by Pat Tucker
“What’s up?”
“You in the building?” Bill asked. “I was just about to call you.”
“Yeah, in my office. Why? You here?” Riley asked.
“Okay, bet that. I’m upstairs, but I’ll be there in ten.”
In the time it took Bill to come down to Riley’s office, Riley had gone back and forth over whether he should discuss his concerns with his friend.
He couldn’t remember a time when he had been so insecure and indecisive. What the hell was happening?
“Bill is here to see you,” Riley’s assistant’s voice announced through the speaker on his phone.
“Send him in.”
“Aey, Dawg,” Bill greeted.
The two bumped fists and managed a half-hug.
“So, when you coming back to work?” Riley asked.
“We’re still working out some details, but it’s looking good, real good, Man. What’s up with you?”
“Gotta head out to Oklahoma City in a couple of weeks,” Riley said.
“Damn, why you sound like that about it, Bruh?”
“Here you go with all these damn feelings again,” Riley complained. “When you gonna let that go?”
CHAPTER
31
“He is single-handedly changing my view of men. I mean, he’s everything Bill was not. Do you know we even talk about other women?”
Leela was bored. All Samantha had been doing the whole time they were at lunch, as they ate, and now afterward, was talk about Kent and how wonderful he was. She was glad that her girl had found someone who had restored her faith in the opposite sex, but did they always have to talk about him?
“Okay, okay, can you look any less interested in my conversation?” Samantha stopped and suddenly asked.
“Oh, no. It’s not that. I’m worried; that’s all. If it’s not problems with Big Mama, it’s problems with Riley. I swear, I’m glad Kent is everything you’ve ever wanted in a man. I promise I am interested, because I can remember several months ago when you had me worried.”
“Worried about what?”
“Don’t you remember? All that talk about how marriage didn’t make sense and how people shouldn’t expect to stay together until death.”
“Oh, yeah. I do remember all of that. And I still agree to a certain point, but I guess what I should have said is, it takes two people who are right for each other to make it work,” Samantha admitted.
Leela nearly fell from her chair. She wasn’t about to remind Samantha of all the crazy things she’d said back then. But it was almost like a completely different woman was talking now. Or that’s what she thought until after a moment of silence, Samantha started up again.
“Actually. My position hasn’t really changed. I still feel like marriages like your grandparents will soon be a thing of the past. Gone are the years when people get married to their high school sweetheart and they remain happily married until their golden years and beyond.”
Leela raised an eyebrow.
“Hear me out. You’ve seen TV shows when the couple is old and have been married for many, many years.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you ever notice how grumpy they are? Often the man can’t find a single nice thing to say about his wife; the wife is frustrated, has long lost that loving feeling, is tired of picking up behind him and she’s exhausted.”
Leela’s head tilted ever so slightly.
“Leela, they’re miserable, and in most cases, they’ve made most people around them miserable too. I’m not saying that’s the case with all of the couples, but for the majority of them, it is. Now, if those same people looked at each other, ten, maybe even fifteen years in and decided they no longer made each other happy being together, they could’ve gone their separate ways and still remained friends.”
Samantha shrugged and clapped her hands as if to say she’s finished and proven her point. “However, I will say I enjoy my time with Kent, and he makes me happy. Now, for as long as I make him happy and he’s happy with me, we’ll see where it goes.”
“Maybe marriage one day?” Leela asked cautiously.
“Nah. Not my cup of tea. I won’t say I’ll never do it again, but I can say I’m not looking for happily ever after forever.” Samantha smiled. “But, I do think we might be the right combination.”
They had finished lunch and were just talking. Leela felt like Samantha looked happy, so maybe she was on to something. Maybe it did take the right combination to make the difference in marriage.
The more she thought about it, the more she wondered whether she and Riley had ever been the right combination. She also thought about what life would be like if she was married to Malone instead.
“Will you ladies be needing anything else? Dessert maybe?” the waiter asked.
“None for me,” Samantha quickly responded.
“Me either,” Leela added.
The waiter removed the check from his apron and placed it on the table. “Whenever you’re ready,” he said and walked away.
After he left, Leela leaned in and whispered, “I’ve got a major problem, and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Oh, what’s wrong? And here I am blabbing on and on about me and Kent and everything that’s so wonderful, and you’ve got something going on. I’m sorry, Sweetness,” Samantha said.
They burst out laughing.
“You need to quit,” Leela said. “I’m being serious.”
“Okay, Honey. I’m sorry. What’s the problem?”
“I think I’m falling in love with another man.”
Samantha’s eyes grew wide.
“See, why you gotta be so silly? I’m being serious!”
“I’m not being silly. I’m really stunned. I’m stunned that you finally admitted it.”
Leela smiled awkwardly. That’s exactly what she had done. She’d finally admitted aloud what she had known for quite some time. The problem was, she didn’t feel like there was much she could do about her problem.
