by Tina Martin
“And that’s exactly how June’s going to feel when she finds out what you’re doing. And she’s going to find out. What’s done in the dark always have its way of finding light.”
“But I’m not doing anything.”
“Then why are you there? Why?”
“Because Eliana asked me to come and—”
“Why are you there, Everson?”
“Because I—I wanted to see if there was anything between me and Eliana—if the fire we once shared was still there. Like I said before, we had an abrupt ending back in high school before we could really see what we could become.”
“And is it still there?”
“Is what still there?” Everson asked.
“This fire you speak of. Is it still there?”
Everson took a moment to think. “No.”
“Then why’d you take a pause before answering?”
“Because there is something holding me and Eliana together. Something I didn’t expect. Something I just found out tonight.”
“Enlighten me.”
“She has a son. We have a son.”
“What!”
Continuing on, Everson said, “He’s fourteen. Apparently, all those years ago in high school, I got Eliana pregnant. She didn’t find out until after she and her family moved away.”
“And she didn’t bother telling you? Wait, don’t answer that. A better question is, how do you know the boy is yours?”
“I have a picture. He looks like me.”
“I still think a DNA test is more reliable than a picture. I—I’m having a hard time trying to wrap my head around this. This is unbelievable, Everson.”
“I know. I’m the one living it.”
“You need to come back home and figure out how you’re going to sort through all of this.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”
“Are you kidding me? You can’t sort though anything there. Not with a woman you just found out you had a child by—a woman who you may still be in love with.”
“I’m not in love with her. I love June.”
“Yeah…you love June, but look where you are…at the beach with another woman—a prime case of actions speaking louder than words.”
“Look, man. I have to go,” Everson said.
“Why? Because you don’t want to hear the truth? Sorry, Everson. There’s no biting my tongue on this one. You need to leave right now and get home to your wife before it’s too late.”
“Bryson, I got this. Okay? Let me handle this my way.”
Bryson sighed heavily.
“Can I count on you to keep this between us until I figure out what I’m going to do?” Everson asked.
“Yeah,” Bryson said reluctantly. “Sure.”
Chapter 7
“I really need something to do with my time,” June said while sitting in Edith’s Café with her girls – her besties who were also related to her by marriage – Kalina, Calista and Candice.
‘‘You have something to do—like run that house,” Candice said. “Lawd knows, Everson ain’t never there.”
“He’s not, and it’s really starting to get to me now,” June confessed. “It’s not normal. I know he’s the only one working and taking care of us financially, but dang. He’s been gone since Friday. It’s Monday, and he can’t even tell me if he’ll be home today. I feel like I’m married to a freakin’ truck driver.” June puffed her jaws out when she blew a breath of frustration through pink-tinted lips. The breeze made her bangs fan out.
“Good morning, ladies,” Edith, the café owner said, bringing drinks to their table.
“Good morning, Edith,” they all said together. Then they thanked her before she walked away.
“Why did you stop traveling with him?” Candice asked, taking a sip of green tea.
June shrugged. “He hinted that he wanted to go on these last two jobs alone. And when I talked to him on Saturday, he seemed stressed out.”
Calista took a sip of lemon water, studying June’s worried face, feeling guilty. She and Barringer had arrived back home this morning from their weekend trip to Myrtle Beach where she found out she was six weeks pregnant with their first child. She also found out something else—her brother-in-law Everson, June’s husband, was creeping. Well, she didn’t know what to make of it but she and Barringer witnessed Everson walk into a restaurant with another woman. And he had the nerve to put his lips on the woman’s cheek and pull out her chair like they were a couple.
And June was worried that her husband was stressed out…
Calista stewed. That’s why Everson didn’t want June traveling with him on his so-called business trips. Because his business trips were for a business of another kind and not relating to work. He was entertaining chicks. He couldn’t have wifey tagging along, interrupting his flow.
“I wouldn’t worry about Everson being stressed,” Candice said. “He knows how to deal with stress. I think that’s why he chose that line of work in the first place.”
“That’s what I thought, too, but talking to him…I don’t know, y’all. I got a weird vibe. He sounded different.”
“Different, how?” Kalina asked, setting her cup on the table.
“I’m not sure. I can’t put my finger on it.”
I can, Calista thought. And that’s all she could do was think it. She couldn’t say a word about it.
“Maybe it’s just the stress,” Kalina said. “These Blackstone men work hard. Bryson sure does.”
“See,” Candice said. “Kalina knows what she’s talking about.”
“I know a lil’ something,” Kalina said, “Especially about my own man, but a woman should always listen to her intuition. If you feel in your gut that something is wrong or off, then it probably is.”
“My intuition tells me that something is off.” June sipped on tea. “But I’ll take that up with Everson later. Now, who else has drama? Candy? Kalina? Cali? Any takers?”
Candice giggled. “I’ll go first. My life’s a bore. I have no drama. No man. No nothing. End of story. Ugh.”
Kalina laughed. “I thought you were all independent and didn’t want a man.”
“Girl, please. I’m getting old,” Candice said. “And when you’re old, you need companionship.”
