It's in the Rhythm (8 page)

Nina patted Tamara's back sympathetically. “Scared?”

“To death,” Tamara admitted. “Telling my family I left my husband is one thing. But telling them the reason I left him is another. I don't know how they are going to react.”

“You have to be honest with them. Don't let them find out from someone else. We agreed that when the time came, we would be open about our relationship.” Nina caressed her cheek and trailed a finger down Tamara's neck. “It's never easy. I don't care who you are.”

Tamara had met Nina a year ago when she began attending her father's church. They often ran into each other and eventually became friends. At the time, Tamara was having serious marital problems. One evening, after Bible study, she found herself opening up to Nina, who was a breath of fresh air. She wasn't judgmental or preachy. She just listened. It was what Tamara needed at the time. After that, they began to hang together.

A legal secretary at a prominent law firm, Nina was kind, intelligent, and beautiful. Wherever she went, she turned heads—men and women. No one would ever guess she was attracted to women.

A month later, Nina told her she was gay. She thought it would end their friendship. Little did Nina know that her confession opened up a new world for Tamara, one she wasn't sure she belonged to—until now.

* * *

Trinity made the turn onto the interstate. It had been a long day at work, and she just wanted to go home and soak in a nice, hot bubble bath.

As she drove, she listened to the radio. Glo's entertainment and gossip was on the air. “I saw them kissing in the booth in the back of the exclusive restaurant Shay's Hollywood,” Glo was saying. “I wanted to tell them to get a room.” She giggled. “I'm sure they did later. And speaking of kissing, it appears R & B singer Garrett Martindale has a new kissing partner in his life. Now everybody knows Garrett and Imani are on-again, off-again,” she continued. “Well, I ran into Imani last week at a fashion show and she told me they were on again. I guess Imani forgot to tell Garrett, because he was spotted putting a serious lip-lock on a woman identified as Trinity Blake. According to sources, they were quoted as saying they were just friends. Yeah, right. Just goes to show, ladies, you can't let your man out of your sight for one minute. Tune in tomorrow for more Glo's Entertainment and Gossip.”

Trinity closed her mouth and turned off the radio. She knew the photo was going to be published, but that didn't make hearing about her and Garrett any easier.

She hurried inside the house and bolted the door behind her. Leaning against the door, she took a couple of deep breaths to compose herself. The phone rang and she jumped. She went to answer, but stopped in her tracks. What if it was a reporter? Checking the caller ID, she recognized Leigh's number.

“Hello—”

“Quick! Turn on Entertainment TV!” Leigh exclaimed.

Trinity grabbed the remote control and turned on the television. She flipped to the channel and caught the tail end of the segment about her and Garrett's relationship. She sat down on the sofa. “I can't believe how the media is blowing this out of proportion.” She placed a hand on her head. “This is ridiculous. I can't believe this.”

“You know the press. Garrett is one of the hottest celebrities today. All the media needs is a headline and they run with it. You and Garrett are now the headline.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Look, I gotta go. Just thought I'd let you know you were ‘live on five,' ” Leigh laughed. “Bye.”

Trinity groaned at the bad rhyme as she hung up. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her life had changed so much since Garrett came back into it. She just wasn't sure if it was for better or for worse.

* * *

Garrett switched off the television. He was sitting in the den, selecting songs for the Gospel Explosion
. In a relationship with Trinity,
the segment said. He could only wish. He was sure Imani had seen and heard about the photo. He was sure to hear from her.

A moment later, the phone rang. Garrett strolled into the kitchen. The caller ID revealed his sister's number.

“Martindale residence,” he answered.

“Garrett?” Tamara's voice came across the line.

Garrett pepped up. It was good to hear from her. “Tamara, where are you? Everything all right? You're okay?”

Tamara's laugh was strained. “Taj and I are fine.”

“Everyone is worried sick, especially Mom and Dad. Brian is beside himself. Hold on. Let me go get them.”

“Wait, Garrett. I need to see you first before I talk to them.”

