The Favorite Son

by Tiffany L. Warren

  “When do you plan on firing that nanny?” Blaine asked from their bedroom.

  Blaine’s voice annoyed Dawn. Why did he keep harassing her about the nanny? The children were fine, Sister Jennings was great, and she was staying. That was the end of it.

  Dawn stepped out of the master bathroom. “I can’t take the children to the gym with me.”

  “Well, then I guess you’re just going to have to use that fitness room that we have in the house. Maybe you can pull out some of those DVDs that you ordered from those late-night infomercials.”

  How could Dawn explain to Blaine that it wasn’t just the exercising that was motivating her, it was the fellowship and the getting out of the house? She’d never given friendship with Kenya a chance in the past, but now that she’d gotten to know her, she realized she was a great person.

  “I enjoy spending the time with Kenya,” Dawn said. “I needed to get out outdoors again. I feel better than I have in a long time.”

  “At the expense of our children. I don’t want them being raised by a nanny. I want their mother making them cookies and putting bandages on their cuts and scrapes. My mother didn’t have a nanny, and she worked at the church, so you definitely don’t need one.”

  “I’m not your mother,” Dawn protested.

  “You got that right. My mother would never leave us hungry or with a babysitter while she went to the gym. And still she managed to stay looking good for my father.”

  “That didn’t stop him from cheating on her, though,” Dawn said.

  Blaine jumped up from the bed and stood in front of Dawn, towered over her. “Don’t say anything negative about my father. At least he was around. You don’t even know yours.”

  “We slinging insults about our parents now?” Dawn asked. “Is that what we’re doing?”

  “What is this about, anyway? You never cared how you looked before. You got a man on the side?”

  Dawn laughed. “A man on the side. You’re hilarious. I barely have a husband, but now you’re accusing me of a man on the side?”

  “I was just wondering. I mean, you cheated on my brother with me. My mama always said, ‘The way you got her is the way you’re gonna lose her.’ But then again, my mama doesn’t like you all that much.”

  “I don’t care what your mother thinks of me.”

  “Okay. You know what? Keep the nanny. I don’t care. But if anything happens to my children, you’re going to regret it.”

  Dawn walked past Blaine and sat down on the bed. “Do you realize how many times a week you threaten me? Most of our conversations end with you threatening me or you calling me fat.”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  She shrugged. “Nothing. I’m just noticing it. You don’t like me very much, do you?”

  “You’re the mother of my children and the first lady of my church.”

  “That doesn’t really answer the question, does it?”

  Blaine finished tying his tie and grabbed his suit jacket off the hanger in the closet. “I don’t have to answer your questions. Have fun with your new friend.”

  Dawn didn’t reply. She watched her husband leave the room. She exhaled as the door closed, as if a weight was lifted from her.

  Dawn didn’t want to admit it, but she thought that maybe she hated Blaine.

  Her cell phone buzzed with a text. She smiled as she read it. You ready to feel the burn, homegirl?

  It was Kenya. And yes, she was ready to feel the burn.

  Dawn texted back, Are you here?

  In ten minutes.

  Dawn finished putting on her workout clothes and went downstairs to give her final instructions to Sister Jennings. She was feeding each of the twins baby cereal prepared with breast milk. They’d be fine until she got back.

  Blaine was ridiculous. The children loved Sister Jennings, and she loved them back. They couldn’t have asked for a better nanny, and Dawn couldn’t have asked for a better workout partner.

  Dawn opened the door for Kenya when she rang the doorbell. Kenya had her thick black hair pulled into a ponytail on top of her head. Dawn couldn’t wait until she could wear the same kind of workout clothes that Kenya wore. She had on a sports bra and a pair of spandex boy shorts that stopped right beneath her buttocks. That was it. Dawn still had to cover her body with long sweats.

  “Good morning,” Dawn said.

  “Good morning, girl. You know, I was thinking about you all the way over here.”

  “You were? What were you thinking about?”

  “I was thinking that you need to rejoin So G.I.F.T.E.D. You were one of the first people in the group. It doesn’t feel right that you’re not in it anymore.”

