Read Playing the Hand You're Dealt Online

Authors: Trice Hickman

Playing the Hand You're Dealt (35 page)

“For one, you don't want to bring that kind of unseemly attention to yourself. And two, you don't want Ed or Samantha to find out about us, now do you?”
Brenda couldn't think straight. “How—”
“It's the Internet age,” Harry interrupted. “When you stayed at the Four Seasons, I got your information from the hotel computer and did a little research.”
“What are you going to do, blackmail me?”
“I'm not sure yet. But once I decide, you'll be the first to know,” Harry said, then put one freshly polished wingtip in front of the other and walked out of the room.
Brenda sat in bed, completely dazed. But unbeknownst to her, she had little to fear from her smooth, ebony-hued lover because once Harry reached the elevator, he lowered his head with disappointment. Brenda didn't know that Harry had hoped that after so many years she would've grown beyond the spoiled little rich girl who had captured his heart. She was a dream he'd fallen in love with, one that couldn't hold up to the reality of who she really was.
Sitting in her room, trembling with fear, Brenda never saw Harry as he stepped inside the elevator feeling torn about his hint of blackmail. He wasn't a malicious person, so he felt remorseful about what he'd said, but not enough to give Brenda the relief of lifting the threat he'd loomed over her head. He decided to make her squirm a bit before letting her off the hook, thinking it was the least a country boy like himself could do.
As Brenda's flight began its descent into National Airport, she felt as though her world was coming apart at the seams. One minute she was in control, ready to orchestrate a new plan that would set her life back on its proper course, and the next, she was falling in a nosedive, headed straight for the ground without a parachute.
Chapter 35
Emily . . .
 
 
 
