“A little dick has given her some spunk,” she said absently. Janelle had no worries; she would quickly retrain Stacy and have the love of her life back. She has gotten a little thick, she thought lustfully as she watched Stacy walk to the kitchen with the pizza.
“What the hell is going,” Stacy thought aloud as she sat the pizza on the island. “First Chad, now Janelle.”
Well you did run from your problems, her conscience piped in. “I guess I did,” she mumbled as she steeled herself to face Janelle.
“Your poker face is cute,” Janelle smiled as Stacy sat in the chair opposite of the couch. She’s damned thick, Janelle thought once more as she took in Stacy’s outfit. The long turquoise form fitting summer dress was beautiful against her chocolate skin. She loved the soft touch of makeup Stacy had on and the new updo hairstyle.
Stacy had begun to feel uncomfortable under Janelle’s gaze and fidgeted slightly in her seat. Janelle had always had that effect on her and she despised it.
“What do you want Janelle,” she finally asked with a roll of her eyes.
“I want you to come home,” Janelle answered matter-of-fact. “I know that you made a mistake with Chad, but since you came to your senses,” she continued and focused on Stacy’s stomach. “You can come home.”
Stacy burst into laughter at Janelle. “Thank you for the invitation Janelle, but I am happy.”
Now it was Janelle’s turn to laugh.
“You think Riley wants you Stacy,” she said and lit a cigarette. “Yeah a bad habit I picked up,” she added after taking a long drag from the cigarette. “Riley is on some macho male bullshit. He found out you were with a man and now he has to be the next one to tap that girl,” Janelle could see signs of Stacy’s armor cracking. It came from being with her for over a year and knowing when she was being swayed. “When was the last time you heard from him anyway,” she threw out.
Stacy did have some questions for Riley, but she would never disclose that to Janelle. The smooth ballad playing let her know she had a text. Retrieving the device from the end table, she opened the text from Riley. ‘Baby I know that you are upset but I can explain,’ it read. ‘I will be in front of the house in 10 minutes and I need for you to come outside.’
Stacy quickly replied that she would try but Janelle was at the house. Almost instantly she got a reply that had her puzzled.
“Are you done being rude,” Janelle snapped.
“Sorry about that Janelle,” Stacy answered humbly, deciding to play along to get Janelle out of the house. “I have to go and handle something, but I will definitely come by your place tonight to talk. I just need answers to a few questions.”
Janelle worked hard to keep the smile from her face as she stroked Stacy’s cheek.
“I’ll be waiting love,” she whispered before kissing Stacy passionately and walking out the door.
Chapter Sixteen
Riley was making sure that he followed all the traffic laws as he headed to his house. He had murder on his brain and needed to talk to Stacy before he did something he would regret. He didn’t know which pissed him off more, the women underestimating him or what they had planned. Stacy had just texted him that Janelle was gone, but he didn’t want to put anything past the woman.
Pulling in front of the diner, he saw Stacy chatting with the waitress and blew the horn. Not wanting to be rude, he waved at Jasmine as Stacy hopped in the car. The ride was quiet and Riley knew that meant Stacy was pissed and she had every right to be. “Baby, I need for you to let me explain and have my back on this.”
“Riley, has there ever been a time that I didn’t have your back,” she asked.
Riley answered her no but this time it was different and the consequences were a lot higher. Stacy was about to ask him for more details when he parked. Looking around, Stacy surmised that it was a decent, newly developed area. There were newly developed townhouses lining the streets and a small recreation center across the street.
“Who’s place is this,” Stacy asked as Riley opened the door with a key.
“Chantrese’s,” he answered without looking back. Hearing her smack her lips and mumble Riley turned around and said, “I really need for you to trust me on this one.”
Stacy nodded her head in agreement and was rewarded with a passionate kiss that had her ready to give him her all at she possessed at that very moment. With great effort, Riley pulled away. “We have to stop because you have to heal first,” he whispered in her ear. Stacy licked out her tongue at him, chuckling. In her mind the scenario made no sense, but Riley had never put her in harm’s way before. More than you can say for most people, her heart threw at her as they climbed the stairs inside the dwelling.
“Brace yourself,” Riley told her standing before Chantrese’s bedroom door.
“Oh my god,” Stacy proclaimed with her hands over her mouth.
Chantrese was still lying in the bed, naked with drugs covering her face.
“What happened to her Riley,” she asked as the tears began to well in her eyes.
“Janelle,” he answered bitterly.
“Janelle was with me Riley,” she answered naively.
“Baby, I heard rumors that Janelle was getting close to the girls that she felt were her competition and getting them strung out on coke. She would tell them she was doing it but she would actually be snorting flour,” he explained as Stacy listened flabbergasted.
“I didn’t know she had turned Chantrese out too,” he continued his eyes on Stacy; this was where he needed her to understand and trust him. Taking a deep breath he continued. “I left the hospital so I could break it off with Chantrese. We went to dinner and she wouldn’t let me get a word in honestly. We came back here and she made me a drink. She must have put something in it because I blacked out.”
Stacy’s facial expression told him that she wasn’t buying his story.
