by La Jill Hunt
“How do you know? Why would he stop at your house on his way to a date, Lynne? Did he tell you that?”
“No, but I could tell. He had on ‘date’ attire. You know, nice shirt, designer jeans, blazer, and, Syl, he had on this damn cologne. This sexy-ass cologne. And of course, his hair was all edged up and his beard, which is a nice salt and pepper now. He looked amazing.” Lynne closed her eyes and touched her chest dramatically.
“Shit, Lynne, you say you ain’t screw him, but sounds like you wanted to.” Sylvia laughed.
“Nah, that ship has sailed.”
“But it can always return to port,” Sylvia suggested. “I think you should give him another chance. You said yourself that he seems to finally have his shit together.”
“Nope. Hamp has someone new in his life. I think that’s what he wanted to tell me, but he didn’t. He’s in a relationship, and she’s young, or at least she’s younger. But I’m happy for him.”
“I think you’re wrong. I think he came over to see where your head is at and where you guys stand.”
“Kinda like why Garry probably came home today, huh?” Lynne pointed out.
“Deflection is not your strong suit.” Sylvia rolled her eyes.
“Maybe not, but I made my point. It may not seem like it right now, but I believe you and Garry are gonna work through all of this. It’s gonna take some time and work, but I just think y’all are gonna be good.”
“And what makes you so confident? Because right now, I’m not even sure about that,” Sylvia confessed.
“Because one, he showed up for your appointment with Amanda, which shows he’s willing to do whatever it takes. And two, when Janelle mentioned teaming up with Sherrod, you had Garry’s back, and despite your being angry, you put his needs before yours. Both of you still have love for one another, unconditional love,” Lynne said.
Sylvia turned into the driveway and parked behind Lynne’s BMW truck. She pointed to the 4,000-square-foot home that her best friend lived in, and said, “Thanks, Lynne. I love you, and I’m so proud of you.”
“For what?” Lynne frowned.
“For being you, and for not giving up when you lost everything. Look at what you have now. You are strong and resilient and so deserving of love, but sometimes I think you’re so busy looking back that you can’t look forward sometimes. The same way you believe Garry and I aren’t hopeless, you aren’t either.”
Sylvia leaned over and gave her a hug. Both women wiped the tears that they now had. Lynne grabbed all of her bags out of the back seat, and Sylvia waited until she was safely in the house before backing out and going home.
* * *
When Sylvia walked in the house, Aunt Connie and Jordan were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on a cake they’d just baked, Peyton was in her room watching some hair tutorial on YouTube, and Garry was in the den watching college basketball. It didn’t even feel like Saturday night. There was a time when Saturday nights were family nights for her, Garry, and Peyton. They’d go to dinner, the movies, miniature golf, the arcade, get ice cream, all kinds of adventures. They would share nonstop laughter, and she and Garry would hold hands and sneak kisses to avoid the loud, “Ewwwww,” Peyton would yell when she sometimes caught their PDAs. She missed those times and wondered if she’d ever get to experience them again.
She took her bags upstairs, then came back down and went into the den. “Hi.”
Garry looked over at her and smiled faintly. “Hi.”
“I didn’t expect you here this weekend.” He went to say something, but she stopped him when she said, “But I’m glad to see you.”
He looked relieved. “I’m glad to see you too, Syl.”
“Did you eat?”
“No, not yet. Aunt Connie and I are gonna order Chinese after they finish the cake.”
“Chinese, huh?” She thought for a second. “How about we do something else?”
“We can do something else if you like. Would you rather have pizza? Or maybe I can run and get something else. It doesn’t matter. I’m good with whatever you want.” Garry shrugged. Usually, he made the decision when it came to dinner selections. Seeing him so willing to appease her was nice.
“Peyton!” Sylvia walked into the foyer and yelled up the steps.
“Yeah?”
“Get dressed and come on. We’re going out,” she announced, then walked into the kitchen. “Ladies, finish it up. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
“Where we going?” Aunt Connie asked.
