A Rich Man's Baby (3 page)

A
t every light I stopped at on the way home from work, my thoughts overflowed. It just seemed like life was so damn hard.
Why the hell me? How the hell am I ever going to get out of this rut of not having money and being able to pay all my bills?

I was still trying to figure out how I was going to pay a seven-hundred-dollar cell phone bill. I just hoped our cell phones didn't get cut off. I spent just about all my savings and was having a hard time filling my gas tank up on my own and giving the kids an allowance. I mean, the flip side was I could have kept Tyrone around, but it would have been just for his paycheck. That wouldn't have been fair to him, and I'd rather try to make it on my own. I just had to start bringing my lunch to work instead of eating out every day and cut back on everything. I thought I still might have to get a second job to handle all my expenses. The only time I missed Tyrone was when I started thinking about my finances. I was so happy to have my bed to myself. I stretched out and didn't have to hear no snoring. I didn't have to wake up in the middle of the night to turn off the television, and I didn't have an old man begging me for sex.

My only regret was I wished I had left him sooner. I'd been feeling incomplete for years, but I was too scared to leave. I always asked myself,
Who's going to help me with the children and pay the bills?

I should have him left when I was in my twenties, 'cause now at thirty-two, I wasn't old, but it was going to be a little harder getting on the dating scene. I knew I still looked good. No one could ever believe I was over thirty. I didn't do anything special, but I maintained my weight. And I drank a lot of water. My mocha skin was always smooth and soft, and my hair, I wore it just below my shoulder. I did very little makeup. But however I looked on the outside, I didn't feel it on the inside. I'd been around an old man for so long I had old-lady ways. Tyrone was still heartbroken, but I couldn't live for him. His best friend George's wife, Rose, had been calling me, asking me to reconsider. His chains were off me. I was free, and I wasn't turning back.

I soaked in the scalding hot bubble bath. I liked my water so hot that I could barely take it. I sat in the tub and just relaxed. I had the Smooth Jazz station playing. My mind was at ease. I had my dinner cooking on low and had just enough time to relax, until I heard a loud knock at the door. It never failed. I couldn't even take a bath without somebody bothering me. I loved my kids, but I always imagined life without them. I'd been tied down since I could remember.

“Mommy, my daddy told me to tell you he downstairs,” Kierra yelled.

“Okay, tell him I'll be down,” I said as I hurried and washed and let the water out of the tub.

After I dressed in my walk-around-the-house clothes, I came downstairs to see Tyrone sitting on the sofa. He looked like he had tried to clean up some, and he had lost a little weight. He had a haircut and shaved off his gray sideburns. I still wasn't attracted to him. He stood up so I could see the changes.

“What's up?” I said as I looked at him with my hands on my hips.

“Nothing, just wanted to have a quick visit. Where are Jamil and Alexis?”

“Alexis is over at her friend's house, and Jamil didn't get in here yet.”

“Well, hopefully I'll get to see them before I leave. Jamil had called me yesterday, said he wanted to talk to me. Something smells good,” he said as Kierra played with his nose and eyes. I guess he wanted me to ask him if he wanted some dinner.

“You want something to eat?” I huffed.

“That would be nice. I'm losing weight; ain't been eating right since you kicked me out,” he laughed. He was looking for a reaction from me, but he didn't get one.

“Your dinner's on the table. Kierra, go eat,” I said as I went to get Kierra's and my clothes ready for the next day.

I came back downstairs and he was sitting on the sofa. Baby Girl was asleep on his chest. Ty's boots were off and he had the remote in his hand like he still lived there.

“All right, Tyrone. I'm going to bed.”

“Is that an invite?” he chuckled.

“No, it is not. I'm too tired to play with you.”

“So you sure you don't want me to come up? Kierra's asleep and the kids are not here.”

“I'm very sure, Tyrone. Can you lock the door on the way out?”

He looked at me like I had said something wrong.

“All right, soon as I see the end of this I will. I'm going to put the trash out for you.”

“You don't have to. Jamil will do it tomorrow.”

“I don't mind.” Tyrone was using any excuse to stay a little longer.

I
was preparing a healthy meal that consisted of a medley of vegetables, baked chicken, and brown rice. I had leaned over to turn my rice down when my cell phone rang.

“Hey, miss,” a voice sang out.

“What's up, Stacey?” I asked as I drained the steaming pot of rice.

“I want you to come to my bridal shower. I need your address. It is very informal. Me and some of my friends are renting a stretch Hummer limo and having fun.”

I gave her my address; then she asked me what I was doing.

“Cooking.”

“Cooking dinner? Oh my God, you have a boyfriend,” she said excitedly.

“No, I don't have a boyfriend.”

