Caught Up (Indigo Vibe) (19 page)

“Then, you’d better hurry.”

A few seconds later, John’s wife answered the phone. “Hello, Quartermaine residence.”

“Hello, Monica. It’s Brianna. Is John home?”

“Sure. I’ll get him for you.”

“Great, but you stay on the line also.”

“We’ll be right back,” Monica said.

“What’s going on?” Derrick asked.

“Be quiet and wait.”

“This had better be good,” he grumbled.

“What’s going on, Brianna?” John asked. “Are you finally pregnant?”

“What?” Derrick exclaimed. “She’d better not be pregnant unless she got married and forgot to tell me about it.”

Samson laughed so hard his eyes watered. He’d missed his siblings. “Y’all haven’t changed a bit.”

“Samson?” Derrick, John and Monica said in unison.

He sat forward, speaking as if they were in the room with him. “None other but. I’ve missed you all.”

Everyone spoke at once, so no one was understood. Samson finally calmed his siblings.

“Well, hot damn!” John said. “Where are you at? Are you in Tampa?”

“I’m in Chicago.”

They spoke for over three hours about what was going on in each of their lives and why he’d cut himself off from everyone.

“Didn’t you say Rosa was waiting on you to make this call?” Brianna asked. “She sounds like a keeper. You’d best not mess this up.”

He glanced at the clock. “Oh, man. Time flew so fast.”

“Now I know you’re my older brother and all,” John said. “But since I’m the only married one, I say listen to me.”

“Oh Lord,” Monica interrupted. “I think it’s time for us to go. Good luck, Samson, and don’t ever leave us again. Hang up, John.”

“But, Monica, I have really good advice.”

“Goodnight, John,” the remaining siblings said, laughing.

“I’m gonna let you go also,” Derrick said. “Love you, bro.”

“I love you,” Brianna said.

“Love you, too.” Samson disconnected, unable to believe he’d stayed away so long, missing out on his family. He closed his eyes and thanked God for sending Rosa into his life.

He crossed over to the bed and turned down the comforter, then went to find Rosa. He found her lying on the sectional asleep. She’d changed her clothes to a large cotton nightshirt. As he lifted her to carry her into the bedroom, she woke.

“How’s your family?” she asked groggily as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his shoulder.

The lights were already off, so he continued their journey down the hallway. “I feel like an idiot for staying away so long. It makes absolutely no sense to me now.”

“Did you speak with your mother?”

“Not tonight. I’ll call her in the morning.” Unlike the rest of his family, he’d been emailing his mother at least once a month. “I’m sorry it took so long. Time got away from me.” He laid her in the bed and knelt beside her. “Thanks, Rosa.”

She reached her hand forward, placing it on his chest. He cupped her hand into his. “My heart beats for you,” he whispered. His body ached for her, but they couldn’t make love, not yet. He was afraid to kiss her goodnight because of where it might lead.

“I’m worried about us.” He rested his hand on her waist. “How will you feel about me if Ernesto turns out to be part of the cartel?”

“You’re worrying for nothing. He isn’t.”

“I have to consider all possibilities, and I’m asking you to do the same. What happens to us if I have to bring down Ernesto?”

“Do you think he’s guilty?”

He hunched his shoulders. “I honestly don’t know.” His hand slowly moved along her body to her hair, knowing this was a bad idea, but longing for the intimacy. Her curls wrapped around his fingers as he massaged her scalp.

She closed her eyes and remained silent a long while. “You’re not responsible for Daddy.” She opened her eyes. “If he’s a part of the cartel, I’d be hurt and shocked, but that wouldn’t be your fault. I might even be angry with you for a while. You know about shooting the messenger, but I’d get over it.”

He brushed his lips over hers. She opened up to him, and he felt as if he’d been reborn. No one and nothing could defeat him because he’d already won.

“Lord knows I don’t want to, but I think I should leave.” He gently traced her kiss-swollen lips with his thumb.

“Is something wrong?”

“I have a little problem. You see, I’ve wanted to make love to you since the first time I saw you.”

“And,” she said with a coy smile.

“And to stay away from you, I’ve devised a scheme. I don’t carry condoms.” He Eskimo-kissed her. “With the way I’m feeling right now, I really don’t give a damn, so I need to get out of here.” He suckled along her neck to her ear. “You’ll be the mother of my babies, but we’ll be married.”