  Dawn searched Kenya’s face for any signs of insincerity. When she saw none, she replied, “I don’t think that’s for me anymore.”

  “Why not? Your voice is still as strong as ever. We were just singing in the car the other day.”

  Dawn wanted to tell her that she didn’t want to spend more time with Blaine than she had to. She didn’t want to be in So G.I.F.T.E.D anymore because it would require her to sing onstage with and travel with Blaine. She enjoyed when he left home for days at a time. She wished he would do it more often.

  “I like singing at home to my children. I’m good,” Dawn said.

  “Well, anytime you want to, let me know. We’ll double-team Blaine and Akil.”

  Dawn laughed. “Why are you doing all this? Helping me work out, encouraging me to sing. Am I your pet project or something?”

  “No. You’re my first lady. I’m here to serve in whatever capacity you’ll have me.”

  “Right now, a friend is good enough.”

  “Okay, well you got me. Let’s go burn off this fat.”

  Dawn laughed. “Girl, you don’t have any fat.”

  “I know,” Kenya said. “I’m talking about yours.”

  Both women laughed as they walked to the car. Before Dawn got in on the passenger side, she said, “You know, I don’t think Blaine wants us to be friends. Maybe he thinks I’ll ask to be back in the group.”

  “Well, nobody cares what Blaine likes. This has nothing to do with him. He’s got armor bearers, deacons, ministers, and friends. He’s never alone. Why should you be?”

  CHAPTER 51

  Blaine sat in the dark inside Kenya’s condo, waiting for her to come home. He’d had the key since he bought the place for her, but he’d never used it. Had never needed to, because he was never there without Kenya being at his side.

  But he was waiting to confront her about her friendship with Dawn. He couldn’t figure out what she was trying to do, but no matter what it was she was about to cease and desist. She’d forgotten her place again. A sidepiece was not allowed to approach the wife for any reason whatsoever. It was just a courtesy to all parties.

  Kenya wasn’t being courteous at all by coming into his home to spend time with Dawn. In fact, she was being very rude.

  What Kenya was doing smelled like desperation, and Blaine didn’t understand that. It was obvious that he loved her and not Dawn. Kenya was spoiled with homes, cars, and anything she could ever want. All she was lacking was his last name.

  Finally the front door opened, signaling Kenya’s return. Blaine slowly rose from the couch so that he would be standing when she turned the lights on.

  Kenya turned the lights on and screamed when she saw Blaine standing in the middle of her living room.

  “Oh my God. You scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here? It’s a weeknight. Don’t you have a family to be getting home to?”

  “I don’t know what you’re doing, Kenya, but you need to stay away from Dawn.”

  “What? Why? I feel like we never really got to know each other since you had her kicked out of the group. We could’ve been friends.”

  “I didn’t have her kicked out. That was Camden. Royce suggested it, and he didn’t try to stop it.”

  “Well, that’s not what she thinks happened. I like her vers
ion better.”

  “If you try to tell her about us, I’ll deny it. It won’t get you what you want.”

  Kenya laughed. “You don’t even know what I want.”

  “I do. You want me. You want to be the first lady of my church.”

  Kenya stepped in close and stroked Blaine’s chest. “I want to be your wife. She’s in the way.”

  Blaine removed her hand. “I told you that I would handle it, in time. Stop being so impatient.”

  “That’s the thing, though. I don’t have very much time. I only have nine months.”

  Blaine shook his head and sat down, his legs suddenly feeling weak. “You’re not pregnant. Don’t tell me that you’re pregnant.”

  Blaine’s clothing felt too tight. He felt sweat gather under his collar. He was not going to be forced into a marriage again.

  Kenya burst into laughter. “You should see yourself, Blaine. Oh my God. You look like a doctor just said you have one week to live.”

  “You’re not pregnant?” Blaine asked.

  “No, dummy. I wouldn’t get pregnant by a married man. I’m not that stupid. But I do want to have your baby.”

  A huge flood of relief rushed over Blaine. He almost never wanted to have sex with Kenya again. Almost.

