Becoming Mrs. Right

by Sherri L. Lewis

  She crossed over the freeway and was almost at South Dekalb Mall near the turn to Sherice’s apartment when she heard it.

  Police sirens.

  They had gotten her. Had Cassandra chased her in the parking lot and got Sherice’s tag numbers? Or were they catching her for speeding? Shauntae’s heart beat faster and faster as the sirens got closer and closer.

  “God, please don’t let me go to jail. I can’t have my baby in jail.”

  Shauntae started to speed up, but did she really think she could outrun the police in Sherice’s old, beat-up car? Everybody else had pulled over and the flashing blue lights were right in her rearview mirror. It was over and she was caught. She and her baby were going to jail.

  Tears filled Shauntae’s eyes as she pulled over to surrender. “Sorry, li’l baby. Mama’s so sorry. I promise as soon as you’re born, I’ll give you to Gary and Darla and you won’t have to worry about growing up with no crazy, bad mama.”

  Instead of the blue lights pulling behind her like she expected, they sped by. Behind that police car was another police car and behind it was a fire rescue truck. They all sped by her like they didn’t know she was Atlanta’s Most Wanted.

  Shauntae let out a deep breath and more tears flowed. “Oh my God. Thank you, God. Oh my God.” For the first time in her life, God had answered one of her prayers.

  Shauntae pulled into the Big Lots parking lot and sat in the car for a few minutes, laughing, crying, and talking to the baby. “Li’l baby, we ain’t going to jail.”

  She got herself together for a few minutes and then pulled back out on Candler Road. She got to Sherice’s place and sat in the parking lot for a few minutes.

  It was like Sherice was always saying. She had overreacted. Cassandra didn’t recognize her. It was dark. She wasn’t paying attention because she was on the phone. Cassandra had only met her twice and it had been awhile. And for real, Devon had probably taken Shauntae’s picture off Brianna’s wall years ago.

  The police weren’t after her. She was safe. Shauntae let out a deep breath. Everything was okay and she wasn’t going to jail. Her only problem now was that she was still starving. God had saved her once and she wasn’t gonna chance it by trying to go out for food. She would have to eat one of Sherice’s TV dinners.

  Shauntae was about to get out of the car when she heard her phone buzzing. She wasn’t in the mood for Gary’s begging and apologizing. Now that she was back at Sherice’s, she could turn it off.

  Just as she was about to turn the phone off, she saw the name on the caller ID.

  It was Devon.

  Twenty-five

  Shauntae’s hand shook as she held the phone. She couldn’t answer. It stopped ringing. Cassandra had seen her. She had recognized her. They knew she was back in Atlanta. She was busted.

  Seconds later, the phone started ringing again. This time she made herself answer it. “Hello, Devon.” She tried to keep her voice from shaking.

  “Please tell me that Cassandra just saw somebody who looks like you and not you. Please tell me that you’re still in California and not back here in Atlanta. Please, Shauntae.”

  She couldn’t answer.

  “Shauntae!”

  “Devon, let me explain. Please.”

  “So it was you? You are back in Atlanta?”

  “Please, wait—”

  His voice exploded through the phone. “I told you what would happen if you ever came near Brianna again. I told you I wasn’t lifting the arrest warrant. I swear if you so much as come near her—”

  “Devon, please. I’m begging you. Please listen to me for once.” Shauntae started crying. It must have surprised Devon. He was used to her cussing, not crying.

  He was silent for a few moments and then when he did speak, his voice was still tight, but not loud. “I’m listening. But this better be good.”

  Shauntae started talking fast. “It’s like I told you. I’m pregnant. I live with my baby’s father in Sandy Springs. We’re going to get married soon. The only reason I’m on this side of town is because I came to visit Sherice. I haven’t been over here since I got back. Well, once, when I first got back, but not since then. I promise I’m not back here to get in your pockets or to hurt Brianna. I’m trying to get my life right. Please, you have to give me a chance.”

  He didn’t say anything, so she kept pleading.

