It's in the Rhythm (17 page)

Garrett closed his eyes. He knew ending it wasn't going to be easy. “I mean it, Imani. It's over.”

“No, you don't.” She couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She gently attempted to wipe them away.

“Imani, please. I have to go.”

“I won't let you go. You will be back.”

Click
. Garrett was gone.

He fell back on the bed again. He hated himself right now.

“Garrett,” he heard his mother yell from downstairs. “You up there?”

He sat up straight. “I'm here.”

A moment later, an ashen-faced Ginger stood in the bedroom door.

Garrett slowly came to his feet. “Mother, are you all right? What is it?”

She came further into the room, shaking her head. “I just came from the church. I dropped by to see Tamara earlier today.”

Garrett didn't have to hear anything else. Her expression said it all. “She told you?” Garrett walked toward his mother.

Ginger tilted her head to one side, bobbing it up and down. “She said she's…” was all she could say.

“I know.”

Ginger stepped back and glared at Garrett. “How?” she asked. “I don't know what to say. I don't know how to accept it. I've prayed with family members about dealing with homosexuality in their families. My daughter tells me she's gay, and I can't handle it.” Ginger knew she was babbling, but she had to get it out.

Garrett took his mother by the hand and sat her on the edge of the bed.

“Mother,” he said, “you have to pray. Give it to God. We both know that once we put it in God's hands it's out of ours. He will work it out.”

“It's a test, that's what it is,” she continued. “God is testing our faith. But like all the trials and tribulations the Martindales have been through, we're going to make it through.”

“Amen,” Garrett chimed in.

Ginger stood. She began to pace. “She's still my daughter, no matter what.”

“I know this is difficult.” Garrett came to his feet.

“I just don't understand,” Ginger repeated.

“Neither do I,” Garrett agreed. “But this is what we're faced with. We have to accept it.”

Ginger stopped pacing. Wagging a finger at Garrett, she said, “No. We don't have to accept it.”

“What are we going to do? Disown her?”

“I don't know what I'm feeling right now. Brian doesn't know,” she said more to herself than Garrett. “I told her she had to be honest with him.”

“I agree with you,” Garrett said. “She needs to get everything out in the open. Deal with it.”

“This is a mess,” Ginger said. “What we need to do is get everybody together and work this out.”

“Mom, the only people who need to talk right now are Tamara and Brian.”

“We need to be involved. She needs her family.”

“She needs family for moral support. But the final decision should be theirs. Not yours. Not Dad's.
Theirs
,” Garrett reiterated.

Ginger knew her son was right. He'd grown into an intelligent young man. She reached up and gently touched the side of his face. “You're right. I just feel so helpless. I failed as a mother.” She walked over and flopped on the edge of the bed again. “I'm just trying to help. I feel like I let her down.”

Garrett sat down next to her. Reaching over, he put an arm around her shoulder. “C'mon, none of that talk. You are an awesome mother.”

“Am I? Then why did I let her get married to Brian? She wasn't ready. I knew it. I stood by and did nothing.”

“What could you do? At the time, you thought it was the right thing to do.”

“I never thought it was the right thing to do,” she said. “That was your father. You were right. Just because she was pregnant didn't mean she had to marry Brian.” She looked straight ahead. “It was for the Martindales' reputation. You knew that. I don't think she loved him.”

“I know the reason behind the marriage. But honestly, I believe she grew to love Brian.”

“Not like a woman should love a man,” Ginger patted Garrett on the leg as she lifted her five-foot, seven-inch frame to her feet. “I'm going to invite Tamara and Brian over to the house. See what we can work out.” She headed for the bed.

“Mom, stay out of it.” He knew it wasn't in her nature to leave well enough alone. “Let Tamara tell Brian when she's ready.”

Ginger stood in the doorway. “Oh, I will. I just think the time is now.”

