My heart raced. “Try Mercedes Bannister,” I said, spelling each name.
The clerk shook her head.
“My wife was arrested two hours ago for trespassing. If she’s not here, where is she?”
The clerk stopped typing. “Hopefully she’s not there, but try Fulton County.”
CHAPTER 55
Devereaux
“I have some news for you, Devereaux.”
Etta sounded matter-of-fact as usual. Hadn’t seen nor heard from Phoenix since he’d stretched out in front of my car. Antonio told me we didn’t need a protective order; he had a license to carry a weapon. If Phoenix came near either of us, next time he wouldn’t be lucky. Antonio also refused to allow Nya or Sarah to visit with Etta after Phoenix’s stunt.
Being submissive to a man who protected my child and me, I didn’t want to deny Etta seeing her grandchild but Antonio was right. We were not putting our children in danger.
We needed Etta in our lives. Timing was bad. The one thing Phoenix was great at was fucking up other people’s lives.
“I’m finishing up set. Can I call you back in say, thirty minutes?”
I had to go over details for tomorrow’s shoot, pick up Nya from Sandara’s and drop her off at Mercedes, then get ready for a dinner date with Antonio.
“Hold on a moment, Mrs. Etta, I have an important call coming in.”
“No need to hold, dear, I wanted to let you know before you saw it on the news. I shot Phoenix in his ass. He’s at Grady.”
My mouth was wide open when she ended the call. Was she joking? If that was true, this was not funny at all.
I answered, “Hey, Mercedes. Glad you called. I’m running a lil—”
She interrupted, “Unless you want to bring my niece to visit me behind bars, I—”
My turn to stop her. “Where are you?” Was the moon full? No one would prank or double prank me.
“Long story. I don’t have Bing’s number memorized. Can you call and tell him I’m in Fulton County? Hurry,” she said, snapping her finger twice. “He needs to get here before I’m processed in.”
I grabbed my purse. “Fantastic job, everyone. Ebony, it’s like you never missed an episode.”
West-Léon gave me a quick hug. “Going to see my lady.”
Whatever Alexis had was worth cloning. “Give Domino a toe tap for me.” That was if he could get past those nannies Bing had hired.
Motioning for my director, I instructed him, “I need you to wrap up for me. Let’s meet a half hour early in the morning.”
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m good,” I lied, heading out of the building.
Getting in my car, I told Mercedes, “I’ll call Bing and I’m on my way.”
“Wait!” she yelled, making me slam on my brakes.
“What?!” I didn’t mean to yell. I took several deep breaths recalling the day I could’ve rolled over Phoenix and killed him. If suicide was his goal, it would be the one he’d come closest to accomplishing. Maybe he had some sort of death wish.
“Devereaux!”
Nervously, I screamed, “What?” nearly rear ending the car in front of me.
“Go to my house, and get my kids from Benjamin!”
“Okay. Okay. I’m on it.”
“I have to go. Hurry,” Mercedes said.
In transit to my sister’s house, I called Bing, realizing I’d left Etta on hold. I’d call her back when things settled.
Bing answered, “Hey, Devereaux. How’s it going?”
Exhaling, I told him, “Mercedes is in jail. She’s at—”
“My attorney is already on the case. When he’s done it’ll be like it never happened. She’ll be out within the hour.”
“But what happened?” I couldn’t imagine how scared Mercedes must’ve been. Her emotional trauma could never be expunged.
“Benjamin called Blake. Mercedes will be out shortly. And Benjamin. If he’s wise, he’ll never allow such a thing to happen to the mother of his children again.”
“Speaking of the twins, where—”
“They’re okay. They’re with us. You can come to your mother’s house. We need to have a family intervention for Mercedes.”
“I’m on my way,” I said, ending the call, then commanded my Bluetooth, “Call Antonio.”
“Hi, babe. We’re still on for seven?”
“I need to cancel. I have a family emergency.”
“Anything I can assist with?” he asked, calming my spirit.
“Can you pick up Nya from Sandara? I’ll come straight to your house after I leave my mom.”
