Married Men (62 page)

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Authors: Carl Weber

BOOK: Married Men
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“Not entirely,” I answered meekly. I thought about taking a step back when the muscles in his neck started to bulge.
“Why, Kenya? Just tell me why. Why him? Was it revenge?” Jay looked mystified.
“I don’t know, Jay. Maybe at first but ...” I turned toward Malcolm, who was probably not happy about the truth of the situation.
“You ain’t got to explain nothing to him, baby.” Malcolm gestured for me to come to him, his eyes practically begging.
“Shut up nigga! I’ma deal with you in a minute,” Jay threatened. Malcolm took a step closer, throwing his hands up in the air like he was ready to fight.
“No time like the present!”
“Please, Malcolm. Go back in the house.” I raised my hand to stop him.
“I ain’t going back in the house without you. I’m not leaving you out here with him.”
“Why not? She’s my wife.” Jay tormented him with that fact.
“I don’t see no rings on her fingers except the one I gave her,” Malcolm shot back. Jay looked at my hand and his face went pale.
“Wh-where’s my ring?” Jay glared at me evilly, but I wasn’t about to tell him I’d pawned it to pay bills. “I asked you a question. Where’s my ring?”
“I told you. She ain’t got to explain shit to you. You got two eyes. Figure it out for yourself. Come on, baby, let’s go inside.” Malcolm wrapped his arm around me.
“Mothafucker, if you don’t get your fucking hands off my wife, I swear to God I’ll kill you!” I didn’t know about Malcolm, but Jay’s tone scared the shit out of me. I wasn’t afraid for my own safety. He’d never hit me in seven years, but I was definitely afraid for Malcolm.
“Malcolm, go in the house,” I pleaded.
“I told you. I’m not going in the house without you.” I turned around with an attitude, ready to curse him out. I hated what I was about to do to his ego, but if he didn’t realize it was for his own good, too bad. It was better than a beat-down by Jay.
“Look, Malcolm, go in the house or go home! I’ve got to talk to my husband alone for a minute.” My eyes locked on his and I guess he knew I was serious, ’cause he turned and went back in the house without another word.
“I’m telling you right now! I’m not standing out here if you can’t act civilized,” I warned Jay.
“Aw’ight, I’ll be cool.” He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes. “Do you love him?”
“I’m not sure I know what love is anymore. But I like him. I like him a lot.”
“What about me? You love me?”
“Yeah, Jay, I love you.” I wasn’t sure I should be admitting that, but I’d already said it, so I continued. “I’ll always love you. But that don’t mean we should be together. It’s time to move on.”
“Why? If you love me and I love you, why can’t we just get rid of him so we can have our family back?”
“You know why.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Do you remember what I asked you before you left?”
“No, all I remember is you hitting me in the head with that vase.”
“Well, I do. I remember it like it was yesterday. I think I’ll always remember it.” I let out a pathetic laugh. “I asked you if you loved her. And you said yes.” The memory still hurt. “Now I wanna know again. Do you love her?”
He looked like I had caught him off guard with that question. Guess he wasn’t as scripted as I expected. He didn’t even have an answer. He just stared at the ground. Which was an answer in itself, as far as I was concerned. But I still wanted to hear him admit it.
“Come on, Jay. It’s not that hard. It’s a simple yes-or-no question. Either you love her or you don’t.”
“Yes, I love her,” he finally said.
“That’s what I thought ...”
“But I love you too,” he added quickly, though his tone was a little less convincing than before.
“No you don’t. You don’t love me. You never have.” I took a few steps closer and stared him dead in the eyes so he would know I was serious. “I don’t know what happened between you and that girl, Jay. But I do know you came over here more out of loneliness than love. I’m falling in love with Malcolm, Jay. I might not be in love with him yet, but he’s a good man and I’m gonna give him a chance. You’re still in love with that girl. I won’t take you back out of pity just because you broke up. Now if you ever cared about me, you’ll give me a chance to fall in love.” I turned my back on him and went in the house. Thank God he didn’t try and stop me.
Epilogue
 