“Why?” Garrett asked. He could hear something in her voice. “Is something wrong? Do you need me to come get you and Taj?”

“Nothing like that. I just need to talk to you and I don't want to do it over the phone. Can you meet me tonight at Cadence? Say, seven o'clock?”

“Sure,” Garrett answered slowly, hoping Tamara really was okay.

“I'll see you then.”

Garrett returned the phone to the cradle. He wondered what Tamara had to talk to him about. He covered his face with both hands and tried to collect his thoughts. Maybe she was pregnant by the other man. “I'll wring her neck,” he mumbled.

* * *

Brian carefully replaced the telephone receiver. He'd hoped Tamara would call. Garrett wouldn't be the only one meeting her tonight.

* * *

At exactly seven o'clock, the hostess led Garrett to Tamara's table, which was next to the window. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek before taking a chair across from her.

Garrett studied her. “You look good.”

“Thanks. I feel good.”

For a woman who had just left her husband, she was very calm. “What's going on, sis? You said you have something to talk to me about. I figured you told me everything I needed to know.”

Tamara nodded. “What I have to tell you now…you may want to order a drink first.”

Garrett leaned back in the chair. “What?”

“Order the drink, Garrett,” she said quietly. “You'll need it.”

He gave a nervous chuckle. “Nothing you can tell me will drive me to drink.”

“You wanna bet?”

Garrett sighed. “Tamara, quit stalling. Out with it.”

Tamara reached across the table and held his hand. “Okay, here goes.” She cleared her throat. “Garrett, I'm gay.”

Garrett's mouth dropped open. He didn't move. He couldn't. Had he heard her correctly? “What did you say?”

She dropped her head slightly, her grip tightening on his. “I'm gay.”

That's what he thought she said. No way. He'd hoped she meant “gay” as in happy. Of all the things that she could have told him, he hadn't expected to hear this. He signaled the hostess. Tamara was right about one thing. He needed a drink in the worst way.

* * *

Trinity turned on the amplifier and CD player. Within seconds, her living room was flooded with the sound of Boney James and his sax. She went to the bathroom and ran steaming water for a bubble bath. She grabbed a bottle of bubble bath and candles from the cabinet under the sink. She added a cup of liquid bath to the water, and then placed candles around the tub. After lighting them, she went to the kitchen got a bottle of champagne and her best crystal flute.

After settling into the welcoming warmth of the tub, surrounded by scented bubbles, she took a sip of champagne, and then leaned back. The tangy champagne, the mellow jazz, and soothing bath slowed the emotional roller coaster racing through her mind.

The doorbell buzzed, interrupting her moment. “Go away,” she muttered, taking another sip of champagne. She just wanted to be alone; she definitely wasn't in the mood to socialize. But the visitor was persistent.

Reluctantly, Trinity exited the bathtub. She dried herself, then wrapped herself in a blue terry robe and blew out the candles.

“Who is it?” She called out, heading to the door. No response. The doorbell rang again. “All right. I'm coming.” She opened the door and came face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend, Darius Childress.

“Darius!” The shock left her breathless.

She hadn't seen or heard from him in a year. She could have kicked herself for not glancing through the peephole. Darius was the last person she expected to see. “What are you doing here?”

A wide grin spread across his face. “I moved back to town from Chicago. I thought I'd stop by and see you.”

“I don't think so.” Trinity's voice dripped disdain. She tried to close the door in his face, but he was too quick, sticking his foot in the door.

“Come on, Trinity. I just want to talk.”

“Move your foot or lose it, Darius,” Trinity snapped. She continued to push the door shut but Darius, at a muscular five feet, eleven inches, was stronger. He opened the door wider.

She took a step back. It wasn't that she was physically afraid of him; she just wanted no part of him since their relationship ended. Seeing Darius made her heart leap. Though it had been a year since they had last seen each other, it seemed like it was just yesterday.

“We have nothing to talk about,” she said, backing up another step. “If you don't leave, I'm going to call the police.”