“Whatever, you are going to have to update me when you get to work.”

I couldn't wait until we got to work to fill her in. So I put the pot on the stove and said, “It's my trainer.”

“Your trainer? I knew you were getting a little too toned,” she yelled.

She wasn't lying. In three weeks, my body was firm. It was nice having a boyfriend and trainer in the same person. Our relationship was going at an accelerated pace, but it was good.

“I'll see you when I get in,” I said as I cut my vegetables off.

Fifteen minutes later, I heard keys jingling in the door. Kyle walked into the apartment. I was just setting the table. I usually would never let a man I just met have keys to my house or stay with me. But it felt so good having someone around, and it wasn't like I didn't know him.

He washed his hands and began making his plate. He poured almost the entire pot of vegetables on his plate and half of a chicken breast. He then poured a giant-size glass of water. I didn't really like sitting down with him to eat. It seemed like he was counting every calorie that went into my mouth. I put a few spoonfuls of rice, a full breast, and what was left of the vegetables on my plate.

“Don't eat too much. I don't want you to mess up how tight I got that butt,” he said. He was right. Since I'd been dealing with him, my abs and butt were tight as hell. I could go pose in a spread in any magazine now with no airbrushing.

“How was work today?” I asked.

“It was okay. I'm just going to have to drop you off at work because my car is giving me problems. I took it to the mechanic on the way home. He said it is going to be around four hundred.”

“What's the matter with it?” I asked as I cut my chicken across with my knife and fork.

“The alternator and the fan belt. You think I could borrow the money until I get paid Friday?”

“Okay.”

“Can you go get the money out before you go to work? That way I don't have to use your car again. I can drop my car off tonight.”

Before I went to work Kyle followed me to the ATM. As I withdrew the money out of the machine, something clicked in my head.
Why am I getting his car fixed?
I felt a little silly. But I knew once he got paid he would give me the money back.

Friday came and I didn't hear from Kyle. The last time I talked to or saw him was when I put the money to get his car fixed in his hand. He had let three days go by without calling me. I wasn't even calling him about my money. I was just trying to see if he was okay. I dialed his number and he didn't answer his phone. That was strange, but I still didn't panic. But by twelve I was almost in tears. We were dating for only a few weeks, but I felt so close to him and knew he wouldn't stop calling me over money. I got out of my bed, drank some water, and tried to go to sleep thinking he would probably call me in the morning.

Hours later, I still couldn't go to sleep because my neighbor's car alarm kept going off. Now I was getting angry at Kyle. Damn. If nothing else, I thought we were friends.

Three days later, he was still not answering my telephone calls. I realized he had stayed with me for weeks and hadn't brought anything but his dick into my apartment. I got used. However, I still needed answers—clarity, closure, comfort. It couldn't be over just like that, no rhyme or reason. I was missing him so much, I didn't know what to think.

I was really trying not to go up to the gym. If I did, I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't act like a fool. I didn't know what was going on with me or him. I think I got caught up in his pillow talk. It was real deep. I was still waiting for my phone to chirp, letting me know I had a text message from him. I knew he wouldn't be ducking me over four hundred dollars. I sat there and analyzed our entire relationship from beginning to end a few times and then decided to leave him one last message. I started to get scared, like I really might not ever talk to him again. I needed to get my mind right. I was crazy, I know. I ran water. I poured a few bubbles in it. I placed my foot in the hot water. I wanted to put my head under for being so dumb, but I sat back and relaxed.

Then I heard my phone chirp. I jumped out of the bath without a towel, almost slipping. I prayed as I looked at my message. It was him.
Thank you.
And then I read the message:

 

I JUST CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE. WE ARE MOVING TOO FAST
.

 

I wanted to throw my phone. I reread it to make sure I had seen it right. He couldn't do what anymore? Come over to my house and eat my food, drive my car, borrow money from me? Yeah, that is a real chore to do. I was angry. He broke up with me by text message. That was so damn funny. Here it was, I couldn't think and had been going crazy the last couple of days, worried about him. He ended our love affair by a goddamn text message.

I called him back and he didn't answer. So I texted him back:

 

DON'T TEXT ME, TALK TO ME
.

 

He didn't respond and that was it. Kyle and I were over, and I needed to find a new gym.

M
y bar review class was intense. They were going over everything I had learned over the last three years. The test was at the end of July, and it was two days of testing: one day for an essay and the other for multiple-choice questions. The scary part was that I wouldn't get my results back until October after I started work. If I failed now, I couldn't take it again until February.

