It's in the Rhythm (14 page)

Chapter 11

Brian rang the doorbell where Tamara was staying. It was nine o'clock at night and no one was home. He'd stopped by earlier but didn't get an answer. He believed Tamara had a new man in her life. Difficult as it was, Brian would try to accept that his marriage might be over. It almost took a trip to jail for him to realize it. When the officer asked Tamara if she'd wanted to press charges for harassment, she had declined. He was back tonight to see his son. He missed doing things with him. They were close. Nothing, and no one, would ever change that.

Tamara's car pulled into the driveway. Taj opened the passenger's door and made a beeline toward him.

“Daddy,” he exclaimed.

Brian kneeled down, picking him up. “There's my little man.”

Taj hugged him tightly. “I miss you, Daddy. You came to take us home?”

Brian's eyes rested on Tamara and a pecan-colored lady of medium height. He didn't recognize her. “That's up to your mother,” Brian answered.

Tamara didn't appreciate Brian putting her on the spot. “Not yet, Taj.”

“I want to go home,” Taj whined and began to cry.

“Let me take him home,” Brian pleaded. “He misses me. I miss him. This is the first time I've seen him since you left.”

“We haven't discussed this, Brian,” Tamara argued. Unlocking the house door, she went inside.

“I know.” Brian rubbed Taj's back consolingly, then stood him to his feet.

“There's nothing to discuss,” Brian stated, voice raised, as he trailed her inside the house.

“Brian, you just can't show up and begin throwing out demands,” Tamara replied, turning to face him.

“Asking to see my son isn't throwing out a demand. It's my right as his father.”

“At nine o'clock at night?” Nina chimed in.

Brian's eyes fell on the unknown woman with dislike. He wondered who she was and why she was up in his business.

“Who are you?” he snapped. “Why are you all up in my business?”

“I'm a friend of Tamara's,” Nina answered.

Brian frowned. “I've met all of Tamara's friends. I've never met you before.”

Tamara could sense things were getting out of hand. She stepped between the two. “Calm down, both of you.”

“She has nothing to do with this,” Brian replied.

“You're right,” Tamara added. She picked up on the look that Nina gave her. “Nina, excuse us a moment. Brian and I need to talk.”

Nina glared at Brian. She didn't move for what seemed like forever. “Are you sure?”

“Girl, if you don't leave us alone…” Brian moved toward Nina.

She stepped back. “This is my house,” Nina said heatedly.

“Brian,” Tamara said, exasperation evident in her voice. She turned back to Nina. “I'll be fine. Go. Take Taj in the back room, please.”

Brian glanced down at his son's small, innocent face as he took in everything around him. Taj was tightly holding onto his hand. Brian didn't want to release his hand. It was as if he was afraid he'd ever see him again. “I'm going to talk to your mommy, Taj. We will be right here if you need us.”

Taj whimpered and wiped his eyes with the back of his small hand. He reluctantly went with Nina.

“Who is she?” Brian inquired when they were out of earshot. “She has a serious attitude problem.”

“Nina is a good friend. She's been wonderful to me and Taj.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he said in an irritated tone. “I don't like strangers in my business. This is between you and me.”

“I'll make sure Nina knows that. Let's get back to Taj. You just can't show up here unannounced, Brian.”

“Come home, Tamara,” he pleaded in a broken voice. “Don't do this to us. We've been through so much together. It's not too late for us to work this out. I love you.”

Tamara knew Brian loved her. It was killing her to see what she was putting him and Taj through. She loved him. He was the father of her son, but she had to be true to herself.

“I love you, too, Brian.” She managed a tight smile. “We have been through a lot together. Despite how the marriage came about, you've been a good husband to me. I couldn't ask for a better father for Taj.”

Brian's brows drew downward in a frown. “Don't patronize me, Tamara. Be a woman and come out with it.”

She inhaled sharply. “I'm not coming back, Brian.”

It wasn't what Brian wanted to hear, but he was prepared for it. “Tell me the truth, Tamara. No beating around the bush. There's someone else?”