  “I’m a different person now. I’m trying to do better and live better and be a better person. I promise, if you and Cassandra will give me a chance, I promise you’ll see. “

  Devon let out a deep breath. “What if instead of running into Cassandra, you had run into me and Brianna? We were in the same store. Brianna’s happy and doing really well. What do you think it would do to her if she saw you right now? Do you ever even think about stuff like that?”

  “I saw you. And I saw her. And I hid because I didn’t want to do that to her. I do think about stuff like that now. With this new baby, I think about it all the time. I know I was a horrible mother, Devon. I’m sorry for everything I ever did to Brianna. I’m sorry for everything I ever did to you. Please, you have to believe me.” Shauntae was using her best Angela Bassett English. She had to make Devon believe she had changed.

  “Why should I believe you? After everything—”

  “You shouldn’t believe me. I’ve never given you a reason to. I’m begging you . . .” She added, “I’m begging you in Jesus’ name.”

  “In Jesus’ name?” Devon laughed. “Seriously? You’ll try anything won’t you? You think you can get at me by bringing God into it?”

  “It’s not like that. I swear. Why can’t you believe that I’m trying to change? If Jesus is willing to give me a second chance, why can’t you?”

  Shauntae couldn’t believe she had said that. Did she really believe the message from church that Sunday? And Dr. Murray and Gary? Would Jesus really give her a second chance and forget about all the bad junk she had ever done?

  When Devon spoke, his voice wasn’t as tight. “So you’re a Christian now?”

  Shauntae wasn’t sure how to answer that. “I . . . I don’t know. I ain’t . . .” She caught herself. “I haven’t ever been to the altar and I haven’t been baptized. But I talk to God sometimes. And I think about Him. And lately, I think He’s been trying to talk to me. I ain’t . . . I’m not saying I’m saved or a Christian or that I’m perfect. But I’m trying. That’s all I can do. Please give me a chance.”

  He let out a frustrated breath. She knew he wanted to be mean, but Devon didn’t have a mean bone in his body. “How can I trust that you won’t come near Brianna or hurt her again? If I give you a chance and you hurt Brianna again, then I’m a bad father. I can’t risk you hurting her. She could have died, Shauntae. Do you know that?”

  Shauntae started crying again. “I know that. I’m sorry.”

  “Then how do I know that you won’t hurt her again?”

  Shauntae sniffed and wiped the tears off her face. “Because I know stuff now. I know that I was a bad mama because my mama was a bad mama. If my mama had been a good person like Cassandra, and my stepfather woulda been a good father like you, I wouldn’t be all messed up like I am. And I want Brianna to have that. A good mama and a good daddy and a good life. You can believe that I won’t come around Brianna again ’cause I know she needs something better than me. I was a horrible mama and I don’t want to mess up her life by being around her.”

  Devon didn’t say nothing so Shauntae kept talking. “Remember that day you came to my house and you asked me what kinda life I wanted for Brianna? I know what you was saying now. She could be anything. Look at the way she always singing and dancing. She could be a big, famous star one day. As smart as she is, she can be anything she want to be. And her best chance is if I stay away.” One tear ran down Shauntae’s cheek. “I know that now. That’s why you can believe me.”

  It took a few seconds before Devon finally spoke. His voice was quiet. “I don’t know. You have to let me think
about this. I’m not trying to hurt you. All I want is what’s best for Brianna.”

  “Me too, Devon. Me too.”

  “I’ll call you in a few days and let you know what I decide about lifting the warrant.”

  “Okay.” Shauntae started crying again. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  When they hung up, Shauntae dropped the phone in her purse and laid her head back on the headrest. “God, please. Please let him lift that warrant.”

  Twenty-six

  By the time Shauntae stumbled up Sherice’s steps, all she wanted was a chicken potpie and a decent night’s sleep on the couch, floor, wherever, whatever. She used Sherice’s key to open the door and walked straight to the freezer.

  “I thought you went to get something to eat. Why you all up in my freezer?”

  Shauntae turned to answer Sherice. “You have no idea what I just went through.”

  She must have looked a mess from all the crying and stuff. Sherice turned off the TV and came into the kitchen. “What’s wrong wit’ you?”

