by Tina Martin
“Mmm…did you make yams?” Candice asked.
Bryson squinted at Candice. She was especially happy tonight for some reason.
“You made it,” Calista said, evenly, when she saw Garrison making his way around the table to where she was sitting. He leaned down and hugged her, then whispered in her ear, “So far, so good, right?”
Calista nodded.
Barringer frowned. What was all the whispering about?
Garrison took a seat next to Barringer, patting him on the shoulder as he sat down. “Hey, Barry.”
“Hey,” Barringer said, but it came across so dry, he may as well had kept his mouth shut.
Garrison scanned the dishes on the table and said, “Everson, you and June cooked up a feast, I see.”
“Yeah. We wanted a good, hearty meal for the people we love,” Everson said.
“Aw,” Candice drawled out. “Now let’s eat.”
“How about letting pops pray first, Candy?” Bryson said.
Theodore stood up, prayed over the meal. Afterwards, everyone took the dish closest to them, and passed clockwise around the table.
Junior made some cooing noises.
Calista leaned forward to get a better view of him. She missed him yesterday and seeing him now brought a smile to her face. Garrison had dressed him in a pair of navy blue jeans and a shirt she’d bought him that read: If you think I’m handsome, you should see my daddy.
“My grandbaby is trying to talk already,” Elowyn said. “Look at you, handsome. Grandma likes your shirt.”
Everyone turned to look at Junior’s T-shirt onesie.
“Oh, I know Garrison picked that out,” Candice said. She looked at him and whispered, “So vain.”
“Actually, Calista bought him that shirt,” Garrison said.
“Guilty,” Calista said. “It was so cute, I couldn’t resist.” She could feel the heat of Barringer’s eyes from across the table which is why she avoided making eye contact with him.
Barringer took a sip of water, hoping the ice in the glass would help to calm the burning anger he felt shooting through his veins. A sip turned into finishing the glass, and it still hadn’t provided any relief.
“Look at the way he responds to your voice,” Elowyn said to Calista. “Look at him. He’s looking right at you.”
Calista smiled. Seeing baby Junior look at her with longing eyes warmed her heart. Then he began squirming. Crying.
“Aw…he wants you, Cali.”
Bad idea. Calista knew that. “Um, just give him the bottle. He should be okay.”
“No, no, no, honey. He wants you,” Elowyn said. “Come on over here and get him.”
Calista tried not to frown. She didn’t want to hold Junior right now, not while Barringer was here.
“I got him,” Kalina said, taking Junior from Elowyn’s grasp. She winked at Calista. “Okay, lil’ man. What is it that you want? Hunh? Why are you giving Auntie Kalina a hard time?” Kalina was able to settle him enough so he’d take his bottle.
Calista instantly felt a wave of relief after such a close call.
Dishes had ceased being passed and everyone was eating now, everyone except for Barringer, that is, Calista noticed.
“So, Gary, did Barry talk to you about the future of BFSG?” Theodore asked.
“No,” Garrison said. He glanced over at Barringer. “I’ve been out of the loop on that.”
“I don’t want to put you on the spot, but how have you been doing, Gary?” Candice asked, “You know after—”
“We don’t have to talk about that right at the moment,” Bryson said, interrupting her.
“No, it’s fine, Bryce,” Garrison said. He looked at Candice. “I’m getting by…taking it one day at a time and, ah—” Garrison stopped talking to look at Calista. He remembered her advice, deciding to give Candice and the rest of the family an honest answer. “I don’t know how I’m making it. I miss Vivienne. Every day I miss her, and it’s not getting any easier with the passing of time. If anything, it’s becoming more and more difficult. But I’m—” Garrison stopped talking to even his breaths and control his emotions. “I’m trying.”
“We all miss her,” Elowyn said. “She left a vacancy in our little family.”
Theodore nodded. “She certainly did.”