My sister said she wanted me to come to meet her for lunch. Lunch with Camille meant that she wanted to talk about her love life. I couldn't envision why it was so hard for her to find a man. I mean, I was juggling two! Everyone I went to school with was either engaged or married. She must have been doing something wrong, because there were men out there. She went to the gym three times a week and was beautiful. She was tall and lean with cute brown eyes. She had a great job as an event organizer for the art museum and a few degrees. She was the artsy type. I think her problem was just she was too picky. A man is not that hard to find.

I let the hostesses seat me at the table. While waiting for Camille, I ordered a Cobb salad with vinaigrette dressing.

Camille finally arrived. She wore her hair pulled back so that I could get a view of her large diamond studs her last good boyfriend gave her three years ago.

“Hey.”

She looked like she was sick. “Camille, what's wrong?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing. I just got stood up again last night. I guess I'll just cuddle my accomplishments,” she said sadly.

“It is not that hard. Just stop being so judgmental and lower your standards a bit, and you will find a good man.”

“My standards are not too high. You would say that. Let's see, you have a consultant as a boyfriend and a pro ballplayer on the side. And you want me to date anybody? I don't think so.”

“I'm not saying date anybody. I'm just saying be open. What happened to the guy that Mommy wanted you to meet?”

“He installs cable all day. He can't pay for anything. I don't want to talk about it. I'm just not going on any more pity dates.”

“Pity dates,” I said as I laughed.

“Don't laugh. You don't know what it is like to be out here on this terrible dating scene. I have three degrees, Dionne. Why can't these men get one? Huh? I'm not required to talk to subpar men. If a man is broke, he can't afford to be in love. I can't take any more men who haven't been anywhere. The last guy I went out with didn't know the difference between a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. I can't teach a man how to have class. So from now on, I'm not dealing with them.”

I almost spit out my salad. “You are insane. You should have your own reality show.”

“I'm not insane. I'm just not talking to a man who is less successful and has the same amount as I do.”

“You could miss out on a great guy.”

“If the great guy does not make six figures, he can keep going. I have my own money. I'm done ranting. Fuck men! I don't know why you got me started.”

“I got you started?”

“Yes, anyway, I just wanted to know if you were participating in Mommy and Daddy's thirtieth wedding anniversary.”

“I'm going to be a part of it, but I don't have the time to help.”

“And what does that mean?”

“It means that I'll contribute. Just don't expect me to run around. I'm showing up, and that's it. Because I have to study and pass the bar.”

 

My parents' anniversary party was held in a big hall. I was sitting at the table with Camille and Terrance. I smiled as I looked over at the poster-size picture of my parents' wedding photo. My mom had a bunch of blue eye shadow on and a fluffy big Afro, and my father had long, thick sideburns and all of his hair. They looked the same now, just an older version of that young couple. Everyone ate, drank, and reminisced with them. A lot of people came up to them to take pictures and ask for advice. They danced to their wedding song by the Stylistics, “You Are Everything.”

When dessert was being brought out, Terrance tapped me and said that he would be right back. I was ready to go home. I was done with this whole party, and my feet were killing me. My father stood up in his navy suit. He asked everyone to be quiet.

Camille looked over at me, and asked, “What is Daddy about to say?”

“I guess it is over and he wants to thank everyone for coming out.”

My dad tapped the microphone to get everyone's attention and said, “Everything tonight is about me and my wife and the blessing that God bestowed upon us thirty years ago. But tonight is also about new love as well as the old. Come up here, Dionne.”

I stood up real quick and sat back down. I didn't know what my dad was up to. I hoped he wasn't about to announce that I had graduated from law school. But he kept going on and on about love and told me to come up to the front of the ballroom with him. I walked to the stage with my dad, bewildered. I looked over at the door as the lights dimmed and Terrance came from the back with a spotlight and band following him. He reached me and dropped to one knee.

“Will you be my wife?” I looked at a teary-eyed Terrance as he waited for my response. I was surprised and shocked. I knew we were going to get married someday, but not now. The whole room was quiet. People were taking pictures and awaiting my response. I leaned into Terrance and hugged him and said yes. He held me as everyone began clapping. My dad was the loudest.

The rest of the evening well-wishers passed the table, congratulating us. It turned from my parents' anniversary party into my engagement party. My wrist was hurting from holding my hand down, showing off my oval-shaped diamond ring. My ring was beautiful.

Camille came over and took a picture of us. She whispered in my ear, “How you getting married before me? I'm the big sister. I'm happy for you, but I get to pick out the bridesmaid dresses.”

Terrance and I danced. I asked him when he had decided to do all this.

“I planned to ask you the day of your graduation, but it just didn't seem right. I saw how your dad reacted when you told him you were moving in.”

“So, you sure you want to spend the rest of your life with me?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, and we kissed.