  Shauntae sat down in the chair Sherice kept in the kitchen to do hair and explained the whole incident up to the last words between her and Devon on the phone.

  “You said all that? Girl, you was working it. All you want is what’s best for Brianna? You might be a hustler after all.”

  “I meant everything I said. I wasn’t running game. Brianna is better off with him and Cassandra.”

  “Whatever. Anyway, we got to go.” She walked to the front door and yelled out, “Tyrel, come over to my place. I need your help.”

  He yelled back, “For what?”

  “Boy, if you don’t get over here . . .” Sherice marched back to the bedroom and came back out lugging one of Shauntae’s heavy bags.

  “What you doing?”

  Sherice gave her a crazy look. “What you think?” She went back into the bedroom and came out with the other bag. As she set it down, Tyrel appeared at the door.

  “Take these bags back down to the car for me.” She handed him the keys.

  He looked at her like she was crazy. “I just brought ’em up here.”

  Sherice put a hand on her hip. “And now you can take them back.”

  Shauntae stood up. “Wait a minute. Why you sending my bags back to the car?”

  Tyrel stopped and looked at Sherice to see whether he should take them. She gave him a glare and pointed toward the door.

  Tyrel mumbled while he picked up the bags. “Y’all act like these bags ain’t heavy. Women be trippin’. Can’t ever make up they minds.” He disappeared through the apartment door.

  “We gotta go,” Sherice said. “You can’t stay here tonight. Devon knows you’re at my house and like you said, Cassandra might have seen my license plates. The police could get here any minute.”

  “But Devon said he was thinking about lifting the warrant.”

  “Exactly. Thinking about it. What do you think is gonna happen when he gets off the phone and talks to Cassandra? You think she’s gonna say, ‘Okay, Devon, you should lift the warrant’? No, that trick is coming after you. We gotta go.”

  Shauntae fell back into the chair and whined, “But I’m so hungry.”

  “Heffa, I ain’t foolin’ wit’ you.” Sherice picked up the phone and dialed a number. A few seconds later she said, “Girl, Shauntae done caught herself some serious trouble. We on our way over. Heat up some food. This baby got her hungry.”

  She hung up the phone and grabbed Shauntae’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  They pulled up at Candy’s house fifteen minutes later. Candy’s life was in a much better state than Shauntae’s and Sherice’s. Her grandmother, who had raised her, had left Candy a house when she died. It was paid for and all Candy had to do was keep up the taxes. It wasn’t a mansion or anything, but it was a cute little three-bedroom house in a nicer neighborhood than Sherice’s.

  As soon as they walked in Candy’s house, Shauntae could smell some good spices and what smelled like beef. Her stomach gurgled. “What you done cooked? That smell good. I’m so hungry.”

  “Y’all got good timing. I made some beef stroganoff.”

  “I don’t know what that is, but I’d eat anything right about now.” Shauntae clutched her stomach.

  They followed Candy to the table. She dished Shauntae up a plate and Candy and Sherice sat there and watched her shovel food into her mouth for a few minutes.

  “Dang, heffa. Slow down. It ain’t going nowhere,” Sherice said.

  Candy asked, “So what happened?”

  Sherice ran down the whole story while Shauntae ate mouthful after mouthful of the beef with the best tasting sauce, roasted potatoes, and sautéed vegetables. Candy really can cook like them people on the Cooking Channel.

  After Shauntae had eaten a little bit, she started interjecting into Sherice’s story. “I didn’t tell him I was a Christian. I told him I been thinking about God lately.”

  “And then she played him by talking this mess about how Brianna would be better off with him and Cassandra as parents. Was talking about how she a bad mama ’cause her mama was a bad mama. I’m telling you, Shauntae played him good. If Cassandra don’t see through it, he may even lift that warrant. Our girl finally learned a little sump’n.”

  Shauntae was too tired to try to make Candy understand that she wasn’t running game on Devon. She kept eating her food until her plate was clean.

  “So what you gon’ do now?” Candy asked.

