The women retrieved their purses. The men waited for the women to exit the front door following. Kyle, Danny, Sonia, and Tracey all climbed into Kyle’s Escalade. Lawson, Zenobia, and James followed in a silver Range Rover.
“What’s the name of this place we’re going to?” Tracey placed her purse by her feet.
“Crimson,” Kyle said. “You’ll like it. Trust me.”
A half-hour drive from Kyle’s house, Crimson turned out to be a rather upscale restaurant and lounge with a décor that was like its name—crimson, from the red brick walkway winding up to the huge wooden doors, to the curtains in the dining area, to the red wooden floor. Tracey had to squint because of the low lighting. The host ushered them to a large table. Praise the Lord for the abundance of candles on the table, at least she could see the faces of her dinner companions.
When the appetizers arrived, Kyle left the table to take a phone call. He’d returned by the time she’d finished a bottle of sparkling water and started eating her crab cake salad. She’d been chatting with Sonia when she spied him leaving his seat a second time, this time for much longer. When he came back, he had to ask the waiter to reheat his filet mignon. Tracey excused herself from the conversation, stood up, and walked around to where Kyle sat at the head of the table.
She leaned down to his ear. “Everything all right?”
“Oh yeah, everything’s good,” he nodded.
“Is your dad okay? Tyler?”
“Yep, they’re fine.”
She leaned down further. “So why do you keep bouncing out on your own birthday dinner?”
“My lady, Essence, won’t make it out tonight. She’s …” Shaking his head, he reached for his drink. “Anyway, I’m staying, and I’m going to enjoy my steak.”
Tracey shrugged. “All right,” she said, sauntering back to her seat, taking care not to slip on the over-polished wooden floor.
The crowd at the table had emptied two more bottles of champagne by the time the waiter wheeled out a cake with glowing candles. Tracey peered at her watch. Nearly eleven. Time had flown by. Dinner had been great. Now, how could she ditch hanging out upstairs at the lounge and get a ride back to the house? She stared over at Kyle as he blew out his candles. When the smoke cleared, she rubbed her eyes. A pang of guilt pierced her soul as she considered Brianna’s tears and the anger and frustration in Brian’s voice earlier. Tracey had no business lounging at a lovely dinner table, eating gourmet food, dressed up all sexy like she didn’t have a care in the world.
After dessert, as they stood to leave the table, Tracey tapped Kyle’s shoulder again. “Dinner was fantastic. Happy birthday. Now I have to leave. I’ll have the host call a cab for me.”
He shook his head and took her arm. “No way, you can’t leave before you hear the music upstairs. Come on.”
She peered at Kyle’s face as they walked toward the carpeted staircase. A slight sheen of sweat coated his face. Glazed eyes. Yep. No chance of getting him to drive her home. Someone else must be the designated driver in the group. She’d have to find that person.
Once they reached the lounge, Lawson led Zenobia away to dance. Danny looked like he wanted to dance, so Sonia grabbed his hand and they walked over to the dance floor. Kyle made a beeline for the back of the room. Tracey sat alone for a minute, trying to figure out when would be a good time to give Brian a call.
A voice interrupted her thoughts. “Here, take this,” James said, sitting down on the couch next to Tracey and passing her a glass. “Looks like you need some company and conversation.”
Tracey stopped rummaging for the cell phone in her purse. “Thanks. But I don’t …”
He insisted. “I know. But just try it. It’s a Continental #2. It’s got a little Hennessy in it, but it’s mostly pineapple and cranberry juice.”
She glanced around the room. If the drink only had an ounce or so of alcohol in it, maybe it wouldn’t even register in her system. She took the glass and tasted the amber liquid. Sweet. She took another sip. “Are you single like everyone else here?”
James laughed. “No, I’m married, but Kyle and I have been buddies since junior high. I didn’t want to miss coming out. My wife didn’t want to come out tonight because she’s exhausted. We have a one-year-old daughter who runs her ragged.”
“Whew. I’ve been there,” Tracey breathed out. “Am I glad to talk to someone who’s married.”
“Me too, actually.”
“How long have you been with her?”
“Sixteen years total. We’ve been married for ten. She’s a teacher.”
“And you’re a superintendent, right?”
“Yes. I started out as a teacher, though. By the way, I talked to Tyler several times last summer. What a wonderful young man you’ve brought up. Kind and polite.”
“Thanks,” Tracey said, blushing. “He’s a great son. I love him to death.”
James smiled. “I can tell. He’ll do just fine here at our high school. I heard his grades are excellent.”
She must have heard wrong. “Excuse me?”
“In September, when Tyler starts school here? You know Kyle wants nothing but the best for him.”
Sweat beads formed across the top of Tracey’s forehead. “I’m sorry, but would you excuse me for a second. I’ll be back in a few moments.”
“Certainly.” James swung his legs to the side so she could pass.
Tracey clutched the side of the couch. “You might want to start praying for Kyle now,” she told James.
“Huh?”
“Nothing,” she muttered, straightening up. “I’ll be right back.”