  “Don’t ever do that again, Kenya. That wasn’t funny.”

  “I’m sorry. It was funny to me.”

  “Let’s see how funny it is when I repossess all this stuff I’ve given you.”

  “Really, Blaine? I earned all of this. Don’t play with me.”

  “You’re the one playing games.”

  Kenya said, “Well, I actually like Dawn. She’s fun. We’ve been having a good time together. She’s sweet and she’s a great cook.”

  “Joke time is over. If you don’t stay away from Dawn, I’m cutting you off.”

  “Cut me off, and I’ll tell her all about us.”

  Blaine shook his head. “Dawn knows I’m not faithful to her. Go ahead and tell her. I’m calling your bluff. You’re not going to blackmail me.”

  And Blaine meant that. He’d rather deal with the aftermath of Dawn learning about Kenya than with bowing down to Kenya’s demands. Blaine believed that this was what his father would do. He would never let his mistress control the situation.

  “So that’s it?” Kenya said.

  “I’m done. I’ve said everything I need to say. If you love me like you say you do, you’ll leave Dawn out of this, and we can go on.”

  “I do love you, Blaine.”

  She wrapped her arms around Blaine’s neck and squeezed. Blaine wondered if his father would tell him to cut Kenya off after her stunt with Dawn. If Blaine didn’t love her so much, he probably would.

  CHAPTER 52

  “I think our personal trainer has a crush on you,” Kenya said as she and Dawn had mimosas at their favorite after-workout café.

  Dawn spat orange juice and champagne across the table from the force of her laughter. “Girl, stop,” she said. “I am always tore up from the floor up when he sees me. Sweaty, stanky, and with fat rolls plopping out of these spandex pants.”

  “I see the way he looks at you when you’re not looking,” Kenya said. “I mean, I know you’re not interested. I just thought you should know.”

  Dawn narrowed her eyes with disbelief. “You are silly. I think the last time a man looked at me and wanted me was that weekend in Miami when I got with Blaine.”

  Kenya shook her head. “Are you serious? I see men checking you out at church all the time. Why would you think that no one wants you?”

  Dawn had a husband who let her know every chance he got that he didn’t want her and that he didn’t think she was attractive. Maybe that was why she didn’t notice all these men Kenya noticed. Dawn chuckled. Maybe Kenya was delusional.

  “Honey, I don’t think about that at all,” Dawn said. “I’m married with three kids. Who cares if someone wants me?”

  “I guess you’re right, but I love when guys look at me. It makes all of this hard work worth it.”

  “Maybe when I get like you, I’ll feel the same way.”

  Kenya said, “I remember when I first met you. I thought you were fly. You must’ve had that special something extra.”

  “Something extra?”

  “Well, I heard that you are the only woman that had both Wilson boys in love with her.”

  Dawn took another sip of her drink to try to calm her nerves. No one had talked about Camden to her in years. It was like that chapter of her life had never happened. These five years with Blaine had erased her decade with Camden.

  “I don’t know if Camden was ever in love with me.”

  “But you loved him?”

  Dawn nodded. “I did. He was my first love. We dated for ten years.”

  “Well, you were right to move on,” Kenya said. “I love Camden to pieces, but ten years and no ring? He was tripping.”

  Dawn didn’t really feel comfortable rehashing this stuff with Kenya. She wanted to change the subject.

  “Yep, but that was a long time ago.”

  “It was, and you’ve been blessed with something better. I’m like you. If something isn’t right, I move on. Men think that they’re calling the shots, but we are. We can go without them far longer than they can go without us.”

  “That’s the truth,” Dawn said.

  “I have deal breakers in my relationships,” Kenya said. “If a guy cheats on me, hits me, or doesn’t want to go to work, he’s got to go.”

  Dawn thought about this. She didn’t know what her deal breakers were. She was sure Blaine cheated on her. He’d hit her more than one time. But he did take good care of her.

  “Those are good ones,” Dawn said. “No man will mistreat you.”

  Kenya reached across the table and squeezed Dawn’s hand. “No one should mistreat you either, honey.”