“Out. Now hurry up.” Sylvia grabbed her plastic cake cover out of the food closet and placed it over the cake they’d just finished icing. “Let’s go, ladies! Jordan, put Gypsy in her cage.”
Aunt Connie and Jordan looked at her like she was crazy, then finally rushed up the stairs.
“Mom, I’m in the middle of doing my hair,” Peyton wailed from her room.
“Put a hat on and finish it when you get back.”
“Syl, what are we doing?” Garry asked.
“It’s Saturday night. We’re going to dinner, all of us, as a family, like we’re supposed to, something we haven’t done in months. As a matter of fact, I don’t think we’ve done it since Jordan moved in.”
“Why are we doing this?” Peyton plopped down the steps one by one. “I thought we were ordering Chinese. I look a mess.”
Sylvia patted the baseball cap on her daughter’s head. “You look adorable.”
Aunt Connie and Jordan came down a few moments after Peyton, and then they all piled into Sylvia’s SUV.
“I can’t believe you took the Range back,” Peyton commented as she climbed into the back seat.
Sylvia glanced over at Garry, who looked just as surprised, and shrugged. “Believe it.”
Shanghai Hibachi was one of their favorite Saturday night spots. It had been months since they’d been there, but the host greeted them as if they’d just been there the day before. The family was seated around the grill and enjoyed an entertaining and delicious meal. Sylvia looked around and saw that each and every one of them, including Jordan, was smiling. After dinner, Garry suggested they stop for ice cream sundaes, but Jordan suggested they go home and make their own sundaes to go with the cake she and Aunt Connie made. To her surprise, Peyton nodded and agreed with the idea. They stopped at the store, and Garry ran inside and grabbed everything they needed for a home sundae bar: ice cream, chocolate syrup, nuts, whipped cream, and cherries.
* * *
“Thanks, Syl,” Garry told her as he wiped the kitchen table. They’d agreed to clean up after the dessert party everyone enjoyed.
“For what?” Sylvia rinsed the bowls and spoons before putting them into the dishwasher.
“For this, for tonight. This was . . .”
“Needed,” Sylvia said. “We needed to get away from this house and go out somewhere to enjoy.”
“We did. And I didn’t realize it, but you did. I appreciate it, and I appreciate you,” he told her. “Come, sit. I’d like to talk.”
Sylvia went and sat across from him. “I’m glad we all enjoyed it, though. I can’t lie, I was a little nervous, but I’m glad I just went with my gut and didn’t have time to even think about what could’ve gone wrong.”
“I’m glad you did too. But I want you to know that I heard everything you said at Amanda’s office. And you were right, and I’m sorry. I have a trust issue, but I don’t want you to think I don’t value you or your opinion. I think I became so caught up in being the head of our household that I neglected being in a relationship, if that makes sense,” Garry explained.
“Makes a lot of sense, Garry. And you’re right. Remember the 2-2-2 rule?”
Garry laughed. “Boy, do I. Those were the days.”
When they’d first married, they’d adhered to the rule that they would have planned date nights every two weeks, take a weekend trip every two months, and go on a one-week vacation each year for just the two of them. It worked for years, until his work schedul
e became hectic, Peyton had gotten older and had more activities, and now, she realized, he had another child he was trying to make time for. The 2-2-2 rule became nonexistent.
“I messed up in a lot of ways, Syl, and I have a lot I need to work on within myself. I have a lot I’ve been dealing with the past few years. The death of my dad, even though I never really knew him, which is weird to me. Why do I even care about the death of a man who abandoned my mom and me?”
“He was still your father, Garry,” Sylvia said softly.
“My mother’s death, Miranda’s.” Garry looked at her. “We weren’t together, but she was—”
“I know, Garry.”
“Now there’s this Sherrod situation. And my job.”
“What about your job?” Sylvia frowned.
“Sylvia, I’ve never told you this, but I hate my damn job.” He put his hands on his temples.