One mixed drink? Dumb idea. The alcohol hit her stomach, making her queasy. She scanned the room. Where was Kyle? The standing room only dance floor obscured her view. She budged and pushed her way past the dancing couples.
Tracey managed to spot Lawson and Zenobia grooving. She tapped Zenobia’s shoulder.
“Have you seen Kyle?”
Zenobia shouted over the music. “Over at the far end of the bar.”
“Thanks.”
Tracey pushed her way through the crowd once more, made her way to the far end of the bar and practically tripped over Kyle when she stopped.
“Whoa. Take it easy!” He grabbed her to keep her from falling. His heavy hands lingered on her shoulders for a moment, then he reached down and grabbed her hand as he stepped back from the bar. “Come on lady, dance with me,” he drawled.
“I don’t think—”
Forget it. Kyle might as well have had cotton in his ears. In less than fifteen seconds Tracey found herself doing a stiff two-step in the middle of the crowded dance floor.
Kyle leaned down and spoke in her ear. “You know what the problem was, right?”
Tracey shrugged, confused. “No.”
“Essence didn’t want you to come to Crimson tonight. She’s been a bit upset since you got here.”
“You didn’t have to invite me.”
“I’m my own man. My house. My life. My decision. She wanted me to propose to her tonight. Actually asked me about it on the phone an hour ago. I told her that wasn’t going to happen.”
Should Tracey console him? Congratulate him? What?
“I’m not ready,” he leaned down further, slurring in her ear.
“Okay. I heard you.”
He moved closer. “I like her a lot, but she isn’t what my Mom is to my Pops.”
Oh no, not this story again. “Right. Got it. Get married when you want to, or don’t.”
“What’s the problem?” Kyle asked.
Tracey halted her two left feet. “Have you been telling your friends Tyler’s going to be living with you and going to school here?”
He nodded. “I let a few people know. What about it?”
She raised an angry eyebrow. “That’s not t
rue.”
Kyle stopped dancing. “You and I both know Tyler’s not happy about going back to Philly with you and Brian, even if it means missing his friends and his church. If you want him to stay with you … then hey … you talk to him.”
“I’ll do that!” Tracey turned and looked for space to escape.
He clamped a hand down on her shoulder. “Wait, stay, the music is changing. One more dance. I love this song!”
She peered up at him. He put his hands up, giving her a playful I’ll be on my best behavior look.
Kyle placed one hand on the small of her back. She put a hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand and they danced in rhythm to a slow and jazzy version of “What You Won’t Do for Love.” He even managed to shut his mouth long enough for her to enjoy swaying to the music. Nice and gentle. Easy.
He leaned down and whispered. “Hey. You remember the fall season after Ty turned six? You know, when I came down to see him play his first Tiny Mite football games? Back when you both lived in Abington?”
A wave rippled in her stomach. “I remember.”
“We were real good together,” Kyle said, pulling her a little closer to him.
That season seemed like a lifetime ago to Tracey. Years after they broke up, she let her guard down and invited Kyle back into her life so he could build a relationship with Tyler. She even let him stay in their apartment during blustery fall weekends when their little boy played his first sports games. Bad move. Tracey and Kyle ended up growing close. Closer than close. Intimate.
It had happened the month after she’d started dating Brian. She’d always been bothered by the timing, but she’d push off the bothersome thoughts by reminding herself she and Brian had only recently met at the time. They had gone to the movies once, and out to a concert once. By the time things looked serious with Brian, Tracey had told Kyle about the new man in her life and her plans to move on with him. Kyle didn’t say anything about it except to wish her well.
Tracey felt warm as she looked up at Kyle. “I thought I could be friends with you back then,” she said, softly.
Kyle gazed back at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Oh, you were more than friendly as I recall,” Kyle mused.
“Don’t talk to me like that. I’m a married lady—”
“So why are you up here in the mix with the single folk? You tell me.”
“You invited me and I needed a break!” she reminded him.
“Take a break with your husband.”
“He cheated on me, lied about it, made a baby, tried to hide it, tried to bribe his former mistress, and then tried to hide that,” she hissed, trying to push away from him.
He kept her tight in his grasp. “And you had a fit and left him. Are you both even now?”
Even. Was there such a thing in marriage land? And was it Tracey’s imagination or was Kyle’s body pressed against her even more?
“Or are you trying to get even in a different way?” Kyle said.
Still the same unpredictable Kyle! His words made her uncomfortable, but the strength of his arms imprisoned her. He looked in her eyes as his hands slowly stroked her back and shoulders. A shock like the one she’d felt a few nights earlier passed through her belly. Then another.
“Scared to answer?” Kyle’s hands crept down the sides of Tracey’s body.
She could feel the curve of his muscles and smell his skin. He felt amazing and smelled so good she wanted to get closer. And she used to love him. Maybe a little too much. Tracey’s forehead grew moist and a deeper shock kept her pressed against him. Was this how easy it was? The right mood? The right heat?
“Ever tell him about that time?” Kyle questioned, his lips brushing her ear. “Or do you like to keep secrets?”
