Brothers and Wives (13 page)

“You want me to ride you?”

“Yes,” he whispers, his mouth wide open as he lies flat out on his back. His eyes pop open. “No.”

She feels his body stiffen, and not in the way that turns her on. He removes his hand from her vagina. Small dots of white cream stick to his fingers.

She grabs his fingers, shoves them in her mouth and starts sucking.

“You know what, you little freak? We can continue this conversation later. Company awaits.”

LaNecia frowns and removes his fingers from her mouth.

“Scottie, don’t do this. How can you leave me like this? I’m sick of you leaving me.”

“But I always come back, don’t I?”

“Yeah, but …”

“I know it’s bad timing, but I swear I’ll be back,” he says, changing his voice to sound like the Terminator.

“What time?”

“In an hour.”

“You better not be lying to me.”

“Face it, cousin. Nothing I do will change how you are.”

“Ouch. That hurts.”

“Sometimes hurt is a good thing. Now I gotta be going. I mean it.” He scoots out of the bed and heads out of the room.

She springs off the bed and yells over her shoulder, “You may wanna wash your hands before you go downstairs.”

LaNecia can’t bear to watch Scottie leave out of the front door with Dani by his side. It’s now around seven o’clock. She makes a feeble attempt to eat the dinner that Anya prepared, steamed vegetables and tilapia with homemade bread and coleslaw. Although the food looks and smells delicious, she slumps in her chair at the dining room table, making loud scraping sounds with her fork as she pushes her broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower around her plate.

Vette tells her, “We’re getting out of here in a minute. I’m going stir-crazy, and I can see you need to get out, too. We’ll steal Neil’s ride and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

“Girl, is it that obvious?”

“Women know women even when we try to front. Let’s roll.”

Vette finds Neil in the backyard raking a small pile of leaves. She sweetly asks Neil if she may borrow his Ford Explorer.

“Why not secure a down payment and get your own car?”

“Thanks Neil,” Vette says as she grabs his keys, which are sitting on the picnic table.

“I won’t be long. LaNecia and I are going to see if we can find bags of ice.”

“Yeah, right.”

Vette laughs out loud and rushes into the house gleefully holding Neil’s keys up in the air. She grabs LaNecia’s arm and pulls her from the dinner table and out the door.

Soon they are speeding down South Braeswood, a picturesque boulevard with dozens of oversize brick ranches, perfectly manicured lawns, and pricey homes that have enormous curb appeal.

“Now what’s up? I saw how you looked so devastated earlier when Dani pranced into the den like she’s the lady of the house.”

“Ain’t that a bitch? If I were Anya, I would have to beat that lady down. Why doesn’t she get on that homewrecker like any sane woman should?”

“My sister-in-law handles matters in her own way. But all the Meadows are dysfunctional, so what do you expect?”

“I expect a wife to put a wannabe in her place, that’s what. Ugmo voluntarily went into the refrigerator like she’s throwing down on bills or something.” She pauses. “You think she and Neil are still messing around?”

“That would be outright nasty. No way she’s doing two
brothers at the same time. But who are you to talk, kissing cousin?”

“Girl, please. I don’t see why he and I can’t be running buddies like we used to be.”

“Y’all were way more than that. I get sick just thinking of it. You two remind me of Angelina Jolie and her brother, who she kissed one time on the red carpet. You ain’t seen or heard from that guy since.”

“He couldn’t take the heat, I guess.”

“And what kind of heat are you trying to put on my brother, huh? Tell the truth.”

“I already told you, Vette.”

“You told me a lie, that’s what you told me.”

“Dang, look at that!” LaNecia ignores Vette’s question and points to a long row of CenterPoint Energy white utility trucks that are lined up on the right side of the boulevard.

“Looks like the electrical power rescue teams are out in force,” Vette says.

“Hmm, that’s what I’m talking about. When people are in a crisis, someone is out there ready to respond ASAP. It seems like the only time Scottie pays attention to me is when I stir up high drama. Why are men like that?”

“Most guys seem very self-absorbed trying to take care of their own needs first. They aren’t thinking about a woman unless she is giving him pussy, or money if he’s one of those broke-ass scrubs.”

