Beautiful Liar (2 page)

He patted her on the thigh. “Well, I’m home
now. Things are about to get much better. You’ll see.”

“All I care about is you being home.
Everything else is secondary.”

“How much money is left?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Uhh, you know that
I haven’t been working. And-”

“I know,” he said, cutting her off. “Just
tell me how much is left, I ain’t tripping.”

“Uhh, around ten grand.”

Tywan didn’t immediately respond, and Misty
stole a glance at him. “You mad?”

He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“No, baby. I’m hip to the cost of living. A hundred bands can only
go so far, so I’m not stressing it. You made sure that both of us
was straight, and that’s all that matters. I just got to get
back.”

Another panic wave shot through Misty. “Baby.
You know that if you don’t ever have those things that you used to
have, I would still love you the same, right?”

“I know. But this don’t have nothing to do
with you; it’s about me and my expectations. Them crackers had me
living in the lowest conditions for the past seven years. Ain’t no
way I’mma come home and live in the same standards.”

“I understand that, but how doesn’t it have
anything to do with me?” she whined. “I done those seven years with
you. Maybe not physically, but mentally I suffered the same.”

“Please, Misty.”

“Don’t please me! I can’t go through that
shit again. It’s too much.”

Tywan felt his temper flaring. “You seemed to
have forgotten how I even got into this predicament!”

He saw the expression on her face and
instantly regretted his words. He knew that it was too late to take
them back, so he caressed her thigh again. “Listen to me, Misty. I
really do understand where you are coming from. I do. And I promise
that I ain’t never going back to prison. I’m too smart now to make
juxing a career. As soon as I get enough money to buy a couple of
dry cleaners, I’m done. Okay?”

She looked over at him with teary eyes. “You
promise?”

“Have I ever lied to you?”

“No. Never.”

They rode in silence
while Tywan flipped
through the CD case. “You don’t got no T.I. or Finger Eleven?”

“Finger, who? What’s that?”

“It’s a white band. They came out with that
song called Paralyzed. I love that song!”

“There’s some T.I. way in the back, but I’ve
never heard of that other group.”

“In there, you start appreciating all types
of music.”

“I bet. Especially how the regular stations
be playing the same stuff. Drives me crazy.”

They approached a convenient store. Misty pulled in.
“I got to get us something to drink. Want something?”

“Get some cookies and cream ice cream, if you
don’t already got some at home.”

“Okay.”

Tywan was listening to T.I.’s Trap Musik CD
when a dark blue CL 600 pulled up. The driver got out and was
entering the store as Misty was coming out.

“What’s up, Misty?”

“Hey, Rich.”

“Hold up for a minute.” he said blocking her
path. “You’re always in a hurry. How’s your brother doing?”

“He’s straight.”

“Tell him I said that he ain’t got to act
like that, he can call me. I’m not his enemy.”

She maneuvered around him. “Okay, I’ll tell
him.”

Rich suddenly noticed the male figure in her
car and smiled.

“Okay! You finally got you somebody. I was
starting to wonder about you.”

“Bye, Rich.”

Rich turned to her car and threw up a fist at
Tywan. “You better treat my partner’s lil’ sister right, or I’mma
send my young Niggas to come holler at you.” He then focused back
on Misty. “When you get tired of dealing with those lil’ Niggas,
come see me. You know that I’ve always had a soft spot for
you.”

She quickly got in the car and pulled off
before Tywan could react. “Never mind him, he don’t know any
better.”

“Who the fuck was that?” he asked,
flaring.

“You remember Davon Burton, right?”

“The one that got killed back in the
days?”

“Yeah. That’s his lil’ brother, Richard.”

Tywan turned around in his seat and peered at
the Mercedes. “That was little, snotty nose Richard?”

“Hmm...hm.”

“He’s feeling his self, ain’t he?”

“Yeah. They say that he had something to do
with my brother getting locked up, but I don’t know for sure. My
brother won’t say.”

Tywan got one last look at the Mercedes
before turning back around in his seat. “Is he getting it for real,
or he just got some show dough?”

