Читать книгу Who's Loving You - Mary B. Morrison - Страница 10

You thought you knew a woman; then you found out shit you wished you hadn’t. The saying “What you don’t know won’t hurt you” could actually kill you. In retrospect, I wished our relationship would’ve remained platonic. That way even if our friendship hadn’t flourished, I could have continued respecting her.

We consummated our acquaintance the first day we met. From the airport to dinner, to dicking her down really good, Honey was one sweet lady. Nah, she wasn’t a lady; she was a woman. But was she that easy with every guy? Honey was hot and sexy, and my dick was hard and horny, and we clicked. My dick fit her pussy perfectly. I never wanted to wait to have sex with a woman I liked. What were we waiting for? The one thing I could’ve avoided this time, if I had waited, was having my heart broken. Broken heart and all, life went on. That was for sure.

Parking in my parents’ driveway, I contemplated whether to go in. I didn’t feel like pretending I was happy again today. Stopping by to check on my mom and dad was routine. As usual, my old man peeked out the front window; then he opened the door, motioning for me to get out of the car. I read Honey’s text message, slipped my iPhone in the holder, then smiled at my father.

We walked up the seven steps to the house, with my arm over his broad shoulders. Five inches taller, I towered over him. My dad retired five years ago; Mom hadn’t worked a day since they’d married. Her stay-at-home-wife job entailed taking care of my dad, my brother, and me, and although we could take care of ourselves, Mom still enjoyed taking care of us.

Inside the house, I greeted my old man, hugging him tight. “You got a class this morning, old man?” I asked my dad.

He lectured to high-school students during the day and taught entrepreneurial courses in the evening. I took over managing his rental properties when I opened my business, GH Property Management and Development, seven years ago. With Dad’s guidance, I’d done well for a twenty-eight-year-old.

“Still trying to outdress me, huh, son? You gotta figure out where my new tailor is first. Close the door before one of those nasty flies creeps in.”

I had the best mom and dad. I loved my parents. Would do anything for them. “Hi, my angel,” I said to my mother, kissing her cheek. She hugged my waist, holding on a few seconds longer than usual. Mom’s hugs reassured me that everything was good. The prolonged hug made me wonder if everything was okay.

Mom whispered, “It’s already all right, son. Let go and let God. I know you want us to accept her, but she’s not the one for you.” Patting me on the back, she said, “You see your brother sitting over there? Speak.”

Like I said, I would do anything for my parents.

Benito got up off the sofa and hugged me. Mom hadn’t said anything about hugging that fool.

“Hey, bro,” he said. “You dump Lace yet? I told Mom all about Lace’s past. Take it from me, I keep telling you I dated her for three years. She’s bad news.”

Pushing him away, I said, “Her name is Honey, and I’m positive she’d plead temporary insanity for the entire three years.” Distancing myself from my brother, I followed my dad into the dining room.

Benito was right behind us. “Whatever you wanna call her is cool, but I’m tellin’ you—”

Dad interrupted him. “Benito, that’s enough. Why don’t you stop all the madness about that woman and tell us the truth about what’s going on with you? We haven’t seen you for twelve years, since you went off to college. And your mother just mailed Tyra a check for ten thousand dollars to pay your son’s tuition. You haven’t been home in a long time, but I raised you better. Even if your relationship with her is over, you need to go see your son. Now, why’d you come back here?”

Thank God. I wanted to keep the focus on Benito, so I asked him, “Yeah. Why?” I smiled, waiting for my brother to answer. Benito was two years older than me, but he looked forty. His years of partying and drinking were etched on his face. I wasn’t having any kids until after I got married. I wanted two, maybe three. All boys.

“I told y’all I kinda made a few bad investments, lost all my money. Then Lace kicked me out. I just need to stay until things settle. A few months. No longer than a year or two,” that fool said. Problem was he was serious.

My mother walked into the room, sat a plate in front of my dad, then me, and went back into the kitchen.

“What about me?” Benito yelled. “Why does Grant always have to be first?”

“’Cause I check on my parents every day I’m in town,” I said. “Your behind didn’t call after you left, not until you needed us.” I really wanted to say, “Nigga, your sorry black ass need to get up outta here and stop leeching,” but my parents wouldn’t have approved of that.

“Thank you, dear God, for this wonderful bounty, my mother, and my father. Amen,” I said. I blessed my stack of pancakes, strips of peppered bacon, and scrambled eggs and started eating. I had a business to run. Benito didn’t have shit else to do all day but lay up on my parents. I couldn’t believe my mother had paid his cell phone bill. He knew better than to ask me to do anything for him.

Staring at my brother, my dad didn’t blink once. Dad said, “You have one more time to disrespect my wife and you’re outta here.”

Benito was stupid, but not that stupid. He knew when to shut up. Mom walked back into the room and sat Benito’s plate in front of him. No thank you, no grace, no comment. Benito started chewing with his mouth open.

“Man,” I yelled at him, shoving his plate to the floor. “If you don’t stop disrespecting my mother, I’ma beat your ass! Show some fucking appreciation for her. She ain’t your damn maid!”

I stood over him, wishing he would push his chair back. My fists were tight. I wanted to punch him in his face. My dad scurried out of his chair and held my arms behind my back.

“Son, calm down. Sit. Finish your breakfast,” said Dad.

Benito slid my plate in front of him and started eating my food. Through a mouthful of my pancakes, he said, “You not mad at me, bro. You pissed because you didn’t know your sweet Honey baby was a hooker. Pass me the syrup, would ya?”