It's in the Rhythm

by Sammie Ward

  “Are you serious?”

  “You know I am, beautiful.”

  She blushed at the compliment. “I don’t know what to say, Garrett. It’s an awesome opportunity, not only for me, but also for the choir. When will you discuss it with your father?”

  “As soon as possible. I want it to be a surprise. So don’t tell him.”

  She touched her lips with one finger. “Your secret is safe with me. He always had big dreams for the choir. His dream will finally come true, through his son.” She didn’t look away.

  “I know what it’s like to want something.”

  Trinity knew he was referring to her. Her face flushed with emotion and her heartbeat skyrocketed. “Garrett, let’s talk.”

  “Hello, Trinity.” Darius’s voice came out of nowhere as he came and stood next to her. He leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

  Garrett’s heart dropped into his stomach. Darius’s timing couldn’t be worse. He glanced at Trinity, whose mouth gaped open. “Darius, we’re in church. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here for Bible study.” Darius pointed to the black Bible tucked underneath his arm.

  “I don’t believe it.” When they were dating, she couldn’t talk Darius into attending Bible study.

  Darius smiled. “Believe it. I’m just trying to be a better man for you.”

  Trinity looked over at Garrett. The happiness that was on his face a moment ago had evaporated. “Darius, this isn’t the time or place to talk about this.”

  “I’m crazy about Trinity.” He glanced over at Garrett. “I don’t care who knows it.”

  Garrett didn’t move.

  “Darius!” Trinity elbowed Darius in the chest. She wanted to reach out and smack him upside the head.

  “What?” Darius refocused on Garrett. “What did I say? I’m sure Garrett can relate to what I’m saying.”

  Garrett didn’t miss a beat. “I can relate.”

  The two men sized each other up. Garrett was struggling to keep his emotions in check. There was nothing going on between them. Darius didn’t want to take “no” for an answer. Garrett didn’t blame him; women like Trinity were hard to find.

  “Darius, please. Not here,” Trinity pleaded.

  “Okay, I won’t embarrass you. How was choir rehearsal? I hate I missed hearing you sing.”

  “It went well,” Trinity said, downplaying the moment.

  “She’s just being modest,” Garrett chimed in. “She has the voice of an angel.”

  “Don’t I know it.” Darius reached out and gently touched her on the shoulder.

  Trinity pepped up. She focused on Garrett. “Can I tell Darius the good news?”

  Garrett nodded in approval.

  Darius curiously looked from one to the other. “Tell me what?”

  Happiness filled her as she spoke. “I’m going to sing on Garrett’s next CD.”

  Darius’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding. What are you going to sing?”

  “The song is called ‘Heaven.’ Garrett wrote it.”

  Congratulations.” Darius refocused on Garrett. “It’s good that you have an interest in Trinity’s music career. Or is it something else you’re interested in?”

  Trinity gasped. She wanted to slink away. She couldn’t believe Darius would say something like that. He was usually pretty easygoing.

  If Garrett was fazed by Darius’s comment, he didn’t show it. “I invited Trinity to sing on the CD because she’s very talented.”

  “No one knows that better than I do,” Darius said. His eyes never left Garrett’s. “She’s also very beautiful.”

  “Cut it out, Darius.” Trinity placed a hand to her forehead.

  “I can’t argue with that,” Garrett answered in a calm tone. “Singing on the CD will be great exposure for her and the choir.”

  Darius frowned. “What about the choir?”

  “Garrett would like the choir to go on some tour dates,” Trinity added.

  “Go on tour?” Darius repeated. He’d moved back to town to rekindle their relationship. A singing career and going on tour would jeopardize his plan. “What about your job? Your students?”

  Trinity shrugged. She didn’t have time to think that far ahead. All she knew was that Garrett had given her the opportunity to make her dream come true. If she had to take a leave of absence, she would. She was sure her friends and students would be behind her.

