Talk a Good Game (32 page)

“
I tossed my arm in the air. “I
mean… all that rocking. He can’t go through life like
that.”

“
Ask my parents.” He waved his
hand blowing me off. “I used to do the same thing when I was a kid.
He’ll grow out of it.”

That was hard to do, since I had yet to speak to his
parents. Kaleb and CJ had been by to see my mom several times.

I couldn’t believe the way he was
blowing it off like it wasn’t a big deal. I hated to ask the next
question but I did it anyway. “Was he abused as a
child?”

His fork stopped midair.
“What?”

“
I mean he acts
like he
’s
either been abused or just
slow.”

“
Fuck no!” Kaleb shoveled eggs in
his mouth and scowled. “I only beat his ass when he needs it, but
other than that you know I punish him by taking away his video
games.”

I can’t understand why he gets so
defensive when I question the way he raises his son. “Then maybe he
has some other issues.”

“
You sound just
like my ex-girlfriend. She was always trying to say CJ acts like
he
’s
retarded.
”

That
’s
because he
does.

I shrugged and said innocently,
“Maybe he
’s
slow.”

Kaleb slammed his hand on the
table. “My son is an honor roll student!”

“
Okay and so was Rain
Man.”

He looked at me with fury in his
eyes. “Don’t you ever get tired of talking about folks? You ain’t
all that.”

I had no problem pointing a finger
at him. “You might not believe this but I care about CJ.
He
’s
a good kid and I hate to see him get teased.
He
’s
at that age.”

He reached for his toast and took
a bite. “You
’
re right.”

I looked at him and shrugged. “We
just need to get him to recognize when he
’s
doing it
and get him to stop.”

Again, he nodded in agreement.

I decided to slide in one other
idea. “I also think he needs to see a therapist.”

Kaleb shook his head. “No
therapist.”

I blew out a long breath and
reached for a slice of bacon. “Let him make that decision. Ask him
if he wants to see someone. You have no idea what
he
’s
gone through or what he might be hiding. Can you
honestly say if something has happened CJ would come and tell you?”
I added between chews.

A muscle ticked at his cheek. “CJ!
Come down here!”

Oh Lord, no wonder the boy is a bundle of
nerves.

He came racing down the stairs
like he was falling. “Yes sir?”

Kaleb looked over at me.

I turned around and took his hand.
“Um… CJ… I was talking to your dad about your rocking…” I
immediately noticed how he tensed up. “I suggested you see a
therapist. Someone you can talk to about anything that’s bothering
you.”

He flinched slightly.
“
Do I have
to?
” He had this blank look on his face
while he rocked side to side. Damn, I was getting dizzy.

“
No son. You don’t
have
to.” His father gave me this I-told-you-so look.

I rose from my chair put my plate
in the sink, then moved over to CJ and draped an arm across his
shoulders as I said softly, “There is nothing wrong with seeing
someone just to talk to. Hell, I saw a psychologist when I was a
child.”

“
You did?” he asked.
“When?”

I nodded. “Yep. When I was
fifteen. I was going through some things after my father was
killed. Mama was ready to put me in juvie.”

His face relaxed somewhat. “What
did y
’
all talk about?”

“
Anything I wanted to talk about.”
I then leaned in close and said, “And anything you say is
confidential. Your counselor can’t tell your dad anything unless
you give permission.”

CJ’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”

I nodded. “Really? That way you
can feel comfortable to say whatever is on your mind.”

CJ seemed nervous and hesitated
for a moment before he looked at this dad then back to me. “Okay, I
wanna see a counselor.”

Checkmate. There might be hope for this kid after
all.

NYREE

“
Ooh, I like this one!”

I looked over at Janelle, who was
standing at the end of the rack holding up a long wedding dress
with way too much lace and I frowned, “Uh-uh. That dress will makes
me itch.”

She blew out a breath and returned it to the
rack.

We had been at
David
’s
Bridal for over two hours and I
still hadn’t found the perfect dress. Short, long, I just wasn’t
sure what I wanted. I was certain Janelle was getting sick of me
but I didn’t care. I could have settled for a simple white dress I
had spotted at Dillard
’s,
but she insisted on
buying me a wedding gown as a gift. So in other words, this was my
time.

I walked over to another rack of dresses that were
strapless and more of my style and rummaged through the
selections.

“
Does Jeremy know when you’ll be
leaving for Hawaii?”

I looked away from a possible
contender to grin at her. “He
’s
supposed to report the
end of October.” I just loved rubbing it in her face. For once
something good was happening to me. Janelle had the chance to meet
Jeremy at lunch last week.

“
You know I hate you,
right?”

I laughed at that. “Why you say
that?”

Jae didn’t even try to hide the
jealousy. “Because you
’
re getting everything
you want.”

“
Yes I am,
aren’t I?”
I
laughed and I
’
m not going to lie. It felt good.
“Ooh! I like this one!” I pulled the gown from the rack so Janelle
could see it.

Janelle nodded in agreement. “That
one would look good on you.”

“
Would you like me to start a
dressing room?”

I swung around with my hand at my chest. Damn where
did she come from?

