Cartier Cartel (24 page)

"And when Jason comes on those trailer visits you make it worth his
while. You keep planning y'all future. Keep your toes and fingernails painted
and your hair smelling clean. You show him that you're a good, educated
woman, and I'll keep my eyes on that low, classless bitch!"

Cartier agreed with her mother. And she liked the idea of never
mentioning Monya's name again while she was locked up. She knew it would
be hard and almost kill her not to, but it was for the best. She didn't want to
believe those two could swing an episode. The thought was repulsive. Monya
knew Jason was all that Cartier had. Why would she want to take that away,
especially after Cartier had given up her freedom for her? This was how she
repaid her ... Cartier was mortified.

hile Cartier was busy planning her and Jason's future, she never
fathomed the future would include a plus one so quickly. When
the prison's RN told Cartier she was ten weeks pregnant, she didn't know
how to take the news. As much as she wanted to be elated about having
Jason's baby, the fact remained that their future together was sketchy at best.
Additionally, she had all but given up on ever being released from prison.
She was tired of being denied at every parole hearing and always for the same
reason. But her prison record was stellar; not a blemish in almost seven years.
Now she was pregnant, adding to her fear.

Cartier did as Trina said, and never mentioned Monya again. She even
speculated that her mother knew more than she was saying, but she decided
to leave it be, especially now. If Jason was fucking Monya, she was in prison
and she couldn't control or worry about it. He could always explain away
their sightings as business.

When Jason came to visit Cartier for their weekly visit, she was visibly
sick. Jason took one look at her swollen breasts and flushed face, and knew
instantly.

`Are you pregnant?" he asked.

Cartier shook her head. "I just found out yesterday."

"How far along are you?"

"I'm ten weeks ... how do you feel about that?"

"What's done is done," Jason replied nonchalantly.

Cartier was immediately sullen. It was as if she could do no right. She
spoke with trepidation. "Are you not happy?" Her eyes displayed layers of
hurt and anguish. She felt as though her whole marriage was falling apart.

Sensing her mood, Jason immediately perked up. "Of course I'm happy!
You're having my daughter. I want her to look just like you." He gave Cartier
a wet kiss on her forehead.

Cartier exhaled and actually smiled. It was the first time she'd felt good
about anything in weeks. She knew the marriage was a huge mistake, but
what was done was done. She wanted her marriage to work, even if it meant
putting up with shit while she was still in prison.

"How do you know I'm not having your son?" she asked.

"I hope it's a girl," he said again. "What about you? You want a girl or
boy?"

"Jason, I'm so scared," she said with genuine fear in her voice.

"About what?"

"The board denying my parole again. What will happen to our baby?"

"Stop talking crazy," Jason replied. He could hear the worry in her voice.
"All you need to worry about is eating right and doing exercise, so you can
deliver a healthy baby. They gonna let you up out of this joint. You done went
to school and got your education. You're a model inmate. They only hit you
with extra time to shake you up. But trust, you coming home soon."

Cartier was happy for the encouragement from Jason. That day he
showed a glimpse of the old Jason she had grown to know and love.

wo weeks later, Cartier was astonished to see Monya sitting in the
visiting room waiting for her. From a distance, Cartier could tell she
looked slightly larger than she remembered, but surmised that they were no
longer teenagers. Cartier didn't know how she should feel toward Monya. Were they still friends? Why had she abandoned her when she needed her the
most? More importantly, was she sleeping with her husband. Cartier had so
many questions going through her head, but the overwhelming feeling of joy
superseded any ill feelings. Cartier actually missed and still loved Monya.

Monya didn't bother to stand as Cartier approached. Cartier sat down
and the two faced each other. Cartier had a slight smile on her face, inviting
conversation, but Monya's face was stone. Cartier quickly adopted Monya's
mood.

"What are you doing here?" Cartier asked. "What do you want after all
these years?"

"I came to talk to you," Monya replied in a serious tone. "Woman to
woman. We got a few things that need to be sorted out."

Instantly, Cartier knew the rumors were true. She cut through the bullshit
and was straight-up. "You really fucked my husband."

"Yup, I really did."

"You were my friend. I never thought dick would come between us."

"Jason isn't just a dick. He's a whole package who takes care of me very
well."

"OK, he takes care of you. He takes care of me. We could go tit for tat, but
the fact still remains, he married me and you're the angry mistress."