“Babe, if no one is dead or in the hospital, we will get through this. Breathe. Take your time. I’m on my way to get our girl. Okay?”
A text registered from Sandara, Nya can stay here with Delvin and my kids. Bing just messaged me. I’m on my way to Mom’s.
Wow. “Yes. Okay.” I ended the call.
Talked a text to Sandara, Thanks but Antonio will get Nya.
Antonio restored my faith in men. If I hadn’t met Mercedes at Haven @1411 that day . . . I had to help my sister. “Family intervention,” Bing had said. That meant whatever Mercedes had done was worse than I’d imagined. I thought Mercedes was always the strongest of us all.
Maybe I was wrong.
CHAPTER 56
Blake
Family gatherings with Bing and me were becoming increasingly popular.
The circumstances could’ve been better. Before today, none of my girls had been arrested. I opened then closed my refrigerator. Decided catering was best.
I called BRIO on Peachtree. “Yes, I’d like to order for six adults.”
“That comes with our homemade chips,” she said, then asked, “Is that okay?”
“Ready when you are,” she said.
“Two of your roasted garlic and spinach artichoke dip, three spicy shrimp and eggplant, three lobster bisque, and four Caesar salads. That completes my order. What’s your delivery time?”
She told me an hour. That was perfect. I went upstairs, removed my navy dress, freshened up, changed into a basic pink cotton jumpsuit.
“Sweetheart, we’re here!” Bing called out from downstairs.
“Coming, babe!” Smearing on clear lip gloss, didn’t want my lips cracking. When I saw Mercedes, her eyes were devoid of any emotion. I held my child in my arms.
“Let it out,” I told her.
“I’m okay, Mother, really. I brought it on myself,” Mercedes said, breaking my hug.
Pouring three goblets of her favorite cabernet, I handed a glass to Mercedes, then one to Bing. I sat beside my daughter, sipped my wine twice, then placed the glass on the table.
“I’ll give you guys a few minutes alone. When the others arrive, I’ll come back,” Bing said, then retreated upstairs.
The pain on her face showed Mercedes was doing what she’d done since she was a child. She was suppressing her feelings. First Alexis and the baby. I prayed there wasn’t a fourth family tragedy. Definitely not the revelation of my secret to Ruby. My wedding was a few weeks away.
“I’ve been where you are, honey,” I told her.
“Bing already gave me that speech, Mother. And no, you have not. You were never married with children. You never had a husband who left you for another woman.” Exhaling in my face, she added, “I’m good, though.”
I insisted, “You’ve got to let him go.”
No one was there to protect me from the men I’d dated. Family and friends told me to leave. That wasn’t the same. Maybe if just one had held my hand the way I interlocked my fingers with Mercedes’s, I wouldn’t have stayed until I was used up by every black man I’d dated prior to Bing. One good man, unbeknownst to him, helped eradicate my anger.
I took her glass, sat it on the table next to mine. “Come here.” I wasn’t asking.
Embracing my child, I confessed, “I’ve done a lot of things that I was ashamed of. I had no shoulder to lean on when I had my two abortions
. I was barely out of high school supporting my boyfriend and his mother. I worked long hours to give you girls what I thought was my best. Cars. Clothes. College degrees. This is the first time in my life that I know what real love feels like. Benjamin wants to love you, baby, but like a lot of men . . .” I paused. Thought about Spencer. Continued, “They don’t know how. And for the ones who do, sometimes love is not enough because they need more than they have to give. You and Alexis are my alpha females. Devereaux and Sandara are beta. You need a strong man who’s not in competition with or intimidated by your dominant personality.”
Mercedes cried like I’d never heard. Between the sniffles, snorting, she asked, “Am I a bad person? No one likes me. I have no real friends. My sisters tolerate me. He watched them cuff me, Mama, like I was some sort of wild animal. He went back inside as though I were a stranger.” My baby gasped like her life depended on him.
“Get it all out. When you’re done shedding tears, Benjamin is going to regret, not leaving you, but how he left you,” I told her.
