Between Sisters (21 page)

“
Damn, that hurt, Kelly,” I responded. “Funny, but that hurt. If he’s as sick and delusional as he seems when it comes to Shawnee, he would make a scary baby’s daddy. I would be scared to let him take the baby for a visit.”

After some more small chit chat, I couldn’t resist asking, “So what’s Charise’s story?”

“
She’s about as delusional as Eric. She has straight bumped her head,” Kelly answered, leaving me intrigued.

“
And?”

“
Everything is Lewis this, Lewis that. And my man this, my man that,” she responded with disgust in her voice, while rolling her eyes. “We have all made a point of staying far away.”

Now I was really wondering, while getting angry on the low. “Is he living with her?”

“
I couldn’t tell you. Like I said, I keep my distance from her and the whole situation,” Kelly answered, seeming sincere. “Look, Sandy, I know you have every right to know what’s going on with your so-called husband and trifling-ass sister, but causing yourself and your unborn baby grief is not going to change a damn thing. It’s easy for me to say let it go and move on, but I know that’s unrealistic.”

At a loss for words, I just reached over and tightly hugged my younger sister, who had taken a seat next to me.

“
Thank you, sis. I needed to feel like I had at least one person in this world that I still matter to.”

Kelly returned the hug and said, “You matter to many, Sandy. Also, you are three, almost four people’s mother, and you are their lifeline. So, when you’re down, they too are down. When you are up, they too are up.” She paused and then continued. “Right now, focus on you and your babies, and everything will fall into place in its own time. Lewis will get his due, and Charise will walk in your very shoes. So, stop worrying.”

“
Babies? Those damn kids are almost grown. That’s why I hate being so close to freedom and then have to be tied down again with a new baby. Hell, I wanted to go back and finish getting my degree.”

“
Well, better you having a baby than your daughter bringing home a baby, or even your boys bringing some pregnant teenage girl in your house,” Kelly suggested.

“
Girl, don’t get me started. I try to put the fear in them.”

We laughed, then talked for a bit more about Kelly’s business and the kids before I headed out. I was getting hungry again.

28

Shawnee

What was I thinking? I was almost home free, and I had to fuck it all up in a moment of weakness. Now I have to worry about the ramifications all over again. Well, it wasn’t like I had a little black book I could flip through. The worst part was telling him that I loved him. It came out in the heat of passion, and I couldn’t take it back. So now, Eric thinks we are destined to be together.

My sign to run for the hills should have come when his stalking ass said, “Shawnee, I know you’re going through this divorce and you need to be held right now. Please let me hold you, baby. You know I’m a sucker for your love. If you want to release all that pent-up tension and frustration, let me help you with that. Take this dick all the way up in you the way you like it. Scream, baby, as loud as you want until you have no more frustration left in you. Bite that pillow while I stroke you from the back. Have your way with me, girl. Beat on me if you must. Let me kiss all your cares away right now. I want to lick you from your tender earlobes down to your ticklish toes. Let me suck the hurt out of those big, beautiful nipples of yours. This is your meat here waiting for you to do as you please. Squeeze alllll that hot cum out on my dick. Don’t deprive yourself any longer, Shawnee. Come get this. Come here and let me make your knees weak.”

When he revealed his knowledge of my divorce that I didn’t tell him about, he let me know he was digging and striking gold in his stalking efforts. However, all that other good shit he was saying made me lose my damn mind. All of my concerns of his stalking went right out the window. The alarms were blaring in full force, and I was suddenly deaf. The red flags were steadily waving, and I was just as blind as I was deaf. Now he’s home wallowing in his bed, inhaling the scent of cum and perfume I left in it last night. He said as much on my voicemail when he called a few moments ago.

I guess no one could understand how much I needed that quick fix. Eric is like a drug. You know all the harmful side effects before you take the first hit, but still, you take it. And just when you thought you kicked that bad habit, here it comes in your weakest hour like your best friend in the world. Then, while you’re caught up in the moment, it’s the best thing that could have entered your life. But, when you come back down to the real world, you’d swear that was the last time. Never again, you say. That is, never again until that next weak hour.

Out of shame, I don’t dare say how many times I went back for a hit of Eric’s pipe after I announced to the world that he was stalking me. Any excuse was a logical enough excuse to going back for more. As strong as my sex drive is, I’m not sure why I don’t go get some every day. It’s hard to be big on morals when you’re hooked on a drug.

Eric is my drug of choice, and I need another fix. Maybe once I leave D.C., I’ll kick the habit.

Part Three

Time Reveals All

29

Harmony

“
Harmony Wiggins,” I answered in my delightful new office.

“
Baby, we have a problem,” Todd whispered anxiously on the other end of the phone.

“
Okay, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

“
I’m hiding out in my office, trying not to be seen,” he said. “You will never guess who’s sitting in the waiting room.”

I thought and thought of who could possibly have Todd this rattled. I thought of his ex-wife, but that was done twenty or so years ago. For the life of me, I couldn’t think of anyone.

So, I just asked, “Who? Are they waiting to see you?”

“
No. She’s here for the OB/GYN doctor.”

“
Who?!” I asked again.

“
Your sister,” he answered.

My sister?
I thought
. Charise or Sandy would need the obstetrician, but Elaine, Shawnee, or Kelly could need the gynecologist. But why here in Houston?

“
Which sister is it, Todd?” I asked when I couldn’t process the thought.

“
Charise. Charise is here with some guy. Possibly the father of the baby, but I don’t know for sure,” he said, sounding desperate. “What am I supposed to do if she sees me?”