Wil, Allen, and I walked into the Roadhouse Bar together for the first time in six months and we were all greeted with handshakes and smiles. I must have heard “Where’ve you been,” or “I thought you were dead,” twenty times as we made our way to a table in the back where Jay was waiting for us.
I have to admit, it felt good to be back in our old haunt. Since my release from the hospital, I’d spent most of my time with Lisa and the girls trying to make up for lost time. What time I had left, I’d talked the fellas into spending most of our free time at Benny’s bar instead of the Roadhouse. I’d - been avoiding the Roadhouse like a plague because I didn’t wanna run into Val. But word had leaked back to me that she and her ex, Terrance, had gotten back together and moved to her hometown in Virginia.
“Damn, just like old times isn’t it?” Wil smiled.
“Yeah, I guess,” I glanced over at the bar where Val used to work. Deep down I was gonna miss her. We’d had a lot of good times. It was just too bad things had gone so wrong between us. Truth is I had no one but myself to blame for that whole fiasco anyway. I shouldn’t have messed with her at all ’til I was sure things were over between Lisa and me.
“What’s wrong, Jay? You look like shit.” Wil sat down next to Jay.
“Nothin’,” Jay sighed sadly. Wil was right. He did look like shit.
“What’s up bro? You okay?” I leaned my cane against the table and took my seat. I’d just about fully recovered from the accident, though I did have a noticeable limp that the doctors said would probably never go away.
Jay sighed again as he showed us an envelope. “I got this from Tracy today. She had the baby last week.”
“She did?” I raised an eyebrow, studying his face. I didn’t know whether to congratulate him or keep my mouth shut. “What’d she have?”
“A boy. She named him Jason.” Jay tried to smile, but I knew he was hurting inside. He’d always wanted a son. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he loved both his daughters, but there’s something special about a man and his son.
“So? You happy about this or what?”
“Of course I’m happy, Kyle. I’ve got a son, man. How can I not be happy? Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?” He waved the letter in the air. “What’s tearing me up is that Tracy won’t let me see him.”
“What? Why not?” I asked angrily.
“Some shit about she’s not ready for that. She can’t see me ’til she knows she’s over me.” Jay shook his head. “He’s my son, Kyle, I should be able to see him.”
“You’re right, man. Maybe we should talk to Greg about it. He could ...” Jay raised his hand.
“No, no lawyers.” He shook his head. “I’m not gonna take her to court.”
“Why not?” Wil asked.
“ ’Cause I love her. That’s why.”
“Yeah, but Jay, you love Kenya, too. And you’re taking her to court for visitation.” Wil looked confused.
“This is different, Wil.”
“How so?”
“I know I’ve acted like I was in love with Kenya, but I never really loved her. Not the way I love Tracy.” Jay hesitated, looking up at the ceiling misty-eyed. “I never knew what love really was ‘til I met Tracy. She’s changed me. I’m not the same ol’ player I used to be. Taking her to court would just send her the message that it’s over between us. And it ain’t.” Our conversation was interrupted by the obnoxious laughter of Judy, the waitress.
“Damn, y‘all out on parole or what? I ain’t seen y’all together in months.” She kept talking without taking a breath. “And Kyle, I heard you were dead.”
“No, I’m still alive and kicking, Judy,” I smiled at her.
“Well, I’m glad to hear it. What are you boys drinkin”? The usual? ”
“Nah, let us have a bottle of Moët,” Allen grinned. “Matter of fact, make it two bottles. Oh, and is the grill still open?”
Judy glanced at her watch. “Yeah, it’s open for another hour.”
“Good tell Lou to cook us up four of those twenty-dollar steaks he keeps hidden in the back. I want mine medium rare. How do y’all want your steaks?” He looked around the table at each of us.
“It depends on who’s paying for it,” Wil laughed. “I’m broke. Diane’s got me on a budget.”
“Don’t worry about that, Wil. I got you. Everything’s on me tonight, guys.” Mister Moneybags gave us all a broad smile and puffed out his chest.