Tamara nodded. “Yes.”

Brian didn't know what to say. He suspected that there was, but hearing Tamara admit it was still heartbreaking. “You left me for him?”

She nodded yes.

“You're going to divorce me to marry him?” Brian asked sharply. It was a legitimate question.

“I haven't thought about getting married again.”

Brian had almost forgotten he was standing until he noticed the sofa next to him. He plopped down onto the brown, soft cushions. “Then what is this about?”

Tamara sat down next to him, wishing she could just tell him the truth. “Brian, it's the best thing for both of us.”

Brian's mind was spinning with confusion. What sent Tamara into the arms of another man? He'd done everything a man could do to take care of his family. A certified mechanic, it wasn't unusual for him to work sixteen hours a day. Brian didn't mind. It placed a roof over their heads, food on the table, and paid the bills. Though Tamara had gone back to college, graduating with a degree, he never insisted that Tamara contribute to the household. As far as he was concerned, her only job was to take care of Taj. She was a great mother.

“How long have you been creeping around behind my back?” Brian's face twisted with anger when he thought about how good he'd been to her.

Tamara jumped to her feet. Simultaneously, Brian rose with her.

“I'm not going to answer that, Brian.”

“I deserve to know.”

“It's not going to change anything.”

Brian rushed toward her. He stopped cold in front of her, nostrils flaring. “You're lucky I'm not one of those brothers out in the streets,” he said through clenched teeth. He placed a hand around her throat. He didn't have any intention of squeezing her neck. He just wanted her to know that he was angry enough to snap the life out of her. “Because right now, I could easily choke the life out of you.”

Fear and anger knotted inside her. Tamara couldn't move.

“Brian,” she said in a shaky voice. She could feel the heat radiating from him. His chest was moving up and down in frustration.

“Shut up!”

A silence enveloped the room. He removed his hand from around her neck, shaking his head in disbelief. He'd never lay a hand on any woman. “Why, Tamara? What did he give you that I didn't?” He spread his hands in desperation. “Everything I did was for you and Taj. This is how you repay me?”

Tamara's hand rubbed her neck. “Brian, I'm sorry.”

Brian's eyes roved over her from head to toe. “Yes, you are. Well, check this out. I'm taking my son with me.
Tonight
.”

Tamara was going to object, but decided not to. Brian was hurt enough. It was the least she could do. “When are you going to bring him back?”

“I don't know,” Brian replied sharply. He called for Taj. A moment later, he flew out of the back room, grinning, and flung himself into his father's arms. “Come on, Taj, let's go.”

Tamara stepped forward. Brian gave her a don't-even-think-about-it look. He headed out the door, hand in hand with Taj.

“Brian, please call me.”

Brian didn't bother to look back. Tamara's heart dropped into her stomach. Nina stood by her side, reminding her that her secret was the reason she may have lost her son. The tears started as soon as she heard Brian's car drove away.

* * *

“I heard you will be at our school on Friday,” Bonita said to Garrett several hours later.

“What are you going to talk about?” Keisha said, walking up next to them. Both were members of the Youth Choir. When you saw one, you saw the other. “How to become famous like you?” She giggled.

Trinity couldn't help overhearing the conversation. She remained quiet.

“You can't teach someone to be famous,” Garrett explained. “I'm going to talk about the importance of education. A lot of teenagers are dropping out of school. I hope you ladies,” he pointed at both of them, “are not thinking about leaving school.”

“I'm staying in school,” Bonita said. “I want to be a social worker.”

“My parents would kill me,” Keisha added.

Both girls nodded in unison.

“Listen to your parents,” Garrett said. “How was rehearsal?”

“It was a little off tonight,” Keisha threw in. “The musicians were a little slow,” she said with attitude. “We need some new material. Something more upbeat.”

“Can you write us something?” Bonita suggested.

Garrett chuckled. “I will think about it. Do you need a ride home?”

“My father is on his way to pick us up,” Bonita answered.

