by Tina Martin
He blew a frustrated breath. “Mother, this is between me and Calista.”
“I beg to differ,” Elowyn said, raising her tone. “Son, we are a family. Calista has been my daughter-in-law for five years. You don’t think I miss her. I love her, Barry, just like I love you and that woman has been good to you.”
Barringer tempered his agitation by playing with the keys in the right pocket of his pants. “The situation is not easy, Mother. I lied to Calista. That’s my fault. And quite honestly, I doubt if she wants me back. She wants a man who can give her a child, and she deserves that.”
“Okay, so what are you going to do? Make a decision. You want to divorce her? You want to see her fall in love with another man and have his children? Can you imagine seeing her pregnant with another man’s baby, Barringer?”
Barringer felt a sting in his heart just thinking about it. No, he couldn’t imagine it. As much as he knew Calista deserved a man who could give her the kind of life she was seeking, he couldn’t fathom her being touched by another man, let alone pregnant by one.
“Well?”
“No. I can’t imagine that. Calista’s mine. She always will be.”
A smile came to Elowyn’s face. She touched him on the forearm. “Glad to hear it. Hold on a second. I have something to give you.”
She lowered Junior to his car seat. Standing upright again, Mama Blackstone wrapped her arms around Barringer.
Barringer, in turn, folded his arms around his mother whom he loved dearly.
“I know you’re going through a storm right now, son,” she said, “But you can handle it. You’ve never been a quitter. And please smile every once in a while, will you?”
“I will for you. I love you, Mother.”
“I love you too, son.”
“See you tomorrow, okay,” she said, releasing him from her warm grasp.
“Looking forward to it already.” With that, he headed for the door.
Chapter 28
No one could give him clarity like his mother. He considered himself fortunate to have a set of caring parents who loved him enough to tell him like it was, and Elowyn Blackstone had done just that. That’s why, after finishing the work day, Barringer decided to pay Calista a visit, only to find she’d been leaving her apartment at seven in the evening. He wondered where she was going.
So he followed her.
She ended up at a bar not far from her apartment. Three or so miles down the street, maybe. Why was she at a bar? Was she meeting someone? He frowned, felt his blood sizzle at the thought of it as he shifted his car into park.
He watched Calista emerge from her car, her hair hanging loose. Looked like she’d added some curls to it. She wore a pair of sexy, black jeans that fit well on her hips and a thin, teal blouse. And she was at a bar like this? If her body didn’t catch a man’s attention, surely those pink, plump lips of hers would.
“Why are you at this bar, Cali?” Barringer asked quietly, watching her head for the entrance. She didn’t go to bars. She didn’t like bars. So why was she here?
Deciding to see for himself, he got out of his car, suit and all, stepping inside of the bar, careful to find her first, so he could find the perfect spot to sit and hide – one that would give him a good view of her without being exposed. He saw her sitting alone at a small table in the corner, so he went to the opposite corner and watched.
Calista took out her cell phone, probably checking messages, he guessed. A waitress brought her a glass of red wine. She loved red wine, he knew. Watching her take slow sips reminded him of all the times he’d come home from work to find out she’d cooked dinner. She usually cooked dinner when they weren’t dining out. (And actually, he couldn’t remember the last they’d done that.) And some of her dinners were special ones. She’d take the time to put a bottle of wine on ice, cook a gourmet meal, light candles, the whole nine – only to find out he couldn’t make it. Or he’d tell her he’d be home, and something work-related would take precedence. Work always took precedence over her.
Now, his wife was sitting alone inside of a bar…
And he was watching every man in the place try to get her attention.
Why wouldn’t they? Calista’s intrinsic beauty was unmatched. He knew it, so why wouldn’t other men notice? An additional thought hit him as he watched her lips part to take another sip of wine – when was the last time he told her she was beautiful?
Nearly six years into the marriage, he had been taking her for granted. He could see that as plain as day now. And Garrison was right. He couldn’t blame other people for his problems. He lied to Calista. He appreciated people being open and honest with him, but he hadn’t returned the favor. He could see how selfish he was now – how all of Calista’s complaints were justified. And all those times she tried to leave before should’ve given him a clue that one day, she would find the courage to be gone for good.
Still, he didn’t think she would actually do it. He gave her the ideal life. That’s what women wanted right? Financial security, a fancy home – or so he thought. Calista didn’t want those things. She only wanted him.
When he saw her look up and smile at someone approaching, he angled his head to get a view of whomever she was smiling at. It was a man, but he couldn’t quite get a full view of him. A million knots formed in his stomach. Calista was meeting a man?
It was only when the man came into full view that Barringer felt like he’d lost the ability to breathe. The man who made his wife’s face light up was none other than his own brother – Garrison Blackstone. Barringer balled fists. Everything in him wanted to storm over there, catch them in the act and confront them both. Why were they meeting at a bar? Having drinks together? Laughing it up like they were best friends?
Instead of barging over to ask them all of this, Barringer sat in the corner, fuming. Waiting. Watching.
* * *
“Aw, I thought I was going to see Junior,” Calista said to Garrison.
