Let Me Just Say This (2 page)

“Kevin, it's fine. I bought these to match the dress and no one will know any different.”

“I will.”

“Look, let's just go downstairs and enjoy the rest of the party. I'll put them back on later.” She said with a sly smile and a wink. She moved up to him to let him know how aroused she was by him. He sidestepped her, picked up her shoes and threw them in her direction.

“Put the fucking shoes back on.”

“Lower your voice before our guests hear you. What is your problem? My feet are killing me. Besides, the party is
in full swing and I doubt anyone will even notice.”

“I will notice,” he said, catching her by the arm. “You should have thought about that before you bought them. Now put the damn shoes back on. I am not going to tell you again.”

“Get your damn hands off of me! Who in the hell do you think you are!?” Before another second slipped by, he had slapped her so hard she swallowed the mint she had been sucking on.

“It can't be that serious,” she said after she stopped coughing.

“Oh, but it is,” he said.

He watched her as she hooked the strap on her shoe, got up and started for the door. He gave her a push. He saw the tear slide from her eye but he wasn't going to let her ruin this night for him.

Cheryl walked back downstairs to the party in full swing. The guests were laughing and the food was being served just as she had planned. The wait staff was doing a great job making sure that no guest had to ask for a drink or food.

“Girl, you out did yourself. I know Kevin is thrilled,” Dee said.

“Well, you know I try, but it never seems to be enough” she whispered.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

What's up? Why is your mouth tight? What did he do?”

“Nothing, he didn't do anything.”

“Why you gonna lie to your girl? You know I see right through that face,”

“Girl, nothing. I'm just tired and my feet are aching, plus I'm ready for bed.”

“Oh, I bet you are…I'm jealous. He is looking mighty tasty. Matter of fact, he is looking good enough to eat,” Dee said, winking.

“Get your damn mind out of the gutter. Besides he looks all right.”

“Hello? We must not be looking at the same man. Girl, your husband is too fine tonight, and I see the way that Rebecca woman is watching him. Like he is a T-bone and she got the steak sauce. Sluurrrrp.” Cheryl laughed a little
too loud, which caught the ear of Kevin.

He walked over to them and announced, “I need you to meet some of my clients.” As he pulled Cheryl in one direction, Dee headed in the opposite.

“Don't be so damn ghetto. Goddamn, every time you get around her you forget yourself.”

“I was only laughing at…”

Kevin grabbed her upper arm and pulled her along with him, “Mr. Townsend, I want you to meet my wife, Cheryl.”

Mr. Townsend extended his hand to hers and kissed it. Who does that?

“Nice to meet you. I must compliment you on such a great party. Kevin, you have a beautiful wife, if I may say so. You are one lucky man,” he said, while slapping Kevin on the back.

“Bet you can't wait to get her alone,” he added.

Cheryl tried to excuse herself but Kevin grabbed her and kissed her so passionately that she nearly came right there. As she walked away, or maybe floated away would be a better phrase, her feet didn't hurt anymore.

“Don't hurt her,” she heard Mr. Townsend say behind her as she walked to the bar.

James walked over to them and commented, “Just make sure you don't hurt yourself either. I know you going to have those legs high tonight.”

They all shared a laugh. Men will be men and Kevin had to put up with them because they were his backers, but Cheryl felt she had to tell Kevin that she didn't appreciate the comments. Whenever those men were together, and liquor was involved, they were vulgar and disgusting and they felt that just because they gave Kevin money that gave them the right to make those disgusting comments.

At two a.m. the party finally came to an end and after the last of the staff had cleaned and gotten paid, Cheryl was happy to head upstairs. She had a blister on the back of a heel. As she took off her dress she let it hit the floor and headed towards the shower. She needed the hot
water to relax her muscles before trying to get some sleep. As she stepped out of the shower and came into the bedroom, Kevin met her with a backhand.

“What in the hell…” she said as she stumbled backwards

“Bitch, if you ever dress like that again, I'll take your fucking head off!”

