A Heart Full of Lies (15 page)

              Her phone rang and she rushed to it, slightly wishing maybe, just maybe Kory actually cared. “Hello?”

              “Ms. Marshall. This is Dr. Hendrix.”

              Jeanette looked over at her clock. “Dr. Hendrix is everything ok? It’s kind of late. The office was closed today for the holiday right?”

              “Of course, I was just calling to apologize again for startling you the other night. The look on your face keeps playing in my mind, I really scared you.”

              Jeanette sighed. “It’s ok. The crime rate has just been increasing, I thought I was about to be another victim.” She took little Kory’s clothes to his room.

              “Ok, well Happy Thanksgiving.”

              “Thank you Dr. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.” She waited for him to say something else but he didn’t. “Dr.?”

              “Yes, I’m sorry. Ms. Marshall.”

              “Yes?”

              “I know this is totally unprofessional, but can I take you to lunch sometime? If you aren’t seeing anybody, of course?” he asked.

              Jeanette looked around her empty house and at the floor. Technically she was more than seeing someone. But that same someone didn’t give a shit about her. She leaned against the wall. “Like just to talk, is my job on the line?”

              Dr. Hendrix chuckled. “Of course not, I just want to make up for the other night.”

              Jeanette went back to her own bedroom. “You don’t have to.”

              “I want to, if that’s alright with you.”

              Jeanette weighed her options, what did she have to lose. “Ok, sure.”

              “Great!” Dr. Hendrix said with much delight. “I mean, ok, I’ll keep in touch. Happy Thanksgiving again Ms. Marshall.”

              Jeanette smiled. “You too.” Hanging up the phone she realized what she’d just done. There was no way she could go through with it. She continued sorting through the clothes when she heard the front door open. She didn’t even bother getting up.

              Kory entered the room high and drunk. “What you cook?”

              Skyy held Deidra’s hand as she drove, with the biggest smile plastered on her face. The day had been a great turn out, and she now felt like her and Deidra’s relationship was official. At first her family gave them the side eye, but the only person she was concerned about was Deidra. As long as Deidra knew that she was ready, that was all that mattered. Now they were on the way to Deidra’s parents’ house so Skyy could meet them.

              Skyy kissed Deidra’s hand. “I love you.”

              Deidra smiled. “I love you too. Your people were really nice.” She laughed. “The look on your mom’s face at first was crazy.”

              Skyy laughed too. “Yea, I know. I thought she was about to spazz the fuck out.”

              Deidra nodded. “Right.”

              “And she kept Skylar for the weekend, she the real mvp.” She did a happy dance in her seat.

              Deidra laughed. “You silly. Lucky for you with my parents it won’t be that awkward because they know. I’ve just never really brought nobody home.”

              “Is there anything I should know about your mama and daddy before I met ‘em?”

              “Like what?”

              “Like, which one is the meanest? Is your mama going to like me? What kind of sports is your daddy into? I need to know something so I know how to approach them.” Skyy was starting to feel nervous.

              Deidra shrugged her shoulders. “My mama is the sweetest person you’ll ever meet. You’d rather meet her than Tone’s moms. They’re sisters but they’re like day and night. My daddy is a cool laid back nigga. He talks a lot too, so it’ll never be a dull moment.”

              “How long have they been married?”

              Deidra pulled up in front of a tall brick house. “Twenty years.” She turned the car off and looked over at Skyy. “You thinking too hard, my mama and daddy are the coolest people on the planet. I know they gone like you.” Deidra reassured her.

              They exited the car and made their way towards the door. Deidra knocked and they waited for someone to open the door.              

              “Who is it?” a voice asked from behind the door.

              “Pops it’s me, open up.”

              The door opened and to Skyy’s surprise a familiar face stared back at her. She swallowed hard as her heart dropped to her feet, then gave a fake smile. She hadn’t seen Derick since the night Skylar was born, and never planned on seeing him again. But here he was and he was Deidra’s father too.

Chapter Twelve: Back to Back

              Sasha cried as she hauled most of her clothes out the house she shared with Shawn. She couldn’t believe Shawn had spent Thanksgiving with his baby mama. She came back in the house pushing over the televisions in the living room and in their bedroom. She then went to the closet snatching all his clothes and putting them in the tub. “That muthafucka!”

              She practically ran to the wash room looking for the bleach. When her phone rang she answered it without even looking to see who it was. “WHAT!”

              Erin’s voice calmed her. “Sash, what’s the matter? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. Did you get my messages?”

              Sasha cried even harder. “Erin, he… he still fuckin’ that bitch!” She snatched up the bleach heading back towards the bathroom.

              Erin sighed. “That’s what I wanted to talk about. You know my stylist Kayla, Milan is her baby sister and she was telling me-“

              “Erin I don’t even care. I’m done with Shawn, DONE!” she said, pouring the bleach over his clothes and shoes. “I can’t believe he had that bitch over his mom’s house today, playing fuckin’ family man!”

              “WHAT?!” Erin shouted.

              Sasha made sure every drop of the new container of bleach was in the tub, and then turned the water on filling the tub. “Erin, he hasn’t even called me, he don’t even care.” She sat down on the toilet crying.

              “Sash you want me to come get you? I’m on my way.” Erin jumped up.

              Sasha put the phone down and continued weeping.

              Tone watched as Erin frantically put on sweats and her tennis shoes. “What’s the matter?” He rubbed his eyes. When Erin didn’t answer him he sat up straight. “Where are you going?”

              Erin wiped her eyes. “I need to get to Sasha.”

              Tone stood and walked over to her, “Why you crying? What’s wrong with Sasha?” He grabbed her face.

              Erin pushed away from him. “I gotta go I’ll be back.”

