I Take This Woman

by Chamein Canton

  “God, how many phone calls could I have missed?” She turned her chair around toward the window. She felt her emotions bubble up. No more crying. “Candy?” she said over her shoulder.

  “Yes?”

  Abby turned around and then checked her watch.

  “I know. I’m early for once.”

  “I see. Is everything all right?”

  “I was going to ask you the same thing.” She had a stack of papers in her hand. “I went through every one of these and there isn’t a red mark on any of them. I thought maybe you wanted to re-check them.”

  “No. There’s no mistake. I didn’t make any corrections because you didn’t need any.”

  Candy looked shocked.

  Abby laughed. “Thank you, Candy. I needed to laugh. Although I realize it was totally unintentional.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “You really are getting the hang of this. Keep up the good work.”

  “Thanks, Abby.” She smiled. “I am sorry, though.”

  “What do you have to be sorry about?”

  “First I’m sorry for everything that you’re going through right now. You don’t deserve it. You’re a good person.”

  “Thanks. What’s the second thing?”

  “I’m sorry that I’ve ruined the ‘Candy’s late pool’ today. I know Kelly had her eye on the Manolo Blahnik Napoleona boots.”

  “I’m sure she’ll live.” Abby smiled.

  “Yes. I’ll let her borrow mine sometime.” Candy kicked up her leg to show off the boot.

  “That’s very gracious of you. I’m sure she’ll take you up on it.”

  After Candy walked out of her office, Abby stared at her phone, remembering she had promised to call Sam back. She sighed. “Maybe later.” She looked at the clock. “I need to call Justin before his first class.” She fed in the number.

  “Hi, Mom,” he answered cheerfully.

  “Hi. How are you?” Abby was a little taken aback.

  “I’m good. I’m getting ready to head to biology in a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  “Are you calling me about you and Sam?”

  “Yes. It’s in the papers and on the news now, and this is not the kind of thing you expect from me. So I wanted to see if you were okay.”

  “I’m fine, Mom. It’s not like I didn’t know there was something going on with you and Sam. I told you that when you were here.”

  “I didn’t exactly tell you the extent of things between us.”

  “You didn’t have to, Mom. No disrespect to Connecticut but he came all the way to Wallingford. This isn’t exactly a resort town.”

  Abby chuckled in spite of herself. “No. Wallingford isn’t a hot spot.” She paused. “So all of this stuff in the paper and on the news doesn’t bother you?”

  “No. My friends got a kick out of the papers dubbing you a voluptuous vixen. But I am a little creeped out when they say you’re hot.”

  “What?”

  “You are my mother after all. Who wants to hear that?”

  “I see your point.” She laughed. “I’m relieved that you’re not freaked out about this.”

  “It’s okay, Mom. You can date. I’m fine with it.”

  “I wish the rest of the world shared your sentiment.”

  “They will. Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure that Paris or one of the Kardashians will do something outrageous and they’ll leave you and Sam alone.” Justin laughed. “Listen, Mom I’m outside my classroom.”

  “Okay, honey. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  “You, too, Mom.”

  Abby hung up the phone. I never thought that I’d wish for the day I could read about one of the Kardashians, but from your lips, Justin, to God’s ears.

  Abby looked up. I don’t know what I did to get such a great kid, God. But thank you. Nancy Bloom or not, I’m going to fight to keep him.

  ***

  Sam knocked on his parents’ door with a bag full of pastries and a tray of coffee.

  “Good morning, son,” his mother said cheerfully as she opened the door.

  “Good morning, Momma.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I brought some goodies for you and Dad.” He said as he put them down on the table. “Where is Dad?” He looked around.

  “He had to run out.” His mother opened the bag. “Do you have any bear claws in here?”

  “Yes. Where did Dad have to run to?”

  “He just had an errand to run. Did you get cream for my coffee? You know how I hate that low fat stuff. It tastes like you’re adding flavored water.”

  “Yes. I know you like your coffee light with cream and two sugars.”

  “Thank you.” She picked up the cup and sipped. “This is good.”

  “Okay, Momma. I know when you’re avoiding something, and you’re doing it right now.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Do you want the blueberry pastry or the cheese danish?”

  “Momma,” he said.

  Her cell phone rang. “Hold that thought, Sam. I need to get this.” She picked up. “Hello? Yes? It’s on now? Okay. I’ll turn it on now.” She hung up and turned on the television. “What channel is ESPN here?”

  “They have FIOS here, so its channel 570.”

  “Thank you.” She turned the channel.

  “Good morning. We have a special report brought to us by ESPN analyst Bo Clemson.”

  “Good morning. I’m here with NFL Hall of Famer Norman Green and co-chair of the Association of Retired Football Players Association. Thanks for being here Mr. Green.”

  “Thank you for having me.”

  “Mr. Green, would you like to tell our audience why you’re here?”

  “Yes. I’m here to set the record straight about Sam Best.”

  ***

  Frankie rushed into Abby’s office. “Abby?”

  “Frankie. You scared me to death. What’s the matter?”

  “Turn on ESPN right now.”

