Three Is A Crowd

by Chenell Parker

“Blake is only one man Mariah. You can’t let him have that much power over you,” her father said after a while.

  “Why not? You had the same power over my mother. She died with a broken heart that you never even tried to mend. Tabby and her daughters are the devil and it’s your fault that I’m living in hell,” Mariah hissed.

  “That was a long time ago Mariah. You have to learn to let things go and move on. I’m not proud of what I did but I can’t take it back,” Marvin replied.

  “Just get out. Fuck you and that bitch of a wife who gave birth to Jersi,” Mariah spat angrily.

  “Stop this Mariah. I know you’re upset but I’m all that you have right now. You’ve been in here for a whole day and I haven’t seen Blake or his family come to see you once. You better hope you still have a place to stay when you leave out of here,” Marvin replied.

  Mariah didn’t even have a rebuttal because her father was right. Her name wasn’t even on the house that they lived in and Blake had it long before they even got married. She had nothing without him. Even her car was in his name because she didn’t have any income to get it on her own. Her father really was all that she had and she couldn’t burn a bridge that she would possibly have to cross again later.

  “I’m sorry daddy but I just need some time to myself. Can you go get me something to eat and give me a few minutes alone?” Mariah asked.

  “Yeah baby, I’ll go get you something. How about a salad?” Marvin offered.

  “A salad is fine,” Mariah said right before her father kissed her forehead and walked out of the room.

  As soon as he left she wiped his kiss away and pushed the button to call for the nurse. In her eyes, her father was as much to blame as Blake was. Him meeting Tabby was the beginning of the end.

  “Are you okay Mrs. Harding? Do you need anything?” the nurse asked when she walked into the room.

  “Yeah, my mouth is dry and my throat is killing me. Can I get some water?” Mariah asked.

  “Sure, I’ll be right back,” the nurse smiled.

  “If you tell me where it is, I’ll go get it myself. I need to get up out of this bed,” Mariah said as she sat up.

  “That’s fine but just take it slow. Don’t try to get up too fast. If you feel dizzy, sit up on the side of the bed until you feel better. I’ll stay here a minute just to see,” the nurse replied.

  Mariah had been on oxygen since she’d been there and she felt much better. She slowly sat up on the side of the bed to see if she felt any dizziness. She did feel a little flushed but she didn’t tell the nurse that. Her body was stiff and she needed some fresh air. She wasn’t just going to get water. She wanted to go outside for a little while.

  “I feel okay,” Mariah looked at the nurse and smiled.

  She grabbed her cup and followed the nurse out of the room. Mariah walked down the hall and bypassed the small area where the ice and water was. She needed something to drink but she would get it before she went back to her room. She took the elevator to the first floor and went straight outside. She was happy that she had on leggings and a shirt, versus the cheaply made hospital gowns. Mariah inhaled the fresh air into her lungs right before taking a seat on the unoccupied bench. She had a lot to think about but she didn’t know where to start. She didn’t want her marriage to end but she was sure that it would after the stunt that she pulled. Blake would never even trust her to be alone with their kids again and she couldn’t blame him. Mariah loved her kids but she knew that Blake loved them more. They were the only reason why he was still with her. As much as she loved them for bringing her and Blake together, she was starting to resent them just the same.

  “What’s good Mariah? What you doing out here?” Someone said to her back.

  Mariah turned around and rolled her eyes up to the sky when she saw Damien standing there staring at her. Damien smiled when he saw her walking out of the building but he waited a while before he approached her. He had to make sure that she was alone before he said anything to her. Mariah was still as beautiful as he remembered her but his feelings for her weren’t the same. She was a selfish bitch and he hated the day that he ever cheated on Talena to be with her. Mariah basically seduced him but that was no excuse. Damien was visiting his mother after her surgery, but he was happy that he’d run into his conniving ex. He lost a year of his freedom behind her no good ass and she had to pay for that.

  “Get out of my face Damien. You got your money a long time ago and we don’t have anything else to discuss,” Mariah snapped.

  “Damn, I was just coming to say hello. What’s with the attitude?” Damien asked.

  “I don’t have an attitude. I just want you out of my face,” Mariah replied.

  “Are you stressed or something Mariah? You know I got you covered if you are,” Damien said as he held out his hand that was full of pills.

  Mariah’s mouth watered as she thought about the way the Xanax and Mollies used to make her feel. She didn’t have a care in the world when she was high and she needed that feeling again. She didn’t want to seem too eager, so she pretended not to care about it.

  “Bye Damien. I’m broke and I’m not trying to owe you a dime,” Mariah said as she waved him off.

  “Come on now Mariah. You know it’s all love with me. These are on the house,” he said as he offered them to her with a smirk on his face.

  “Thanks,” Mariah said as she took the pills and held them tight.

  “Here, just call me whenever you need some more,” Damien said while handing her a business card with his number on it. He did car detailing as a front to cover up his drug sales. It was a good way for him to clean up his dirty money and service his customers at the same time.