“I woke in the shower with a killer headache and found Chantrese in here. I know I wouldn’t beat her like that. She was so high she told me everything.”
Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket he pressed play on the recorder.
Stacy’s head began to spin as she listened to Chantrese tell him how they were going to set him up for rape. She told him that it was Janelle’s idea and she was tired of him causing problems in her career. At first they were going to just set up him for a robbery at one of the shoots but when she discovered his feelings for Stacy it all changed. Stacy could tell Chantrese was crying when she asked him why she wasn’t good enough and why Stacy was so special. A smile glowed on her face as she listened to his answer.
“I have always loved Stacy and always will. She is my everything.”
Chantrese explained that they drugged him with E so they could have sex. Janelle was there and beat Chantrese to a pulp.
“You started getting real hot,” Chantrese’s slurred. “I thought you were going to have a seizure or something and asked Janelle to help get you in the shower,” the recording continued. “You know what the bitch said,” Chantrese chuckled. “Let his ass die.”
The tears began anew when Chantrese explained that she began to get high because she was so nervous after she managed to get him into the tub.
“The bitch thought she had me though, but I got the last laugh,” she stated icily, sending a chill down Stacy’s spine.
“I am sorry I keep dragging you into my problems,” Stacy said once she managed to find her voice.
Riley knew she was also referring to Justin as well.
“This is not your fault Stacy,” he told her as he brought her into his arms.
“I just feel like I bring you nothing but drama,” she told him as she laid her head on his chest.
“Are you done yet,” he asked her.
“With what?”
“This pity party, I know what I want and I want you. Janelle, Chantrese, Chad, nor anyone else will stop me,” he told her with a kiss.
“What are we going to do about her,” Stacy ask
ed looking at Chantrese with great pity.
“Don’t worry about her, I’ll take care of her,” Riley answered. Stacy broke their embrace and looked deeply into Riley’s eyes. She heard the tone in his voice and knew what Riley was capable of.
“Please don’t hurt her Riley,” she asked him.
Riley looked away unable to make that promise and told Stacy to make sure that she didn’t leave anything behind.
“Baby, please,” she begged. “I know you are upset, but she is a victim too. Janelle tricked her. That could have been me.”
“No, it wouldn’t Stacy because you wouldn’t have taken the drugs and you wouldn’t set anyone up for rape,” he combated.
“No I wouldn’t, but I don’t think Chantrese would have either if she was sober. Janelle is a user. You know Chantrese has a good heart. She saved you,” Stacy reasoned. She knew that ultimately it was Riley’s decision and she would stand beside her man regardless, but she felt a connection to Chantrese. Stacy wasn’t high off of cocaine, but at one point she was high off Janelle.
Modern Technology
The lights were low as they swiped across the runway. It was the fall premiere and the designer had decided on an African motif, since most of his patterns had animal prints. The runway had the audience buzzing. The designer was known as much for his eccentric runway as he was his clothing. He did not disappoint this year. The models would walk on two ten feet runways that would then intertwine into the shape of Africa. The runway was one and a half feet in depth and filled with water, which the models would tread barefoot. At periodic intervals, sand and glitter would be blown onto the runway. At the end of the walkway were fifteen feet ivory elephant tusks.
Sean created his walkway to entertain his audience, but also to demand the best in his models. Sean was a top designer and sometimes had to do casting calls for his Paris show because models were afraid. Janelle was not afraid and was happy that she had finally made it to the crest of fashion, where she belonged. Standing behind the black imported silk curtains, Janelle smiled as her mind wandered.
It had taken her a year to get here, and she didn’t regret anything along the journey. She had not seen Chantrese since the night she beat her in her apartment. She had left her and Riley for dead, but she guessed they both had another life left. A month after the ordeal, Riley had returned to work, but by that time Janelle had made a name for herself and was busy working. She still thought about Stacy periodically, but she was happy in her personal life. She was seeing a bisexual woman named Kai and a heterosexual male named Jonas. “Life is definitely good,” she mumbled as the coordinator shoved her towards the runway.
***
This is beautiful, Stacy thought as she settled into her seat. She had been to a few runaway shows but none as breathtaking as this one. Stacy watched as the show began with high anxiety waiting for Janelle to walk onto the runway. Scanning the audience she confirmed that Riley’s featured guests were in attendance and from the look on Janelle’s face and extra bounce in her stride, so did she.
***
What are they doing here, Janelle thought, seeing her mother and sisters in the second row at the premier. It was the first time she could remember them looking at her with pride in their eyes. Janelle gave a subtle wink and put more attitude into her walk. What is that, she thought, as they were being handed portable televisions.
***
Riley was happy that he listened to Stacy. After Chantrese was sober, she shared with them that she had recorded the night of the botched rape. She explained that she didn’t trust Janelle completely and wanted some insurance. Seeing the fear and regret in her eyes, Riley promised that he would not implicate her if she went to rehab.
“Riley, Sean is furious,” Dave, his assistant said in passing. Riley couldn’t help the smile on his face as he stood backstage and watched Janelle take the stage once again.