“What are you talking about? I thought you liked my…”

“What, you actually thought I liked you walking around here like some whore!”

“Why didn't you say anything?” she asked while rubbing her face.

“The party was starting and you waited just long enough so that I couldn't say anything,” he screamed.

“Damn, it is not that serious,” she said as she turned back toward the bathroom.

“What did you say to me?”

“I said it is not that serious.”

He grabbed her by the hair, and swung her around. “Oh, but it is that serious!” Out of the corner of her eye she saw the scissors and realized that her dressed was destroyed.

“Why did you do that? You are crazy.” she shouted.

“Yes I am. You got that right, I am crazy!

“You think I want to hear how my business partners want to fuck you? You ain't nothing but a tramp and I will show you!” He started unzipping his pants and she brought her leg up between his, hard. As he rolled off of her, she scrambled to the bathroom, but before shutting the door, he was in on her again. This time he punched her so hard, she instantly saw stars. He started dragging her out of the bathroom by her hair.

“I'll show you!” He pushed her to the floor and jumped on top of her

“Stop, Kevin!”

“You think I want to hear what some fucking old men want to do to my wife? Do you?” She shook her head from side to side; causing his hand to slip away from her mouth.

“Kevin, please stop! I'm sorry.” she was screaming
hysterically by now.

“You better not let me hear no shit like that ever again. You hear me?” Kevin said as he jerked her up from the floor. “Get your fucking ass up!” he swung her around

“Kevin! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!” She was pleading now. “Kevin please!”

“Shut the fuck up! I'm going to treat you just like the whore that you were tonight.” He bent her over the chair and entered her roughly.

“Please you're hurting me! Please!” she screamed.

He was in a frenzy at this point. His eyes were bulging and sweat dripped down his face like a man possessed. He had her in a choke hold and she tried to gain leverage so that he couldn't squeeze the life from her.

“Don't you ever walk around here like that again, do you hear me!” The physical pain had long stopped but as he finished, she knew the hurt would be there for a while. He shoved her down as if he was disgusted by the sight of her. She pulled herself up and dragged her sore body to the bathroom. She turned on the shower, stepped in and let the water soothe her. She let the water fall down her body and as it did, her tears did too. She climbed out and fell to the floor as the room began to spin. He slammed open the bathroom door, looked down at her on the floor and rolled his eyes.

“I'm sorry.” she whispered. “It won't happen again.”

“It better not,” he said and continued past her into the shower.

Cheryl woke up and felt much better. Her headache was gone, and so was Kevin. Kevin had left her a note saying he was having his car detailed and to give the kids some money for dinner because when he got back he was going to take her out to dinner. Yeah, that cycle was starting again. Which part of this was it again? Oh yeah, it was the “I'm sorry and it won't happen again” part. She walked into the living room and saw Donnell sitting there watching television. She touched his shoulder and when he turned around, she pushed the money into his hand.

“Oh, taking you to dinner?” Donnell said.

“Watch your mouth,”

“Whatever,”

“Look, no matter what he does or does not do, he is your father and you have to respect him.”

“Wrong. He doesn't want to act like a father to me. He only has one child and that would be his precious Kayla. I'm sure he can't wait until I leave this dump.”

“Donnell, why would you say something like that? You know he loves you too.”

“Does he? Because I can't tell.” Mom, why do you always do that?”

“Do what?” she asked as she stopped and turned back towards him.

“Take up for him. I mean, he beats you down and then he throws you a bone, and then you act like nothing has
happened.” It's embarrassing!” he brushed by her and started for the stairs

“Donnell,” she called after him but he kept walking. She walked up behind him as he reached his room and he slammed the door in her face. She placed her hand on the door and spoke in a faint voice. “I'm sorry if you are upset with me and your dad, but I am trying to make things better. I know you will be out of here as soon as you graduate and I can't blame you. I just hope you understand that things are not as easy as just walking out. I have you and Kayla to think about. That's all I worry about. I would never let him hurt you.”