  Trinity clasped her hands together, her adrenaline pumping. She couldn’t wait to share the news with her father and Leigh. “I will take a leave of absence if I have to. I’m sure my students will be behind me,” she said excitedly. “I can’t wait to tell Leigh and Dad the news.”

  “I’ll see you later,” Garrett said. “We can discuss it some more.”

  Darius waited until Garrett was out of earshot. “You really are going to go on tour?”

  “Why not? You should be happy for me.” Trinity strolled behind the choir stand and picked up her purse and light jacket. “An opportunity like this doesn’t come along every day. You know how long I have waited for this chance? I’m not going to let it slip away.”

  “I am happy for you,” Darius argued.

  She came and stood in front of him. “Well, you have a funny way of showing it.” Looking into his eyes, Trinity thought she detected a look of hesitation. It happened so fast she thought she might have imagined it. She hiked the purse strap on her shoulder. “What is it?”

  He formed his lips as if he wanted to say something, but then thought better of it. “Nothing. Let me walk you out to your car.”

  A hot, starry night welcomed them as they strolled outside. There was no breeze to stir the air.

  “Garrett seems cool,” Darius began saying. He cautiously glanced over at Trinity. He was trying not to be jealous of the famous singer, but there was an unmistakable attraction between Trinity and Garrett.

  “He’s very down to earth. The fame and fortune didn’t go to his head.”

  “Women all love him.” Darius looked over at the group of female choir members, laughing and grinning at Garrett as he headed to his vehicle. He waved at them.

  Trinity returned the wave. “Garrett is not like that,” she said, defending her friend. “If you got to know him, you would see that. His head is on straight. You met his girlfriend, Imani. She’s beautiful, talented, and successful. They make a great couple,” Trinity said, although she seemed to be trying to convince herself as much as Darius.

  “I didn’t pick up on them being a great couple. I get the feeling they are together because of status. Something is missing from that relationship.”

  She cocked her head to one side. Darius was very perceptive. Garrett mentioned their relationship wasn’t solid. Imani was nowhere to be found tonight. Maybe she had returned to California. “You’re wrong,” she lied.

  “Then you’re blind. Garrett has eyes for you.”

  Trinity leaned against the side of her car, staring at Darius for a moment as she thought about Garrett confessing his feelings to her. The feel of his lips on hers and his hands on her body had set her insides aflame. He made her feel good just by holding her in his arms. The memory of them together made her heart race.

  Trinity took a deep breath. “Our relationship has always been professional, Darius, and you know that.”

  “I don’t know anything. I’m not Stevie Wonder. I can see very well. Is he the reason we’re not together?”

  “Wassup with you? Ever since you have been back, you have been throwing out accusations.” She was defensive. “You are the reason we are not together, not Garrett.”

  Silence fell between them. “I know,” he finally said. “I have been trying to make it right. This is funny. I came back hoping for us to get back together, and tonight you tell me you’re going on tour with Garrett and the choir. I feel like I’m losing you all over again.”

  “This is not about Garrett, the choir, or me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “This is
about you and your attitude.”

  Darius leaned back. “Sweetheart, I’m not the one with the attitude.” His voice rose an octave. “You’re the one that has been acting stank.”

  Trinity gave him a look that cut him in half. “How dare you! You hurt me, took me for granted. And because I didn’t run back into your arms like some lovesick puppy when you rolled back into town, I have an attitude.” She turned to get in her car. “You know where you can go.”

  Darius knew he’d said the wrong thing the moment the words left his mouth. He never thought it would be so difficult to win back Trinity’s heart. They were so much in love once. That should mean something. But since he’d been back, she was acting as if their love meant nothing. Now he knew why—Garrett Martindale.

  He halted her escape with a firm hand on the arm. “Trinity, I didn’t mean that.”

  She promptly smacked his hand away. “The hell you didn’t! Why don’t you do both of us a favor? Go back to Chicago. There is nothing for you here.” She slid behind the wheel, turned the key in the ignition, and pulled out of the parking lot, burning rubber.