***
Janelle was on top of the world as she hit the runway again. The zebra hooded coat and leather mini skirt were made for her. Once again when she made it to her family, she gave them a subtle wink, but saw the tears and anger in their eyes. Now what is wrong with them, she thought trying to analyze the daggers. Coming off the stage, she saw Sean glaring at her. He almost made her fall; he grabbed her arm so hard.
“What the hell is this,” Sean asked his French accent gone. “What,” Janelle asked trying hard to bite her tongue.
Instead of answering the designer simply pressed play on the recorder.
Janelle watched in horror as the video showed her place pills in a drink. It then shows her drag a person into the bathroom. Her stomach turned as the camera zoned in on her snorting the flour.
“But…Se,” She attempted before Sean told her to keep watching. Hesitantly she returned her eyes to the screen and witnessed herself beating Chantrese without mercy. The recorder had volume and she could hear the smacks and moans coming from Chantrese. She grimaced when she heard Chantrese ask, “What about him?” She knew her reply and grabbed the recorder.
“This is bullshit, I was framed,” she bellowed.
Sean grabbed her into one of the vacant dressing rooms and closed the door.
“Janelle are you going to sit here and tell me that’s not you,” he asked sickened.
“It’s me, but the video was edited. Chantrese was the woman and Riley was the man I…”
“Janelle please stop while you are ahead. You are lucky that it doesn’t show the people’s face you were drugging and attacking.”
“Sir,” One of Riley’s assistants said while he knocked on the door. Sean quickly told him to go away. “But sir, there is an emergency. The other designers are frantic about some video.”
“Janelle, I swear if this is what I think it is, your career is so fucking over you won’t be able to model socks in the local pharmacy,” Sean gritted before leaving the room.
Janelle knew it was the tape and was sure that was what her family was looking at as well.
Janelle looked at the table and sighed. “My life is over.”
***
Tabitha looked over the congregation and saw that the sanctuary was filled to its capacity before sitting next to her husband. Cream had his most radiant smile on his face and talked to worshippers as they passed. To the outside world he was his normal, friendly self. Tabitha knew better however, she could see the guard her husband had up. She noticed the way he looked into the worshippers eyes when he greeted them. Tabitha eyes went to the person who’s attendance she had mandated, her son. It’s time, her spirit spoke to her. Looking at her husband again, she shook her head slightly in total agreement with her soul.
“We are going to begin the meeting,” Deacon Richardson stated. Tabitha stood and made her way to the pulpit. She almost laughed as she saw the look her husband gave her.
“Good evening church,” she began and paused so they could return the greeting. “I called this meeting because I feel that as First Lady I have a responsibility,” she continued with her eyes on her husband. “And it’s not just to visit the sick or shut in or organize the church anniversary. My first obligation is always to God,” she continued with her eyes blazing on her husband.
A small smile came to her lips as he shifted in his seat.
“Then my responsibility is to my family,” this time her eyes landing on Chad.
She left them on him until he looked up at her. The tears welled in her eyes as they silently spoke volumes to each other. Blinking away the tears she continued, “And lastly my obligation is to you my church. I have called this meeting so I can put everything in order.”
The “amen,” and “preach,” that came from the audience were abundant. “Church I want you all to remember a few things tonight. One is this, brother will betray brother to death and a father to his child,” she quoted the scripture. For the first time Pastor Toplin’s fear showed. “This is life and so I have no hard feelings or hatred at this,” she continued and pressed play on a remote control. The co
ngregation gasped as the projector showed Pastor Toplin receiving oral sex from countless members.
Tabitha kept her eyes on her husband as the church became alive with chatter.
“Let her finish church,” Deacon Richardson stood up and spoke.
“Thank you,” she directed towards the deacon before continuing. “Like I said I am not upset because I can see why women were attracted to my husband, which brings me to my second lesson. Judge not lest thou be judged, I was a prostitute as you all know,” she continued her eyes scanning the congregation. “I have slept with plenty of married men in my time. My husband is very charming and was able to convince me to give him money I earned. I do not blame my husband for any of my actions however, because I was a grown woman. The bible tells us of the sins of the father with the story of David and that is one of the reason’s I stand before you.”
Chad watched his mother with great pride and respect as tears rolled down his face and she continued to speak.
“I have lived my life and so has Pastor Toplin,” Tabitha continued. “The sins we made and will continue to make are our own. I have sat back and watched him try to make my son what he feels is the perfect man. Son you are perfect in every sense of the word. You lost a love, but not the love of your life. Your name is Chad Toplin, it is not Pastor Toplin.”
Tabitha saw her husband reach his boiling point and prepare to stand.
“You will sit Cream,” she stated firmly.
Slowly she watched him return to his seat.
“My lesson is that there is a season for everything and my season with Pastor Toplin and as First Lady of this church has passed. I have been seeing Trustee Johnson for some time now,” once again she paused as the congregation gasped and began to chatter.
“I know that it is a sin and it is surely one I will pay for. I don’t owe anyone an explanation, but I will say that I was lonely and seeking happiness, which I found. So church we’ve come full circle as I tell you pray for me.”
Crossroads: An Anthology Page 18