  “Okay.” She got her remote and turned the television on.

  “For the last several years, Sam has been making donations to help retired and disabled players supplement their retirement benefits and take care of their medical costs. It’s because of his generosity that a number of players have been able to receive the surgeries and rehabilitative services they need to live their lives with dignity. As you know, I am in a wheelchair now, and the cost of my medical care could have easily bankrupted my family and caused us to lose our home. However Sam’s donations have made it possible to cover my medical bills so my family and I can stay in our home. Sam has done this anonymously because he didn’t feel the need to trumpet his good deeds, but, now that his reputation is at risk, I felt that I needed to come forward to let people know the truth about this wonderful young man.”

  ***

  “Momma, did you know about this?”

  “Yes. Your father got the ball rolling yesterday.”

  “I knew you were acting strange last night. I should have known. You know I didn’t want this.”

  “We know, but we couldn’t stand by idly and let Big Bill besmirch you.”

  Sam flopped down on the bed.

  “Sometimes a parents got to do what they’ve got to do.” She said as she bit into her bear claw.

  ***

  “I guess that knocks Maria’s harem theory out of the water.” Frankie said.

  “I can’t believe that Sam had anything to do with this interview. He was determined to keep his philanthropy a secret.”

  “Well, someone let the cat out of the bag, and it’s a good thing they did.”

  “Yes. Now everyone knows that he’s the real deal. Sam’s truly a great guy.”

  “For an athlete,” Frankie added, “as our mother would say.” He winked.

  ***

  Back in his parents’ suite the door opened.

  “Don’t shoot. We’re not armed.” Reggie said jokingly with his hands up.

  “Don’t tempt me. I k
now how to use a gun.”

  “That’s the truth. I should know since I’m the one who taught him.” Sam’s father said as he entered the room.

  “Dad…” Sam began.

  “I know you’re upset, son. But I had to do something before the speculation turned you into the second coming of Dennis Shanahan.”

  “I guess I should be grateful for that.”

  “You should be.” Bo said as he walked in.

  “What took you so long to come in here?” Sam asked.

  “I wanted to make sure you were unarmed.”

  “I would have thought ESPN would have named you head of the network by now.”

  “Yes. They offered me a kingship, but I turned it down. I kind of like life behind the big desk.” He smiled.

  Reggie went over to the pastry bag. “Ooh do you have a blueberry danish?”

  “Leave it to Reggie to focus on what’s really important, pastry,” Sam joked. “Yes, there are a couple of them in there.”

  “Nice,” he said as he took one out.

  “Have you heard from Abby?” his father asked.

  “No. She was supposed to call me last night, but I guess she was too upset.”

  “Rightly so,” his mother added.

  Sam’s cell phone rang. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Sam. It’s Blake.”

  “Hello, Blake. And before you ask I haven’t been served.”

  “And you’re not going to be served. I just heard through the grapevine that Maria fired Toni.”

  “What?”

  “I know. I’m surprised, too. I guess the lawsuit isn’t moving forward after all.”

  “That is good news.”

  “By the way, I saw the report on ESPN, so I’d say this was more good news. I’ve got to run. Give my best to Reggie. Bye.”

  “Thanks, Blake. Bye.”

  “What was that about?” Reggie asked.

  “Maria fired Toni Redstone. There isn’t going to be a lawsuit.”

  “That is good news.” His father smiled.

  “I wonder what changed her mind.”

  “Son, you know the old saying about gift horses,” his mother said.

  “You’re right, Momma.”

  “You know what will really make this a celebration?” Bo asked.

  “What?”

  “If there’s another bear claw in that bag,” he grinned.

  “Here you go.” Reggie handed him the bag.

  Sam’s cell phone rang again. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Sam? It’s Maria.”

  Genuinely surprised, Sam got up and walked into the other room. “Hello, Maria.”

  “I know I’m the last phone call you expected to get.”

  “You’d be right about that.”

  “I fired Toni. I’m not pursuing a lawsuit.”

  “That’s good news. Thank you.”

  “Can we meet to talk?”

  “I don’t have a problem with that, but at the moment I’m practically a prisoner in this hotel.”

  “I can come there. We can talk in the lobby or the restaurant.”

  “We can talk in the hotel’s living room. It’s public but it’s quiet.”

  “Great. I’ll be there in about an hour.”

  “Okay.” He hung up.

  “Who was that?” his mother asked.

  “Maria.”

  “What did she want?”

  “She wanted to tell me that she fired Toni. Now she wants to talk.”

  “Is she coming here? Or are you going there?”

  “She’s coming here. We’re going to talk in the hotel’s living room. It’s a public space.”

  “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “I think we’ll be fine. Now that the lawyers are gone, maybe we can talk like civilized people.”

  “I hope so too, son.”

  Chapter 27

  Though she was still in her office, Abby wasn’t concentrating on author’s book tours or spring releases; she was researching family law attorneys. The lawyer she used for her divorce had long since retired and moved away, so she was at square one until her brother Wes could get out of court long enough to give her some direction.

  Her cell phone rang. She checked the caller ID. “Hey, Shana.”

