Tainted Black

by Shanora Williams

  I nodded at the last question, but it was all I could do. Speaking was unlikely to happen. He took my speechlessness as something else—probably a disinterest in his past and his love life—so he slid out of his chair, placing it back in front of my computer.

  “Shit. I apologize if my story disturbed you. I’ll leave you alone now.”

  He went for the door and told me to have a good night, but before he could shut it, it finally occurred to me that there was one question I needed an answer to in order to know if my coincidences were just that—coincidences—or if they were hard, cold truths.

  “The woman you loved, the woman that died,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, “What—what was her name?”

  A faint smile touched his lips, as if he would remember her name for the rest of his life. It was as if the thought of her name alone was enough to bring back the wonderful, temporary forevers he clung to. “It was Janet,” he said. “Janet Black.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Fourth of July weekend.

  I used to love it years ago. I’d light the grill, ready to inhale the scent of sizzling meat while Janet whipped up some goodies for us to indulge in later. Now, my daughter was away, and well, Janet was gone.

  This Fourth of July I was going to be spending alone in my condo. Chloe hadn’t text me back since the previous night. Her reason could have been that she was working on keeping her distance. That’s what was supposed to be happening anyway.

  So much shit was going on. I wasn’t happy about any of it. I stressed like a motherfucker, trying to keep Trixie on some level of contentment while also maintaining Chloe’s happiness. I wouldn’t kiss Trixie, I wouldn’t hug her back, and I damn sure wouldn’t fuck her. Someone else’s name was written on my cock with permanent ink, and her name was Chloe Knight.

  Trixie whined about every fucking thing. She threatened me repeatedly, leaving me no choice but to do something to make it up to her. I’d take her to Dane’s where she could dance with her half-naked friends and I could drink until my rage wasn’t fully consuming me.

  Then, she’d leave with them but swore she’d return. And on the nights when she’d leave to go party, I’d call Chloe first thing. I hated the position I put her in. I never wanted her to think she came second. I loved that girl with my whole heart. She didn’t deserve this, but I just wasn’t ready to let go.

  Perhaps she was ready now. She wasn’t answering my calls or responding to my text messages. It’d been hours, and I needed my fix. I’d contemplated going to see her way too many times, finally giving into the temptation. I drove to Primrose, in hopes that she’d be somewhere visible where I could catch her attention.

  Worry seized me, and when I entered the neighborhood and saw her car in the driveway, my heart fucking swelled. I drove closer with a faint smile on my lips, but when I caught sight of a familiar black car parked in the driveway, my exhilaration flew with the wind.

  Oh. Shit. It wasn’t just any black car.

  It was a black Charger.

  My fucking Charger.

  I stopped in the middle of the road, bike grumbling louder than I ever thought possible. Or maybe it only sounded louder because I wasn’t supposed to be there, and neither was Izzy.

  I turned quickly and sped out of Primrose, heart racing as I rode home. I parked my bike just as my phone buzzed in my back pocket. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Izzy, whom I expected to call and shout at me for selling the house. It was Chloe.

  I answered. “Chloe?”

  “Hey, Theo, um… Okay, so maybe the world and all its forces are just totally against us right now, but why in the hell is Izzy in town? Did she tell you she would be coming?”

  “Hell no.” I kicked the stand of my bike and hopped off. “Shit.”

  “She’s going to her car right now to get her phone. I’m sure she’s about to call you.” Chloe breathed hard. “Damn it,” she groaned. “I wasn’t prepared for this at all.”

  “Me neither, babe. But listen, when she calls me, I’ll tell her to come over. Just stay calm, alright?”

  She sighed. “Okay. Okay,” she said twice, but I heard the anxiety in her voice.

  “Love you, Chloe. Call you when everything is situated.”

  She didn’t tell me she loved me back. Instead, she said okay and then hung up. I dropped the phone, throat working hard to swallow. Moments later, as I stepped into my condo, I got the expected call from my daughter.

  And I answered, telling her my new address after receiving some harsh, annoyed remarks about selling the house she practically grew up in. She told me she’d be on the way in twenty minutes and then she hung up.