  * * *

  Garrett entered his bedroom at his parents’ house. He threw the briefcase of music on the bed with extra force. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he covered his face with both hands. He fell back on the bed. It had been a good day. He didn’t want to ruin the mood going back to the hotel to argue with Imani. He wasn’t going to make the situation better when he told her he was going to spend the night at his parents’. He hoped Imani would take it as a sign that their relationship was at its breaking point and she should head back to Los Angeles. He doubted it. She always wanted to talk about it. He didn’t want to talk about it, tonight or any other night. He likes to run away, she’d said. Not confront problems. Maybe she was right. The one thing he knew for sure was that he didn’t love her. Staying in the relationship was hurting them. It was time to end it.

  Opening the briefcase, he removed his cell phone, flipped it open, and punched in the number to Imani’s cellular. She answered on the third ring.

  “Hello, Imani,” Garrett said in a flat, low tone.

  Imani couldn’t read what mood he was in. She hoped he was in a better mood than when he left the room earlier. She wasn’t sure he was coming back to the hotel. She thought about leaving. They had argued again about Trinity, and they both needed space to cool down before someone said something they would regret.

  “Are you in a better mood?” she asked.

  He sighed. “Not really.”

  Imani was quiet a moment. She didn’t want to rub him the wrong way. “Are you coming to the hotel?”

  “No,” he answered without hesitation.

  Imani closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer to her next question. “When are you coming back?”

  “I’m not coming back, Imani. What’s the use? Nothing will change between us.”

  “Nothing will change because you don’t want it to change,” she said, her voice cracking. Their relationship was known for being off and on, but this time she had a feeling it was off for good. She couldn’t let that happen. “Let’s talk about this.”

  Garrett clutched the receiver more tightly. He wondered how long it would take her to get around to her habitual spiel.

  “We had a fight. We always fight.” She held the phone to her ear with her shoulder. “But we always make up.” Her voice lowed to a seductive tone. “That’s the fun part in breaking up.” She removed an expensive white silk blouse from the hangar and tossed the garment on the bed.

  “Not this time. I don’t understand why you keep denying the truth, Imani. The relationship is not working. It hasn’t been working for a long time. Let’s end it before it turns ugly.”

  “Oh, it can get ugly,” she said, walking to the bathroom mirror that stretched the length of the vanity.

  “What does that mean?” Garrett didn’t believe Imani was vengeful. He’d seen firsthand from other male friends how vindictive a scorned woman could be. He believed Imani was above that.

  She tried not to cry as she began tossing lipsticks and compacts inside the cosmetic bag. Contents spilled out, rolling to the floor. “I’m the best thing that ever happened to you.”

  “Imani, let’s be adults about this.”

  “Don’t call me childish.” She reached down, placing the makeup in the bag.

  “Don’t put words in my mouth,” Garrett fired back. “I did not say you were childish. I said let’s be adult about the breakup.”

  “Garrett, I don’t want it to end like this. We need to discuss this face-to-face. I want to look in your eyes. I need to know if you really mean it’s over,” she sniffed.

  Garrett closed his eyes. He knew ending it wasn’t going to be easy. “I mean it, Imani. It’s over.”

  “No, you don’t.” She couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She gently attempted to wipe them away.

  “Imani, please. I have to go.”

  “I won’t let you go. You will be back.”

  Click. Garrett was gone.

  He fell back on the bed again. He hated himself right now.

  “Garrett,” he heard his mother yell from downstairs. “You up there?”

  He sat up straight. “I’m here.”

  A moment later, an ashen-faced Ginger stood in the bedroom door.

  Garrett slowly came to his feet. “Mother, are you all right? What is it?”

  She came further into the room, shaking her head. “I just came from the church. I dropped by to see Tamara earlier today.”

  Garrett didn’t have to hear anything else. Her expression said it all. “She told you?” Garrett walked toward his mother.

  Ginger tilted her head to one side, bobbing it up and down. “She said she’s…” was all she could say.

  “I know.”