June raised a brow. “Old? Now that’s funny.”
Kalina chuckled. “Wait…what happened to the heartthrob you met at the Riverwalk, Candy? I think his name was Kurt.”
“He’s cool and all, but he lives in Asheville. And he works for the company who wants to buy Blackstone Financial. I can’t very well have a relationship with the enemy now can I?”
“No,” Kalina answered. “That’s counter-productive.”
“Anywho, what have you been up to, Cali? You’ve been quiet over there,” June asked.
“You know Barry and I just got back from Myrtle Beach this morning.”
“Yes…how was it, by the way?”
It was nice, and oh, by the way girl, we saw your man with another woman. “It was perfect. Barry is…” Calista smiled, thinking of her husband. “He’s so stern and hardheaded, but I love the man. Gosh.”
“Look at her blushing,” Kalina said.
“Aw...that’s so cute,” June added.
“No, it ain’t,” Candice said. “It’s a miracle anyone could tolerate Barry.”
Calista laughed. “Seriously, Candy? What happened to defending him? You hate it when we talk junk about your brothers.”
“Yeah when y’all talk about my brothers. I can talk all the crap I want about them.”
Kalina shook her head laughing.
“Anyway, the beach was nice,” Calista said. “I think we had a breakthrough. Barry loves me. I love him, and we’re growing, I think.”
“That’s good news,” Kalina said. “For a while there, y’all were going through it.”
“Sometimes, you have to go through the bad to see the good,” Calista said. “I see the good now. I’m looking forwa
rd to seeing him get back on track and focused on work again.”
“Work…I hate Everson’s job right about now,” June said.
“Why don’t you just tell him, June?” Candice asked.
“When? I can hardly get responses to the text messages I send to him. When are we going to have time for actual, meaningful, conversation?”
Kalina’s eyebrows went up.
Calista frowned. She wanted to say something. She almost felt obligated to. As a woman, she would want to know if her man was cheating.
Cheating...
Was Everson cheating? Would he actually do that to June? Or, was it an innocent business meeting? It wasn’t a farfetched practice to wine and dine a client, but didn’t kissing someone on the cheek cross that invisible, professional line?
Calista stewed more, wanting so desperately to say something, but Barringer had told her to stay out of it. As hard as it was to do, she decided it was for the best. Besides, Barringer wanted to have a word with Everson about it first. He knew his brother better than Calista knew June. So she agreed that he should be the one to bring up the subject with Everson. There was no need to make the situation more than what it was or jump to conclusions.
“Ladies, I’m going to go,” June said.
“Nooo,” Kalina crooned. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go run some errands…story of my life.” She stood up and took her cup from the table, drinking more of her soda.
‘‘I gotta go, too,” Candice said.
“Where are you going?” Kalina asked.
“I have to finish something for work tomorrow. Now that Barry’s back, I have to make sure I got my ish together.”
Calista smiled.
“All right. See ya, ladies,” Kalina said.
“Bye, y’all,” Calista said.
After they waved and were out the door, Kalina looked at Calista and said, “Okay, now, it’s just me and you, kid.” She laughed.
Calista smirked.
“You’ve been weird since we sat down.”
‘‘Weird how?” Calista said, smiling.
‘‘You said you were feeling sick at the beach, and I told you to take a pregnancy test.”
“Yeah, you did.”
“So, did you take one or not?”
“I did.”
“And?”
A smile brightened her face when she said, ‘‘I’m pregnant.”
Kalina covered her mouth with her hand to keep from screaming. Then she sprang out of her chair and bent down to hug Calista. “I’m so happy for you and Barry,” she exclaimed.
“Yeah, but be happy a little quieter. You got the entire restaurant looking over here.”
“O0ps. Sorry. I can’t help it. I’m just so excited. Oh my God! I can’t believe it.” Kalina returned to her seat, still all smiles. “When you called and told me your symptoms, I knew you were pregnant. I knew it! Congratulations, girl. You and Barry are going to be great parents.”
“Thank you, Kalina.”
“How far along are you?”
“Six weeks. I told Barringer I would tell you I was pregnant, but we’re not telling anyone else until we’re out of the woods, you know.”
“I can’t tell Bryson either?” Kalina asked.
“Nope.”
“Oh, the torture,” she said dramatically. “This is going to be rough. I hate keeping good news to myself. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.”
Calista giggled. “You can do it, Kalina. Dig deep. Be strong.”
‘‘Okay. Okay, I can do it. I won’t say a word. Gosh, I can’t believe it. After everything that has happened, God blessed you two with a baby.”
“Yes, and Barry is over the moon.”
“I know he is, and everyone else in the family will be happy just the same. I can see the look of shock on Elowyn’s face right now when she finds out you and Barry got grandbaby number two in the oven.”
“Girl, she won’t know what to do with herself. That’s for sure.” Calista took a sip of water. “So, Mrs. Relationship Expert, I have a question for you and I’m not sending an anonymous email to The Cooper Files this time. I’m bringing it straight to you.”
“Okay. Lay it on me.”