Darius closed the door and stopped in front of her. “You know I would never harm you.” He gently touched her chin.

“You did hurt me.” Looking at him, a renewed awareness coursed through her. Darius was more handsome than she remembered. The last time she saw him, he sported facial hair. He was now clean-shaven, making him look younger. He must have spent a lot of time in the gym, because the short-sleeved dress shirt and slacks clung tightly to his now-muscular physique. Her eyes couldn't help but travel up and down his body. Her memory reminded her of the gorgeous body Darius had already possessed.

She inhaled deeply. She remembered his body being so taut, so firm, and so tight. Not an ounce of flab. Now his physique was improved. She swallowed a soft moan as she remembered his strong sexual prowess.

Trinity was beyond that stage in her life. As far as she was concerned, Darius was a part of her past.

He opened his arms wide. “That's why I'm here. I want to apologize.”

Trinity raised a hand, halting his words. She shook her head in defense. “Save it, Darius.”

Darius closed the small gap between them. “I can't.”

She turned her back to him. Her eyes misted.

Darius turned her back around to face him. He tilted her chin up to look at him. “Can we talk?”

She had loved this man, deeply, with all her heart and soul. When the relationship was over, her heart shattered into a million pieces. With both hands on her hips, she confronted him. “Now you want to talk?”

“I want to do more than talk.”

Trinity stared at him speechlessly.

Darius must have realized how he sounded because he quickly explained. “I want to talk about you and me. Us getting back together.”

Trinity looked away. It was the same old line he'd used before to string her along. She wasn't going for that again.

“Darius, we've been through this. We have different views on what direction the relationship should go.”

“That's what I want to discuss, Trinity. Taking the relationship in the right direction.”

Trinity frowned, not sure what Darius meant.

“I want to marry you, Trinity. If you will still have me.”

* * *

Tamara leaned across the table. “Garrett, say something.”

“I don't know what to say.” Garrett felt like the air had been kicked out of him. The drink did nothing to calm him. “I mean, you really dropped a bombshell. How? When?”

“I thought I was gay in high school. But I wasn't sure.”

“Now you're sure?”

“Yes.”

Garrett interlocked his fingers, placing them under his chin. “Lord, I don't believe this.” The hostess appeared to take their dinner order. “Would you give us a few minutes?” he said to the hostess with a charming smile. Once she left, his smile disappeared as he refocused on Tamara. “How can you be gay?” he asked in a low voice, for their ears only. “You're married, and you have a son.”

“Come on, Garrett, wake up. Both of our parents preach against homosexuality. They're not supposed to have a gay daughter. I've fought against my feelings for years, but I've come to realize that this is who I am. This is me.”

“So you're just giving up? No fight?”

“Garrett, I need your support.” She said, near tears. “This is so hard.”

“It ought to be. It's bad enough you're having an affair.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Now you're telling me it's with a woman. Why didn't you tell me everything the other day?”

“I wanted to. I just couldn't.”

Garrett leaned back in his chair again. He didn't approve of the lifestyle. Now his sister, someone he loved dearly, was sitting across from him and confessing to that lifestyle. “You didn't tell me because it's wrong. It's not natural.”

“It's not natural for whom? You? Mom? Dad?”

“It's not natural before God,” Garrett answered defensively.

“Garrett, I'm happy for the first time in my life.”

“With another woman?” Garrett shot back.

“Yes. With another woman. Nina makes me feel—”

Garrett threw a hand up. “Please don't. I don't want to hear about it.”

“I know you don't understand,” Tamara said, obviously hurt.

“You're right. I don't. I understand you need Jesus.”

“Garrett, please don't preach to me. Not now.” A tight grin appeared at the corner of her mouth. “Now you understand why I haven't said anything.”

“You can't keep something like this in the dark forever.” He picked up the menu. “What about your husband? Your son? Right now your husband is at our house, torn up over you leaving him. I can't imagine how he's going to react when he finds out it was for another woman.”