“
Yes, that would be great.” I
handed over the dress to the perky blonde sales assistant and went
back to looking.

“
What about this one?” Janelle
held up a dress with a plunging neckline.

“
I like that too,” I said and then
my phone started ringing. I didn’t even bother to see who it
was.

“
Is that Jeremy calling you
again?” Janelle asked with a rude snort.

I shrugged. “Probably. I’ll call
him later.”

Janelle shook her head. “Damn,
that
’s
the fourth call. His ass sure
is needy.”

“
You
’
re one to talk.” I gave her a
hard look, because she knew I knew better. “He
’s
just excited about the wedding. That
’s
all.”

She didn’t look convinced but like
I said before Janelle can be such a hater. “How
’s
everything going with the whole
kid
situation?” She tossed quotation
marks in the air.

“
Better. We were supposed to get
the three teenagers last week, but they’re coming down for the
wedding instead. And his oldest, Alexis, is hoping to attend as
well,” I explained.

Janelle narrowed her brow at me.
“What about that little one?”

I shook my head. “Jeremy is still
tryna work that one out. He and her mother don’t get along too
well.” I told her about how their relationship had ended when
Jeremy discovered she had been screwing one of his good friends on
the bowling team.

“
Girl,
that
’s
too much
playing!”

“
I know, right.” I pulled another
dress from the rack and looked at all the beading at the bodice.
But as soon as I saw the six hundred dollar price tag, I put it
back. Sorry, but I just couldn’t justify anyone spending that much
money for one day.

“
Have you told
your job you
’
re
moving?
”

I shook my head. “Nope. I thought
I
’
d wait until after we’re married
before I do all that.”

She nodded and sucked her teeth.
“
I
don’t
blame you. Just in case you change
your mind. Hopefully you can find a job when you get
there.”

I looked at Janelle.
“
I
don’t
know. I
’
m planning
to transfer to the Hawaii Air National Guard and do my one weekend
a month, but other than that, I might just enjoy being a wife for a
little while.”

“
I guess,
” she mumbled
although she didn’t look the least bit convinced. I should have
known she wouldn’t understand. One thing Janelle didn’t believe in
was depending on a man to put food on her table. To me, marriage
was totally different. There was nothing wrong with depending on my
husband, at least, for a little while.

“
Here, try this one
on.”

I glanced at the dress Janelle was
holding in her hands, and my eyes lit up. “Ooh, I like
that!”

“
I think
it
’s
perfect. Go try them all on, but I guarantee this
one’s gonna look the best.” She dismissed me with an impatient
fanning of her hand, then moved over to take a
seat.

“
You need to be
finding a purple dress if you
’
re going to be my maid
of honor.” I stared over at her. As usual Janelle was looking
fierce in a pair of skinny jeans, rhinestone stilettos, and a red
blouse that hung off her shoulders.

Her phone vibrated, and she reached down inside a
cute red hobo purse and mumbled something under her breath when she
realized who was calling.

She didn’t even bother to look up
as she replied, “I got this under control. You just go try on that
dress.”

I carried the gowns to the
dressing room the sales assistant had started for me, and as I
peeled off my clothes, I felt myself shaking. I still couldn’t
believe this day was almost here. I was getting
remarried.

I love that man. I can’t explain
why or how it happened, and I questioned it almost every day.
Jeremy had so much baggage, yet somehow he touched something in my
soul that I just never felt with any other man before. And for the
last week, since we kissed and made up, he has been doing
everything in his power to show me just how much he truly loves
me.

“
You need some help?” I heard the
sales assistant. She was standing on the other side of the
door.

Hell no. I didn’t want her to see
me in my Spanx. “No, I think I got it.” I wiggled the dress Janelle
picked out over my hips and gasped at my reflection in the mirror.
Janelle was right. It was perfect. I turned the knob and stepped
out of the dressing room.

“
Oh, you look sooo
beautiful!”

My eyes widened. “Mama! You made
it.” I hurried over and hugged her round body.

She wrapped me in her arms, then
drew back and gave me a gappy-tooth smile. “I wouldna missed this
for the world.” There were tears in her hazel eyes as she shook her
head and said, “Your father will be so proud.”

“
I told you I had good taste,”
Janelle said with her leg swinging, and that big I-told-you-so grin
on her face. “My work here is done.”

I spun around and gazed in the
mirror that was the length of the entire platform and just stared
in awe. I was wearing a strapless mid length gown with beautiful
beading at the bodice and a satin waist that flattered my curves.
Looking at my reflection in the small dressing room was one thing
but seeing myself from several different angles, I couldn’t believe
how beautiful I looked.

“
Ree
…
it
’s
a beautiful gown but I thought we were planning a
small wedding?”

I looked at my
mother
’s
worried expression through the
mirror. “Mama, it
’s
gonna be small, but I still
want to look fabulous.”

“
Mrs. Dawson, I don’t have any
problem helping you plan a bigger wedding.” Janelle
offered.

I shook my head at her. “Uh-uh, I
told you we don’t want anything big. That
’s
just a
waste of money.”

My mother waved her hand
dismissively. “You let me worry about how I spend my money. It
isn’t often when my daughter gets married.”