* * *

“He had the nerve to say
I
have an attitude,” Trinity screeched into the phone to Leigh. “Can you believe him?” She pulled the vehicle into the parking space in front of her apartment.

“It just sounds to me like he's just jealous.”

Trinity braced the phone against her shoulder as she scooped her purse off of the passenger seat and got out of the car. “What could he be jealous about?”

“Are you serious? A lot of men would be intimidated if they were in Darius's shoes. Their woman singing and touring with the hottest R&B singer in the business.”

“I'm not his woman,” Trinity retorted. “Darius had better get over himself. I thought he'd be happy for me. He knows how much this means to me. Something I have dreamed of doing.”

“Well, I'm happy for you. I wouldn't worry about Darius. He's upset that you're not getting back together. Go ahead with your singing career. Go on tour. I have to come and hear you sing, Miss Superstar.” Leigh was raised Catholic. She attended a Catholic private school and graduated from a Catholic University. Her decision to teach for the public education system was one she never regretted.

“Yes, you do,” Trinity said as she strolled up the sidewalk. “Come to the next rehearsal.” She unlocked the door, entering into the foyer. “We are having extra rehearsals for the Gospel Explosion, so there is no excuse not to attend.” Turning on the wall light switch, she headed into the living room. She placed the car keys on the coffee table.

“I will definitely be at the next one. So, does this mean you are giving up teaching?”

Trinity headed into the bedroom. She removed one shoe and then the other. “I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead.”

“You will be working closely with Garrett,” Leigh said coyly. “I mean, a couple of days ago you were saying you didn't want anything to do with him. Now you're going to be on Garrett's next CD and touring together. Looks to me like the two of you will be spending a lot of time together.”

Trinity thought a moment. To be honest, she looked forward to spending time with Garrett—the more, the better.

“I'm looking forward to working with Garrett,” Trinity admitted.

“I know you are,” Leigh teased.

Trinity felt warm through and through just thinking about him. “It's professional.”

“You don't have to explain anything to me. I understand. You're just going to remain good friends.”

“Exactly.”

“Yeah, right. Trinity, you do remember what happened between you two?”

A delicious shudder ran through her body. She couldn't deny she wanted to be with him again.

“I remember,” Trinity answered. “But this is business, Leigh, not pleasure. He has a girlfriend, remember.”

“A girlfriend he's not happy with, remember?”

Trinity sat on the edge of the bed. “I remember. But they are still together.”

“Trinity, you're very levelheaded. I know you would not have allowed Garrett to get that close to you if you weren't interested in him. You're not interested in him just because he's a celebrity. You are deeper than that.”

“What are you saying?”

“I'm saying go with your feelings. Let yourself go.”

“Didn't we agree that I wasn't going to see either one of them?” She stood.

“I know what we talked about. And you're going to make your own decision. I'm just saying don't be afraid to trust yourself, that's all. You will do the right thing.”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Leigh giggled. “Look, I gotta go. I'll see you in school tomorrow. Again, congratulations.”

Trinity hung up and then went into the bathroom and turned on the bath water. While she waited for the tub to fill, she removed her clothing and stepped down into the warm water. She laid her head back. Closing her eyes, she thought about what Leigh said. She was right; when it came to Garrett, she was afraid to admit her feelings for him. Maybe it was time she did something about that.

* * *

Friday morning rolled around, and, with it, Garrett's speech. The event was being held in the school's gym. Trinity looked around the room, which was decorated with balloons hanging from the ceiling and a “Welcome Garrett Martindale” banner covering the wall. The room was packed with students, faculty members, and the media. Trinity recognized some parents in the crowd. A Glee Club performance was followed by Principal Fisk's introduction of the guest of honor.

Applause and cheers went up around the room when Garrett stepped up to the podium. As Garrett spoke about the importance of staying in school, the audience was mesmerized. He spoke honestly of the glamour and dark side of the entertainment field. Garrett followed that with the announcement that Trinity would perform on his next CD. Another round of applause went up, mixed with hooting and shouting from her students. A little embarrassed, Trinity stepped forward and took a bow. Her recognition was followed by a question-and-answer session with the students. An hour later, he signed autographs and posed for pictures.