Sylvia stared at him. “What?”
“I hate it, Syl. I hate traveling, I hate the corporate games I have to play, I hate sales.”
Her husband had worked as a district manager for Xerox for decades. He’d been promoted, won awards and accolades and more honors than she could count. The shelf in the living room held plaques, certificates, and trophies from the company. His bosses loved him, and his coworkers loved him. Hearing him say he hated his job was a total shock to her.
“Garry, why are you just now telling me this?”
“Because I know I can trust you with anything, including my burdens and fears.” He whispered, “I have to trust that you won’t be disappointed in me for telling you.”
“You’ve been going to a job you hate for years, Garry? Why?”
“Because the job I hate allows me to provide for my family. And that’s all I thought that mattered, until now.”
Sylvia walked over and hugged him and allowed Garry to cry into her chest. They weren’t tears of sadness as they’d been before. They were tears of relief, and she was happy to wipe them. “It’s okay, Garry. You’re going to be fine. We’re going to be fine.”
“Don’t worry, Syl. I’m not going to quit. I hate it, but I only have a few more years until I retire, and with Peyton going off to school, and Jordan—”
“I thought you said you learned.” Sylvia put her finger against his lips to silence him. “You don’t have to fix everything by yourself, Garry. You say you’re learning to trust me, right?”
“I am.” He nodded.
“Good. We got this, and God’s got us.” She smiled and hugged him again. For the first time since they’d been married, it suddenly felt as if the roles had reversed. She was the one comforting and supporting her husband, being the strong one, when he was usually the one holding her and everyone else up. Sylvia knew what they needed to do. She just hoped Garry was truly willing to trust her decision.
Chapter 21
Janelle
It was after nine o’clock on Saturday night when Janelle woke up. She’d been nursing a hangover all day. After having several too many tequila shots with Natalie the night before, she’d taken an Uber home, drunk a Gatorade, taken three Tylenol PM, then climbed into bed and slept the day and her headache away. Groggy and hungry, yet well rested, she took a hot shower, after which she sat on the side of her bed and got herself together, or at least tried to.
“Damn, six missed calls.” She picked up her phone. Two were from Natalie, two from Sherrod, one was from Nivea, and the other was a “scam likely” number, which she immediately blocked. There was also a text from Sylvia with a screenshot of a message from Titus’s wife. “What the hell?”
“Hello,” Sylvia answered.
“Syl, I’ve been asleep all day. I just got your text. What the hell is going on?” Janelle asked.
“I have no idea. I sent it to you so you can find out,” Sylvia replied. “I’ve tried calling and texting her, but I think she’s got me blocked for some reason now, which is even crazier.”
“OMG, is Peyton devastated?”
“She hasn’t even said anything, so I don’t think Tank’s told her yet. If she doesn’t mention it, then I’m not going to. I’m pretty sure Tank has no idea his mom sent me this message. And I’m wondering if his dad knows she sent it.”
“I get it, and no worries. I’ll look out and let you know. And you’re probably right, Tank is probably thinking his parents are going to change their minds, and all of this will blow over, which may be why he hasn’t said anything to Peyton about not going to prom,” Janelle suggested.
“True. Well, let me know if you find out anything.”
“I will, Syl. Don’t worry, my niece will be going to prom with Tank, I guarantee it. I’m glad you called me,” she told her, grateful that despite their strained relationship, she still knew she could depend on her when she needed to. “Everything else okay?”
“Yeah, it is. I’ll talk to you later. Oh, and Janelle, one more thing.”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Let Sherrod know I’m willing to have that sit-down he invited me to.”
Janelle stood up so quickly that she became dizzy and had to sit back down. She couldn’t believe Sylvia was agreeing to meet with him. Her excitement was hard to contain, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Cool, I’ll let him know.”
“Bye,” Sylvia said, and the call ended.
Janelle decided to call Sherrod before reaching out to Titus. “Hey, sorry I missed your call. I’ve been knocked out.”