  “Thanks again,” Mariah said as she held on to the card.

  Damien walked away from her with a satisfied smile on his face, knowing that she would be calling him very soon. When she did, it would be more than pills that he would have her hooked on. Mariah had forgotten where she came from when she married Blake but he was just the nigga to remind her.

  “C an you please not do that Memphis? That is so disgusting,” Jersi fussed as she watched him drink from the carton of juice that was in the refrigerator.

  Memphis had the best hygiene of any man that she’d ever met outside of her brother. He took two and sometimes three showers a day since he worked out so much. His oral care was excellent and he loved to look and smell good. Other than that, he had some of the worst habits in the world. Jersi was a neat freak and she had to be when dealing with him. Memphis left his clothes wherever he took them off. He didn’t believe in washing dishes and he never used a cup when he got something to drink. Jersi went as far as sitting plastic cups on top of the refrigerator but it was a waste. He drank straight from the bottle or carton and didn’t see anything wrong with it.

  “Stop complaining girl. You don’t even like that kind of juice,” he replied.

  “It don’t matter if I like it or not. You need to stop doing that. The cups are right there in your face,” Jersi frowned as she folded their clothes.

  “Alright man, damn,” he conceded.

  Jersi had OCD and the cleanest things were still dirty to her. Memphis wasn’t the best housekeeper but he had to do better. Jersi didn’t fuss about cleaning up after him but she hated some of his bad habits. Toothpaste in the sink and not using a cup were two things that she didn’t let up on. She was always threatening to go back home but he would never let that happen. She didn’t know it but she was never going back to her house again.

  “Did you find something to wear?” Jersi asked him.

  “Yeah, I got something. I’m about to swing by my cousin’s barber shop and let him cut my hair in a few,” Memphis replied.

  Jersi’s promotion banquet was later that night and Memphis was so proud of her. Since she had never celebrated her accomplishment, he had a huge flower arrangement delivered to her job and took her out to dinner. Their breakup took a lot out of both of them but they were back like they
never left. Jersi had resumed the task of fixing up the house and they had lot of furniture scheduled to be delivered in the next few days. Jersi had purchased comforters, pillows and lots of other stuff to go in the bedrooms and bathrooms. Memphis was happy that she was making his house a home, especially since it would be hers too.

  “I hope I didn’t make a mistake by inviting Tabby. I felt bad for telling my aunt Toni and not her. She better not come there with no bullshit and she better respect my mama,” Jersi argued.

  “Don’t even stress about that baby. Dena can handle herself,” Memphis assured her.

  “I know but it’s just the principle,” Jersi said.

  “I’m going hop in the shower, so I can make a few moves,” Memphis replied as he walked away.

  Jersi continued to fold their clothes until her phone rang, displaying Talena’s number. Jersi started not to answer the phone because Talena was always on some other shit. No matter how many times she told her not to tell her anything about Blake and Mariah, she always did it anyway.

  “What’s up Talena?” Jersi asked when she answered the phone.

  “Girl, why that dumb bitch Mariah tried to kill herself and her kids,” Talena screeched.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Jersi said sympathetically as she rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

  She really did hate to hear that the children were involved but Talena just didn’t comprehend. Jersi didn’t want to hear about Blake and nobody in his family. Her parents rarely saw the Harding’s anymore and that was even better.

  “Girl yes and Blake asked me about you. He said that you broke his heart but he still loves you. He said he’s divorcing Mariah and everything. He gave her some time to find another place to stay but he wants her out of his house,” Talena said excitedly.

  Jersi didn’t enjoy hearing that, especially since she knew that she played a huge part in the demise of his marriage.

  “Talena, I really don’t want to hear anything about Blake or anybody related to him. Memphis and I are doing good and we’re happy,” Jersi replied.

  “Girl ugh. How can you go from a fine ass doctor with money to a personal trainer who probably can’t even afford to keep his bills paid? Don’t get me wrong, he’s fine as fuck but he’s not the cutest. Y’all look like beauty and the beast,” Talena said as she laughed at her own joke.

  That was one time that Jersi was happy that she wasn’t close to her sister. She would have knocked Talena the fuck out if she was.

  “Bitch, I let you slide when you said some slick shit before but all of your passes with me have run out. I’m trying to understand why you’re so pressed about me being with Blake anyway. Yes, Mariah did us both wrong but I’m over it now. You doing all that behind Damien and I’m not understanding why. He’s been out of jail for a few years now and he’s never tried to get back with you even once. Move the fuck on with your life and stop being so bitter. Obviously it wasn’t Mariah who was keeping him away. The nigga just didn’t want you,” Jersi snapped angrily.

  She wanted to tell her that he was too busy sticking dick to other niggas but she would never put his business out there like that. Still, she was tired of Talena coming at her sideways and disrespecting her man.

  “Girl Jersi, fuck you,” Talena spat.