Watching him interact with people was one of the things Trinity liked about Garrett. He was always approachable and courteous. When she introduced him to Timothy Brado, Garrett was patient with his additional questions about the music business. She loved that side of his personality, making the pull between them even stronger.

“Garrett, you were wonderful,” Trinity said, approaching him. Out of the blue, he reached out, enclosing her in his arms. She welcomed the hug. It felt good being crushed in his embrace. The scent of his expensive cologne, mixed with his masculinne odor, tingled her nose. Her heartbeat throbbed in her ears.

He stepped back, his eyes raking over her lovely face. “Thanks. I think it went well. You don't think I was too honest, do you?”

“No. You kept it real. They needed to hear the truth. Especially Timothy.”

“I don't know any other way to be.”

She dipped her head. “I'm the teacher, but maybe I need to take a lesson from you.”

Garrett crossed his arms. “About what?” he prompted.

Turning her full face up to him, she coyly answered, “About us.”

Trinity looked around to see if she could speak freely. She leaned forward and whispered, “This is not the place to talk about it.”

His grinned widened. “You're right. Let's get together later and talk about it. I'm meeting with Dad later.”

“To talk about the choir?”

“Yes.” He glanced at his diamond studded Rolex. “Why don't we meet at your place? Say around eight o'clock.”

“Eight it is,” Trinity said, her brown eyes sparkling. She playfully poked him in the chest. “Don't be late.” She turned and walked down the hallway.

Garrett watched as her hips swayed from side to side. The motion was poetic, sensual. It was a definite turn-on. His felt his manhood harden. He hoped it was a signal of what the evening would bring.

A few minutes later, Garrett walked outside. Members of the press were still milling around. He stopped to answer a few questions. He figured it would be good exposure for the choir and the Gospel Explosion.

“Garrett, how is the vacation going?” one reporter asked.

“It's going well. I haven't had much rest since I've been in town. I gave a performance at Cadence a week ago, I've been rehearsing with the choir, and then I spoke here at the school today. But it's part of giving back to the community.”

“Can you tell us more about rehearsing with the choir?” another reporter asked.

“As you know, I began my singing career as a musical director of the Praise and Worship Choir, which is part of my father's church. The choir will be performing at the Gospel Explosion in Atlanta, Georgia, in a week and a half. I have been rehearsing, and will be performing with the choir. It will be their first trip to the celebration. We are looking forward to it.”

“So you will be back directing the choir?” the short, blonde, attractive female reporter from Channel 8 News asked. “Does this mean you're going back to only singing inspirational music?”

“Yes, I will be directing the choir, and no, it does not mean I'm going back to only singing inspirational music.”

“Will you be performing anything from your upcoming CD?” Garrett didn't have to look over his left shoulder to recognize the voice. He turned, looking into the face of Michelle Goodwin from
Black Flavor Magazine
.

“No, Michelle. I won't be doing anything from my new CD. This is about the Gospel Explosion. But look for the Praise and Worship Choir to join me on some tour dates. Okay. I need to get moving.” Garrett felt he'd said enough. He didn't trust Michelle. The last thing he wanted to do was answer questions about Trinity. He attempted to sidestep Michelle. She didn't move aside. Instead, she stuck the recorder back in his face.

“Is Imani still in town? I noticed she wasn't here today, but Trinity Blake was. How does she feel about you working with Miss Blake?”

Garrett took a deep breath. He wasn't sure if Imani was still in D.C. They haven't spoken since he ended the relationship several days ago. “Michelle, you know I don't discuss my personal life with the press.” This time he sidestepped her, hurrying to his vehicle.

“Have you and Imani put the ‘kissing' photo behind you?” another reporter called after his retreating figure.