Brothers and Wives (32 page)

When Dani hiccups and giggles, I lean in. “When’s the last time my husband has been at the town house?”

“Oh, a few days ago? Or was it last week? Whoops, excuse me. I dunno really. Not too long.”

“What did he do when he was there?”

“He did good. Real good. Mmm hmmm. He’s so kind and wonderful. Anya, you’re lucky to have Neil, I swear I envy you.”

“What did he do good?”

She gives me a blank stare, and I hear “Uh-oh” slip between her teeth.

“What were we talking about?”

“We’re talking about why my husband was recently at your place without Scottie around!”

“Brax! Anya, you know he comes and picks up the baby. What, is that a crime these days? You want Neil to go to jail, too? You’re insane.” She belches.

Ten minutes later Dani gulps the rest of her wine, wipes her mouth with her sleeve, stumbles into the den, and passes out on the couch. My strategy to get this woman drunk so the wine will loosen her tongue doesn’t go quite the way I hoped.

The girl is too wasted to realize I made up the part about Neil going to the liquor store. He doesn’t know this, and he won’t know. As long as he keeps info from me, I’ll pay him the exact favor.

But because my inner suspicions refuse to leave me alone, I’ll have to execute my second plan.

Every Thursday morning I try to listen to 104.1 FM, KRBE, which is mostly a pop radio station. The Roula & Ryan
show is hosted by Roula, a Greek woman born and raised in H-town. Ryan is her sidekick and seems to be one of the rare males who can provide truthful and sensitive commentary on male-female relationships. But what really lures me to this show each week is when they air “Roula & Ryan’s Roses.” I sent them an e-mail because I wanted to be on the show just so I can take a chance and find out if Neil will send a dozen roses to me or to another woman.

So when I get the call from Roula, I am shocked that I get selected. Then when I realize I’m talking to her, I feel nervously excited and try my best to act normal. Roula explains that she and Ryan will be calling Neil, pretending they are representing a national florist company that’s doing a promotion involving free roses.

“If it’s free, he’ll be game,” I tell her. “I need to know if he’s being unfaithful.”

“Who is the woman?”

“I hate to say it, but she’s someone he’s cheated with before.” I start to admit they had a child together, but I already look like a fool as it is, so I keep my mouth shut.

I stand by in nervous anticipation, and when I hear Neil’s voice as he’s talking to Roula, I know the moment of truth is here.

“Hi, I’m with National Flower World and we’re doing a little promotion where we’ll send a dozen free roses anywhere you want just to introduce our company. You’re under no obligation. No credit card is needed or anything.”

“You say it’s free?”

“Absolutely free, sir.”

“And you won’t need a credit card?”

“Not at all. We’re hoping you’ll use our services in the future if you take a chance on us today.”

“Good. My credit card is really charged up.” Neil chuckles.

My hands are sweating like crazy as I grip the phone and hold my breath.

“Okay, Neil,” Roula says. “Who do we make the card out to and what should it say?”

“To my wife, Anya. Love you.”

“Ah, okay, well, Neil, we need you to know you’re actually on the radio right now. The reason we’re calling is because your wife, Anya, wasn’t sure if you’d send the flowers to her.”

“What? Anya, why are you doing this on the radio?”

“Neil,” I cut in. “I’m sorry, but it seemed you were becoming distant. I had a bad feeling, and I needed to know if anything was going on.”

“Anya, you should have come to me.”

“I did, but you blew me off.”

“I answered your questions, but I guess if it’s not what you want to hear, you think I’m hiding something. I haven’t done anything with anybody. I am done with this conversation. Just know I love you, no matter how you feel inside.”

Neil disconnects the call. I want to get in bed and pull the covers over my head.

Is he telling the truth? Can Neil truly care about me when I feel so much of who I used to be is no longer there?

Days later, I take a seat in the waiting room of my physician’s office. I am facing a plain white wall that is adorned with photos of Tiger Woods swinging a golf club.

A few outdated magazines lie on a small table next to me. I pick up one and begin thumbing through its pages.
Moments later I hear a man and a woman’s voice; they’re holding a conversation as they enter the waiting room. Their feet slowly shuffle across the floor. They ring a bell to let the receptionist know they’ve arrived. The chair right behind me makes a whishing sound, and I know they’ve taken a seat.

