Charlotte signed onto her e-mail account to check her messages and saw that she had a new one waiting for her. It was from the same bogus address the other message had come from, informing her about Curtis and his visits to Tabitha. To be honest, Charlotte hated having to open it because the last thing she needed was more bad news. Last night, she and Curtis had enjoyed their evening together, and she was now feeling good about the way he’d come clean with everything. But now there was no telling what this latest note might actually reveal. She had a mind to just delete it but the problem was, her curiosity was already getting the best of her.
So she clicked the mouse and opened it.
Charlotte,
I can’t believe that after finding out where your husband has been spending all his time—with the mother of his child—that you’re still hanging in there. And then to think how yesterday, you stooped low enough to physically attack his other woman at the salon, just because you can’t stop him from being with her. I mean, does the money and all the status really mean that much to you? Is it really that important for you to live a certain lifestyle even though you and your husband are so ridiculously miserable with each other?
If so, then I feel very sorry for you and all I can say is that whether you realize it or not, you would be so much better off without him.
My advice: Let him go. And move on with your life.
Sincerely,
A Friend
Why was this woman harassing her this way? Why couldn’t she just take her child and leave the country without ever looking back? Why in the world did Curtis ever have to sleep with her in the first place?
But Charlotte knew her questions and cries for understanding didn’t mean much of anything because the truth was, Curtis had slept with Tabitha, and from the looks of it, she had no plans of leaving Mitchell, Illinois, let alone the entire United States. Charlotte knew there was no sense agonizing about it and that the only way to end this nightmare was to take action.
When she signed off, she went into her bedroom and closed the door behind her. She had a few calls to make and didn’t want Tracy to hear what she was saying. Although, interestingly enough, the phone rang before she could pick it up.
“Hello?”
“I don’t care how long it takes me, but just know that I will make you pay for what you did to me yesterday,” Tabitha said.
“And what? I’m supposed to be terrified or something?”
“If you know what’s good for you.”
“No, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll make this your last time calling here and you’ll never contact Curtis or me ever again. I’ve warned you over and over but, Tabitha, this is it. You hear me? This is where it ends.”
Tabitha laughed. “You’re pathetic. You know that? Absolutely pathetic and you’ll be even more pathetic when Curtis leaves you.”
“Look, you can fantasize all you want to, but the bottom line is this. Curtis doesn’t want you, and I think he proved it yesterday when he walked out on you, butt naked and all. Am I right?”
Charlotte waited for some long-drawn-out response.
But the next thing she knew, Tabitha hung up—hard.
Charlotte wasn’t at all happy about the call she’d just gotten, but what she was happy about was the fact that Curtis really had told her the truth. He really had walked out on Tabitha the way he’d claimed, and she was glad she’d told Tabitha what she knew.
Still, it was time Charlotte made the phone call she’d been getting ready to make earlier, the one to her cousin.
“Who dis?” he answered.
“Who dis?” Charlotte repeated, laughing.
“Yeah, who dis?” he said again.
“Boy, I can’t believe you’re answering your mom’s phone like that.”
“Charlotte?”
“Yeah, Dooney, it’s me. So how are you?”
“Shoot, caught a forgery charge a few months back, but other than that, I’m straight. So what’s goin’ on with you?”
“Don’t even get me started.”
“That bad, hunh?”
“It is, and I really need to talk to you about it.”
“Well, hey, let me call you back in a few because I was just about to make a run. You know, so I can take care of a lil business. Plus, Moms wants me to pick up a couple of things for her from the store.”
“How is Maydora?”
“She’s good, but working way too hard, the same as always.”
Maydora was Charlotte’s mother’s first cousin, whom her mother had grown up with when they were children. As a matter of fact, Charlotte’s mother was closer to Maydora than she was to her own sister, Emma.
“Well, I won’t hold you, but when you call me back, call me on my cell,” Charlotte said, and told him the number.
Dooney hung up and Charlotte wondered if she was making the right decision contacting her cousin, the one who’d been in and out of juvenile delinquent facilities and prison since he was twelve. He was now twenty-eight, but from the sound of things, he was still getting into trouble and, as he put it, still “catching” charges. But at this point, she really didn’t see where she had any other choice. Curtis would die if he knew she’d hooked up with the likes of Dooney and she didn’t even want to think about how her parents would feel about it, but Dooney was the type of person who could help make Charlotte’s problem go away. He was caring enough when it came to his own family but he had absolutely no sympathy for anyone who violated him or his loved ones. He’d proven it time and time again and dealing with him was just a chance she was going to have to take.
Next Charlotte called her mother to tell her about David and the threats he’d made about Matthew. Now she was talking to Janine, who was taking a break between classes.
“I can’t believe he’s making such serious demands so quickly,” Janine said. “Especially since he’s known Matthew for only a couple of weeks now.”