  Ginger stepped back and glared at Garrett. “How?” she asked. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to accept it. I’ve prayed with family members about dealing with homosexuality in their families. My daughter tells me she’s gay, and I can’t handle it.” Ginger knew she was babbling, but she had to get it out.

  Garrett took his mother by the hand and sat her on the edge of the bed.

  “Mother,” he said, “you have to pray. Give it to God. We both know that once we put it in God’s hands it’s out of ours. He will work it out.”

  “It’s a test, that’s what it is,” she continued. “God is testing our faith. But like all the trials and tribulations the Martindales have been through, we’re going to make it through.”

  “Amen,” Garrett chimed in.

  Ginger stood. She began to pace. “She’s still my daughter, no matter what.”

  “I know this is difficult.” Garrett came to his feet.

  “I just don’t understand,” Ginger repeated.

  “Neither do I,” Garrett agreed. “But this is what we’re faced with. We have to accept it.”

  Ginger stopped pacing. Wagging a finger at Garrett, she said, “No. We don’t have to accept it.”

  “What are we going to do? Disown her?”

  “I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. Brian doesn’t know,” she said more to herself than Garrett. “I told her she had to be honest with him.”

  “I agree with you,” Garrett said. “She needs to get everything out in the open. Deal with it.”

  “This is a mess,” Ginger said. “What we need to do is get everybody together and work this out.”

  “Mom, the only people who need to talk right now are Tamara and Brian.”

  “We need to be involved. She needs her family.”

  “She needs family for moral support. But the final decision should be theirs. Not yours. Not Dad’s. Theirs,” Garrett reiterated.

  Ginger knew her son was right. He’d grown into an intelligent young man. She reached up and gently touched the side of his face. “You’re right. I just feel so helpless. I failed as a mother.” She wal
ked over and flopped on the edge of the bed again. “I’m just trying to help. I feel like I let her down.”

  Garrett sat down next to her. Reaching over, he put an arm around her shoulder. “C’mon, none of that talk. You are an awesome mother.”

  “Am I? Then why did I let her get married to Brian? She wasn’t ready. I knew it. I stood by and did nothing.”

  “What could you do? At the time, you thought it was the right thing to do.”

  “I never thought it was the right thing to do,” she said. “That was your father. You were right. Just because she was pregnant didn’t mean she had to marry Brian.” She looked straight ahead. “It was for the Martindales’ reputation. You knew that. I don’t think she loved him.”

  “I know the reason behind the marriage. But honestly, I believe she grew to love Brian.”

  “Not like a woman should love a man,” Ginger patted Garrett on the leg as she lifted her five-foot, seven-inch frame to her feet. “I’m going to invite Tamara and Brian over to the house. See what we can work out.” She headed for the bed.

  “Mom, stay out of it.” He knew it wasn’t in her nature to leave well enough alone. “Let Tamara tell Brian when she’s ready.”

  Ginger stood in the doorway. “Oh, I will. I just think the time is now.”

  * * *

  “He had the nerve to say I have an attitude,” Trinity screeched into the phone to Leigh. “Can you believe him?” She pulled the vehicle into the parking space in front of her apartment.

  “It just sounds to me like he’s just jealous.”

  Trinity braced the phone against her shoulder as she scooped her purse off of the passenger seat and got out of the car. “What could he be jealous about?”

  “Are you serious? A lot of men would be intimidated if they were in Darius’s shoes. Their woman singing and touring with the hottest R&B singer in the business.”

  “I’m not his woman,” Trinity retorted. “Darius had better get over himself. I thought he’d be happy for me. He knows how much this means to me. Something I have dreamed of doing.”

  “Well, I’m happy for you. I wouldn’t worry about Darius. He’s upset that you’re not getting back together. Go ahead with your singing career. Go on tour. I have to come and hear you sing, Miss Superstar.” Leigh was raised Catholic. She attended a Catholic private school and graduated from a Catholic University. Her decision to teach for the public education system was one she never regretted.