“Dodie, don’t worry. You will be okay once you see the doctor,” I hear a man say who’s seated behind me. He sounds like he’s eighty years old. His voice is soft and soothing.

“I know, Paul. I can’t wait to get out of here, though. I have a taste for a cup of cocoa.”

“I’ll make you some as soon as we get home, okay, Do-si-do?”

“Thank you, Paul.” She starts laughing, and he joins in. Their laugh sounds like a full orchestra.

While listening to them, I want to turn around and look at them. But all I can do is listen and smile.

I don’t hear old. I don’t hear age. I hear love.

The day of Scottie’s
homecoming, Dani waits three hours for his paperwork to be processed. When Scottie wanders into the lobby, walking with a bounce, Dani yelps and jumps into his arms. He swings her around in a circle until she starts screaming with joy.

“Okay, put me down. Let me take a good look at you.”

Scottie’s wearing the same clothes he wore the day he got arrested. He smiles and flexes his muscles.

“Ooo, baby, you’re looking good. I love that you worked out while you were here,” she says, and squeezes his plump arms. “You already had a tight body….”

“Well, I kept it tight for you. You were all I thought about every second I was here.” He takes one final glance. “Hey, let’s bounce. I’ve had enough of this place.”

She grabs his arm tightly, and they walk out the door into the brilliant sunlight. Downtown Houston looks awesome today.

“Man, the fucking sun is blazing down on me, and I love it. And I love you, Dani.”

She grins at him, and they plod down the street, settle in Dani’s truck, and drive toward home.

“Okay,” Dani says. “Your boss has been kind enough to grant you that leave of absence. But now that you’re back, you should report to work on Monday.”

“No problem. I’ve never been so eager to go to a job in my life.”

“And, of course, Anya’s throwing a party for you, so we’ll head straight there. You can take a shower. I got you a brand-new outfit. Everything will be different.”

“Will it?” Scottie says calmly.

“Well, yeah,” she says, pouting. “You’re going to definitely become a better, more conscientious driver. And I insist that you attend anger management classes. You can’t threaten or try to fight anybody just because you don’t like what they say to me or anyone else.”

“Those are the changes you want me to make. But what about
your
changes?”

“M–mine? What do I need to change?”

“Word gets out, Dani. Even when you think no one knows your business, they do.”

“Um, what on Earth are you talking about?”

“Don’t play the innocent role. Someone from the outside came to visit me….”

“Is LaNecia really anyone who can be trusted? Please don’t insult me, Scottie.”

“She may make up shit from time to time, but when she knows the truth, she’s gonna tell me that, too.”

“You believe that sicko over your own wife?”

“Yes, if I know for a fact that you sneak around behind my back.”

“Y–you don’t know that.”

Scottie glares at his wife as she presses her foot on the accelerator.

“Going faster ain’t gonna change anything, Dani. If you need to tell me something, now’s the time to do it.”

“Look, Scottie, if you’re asking if I had sex with another man, the answer is hell no. Are you kidding me? LaNecia needs to check herself. She’s so desperate she’ll do anything to get you away from me. And, since we’re on this subject, why do you allow her to do the things she does? Is it because you told the girl you still care about her? You love her? You’re as guilty as I am….”

“What did you say? Keep talking, Dani. I want to know how
guilty
you are.”

“Don’t try to put words in my mouth. Scottie, if I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have accepted your collect calls, put my manicure and pedicure money in your inmate fund so you can eat a bag of chips or whatever they served y’all down there.”

“You never even wrote me a letter. I saw other guys getting mail all the time, but not me.”

“That’s crazy,” she says seductively. “We talked on the phone, honey bun, and I have the bills to prove it.”

“Don’t try to sound sweet now. I’m mad at you.”

She laughs. “I’m so glad you’re out, baby. It wasn’t any fun without you there. And Brax … oh my goodness, he’s practically reading now. You’ll see.”

Scottie begins to relax as he considers her reasoning.

“I guess I need to chill. The main thing is I did my little time. This is just a funky Class C misdemeanor. It’s gonna be on my record, but at least I’m not on probation. I’m straight.”