“Seriously?” Garrison chuckled. “You thought I was going to bring my son into a bar?”
Calista laughed. “No. I just—” Her face reddened.
“I’m teasing you,” Garrison told her.
“I know. I just missed him today. It feels so weird when he’s not there. I’ve been taking care of him since he was a tiny, little thing. I feel like he’s a part of me. And he’s growing so fast.”
“Yeah, you know us Blackstone men grow like lumber jacks.” Garrison grinned.
Calista laughed. “No kidding.”
The waitress brought Garrison a beer, the one he’d requested from the bar before he sat down.
Calista took a sip of wine and studied Garrison for a moment while he glanced around the place. “Is Junior spending the night with your mom, or—?”
He caught her eyes when he said, “No. I’m going to pick him up when I leave here. Thanks for agreeing to meet up with me. I know this is probably awkward for you.”
“It’s fine,” she said, but this would’ve been a good outing for you to have with Bryson, Everson or Barry. I’m not really a bar chick.”
“I thought about asking them, but I feel like I can tell you things my brothers won’t quite understand, you know.”
Calista nodded before taking another sip of wine.
“Who knew something like this would bring us close again?” Garrison said.
Calista cracked a half smile. “Yeah. Who knew?”
They held gazes for a moment, then Calista cleared her throat and said, “Look, Garrison. I know it was a long time ago, but if I hurt you back then—”
“Not if, Calista. You did hurt me.”
“Then I’m truly sorry.”
He nodded. “I know. It took me a while, but I got over it…fell in love with Vivienne. She was something else, you know. She was older than me.”
“She wasn’t older than you, was she?”
“Yep, by four years. Older and wiser.”
“Well, let’s keep it real. Women are wiser
, period, no matter what their age.”
Garrison chuckled. “Not necessarily.” He took a sip of his beer. “It’s hard being alone sometimes.”
Calista nodded.
“When it’s quiet in the house, I think I hear her voice. You get used to someone being there and when they’re gone, it disrupts your whole life.”
“Exactly.”
“Today, I found more of her things. Some perfume. Old anniversary cards I gave her. She never threw those things away. Women are sentimental that way.”
“Yes we are, especially when we’re in love.”
“So you still have old anniversary cards and things from Barry?”
“I do. I have a lot of gifts from Barry that I cherish, but—” Calista hesitated to say the rest.
“But?”
She smiled uncomfortably. “Nothing.”
“No, tell me. We’re sharing. Share.” He cracked a smile.
“I was going to say I have a lot of things from Barry, but I don’t have…” Her eyes teared up, but she blinked them away. “I don’t have Barry.”
“There’s no crying allowed in a bar, Cali. Only drinking.”
Calista smiled, pinching tears away at the same time. “Well, in that case…” She picked up her glass and took another sip of wine. “Is that why you requested to meet me at a bar? The no crying rule?”
“Partially. And I really wanted a beer.”
Calista cracked a smile. “You could’ve went by Bryson’s and had a beer in his famous man cave.”
Garrison grinned. “Yeah, but I don’t want to talk his ears off with my problems.”
“Oh, but it’s okay to talk mine off.”
A smile grew on his face.
“I’m teasing.”
“Yes, I’m going to talk your ears off. You know what I’m going through.”
“Not completely.”
“You know what it’s like to lose someone you love.”
“A different kind of loss, but yes, I suppose you’re right.”
Garrison nodded.
“Hey, Garrison.”
“Yes?” he said, attentively.
“Why did you tell Vivienne about us?”
“Because I felt like I needed to. She wanted you to be Junior’s caretaker. She knew how much you wanted a baby. She didn’t know everything we now know about Barry, but she knew you wanted a baby, so she asked me if I thought you would accept. That’s when I told her. Had to.”
Calista nodded.
“And I’ve been thinking we should also tell Barry. We shouldn’t have this secret between us anymore.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s going to hit the roof when he finds out.”
Garrison shrugged. “My brother needs to work on his anger issues. He knows that. I’ve spoken with him about it several times.”
“But it’s worse now. Since he told me about, you know, his issues, he’s been resentful.”
“And it doesn’t help that the company is having problems,” Garrison added.
“Exactly.”
“Then here’s what I propose we do. You’re coming to the family dinner tomorrow night, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be there,” Calista said.
“Good. At some point, we’ll pull Barry off to the side and talk to him together. Maybe if we double-team him, he’ll listen.”
Calista smirked. “Or maybe not.”
“It’s a chance we have to take, Calista. You’re practically Junior’s mother now.”
“Don’t say that, Gary.”
“I am going to say it. It’s true.”
“So what’s going to happen when you remarry?”
“I’m not going to remarry.”
Calista frowned. “But—” She stopped talking when she realized how sensitive the topic was. Vivienne had only been gone for a little over three months now.
“You know what I find strange about going through this and being a widower?” Garrison asked her.
“What’s that?”