Calista glanced up at Barringer, watching his direct gaze back at her. He still hadn’t touched his food. She turned her attention to Garrison to see how he was holding up. He looked flushed, but had managed to keep it together enough to take a few bites of his meal. She smiled. He’d conquered his fear of talking to the family about Vivienne.
Junior contorted his body, beginning to unravel again in Kalina’s lap.
“Oh, you’re a wiggly little thing, aren’t you?” Kalina said, holding him close. She set his bottle on the table.
“Did he burp yet?” Calista asked, watching little Junior look at her as she did so.
“I don’t know,” Kalina said.
“Try to give him the pacifier,” Calista told her.
Now, Junior had let out a full cry. A loud, mean one.
Struggling, Kalina asked, “Where is the pacifier?”
“On the right side of the diaper bag,” Calista and Garrison said together. In unison. The exact same words.
Kalina dug around in the bag, found the pacifier but when she popped it in his mouth, he spit it right back out, his cries filling the dining room. “He doesn’t want it.”
Garrison stood up, took a few steps towards Kalina and said, “Come on, lil’ man,” taking his son in his arms. “He was a little fussy last night, too. Was he like this yesterday, mother?”
“A little. Then he ate and went to sleep.”
Garrison held Junior against his shoulder and said, “It’s okay, lil’ man,” but Junior kept on crying.
“Maybe he’s sleepy,” Candice said.
“No, he’s not sleepy,” Garrison told her. “He slept before we got here.”
Calista looked at Garrison as he tried to calm Junior down. Everything inside of her ached to hold the baby. She’d been taking care of him since birth. She had an attachment to him. They’d bonded. Junior was practically her son. But she didn’t want to hold the baby now, not here in front of Barringer. He was already stressed. She knew that. She didn’t want to add to his frustration. But she didn’t want to hear Junior cry either.
“Here,” June said, walking around the table to take Junior. “Come to Auntie June.”
Junior cried even more when June took him.
Garrison knew who Junior wanted. Kalina knew who the baby wanted. He wanted Calista. His…his mother.
June returned to her seat, next to Calista, and said, “Shh…stop all that fuss lil’ Garrison. Everything is okay. You just want one of those chicken legs, don’t you?”
Everyone laughed.
“But you can’t have one,” June continued. “You don’t have any teeth yet, baby.”
Junior didn’t find anything funny. He was steadily crying until Calista’s heart couldn’t take it anymore. “Here, I’ll take him, June.”
“Okay,” June said handing him to Calista.
Calista cradled Junior in her arms and his cries instantly stopped. “There. It’s okay, sweet boy.” She automatically kissed his cheek.
Garrison smiled, then resumed eating.
Candice glanced up at Barringer, feeling sorry for her brother. She saw the veins at his temples swell. Saw his jaw clench. Face flush. This is not good, she thought. She tried to tell Calista it wasn’t a good idea for Barringer to see her with Junior, but apparently, Calista didn’t get the point. Or maybe she did and just didn’t care. Did she resent Barringer that much?
“See. That’s all he wanted,” Elowyn said. “He’s really taken to you, Calista.”
Calista smiled uncomfortably. She dared to look up at Barringer.
Now that Junior was calm and quiet, forks clanking against plates could be heard, along with smooth jazz playing from the living r
oom.
Barringer still hadn’t touched his food. He sat back in his chair, looking at Calista holding Garrison’s baby and something broke inside of him because it was then he realized he would never be able to give her a baby. And she was good with Junior. She held him like she was a mother already. Like she’d had practice. Some women were naturals at motherhood. She was one of those women.
Barringer stood up.
“Barry, where are you going?” Candice asked.
“I just remembered…I have somewhere to be. Enjoy dinner, guys,” he responded.
“Oh, come on, Barringer,” Elowyn said. “Don’t ruin this for us.”
“Mother—”
“We’re finally able to all be here as a family and you’re leaving,” she finished saying. “Please stay, son.”
