It's in the Rhythm (21 page)

Tamara shook her head. She began to realize this was more than she could take. She wasn't strong enough to deal with the situation. She thought about what her mother said:
There's nothing the Lord can't handle.

“I have to get going.” Tamara fumbled in the closet, looking for a replacement purse. Her favorite bag was still at Brian's, along with her car keys. Luckily she had an extra set.

“I'll see you later,” she said as she headed for the door.

“But where are you going?” Nina yelled after her.

“To church.” Tamara opened and closed the door before Nina had a chance to say anything else.

Twenty minutes later, Tamara walked into the sanctuary in time to hear her mother say, “Let's bow our heads in prayer. Please stand.”

Thelma Ford and two other young women she didn't recognize stood, held hands, and bowed their heads. “Father God, we come before you…”

Tamara hung back, giving them privacy. Her gaze lingered on her mother. She took her role as first lady of the church seriously; even though she and Pastor Martindale had different preaching styles, they loved ministering to the needs of the people. It was their calling.

“Amen,” Tamara heard them say in unison.

Ginger's eyes landed on her daughter waiting for her. Her face beamed. “Hi, sweetheart.” She hugged her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Standing back she noticed Tamara still looked tired. She hadn't heard a word from her or Brian since they left her house two days ago. Taj was still staying with her and Otis. She grabbed her daughter by the hand, leading her to the front pew. “Shouldn't you be at work?”

She'd taken the week off from the radio station to try to get her personal life back in order. “I took some time off.”

“Did you get fired?”

Tamara sighed. “No, Mother, I didn't get fired. It's Brian.”

Ginger frowned. “What happened the other night? Did you get things straightened out?”

Tamara closed her eyes. She tried not to think about what happened. “I told him the truth,” she began.

Ginger bit her lower lip and looked around. “How did he take it?”

“Not very well. He wants full custody of Taj.” She purposely left out the part where Brian threw her out.

“Did he mention divorce?”

“No. But I know it's coming.”

“Sweetheart, if you insist on being with…” She trailed off as she realized she didn't know the woman's name. She cast her daughter a nervous, sidelong glance.

“Nina,” Tamara answered, not bothering to give her last name.

“Nina,” Ginger said in a soft tone. She was curious to meet the woman who turned her daughter's life upside down. “Where did you meet her?”

Tamara faced her mother. “Here at church.”

Ginger closed her eyes a moment. “Jesus. The devil sitting right here in the pews.”

“Mother.”

“What? It's true. Do I know her?”

“I don't know,” Tamara said. “We met at Bible study. Our marriage was going through some rough times. I needed someone to talk to, and Nina was there.”

“You should have come to me,” Ginger reproached her.

She turned a troubled face to her mother. “You're right. Maybe then I wouldn't be in this mess.” Ginger reached out, taking her hands in hers. She patted them in comfort. “I feel so confused right now.” Her eyes misted. “I don't know what to do.”

The anguish in her voice touched Ginger down to her soul. It was hard to watch her child go through so much pain, but she knew the Lord would set her feet in the right direction.

* * *

“It's about time you returned my phone call,” Imani yelled into the phone from her penthouse in Beverly Hills. “I have been calling you for the past two days.” She tossed the tabloid magazine with photos of Garrett and Trinity plastered on the cover on the dining room table. “Maybe you were too busy with your new girlfriend, you know, the one you said is just a friend.” Pictures of Garrett and Trinity were splashed all over
Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood
, and BET.

Garrett was on his way to choir rehearsal. “I'm returning your call, Imani. What do you want?” He wheeled his vehicle into the parking lot. He made a quick U-turn when he saw the media frenzy outside the church.

“You and that woman are splashed all over the magazines and television,” Imani said. “You lied to me, Garrett. How can you treat me like this? I have never been so embarrassed in all of my life.”

Garrett made a left turn onto the one-way street. He wasn't sure where he was headed. “I didn't lie to you. We really were friends.”