“He hates me—”
Sandara and Devereaux arrived on the tail end of Mercedes’s comment.
“Are you okay?” Sandara asked, sitting next to Mercedes.
Sandara hugged her sister, then started crying.
I stood, let Devereaux sit in my place.
Devereaux said, “I’m so sorry that happened to you. I love you so much. Next to Mother, you are the strongest woman I know. You helped me to see that Phoenix was no good. I’m here to return the favor with Benjamin.”
Sometimes there weren’t enough words in the dictionary that one could speak to show another person love. This was a time when no words were needed.
Alexis entered the living room empty-handed. Her nanny carried the baby that was hidden under a blanket. The second helper had a diaper bag and the portable diaper changing station Bing had bought her. She should thank Mercedes for paying for that after-delivery tummy tuck that Alexis was getting tomorrow. Motherhood agreed with this one more than the others.
“What’s all the tears for?” Alexis asked, sitting on the love seat.
“She was arrested,” Sandara retorted.
Alexis squinted an evil stare at Sandara, then retorted, “Exactly. Arrested. Not kidnapped. Not locked in a hotel room with some asshole selling her pussy to scumbags. Now you’re officially a bad-ass bitch, Mercedes. This is the best time to make Benjamin your bitch. I’ll help you.”
“Is that my baby girl making all that commotion?” Bing asked, coming down the stairs.
“Grandpoppa! You want to see your grandson?”
“Of course I do,” he said.
The nanny peeled back the blanket. Yes, indeed. That boy had Brandon’s plaid, blue, yellow, and white designer short set with monogrammed blue socks.
Domino looked at Bing. A quivering lip proceeded a cry.
“Don’t worry, Grandpoppa. He doesn’t get out much.”
I motioned to pick Domino up. Alexis blocked my hands. “Mother. Give him a few more months,” she said, then directed the nanny, “Cover him up then rock him. Don’t take him out of his carrier without my permission.”
Shaking my head, I told the nannies, “Follow me. Make yourselves comfortable in the family area. If you need anything please let me know.”
“No peeping, Mother!” Alexis yelled from the living room.
Change was difficult for some, impossible for others. The strongest of my girls was now the most vulnerable. In time, Mercedes’s heart would mend and I prayed she’d find true love like her sister Devereaux. Sandara had discovered the woman inside of her was most powerful now that she’d uncovered her passion for Delvin. No one was going to love Domino more than his mother, including James, Bing, Spencer, and me, combined.
Admiring all of my children, I was in a good space.
CHAPTER 57
Mercedes
Love was a decision.
Sometimes a woman made a man a better man for the next woman.
Awakening in the middle of my bed, I was not lonely. Wishing Benjamin and Arizona well relieved my heartache. I loved my husband the best way I knew. Finally accepted that deep inside I didn’t want him back.
Arizona wasn’t better than me. She was better for him. Devereaux and Antonio kept the twins while Benjamin moved all of his clothes from our house to hers. I didn’t survey what he’d taken. All material things were replaceable and some people were expendable.
I had what was most important.
“Good morning, Mommy,” Brandon said, kissing me on the cheek. “I made you some orange juice.” He placed the crystal glass on the nightstand beside my bed.
Sitting up, I gave him a hug. “Look at you,” I said, straightening his tie.
“You did not make it,” Brandy exclaimed.
“Did too!” my son lamented.
“You can’t make juice that comes out of a carton,” she explained.
“So what am I supposed to say? Mommy, I poured you some orange juice.”
She exhaled, put her hand on her hip. “Yes, silly. Why do you have to claim you did something you did not do? Mom, tell him I’m right.”
My forever-correcting-others, nothing-was-ever-my-fault daughter’s condescending tone reminded me of when I was her age.
I was unconsciously raising my son to bow down to girls. “Your brother is right. He made the effort to make me this juice.” I swallowed a sip, then told Brandon, “Thank you, son.”
“Ugh!” Brandy shook her arms toward the ceiling. “We’ll settle this at school with the teacher.”
Watching her turn away, sternly I told her, “Come back here, lil lady.”