“How do you know I don’t have any protection?”

“Do you?”

She moaned as he cupped her breast. “I can run to the store.”

“Not tonight, my sweet, but soon.” He rested his head on her chest. “Very soon or I’ll burst.” Their first time together would be special, spontaneous, no stopping at the store, then attacking each other.

He covered her with a light blanket, then sat on the edge of the bed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“I can’t believe I’m allowing you to do it.”

“I want for you to be sure, Rosa. How will your parents react to us?”

“It won’t be pretty.”

“We don’t have to rush things.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Rosa couldn’t believe Harriet was already active at ten in the morning. She looked nervous as all get out, but she was sober. “Would you like some coffee? It’s decaffeinated.”

Harriet stopped biting on her nails. “No thanks.”

Rosa hugged her mother. Harriet clung so tight that Rosa could hardly breathe. “I’m proud of you, Mom.” She rocked her mother in her embrace until Harriet loosened her grip. “How would you like to go shopping?”

Harriet wiped the tears of joy out of her eyes as she pulled back. “You want to go shopping?”

“No. But, you like shopping, and I want to spend time with you.” She returned to her seat at the kitchen table. “I’m thinking you need a new wardrobe.”

Harriet looked around the room, then reached under the table and took out the large gift bag she’d placed there when she first arrived.

“I can’t go shopping today, darling. Do you think you can take off this weekend? Maybe we can go to California. I want to see Angela.” She handed the package to Rosa.

Rosa was so thrown off that she forgot about the gift Harriet had just handed her. First Harriet was acting like she was on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list, then she didn’t want to go shopping, and now she wanted to visit the sister who had disowned her. Harriet giving up the booze had really changed her. Next thing Rosa knew, Harriet would be singing Ernesto’s praises. “I’d love to go to California with you. My treat. How about we leave on Friday?” She knew Samson would understand about her ditching him for her mother. This would also give him time to work on his investigation without worrying about stepping on her toes.

“That will be perfect. Open your gift. It’s my apology for my behavior at your party.”

“You shouldn’t have.” She opened the bag and saw a leather photo album. She pulled it out for a closer look. “It’s lovely. Thank you so much.”

Harriet glanced from the sliding door toward the window above the sink. “I’ve already started placing photos in it for you.”

Rosa opened to the first page. “Oh my!” The page was full of pictures of David and Ernesto when they were children. “This is great!” She pointed at the photo of Maria holding David on one of her hips and Ernesto on the other. “This woman looks like me!” Giddy, she laughed. “This has got to be my grandmother. Boy do we have some strong genes.”

Harriet fidgeted in her seat.

“Come over here and look through these with me,” Rosa said as she turned to the next page. “Are Daddy and David actually brothers? These are family photos.”

“I…I have to leave, darling.” She grabbed her purse off the edge of the table.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” She closed the album and set it on the table. “Maybe you should lie down.”

Harriet hugged Rosa. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.”

Harriet rushed out of the house. Rosa followed her to the door and watched as she sped off. Something was definitely bothering her. She thumbed through the pages of the photo album with Harriet still on her mind.

Where did she have to go?

She glanced down and froze. There was a picture of Ernesto and David sitting on a bench, watching Rosa play in the sandbox at the park. She looked like she was around four years old in the picture.

She flipped back and noticed there were lots of pictures of Ernesto and David watching over her. Trying to remember, she closed her eyes. Ernesto and Harriet took her to the park often, and they always spoke to people. She couldn’t remember David, but these pictures… Her heart warmed. David did care about her. He’d always been there.

She continued going through the photos. She smiled when she saw David had attended her graduation ceremonies.

Why didn’t Daddy tell me?

The last few pages were full of pictures of Ernesto with people she didn’t know.

What are you up to, Mom? Why did you give me pictures of strangers?

She stared into the strange faces and became nauseous. She wasn’t ready to find out who they were. She wasn’t ready to admit why her mother had the pictures. She wasn’t ready. She closed the album.

* * *

“I’m not drunk! I ordered vodka. I expect vodka, not lip.” Harriet slammed her empty shot glass on the bar.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m not serving you. I’ll call you a cab.”