“When people talk to me, they have to change their demeanor and the inflection in their voices to a softer, sadder one to express their condolences. They see me laughing, they wonder how I’m able to smile. Most people think I should be depressed all the time and yelling why me into the sky or something. I don’t get that. I grieve all the time. My heart hurts right now, even while I’m sitting here talking to you. It hurts, but I cope. I have to, right? For my son. For my family.”
“Yes. That’s right. And who cares what people say, anyway?” Calista asked, remembering what Kalina told her. “It’s not like they have to walk in your shoes.”
Garrison turned up his beer bottle, taking long gulps. He set the empty bottle on the table and said, “Okay, so tomorrow, we’ll tag team your stubborn husband.”
“Hey, he’s your stubborn brother. You’ve known him longer than I have.”
“Which is why I know he loves you, little lady. He can’t concentrate without you. I can see it as clear as day. We all can, except for him. Let’s hope we make some progress tomorrow.”
“We’ll see.”
Chapter 29
Barringer couldn’t sleep a minute last night. Not even a second. He stayed up drinking. Seething. The possibility of another man, a better man, taking Calista away from him had crossed his mind before. Little did he know that man could’ve been his own brother. Now he was sitting at the dinner table with flaring nostrils, stewing over the possibility. Was Calista seeing Garrison?
He didn’t want to go to this family dinner, but decided to go just to observe Calista and Garrison – to see if anything was going on between them. They had drinks together last night. He saw it with his own eyes, but it didn’t mean they were together. Tonight, he’d find out for sure.
The family had all gathered around the dinner table. June decorated the table with tall, white candles running along the center on top of a laced table runner. The women were busy bringing out food – all cooked by June and Everson.
Barringer looked at his parents. With the turmoil in his marriage, he wondered how they’d managed to stay together and happy for so long. They made marriage look easy when it was anything but.
He glanced at Everson. Even at dinner he was on his phone. He stayed working just as much as he did. He wondered if June had a problem with Everson’s work schedule, the same way Calista had an issue with his.
He looked at Candice. She was checking her watch like she couldn’t wait for dinner to be over before it had a chance to start. He wondered if her impatience had anything to do with Kurt Hempstead. She was in for a rude awakening if she thought she would sneak around to see some big shot competitor behind the backs of her brothers and not get the third degree.
Bryson looked especially happy. He deserved happiness after what he’d been through. And even though he was going through his own difficulty, Barringer found a little joy knowing Bryson was happy.
After he’d given everyone a glance, he focused his attention back to Calista. She had just brought a basket of rolls to the table. Didn’t even look at him when she did so. Surprisingly, she had spoken when he’d first arrived, but now, she made (and kept) herself busy to avoid him.
Garrison had yet to arrive. He wondered if he would show.
Everyone settled around the table to their respective seats.
“Dinner looks good, young lady,” Daddy Blackstone said as he rubbed his hands together, looking at June.
“I can’t take all the credit. My wonderful, super talented husband helped me with everything,” June said looking at Everson. He was busy on his phone again.
“Everson, put the phone down, man,” Bryson said. “Your wife just gave you a compliment.”
Everson looked up briefly and said, “Thanks, babe,” without having any idea what June had said.
Calista unintentionally caught Barringer’s gaze, quickly looking away. The last time she and Barringer host
ed a family dinner, she remembered arguing with him. Boy had she been tempted to throw a piece of steak at his thick, hard head, but what was the point. A person wouldn’t change unless they were ready to make a change, and the only thing Barringer Blackstone was ready for was an opportunity to make a dollar.
“Does anyone know if Garrison is coming?” Elowyn asked.
Everson shrugged.
June scrunched up her face. “You think he’s up to it?”
Calista discreetly checked her phone, but she wasn’t discreet enough because Barringer knew exactly what she was doing. She slid her phone back into her purse and said, “He’ll be here. Probably running a little behind trying to get Junior together and all.”
“I don’t want to sound rude, but should we start eating?” Candice asked.
And all eyes were on her…
“What?” she asked with a smirk on her face. “A sister is hungry.”
“A sister seems like she’s in a hurry for some reason,” Bryson said.
Barringer grinned.
Bryson watched Candice like a hawk. She thought since he was preoccupied with Kalina, she’d be free of his overprotective ways, but he still made time to keep tabs on her. He knew all about her little run-in with Kurt Hempstead.
At the sound of the doorbell, Everson stood and said, “That’s probably Gary right there.” He walked swiftly to the door. “Hey, you made it, man. We were just talking about you and Junior.”
Calista smiled, thrilled Garrison decided to join them after all. When he walked into the dining room, all the women, except for her, got up to hug him, even Elowyn.
“So glad you made it, son,” Elowyn said, “And look at my baby.” She wasted no time taking Junior from his car seat.
“Good to see you, Garrison,” Kalina told him.
“Looking good, bro,” June said.
“Hey, Gary,” Candice said. “Mom, don’t hog the baby. We need to pass him around the table like a dish so everybody can get a kiss from those cheeks.”
Kalina laughed. “He looks like a dish, don’t he? Like a glass casserole of buttery candied yams with marshmallows.”