  “What do you mean?” Dawn asked as she snatched her arm away.

  “I hear how Blaine talks to you. I go on the road with him. I know what he does.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Blaine is not a good man. You deserve better.”

  Dawn took in every word that Kenya said. She asked herself if she wanted proof or if she could just believe Kenya at her word. Amber had dropped hints over the years, but gave nothing solid.

  “I’m not you, Kenya. I don’t know that I have deal breakers.”

  “You should,” Kenya said. “You don’t deserve to be treated badly.”

  Dawn shook her head sadly. Kenya just didn’t understand. Dawn had done the unforgivable to Camden. She wasn’t even sure if God had forgiven her, much less Camden. Dawn admired the women who were able to say what they wouldn’t take from their men. She wished she could have deal breakers too. But what Kenya didn’t know was that Dawn felt like she was in reaping season. She’d sown horrible seeds with Blaine, and her unhappiness was reaping.

  Dawn prayed that if she endured the pain, then maybe God would have mercy on her soul.

  CHAPTER 53

  Camden and Amber sat in the airport waiting in vain for the departure screen to show that their flight had been rescheduled. Stormy weather across Oklahoma and Texas had them grounded in Atlanta two days before Pastor Wilson’s anniversary dinner.

  “Maybe, it wasn’t meant for me to be there,” Camden said as he slid down farther into his seat.

  “Of course you’re meant to be there. It’s just a little weather. It’ll pass.”

  An elderly man sitting next to them said, “They say they’re expecting these storms to last for the entire weekend. Said something about a super tornado outbreak in Tornado Alley.”

  Camden had been monitoring those same weather reports, and was genuinely concerned that he wouldn’t be able to get home. He was anxious to see his mother, and even though he wouldn’t admit it, he wanted to see his two nephews and niece—especially B. J., who looked so much like his uncle.

  Amber made a phone call. “Yes, girl. We’re at the airport,
but ain’t no telling what time we’re getting out of here. How is the weather? … That bad, huh? Well, you know Dallas. It’ll be sunny again in five minutes. Even if we don’t make it in today, we’ll get there in plenty of time for the celebration…. Mmm-hmm…. Y’all driving in tomorrow? … Okay. See you in Dallas. Love you.”

  Camden looked at Amber and waited for an explanation.

  “Who was that?” Camden asked.

  “Oh. That was Dawn.”

  “You kept saying we. Did you tell her I was coming?”

  Amber nodded. “Yes, but she promised not to tell Blaine or your daddy. She’s happy you’re coming.”

  “Did you also tell her about us?”

  “No. Not yet. I … I don’t know how she’s going to react. I don’t know if she’ll be as thrilled as we are about our relationship.”

  Camden laughed. “Nah. She’s not gonna be thrilled at all. My mother mentioned that she’s paying for choosing Blaine. I know it’s wrong, but I don’t feel sorry for her.”

  “I do,” Amber said. “Blaine is a monster. He teases her about her weight, and he cheats on her. Akil always knows what he’s up to. I have to catch him in the act.”

  Camden frowned at the mention of Akil. He was another friend who’d chosen Blaine. He and Akil spoke so infrequently that Camden couldn’t still count him as a close friend. But Amber delivered Camden’s songs to the group. They didn’t need much contact.

  “Akil has always been ride or die for Blaine. His wingman for life. I don’t expect him to give you any details on Blaine’s shenanigans.”

  “I know. I just don’t want you to be mean to Dawn when you see her. She’s going through enough as it is.”

  “Not thinking about being mean to her. I just don’t plan on interacting with her.”

  “Okay, Camden.”

  Camden groaned when the departures screen changed and added another two hours to the departure time for their flight.

  “At least it’s not canceled,” Amber said.

  “Not yet.”

  “Don’t be so positive,” Amber said.

  Camden chuckled. “I can’t help it. I just have this feeling that something horrible is going to happen when I see my dad. Like he’s going to say something crazy to me, or I’m gonna end up punching Blaine in the face. I owe him that at least.”