“I see. I guess that means you enjoyed girls’ night?” He laughed.
“Probably enjoyed a little too much.” Her night with Natalie, albeit infused with liquor and Nivea-free, had been enjoyable. Janelle told Natalie all about her decision to date Sherrod and her concern about how Nivea would react. Natalie agreed with Sherrod in that he and Nivea dealt with one another in high school and were never serious, and she felt that there shouldn’t be an issue. She also said that she supported Janelle’s decision and was happy she’d finally found someone worth being with. When Janelle then told her about making the complicated situation with Garry and Sylvia even worse, Natalie told her to just take a step back and allow things to settle between her sister and husband before approaching her again. By the time both of them passed out on the sofa, the stress and nervousness she’d felt earlier was gone.
“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. I was gonna ask you if you wanted to go grab something to eat, but when I didn’t reach you, I stopped on my way home from work, and now I’m full.”
“I’m glad you thought about me.”
“Of course. Do you need anything?” he offered. “You got water and electrolytes?”
“What makes you think I need those?”
“Oh, I’ve been around you and your girls, remember? A few times, actually. I doubt that y’all were sitting around discussing books and drinking tea last night,” Sherrod joked.
“First of all, my girls and I love to read, and we discuss books all the time. And we drink tea.” Janelle laughed.
“Y’all may spill tea, and I’m thinking if you do drink it, it’s probably Long Island Iced.”
“I’m not going to sit here and let you paint me and my besties as a bunch of ratchet, gossiping drunks who don’t read, sir.” Janelle pretended to be insulted. “I have water and electrolytes to go drink.”
“You’re hilarious, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told. On another note, I talked to my sister, and she’s agreed to talk with you.” She sighed.
“Seriously? Oh, damn, that’s what’s up. When?” Sherrod asked.
“She didn’t say, but I think we need to just give her a little space and don’t press the issue right now. Just know that she’s willing. That’s the good thing and the most important,” Janelle said, remembering what Natalie suggested.
“I understand. Thanks again for helping me deal with this, Janelle. I’m grateful.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“Have a goo
d night.”
As soon as she hung up, she sent a text to Titus and told him they needed to talk ASAP. It didn’t take five minutes for him to call her back.
“Hey, Nellie.”
“I need to discuss something with you. It’s important. I’m headed to the gym.”
“I’ll be there,” Titus said.
Janelle threw on a pair of leggings and slipped her favorite oversized sweatshirt over her sports bra, and put on her running shoes. When she arrived at the twenty-four-hour fitness center near her house, she waited in the car. Titus pulled up beside her a few minutes later and rolled his window down.
“We going in or staying out?” he asked.
Although she was dressed in her workout clothes, Janelle hadn’t even planned to work out. She was still feeling the effects of her hangover a little. “We can chat out here.”
Titus got out of his truck and got into her car and grinned. “Nice shirt.”
She looked down and saw that they were both wearing the same Mission College sweatshirt: the place where they’d met years ago. “I guess you have great taste.”
“I do. I picked you, didn’t I?” he said.
“Uh, you picked someone else too,” she reminded him. The smile quickly left his face, and she took out her phone. “Speaking of which, what the hell is this about?”
Titus stared at the screen, frowning. “Wait, she sent this to you too?”
“Hell no, it was sent to Sylvia earlier today,” Janelle told him. “You knew about this and ain’t say nothing? Titus, what the hell?”
“I knew, but I didn’t know,” he stammered.
“So, it’s true? Tank isn’t going to prom?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what? Yes, he’s going, or yes, it’s true?” Janelle folded her arms and waited for his answer.
“I can’t believe she sent this shit to Sylvia.” He shook his head. “She sent me a screenshot, but I half read it. I thought it was a message to Tank. And I kinda ignored it.”
“Well, as you can see, it wasn’t a message to Tank. It went to my sister. And now Tricia, your wife, the woman you married, has Syl blocked for some dumb-ass reason. Do you know how upsetting this shit is?”
