s. After eating a few teaspoons, she put it back. She looked at the clock and saw that it was a little after seven. She wanted to get out, so she grabbed her purse and keys and headed for the door.
She drove to Jay’s for a drink and sat at the bar. After a while, she saw Cherae and walked over and joined her.
“Is this seat taken?” she asked.
“Hey,” Cherae said, “have a seat. My husband was here, but he had to run, and I’m not ready to get home yet. So . . .” She took a sip of her drink. “What’s going on?”
“Man trouble, I suppose.”
“Oh, no. I’m not in any position to advise on relationships. I’m too busy trying to maintain my own,” Cherae giggled.
“Cherae, I’m not trying to be in your business, and you can tell me to mind my own, but I have a question.”
“Go ahead, Christa. Trust, after everything that has been said about me to my face and behind my back, I can pretty much handle anything.”
“Do you and Kennedy ever mention what went down? I mean, do you ever think that she may think that you still have a thing for her husband?”
Cherae paused a moment before she spoke. “Well, we did once, and that opened up some bad feelings, but we worked through it. I’ll be honest and tell you I had to get some help to figure out what was wrong with me to make me want to do such a thing to my friend. I found out a lot more about myself than I cared to know, trust me,” she said and chuckled. “It took some time, but Kennedy and I were finally able to trust each other again.
“I realized that I was never in love with Julian. I was just so fixated on living a life that my best friend had. And I’m grateful to God that it’s all better. Now, on the other hand, our girlfriend, Teresa, still looks at me cross-eyed, but every day, I show and prove that I have changed. Kennedy and I may never get back what we had before that entire my-best-friend-and-my-man ordeal, but we found a way to be close again. Whether she thinks I still have a thing for Julian . . . well, that’s something you need to ask her.” Cher took a sip of her drink.
“That’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” Christa said.
“OK, she’s right over there,” Cher said, pointing at Kennedy.
“No, I’m going to ask my friend Leila if she still has a thing for my boyfriend, Devon.”
“OMG. Leila dated your boyfriend before you did?”
“Worse—they were married.”
Cherae leaned in closer. “Whhhhaaaadddd? Do tell.”
“The bottom line is, he’s great. A great dad, charm
ing, and spoils the hell outta me, but no sex. And to top it off, he runs to Leila’s at her every beck and call.”
“Well, Christa, it looks like you have to make a choice,” Cherae said.
“What choice do I have?”
“Either you sit back and let your man grow closer to his ex, or you pull out your sexiest lingerie and stilettos and work your magic. And if that doesn’t work, find a man that has never been involved with your friend. Trust, it will save you a world of drama.” They laughed.
“I need to talk to you,” a voice said.
Cherae and Christa turned around. “Katrina,” they said in unison.
“What are you doing here?” Cher asked.
“We need to talk about the money you said you’d give back to me for burying our mother,” Katrina spat.
Christa’s mouth dropped open. “This is your sister?” she asked Cherae.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Cherae said, standing up. “Katrina, I told you that your mother and I had no dealings. The Banks raised me. Your mother disowned me when I was 7 and left me to be raised by my best friend’s mother because she loved crack more than me.”
“I don’t know what you remember about Mom, but she wasn’t always like that. She got herself together and left drugs alone for many years before she died. And even when she got herself together, you thought you were too good for us and was ashamed of your own blood. But, news flash, Cherae, you are a Thompson, not a Banks.” She got in Cherae’s face. “So, get your head outta Kennedy’s ass and give me what you owe me,” Katrina said.
One of the bouncers rushed over. “Cher, is everything cool?” he asked.
“Yes, everything’s cool. I just need you to show this young lady to the door,” she said.
Christa watched the security man look at Katrina. His face read: Don’t make this hard.
“Don’t touch me. I will go, but you will see me again, Cher. Trust and believe,” she said and stormed out.
“My God, that girl is a thorn in my damn side,” Cher said and sat back down.
“Crazy Katrina is your little sister?” Christa asked.