  Slouching on the sofa, I picked up my cellphone and shot Chloe a text.

  Me: I’m so fucking sorry, Chloe. I don’t want you to go through this.

  She replied:

  Chloe: It’s fine. I have something really important to tell you. We need to find a place to meet so we can talk.

  Me: I’ll send you a time to meet me at the boat when Izzy is settled in.

  Chloe: Okay. And I love you too, Theo.

  Delight tickled the corners of my mouth, but the message about her needing to tell me something really important made me go back and wonder exactly what was so important she couldn’t say it through text.

  Other than Izzy being home, it was clearly bothering her. She could handle Izzy, I knew that, but there was something else bugging her that she could only keep secret for so long. Usually, Chloe was good at holding her tongue.

  Maybe this was too much and she was ready to end it now, quit now while her best friend was face-to-face with her. Maybe she wanted to meet privately so she could give me one more touch, one last kiss, and maybe even one last round of passionate love making.

  My heart wrenched, body going slack. I stared at the window across from me. The waves normally comforted me, but not today. They were just… there. Just like how I was.

  Just surviving. Without her, I wouldn’t have much of a purpose. I’d have Izzy, but soon Izzy would move forward with her life and not need her dad as much. And I’d be left alone… again.

  All over again.

  Izzy said twenty, but she arrived over an hour later, and by her side was… Chloe. She’d given me the heads up before arriving, so I was prepared when they showed together.

  “Izzy Bear!”

  “Dad!” Izzy ran into my arms, but as I held her and looked over her shoulder, my eyes locked on Chloe’s. She stood a step away from the door, eyes holding mine. There was something wrong. She lifted a hand to chew on her fingernail, shifting her weight twice. A hand slapped my chest, and Izzy pulled away, looking up. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were moving?! The house! It’s empty!” Her eyes were wide and glossy. “Dad, all the stuff. Mom’s stuff—”

  “Is safe, Isabelle. Trust me.”

  Her shoulders sagged with relief. “Good.” She clapped her hands and walked around me, taking the place in fully. “Well, at least it’s nice here! And that view, oh my gosh!” She pranced around, running her fingers across the brown leather recliner and then passing by the dining area. “One of these bedrooms better be mine.” She quirked a brow, walking towards the rooms.

  “You already know it.”

  Grinning, she entered the first bedroom, her gasp audible. As she took her time, looking around the condo, I walked to the kitchen, gesturing with a flick of my fingers for Chloe to follow. She walked with hesitation, peering around the corner.

  “What happened to keeping our shit together?” I teased, pulling down two empty glasses from the cabinet. I placed them on the counter, opened the fridge, and pulled out a pitcher of lemonade. After filling a glass with ice and sliding it across the counter, I said, “Drink this. It’ll distract you. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Calm down, okay? We’re fine. It’s fine. She’s not onto us.” I think…

  “It’s just weird that she showed up like this,” Chloe whispered. “She usually calls ahead of time. Izzy never just pops up…
not like this.” Her eyes bounced over her shoulder, and then she looked at me again, saying, “Do you think Trixie got to her?”

  “I’ve been watching Trixie. She hasn’t done anything. Trust me.” I wiped my forehead with slight aggression, sliding my empty glass away. “It’s all good, Knight. We’ll be okay.”

  “She’s not done with summer school, you know?” She sipped her lemonade, using it as a true distraction. “She’s just here for the fourth.”

  After she said that, Izzy came around the corner, shouting, “Dad! We have to throw a cookout on that deck! Like, seriously! That thing’s huge. Hey, why don’t you invite your girlfriend?” She folded her arms and smiled at me. My heart dropped to my stomach for Chloe. “I think its due time to meet her, especially if she can convince you to move out and leave everything behind without even telling me first.”

  “I chose to move. Needed something smaller and cheaper but still nice. It’s close to work. Convenient. I was going to tell you when summer school was over. Wanted you to focus, kid.”