“I know. I don’t get it either, but for whatever reason, he wants Matthew with him.”
“What is Curtis saying about all of this?”
“He’s not happy about it either, and he says we’ll do whatever we have to in order to stop David. I mean, this is just insane. Because how can any man decide he wants to take a child away from the only parents he’s ever been with and think it’s okay?”
“Have you guys discussed this with Matthew?”
“No, and apparently David hasn’t either because Matthew hasn’t said anything. But if he does, we’ll explain to him exactly the way we feel.”
“Have you spoken to your cousin Anise or your aunt? Because maybe they can talk to him for you.”
“No. I haven’t spoken to my aunt since the football game and, of course, you know my relationship with Anise is horrible. She would never help me even if she could.”
“Yeah, but even Anise would probably want what’s best for Matthew.”
“Maybe, but she seems thrilled about David and Matthew finally having a chance to be together. Plus, I didn’t tell you this, but David knows about Marissa and how she wasn’t Curtis’s daughter either, and I know Anise had to tell him that.”
“You think?”
“I know she did because where else would he get that from?”
“I hate that you and she are so at odds with each other.”
“I hate it, too, but at the same time, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Girl, what you’re going to have to do is stay prayerful.”
“I am and I’m ashamed to say that I hadn’t done much praying in a long time, but this week, I’ve prayed like never before.”
“I think we all get lax from time to time when things are sort of going our way but when they go bad, we tend to lean on God just a little more than usual.”
“It’s true, J. It really is.”
Charlotte felt her cell vibrating and saw a Chicago area code.
“J, I have a call coming in on my other phone, but thanks for listening, okay?”
“Of course, and call me this evening when you get a chance.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Charlotte pressed the end button and picked up her Treo.
“Hello?”
“Yeah, Cuz,” Dooney said. “It’s me.”
“Thanks for calling back.”
“So what’s up? Whatchu need?”
“I have a situation, and if you take care of it, I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Whoa. Sounds serious.”
“It is. And long story short, Curtis had an affair with a woman who won’t leave us alone. She’s calling and showing up places she shouldn’t, and I’m sick of it.”
“Wow, Cuz. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Not as sorry as I am.”
“Well, is it over?”
“What?”
“Curtis’s affair with her. Is he finished with the chick?”
“Yes, and he has been for a long while.”
“Has he tried to talk to her?”
“More than once, but she’s not hearing it.”
“That’s too bad. Well, how do you want me to go at her? I mean, do you want her out of the picture completely…like you never wanna see her again? What exactly?”
See, it was this sort of thinking that made Charlotte nervous. It was true that she really did want Tabitha completely out of the picture but now that Dooney was making the possibility more of a reality, she was having second thoughts. For months she’d been counting the number of ways she could rid herself of Tabitha, violently and otherwise, but now, after speaking with her criminal cousin, she wasn’t so sure this was the answer. She wasn’t sure because, deep down, killing someone wasn’t something she could do.
“I don’t want you to hurt anybody. I just want you to mess with her and make her think she’s in danger.”
“Make her think she’s in danger?” Dooney roared with laughter. “You want me to come all the way to Mitchell, ninety miles to be exact, just to play a few kiddie games?”
“This isn’t funny, Dooney. I’m serious.”
“Okay, okay. So how much we talkin’? You know, for making someone think they’re in danger,” Dooney said, and cracked up again.
Charlotte couldn’t help chuckling herself. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m sorry. I thought you really had this big job waiting for me.”
“I do.”
“Then how much?”
“How much do you require?”
“It depends on how long I’ll have to be over there because if I have to leave my real business for a few days, I’ve gotta make up for that. I’ve gotta pay my boys to handle things while I’m gone.”
Charlotte wanted to ask him what his real business was but decided it was better if she didn’t know. She could just about imagine anyway.
“Name your price.”
“You think I’ll be there longer than a week?”
“No. I doubt it, but if you are, I’m prepared to compensate you.”
“Will I be staying with you?”
Charlotte didn’t know what to say and she hoped he wasn’t serious.
“Relax, Cuz. I’m only kidding because you and I both know Curtis would never stand for that.”
Charlotte was relieved. “I’ll just put you up in a hotel.”
“That’ll work. And I’m thinking I’ll need at least three thousand for the week and the same thing if I have to stay longer.”
“Done.”
“Dang. If I’d known you were going to be that easy, I’d’ve asked for twice that amount.”
“I’m sure you would have.”
“So when do you want me to get started?”
“In a couple of days, but if you can, I want you to come over here tomorrow, so you can get settled into your room and so I can show you where she lives.”
“Bet. I’ll try to be there late morning or early afternoon.”
“Sounds good. And Dooney?”
“Yeah?”