“I can’t,” he said. He took a final glance at Calista holding Junior. “I can’t. I’m going to go.”
Elowyn shook her head, was almost near tears when she heard the door close behind him.
Everyone took turns sneaking glances at Calista.
Attempting to smooth things over, Candice said, “It’s all right, Mom. Barringer will be fine. I’ll check on him later.” She sounded calm, but really she could scream. How could Calista do this?
Chapter 30
Instead of driving home, Barringer drove to Garrison’s house, parked out front and waited. He decided it would be best to confront him this way, in private, instead of in front of the family. He’d been torturing himself, holding his anger in for so long, he had to get up and walk away from the dinner table tonight. Otherwise, the vision he had of repeatedly punching Garrison in the face would’ve become reality then and there.
Then there was the matter of seeing Calista holding Garrison’s baby. That simple act intensified his anger. Made him bitter. Jealous. What was so wrong with him that he couldn’t give Calista a baby? Was this some kind of punishment? He didn’t know at the moment. What he did know is, he would find out why Garrison was having drinks with Calista last night.
* * *
He’d waited two hours and now, Garrison was pulling up in the driveway. Garrison parked, took Junior’s car seat from the back and headed for the door. He saw Barringer parked out front and figured he’d either sit there or get out sooner or later. For now, he had to get his son inside.
Barringer jumped out of the car. He quietly headed in the direction of his brother. He honestly didn’t know what he would do. He was tired. Angry. No, furious. After watching Calista laugh it up with Garrison – those images in his head all day had done a number on him.
“Is there something you needed, Barry?” Garrison asked, unlocking the door with his right hand while holding the car seat with his left. The diaper bag was swinging from his left shoulder.
“Yeah. There’s something I need to ask you.”
Garrison walked inside.
Barringer was steps behind him.
“Okay, um…let me put Junior in his crib. I’ll be right back.”
Barringer used the time to look around the living room. He hadn’t been to Garrison’s house in quite some time. He noticed Garrison had taken down all the pictures of Vivienne from the walls.
Nearing the bottom of the stairs, Garrison said, “If this is work-related, don’t bother.”
Barringer glanced up at his brother. “Has nothing to do with work, Gary.”
“Well, what is it?” Garrison asked, walking to stand near him.
Barringer frowned. There was no easy way to ask it, so he decided to come right out with it. “Are you sleeping with my wife?”
“What?” Garrison frowned.
“I’m not asking it twice.”
“What kind of question is that, Barry?”
“One I need you to answer,” he scowled.
Garrison glared at his brother. “I’m not going to justify your ridiculous question with answer.”
“Then how about this one? Why were you at a bar, sharing drinks with my wife last night? Can you answer that one?”
“Sure. I’ll answer it. I told her I needed to talk. She agreed to meet me there.”
Now, the brothers were standing a few feet apart glaring at each other.
Garrison tried to keep a cool head because he knew his brother usually kept a hot one. “Listen, Barry, I don’t know what your intention was in coming here, but—”
“I want to know if you’re sleeping with my wife, Gary,” Barringer asked, eyes burning with rage. He shoved Garrison, twice, while asking the question again.
Garrison caught his balance. “You need to calm down, Barry. I’m not going to fight you.”
“You’re sleeping with my wife?” Barringer shoved him again.
Garrison balanced himself then rubbed the nape of his neck. As calmly as he could muster, he said, “No. Calista has been taking care of Junior. Vivienne personally asked her to do so before she died. There. She’s taking care of my son. Does that answer your question?”
“Right. She’s taking care of your son. Your son, huh? Was that a shot at me?” Barringer asked with flaring nostrils.
“I’m not taking shots at you, Barry. Jeez, man.”
“Yeah. Spending your time with my wife is more of your speed.”
“Man, I just told you—”
“Then why are you two so close all of a sudden? Hunh?”
