Cheesecake and Teardrops

by Faye Thompson

“Thanks for coming,” she said politely.

  “What’s this all about?” he asked, sitting down.

  She hesitated for a moment. “I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re what?” he asked in disbelief.

  “I’m pregnant,” she repeated.

  “I don’t believe this,” he said, his voice tinged with disgust.

  “Nate, I’m five months pregnant.”

  “Five months? You’re not even showing. Is it mine?”

  “Yes, it’s yours,” she said adamantly.

  “Aren’t I the lucky one.” He spewed sarcasm.

  They stared at each other in silence.

  “So why didn’t you just have an abortion?”

  “Just have an abortion? I’m Catholic.”

  “So premarital sex is fine, as long as you don’t have an abortion afterward? You’re such a hypocrite. Your family would skin you alive for bringing home a black baby. So what does that leave? Adoption?”

  Chase didn’t answer at first. “You think I want to give my baby away?” she asked him bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes. “Huh?”

  “I think you’d give away your ass if you thought it would save your lily-white name. On second thought, maybe if you had, we wouldn’t be in this mess now.”

  “You don’t understand, Nate. When I told my family, it nearly killed my grandfather. He’s a very proud man.”

  “Yeah, I can just imagine. He’s so proud that the thought of a black great-grandchild probably gave him a heart attack, right?”

  “You’re just as much to blame as I am. So don’t you dare act like this is all my fault. You got that?”

  Nate felt like he was living a nightmare. How the hell was he going to tell Charisma that not only did he have a one night stand with a woman she despised, but that she was now carrying his child? Charisma put up a brave front, acting like being childless didn’t bother her. But he could see the sadness in her eyes when she thought no one was watching, and he felt her pain. How could he expect to stay married behind all this drama? Charisma loved him, but she wasn’t a saint. Damn, if he could only relive that night in Vegas. He’d regret it for the rest of his life. Somehow, he couldn’t let her have the baby. Otherwise, he and Charisma would be history.

  He tried another tactic. “What is it that you want, Chase?” he asked gently.

  “I don’t know what I want. I just want all this to be over. I want my life back.”

  “And you can have it back, if that’s what you really want. You can make that happen. And I’ll be there with you every step of the way. I promise.”

  “I am not supposed to be sitting here talking about having an abortion. This is not how my life is supposed to be. Abortions are for other women. Not women like me. I’m above that.”

  “Of course you are, Chase.” He grabbed her hand. “We need to take care of this discreetly before any more time goes by. No one will ever know what really happened. And your honor will be restored. We can go away for the weekend, and you can tell your family you miscarried. There’s got to be a doctor somewhere who can handle this.”

  “It’s not going to be as easy as you make it sound.”

  “Who else knows you’re pregnant besides your family?”

  “Just my best friend, Loren.”

  “Can you trust her?”

  “With my life.”

  “Well, if you rather she go with you, I’ll understand. But if you need me, I’ll be there too.” He squeezed her hand, and she squeezed his in return.

  “I can’t believe I’m even considering this.”

  “Do you go to confession?”

  “Twice a year.”

  “And do you think God forgives you for your sins?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “Then he’ll forgive you for this one too.”

  Charisma had the dream again last night. She was alone in a restaurant full of strangers, blacks, whites, Asians, men, women. They were all dressed in black, a stern look planted on their faces. When any one of them glanced her way, a chill went through her. They all seemed to want to make eye contact with her, every last one of them. It was almost as if she was on display. Then one by one, they stood and passed by her table, looking her squarely in the eye before exiting. She woke up with a jolt, her heart pounding fast in her chest. She reached out for Nate, but he was not there.

  Nate was downstairs pouring himself a drink at the bar. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since learning of Chase’s pregnancy. If she refused to have the abortion, how the hell was he going to tell Charisma? He scratched his head nervously. Even though he had gotten Chase pregnant after Charisma stood him up at the airport and they weren’t yet a couple, he knew that she would never forgive him. His hands were tied. Nate polished off one drink and poured himself another. His mind was racing, but the alcohol helped slow it down. He dozed off, the drink still in his hand. He was awakened by Charisma’s touch as she shook him gently.

  “Babe, come to bed,” she said. “Come on.”

  Startled, Nate drained his glass as Charisma led him back to bed. “What time is it?” he asked.

  “It’s after two. You have an early meeting in the morning.”

  Nate was out the moment his head hit the pillow, but he had a restless sleep, tossing and turning all night. He woke up exhausted, barely making it to work on time.

  Chase had had a restless night as well, but when she woke up, the answer to her problem was crystal clear. She would have the abortion. Her doctor made a few phone call and knew a doctor who specialized in high-risk, late-term abortions. Chase decided an abortion was best for all concerned—herself, her unborn child, and even Nate. Not that she was concerned about his welfare. Chase wasn’t trying to make it easy for him. She just wanted control of her life back. Unfortunately, her baby would pay the price.

  Later that day she called Nate to tell him the news. He was obviously relieved to hear of her decision, offering to be by her side for support. Chase declined his offer and hung up, promising herself that she would never speak to that bastard again.