Samantha reached for her hand across the table. “Don’t worry, Sweetness, admitting the problem is the first step toward a solution.”
Despite what her love-struck friend said, Leela knew there was no amicable solution to her problem. Riley would blow a gasket if he ever thought she was interested in another man. Free Friday or not, she knew her husband and what he would or would not tolerate.
“We should do something special for the next Free Friday,” Samantha suggested.
Leela rolled her eyes. That’s what had gotten her into trouble in the first damn place.
“And let me guess, by something special, you mean the four of us on a double-date,” Leela said.
Samantha pursed her lips, but Leela was still able to see the smile that lingered on her face. “Listen, I believe in the right combination. And I know you don’t wanna hear this, but Malone and you…that’s a good strong combination.”
That wasn’t what Leela wanted to hear. Regardless of whether it was true, it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
• • •
The days seemed to pass in a flash. Leela carried her secret as she went about her daily routine, and for the most part, life seemed normal.
Throughout the day, she’d get loving text messages on her phone from Mary, and they always brought a smile to her face. Then by the time her day ended, she felt like she had to drag herself home to Riley.
Once there, she never really knew what to expect. Riley’s behavior had gone through so many changes, Leela felt like each evening was an experience with a new man.
“Hey, I need to go out of town on business next week,” he said once she walked in and found him in the kitchen.
“Okay. Where are you going?”
“Oklahoma City. I’ll be gone Wednesday through Friday.”
“Okay, thanks for letting me know.”
“Oh, and I picked up Chinese food; had a yen for it.”
Leela nodded as she watched him put food in a glass dish. “
I’m gonna go change and clean up before I eat.”
When she left the kitchen, he was stuffing his face, and she didn’t know if he even heard what she’d said.
Thoughts of Malone were never far from her mind. At this point, Leela felt like she and Riley were simply going through the motions. She thought about the conversation she’d had with Big Mama. Her grandmother had been faithful and devoted to her grandfather all those years and look at what she got.
Life was too short to second-guess something as important as the person you’re sharing it with. The things that she hated most about Riley were nothing new; he hadn’t changed. But maybe she had. She used to think of his bossy ways as a sign of his affection, but at times it felt like it was borderline abuse.
Before Malone came along, she hadn’t thought about a relationship where she was treated as an equal. Now, she was scrutinizing everything about her life with Riley.
Leela took a hot shower and fantasized about being with Malone. After the shower, she changed into lounge wear and returned to the kitchen.
Everything was dark. Her husband must’ve been tucked away in his cave watching a game. Once she flicked on the light, she pulled out the containers and fixed herself a plate.
“Isn’t it a little late for you to be eating?”
Leela’s head whipped around to her husband. He was putting a beer bottle into the recycling bin and pulling the refrigerator door open. He dipped into the ice box and pulled out another beer. “What took you so long to make it home anyway?”
“Was I late or something?”
She knew what he thought before he verbalized it.
“When did you start doing shit just because you know it bothers me?”
Leela’s forehead wrinkled at his accusation. She wasn’t sure how to respond because the last thing she wanted was a fight. “The ‘answer a question with a question’ thing?”
“It’s not just that. Something is going on with you. It’s like you’re starting to smell yourself, like the old people would say.”
His comment stung.
“I’m hungry, so I’m gonna finish eating before my food gets cold.”
“When was the last time we had sex?”
Leela nearly choked on the forkful she’d placed in her mouth.
It must’ve been a rhetorical question because Riley snapped the cap from his bottle and took a swig as he walked out of the kitchen. He didn’t wait for an answer, nor did he wait to see if anything was caught in his wife’s throat.
CHAPTER
32
“This is an emergency and I need you to drop whatever you’re doing and come meet me at Big Mama’s apartment now!”
The demand from her mother didn’t instantly sound an alarm with Leela. She was sick and tired of everyone pushing her around. It didn’t matter whether she was at home, at the office, or on the phone with relatives, just about everyone in her life felt like they could pass out marching orders, and she should get to stepping. Leela was fed up.
“Mom, I need you to calm down.” Leela felt the calmer she remained, the more likely her mother would follow her lead. But she should’ve known better. Linda always exploded without any concern for others.
“Calm down, hell! She has lost all of her common sense and I’m not gonna stand for it. You’d better make your way over there or I swear for God, somebody is going to jail today!”
Leela hated when Linda huffed and made all kinds of threats when she didn’t get her way. Her mother needed a man! That’s exactly what she needed. If she had a man of her own, maybe she wouldn’t be so stressed and wound so tightly all the time.
“Mom,” Leela called into the phone again.
When she realized Linda had hung up, she finished the email she was typing, then hit the buzzer that connected her to her assistant.
“Hey, something has come up. I need to take off early. Please let anyone who’s looking for me know I can be reached on my cell until five.”
“Okay. Is everything all right?”
“Yes. It’s my grandmother again. Thanks for asking.”
