Talk a Good Game (43 page)

“We’ll get it done,” he reassured me.

“I hope so,” I said with a sigh and then reached for
my coffee. “I didn’t realize just how much crap I had until I
started moving everything over here.”

“How long have you been in that place?” he asked
between chews.

I took another sip of my coffee while I tried to
remember. “Wow! I think almost five years. I was planning on buying
a bigger house this fall but I guess that wasn’t
in God
’s plan,
” I said with a sigh and a smirk.
“I
’
m just excited about
the life ahead for us in Hawaii.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled and then I noticed the way
Jeremy
’s
eyes shifted
down to his plate.

“What
’s
wrong?” I asked and had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what he
was about to say.

“
Angel, I
don’t
know how to tell you this but…
we won’t
be going to Hawaii.”

“What?” There was no way I had heard him right. But
his eyes were shifting everywhere but at me and I knew what he said
had to be true. “Why aren’t we going?”

“Political bull crap. Someone internal applied for
the administrator position and when I got it he filed an appeal.
Apparently it was reviewed by personnel and he was awarded the
position.”

I’d worked in human resources long enough to
understand the appeals process. I didn’t like it but who in their
right mind would fight federal regulations? “And what happens with
you?”

“I have been encouraged to apply for other positions
within the Department of Transportation.” He shrugged. “Well, at
least I still have my current job.”

I suddenly lost my appetite. There was no way in
hell this was happening. I had been looking forward to moving away
and starting a new life with my husband.

“Are you mad that we
’
re not going?”

My eyes shifted to him. “Of course I
’
m mad but there’s nothing we can
do about it now, is there?” I rose and carried my plate over to the
trash and scraped it then moved to the sink and started washing
dishes.

“I knew you were going to be mad!”

I swung around so fast I noticed Jeremy flinch. “Of
course I
’
m mad. I
thought we were moving to Hawaii in a few weeks!”

Now he was shaking his head with this look of
disbelief. “That
’s
the
only reason why you married me.”

No, that wasn’t completely true. But maybe just a
little. “I married you because I love you. But I
’
m not gonna lie, if I had known you
weren’t going anywhere then I wouldn’t have rushed to marry
you.”

“So then it
is
the only reason why.” He was
actually whining like a big ass baby.

“Call it whatever you want. I just said I was still
going to marry you I just would have waited until the spring.” I
swung around and started washing dishes. Jeremy got all quiet while
he finished eating his food. Let him pout! I don’t care.

I continued washing dishes and didn’t bother to turn
around as I said, “What you fail to understand is this isn’t
just
about you. I’ve been busting my ass, trying to pack up
my house and move over here. And let
’s
not forget that I initiated a transfer with my
National Guard unit. Hell, I even turned in my resignation for my
full-time job! So, like I said… this isn’t
just
about you
Jeremy.” I could just see going back to work on Monday and telling
my boss I wasn’t leaving and asking for my job back. I already
hated his ass enough as it was.

“Angel, I
’
m sorry. What is it that you want me to do?” There
was a sadness in his voice that made me put the plate down and
return to my seat.

“Nothing.” I blew out a breath. “I know
it
’s
not your fault you
didn’t get the position.”

Jeremy nodded then looked up at me and I could tell
whatever he was about to say was difficult. “Does that mean you
want a divorce?”

My eyes widened. “Divorce? Of course not!” I reached
over and took his hand and noticed he
’
d been biting his fingernails again. “I married you
Jeremy Lee Samuels because I love you and for no other reason.”

“You’re
sure?
” There was that insecurity again.

“I
’
m
positive.” Leaning forward, I kissed his lips. And finally the
light returned to his eyes. “But if we
’
re going be staying in Missouri then we definitely
need to either move into my house or find a bigger place.”

“Anything you want Angel,” he replied, then rose and
carried his plate to the sink. As he turned I noticed a weird smirk
on Jeremy
’s
face and I
couldn’t help but wonder if we were ever really moving to
Hawaii.

JANELLE

Kaleb was crazy in so many ways. He was selfish and
controlling and had absolutely no respect for me or our
relationship yet I thought about him
all damn day.

I couldn’t understand it and was starting to think
that maybe I needed to see a shrink. Because no one should have
that much control over you. Maybe that
’s
what made him such a master manipulator. And then
there were the daily texts from him, expressing his love and asking
for a second chance. According to the three dozen voice messages,
he had learned his lesson and was going to be good to me from now
on. Every time I heard his voice, I felt myself softening up to
him, especially when I heard his son in the background.

Speaking of CJ….

He had called my phone to ask if I could take him to
see his therapist because Kaleb was in a meeting. Lord knows I
wanted to say no but I knew someone had to take the poor kid,
otherwise, he would stop getting help. I don’t know why I felt like
I needed to save those two. They weren’t my problem. But yet I felt
somewhat responsible.

I left the restaurant around two and drove over to
West Junior High.

“Hey,” CJ said and climbed into my car.

“Hey you,” I said, reached over and squeezed his
hand. “How was school?”

“Fine.”

“
Good.
”
And then the conversation ended. Even though I knew it annoyed him,
I turned up the music and sang along with Beyoncé. Anything was
better than the awkward moment. That feeling of sorrow was back and
I just couldn’t shake it no matter how loud I sang.