  Nate left work early, opting to enjoy the August sun. The past week had been torturous, waiting for Chase to decide. Now that she was having the abortion he could exhale, but he’d have to carry that secret to his grave.

  As he boarded the railroad home, a smile of relief graced his face. Occasionally, he would glance out the window, marveling at what a difference a phone call could make. He decided to pick up Charisma from work, as he exited the train and found his parked car. Her car was at the mechanic’s, and he didn’t want her cabbing it. If he hurried, he could just about make it.

  He parked across the street from Freeman LTD, his eyes glued to the revolving door, awaiting her exit. Finally, he saw her, his beautiful, loving wife. She had no idea that he had almost lost her. He had come this close to screwing it up for them, but thank God he was able to talk some sense into Chase.

  Charisma spotted her husband and smiled. As she crossed the street, he leaned over and opened the door for her. She greeted him by planting a big, fat juicy kiss on his lips.

  “What a nice surprise,” she said.

  “Just trying to be a good husband.” He started the car, and they drove off.

  “Honey, you missed the exit,” Charisma reminded him.

  “No, I thought maybe we’d go out to dinner. I want you nice and relaxed tonight. It’s been a long week.”

  “Ooh, I like that. Where to?”

  “Name the spot.”

  “How about Cabana?”

  “You got it.”

  They drove to Forest Hills and parked a few blocks from the restaurant. It was a gorgeous August evening, and Nate couldn’t help but check out his wife’s figure as she walked beside him. Charisma wore a sleeveless form-fitting meloncolored dress and matching high-heeled sandals. She made summer look good. Apparently, mesmerized by her curves, several men stopped talking as she and Nate walked by.

  As usual for a Friday night, Cabana was p
acked, and they waited over half an hour for a table. Once they tasted the meal, they knew the wait had been worth it. They ordered a pitcher of sangria and then dined on salmon and steak, eating off of each other’s plate.

  “Do you know how much I love you?” Nate asked his wife.

  “I’m a lucky woman.”

  “No, I’m the lucky one.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Why don’t we go home and both get lucky?”

  “You read my mind. Let me run to the ladies’ room, and I’ll be good to go.” After a few moments, Charisma returned to the table, smiling mischievously.

  Nate paid the check and they left. Charisma snuggled against him in the car, eager to get home and get naked with her husband. He slid his hand under her dress and up her bare thighs, pleasantly surprised that she wore no panties underneath. Before long his fingers were covered with her wet stickiness. He brought his fingers up to his lips, licking them in anticipation. He stopped for a red light and pulled her toward him, spreading her lips with his own. Before the light turned green, she had unzipped and hiked up her dress, returning his kiss. She climbed off his lap as another car drove up behind them. Charisma grabbed her husband’s bulging dick through his underwear.

  It grew in response to her touch.

  “Damn it, baby. You’re driving me crazy,” he said, turning off onto a wooded, dead-end street.

  “We’re almost home.” she told him.

  “Uh-uh. I want you now.” He led her to the backseat of the car. Like two hot, sweaty teenagers, they relieved themselves within the cramped confines of the Camry. It was a fast, hot fuck, and they lay back satisfied, yet exhausted.

  Nate and Charisma laughed softly as they readjusted their clothes. Nate cracked the window.

  “I see I’m gonna have to dust you for fingerprints when you come home in the evening,” he warned.

  “Why?”

  “You go to work without panties, and you ask why?”

  Charisma laughed as she reached for her purse and retrieved her panties. She quickly put them back on, explaining to him that she removed them in Cabana’s restroom.

  “Oh, you’re good,” he said. “You planned this whole thing and made me think it was my idea.”

  She laughed wickedly as they returned to the front seats. Nate started the car just as a cop car drove by. They were home in no time and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  Before Nate’s secretary even arrived his phone was ringing off the hook. It was Chase.

  “What’s going on?” he said drily.

  “I can’t do it, Nate.”

  “Are you crazy? I thought this was settled.” He sat down at his desk.

  “I know, but I changed my mind.”

  “Look, you’re just scared. That’s all. I’ll meet you after work and we’ll discuss this rationally.”

  “There’s nothing to discuss. I’m not doing it. I’m having this baby.”

  After a pause, Nate spoke. “Do whatever the hell you want.” He slammed the phone down just as he heard his secretary walk in.

  “Good morning, Nate,” she said.

  “Good morning, Pam. Hold all my calls,” he told her, slamming his office door shut.

  For a moment he sat at his desk in utter disbelief, convinced that he was living the worst day of his life. He wondered if he could convince her to have the abortion. Then again, she sounded like her mind was completely made up.

  Think, Nate. What are you going to do? It was only a little after eight, but already he needed a damn drink. Surprisingly, he made it through lunch and then through the rest of the day. He spent a good part of the day at his desk mulling over in his head how to break the news to Charisma. One thing for sure, he was running out of time. True, Chase was barely showing, but that would change shortly. He’d just have to confess even though there was no painless way of doing so. And not being much of a procrastinator, Nate decided to tell Charisma that night.

  By the time he arrived home, Charisma was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.

  He kissed her quickly on the cheek and decided to take a quick shower.