Garrison sighed, rubbed his head and said, “There’s nothing all-of-a-sudden about me and Calista’s relationship. I should’ve told you this before, Barry. I had planned on telling you tonight, but you left dinner early. So here goes...I’ve known Calista since before you two were married.”
Barringer looked at his brother with a dark, heated gaze that could cut through steel. “Come again?”
“We used to date. In college.”
Barringer’s breaths became rapid. Chest heavy. He took a few, small, predatory steps closer to his brother. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
“Barry, you need to calm down, man.”
“What do you mean you used to date her?”
“In college, before she even knew you existed, we dated.”
Barringer shoved his brother again to the point where Garrison almost fell, but he caught himself.
Garrison brushed it off. “Barry—”
“You dated my Calista?”
“Like I said, it was before she knew you.”
“So you slept with her?” Barringer asked with criminal eyes.
“Barry—”
“Did you sleep with her?” he asked again, but already knew the answer to the question before the words left his mouth.
“That was in the past. Again, we were in college. We were dating. We’re not dating now. She’s your wife and no, I’m not sleeping with your wife, Barry. We spend time together because she helps me with Junior and I can talk to her, and quite frankly, I appreciate her being there for me.”
“Wow. Unbelievable.”
Garrison took a breath. “I lost my wife. Vivienne is gone. Calista, Kalina, Candice, June, Everson and Bryson…they were there for me. Where were you, Barry? Where were you? When I’m here alone trying to figure out how I’m going to make it from one day to the next, where are you?”
Barringer frowned.
“This is the first time you’ve been over here since Vivienne passed. Do you realize that? First time. And it’s not to see how I’m coping. It’s to confront me because you think Calista and I are sleeping together. Newsflash, Barry. Selfish people and marriage don’t mix. That’s why your marriage has fallen apart. Has nothing to do with me. It’s you. You’re selfish. You lied to Calista. Presented yourself as someone you were not. Now, you have to live with that decision.”
Barringer stood motionless as he glared at his brother.
Garrison continued, “If you want to blame someone for your failed marriage, look in the mirror, man. I’m no threat to your marriage. Calista has been an anchor for me, and I’m grateful to her for taking care of Junior, because I
can’t do it on my own.”
Barringer turned around, left Garrison standing in the living room as he headed for the front door. He started his car, slammed on the gas and with tires squealing he headed for his next destination – Calista’s apartment.
Chapter 31
Thoughts another human being should never have about another ran through Barringer’s mind as he raced to Calista’s place. He’d nearly lost control of the Porsche several times, but that didn’t signal him to slow down. He drove like he felt – like an out-of-control maniac. Out of his mind. He had no idea what he would do once he arrived. Once he laid eyes on her.
She moved out of their home – wanted to start a new life and gave him the third degree because he kept a secret from her when she’d been keeping one from him – she used to date his brother. Why hadn’t she told him that before they married? Was she afraid he wouldn’t want to marry her if he found out, and if so, wouldn’t that put them both in the wrong? Did they not do the exact same thing? Keep a secret from each other for the sake of the relationship?
He swiftly emerged from the car and rang the doorbell, repeatedly. More times than he could count. He pushed and pushed and pushed. If she was sleeping, too bad. She was going to answer this door. Tonight.
Calista sat up in bed, glancing at the clock. Who’d lost their mind and was ringing her doorbell frantically so close to midnight? Then a thought hit her. Maybe it was Garrison. What if something was wrong with Junior?
She jumped out of bed, walked quickly to the door. When she peered through the peephole, she was surprised to see Barringer standing there. He looked angry. Out of himself. His look scared her so much, she didn’t know whether or not to open the door. So instead, she said loud enough for him to hear, “What is it, Barringer?”
“Open the door,” he said, his voice forced, eyes filled with anger.
“Why?”
“Because I asked you to open the door. I need to talk to you. Now.”
Without responding, she turned the deadbolt lock.
Barringer took it from there. He pushed the door open and invited himself in.