  Sherice didn’t give her a chance to answer. “This crazy girl talking some mess about the three of us opening a salon. Like she got the stacks to do that kinda stuff.”

  Candy looked at Shauntae. “For real? That would be nice.”

  Sherice rolled her eyes. “Don’t be encouraging her with no stupid dreams that ain’t ever gonna happen. Y’all don’t know nothing about starting a business. It take a lot of money and a lot of smarts. Shauntae need to go back to her mansion in Sandy Springs. Until Gary and the ex-witch actually say ‘I do’ she need to stay there and milk it as long as she can.”

  After her crazy day and now with the warm food sitting in her stomach, all Shauntae wanted to do was go to sleep.

  Candy asked her, “You really think he’s gonna get married to her again? Did he actually say that?”

  “No. He’s been texting me all day saying he’s sorry and begging me to come home and telling me he’s worried about me and the baby.”

  Both Sherice and Candy’s eyes bugged out. Sherice said, “You ain’t told me all that. So take your tail home, heffa. You done made him beg. What more do you want?”

  Candy picked up Shauntae’s plate and took it to the sink. She brought Shauntae a thick slice of cheesecake—not the kind made from a box either.

  Sherice looked at Shauntae’s plate. “Where’s mine?”

  Candy brought her a slice. “For real, why you at my house when the man is begging you to come home? You welcome to stay a few days, but if it was me, I would be in the mansion.” She and Sherice slapped hands.

  Sherice took a bit bite of cheesecake and closed her eyes and moaned. “Candy, I don’t know why you ain’t got no man. You keep cooking like this and I’m gon’ marry you myself.”

  Candy laughed.

  Sherice pointed her fork at Shauntae. “You might be right about the way you handling Gary. Maybe you do need to stay here for a couple of days.”

  “That’s crazy,” Candy said. “Stay here when he’s begging her to come back?”

  “Shauntae wants him to do more than beg her to come back. She wants the ring and the marriage and the car and the credit card. And this is how you gon’ do it. Candy, get me some paper.”

  Shauntae laid her head on the table. “I don’t feel like it, Sherice. I’m tired and I want to go to bed.”

  “Heffa, I’m trying to get you set for life.” She took the pen Candy brought her and said, “Eat some cheesecake and listen up. I got a plan.”

  Twenty-seven

  Shauntae woke up t
he next morning feeling better. After all the drama and Sherice’s scheming last night, Shauntae had been exhausted. And even though the mattress in Candy’s guest room seemed like it was twenty years old, she had found a comfortable enough spot at the bottom and slept.

  She woke up to the fluttering in her stomach. “Good morning, li’l baby. How you doin’?” She sat up in bed and stretched. Almost as soon as she got up, the phone started vibrating. She knew it was Gary.

  The whole time Sherice was spilling her plan last night, Shauntae’s stomach was feeling that sick feeling. At first, she thought it was from eating Candy’s food real fast after starving all day. But now she was waking up with that sick feeling. She knew it was because Sherice’s plan was full of lies. She didn’t want to add a new set of lies to the ones she had already told.

  At the same time, she had to do something. After counting her money last night, she realized how serious her situation was. After she spent her last, what could she do? She would run this last hustle and then maybe her life would change to the point where she wouldn’t have to do it ever again.

  The next time the phone vibrated, Shauntae got up to get it, even though she wasn’t ready to answer it. When it stopped ringing, she saw eight missed calls and five text messages. All the messages were pretty much the same—I’m sorry, let me make it up to you, come home.

  She had to smile a little bit. Gary was really sweating her.

  She sat on the bed and got her mind together while she waited for the phone to ring again. If she was gon’ do Sherice’s plan, she needed to do it well. She hoped the stomach pain wouldn’t kill her before it was all over.

  A few minutes later, the phone vibrated. Shauntae took a deep breath and answered it. “Good morning, Gary.”

  “Shauntae, you answered.” His voice sounded raggedy. Shauntae wondered if he had slept.

  “I just woke up. Sorry I missed your other calls.”

  “How are you? How is the baby? Where are you guys?”