“That's bull. You were seeing her all along. Don't try to lie your way out of it.”

“You don't know that,” Garrett protested.

Imani leaped from the sofa. “I do know it. I thought you were different, but you're just like all the other no-good men. You are nothing but a low-down dog.”

Garrett pulled the vehicle over to the soft shoulder of the road. He switched on his warning signal. He'd thought Imani was above this kind of drama. “I thought we were going to be civil about this.”

“We were until I found out you were cheating on me. I'm not about to let you get away with it.”

Garrett ran a hand down his face in frustration. “Imani, I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry.”

Imani melted at the sound of his voice. She was angry, but he still tugged at her heartstrings. “Forget the apology. I need to see you, Garrett. We really need to talk.”

“Imani, there's nothing left for us to talk about.”

Feeling lightheaded, Imani sat back down on the sofa. “That's what you think. If you don't come and talk to me, then I have to talk to the media. I know they will be interested in what I have to say.”

“And what might that be?”

“Come and find out.”

Garrett took a deep breath, lowering his head. He thought Imani was behind him. “I don't have time to play games with you.”

“This is no game,” she said, her voice turning serious.

“Then tell me what it is over the phone.”

“No. This is something we have to discuss in person. I expect to see you soon.” She hung up before he had time to reply. He called back, but she refused to pick up.

Before he knew it, he was parking in front of Trinity's place. His mind was running to and fro. He had no idea what Imani could tell the media that they didn't already know. They knew about him and Trinity. He didn't want to take chances; he'd go see Imani whether he wanted to or not.

Trinity opened the door and his heart dropped. “Hello, beautiful,” he said. She was dressed in a pair of blue Bermuda shorts with a matching top and a pair of flip-flops. She threw her arms around his neck. Pulling him inside the door, she raised a leg, meshing her body with his. Garrett's insides turned to mush.

“Hi yourself,” she crooned. “I missed you.” Her breath was hot against his ear. Next she pressed her lips to his. “Hmmm. Sweet.” She captured his lips again and again. “I missed that the most.”

“Is that what you miss the most?”

Trinity wiggled her lips against him. She felt so wicked. Garrett made her feel so sensual, so alive.

She smiled, turning her face up to his, her hands moving up and down his broad chest. “Maybe there's something else.”

It turned him on more to know that she wanted him. “I've created a monster. I like it.”

“Let's take this to bed.” Trinity's lips brushed against his as she spoke. “You can try and tame me.” She thrust her tongue deeper into his mouth, guiding him toward the bedroom. She loved being in charge.

Once they reached the bed, they tumbled together into the center, her lips never leaving his. Her hands began touching him all over his body.

Garrett wanted Trinity as much as she wanted him, but at the moment there were other things to discuss. He always wanted to honest with her.

“Trinity,” he whispered as she lifted his shirt and her tongue found his skin. He almost came off the bed.

“Trinity,” he spoke a little louder. She lifted her head, an incredulous look on her face.

She reached between his legs and squeezed. Her only focus at the moment was on loving him. “What is it?”

Garrett took time for his body to calm down before he was able to speak. “I, uh, we need to talk.”

She leaned forward, kissing him again. “You want to talk now?” She kissed his face, nose, and neck. “Let's talk later.” She said as she attempted to position herself on top of him.

As hard as he was, he held her at arm's length. “Baby, this is important. I need to talk to you. It's serious.”

Trinity sat up in the middle of the bed. She stared at him, baffled. “It must be. Okay. What is it?”

Garrett slowly sat up. “I spoke with Imani earlier.”

Trinity tensed up at the mere mention of Imani's name. She placed a hand to her forehead, rising slowly from the bed. She looked at him like he'd grown two heads.

“What did you talk about?” She crawled out of the bed.

“She wants me to come see her. She said there's something she needs to talk to me about.”

“Why can't you do it over the telephone?”

“I suggested it. She says she has to tell me in person.”