“His name has been ringing ever since my
brother got locked up. But he’s not worth it, because he’ll put the
police on you.”

Tywan wasn’t listening to her anymore; his
wheels were turning.

Rich came out of the store with a box of condoms
and a bottled water. He was about a foot from his car when an
old-school, convertible Cutlass pulled up. He immediately switched
directions to approach it, but stutter-stepped when he saw who was
driving it.

A large woman got out the car, and it seemed
to rise up some inches. She smiled brightly at Rich.

“Hey, baby!”

“Wanda. What’s happening?” he asked,
dryly.

She stopped eight inches from him. “Nothing.
I was just thinking about you last night when I was taking a
shower.”

“Oh, you were?”

“Uh huh. Wondering why you haven’t called me
yet.”

“I’ve been busy. What’s up with C-Jay?”

“What do you mean what’s up with him?”

“Did you give him my message?”

“Yeah. Didn’t I say I was?”

“Yeah, but I haven’t heard from him.”

“I can’t make him call.”

“Can you give me his number?”

Wanda frowned and began to walk away. “I see
what this is, you’re trying to use me to get to my brother.”

“No, no!” he said, grabbing her arm and
wrapping his other one around her large waist. “It’s not like that,
Wanda. You know I dig you. It’s just I be trying to make moves, and
your brother is the missing piece. You see what I’m saying?”

“Yeah, I see what you’re saying.” She faced
him again. “But the question is, do you know that you’re my missing
piece?”

Rich wanted to crawl in a hole when a car
full of gorgeous women pulled up. They got out of the car, laughing
at him.

“Damn, Rich. That’s who you fronting on my
girl for?” one of them asked.

Wanda wrapped both of her arms around Rich’s
neck and glared at the women, “That’s right! And you better get
your skinny ass in the store before I whip your ass!”

The women laughed but kept it moving in the
process. Wanda then focused back on her boo. “I tell you what. If
you come back to my house with me, I’ll give you C-Jay’s number.
Plus, I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“I…Wanda, I got somewhere to be. Give it to
me, and I’ll be over there later.”

“Well,” she said, releasing him, “I’ll give
it to you when you come later. See ya.”

He grabbed her arm once more. “Please, Wanda.
Don’t do me like this.”

“I’m not doing you like nothing. I got needs,
too. Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”

Rich thought about what she wanted him to do
with her and suddenly had the urge to vomit. He had never in his
life had sex with or been attracted to a big girl, so he didn’t
know if he could physically respond to her. But he looked at the
bigger picture and knew she had the key to the treasure he was
seeking. So in knowing that, he swallowed his pride and hoped she
had something strong to drink at her house.

Misty pulled up at the shabby two-bedroom and
killed the engine.

“Well, we’re home.”

Tywan squinted at the house he had bought
nine years ago and took a deep breath. It pained him to see the
conditions she had been forced to live in. His incarceration had
somewhat brought both of them down to their knees.

A nearby gunshot brought him out of his daze,
causing him to scan his surroundings. “What the…”

“That’s common around here now,” she said,
placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Damn. What happened to this neighborhood? I
remember it being nice.”

“Most of these houses are section eight now,
so you know how that goes.”

“Let’s get in the house before we catch a
stray.”

She let them into the house. Tywan was
relieved the inside was more welcoming. He didn’t realize that he
was still standing in the doorway until Misty looked back,
frowning.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

“I don’t know. I guess I can’t believe that
I’m really home. It’s been too long.”

Tears flooded Misty’s eyes; because it
suddenly dawned on her there wouldn’t be any more lonely nights.
She ran into Tywan’s arms and let her grief go. “Please don’t leave
me alone again.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

“UL.”

“UL.”

Tywan parked beside
the Cadillac Escalade
just as its occupant got out. She gave him a snobbish look while
walking to the building. He entered the same building a minute
later and saw the woman talking to the receptionist. “Excuse me,”
he interrupted, “I’m Tywan Williamson. I’m here to see Sarah
Bates.”

The receptionist looked at the lady then back
to Tywan. “Have a seat, she’ll be with you in a moment.”