              Tone grasped her wrist. “Chill, you crying, all upset and shit. You not going nowhere until you tell me what the fuck is going on with Sasha.” He gave her a firm look.

              “Shawn is cheating on her, I don’t know all the details, but I need to be with her. She can’t be there by herself.” She remembered how crushed Sasha was when she found out Shawn cheated the first time.

              Tone let her go, “Hold on let me put my shoes and shit on.” Erin watched as he got dressed and tucked his gun in his waist. “Come on love, and stop crying, she’ll be aight.”

              Erin used her key and entered Sasha’s house. “Sash!” she called out. Turning on the lights she made her way to her room. When she didn’t see her, she called out for her again, “Sasha!”

She stepped into the hallway and heard water running in the bathroom. She rushed down the hall and pushed the door open. “Sas-.“ Sasha was lying on the floor in a big puddle of water crying.

Erin turned the water off and sat down next to Sasha. “Sasha.” Erin sniffled as tears ran down her cheeks. “You gotta get up Sash. I know it hurts, but you gotta get up ma.” She rubbed Sasha’s back.

“E, I feel so stupid.”

Erin hung her head feeling Sasha’s pain. “You’re not stupid. He is.” She looked up as Tone stood in the doorway.

“Erin, help her get her stuff so we can go.” He took a deep breath and shook his head sadly as he walked away.

Erin held Sasha. “We can sit here all night, if you want. I’m not going anywhere without you.” Sasha cried loudly as Erin rocked her back and forth.

Skyy sat at her kitchen table, trying to focus on the book she was reading but couldn’t. How could she? Just a couple days ago she’d found out Skylar and Deidra shared the same father. Her mind was racing, how could this be happening? Derick played it off so well, acting as though he’d never met her. Even though she had no idea he was Deidra’s father before that night, she felt as though she’d betrayed Deidra.

She put the book down. How was she going to tell Deidra? She knew she had to before her father did. Would Deidra be done with her? Skyy laid her head on the table. “I should’ve told her.”

“Should’ve told who?” Deidra said.

Skyy jumped. “Nothing, this damn book.” She avoided eye contact.

Deidra put on her jacket. “Oh. I’m ‘bouta go, me and Tone going to St. Louis for the weekend.” She kissed Skyy. “I’ll call you when we make it, ok?”

Skyy shook her head ok. When she was sure Deidra was gone she called Erin. When she didn’t answer she called Sasha, and when Sasha didn’t answer she was pissed. She tried Erin again and left a message. “Bitch, call me. You won’t believe the shit I’m going through right now.” She hung up and sent the message through a text to her and Sasha.

She made her way to her room so she could get some sleep before work. Skyy was absolutely sure nobody’s life sucked as bad as hers.

Erin glanced inside the guest bedroom Sasha had been sleeping in. She truly felt for her best friend. Sasha wouldn’t eat, or talk and she was starting to get worried about her. The past two days her only concern had been Sasha, causing her to call in to work.  Shawn had called Erin asking if Sasha was ok, but Erin knew deep down he knew the answer to that stupid question. Sasha could stay with her forever if she wanted; Erin just wished she’d talk to her.

She made her way down the hall nearly knocking Tone over as he came out the room. “I’m sorry.” She noticed he had his overnight bag. “You leaving?”

Tone nodded. “Yea, I gotta head to St. Louis for a couple days and take care of some business.”

Erin gave him a confused look. “A couple days? Why am I just now finding out about this Santonio?” She was tired of being the last one to know what was going on with him.

“Man, Erin don’t start that. You know my work is on call.” He stared down at her.

Erin shifted. “Whatever.” She tried to push past him.

He grabbed her. “Quit pouting. You know daddy gone be right back. Plus you can take this time to be alone with Sasha. Homegirl is hurting.” He looked down the hallway at Sasha’s room.

Erin shrugged her shoulders. “Ok, drive safe, and don’t do anything stupid.”

Tone hugged her. “When I get back, me and you going on a trip.”

Erin giggled. “A trip? I can’t take off work; they’re not approving time right now.” The sound of a trip was bomb, but Erin was realistic, there was no way she was going to lose her job, for nobody.

Tone shook his head at her, but respected her grind. “Aight, but we gone do something special.” He kissed her, sucking on her tongue. “Damn I’ma miss you.”

Skyy pulled up in front of the club and put her car in park. She didn’t know why but it was something about the club that brought her to life. Maybe it was the fact that here, nobody cared about your fuck ups and nobody tried to act like their shit was perfect. She got out her car and she could hear the music booming from the parking lot.

She made her way through the doors and straight to the bar. The strippers would stop her occasionally and ask where she’d been, but it felt good to be back. The only reason she’d not been coming to work because Deidra had her so wrapped up. And now with this whole Derick situation, Skyy needed to get out the house and throw a few shots back. Her boss Tanya was behind the bar making drinks when Skyy sat down.

“Sup Tanya, you miss me?”

Tanya shook her head. “Bitch where you have been? I thought you quit. Sheen been asking about you.” Tanya was referring to the club owner.

Skyy took her jacket off and made her way behind the bar. “Fuck Sheen’s little dick ass. I was going through a lot. I needed a break.” she yelled over the music

She poured herself a shot and directed her attention to the stage. Juicy was on the pole doing her thing as usual. Men were drooling like dogs, throwing money. Skyy respected the hustle of a stripper, but she could never be one. She didn’t have the body like them, and her pride wouldn’t let her hop on a stage in front of a room full of people butt ass naked.

              Skyy took another shot then began to tend to the thirsty customers at the bar. She reached under the bar for more cups and when she stood back up her heart nearly jumped out her chest. Derick was sitting right in front of her, with a smug look on his face.