The Other Side of Divine (30 page)

“I don't know. I just know it looks like everyone we know is dealing with something these days. You lost your job when they shipped the company's operation overseas. We were already struggling financially before all of this. And now—”

“And now, baby, I told you we're going to be all right.” Darius took his hand and lifted Tiffany's chin higher. “You trust me, don't you?”

“I suppose.”

Darius drew back in a dramatic way and cocked his head to the side. “You
suppose
?” He smiled and squinted his eyes halfway. “What do you mean, you suppose?”

Tiffany twisted her mouth. “Okay, I guess I do.” She smiled. “All right, I do.”

“Now,
that's
my baby.” He made a smacking sound. “Listen, I need to go out for a little while.”

Tiffany looked down at her wristwatch. “Now? You have to go somewhere now? But it's already after six.”

“Yes, now. Didn't I just tell you that I have to network? Well, I have a lead on this job I'd love to get. There's someone I need to hook up with to prove just how interested I am in getting it,
and
that I'm the perfect man for the job.” Darius kissed his wife on her slightly pouted out lips. “When it comes to my family, I'm going to do whatever I have to do. If it means going outside of the norm, then so be it. And if I can't get something here in Alabama, well, I hear things are booming in North Dakota. Something called fracking, which has to do with oil, has companies
begging
for workers. If you don't want me to have to go there to get a job, then you need to work with me here. All right?”

“Okay. Because I definitely don't want to move. And I sure don't want to move to someplace like North Dakota. Are there any black folks even in North Dakota?”

He ignored her question about North Dakota. “Believe me: I don't really want to leave you right now. You know I'd rather be here with you and the kids instead of out there sucking up to a bunch of bougie folks, begging someone to give me a shot. But a man's got to do what a man's got to do.” He tapped her on the nose.

Tiffany stood up. “How long do you think you'll be this time? I have dinner cooking; it will be ready in about an hour. You know I like for you to be able to eat while it's hot and fresh out of the oven.”

Darius stood and wrapped Tiffany up in his arms. “I promise I won't stay one minute longer than I have to. But don't worry about me. I'll just heat mine up in the microwave when I get back. No biggie. And if I get this job, that means I can take you out to dinner and make up for all our lost time together. You know I love you, don't you?”

Tiffany frowned.

“What's the frown about?”

“I don't know, Darius. I want to believe you love me, but—”

“But you're still tripping about that nonsense of me having gone to that strip joint those times.” Darius turned his head away from Tiffany before turning back with slightly moistened eyes. “Clarence Walker had no business ever letting you know that. But that's all water under the bridge. I told you I was sorry. I told you I didn't even want to go there in the first place. I was merely trying to hang with some of the fellows from work so I could move up on the job. That was all there was to it. You know how it is. It was dumb of me, but it wasn't even something I wanted to do.” He wrapped his arms even tighter around Tiffany. “Do you really think I care about other women when I have all of this”—he leaned back a little and slowly scanned her body, mainly for dramatic effect, then back up to her eyes—“at home waiting on me? Do you?” He broke into a huge grin.

Tiffany pulled out of his embrace. “Apparently you did. You went there for, ever how many times you did. And if Brother Clarence hadn't spilled it, who knows: You might still be doing it, and I would
still
be in the dark about it.”

Darius grabbed her and pulled her close to him again. “I made a mistake. Okay?” He squatted his six-foot-six body down a little so his eyes were even with hers. “Baby, it was a mistake. One stupid mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. I am a man. You know how we are. I was merely going along to get along. I asked you to forgive me. You said that you did. But if you're going to keep throwing it in my face every chance you get, then I don't know what else to say or do. But I do know that's not true forgiveness. And not that I want to bring this up myself, but it's not like you've been perfect all of your life . . . like you've never done anything wrong, even when it comes to you and me. Come on now; stop fronting.”

Tiffany looked into his eyes. “I know, Darius. And I want to let it go. I do. It's just so hard. I can forgive; it's just a lot harder to forget.”

“I know it's hard.” Darius stood tall and hugged her, then looked down into her eyes. “I know that. But I'm trying, Tiff. I'm doing the best that I can. I'm under a lot of pressure here. I don't want to be worried about you while I'm out there trying to be the man you deserve, a man who takes care of his own. I'm trying. I just need you to meet me halfway. Can you do that? Can you meet me halfway?”

Tiffany looked down, then back up at him. “I know. And I'm not trying to add to your stress.”

Darius glanced at his watch. “Look, I've got to go. I promise I'll be back as quickly as I can. I'm going to go meet this person, do what I have to do, and if things go the way I hope, I'll have some good news soon. Real soon. Okay?” He smiled.

Tiffany smiled back. “Okay. Blessings.”

Darius kissed Tiffany on her forehead and held his lips there a few seconds. Tiffany used to say “good luck.” But after Pastor Landris preached last year that as Christians they didn't put faith in luck, she immediately stopped saying that and began doing as Pastor Landris taught by saying blessings. She left and went to the kitchen.

After he was sure Tiffany was gone, Darius pulled out his cell phone and texted. Can u meet me n 20 @ our normal spot? Need to c u. Important. He pressed SEND.

A few seconds later a reply came back. Dare I us?

Darius grinned. He loved the way she was making a play on his name: Dare I us. He texted back, Dare u us. It's worth it. He pressed SEND, grinned a little more, then left, hoping—unlike the last time she'd said she'd meet him—this time, she would actually show up.