Donnell swept his door open and walked back towards his window. “But you do. Every time he puts his hands on you, it hurts us. Kayla doesn't even hear it anymore. She learned to tune you out. Mom, my room is closer, I can hear you. All the time I hear you. I hear you crying when he is calling you names and I hear you when he is doing worse to you.”

Silent tears fell from her eyes, “I'm sorry sweetie.” she went over to him and gathered him in her arms and they swayed back and forth.

Donnell spoke in a soft tone, “You know I know he calls me gay all the time,”

“But…” she started to say

“Don't worry about it mom. I don't care.”

“Maybe if you bring some…”

“Seriously mom, do you honestly believe I would bring anyone over here? Hell I don't know what I'm going to walk in on half the time. I'll continue to do what I have always done, hang out with my friends at their house.”

She kissed him on the cheek and walked off. She knew her baby wasn't gay, and even if he were; he was still her baby. His father never took the time to even sit down and talk to Donnell because, in his words, “He's just a little too meticulous about his clothing and hair.” Hell, he got it
honest. Kevin did the same thing but when you pointed that out to him, well now; that was just crazy talk. God forbid anyone think he was gay. If and when Donnell decided that he would bring someone home, she just hoped it would be before whomever got pregnant.

She continued to her bedroom and called Dee. After three rings, Dee finally picked up.

“Hey hussy, what's shaking?”

“Nuttin but my ass,” Dee replied

“No really, what are you doing?”

“Nothing, chilling. Waiting for my man to come on over and scratch my itch.”

“Oh, back to men this week?”

“Bitch, please. Ain't nothing like a good sized man.”

“Unless….?”

“It's a good licking woman.”

“Eww, you are so damn nasty!” Cheryl laughed.

“Girl, please, don't get all stuck up. I forgot. You don't know what you are missing. Besides that fine ass man of yours scratches and licks whatever you want.”

“Girl, please. First of all, I ain't missing nothing and secondly, he ain't licking or scratching nothing here but his own itchy ass.”

“What! Are you telling me that Kevin ain't licking your lollipop? Please if that were my man, that nigga wouldn't get up until he had eaten all what was on his damn plate.”

“Tsk, please. If he wanted to, I wouldn't let him.”

“You crazy as hell!”

“Please, believe me when I tell you, I ain't interested in his mouth being nowhere near that. Hell, especially since I don't know where his damn mouth has been.”

“Girl, you ought to quit.”

“I'm serious, that nigga is probably eating somewhere else, so let him have it. I'd probably not like it anyway.”

“All the reason you need to make him eat until he gets tired”

“Please, he'd probably eat so fast he'd give himself indigestion, and then get mad if I said I was still hungry.”

“So?” Dee said.

“What do you mean, so? I'd rather not deal with the hassle” Cheryl said as she stretched out on her queen-sized bed and drew the burgundy and gold pillow under her head.

“You are crazier than shit. Ain't no way that nigga would be selfish and not let me get mine.

“Well, that's you.”

“You are crazy. If I don't get mine, I am letting a nigga know.”

“And what good does that do?”

“That puts a nigga on notice, that he better finish the job or I will call somebody that can.”

“You will not,” she laughed.

“Who, you must be tripping. I know I put it on him and he better damn straight put it on me or I'm gonna have to talk about his ass or get Karletta to finish the job.”

“You are a mess,” Cheryl said, laughing.

“You damn right, but a satisfied one. Now what the hell did you want?”

“Nothing really, I just wanted to talk to your crazy ass.”

Dee commented on how crazy Cheryl was for not having her toes curled and instantly Cheryl was in a bad mood.

“I gotta go.”

“Girl, get a damn grip. Now you wanna get off the phone. Look is Kevin going out of town soon?” she asked.

“Yeah, why would you ask?”

“Just taking a stab in the dark because you always get like this when he does. So how long will he be gone this time?”