I parked the car then walked inside with him and
took a seat in the waiting room. CJ started rocking on the seat. I
blew out a long breath then started surfing the net on my
cellphone.

“Are you coming back home?”

I looked up and noticed that the others sitting in
the waiting room were looking at me out the corners of their eyes.
“I
’
m not sure,” I said
low enough so that everyone wasn’t in our business.

“How come?” he whined.

“Because your dad and I are having problems. But
what
’s
going on between
me and your father has nothing to do with you.” I felt compelled to
say that because it wasn’t CJ’s fault his dad was crazy, although
it was his father
’s
fault that CJ was.

“Christopher Kerrington!”

He rose and looked like he had
been called to the principal
’s
office. I blew out a
long breath. His father should be here with him. Not me.

CJ was walking out the waiting
room when he stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Ms. Jae, are
you gonna be here when I get back?”

As much as I didn’t want to, I
nodded. “I’ll be right here.”

With a nod, he followed the nurse
back to the therapist’s office. I crossed my legs and shifted
through my emails while I waited. Of course Kaleb showed up while I
was texting. He glared down at my phone but I ignored him and
finished my message before I acknowledged him.

“
CJ’s been in there for about
fifteen minutes,” I commented with a phony smile.

He nodded and looked like he wanted to say something
but thought better of it. Good decision. Kaleb was standing there
looking fine as ever in navy blue slacks, a striped shirt, burgundy
tie, and designer wingtip shoes. It was a shame the mothafucka was
crazy.

“
I’m going back. You gonna still
be here when he gets out?”

I nodded. “Yes. I promised CJ I’d
wait.”

He bobbed his head again then walked on back.

I sat there thinking how dysfunctional the three of
us would be as a family. And I thought the Foxes were a hot
mess.

I was playing
Words with Friends
when Kaleb came
out looking more upset than when he walked in.

“
Where’s CJ?”

He pointed toward the rear. “He’ll
be out in a minute. But before he does I wanted to tell you what he
said in his session today.”

Finally, a breakthrough! I was all
ears. I followed him outside the building and around to the side.
The entire time I was dying of anticipation. “Okay, so what’s up?”
I asked.

Kaleb’s gaze met me head-on. “He
told his therapist when I
’
m not at home, you
mistreat him.”

There was no way in hell I was
hearing him right. “
Excuse me?”

He shrugged. “Don’t
get mad
I
’
m just telling you what he had
said.”

“
You know that
isn’t
true.
” I searched his eyes to see
if Kaleb believed me but his expression was hard to
read.

He glanced over his shoulder as if
he was concerned CJ might show up at any moment. “He told her when
I
’
m not around you call him stupid
and talk about him.”

I can’t even begin to tell you how
much that pissed me off. Everything I tried to do for that kid,
clothes, toys, allowances, and this is the way he treated
me!

I sucked my teeth and replied as
politely as I could manage. “And what did you say?”

He hesitated. “I told the
counselor that didn’t sound like you but I would talk to you about
it.”

“
Doesn’t
sound like
me
?” I was appalled. Thank goodness no one
else was standing outside but us. “You should have told them, hell
no! You know I wouldn’t do that.” I didn’t like kids, but I have
never mistreated one in my life. I didn’t appreciate
that.

“
Why are you getting all upset?”
he snarled toward me.

I couldn’t take it any longer.
“
Really
? Your son
has the therapist thinking I
’
m beating him when
you
’
re not around!”

“
Okay, then we’ll fix it when we
get home.” He tossed his hands in the air like it was that simple.
I just stood there sulking and didn’t respond.

“
Are you fucking
serious
? Now you mad! Jae,
it
’s
not always about you. My son has an issue with
lying and we’ll take care of it.” He shook his head as if I was the
one being ridiculous. “You
’
re
so
damn worried about what other
people think about you.”

“
Hell yeah I care what other
people think, especially when I didn’t even wanna be bothered with
somebody else’s kid in the first place!”

“
Oh, so
you
’
re saying my son is a bother?” He
now had a nasty scowl on his face.

“
I
’
m saying this is what I get for
doing something I shouldna been doing in the first damn
place.”

“
So what are you saying? Huh Jae?
You ready to end this?” He was definitely agitated.

“
See
that
’s
the problem with you. Every
single argument ends with splitting up. And I
’
m
sick of it!”

“
I don’t
care about what
you’re sick of,”
he mumbled. “You didn’t
wanna be
with me and my son in the first damn place.”

“
Then why the
hell am I here? It wasn’t like you put a gun to my head or had
something that I wanted.” I lied. “Hell no! I
’
m
with you because I want to be with you not because I have to be,
but you
’
re too stupid to see
that.”

“
So what do you wanna do, Jae?” He
was edging me on.

I swallowed and watched my chances
of getting my hands on all that money go up in smoke.
“I
’
m saying… It’s time for me to get
off this roller coaster ride.”

Kaleb suddenly looked like a
crazed lunatic. “Then go tell CJ that!” He pointed toward the door.
“Tell him you don’t wanna be with us anymore!”

“
Whatever. You
fucking tell him!” I hissed. “I told you about always getting him
involved in what
’s
going on between us.
That
’s
why the kid is fucked up in the
head.”