Monya glared, "Correction. I'm his baby momma...."

All the color drained from Cartier's face. She wanted to wrap her hands
around Monya's throat and just squeeze. Immediately, she knew the reason
for the visit. Monya came to provoke her. She knew Cartier was coming home
soon, and Jason had probably told her that Cartier was pregnant. Cartier
knew Monya wasn't lying. She could see the pregnancy all over her face and
body.

"Congratulations, join the club," Cartier facetiously stated.

"Unfortunately for you, I'm in the first baby momma's club in a class all
by myself. I'm nearly five months."

"And you came all the way up here to tell me that? You should have saved
your gas money. I already got the memo. Jason told me," Cartier lied.

Now it was Monya's turn to lose color in her face. Jason told her he didn't
want Cartier to know until after she came home. Maybe he broke down and
told her beforehand ... Monya wasn't sure what to think.

Cartier had on a poker face, which irked Monya. She thought her exfriend would lash out and try to assault her. Scream all types of obscenities at
her and denounce their friendship. Instead, she got a gleeful, well informed,
bitch.

"Did he also tell you that he's filing for a divorce and we're getting
married?"

"No, he never mentioned that. But he did say that you were delusional
and gave good head."

"Great head. I give great head." The two adversaries eyed each other with
hatred. Cartier wanted to ask Monya what had happened between them.
How could the two of them, being as close as sisters, sit a few inches apart
and loathe each other? If she had a hundred years to ponder the question,
she was sure she still wouldn't come up with a viable answer. The situation
had ripped Cartier apart internally, but she sat stoically until Monya abruptly
ended the visit.

"I hope you got what you came for," Cartier yelled.

Monya just tossed up her middle finger and never looked back.

Inside her cell, Cartier purged her soul. She cried a wealth of emotions.
She was confused and felt betrayed. Out of all the women Jason could have
slept with, why did he have to sleep with Monya? And to sleep with her
unprotected and get her pregnant. Another woman was having her husband's
first born. Cartier felt trapped in a bad soap opera, only this was her reality.
And for the first time since taking the rap, she wished she would have let
Monya rot in jail.

That night, Cartier didn't feel like calling anyone. The next night she felt the same way. She just sat in her cell feeling sorry for herself. When Jason
came for his usual visit, she had to pull herself together. Half of her didn't
expect him to come. The other half of her was glad that he hadn't chosen
Monya over her. Cartier kept her poker face on as she went and had a seat.
Jason was extremely jovial. His demeanor plucked Cartier's nerve. But she
was determined to keep it together.

"How's my baby?"Jason asked.

"Which one?"

"What you mean?" Jason asked, immediately sensing this would not be
a good visit. He knew Monya had visited Cartier. When Cartier didn't call,
he knew he was in deep shit. He wrestled with whether or not he should he,
but thought against it. He wouldn't fully admit too much, but if he lied now
when he was busted, only to be caught again in that same lie when Cartier
came home, would be senseless.

"I mean, which baby are you asking about? Me or our baby," Cartier
smiled and broke the ice. She knew he was ready for an argument, but she
remembered what her mother told her. Don't make Monya an issue.

Jason's smile stretched half a mile. He was tickled she didn't want a
confrontation.

"Both my babies. You and little Cee Cee."

"Little Cee Cee? You've already nicknamed our baby and you don't know
what we're having?"

"You're having my baby girl, because I always get what I want."

Cartier wanted to say so badly that his behavior spoke louder than his
words, but she chose to remain quiet. Although she spoke with a smile on
her face, her eyes told her true feelings. They were dead and flat. The news
about Jason and Monya sneaking around, coupled with the fact that Monya
was carrying his firstborn, had truly killed her inside. The smarter part of her
told her to never speak to Jason again and raise her baby on her own. The
competitive side was saying, It's on, bitch. At the moment Cartier didn't know which side would win. Her head or her heart.

or a while, as the baby grew inside her, Cartier began to withdraw. The
nurses had to warn her that she needed to eat to put on weight and
nourish her child. Cartier tried, but it was too much. She couldn't pretend
the situation with Jason and Monya wasn't affecting her. How long would she
have to smile in his face and say nothing while he was out gallivanting with
his mistress? He was her husband, and he'd already broken their vows and
fucked up in the worst way.