“Thank you.”

“Like I was saying,” the snobbish woman
continued, “you know that my husband is a jeweler.”

“Really? No, I didn’t know that.”

“Yes. He designed this ring himself; it’s
four carats,” she added, quickly.

“It’s so beautiful!” She leaned in to examine
the platinum ring. “You’re so fortunate.”

“Thank you.”

“Amber never mentioned what your husband does
for a living, but she did tell me that y’all just bought a
beautiful home.”

“Yes we did. It’s a two-story, four-bedroom
house with a pool and a hot tub in the back.”

“She told me. I remember when that
sub-division was being built. My husband and I pass by it all the
time on our way to Wal-Mart.”

Tywan listened to them talk for another
fifteen minutes before the snobbish woman headed to the back.

He sat there and thought about the
seventy-five hundred dollars that he and Misty had to their name
and felt sickened. He felt like he was failing to perform his
duties as the provider. There were priority things he had to do,
and the first one was to move out of his neighborhood. It wasn’t
the type of place that he could ever see himself relaxing in.

Secondly, he had to get himself some
transportation. He didn’t like the fact that he was interfering
with Misty’s errands. It made him feel like a scrub.

The plan he was brewing gave him some
comfort, but being it was premature, he needed something to hold
him over until he actually made the move.

“Mr. Williamson.”

He got up and approached the receptionist
desk. “Yes?”

“Mrs. Bates will see you now. Her office is
the third door on the right.”

“Thank you.”

When he reached his parole officer’s office,
he was shocked to see she was the same snobbish woman that was
driving the Escalade. “Excuse me. I’m Tywan Williamson.”

“Come in and have a seat, Mr.
Williamson.”

He complied while she peered at him.

“How do you like your freedom?”

He smiled. “It’s like fresh air.”

“So I’m assuming that means that I won’t have
any trouble out of you.”

“No, ma’am.”

“Good for you. I’m also assuming that you
have a license.”

“Excuse me?”

She adjusted the large diamond ring on her
finger. “Aren’t you driving the white Cherokee out front?”

“Damn! Yes, ma’am.”

“Do you have a driver’s license or not?”

“I’m on my way to get it when I leave
here.”

She pursed her lips and peered at him over
her glasses. “I have a strong feeling you aren’t going to make it
on parole, Mr. Williamson. How long were you incarcerated?”

“Like eight-five months.”

“It’s obvious to me you still haven’t learned
how to be an abiding citizen of the law.”

“I have. There’s just no way-“

“I don’t want to hear any excuses!” she said,
cutting him off. “Excuses are for wimps.”

Tywan took a deep breath. “I’m far from
that.”

“Then quit acting like one and answer the
question, Mr. Williamson!”

“I did. I told you why…Well, I tried to but
you weren’t interested.”

“All I’m really interested in knowing is if
you have a driver’s license and a job to make your monthly
payments. Do you?”

“That’s where I’m coming from. I had two
interviews. And no, I don’t have a driver’s license. Yet.”

“That’s what I thought.” She began scribbling
something down on paper. “For your sake, you better hope one of
those jobs come through for you, or you’re going back to
prison.”

Tywan sighed. He was doing his best to hold
his tongue. He wasn’t use to being under such scrutiny.

She picked up the phone and dialed a few
numbers. “Jack, I need for you to conduct a urinalysis on one of my
guys…Okay, thanks.” She then ended the call and looked up at Tywan.
“Have you used any illegal substances in the last twenty-four
hours?”

“No.”

“You better hope that you haven’t.”

Just then, a man wearing a suit entered the
office. “Ready?”

“Yes. Go with Mr. White for a urinalysis, Mr.
Williamson. Then you can go.”

Tywan nodded and stood. When he was halfway
out of the door, she called his name. “Mr. Williamson.”

“Yes?”

“I suggest that you call somebody up here
with a driver’s license, because if you get behind that wheel I’m
going to violate you.”

It was two-thirty in
the morning when
Cairo let himself into Tracey’s townhouse. This was his first time
ever using his key, because it went against all of what he believed
in.