“Hmm, you may be right. I need to know what motivates Scot … I mean, men. I need to get inside a man’s head and see what makes him tick.”

“The best way to understand a man is to ask another man, preferably a man who isn’t trying to sleep with you. Sex screws up everything.”

“You’re too funny, but I guess you’re right. Shit, I had sex for the first time when I was just fifteen. I actually regret that experience.”

“Why, ’cause it turned you into a freak?”

“Shut up, dude. Seriously, I wanted my first time to be special. But this Negro named Clarence was a senior and I was a freshman going into my sophomore year. We’d go to the movies or the mall. And he’d ask me to come by his house when his mom and little sisters were gone. Like a dummy, I did.”

“Oh, then what happened?”

“Of course, he led me on the typical lame-ass tour of this teeny-weenie town house that they were renting. And we go upstairs. He showed me his room, then his mother’s room, which had a king-size bed with lots of pillows.”

“Oh, you wanted to get in that bed, huh?”

“Well, Clarence was like, ‘Let’s play a game. Husband and wife.’ I said okay. And he got in bed, took off his clothes and ordered me to take off mine. I was like, ‘What if your momma comes home?’ He was like, ‘I’m the man of the house and I know what’s best, so do what I tell you. Do you trust me? Do you love me?’ Girl, I was so confused, but flattered that he wanted to act like he was my husband. So I got naked, got in bed, and we got busy.”

“Did it hurt?”

“Hell yeah. I was squirming and squeaking, sounding like a freaking chicken mixed with alley cats. But Clarence kept going till he got a little nut. Then he got up, put on his clothes, and washed his hands, just like that.”

“That sounds messed up.”

“Yeah, it was awful. That experience taught me never to let a man be in control.” LaNecia suddenly feels a tingle of
depression settling inside her heart. She remembers how strange it felt for her when Clarence didn’t want to take her to the movies anymore. He made up excuses, saying he was busy with his studies and football practice. But LaNecia didn’t believe him. She kept trying to call him and get him to take her out again, this time to a decent restaurant plus a movie. But he never responded to her requests.

“Well, like I said before,” Vette says, “most guys are hard to figure out. Yet Anya says that guys are pretty simple. She had to learn that the hard way.”

“What else did she say?”

“That if you want to secure a man, feed him with good food, always be willing to give him the bomb sex whenever he wants it, and, yes, sometimes you gotta give up the cash. Now, if they make their own money, you’re straight. They will be giving you the dollars. But if they’re young and don’t have much money, they may want a little help.”

“That sucks. I mean, I know I can fuck. I can cook. But I don’t have much money.” She frowns. “I’m going to try and get another job. My whole future is at stake.”

Vette shakes her head. “I know you got something crazy going on inside your head, cousin, but you be careful what you wish for. You gotta really think if Scottie is worth you losing yourself with all the little scheming you’re doing.”

It’s early October, two-and-a-half
months away from the big 4-0. My older girlfriends warn me about what to expect. They say once I reach middle age, I will look at life differently. Well, that new perspective has kicked in, and I haven’t even reached forty yet.

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and the temperature is so hot you’d think it was the middle of July. I felt like getting out of the house today, and now Vette and I are at the Memorial City Mall, hanging out near the food court. She’s hungry for a chicken pasta salad from Le Petit Bistro. I have no appetite, and I’m sitting across from a double-decker Venetian-style carousel waiting on Vette to get her order.

Children of all ages run around the perimeter of the massive merry-go-round. Other kids are content to sit on top of the high-gloss painted horses as they bob up and down and travel in that perfect circle to circus music.

My eyes follow one little boy who looks seven. His head is chock-full of blond hair. His piercing blue eyes light up every time he laughs. His little hands are gripping his striped pole for dear life. I stare at the ride as it comes to a stop. Next thing I know, I’m getting in line and climbing on top of an off-white horse with a long mane.

I know people are smiling and pointing at me, but I don’t care.

The ride begins, and I lurch forward. “Oh, this is fun, brings back so many fond memories,” I say out loud to a pudgy Hispanic kid, who stares at me like I’m an alien.

I close my eyes and get lost in childish wonder. When the ride comes to a stop, and my feet hit the ground, I have to grip a pole to keep from falling.