Leela left the office and strolled out to her car. She knew she probably needed to be a bit more concerned than she was, but her mother was a drama queen, with a knack for exaggerating.
By the time she got behind the wheel and left the parking lot, Linda had already called back three times. Leela wanted to remind her that she was the one who had hung up the phone, but she knew not to add any fuel when Linda was hot.
“Where are you?” Linda barked into the phone.
“I’m on my way. Now, do you care to tell me what’s going on?”
“Oh, I’ll tell you all right. What’s going on is somebody is about to go to jail. I’m sick of this mess. Big Mama is over here talking like she done forgot what that bastard did, and I’m not about to sit by and let that happen.”
Leela blew out a breath. She should’ve known, but she decided she’d remain calm and try to hold Linda on the phone for as long as possible. There was no need for anyone to go to jail.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Leela pulled up at her grandmother’s complex and was shocked to see her mother pacing back and forth in the parking lot. For all of the talking Linda had done, she thought she’d been inside the apartment with Big Mama, and in need of physical restraint.
“Hey, Ma, what’s going on?” Leela asked as she approached. She intentionally kept her tone calm and soft.
Linda looked exasperated. She put out the cigarette she was puffing on, and blew out a plume of smoke. She had stopped smoking too many times to count.
“Chile, wait until you hear this one! I swear, some women make me wanna…ugh!”
Without much of an explanation, Linda all but dragged Leela up to Big Mama’s apartment, where she burst into the place without knocking on the front door.
“Okay, now, tell her what you told me,” Linda challenged Big Mama.
Beverly sighed and put down the glass she had washed at the sink. She walked around to the front of the counter and wiped her hands on a dish cloth.
“Why did you drag this chile over here?” Beverly looked at Leela. “You didn’t have to work today?”
Leela looked at her mother, then back at her grandmother. “I was at work when she called me, going ballistic, so I left work early and rushed over.”
Linda’s eyes darted around the apartment like she was looking for something. It wasn’t until the toilet flushed that Leela realized they weren’t alone. All eyes turned toward the hall when the bathroom door opened.
Linda threw her arms up in the air and huffed loudly. “Tell her!” she screamed at her mother.
“Tell me what?” Leela asked.
“Your mother is upset because I’ve decided to let your grandfather move in here.”
Linda threw her hands to her hips and started tapping one foot. Now the focus was on Leela. Leela was a bit surprised, but she wasn’t all torn up like her mother. She actually thought it made sense. The two had been married for more than fifty years. Apart, they simply weren’t any good. Since the two had reconciled, Big Mama hadn’t been back to the hospital.
“And what do you want me to do about this?” Leela asked her mother. She still spoke calmly.
“You, we, somebody needs to talk some sense into her! That no-good bastard can’t live here!”
Suddenly, something happened that no one expected. Linda broke down and cried. While Leela and Big Mama were too stunned to move, it was her grandfather who walked over and took his daughter into his arms. He held her like she was a little child.
“Baby, I am so sorry. I am sorry for hurting you, hurting our family and letting you down. I know I have hurt you, and if I knew how to make any of that pain go away, I would’ve made it vanish a long time ago.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the apartment.
• • •
Normally, Leela would have rushed to call Riley and tell him everything that happened at her grandmother’s house. But as she w
alked to the car and ended one of the most emotional days she’d experienced, she found herself desperate to get Malone on the phone.
“Oh, Sweetness, she’s been hurting and she didn’t know what to do with her pain, that’s all,” Malone said.
“Yeah, but you’d have to know my mother to know how absolutely out of character that was for her. She’s the one who has always told everyone else what to do. She’s bullied us for so long, we just thought she was the strongest.”
“Well, even the strongest take a fall,” he said. “We’re vulnerable too.”
Leela knew he was right. It was good to see her mother finally talking to her grandfather. The relationship between the two was finally on a path of mending.
“So, Sweetness, do you have to rush back home?”
The thought never crossed her mind until he asked. Excitement flushed through her veins. There was something so enticing about doing what she knew was wrong. She’d been drawn to trouble like it was second nature.
“Not really. Why? What’d you have in mind?”
“We can meet somewhere for a little while, maybe just to have a quick drink? I just want to see you.”
He was so sweet.
“Okay, let’s meet somewhere. Where do you think?”
“You’ve gotta go back to Katy, so we can meet somewhere along I-10. That way, you’ll be closer to home. There’s a Chili’s over there, Pappasito’s, or we can pick a parking lot. Let me know.”
Nearly an hour later, the windows inside Leela’s car were fogged up like that of two teenagers parked at Lover’s Lane.
She couldn’t control her breathing, and Malone couldn’t keep his hands off of her.
“How much time do you have?” he asked in between two hot, steamy kisses.
“I don’t know. I’m not really on a time schedule, but I don’t want to raise any flags, either.”
“Yes. That’s smart. But I was thinking maybe we could go get a room for a couple of hours.”
Leela’s expression told him all he needed to know.