Garrett looked in her eyes and saw that she was hurt just by the mention of Imani's name. He followed her out of the bed. “Look, I don't know what she wants.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Whatever it is, she threatened to go to the media if I don't come and see her.”

Trinity stepped out of his embrace. “I know what she wants.”

“And I know who I want.”

“It doesn't matter,” Trinity replied.

“Come on, Trinity. We are a couple. We are going to stay a couple.”

Trinity stepped back into his embrace. “Do you mean that?” She snuggled close to him.

“I finally gotcha.” He tilted her chin up, looking into her eyes. “I'm not ever going to let you get away.”

“Do you know what you're saying?” Trinity was sure he was referring to marriage, but it was too soon for them to talk about it.

“I know what I'm saying.”

She stood back, placing her hand in his. “You and I together for life. Hmm. I don't know about that,” she teased.

He smiled that captivating smile of his. “What? You wouldn't want to become Mrs. Garrett Martindale?”

Trinity returned his smile with a smile of her own. “Are you asking?”

Like with Darius, she knew the word “marriage” was taboo. She didn't take him seriously. But her heart skipped a beat at the thought of walking down the aisle with him and becoming a bride.

“One day I will.”

“It's too soon for us to think about marriage now,” Trinity said.

Garrett removed a strand of hair from her face. “We have known each other for a long time.” He kissed her, then ran his tongue along the nape of her neck. “It's not like we are strangers, so, uh, let's get back to what we were doing before.”

“I think we need to cool down.” She stepped out of his embrace.

Garrett sighed deeply. “Why the deep freeze all of a sudden?”

“We will talk after you return from seeing Imani.” She couldn't believe those words came out of her mouth.

“Do you trust me, Trinity?”

“Of course I do.”

Garrett understood why she was a little apprehensive. He wasn't going to push her. “You're right. We will talk after I return.”

She cleared her throat. “When are you leaving?”

“I'm going to fly out tomorrow. The sooner I leave, the sooner I return.” He brushed her forehead with a tender kiss. “I'd better get going. I need to take a nice, long, and cold shower.”

Trinity forced a chuckle.

“Sleep tight.” He turned and walked toward the door.

As Trinity closed the door behind him, she had the feeling that something wasn't right.

* * *

“You can stay as long as you like,” Ginger said as she placed a set of fresh sheets on the bed in her daughter's old bedroom. Regardless of the circumstances, she was glad to have both of her children home.

“I just need time to get my thoughts together. Clear my head,” Tamara said. At church her mother and other members of the prayer team prayed with her. She had to admit she felt a little better than she did this morning.

“I don't want to sound selfish, but I'm glad you're home,” Ginger said as she began remaking the bed. “I was worried about you and Taj.” Brian had stopped by earlier in the afternoon and had taken Taj home with him.

Tamara helped her mother remove the pillows and strip the old linen from the bed. “I didn't mean to worry you and Dad.”

“Well, you're home now.”

Ginger realized now was the perfect time to apologize. She spread the fitted blue sheet to the head of the bed. She glanced over at her daughter, who seemed to be deep in thought.

“I need to apologize, Tamara,” Ginger said as she replaced the pillowcase.

Tamara looked at her oddly, and then fastened down the right corner of the bed. “For what? I'm the one who should be apologizing.”

“Your marriage?” Ginger fluffed the pillow.

“What about it?”

“I should have spoken up when your father forced you and Brian to get married. I'm sorry.”

Tamara grabbed and fluffed the other pillow. “Forget about it. It wasn't your fault. It was my own fault. Dad thought he was doing the right thing.”

“He's not always right.”

Tamara blinked. It was the first time she had ever heard her mother speak against her father. “Don't hold it against Dad. I don't. Taj is the best thing to come out of the marriage. I grew to love Brian.”

Ginger stopped in mid-motion. “If you are in love with Brian, then what is this about? Explain it to me, because I'm trying to understand what's going on with you.”