  “Dinner’ll be ready in a few, baby,” she told him as he removed his tie and headed upstairs for the bathroom.

  He stripped and stepped into the master bedroom’s bath, allowing the cool stream to massage the knot of tension in his back and shoulders. He stood there for a moment before reversing his position so that the water beat mercilessly against his chest. Nate soaped up, rinsed, and was through in a matter of minutes. He lotioned down and put on a T-shirt and a pair of sweats before heading back downstairs.

  He paused for a moment and took a deep breath before entering the kitchen. The table was set, and Charisma was removing garlic bread from the oven. They were having chicken parmigiana. Great, another Italian dish, as if Chase hadn’t been enough. He sat and Charisma joined him. He blessed the food, and they dug in.

  Charisma proceeded to tell him about her day. Nate listened with only half an ear. Sensing his preoccupation, she asked if something was wrong.

  “We need to talk, Charisma.” He put his fork down.

  “You sound so serious.” She grinned. “What’s wrong?”

  Nate wiped his mouth with the dinner napkin and clasped his hands together, resting his elbows on the table. “I am truly sorry. There’s no easy way to say this.”

  Charisma put her fork down too. She gave her husband her full attention.

  “Chase Martini is pregnant. It’s mine.” He exhaled.

  Charisma took a few seconds to digest the news. She looked at Nate with disgust, her voice low and angry. “With all the women you could possibly pick, you choose the bitch I hate the most to have an affair with? You fucking bastard.” She jumped up from the table, trashed her barely eaten dinner, and stormed out of the kitchen.

  He was right on her heels, grabbing her arm from behind and spinning her around. “We need to talk, Charisma.”

  “Get off me!” She wiggled free. “I don’t have a thing to say to you. I can’t even have a baby, for God’s sake, and you’re out making babies? And now you have the audacity to want to talk about it? Give me a fucking break.”

  “I know you’re upset. You have every right to be, but it’s not what you think.”

  “Oh, no? My husband gets another woman pregnant, and it’s not what I think? Last time I checked there was only one way to make a baby. So, don’t insult my intelligence, okay?”

  Charisma ran up the stairs, heading for the spare bedroom. Nate climbed the stairs two at a time to keep up. She took an overnighter out of the closet and headed for the bedroom. Once there, she began packing, throwing a pair of jeans, a couple of T-shirts, and underclothes into the bag.

  “Would you just stop and listen to me for a minute?” he pleaded.

  “Give me one good reason why I should. You just had to have her. We haven’t even been married a year, and already you’re out gallivanting.”

  “It wasn’t like that. I swear to you, Charisma. I’ve never cheated on you. Do you remember when I transferred to Manhattan after you stood me up at the airport on Presidents’ weekend?” He continued without waiting for a response.

  “Well, about a month later I ran into Chase at the marketing conference in Vegas. I was still trying to get you out of my system. We had both been drinking pretty heavily, and one thing led to another. You have no idea how sorry I am. I swear to you, it only happened once.”

  “Well, lucky for you it fell on fertile ground,” she spat the words out, adding more clothes to the bag.

  “Haven’t you heard a word I said? I didn’t cheat on you.”

  “Lucky me.” She looked him dead in the eye as she dragged the overnighter off the bed.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “The hell away from you!” With her purse in one hand and the overnighter in tow, Charisma headed for the closest hotel.

  30

  Heather

  Heather ran into her old high school classmate, Av
a, at Patty World during lunchtime.

  “Hey, chicklylicky, what’s new?” Ava asked.

  “Not much. You must live here,” she joked.

  “No, but I love me some chicken. Come join me.” She moved her bag out the way, and Heather took a seat across from her in the Caribbean eatery. “Didn’t I see you and Paula at the club the other night?” Ava asked.

  “Girrrl . . .”

  “Wouldn’t have to do with a pill deal, would it?”

  Heather was embarrassed. She took another bite of her brown stewed chicken, had a forkful of rice, and stopped.

  “Paula’s a trip.”

  “Trust me. I know all about it.” She took a bite of her spicy Jamaican beef patty, washing it down with a sip of ginger beer. “She uses drugs as a ploy to lure women in. You’re just her latest victim.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I was in your shoes once.”

  “How’d you do?”

  “I lost thirty pounds, and then I kicked her to the curb. She can’t stand my guts.”

  “Her loss,” Heather said, and they both laughed.

  “Paula usually brings her latest victim to the Next Level before she goes in for the kill. I have an idea. Why don’t we beat Paula at her own game?” Ava asked.

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “You look fantastic, by the way, but you really want those pills, right?”

  “Uh-huh. I signed up with a modeling agency, and they want me to drop a few more pounds.”

  “So get them. They sell everything on the Internet. Everything,” she stressed.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” Heather asked.

  “I don’t know, Miss Librarian. Why didn’t you?” She grinned. “But you need to get with the program.”

  “What would I do without you?” Heather exclaimed.

  “Be her love slave,” Ava said. “Now maybe you’ll be mine.”

  Heather’s eyes widened.

  “Relax, Heather. I’m joking. Put those flying fingers of yours to work on the Internet, and go get your diet pills, girl.”