“Well, in that case, make mine well done, and I want two baked potatoes instead of one. With lots of sour cream and butter,” Wil ordered without hesitation.
“I’ll have mine medium. And can I have some fried onions and mushrooms with that, Judy?”
“Sure, Kyle. And what about you, Jay?”
“Make mine like his.” Jay pointed at me.
“Aw’ight. I’ll be back with your champagne in a minute.” Judy walked away.
“What’s up, Al? You hit the lotto or what? I ain’t never seen you spend money like this.” I sat back in my chair.
“I got the insurance check from Ma’s death today.” He paused, and we all remained quiet. Finally Allen grinned and continued. “But that’s not why I’m picking up the tab. I asked Cinnamon to marry me today and she said yes.”
“Get the fuck outta here. Congratulations, Allen!” I grabbed his hand and pulled him in close. “I’m happy for you, man. Damn, I’m happy for you.”
“Me, too, bro,” Wil smiled.
“I’m happy for you, too, dawg.” Jay still sounded depressed.
“So, when’s the big day?” I slapped Allen on the back again.
“Hopefully, about four months from now. That’s about how long it’s gonna take for my divorce to be final from Rose.”
“Damn, I keep forgetting you’re still married to her. I’m surprised Rose isn’t trying to contest the divorce.”
“So am I. I was prepared to have to pay her off for my freedom, but she agreed to the divorce and to giving up her parental rights. The only thing she wants is to keep her engagement ring.” Allen laughed, and we joined him.
“I just wanna be there ten years from now, when she gets out of jail expecting to cash in that ring and they tell her it’s a worthless piece of shit,” Allen said seriously.
Judy brought over the champagne and handed Jay a folded-up napkin.
“What’s this?” Jay asked.
“Lady over there asked me to give it to you.” She pointed at the bar and we all turned. A beautiful, dark-skinned woman with long, shoulder-length hair waved.
“Now, she’s fine,” I thought out loud.
“Sure is,” Wil agreed.
I turned to Jay.
“What’s that?” I pointed at the napkin and he handed it to me. I looked down and read the short note.
Hi, handsome. My name’s Tammy and I’d like to buy you a drink.
“
Well? What you gonna do?” I turned toward Jay and he smiled for the first time since we arrived.
“I’m gonna go over there and let her help me forget my problems with Tracy. That’s what I’m gonna do.” He reached over and picked up one of the bottles of Moët and two champagne glasses. “If you gentlemen will excuse me.” He winked as he left to meet the dark-chocolate beauty.
“I thought he said he’d changed?” Allen laughed. I watched Jay sit down at the bar and place his arm around the woman. He looked back and grinned at us.
“Don’t let him front. He might be acting like he’s back to his old ways, all right, but that don’t mean he ain’t learned some lessons along the way. Hell, we’ve all learned some lessons in the last year. Six months ago Wil and I had our own apartments and were headed for divorce. You were happily married to Rose. Now look at us. Wil and I are back with our wives and you’re getting ready to divorce Rose and marry Cinnamon.” I glanced over at Jay and his new friend. “The way I see it, the more things change, the more things stay the same. That’s the way it is when you’re married men.”
The following is a sample chapter from Carl Weber’s eagerly anticipated upcoming novel
SO YOU CALL YOURSELF A MAN.
 
This book will be available in January 2006 wherever hardcover books are sold.
 
ENJOY!
James
 
Call me kinky, but there is nothing in the world that turns me on more than hearing a woman scream pleasurable obscenities as I make love to her. And that’s exactly what my lovely wife, Kathy, was doing as I held onto her hips and made love to her from behind for the second time tonight. Our two boys, James Jr. and Michael, were with my mother-in-law for the weekend while Kathy and I were taking advantage of their absence by spending some quality time together. We’d gone out to dinner, taken in a movie, then come home and finished off a bottle of wine before making love on the living room carpet. We were now on our second round in our bedroom, going at it like two lusty college students in heat.

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