“Anya, you must be out of your mind.”

“Shhh, girl, don’t say my name.”

“You don’t want anyone to know that it’s the great Anya Meadows who’s looking like a fool with her big butt on a kiddie ride?”

“Hush, child. Nothing wrong with having clean, innocent fun.”

“Sure.” Vette deadpans. “If you’re ten and under. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.” We start walking toward the clothing stores. “Where you wanna go next, Toys ‘R’ Us? Or to the children’s play castle over by Sears?”

“Very funny. I don’t know where I wanna go. Let’s just walk.”

We pass by Forever 21, the Gap, and Gap Kids.

I self-consciously look at how I’m dressed: a four-year-old Texas Medical Center oversize T-shirt that Neil got from his job, some wrinkled blue jeans, and a pair of Sketchers that should have been thrown away in the trash long ago.

“Wow,” I say as we pass by several window displays. “I could use a wardrobe makeover. It seems like the styles are getting jazzier and trendier.”

“The teen clothes look better than the adults’, and they cost just as much.”

“Who you telling? By the way, I need to go to Kids Footlocker
and buy Reese a new pair of kicks. Her feet are growing every month, and I can’t ignore her complaining anymore about how much they hurt.”

“Okay, let’s buy the little princess new gym shoes,” Vette agrees. “Hey, have you told Neil about the operation? Did you set a date?”

“No and no. I’m still trying to make a decision.”

“What? Why haven’t you at least told him? …”

“Because I just haven’t. And don’t you say a word, Vette.”

“I won’t it’s just …”

“This hysterectomy thing is a very serious issue. I just don’t want Neil to look at me differently.”

“Girl, he loves you and you know it.”

“Ha, I’m not so sure sometimes. We’ve been together so long that sometimes I wonder if his love is on autopilot.”

“What’s the matter?” Vette asks, looking concerned. She can read my face like it’s an open book.

“Vette, so much is going on. I’m not too good at handling lots of stress. My birthday, the surgery, Dani being around the house with Scottie …”

“Wait? I thought you were happy that she found someone else.”

“I am, but I don’t like how Neil is acting about the whole matter. In my opinion, he shouldn’t care what Dani does. He’s too protective. I don’t like it.”

“That’s Neil. I don’t think he’s aware of how transparent he can be sometimes.”

“But that’s what I like about him and what I hate about him. It’s hard for him to lie to me because I’ve known him long enough to see straight through him … most of the time. But when I can see the truth, I don’t always like what I see.”

“I don’t envy you at all. That’s why I’m still single.”

“You’re so young you don’t need to be making that kind of serious commitment yet. If you aren’t totally prepared to be a wife, there’s hell to pay. And that’s another thing,” I say pausing as we walk in front of Motherhood Maternity. “I’ll admit I’ve been a fool. As a married woman I have made some stupid mistakes. The main one was letting Neil go find a mistress. Yet I place a lot of blame on Dani. It’s like I am not willing to take my share of accountability for what happened.”

“It’s hard for a woman to admit she’s messed up.”

“And it’s harder for a woman to have to live with that mistake every day for the rest of her life. That’s why I’ve been so tempted to just walk away,” I say and take a seat on a couple of brown Massage Center seats that give us an unobstructed view of the Motherhood Maternity store.

“You want to leave Neil?”

“In my heart, no, but when I’m having a tough day I want to say
Screw it
and find someone else. That way I can start all over, leave the mistakes behind, and make sure I do not repeat them in a new relationship. But I’m no spring chicken. You’ll never find me in the pages of a magazine with the caption ‘Young Movers and Shakers.’”

“Woman, please. You aren’t that ancient.”

“I am, too. See this.” I turn over both my hands and spread them before me. “Dozens of ugly wrinkles everywhere. I feel ashamed of my hands sometimes. And see how my eyes are sinking into my head just a little? I’ve never considered plastic surgery before….”

“And you shouldn’t now, Anya, you’re so attractive and strong.”

“Yeah, but is it enough? Is my almost middle-aged
beauty going to keep Neil from upgrading to a younger version of me, from trading me in for a new set of wheels?”

“Well, you aren’t the only one getting older. My brother may find himself being traded in for a sportier model himself. So there!”