CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Zoe was excited to be spending Sunday afternoon with her mom and sister. For the first time in a long time, she was looking forward to her mom’s heavy, fattening meal. Ramon had a small job that he’d promised his customer would be finished before the week was over, so he was going to meet Zoe at her mom’s once he was done. This was perfect for Zoe, it would give her a chance to have some alone time with her family and speak privately without Ramon hanging on her every word.

“So tell me, Pam, how are things with you and Alvin?” Zoe asked as she poured three glasses of wine.

“Everything is really good with us. He just got a big promotion at work and decided to take me on a mini vacation to celebrate,” Pam gushed. “We’re heading to South Beach next week for a three day weekend.”

“That’s great! I swear I’d give my right arm for a break.”

“Why don’t you suggest to Ramon that you all take a little break?” Martha suggested.

“In all honesty Mama, I’d prefer to get away alone. I could use a little time to myself to meditate, release a little stress,” Zoe confessed.

As Pam and Martha looked back and forth at one another with concern etched across their faces, Zoe sat the glasses on the table and took a seat. Following her lead, Pam and Martha sat as well. They each took a couple of sips of wine before Pam broke the brief silence. “So tell us Zoe, is everything okay with you and Ramon? Is he treating you well or are you starting to have issues with him?”

“Everything is cool for the most part. His possessiveness is starting to drive me a little crazy, but other than that, we’re all good.”

“Exactly what do you mean when you say his possessiveness?” Martha inquired.

Zoe told them about his over the top reaction to her hanging out with April and Desi a couple of weeks ago. “I couldn’t believe that he actually changed the lock just because I went out for a bit. Hell, if I changed the locks every time he hung out with his friends the locksmith would have to move in.”

“That’s just ridiculous,” Pam exclaimed. She was clearly annoyed with Ramon’s outrageous behavior. “Why didn’t you just tell him to kiss your ass and come back here?” Clearly Pam’s nervous condition had been replaced with confidence and a low tolerance for foolishness.

“That’s exactly what I did,” Zoe explained. “But then he came running after me, pleading for me to go in the house. Once I did he proceeded to apologize and tell me how he’s the only real friend that I need. And he was squeezing my hands so tight. It was all a little too weird for me and left me feeling uneasy. I still don’t like the way any of that went down.”

“And what did he bring you as a make-up gift the next day?” Martha asked with a stone face.

“Mama, how did you know he bought me a gift?” Zoe challenged.

“Zoe, that’s a classic sign of an abuser. Baby, they treat you like crap, curse you, grab you, and eventually beat you, and they always come back with a gift,” Martha spat angrily. “I want you to leave him Zoe. Come back home before he starts to escalate this behavior.”

“Mama, calm down. You know I would never fall for any mess like that and I don’t think that Ramon is an abuser. That was the first incident of that nature. Believe me, I stood my ground and laid down the law. I was very clear with what I would and would not accept.”

“That all sounds good Zoe, but we all know that if Ramon is in fact an abuser, your laying down the law means absolutely nothing. And we know from experience that the longer you stay, the worse the behavior will get,” Pam warned. “You need to bring your ass home.”

“Look, y’all really do need to calm down,” Zoe demanded. She looked at her mom and saw that tears were dancing at the rim of her eyes, threatening to fall down her face. “Mama please don’t cry. I promise y’all that the man has never hit me and he won’t. If he ever tried, he’d have one hell of a fight on his hands and I wouldn’t hesitate to pack my things and come right back home.”

“I’m going to trust that you’ll actually do that Zoe. I pray that you’re right, that he isn’t an abusive man, but please don’t ignore the signs. Promise me that if something like that happens again, you’ll leave,” Martha begged.

“I promise, Mama. Now let’s finish up dinner so that it’ll be ready when he and Alvin get here,” Zoe suggested.

“They’re getting a free meal so if they have to wait a little bit for it then oh well,” Pam asserted, clearly still angry about the information her sister had just divulged.

Alvin was the first to arrive. He came in with a warm smile and comforting hugs for everyone. He couldn’t help but notice the serious faces plastered on each of the women. “Is everything okay?” He asked although he had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t.