Harriet looked around the smoke-filled, packed bar. “Do you see this? She refuses to serve me! Get off the damn phone and fix my drink!” The bartender finished ordering the taxi.

“Fuck it!” Harriet snatched her purse off the neighboring stool and clumsily weaved her way through the crowd and out of the bar.

“I know my damn limit. Who the hell does she think she is?” The parking lot looked blurry. She squinted to help clear her vision. “No more driving at night, for damn sure.”

When she’d arrived, her car and the employees’ cars were the only ones in the lot. Now, there wasn’t an empty space to be found. “Where’s my damn car?” She didn’t know if she was angrier with the bartender for not serving her or herself for falling off the wagon. She hadn’t realized it would be so difficult to quit.

She pressed the panic alarm on her keys to find her car. The alarm blasted directly behind her. She dropped the keys, quickly squatting to pick them up, then fumbled around until she could cut off the alarm.

Sitting behind the wheel of her car, she regretted every decision she’d ever made, except having Rosa. Swearing she’d never take another drink, she started the car and exited the parking lot. This time she’d join one of those Alcoholics Anonymous groups Rosa nagged her about.

Everything looked so different at night that she was a little turned around, but she eventually merged onto the expressway traffic. Blaring horns were making her hangover come early, and why the heck was everyone using bright lights?

“These folks are driving like a bunch of damn fools.”

So many lights were coming at her and horns were sounding, they were confusing her. Yet she was certain of one thing, she’d turned the tables on Ernesto. “Your day has finally come.”

The last night of their married life, Harriet had stormed into Ernesto’s home office…

Chicago, twenty-four years ago

“This psychological bull you’re pulling on Rosa will cost you.”

Without giving Harriet a second glance, Ernesto increased the volume on the news radio program and continued reading his
Wall Street Journal
.

She did a double take. First he wouldn’t allow her into Rosa’s room while he tucked her in, and now this. She needed to straighten him out post-haste. “Rosa is my daughter, and you have no right—”

“Why don’t you take a seat?” he said calmly.

Thrown off, she pulled a straight-backed chair from the conference table to the front of his desk. She reassured herself that she knew men; their lust put them at women’s mercy. She had the upper hand. His new tactic wouldn’t change anything.

Financial report over, he lowered the volume on the radio and handed Harriet two short stacks of papers that were held together by paperclips. She skimmed through the paperwork.

“The top set is our prenuptial agreement, which you signed,” he explained. “It states that in the event of divorce, you leave the marriage with what you came into it with. The last three pages are an itemized list of your holdings at the time. I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll give you an additional million up front and ten thousand a month for ten years.”

She flung the papers toward him. “Wrong answer. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. Go back and try again.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t care what the prenuptial says. And did I see in those divorce papers that you maintain full custody of Rosa? Humph, my lawyer says—”

He interrupted her, saying, “You should have paid for a real lawyer, instead of calling in a favor from a friend.” He took the divorce papers off his desk, restacked them neatly, and then held them out to her. “Try being grateful for a change.”

“There’s no way in hell I’m taking that paltry little tease for money. You’re worth over five hundred million. And if you think you’re getting custody of Rosa,” she paused, unable to fathom his audacity, “you’re out of your mind. She’s my child. You have no claim to her. You’re not even her real father. I didn’t allow my first husband to treat me like shit, and I’m not taking it from you either.”

His sinister laugh scared her. He’d never fought back before. She’d stand her ground, and he’d relent to her will.

He dropped the papers on the desk. “Everyone will testify that I’ve been a doting husband and father.”

“I agree. If you wish to continue being the doting father, you’ll give me my fair share. I’m getting half. Wait until the courts hear about your affair. I haven’t decided what news organizations to send her love letters to yet.”

“When you send in that article, make sure you tell them how your first husband divorced you because of infidelity.”

Her face snapped back as if she’d been slapped. She’d told him their divorce was because George didn’t want children. Telling herself that he must be fishing, she regrouped. “I never cheated on my husband. The divorce decree says irreconcilable differences.”