Tracey turned her face to the side and pushed against his chest with so much force they stopped dancing. “I’m going to forget about this moment as soon as I walk out of here,” she snarled before stumbling backwards. “You’re drunk, but try to remember, what’s in the past will stay there.”
She stalked away. “Don’t you dare look back,” she whispered to herself as she wiped away sweat from the side of her face.
Off the dance floor, she spied James on a couch talking with Danny and Sonia. She tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you staying much longer?”
He looked down at his watch. “No. I’ve got to get back home soon.”
“Would you mind dropping me off at Kyle’s house?”
He glanced around the room quickly, his eyes scanning over the heads of the crowd. “Let me tell Kyle we’re heading out.”
“He’s over there.”
Tracey stayed silent on the drive back. She thanked James for the ride, let herself in, went straight to the guest room and lay down on the bed, still in her black dress. Two beats later she searched for and found her abandoned phone.
Brian answered on the second ring. “Tracey?”
“I’m coming home.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning. Early.”
31
Lord, don’t let me come back here a fool. I’m lost. I have no control. Please lead me through this. Help me. Help my husband. Forgive
us. Heal us.
Tracey ended the prayer and opened her eyes. Her bag slung over her shoulder as she rested her hand on the back door. She hesitated before putting her key in the lock, staring at the round gray metal, trying to summon the power to move forward.
The knob slid out of her hand when the door swung open. Brian stood inside the doorway gazing at her. He gave a slight nod. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she whispered, lowering her arm, keys still clutched in her palm.
He rubbed his chin, his eyes still fixed on hers. “Have you eaten yet?”
She shook her head. “No.”
He stepped aside for her to enter. “I heated up some muffins. Brianna and I had eggs. I can get you a plate of food and pour you some coffee.”
She shook her head. The rich hazelnut fragrance smelled delicious, but she couldn’t swallow a thing. “You fed her early for a Saturday,” she commented.
“I have to go to the practice. I thought I was going to have to take her to Ma and Jamal’s house.”
Tracey looked him up and down. His trim body dressed neat. Black pants and a crisp white button down shirt. “But I’m here now.”
He shrugged before walking over and switching off the coffeemaker.
She got the message. He’d made plans in case she didn’t show up. Whether she disappointed him or not, life had to go on.
“Where’s Brianna?” Tracey put her bag down on a stool.
His head nodded toward the stairs. “Hanging out in her room playing.”
“With the naked Barbies?”
Brian scratched his head, a half-smile on his lips. “What else?”
Tracey walked around the kitchen, peeked down the hallway, walked through to the living room, family area, and dining room, and circled back around to the kitchen again. The house smelled clean, like lemon-scented cleanser. The floors gleamed. Nothing in the kitchen looked out of place. Red coffee mugs hung on their hook above the coffeemaker. No dirty dishes in the stainless steel sinks. The kitchen island was bare except for the wooden fruit bowl filled with apples, bananas and pears.
Everything was spotless. Hmm. The Clean Team came only once a week which meant for things to be this immaculate Brian must have gone out of his way to clean up after himself and Brianna every day. Tracey almost wished there were brown splashes on the countertop where Brian mixed his coffee each morning, or Brianna’s coloring books and crayons were scattered across the kitchen island. It would have been comforting to see the house trashed. The way it looked now, she knew he’d gotten along well without her.
“Were you standing outside praying?” He asked as stepped closer to her. “I
saw you out there before I opened the door.”
“Yes.”
“For something good to happen I hope?”
She nodded. “And direction. I mean, what do we do now?”
He shrugged. “Whatever is the opposite of what we did to get here.”
She cleared her throat and started again. “The secrets … the fight … you hurt me. You did.”
“I’m so sorry, Tracey.” Brian reached out for her, dropping his hand when she moved a step away. “I’m hurt too,” he said.
He’d be more hurt if Tracey told him what nearly happened the night before between her and Kyle, but why add insult to injury. What would be the benefit? She picked her bag up, took a few steps toward the hallway, then turned around. “What happened yesterday?”
“Yesterday?” he asked.
“Right before you called me. In the afternoon. You know.”
He stared at the floor. “I don’t know if we should get into that so soon.”
“No, go ahead. I can handle it,” Tracey said, still gripping her bag.
Brian sighed. “News about Lisette’s pregnancy and rumors about my involvement have been circulating around the practice. Dan, Doug, and I had a talk. Dan asked me if you heard about it. He took one look at my face and I think he knew you’d left.”
Tracey bit her lower lip. Flames leapt inside of her but she kept silent. No one knew if the baby belonged to Brian but since people love scandal, gossip would spread like wildfire. Among the nurses. With his colleagues. In his professional circles. Around their church.
One day at a time, Tracey. Start with this one.
No throwing up, snapping out, crying, losing it, or running away.
“All right,” she said. “We’re going to talk later, right?”
“Yes. We will.”
“I think it’s important to be professional. Get over there and do what you do best.” She gazed down the hallway. “Right now there’s a little girl upstairs who needs her mom.”
Broken Together Page 22