  “Yeah bitch, say that hot shit to my face when you see me,” Jersi replied before she hung up on her.

  As soon as she did, she heard keys being inserted into the lock followed by the twisting of the door knob. She already knew that it was Memphis’ mother and she was not in the mood. Valerie was about to have a whole temper tantrum and she was patiently waiting for it to happen.

  “Memphis! Come open this door! Why is my key not working?” Valerie yelled as she knocked and rang the doorbell.

  “Because we changed the locks on your disgusting ass,” Jersi mumbled as she walked to the front door.

  She kept the security chain on the door before she opened it. Valerie had her fucked up if she thought she was about to come up in there running shit. Jersi made Memphis call a locksmith as soon as they got back together. She didn’t want to be afraid to be intimate with her man because his mother might walk in on them again. Valerie had no boundaries but Jersi was setting them for her.

  “What the hell? What are you doing here and where is my son?” Valerie asked angrily when Jersi partially opened the door.

  Lila was standing behind her looking just as upset. Jersi was trying to do better. That’s why she ignored that small voice in her head that told her to pull Lila inside and stomp the fuck out of her. It was her and Juan who had sent Memphis the pictures of her and Blake. Memphis didn’t want to tell her but Jersi wouldn’t let up. She was pissed but she swore to him that she would leave it alone.

  “Bae! Your mama is here!” Jersi yelled as she closed the door in Valerie’s face. She was over trying to be nice. She had never done anything to the other woman and she disliked her for no reason. That was something else that Memphis tried to keep from her. He didn’t want to tell her that his mother hated her but he eventually came clean.

  “No the fuck she didn’t! Memphis! Boy you better come open this damn door!” Valerie yelled as she continued to knock.

  “What’s going on?” Memphis asked as he walked into the living room wearing only a pair of sweatpants.

  “That’s your mother and that termite out there,” Jersi said.

  “What termite?” he asked.

  “The same termite who wants to eat your wood,” Jersi said referring to Lila.

  Memphis laughed as he went to open the door to see what his mother wanted. He was sure that things were about to get ugly but he was prepared.

  “That lil bitch slammed the door in my face!” Valerie fumed as soon as Memphis let her in. She went charging at Jersi, who sat there with an uncaring smirk on her face.

  “Whoa. You need to chill out with the disrespect and you know you’re not about to fight my girl. It’s not even that deep,” Memphis said as he held her back.

  “Are you seriously trying to defend her?” Valerie asked angrily.

  “That’s my job,” Memphis replied.

  “I can’t believe you let her change the locks. Does she live here now?” Valerie questioned.

  “Yes, she does, but changing the locks was all on me. I’ve asked you several times not to use your key unless it was an emergency. We need our privacy and you don’t give us any,” Memphis replied.

  “What is all this we and us bullshit? I bent over backwards and broke my back for you and this is the thanks I get. You let some random bitch disrespect me and lock me out of the house,” Valerie ranted.

  “Chill out with the name calling ma. Jersi didn’t disrespect you once. And I love and appreciate you for everything that you’ve ever done for me but that doesn’t give you the green light to run my life. I show you my appreciation by making sure that you never want or need anything,” Memphis pointed out.

  “So you’re throwing it in my face now?” Valerie asked.

  “No and I never will. I’ve always had your back and that will never change. I appreciate you wanting to cook and clean for me but I told you that it’s not necessary. Jersi got me and I’m good,” Memphis replied. He was trying to keep the peace and be respectful at the same time.

  “She got you now but for how long? When shit gets bad don’t come crying to me,” Valerie warned.

  “Do I ever?” Memphis asked.

  “Just remember that you chose her over your own mother,” Valerie fumed as she walked away with Lila rushing out right after her.

  “Is this gonna be my new life?” Jersi asked as she massaged her temples.

  “Nope because I won’t allow it to be,” Memphis replied.

  “Why did you tell her that I live here?” Jersi asked as he sat down right next to her.

  “Because you do. You’re not going back home. We’ll get the rest of your stuff next weekend,” Memphis said while pulling her onto his lap.

  “You do know t
hat I own my condo, right?” Jersi asked.

  “Put that bitch back on the market or rent it out. It don’t make no sense for us to have two houses. I went a whole month without seeing you and that shit damn near killed me,” Memphis admitted.

  “I know the feeling,” Jersi replied.

  “Okay, so it’s settled. We can handle all the legal stuff later,” Memphis said.

  “I should have known that it was a catch when you let me have my way with decorating,” Jersi smiled.

  “You already know I had a motive,” Memphis said as he kissed her lips and moved her to the side.

  He needed to make a few stops before he went to get his hair cut in preparation for her big day.

  Memphis was so proud when he and Jersi walked into the room and he saw her picture blown up on stage. They were at her promotion dinner and everybody was stopping to congratulate her. She introduced Memphis, Dray and her parents to her colleagues before they took a seat at the table that was reserved for them.