  “Dad, I’m an adult now.” She stepped to Chloe’s side. “I think you forget that we can handle whatever.” She wrapped her arm across Chloe’s shoulder, and Chloe joined in on the laughter, but the smile didn’t touch her eyes. “But, listen, I’m serious about this cookout. Tell Trixie to come, and Chloe can stay too! Dad, oh my gosh, she has this really hot and cool guy that’s been staying at her house all summer.” What? I stiffened behind the counter, hands balling into fists, but luckily, Izzy couldn’t see them. She continued talking, but Chloe saw right through me like a wall of glass. “Chloe said he was a freak—that he was always watching her or whatever—but I don’t think he is. I think he just has a crush on her.”

  Chloe dropped her head.

  I did my best to seem uncaring, but deep inside, it was pissing me off. Why didn’t she ever tell me there was another man staying with her? And that he was into her?

  “Really?” I asked, pointing my gaze on Chloe. “What’s the kid’s name?”

  “Sterling. So hot, and apparently they are on good terms now. I think they made out or something. She denies it,”—she nudged Chloe in the ribs—“but I just think she’s not ready to fill me in yet.” Izzy said. “Hey!” She looked at Chloe. “We should go back and tell him to join us for dinner. You’ll grill out, right, Dad? Chloe and I can see if we can pick up some fireworks from somewhere or something.”

  I breathed as evenly as possible. “Sure. I have some steaks and hotdogs around. I’ll see what I can whip up.”

  “Great! But please tell Trixie to come. I really need to see what this woman is about.” Fuck. Izzy was setting us up to fail. With Trixie around, it would disturb Chloe, throttle her emotions to the fullest, and with that boy around, the one into her, it would piss me off, and I sucked at hiding my emotions.

  “I’ll see if she’s available today. Kinda last minute, so don’t get your hopes up about meeting her.”

  Izzy scoffed. “Dad, please. You’re acting like you don’t want me to meet the woman that has made you happy. All I care about is that you’re happy now.” She looked at Chloe. “Have you seen her or met her?”

  Chloe looked from me to Izzy, responding quickly. “Yeah, I’ve seen her.”

  “Is she hot?”

  Chloe pressed her lips. I knew the words she wanted to say. I was sure there were plenty of things on the tip of her tongue, ready to spew fire, but instead, she went with Izzy, playing along with her best friend. “Oh, so hot! Mr. Black would be insane to not bring her around, especially if that’s what makes him happy and all.”

  My eyes hardened on hers, our gazes locked briefly while Izzy laughed out loud. “See, Dad,” Izzy laughed, tucking her layered black hair behind her ear. “Now you have to bring her. If you don’t, I’ll go through your phone and call her myself.” She gave me a playful evil eye. I nodded, gripping the edges of the counter.

  “Go do what you have to do,” I said, holding back on a clipped tone. “I’ll get the grill started. Food should be ready by the time you two get back.”

  “You mean us three,” Izzy butted in.

  I blinked.

  “Sterling, remember?” She held out a hand, giving me one of her usual Duh, Dad, you should know this kind of looks.

  “Right.”

  “Come on, Chlo.” She reached for Chloe and went for the door. While dragging her along the way, Chloe glanced back once, eyes glossing before Izzy caught her attention again and they hurried out of the condo.

  When they left, I released the breath that had been trapped in my lungs. I spotted my phone on the counter, refusing to call Trixie. But Izzy… I knew my daughter. She’d sneak my phone and call Trixie up just to meet her. When she wanted something, she made a way to get it, no matter what.

  I sent Trixie a dry text, informing her that Izzy was in town and that she should come over for the Fourth to meet her but only for an hour or so.

  She responded quickly.

  Trixie: I’ll be there, Daddy. Can’t wait to meet your lover’s best friend.

  I gripped the phone in my hand, the urge to throw it at the wall overshadowing every shred of common sense within me, but I held off, sliding it into my back pocket instead.

  Tonight was going to be a fucking disaster.

  TWENTY-THREE

  “Why are you driving so slow?” Izzy’s voice sliced through my thoughts. We had just left the store, picking up some fruit and desserts as well as the cheap firecrackers that didn’t do much but spark a little and make a ton of noise. Everything that could have gone wrong was happening all at once.