“All right, I'll see you next time.” He turned, heading toward his father's office.

Garrett rapped on his father's study door. Not waiting for a response, he poked his head inside. Pastor Martindale was sitting behind the desk going over some papers. He looked up, removing his expensive reading glasses. He waved him inside.

Garrett stopped in front of the desk. “Busy?”

Pastor Martindale closed the brown folder. “Finalizing everything for your trip to Atlanta.”

The mention of the event brought a smile to Garrett's face. “I'm looking forward to it. Now that Trinity has rejoined the choir, it will be just like old times.”

“Speaking of Trinity, I was surprised to see her this evening.” Pastor Martindale opened the bottom desk drawer, slipping the folder in its proper space. “What made her decide to come back to the choir? Or should I ask who?”

Garrett blushed. “I asked her to fill in for Shannon.”

“She agreed just like that? If my memory serves me right, she left the choir right after you did. Marc has been trying like crazy to get her to come back.”

Garrett shrugged. “I guess he doesn't have my touch.”

Pastor Martindale smiled. “I guess not.” He always knew Garrett had a crush on Trinity. He wouldn't have minded if they started dating. She was a beautiful young lady, inside and out, with a nice spirit. She wasn't flashy, yet you couldn't help but notice her. She was better suited for his son than Imani. “Well, it's good she's back in the choir, regardless of what brought her back,” Pastor Martindale said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Garrett blushed again. “Just looking out for the choir.”

“Were you?”

Garrett wasn't up to going a round with his father this evening. “Dad, it's been a long day. I still have music to go over. I just want to let you know the choir is sounding good. We're on schedule. I'm not in the mood for a sermon.” He turned to leave.

Pastor Martindale zoomed out from around the desk. “No sermon,” he said. “I couldn't help but hear the choir. You have done a wonderful job. I didn't mean anything by the remark. I always knew you were a little sweet on Trinity.”

Garrett's eyes widened. He was embarrassed. “Dad, I don't feel comfortable talking to you about this.”

“Why not? I'm your father.”

Trying to head off an argument, he said, “You know why. I can't seem to talk to you unless it's about the choir.” He turned to leave again.

“Don't leave.” Pastor Martindale waved toward the chair across from his desk. “Have a seat. Let's talk a moment, father to son.”

“Dad, it's a little late for the ‘talk.' ”

“I'm aware of that.” He gave Garrett a look. “I just want to explain some things to you.”

Garrett sat in the chair. Pastor Martindale slid a chair from the desk, positioning it in front of Garrett.

“You really think that the choir is the only thing you have done that I'm proud of?”

“You have never approved of anything else that I've done.”

Pastor Martindale leaned forward, braced his elbows on his thighs, and clasped his hands together. “Garrett, I have always been proud of you. I was proud of everything from your first words to your first steps, your track career to your Grammy award. Son, I'm very proud of you.”

Garrett leaned back in the chair. An unexpected warmth surged through him at his father's revelation. “You listened to my music?”

Pastor Martindale tilted his head to one side. “I taught you how to play, remember? It's only natural that I would like to hear what you did with the talent. Just because I don't approve of the music you're playing, doesn't mean that I'm not proud.”

Garrett couldn't believe what he was hearing. His father was proud of him. “Thanks.”

He sat up straight in the chair. “Your mother and I were talking the other night. She was saying that you and your sister weren't comfortable talking to us about things going on in your life.”

Garrett shrugged. What his mother said was true.

“I know we were strict with your upbringing,” Pastor Martindale continued. “But at the same time we tried to be open-minded.”

“When I left the choir to sing secular music, you weren't very open-minded.”

Pastor Martindale leaned forward again. “Just because I didn't agree with your decision to leave the choir doesn't mean I'm not open-minded. It's my job to tell God's words about singing that type of music.”

“See, Dad, that's what I'm talking about. Why can't you just be my father and respect my decision about the direction I wanted my singing career to go in? Take off the pastor's hat for a moment. Try to understand that I'm doing what I love to do.”