“I hope you mean that literally,” Dani teases.

“Seriously, baby. I appreciate the little things you did for me. Every inmate’s fear is that his woman is gonna leave him, or sleep with another man. I guess I’ll take your word
for it, but if I ever find out you lied, ten anger management classes won’t help.”

“You need to quit,” she says, laughing hysterically.

It’s almost five o’clock on a Friday. They get stuck in rush-hour traffic but take the time to catch up on the details of everything Scottie’s missed out on.

They arrive at Neil’s and notice lots of cars parked in the driveway and in front of the house.

“People have been waiting to see you all day, honey.”

“That’s a trip. I never thought folks would care this much about a brother.”

“Lots of people love you. You’ll see,” she says as they exit the truck.

Colorful purple and orange streamers are mounted on all the doorways. A huge Welcome Home Scottie banner spans across the arches that lead into the den.

“Hey, cousin,” says one male cousin.

“What up, what up. I see the cards over there. I’m dying to whip you in spades. Set up the table.”

Scottie goes around hugging Vette, Reesy, Riley, and Karetha.

“Where’s your girl?” he says folding Karetha into his arms for a warm hug.

Karetha averts her eyes. “I don’t know, but wherever she is, I know her mind is only on you. You know Necia.”

“I know, Ka. Be good. I’m glad you’re here.”

Scottie breezes into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator. “Real food,” he screams at the top of his lungs.

“Don’t you dare walk in my house looking for something to eat without first saying hello to us.” Anya is standing near the breakfast bar with her hands on her hips. Sola waits beside her, clinging to a large photo album.

“Scott-Scott!”

“Mommy!” He leaves the refrigerator door open and races into his mother’s arms. She hugs him and softly cries. “Thank you, Jesus. I was so scared for you. And sorry I didn’t visit. I just couldn’t bring myself to come down there. I don’t want to see my son behind bars.”

“Except the kind of bar that serves Crown Royal, right, Mama?”

Neil steps into the kitchen, his presence almost filling the room. He locks eyes with his brother, then walks up to him and pats him on the back.

“Yo, man, thanks for looking out for me. I appreciate everything you’ve done. Took care of the attorney, paying my bills. I owe you, man.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” Neil says and walks out of the room.

“He’s so weird,” Dani says nervously. She’s been standing in the shadows, observing all the action.

“Anyway, it’s time for you to take a nice, long shower, hubby. You smell worse than a pig.”

“You know what? You right. I can smell myself. So, y’all give me twenty minutes. I’m going upstairs to shower and I’ll be back down to get the party started. Now, make sure my favorite music is playing. Oh, guess what. When you’re in jail …”

“Oh no, here he goes trying to liven things up with his prison stories,” Anya says, laughing.

“Listen up. Everyone gets a nickname. Know what they called me? ‘Radio.’ ’Cause I was singing all the time. Scottie was making hits up in the joint.”

Everyone beams at Scottie as he leaves the kitchen.

He runs up the stairs, enters his former bedroom, sees
clothes lying on the chair, and scoops them into his hand. Just as he’s about to turn around and leave the room, he hears a click; the door locks.

He quickly turns around. LaNecia is staring at Scottie as if she’s looking right through him. Her long, unbraided hair is a tangled mess.

“What are you doing here, cousin?”

“I came here to see you. I heard you were getting out.”

“But why aren’t you downstairs with the rest?”

“You don’t want to see me alone, Scottie? What can I do to make you see I’m special because I’m all out of answers? How can I make you love me?”

“You gotta stop stalking me, cousin. I feel like you’re following me on Twitter.”

“Do you have a Twitter account?”

“See, you’re scaring me, baby girl.”

She steps closer to Scottie and tries to grab his penis. He slaps her hand away and steps back.

“That is enough. You need help, cousin, for real. Leave right now or else I’m going to call the cops.”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“Yes, I would.”

“Do you know what
I’m
going to do?”

Scottie watches her pull a 9-millimeter gun from behind her back. Her hands shake as she points it directly at his face.

He screams,
“Please
, LaNecia,
don’t shoot!”