  “I’m not. I’m going the speed limit,” I said.

  “What person our age goes the speed limit,” Izzy teased.

  I forced a laugh. I think she noticed my off behavior, but before she could ask me what was up, her phone buzzed, and she answered it. It was Drake, her boyfriend. I knew she wouldn’t be getting off the phone until we got back to Theo’s condo… hopefully.

  I was purposely driving like I was chauffeuring Mrs. Daisy, hoping to come up with any kind excuse to get out of this evening. First off, getting Sterling seemed so wrong with all I knew. He’d slept with Mrs. Black! Theo’s wife! If Sterling saw pictures of her, he would surely speak on it. He’d ask questions. He’d lose the little trust he had in me for not saying anything beforehand.

  When I pulled up to my home and he walked out, my face went stale. He was smiling, but that had quickly dissolved when he spotted my concern. “You sure you want to come?” I asked as I glanced back at Izzy who was too busy chatting on her phone to pay us any mind.

  “Sure, why not?” He shrugged with a smile. “Figured you might need someone to distract your friend there.” His eyes bounced in Izzy’s direction.

  “Yeah.” Sighing, I turned for the car and hopped in. Sterling slid across the backseat, and when his door shut, I put the car in reverse, my nerves on end.

  “Hey, I’m gonna call you back.” Izzy hung up the phone once I was out of Primrose, peering over her shoulder at Sterling. “Hi, again, mister.” She flirted with him, as she always did when a hot guy was around, boyfriend or not.

  “Hey.” I saw Sterling toss a light wave at her through the rearview mirror, and then he looked at me, catching my eye. I looked away, focusing on the road. He was probably thinking exactly what I dreaded. “Your best friend is here and you’re going to be around her dad—the man you love—all night long! What in the hell are you going to do?”

  My heart pounded hard in my chest when I slowly pulled into the Remy Place parking lot. Izzy was eager to get out, rushing to the trunk to grab the few bags of groceries. I took a bag from her, and Sterling took that bag from me. “I got it. You don’t need any more weight on you right now.”

  I thanked him with my eyes, but Izzy looked at us, probing with thin eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?” she laughed.

  Surprisingly, Sterling covered up for it quickly. “Oh, you know, her dad and the Alzheimer’s
and all. He’s been giving her and my mom hell lately.” He smoothed his curly brown hair back as we entered the building.

  “Oh.” Izzy’s lips pressed, and when she walked ahead of us, Sterling gave me a look that said, “I don’t know how you’re going to get through this night.”

  He may have thought that because Izzy wasn’t the type of person to hold her tongue. She talked a lot, but asked questions even more, especially when she was confused about something. She was a firm believer in the saying “There is no such thing as a dumb question.”

  It was a good thing Sterling wanted to come. He could prevent any unwanted drama, quite possibly distract Izzy if something was said or done out of context between Theo and me. Izzy, after all, could be easily distracted.

  We made it up to that familiar fourth floor, all with Izzy talking about how she’d hoped her dad grilled everything right and didn’t burn it. I started to tell her that he wasn’t going to mess it up because he’d gotten great at cooking, but I stopped myself. I had to be careful now. If Izzy didn’t know something about Theo, I had to pretend I didn’t either.

  Opening the door, Izzy waltzed right in, going for the kitchen to place her grocery bag on the counter. Sterling followed in after me, murmuring, “Here we go,” as he shut the door behind him.

  I walked to the kitchen with Izzy. Theo was nowhere in sight. “Dad?” Izzy called. She walked out of the kitchen, and we all heard him return her call from the deck.

  “Come on, Chlo,” Izzy insisted. I went with her, stepping onto the deck. Theo was in the corner with his grill on, flipping burgers with an annoyed look on his face, and to his right, sitting on the brown chair was Trixie. She was fixing her makeup in her handheld mirror, but when she caught sight of us, she quickly stopped tampering with her reflection, releasing a gasp.