“Now, I want to preface what I’m about to say by letting you know that I don’t know all the details…I just know what I saw and it’s bothering me.”
“What is it, Cali?”
“Yesterday, Barry and I were still in Myrtle Beach of course—”
“Yep. Continue.”
“And we were having dinner at this fancy restaurant—you know how Barry likes to go all-out.”
“Yes. Typical Barry.”
Calista smiled. “Right, so he wanted our last dinner on the beach to be special, and that’s how we ended up at this particular restaurant. We were beside ourselves with happiness, with the baby and all, so it was kind of a celebration dinner. And then—” Calista shook her head, disappointed.
Kalina frowned. “What, Cali?”
Calista stalled. Barringer had told her to stay out of the Everson situation. Plus, she didn’t need the stress with the baby and all.
“Cali?”
Calista looked up at Kalina.
“What’s wrong?” Kalina asked, figuring out that there must’ve been something wrong by now. Judging by Calista’s pale face, it must’ve been something terrible.
“Okay…um…” Calista sighed heavily. “If Barry finds out I told you this, I won’t hear the last of it.”
“Really, Calista? You’re asking me to keep another secret?”
“Yes. Please?” she begged.
“Okay. You look distressed so I’ll do it. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s Everson.”
Kalina snapped her head back. “Everson? What about Everson?”
“When me and Barry were eating dinner, Everson came walking into the restaurant with another woman.”
Kalina’s mouth fell open. “What!” she said, slamming her hands on the table, inadvertently knocking over her drink. Good thing there was a lid on it. She quickly turned the plastic cup upright again.
“I was just as shocked as you are right now, Kalina. I still am.”
“Wait...wait…wait. Stop the presses,” Kalina said with her palms up. “Maybe it was an Everson doppelganger because Everson Blackstone is in Atlanta.”
“He may have told June he was in Atlanta, but he’s in Myrtle Beach, and he’s probably still there, kickin’ it.”
“Are you sure it was him?”
“Positive. Barry saw him, too. We both sat there in shock and watched Everson kiss this woman on the cheek, then proceeded to pull out her chair like they were on a date.”
“I—um...hmm…” After taking a moment to process this and attempt to find a perfectly good explanation, Kalina said, “Okay maybe it just looked bad. She could’ve been a client. There’s no need to jump to conclusions, right? Everson loves June. He does. We know that. We’ve seen that.”
“We have, but just because a man loves his wife doesn’t automatically make him immune to cheating. Most cheaters will tell you they love their spouses. Yet, they still cheat.”
Kalina nodded. “True, but come on, Cali. This is Everson we’re talking about. Do you actually think he’s cheating on June?”
“It looked bad. Real bad. Think about it, Kalina. For all June knows, he’s in Atlanta. If this was just some innocent, business meeting with a client, why would Everson lie and tell June he was going to Atlanta when he’s really in Myrtle Beach? That’s suspicious right there, not to mention how June just told us a few minutes ago that she felt like something was off with him. You don’t know how hard I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling her all of this.”
“I don’t know what to say. The thought of him doing something like that…” Kalina shook her head. “I don’t know. I just don’t see it. But you’re right. Why would he lie?”
“Exactly.” Calista took a sip of water. “What wou
ld you do if you were the one who witnessed this? Would you tell June?”
“That’s a tough one, Cali. Jeez.”
“I’m not going to say anything because Barry asked me not to. He said he wanted to talk to Everson first. I’m just thinking about this from a woman’s point of view. Like, if you saw Barry with another woman and it didn’t appear innocent, would you tell me?”
“Maybe. I couldn’t say for sure. It would depend on the circumstances.”
“So, you wouldn’t say anything?”
‘‘Well, the thing is, Cali, in situations such as this, women tend to shoot the messenger instead of the cheater. I believe, if you took this to June, she would take issue with you instead of Everson. I think Barry’s approach is the better option. He knows his brother. Let them talk through it. After all, it could be nothing.”
“But—”
“I know how bad it looks, Cali, but I think this is the best course at this point. Anything else and you may ruin your relationship with June.”
“Then what’s going to happen when June finds out that I knew about this and didn’t tell her?”
Kalina shrugged. “You could try your best to explain your position and hope she doesn’t take issue with it.”
“I guess. I just feel like whatever I do, I’m still going to be at fault somehow.”
“How can you be at fault for something Everson did? Don’t stress out over this, Cali. Focus on that baby, girl.”
Calista smiled, just barely. “I will.”
“I know you said you would let everybody know about the baby when you’re out of the woods, but when will that be?”
“Most women wait until after their first trimester. So, probably around twelve weeks.”
“Are you still going to look after Junior?”
“Oh, girl yes I’m going to look after my little love bug,” Calista said smiling. “Vivienne entrusted him to me, and I love him just like he’s mine. And now that he has a baby on the way, I know my looking after Junior won’t bother Barry as much as it used to.”
Kalina nodded. “I’m sure it won’t.”
“Well, as always, thanks for the advice, Kalina. I’m so tired, I feel like falling over right here and taking a nap, so it’s probably time for me to go.”