“
Uh, uh…I…Uhm,” were the only words that could make it from my mouth.

“
You know once she sees me, she’ll know you’re here in Houston,” he warned.

“
I….I…I don’t know,” I finally said. “Why is Charise in Houston? She couldn’t have possibly known that I’m here.”

“
Harmony, do you want me to stay out of sight or not?” Todd pled for an answer.

“
Yeah. Yes! Oh my Lord! What is she doing here? There? This can’t be happening. She has the worse drama. How could she end up at your medical center of all the places in the world?” I asked.

“
I don’t know, baby. This is wild. I’ll just try to stay out of sight. Hopefully, she doesn’t go in or come out when I’m coming out from a patient,” he said. “I’ll talk to one of the secretaries. Maybe I can get some information as to how she ended up here. She didn’t know my last name or what kind of work I do, right?”

“
Not unless you told any of them when we were moving,” I answered, now trying to rearrange every paper on my already neat desk. My nerves were instantly shot. My delightful new office suddenly looked in disarray.

“
Okay, then this must be one of those wild coincidences,” he stated calmly.

“
Too wild for my mind to imagine,” I responded. “Okay, hun, let me know what you come up with. And please stay out of sight.”

“
Will do my best, sweetness,” he said before hanging up.

The two hours that passed by before Todd called back seemed like an eternity. It was hard to focus on my own patients’ issues. Mine were greater. Charise was in Houston! What issue could be worse than that?

“
So what did you find out?” I asked when he called.

“
I take it you didn’t know your sister and her play husband moved to Houston two weeks ago? They live in the apartments not too far from the center. Supposedly, things were hectic back in D.C., and they wanted to make a fresh start with the baby in a new town far away from their stress,” Todd said, while I was too speechless to say a word. “She’s due the end of next month. That means she’ll be coming more frequently. That also means the chances of her seeing me are greater.”

I was at a total loss for words. How could this happen? Why Houston of all places? How do I turn my back on my baby sister of all people and still keep Todd’s respect for me?

“
Honey, are you still there?” he asked when he heard nothing but silence from my end.

“
Yes, I’m still here. Just in shock. What am I supposed to do, Todd? You can’t stay hidden forever. And she’s here all alone with that whoremonger husband of my other sister,” I stated on the brink of tears.

I really wanted to hurt Lewis for what he had done to my family. My emotions were mixed with every flavor. I needed someone to give me the answers to my life like I give to others.

“
I don’t have an answer right now, but how about a night out this evening and then we can put our heads together?” Todd tried to ease my anxieties. “You know I’m all for family, but I don’t like any situation that is upsetting to you.”

“
It’ll be my luck that we end up someplace they will be tonight, also,” I pouted.

He laughed. “Well, we’ll go somewhere too expensive for them to afford to show up. That should fix that.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Todd is so wonderful and thoughtful. Most guys would have said, “Then we’ll stay home.” With him, I feel like I can get through anything.

30

Charise

Today was my first doctor’s appointment in my new hometown, Houston. It was so romantic how Lewis came and whisked me away from all the troubles back home. He was gone for several weeks, and at one point, I thought he wasn’t coming back, although he called regularly to check on me. However, he was here getting set up for me and the baby. He got us a nice two-bedroom apartment and made the other room a nursery for the baby. He furnished most of the big items and said he wants me to put the finishing touches on our home, just the way I’d like it to be.

I couldn’t leave D.C. before Sandy found her way to my job to let everyone know that my baby was the baby of her husband and sibling to her own baby. I was so embarrassed, I couldn’t return to work. Sandy has no shame, so she had no problem making a fool of herself, but she had to take me down with her. I guess I have the last laugh, because I have Lewis. I have my baby’s father. I have a nice new home, and she has nothing. And since I’m no longer working, we have an incredible sex life around Lewis’ work hours. Thanks, Sandy!

Lewis told me that Sandy said she will never grant him a divorce, and if he wants a divorce, he will pay dearly. She said after her baby is born, she will bleed his pockets for child support. I guess she forgot she’s carrying another man’s baby.

I love our new apartment complex. It’s beautiful, nothing like D.C. However, the walls are paper thin. I met one of our neighbors yesterday, who informed me they can hear all of our sexual activities. When I told Lewis, he said he didn’t care and that they could listen all they wanted to.

The neighbor I met is named Nicole. She is bi-racial and twenty-eight years old. I didn’t meet her roommate Angelina, but I did see her through my window when she was going out the other day. She appeared Hispanic and was very attractive, as is Nicole. They both work and go to school, so they are not home much. I haven’t met anyone else, just the polite “hello” in passing. I guess time will tell what Houston has to offer my new family.

31

Elaine

Things have been so hectic trying to get everything ready for my New York grand opening. Thanks to one of my “special dates,” I lucked up on an excellent midtown location not far from Central Park, right in the heart of where the money is. My boutique has two floors and is very spacious. I’ve decided to use the second floor for VIP showings and my office.

I hired a publicist to help create a buzz. As a result, we have this grandiose grand-opening party with a celebrity-filled guest list of twelve hundred people. I have major fashion designers coming for my grand opening and plenty of cameras to capture it all. We’re even rolling out a red carpet for the occasion.

The party is tomorrow night, and I have a million and one things to do to prepare. I have a bunch of shoe and accessory shipments coming in that I need for display during the party. I also brought Kelly in on the action. I figured she could use this event for her portfolio. I couldn’t leave anything to chance, so I hired a more renowned planner to shadow Kelly on the down low. My reputation is on the line, and this is a highly publicized event. Nothing but high-quality footwear and accessories will pass through these doors.