“Oh yes, you did. You cheated on him with me.” He flashed a wicked smile. “Of course, I’ll tell the judge I didn’t know you were married at the time and that you’ve cheated on me numerous times throughout our marriage.” He paused. “I have several men willing to testify about your escapades—including the man that will soon be your former lawyer.” His voice filled with concern, and the angry, harsh lines of his face softened. “I’d begged you to seek professional help. A woman wanting sex all of the time just isn’t natural.”

“You liar!” she shouted from the edge of her chair, gripped the sides, prayed for grounding.

“I told you if you didn’t end your latest affair, I’d seek a divorce. That’s when you fabricated this affair I’m
allegedly
having and tried to extort money out of me. I knew I had to save Rosa. So I made the toughest decision I’ve ever made in my life.” Looking truly distraught, he sighed. “I filed for divorce and am seeking full custody of Rosa.”

She jumped out of her seat. “You’ll never get Rosa! I…I…I read in this medical journal about this experimental testing.”

“You actually read?”

She ground her teeth. “This test will prove that you aren’t her father.”

Eyes large in feigned horror, he drew in his hands. “So you were cheating on me
and
your husband? I’m wounded.” He slapped the desk with his heavy hand. “Oh yeah, you’re sunk. Bring on this test. Your lawyer should have informed you that legally, Rosa is my child: my name is on the birth certificate; I’ve been raising her as my own; and you have always maintained that she is my child.”

He pushed the divorce papers toward her. “Sign and I’ll allow you visitations with Rosa, or we can go to court and I will prove what an unfit mother you are. Even the orderly at the hospital smelled the alcohol on your breath last night.”

She hadn’t had a drop to drink until after she returned home from the hospital. This couldn’t be happening. He had to be stopped. “George isn’t Rosa’s father.”

“If you want to impress me, tell me something I don’t know.”

She straightened her back and glared at him. “Her father is a major drug dealer. He’ll have you killed,” she bluffed. She hadn’t seen David since he’d tossed the bag of money at her. Ernesto was corporate; he’d fear confronting anyone from the drug world.

Ernesto raised a brow. “You mean my brother, David Martín? At least he was right about you. You are hell in bed.”

Wind knocked out of her, she could barely stand. How had he known about David? They couldn’t be brothers. This was another one of his lies. He was tricking her. Of course, he had said the name David. After all, he was the largest drug lord in the country. “I’m serious, Ernesto. I can have you killed with one phone call.”

He reached for the phone. “Go for it.” He held up a finger. “Wait a second. I need to make a call first.” He dialed David’s number, then held the phone to his ear. “Hey, David, Harriet wants to speak with you.” He handed the phone over to her.

Harriet hesitated, then slowly reached for the phone and put it to her ear. David cursed her out for being so stupid and endangering his child. Then he told her to sign whatever the hell Ernesto wanted or he’d have her ass whacked.

All she could do was lower her head. “Please, don’t take Rosa from me.” She felt her eyes fill with tears. Year’s ago, she’d sworn no man would ever see her cry. Right about now, she didn’t care who saw her. The taking of her child from her hurt more than the taking of her innocence by her mother’s men. “She’s all I have.” She wiped the tears from her eyes.

He took the phone from her trembling hands. “We’ll talk later,” he said into the line, then hung up. “I gave you everything, but it wasn’t enough. If I choose to go by the prenuptial agreement, you get nothing. Take the money.”

“What about Rosa? She needs me.”

“She can see you whenever she wants. Unlike you, I’d never hurt her.”

“You can have the money. I’ll follow the prenuptial agreement. Just please don’t take Rosa from me.” She choked on the lump of emotions in her throat. “Please don’t take her.”

“Sign the divorce papers or we go by the prenuptial agreement, and I take you to court for full custody. Presently, I’m in a generous mood. If I have to go to court, my generosity ends. After I win—and I will win—you’ll never be allowed to see Rosa again.”

Her tears left stains on the paperwork. She could barely see through her watery eyes to sign.

“I’ve called for a service to pack your things tonight.” He opened the top drawer in his desk, pulled out a set of keys and tossed them at her. “This is your new apartment. It’s downtown. Class is dismissed.”

Angela’s warning from years ago replayed in her mind. She hadn’t heard her sister’s words of wisdom at the time, but now they were loud and clear:
One of these days, you’re gonna get caught up in all the mess you throw out there
. She felt numb. He’d taken her one true happiness from her.