  “Hi. Did you hear the news?”

  Abby’s heart sunk. “What are they saying about us now?”

  “No. I’m not talking about that. I just read on the news feed that Maria fired Toni Redstone.”

  “What?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank God. At least Sam’s headache is over.”

  “Your headache will be over soon, too. You mark my words.”

  “You might be getting ahead of yourself. If I don’t find a lawyer soon, I can be sure that my headache will grow.”

  “You’ve got to think positive.”

  “I plan on being positively prepared.”

  “Okay. I’ve got to run. I have another show starting in a few minutes.”

  “Okay. Knock ’em dead.”

  “You know we will.”

  Abby hung up and went back to her computer. “Yes, Leo?”

  “There’s someone here to see you.”

  “Who is it?”

  Dazz stepped into the doorway. “Hello, Abby.”

  “What are you doing here, Dazz? Is J.J. with you?”

  “No. I came alone. Can we talk?”

  “Sure. It’s fine, Leo.”

  “Okay.”

  Dazz walked in.

  “Would you close the door behind you, Leo?”

  “Sure thing.” He closed the door.

  “Have a seat, Dazz.”

  “Thanks.” He sat down.

  “So what brings you here? Are you here to serve me or something?”

  “No. I’m here to tell you that there’s not going to be a custody suit.”

  “What?”

  “I know that I’ve never been your favorite person, and a lot of that has been my fault. I ran interference when he was cheating on you, and Beebe for that matter. I set up his appearances and I’ve been his yes man for years.”

  “You won’t get any argument from me about that.”

  “Then a couple of days ago this Bill Carrangelo calls and sets up a meeting with J.J., but he didn’t ask me to come with him. The next thing I know he’s hired a lawyer and he’s going for custody. The whole thing was out of left field to me.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  “I told J.J. that this Bill was using him to get back at Sam. I said as far as I’m concerned anyone who would use a mother’s love for her child as a pawn in some kind of twisted revenge plot was a sick son of bitch. He wouldn’t listen to me. So I quit.”

  “You what?” she said astonished.

  “I quit.” He leaned back in the chair. “Over the years I’ve made a lot of compromises for J.J. that I’m not proud of at all, but he’s gone too far this time. I had to draw the line.”

  “I’m stunned.”

  “Believe it or not, I have a mother, too.” He smiled.

  Abby laughed. “And here I thought the stork brought you.”

  Dazz chuckled, but then his face turned serious. “You know, Abby, you were a good wife and you’re a great mother. Justin is a lucky kid.”

  Abby could barely believe it when her eyes welled up. “Thank you for saying that, Dazz. The funny thing is that no matter how many years have gone by, I always had that nagging little feeling that there was something wrong with me that I couldn’t make that marriage work.”

  “Abby, you had the patience of Mother Theresa. There was nothing wrong with you. I love J.J. like a brother, but he can be a real ass.”

  They laughed.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to head back home and visit my mom in Detroit for a little while. Then I’ll come back here and pursue a few job opportunities I’ve got lined up. I’ll be okay.”

  “Now I feel bad that I spent so much time
disliking you.”

  “Considering what my part was in J.J.’s follies, who could blame you? But that’s water under the bridge now. Can we start fresh?”

  “Yes. I’d like that.”

  “I want you to know that you can count on me if you need me for depositions, court or whatever.”

  “Thank you, Dazz. I really appreciate that.”

  “You’re welcome.” He looked at his watch. “I’d better get going if I’m going to make my flight.” He stood up.

  “You’re leaving today?”

  “Yes. Sometimes a boy just needs to see his mom.”

  Abby got up from behind her desk and walked to the door.

  “You have a safe flight.” She said as she opened the door.

  “Thanks.” Dazz went to shake her hand.

  “I think we’re past that now.” Abby said as she and Dazz hugged. “Have a good trip.”

  “I will.” He waved as he walked away.

  Her brother Frankie stopped and watched Dazz leave and then went over to Abby. “Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Or was that you hugging Dazz?”

  “Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you.” She sighed. “Come on in and I’ll fill you in on the latest.”

  “This I’ve got to hear.”

  A couple of hours later, with the office empty and Frankie off at Macy’s, Abby picked up the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Beebe. It’s Abby.”

  “Abby?”

  “I know you’re surprised to hear from me.”

  “Yes. After our last conversation, I thought I’d be the last person you’d call voluntarily.”

  “If there’s anything I’ve learned in the last few days, it’s that things can change on a dime.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “I caught you on Headline News last night.”

  “You did? I didn’t think anyone would even see it since I didn’t give them what they wanted.”

  “That’s why I’m calling. You could have said so much more if you wanted to. You could have blown me to bits.”

  “I didn’t feel the need to do that. I meant what I said. You were good to me even when I know it must have hurt.”

  “I appreciate the acknowledgement. So thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Have a good night, Beebe.”

  “You, too.” She hung up.

  “Did you just say ‘Beebe’?” Shana asked. “I know I’ve been under water with Fashion Week, but I thought I was still on the planet.”