“This is just between you and me. I’m trusting you not to tell a soul. Not one person.”
“Definitely. This is you and me, Cuz. Period.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Peace.”
Curtis drove out of the church parking lot and turned on his radio. Normally, on Wednesday evenings, he taught Bible study, but this morning he and Charlotte had decided that tonight they should have dinner together with Matthew and then spend some quality time at home. Which was fine, except right now he was beyond frustrated. Tabitha had called his cell phone no less than five times in the last two hours and now she was calling again, at this very moment. He didn’t answer, the same as he hadn’t with any of the others, but she was starting to get on his nerves. She just wouldn’t stop and the second time she’d called she’d left a message, practically begging his forgiveness. She’d apologized for her actions and then promised it would never happen again. She’d gone on and on about how wrong she’d been and how she didn’t want her mistake to come between him and Curtina.
But Curtis still hadn’t called her back. He hadn’t called because the more he thought about the way Tabitha had tried to come on to him, well, he didn’t want anything to do with her. He’d tried to make things work for the sake of seeing his daughter, but Tabitha had gone too far.
Curtis heard his phone ringing again and sighed loudly. But when he looked at the screen, he saw that it was Alicia.
“Hey, baby girl.”
“Hi, Daddy. How are you?”
“I’m okay. And you?”
“I’m fine, and I’m coming home this weekend.”
“Glad to hear it. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I’m calling because I wondered if I can see the baby?”
“Actually, that might not be possible because Tabitha did something I’m not happy with and for right now, I think it’s best for me to keep my distance.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t want to go into it, but maybe you’ll get to see her another time.”
“Oh. That’s fine. But I definitely want to spend Saturday with Matthew.”
“You know he’ll be excited.”
“I’m thinking I’ll take him to the movies and then to the arcade.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Well, I won’t keep you, Daddy. Plus, I need to call and check on Mom.”
“Is she okay?”
“She has the flu. She was doing a lot better when I called her earlier, but I still want to talk to her again before the night is over.”
“Tell her I hope she feels better.”
“I will.”
“Take care, baby girl, and I’ll see you this weekend.”
“See you, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Curtis ended the call and drove another ten miles or so in deep thought. He couldn’t remember when he’d had so many problems all going on at the same time, and it was tiring. First, they’d been dealing with the Tabitha situation, then Tolson had become an unexpected problem, and now David suddenly wanted to take Matthew from them. Right now, he was claiming all he wanted was more visitation time, but just the fact that he’d thrown out the words full custody was enough to make Curtis stand up and take notice. It was enough for him to realize they couldn’t ignore David’s demands.
When Curtis looked at the fuel indicator on the instrument panel, he noticed his gas tank was nearing half full. He never liked it to move any lower than that, so he pulled into the gas station, parked in front of a dispenser, and turned off the ignition.
Then he stepped out onto the pavement and waved his Mobil Speed Pass across the activation sensor. But as soon as he lifted the hose and prepared to position the nozzle inside his vehicle’s fuel entry, Tabitha pulled up on the other side. Curtis turned away and once he saw that the gas was pumping, he sat back down inside the SUV.
But that didn’t matter to Tabitha, because she got out of her car and walked over to him.
“Curtis, please roll down the window,” she said.
He ignored her. Or at least tried to.
“Curtis? I really need to talk to you.”
She was now speaking loudly and Curtis realized it might be better to hear her out and then be on his way. So he cracked the window.
“Tabitha, what do you want? And what are you doing here?”
“I called you several times, but you didn’t call me back.”
“That’s because there’s nothing for us to say.”
“I’m so sorry. I never should have approached you the way I did, and I apologize.”
“Fine,” he said, hoping it would get her to leave.
“Please don’t stop seeing Curtina. She loves you and she needs you, so please don’t do this to her.”
“You ruined my visits with her. And then you disrespected my wife yesterday.”
“What? How? I went to get my hair done the same as anyone else and she’s the one who waited for me to come out and then forced me against my car.”
Curtis wasn’t sure if her claim was true or not, but regardless, it still didn’t change his position.
“Look, I have to go,” he said when he heard the nozzle click.
“Curtis, please. I was wrong, but you have to understand how tough this is for me.”
“No, what you have to understand is that I have a wife and that I won’t allow you to cause problems for her. Not anymore.”
Curtis pushed open his door and Tabitha stepped away, watching him as he placed the nozzle back onto the dispenser, pressed a button, waited a few seconds, and took his receipt.
“Do you want to see her? She’s in the car. She’s asleep, but the least you can do is look in on her.”
“No. I have to get going.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
“Good-bye, Tabitha.”
“No, this is far from being good-bye,” she said, walking back to her car. “Trust me.”
Curtis watched her drive away and then he left as well.
He tried to figure what Tabitha was planning to do next.
There was just no telling.