Toot! Toot! Benjamin’s horn indicated he was here to pick up the twins for school.
Her eyes bulged in protest. “Daddy is here!”
“If you take one more step, girl, you will be . . .” I paused, picked up my daughter, sat her on my lap. “Boys are as smart as girls. Sometimes you have to find a way to compliment your brother. There’s nothing wrong with encouraging him and others,” I said, wishing someone had told me that when I was in kindergarten.
“You mean the way you compliment Daddy?” she asked.
I refused to debate with a five-year-old. “I love you, sweetheart. Be nice to your brother and your father. Go. I’ll see you after school.”
She hopped off my lap, raced out the door.
Brandon waited for me to put on my robe. I wanted to avoid seeing Benjamin’s face. Had to confront him later. We’d agreed to meet with our attorneys in hopes of amicably dissolving our marriage.
“Brandon.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“If your sister bosses you today, stand up for yourself.” I kissed my son.
“Brandon! Let’s go!” Brandy yelled up the stairs.
“I like it,” he said. Quickly hugging me, he whispered as though he didn’t want Brandy to hear, “I love you, Mom. Hope you feel better. Bye.”
Picking up my cell, I had five new text messages from my sisters, Mom, and Bing sending inspiring notes.
Mom texted, I’ll pick you up in an hour.
Bing let me know, My lawyer will speak for you. Anything you have to say, whisper in his ear. Shield your mouth before you speak. You’ll be fine. See you and the kids for dinner tonight.
Bet he hadn’t imagined dealing with our family problems.
I showered, put on a white, form-fitting sleeveless dress that stopped right above my knees. Smeared on a mocha matte lipstick, pulled my hair back. Staring in the mirror, a very conservative married woman reflected.
Snatching the band from the neat afro bun, I bent over, fluffed my hair, stood, fluffed my hair over my shoulders, then put on my black-framed designer sunglasses. I removed my wedding rings, placed them inside the box. Dropped the box in my purse. Stepping into my four-inch mocha pumps, I switched my personal items (including the ring) to a new white Dior purse I’d bought two years ago.
Mother was in her red Ferrari. “You
look gorgeous,” she said as I fastened my seat belt.
“I need to get me one of these,” I told her, then laughed.
“Bing is way ahead of you. How are you feeling?” she asked.
“I’m good” were my last words until we arrived at the courthouse.
Seated across the table, with my mother and attorney, Benjamin, his lawyer, and Arizona, faced us. My mother’s hand was under the table on my knee. I sat directly in front of my husband, and between my mom and Bing’s lawyer.
“Let’s start, shall we,” Benjamin’s representative led. “Since Mrs. Crystal has an arrest record, we’ve concluded it’s in the best interest for my client to be awarded sole legal and physical custody of the twins with supervised visitation for Mrs. Crystal until after the ruling.”
My mother patted my thigh. I sat quietly. No expression. I was truly done with exerting emotions for a man who had stuck a knife in my back that severed my heart.
Directing his attention toward me, he continued, “And, he’d like the residence sold and the proceeds shared seventy-five percent for him since he’ll have the children and a more than generous twenty-five percent for Mrs. Crystal. Hopefully, you’ll spare yourself the embarrassment of going before a judge by not objecting.”
Arizona sat beside my husband as though she was his wife and I was the mistress.
Placing my hand over my mouth, I whispered in my lawyer’s ear. He looked at me. “You’re sure?”
I nodded.
My lawyer responded to Benjamin’s attorney. “First, I recommend you do a better job of fact checking before misrepresenting your client. Mrs. Crystal does not have an arrest record.”
“You’re right,” Arizona interjected. “I dropped the charges against her for trespassing into my home so she could raise her children.”
Addressing Arizona, my attorney said, “This is not the time or place for you to speak. Mrs. Crystal can sue you.”
I could? Definitely had to gain insight on the basis.
He asked me, “Would you like to have her removed from the room?”
I shook my head. If Benjamin was dumb enough to bring her for support, I’d let her stay. At least she had sense not to follow through on her charge.
The One I've Waited For Page 26