“Everything is fine,” Zoe assured him. “I hope you’re hungry because Mama threw down today.”

“I am starving! All I’ve had today was a cup of coffee and a protein bar. Whoever said that crap would keep you full for hours lied,” Alvin laughed, but noticed that Zoe was the only one to laugh with him. “Okay ladies, for real now, what’s wrong? Ms. Martha, you look like you’re about to burst into tears and Pam, you act as if you’re ready to punch someone’s lights out. What gives?”

“It seems that Zoe is having a bit of problem with Ramon,” Pam spat. “He’s acting like he wants to start man handling folks and” The doorbell interrupted Pam mid-sentence.

“Look y’all, I want you to lose the attitudes right now. I don’t want Ramon to know that I spoke to y’all about this. It was one incident that I don’t want to cause me more problems because y’all can’t get and keep your attitudes in check. Now get it together,” Zoe demanded as she went and opened the front door. “Hey, baby,” she said as she greeted Ramon with a hug and kiss.

“Hey, you okay? I thought I heard someone fussing in here.”

“Oh no, must have been the folks in the apartment next door,” Zoe lied.

Ramon stepped further into the apartment and greeted everyone with a cheerful hello. He felt as if he was greeted half-heartedly by everyone except Zoe. Thinking that it may have just been in his head, he walked over to Ms. Martha and gave her a big hug. Normally she would wrap him up into a big hug and talk sweetly to him as if he were her son. But her weak pat on the back greeting assured him that it wasn’t in his head. This was a feeling that Ramon didn’t like and he began to rack his brain as to why he was getting the cold shoulder. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks, Zoe must’ve relayed the events of the night they’d argued.

Trying to honor her sister’s request, Pam attempted to straighten her face and lighten her tone. “So, Ramon, were you able to complete the job?”

“With a little help from a friend I was. I thought I was going to have to leave it until tomorrow, but a buddy of mine was nice enough to bring me the other materials I needed to go ahead and wrap it up.”

“Good for you. Well I hope you’re hungry because the rest of us are starving,” Pam went on to say. “So guys, go wash up and we’ll put plates on the table.”

Alvin and Ramon did as they were instructed and when they returned to the family room, the folding table was being topped with platters of loaded baked potatoes, grilled salmon, asparagus, and Martha’s delicious yeast rolls. Ramon went into the kitchen to grab the pitchers of tea and lemonade and place them on the table along with the food. Everyone took their seat and Martha began to lead them in prayer. She thanked God not only for the food, but for the protection of her family and for them to be surrounded with love and understanding. Ramon lifted his eyes slowly as everyone said amen. Platters were passed and plates were filled, but Ramon had to speak up about the cloud hanging over the table, he knew if he didn’t he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his meal.

“From the tension looming over the room I can only assume that Zoe told you all about our disagreement the other week,” Ramon began. “I know that I was totally out of line and I’ve apologized for it.”

“Ramon, it sounds like you were a little more than out of line,” Martha interjected. “Is this your normal behavior when someone does something you don’t like?”

“Absolutely not, Ms. Martha. I know that this is not an excuse, but I got really scared that Zoe was leaving me. In my mind I thought that if she wants to leave she can, but she won’t be coming back in here to snatch her stuff like a thief in the night. She was going to have to talk to me and explain why. I didn’t even explain to you, Zoe, just how scared I was that night. Seems that everyone I truly love has always been taken from me or voluntarily left. I guess that was my very stupid way of protecting myself from being hurt. But I swear to you that I will never hurt your daughter, Ms. Martha. I will never raise a hand to hit her, never disrespect her, and never intentionally cause her harm. I swear.”

Zoe reached over and lovingly took Ramon’s hand. His heartfelt speech was not only reassuring to her, but to Martha as well. Pam, on the other hand, was still giving him the side eye as if to say she wasn’t totally convinced. But after Alvin gave her a gentle squeeze under the table, she relaxed her look and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

The evening went on with everyone enjoying the meal and the Red Velvet cake Martha made for dessert. They talked about current events, each other’s jobs, and future plans. Ramon’s bravery in speaking up seemed to have given almost everyone a new level of comfort and trust.