 
Don't Let Nothing Steal Your Joy
 
E
d and I were both early risers, even on weekends. We usually greeted the sun on our way out the door, but this morning we lay in bed a little longer than usual. It was Monday, a teacher workday at school, and I was happy to have the day off. Since Ed didn't have any early-morning meetings, he decided to lie next to me after he made a call to attorney Longfellow. Brenda wasn't returning until sometime this afternoon, and even though she and Ed didn't see much of each other these days, the absence of her physical presence took a great amount of pressure off both our minds.
It felt good lying beside Ed. I nestled in his arms as I watched his right eyelid gently flutter while he continued to sleep. My heart was overwhelmed with joy, knowing that my child would have a strong, loving, and genuinely good father. I couldn't help but smile with nothing less than humble gratitude.As improbable as it seemed, our complicated situation was going to bring forth new hope and new life.
When Ed and I discussed raising our child, he was concerned about his age, and frankly, I was, too. It was a reality we had to face. When our son or daughter graduated from high school, Ed would be in his early seventies. I'd lived most of my life without my father in it, so naturally I needed to talk my feelings through the delicate subject. But in the end, we both agreed that no one's future was promised, and we couldn't predict what would happen to either of us. All we could do was live the best life God blessed us to have and shower our child with as much love as we could.
Noon was approaching, so Ed and I finally rolled out of bed, showered, and got dressed. I fixed him a cup of coffee and a toasted bagel. It was funny how some things in life dramatically changed, while others remained steadfastly the same. I sipped my herbal tea as Ed finished his coffee, smiling at me across the table in my bright, sun-filled dining room.
Ed was headed to work, and ironically, I was headed to his house. I was going there to pick up CJ. He'd been looking forward to us spending this day together for the last two weeks. And because Samantha was becoming more involved in his life, I thought it would be nice to include her. After I picked him up, I planned to drive to the airport to pick up Samantha, who was returning from her trip in Atlanta. Afterward, the three of us were going to spend the rest of the day together.
I didn't want to run into Brenda, so I asked Ed, “Um, what time will Brenda be arriving home this afternoon?”
He put down the
Washington Post
and looked at me. “She's already there.”
“What!” My eyes bucked and my throat went dry.
“Remember, I told you that she always takes the first flight out when she travels.”
He was right, he had mentioned it Friday night. But I'd been so worked up over the pregnancy news and him getting caught by Samantha at Neiman that I hadn't thought twice about it. I removed his plate and coffee cup, placing them in the sink as I cursed my bad memory and bad luck. “She doesn't get out of bed until close to noon most days, but she prefers early-morning flights? I just don't understand,” I pondered as I shook my head.
“I know, it's the damndest thing. Don't get me started.” Ed scowled.
Lately, the mere mention of Brenda frustrated him. Ed rose from his chair and slipped his charcoal gray jacket over his French-blue shirt. “But don't worry, you won't run into her. The first thing she does when she comes home from an early-morning flight is head straight to bed.After that, she won't be seen until the sun goes down, then she'll rise again.”
His description reminded me of a vampire, conjuring up images of Brenda ascending from a silk-and-lace-draped coffin. I tried to put her out of my mind as I gathered my purse, put my scarf around my neck, and grabbed my keys. “I'm headed over there now.”
Ed looked out the window of my back door, staring at our vehicles parked beside each other. “Baby, I've been meaning to ask you . . . we need to go shopping for a car soon.”
He wasn't asking me, he was telling me that ol' Hazel just wasn't cutting it. I had to admit that Hazel hadn't held up well since the long road trip here. I should have shipped her, which would have given her a few extra months of life. But now she was on her last leg, and with a baby coming I knew I needed reliable transportation. I nodded, acknowledging agreement.
Ed smiled. “I know what Hazel means to you.We can keep her garaged, but we need to get you into something that won't leave you stranded. I worry about you every time you get on the road.”
I walked over to the door and looked out at my old jalopy, parked snugly beside his luxury SUV. It was like looking at the two of us. Even though we might not match on the surface, we fit perfectly together where it counted.
Ed looked at me, smiling the way he does when we're in bed making love. He walked over to me and planted one hand on my behind, the other firmly on the small of my back. He drew me into him, giving me the last taste of his coffee. His java tongue melted in my mouth the way my body always did in his arms. After a long, sensuous kiss, he looked into my eyes and calmed my fears. “Emily, everything's gonna be all right.”
I thought back to my first day in DC. Those were the same words Samantha had said to me. I smiled, knowing this was a sign. A very good sign.
I was nervous as I parked my car in front of Ed's house. It was a simple exercise I'd done so many times in the past, but now things were very different. And despite what Ed had told me, I was still worried that I'd run into Brenda. What I was doing with her husband was morally wrong at best, and I knew I couldn't look her in the eye. I hadn't seen her since the night of the party, and I wanted to keep it that way. I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
“It's so good to see you. Come on in.” Ms. Gerti beamed, hugging me into her chest.
I missed Ms. Gerti. I saw her every now and then when she picked up CJ from school on the days that Samantha's schedule wouldn't allow, but we never had a chance to talk. I planned to set aside some time to spend with her in the coming weeks.
CJ was still upstairs playing with his games, so I joined Ms. Gerti at the kitchen table for a quick chat. Thank goodness Ed had been right, Brenda was nowhere in sight. I breathed a little easier as I sat back in my chair. “So tell me, how've you been?” I asked.
“Oh, you know me. I'm just fine.” She smiled. “How're you doin', sugar?”
I smiled back, unable to hide my love high. “Actually, I'm great.”
Ms. Gerti put her hand on top of mine. “I'm real happy for you, sugar.You've got that glow.”
I peered at her, wondering if she sensed my pregnancy.
“I can see the joy in you. The emptiness you used to carry in your eyes is gone.”
I nodded, knowing what she meant, relieved that my happiness was all that she could see.
Ms. Gerti paused for a moment, and then looked at me as she squeezed my hand. “I'm happy for you
both.
”
“Thank you, Ms. Gerti. He's happy, too,” I said, careful not to say too much. Brenda was sleeping upstairs and I didn't want to be completely disrespectful.
“These days I only see Ed in the mornings, but I've noticed a peaceful look about him. I've never seen him this happy in all the years I've been with this family, and I know you're to thank for that.”
Her words encouraged me, but I also felt a modicum of shame. I was now an official home wrecker. I lowered my head. “I'm sorry that people will get hurt at the expense of my happiness.” I looked away from her and kept my voice low. “But I don't want to give him up. I love him.”
This time when Ms. Gerti spoke she kept her voice low, too. “Emily, people get what's coming to them in life. Happiness is what you deserve and you're finally getting it. But others,” she paused, looking up to the ceiling, toward Brenda's bedroom above, “they get what they deserve, too, and sometimes it ain't all that happy. But that's not your cross to bear. You're a good person, so don't beat yourself up and don't let nothing steal your joy, you hear me?”
I rose from my chair and hugged Ms. Gerti with all my might. Even though I knew the road ahead was going to be difficult, as Ms. Marabelle had predicted, Ms. Gerti's words gave me the strength to face anything that was coming my way.
CJ and I stood in front of the baggage claim carousel at the airport, waiting for Samantha. He was telling me about the new dog he wanted Ed to get him for Christmas, which I couldn't believe was just a month and a half away. I'd just pulled out a stick of sugar-free gum for him when I spotted Samantha. “Here comes your mother.” I smiled, excited to see my friend.
But my smile quickly dropped when I saw the visible disturbance on Samantha's face. She was practically stomping as she walked toward us. The scowl around her mouth was deep, and her body language screamed of discomfort. She looked as if someone had just cleaned out her bank account. I took a deep breath because a second later I realized why she was all out of sorts. Brenda was trailing close on her heels!
“Heeeyyyy!”
CJ grinned as he ran up to Samantha and her mother, giving both of them big hugs.
I was unable to move my feet. My entire body tensed. How could this be? I thought Brenda had been upstairs in her bedroom, lying in a dead sleep when CJ and I left. Then again, Ms. Gerti never said that Brenda was upstairs. I had just assumed that because I hadn't seen her, she must've been in her room as Ed had said she'd be.
Samantha walked up to me and wrapped my body in a stilted hug. “Look whose flight landed at the same time as mine,” she said into my ear, rolling her eyes toward her mother, who was standing behind her.
“Hello, Emily dear.” Brenda smiled. She glided past Samantha, reached for me, and gave me two air-kisses without ever embracing me. This was one time that I was thankful for Brenda's reserve toward human contact. “How have you been?” she asked. “I haven't seen you in ages, since the party.”
Samantha shot her a nasty look. “I'm headed over there to wait for my bags,” she said, taking CJ by the hand as she walked away. My heart dropped. I was left standing alone beside the woman whose husband I had just made love to up against my kitchen sink before leaving my house two hours ago. I was about to crumble when Samantha turned in midstride and asked, “Emily, you comin'?”
“Excuse me, Brenda.” I took off like I was being chased, glad to get away from her.
“It's just my shitty luck for that heifer to rain on my parade,” Samantha ranted, glaring over in her mother's direction.
I pulled out CJ's video game from my overstuffed bag and handed it to him. “Sweet Pea, why don't you sit over there and play with your game, where your mommy and I can see you,” I said, pointing to the set of metal chairs over to the side. He gladly took the game and was soon drawn into another world. I turned to Samantha. “I know you're upset, but, Samantha, you've got to start watching what you say around CJ.”

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