CheckMate (Play At Your Own Risk) (21 page)

“I, um, was out handling some business.” Monty tried to think quickly as he talked. He didn’t want to upset Candy any more than he already had. “I called you back after I’d seen you called me, but you didn’t answer your phone. What was up with that?” Monty tried to play some reverse psychology.

“Oh, I was visiting my mom like I always do on the weekends, but you just noticed I called you after two? Wow! What was up with that? I called you earlier this morning, honey.”

“I was sleeping. When I woke up, I saw you had been calling me.” Monty sat up because he figured he was in too deep and she was on his trail. He knew Candy was no fool. He had said he was sleep before he knew it.
Oh shit,
he quickly thought.

“So, where were you asleep? Because we both know you weren’t home, and I talked to Rico and his mama at the Shell gas station earlier today because he was about to drop her off over his uncle house.” Monty couldn’t think quickly enough. “Just tell me, Monty. Where were you? Don’t lie to me, because I can’t take that today.”

“Alright, Candy. I was with a pawn.”

“I already figured that. So, you mean to tell me you stayed the night with your pawn and part of the day?”

“No, I didn’t go there until this morning when I couldn’t sleep for thinking about what you had done last night. I hadn’t seen that you called me ‘til around eight and again at ten, but I didn’t wanna talk right then. I was being stubborn and I’m sorry. I didn’t go over to the pawn’s house until after the second time you had called me.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

“Yeah, that’s so, and I didn’t even sleep with her because I was so tired. I fell asleep on her sofa.” Monty pushed his pillows back to his headboard. He lay back on them while thinking that he had this one in the bag.

“Well, I see you’ve quickly thought this over. I’m no fool and I know you’re lying to me because I was out driving from the time you put me out up until around seven, and you never returned home.” Monty sat back up. “Don’t say a word, Monty, unless you’re going to come at me with the truth. I know you left me and went to be with a pawn. Will you just be honest about that, please?”

“I’m telling you what I did after I put you out. You gotta be trippin’ on something. I know when I walked in my crib my mama was still up and maybe she left in…”

“Oh, shut up,” Candy calmly interrupted him.
“Maybe she what? Maybe she left in your car. I don’t think so. I see you can’t be honest with me and I thought that we were better than that. I had a long talk with my mama today and I’m telling you what I told her. I’m going to stay with my Aunt Linda for a few months.”

“No, baby!
You can’t leave me.” Monty stood up as he began to pace around his bed.

“Yes, baby! I can. And, I am leaving you. I’m going to stay with my aunt and I’m coming back when I’m good and ready. Please, don’t be expecting me any time soon, either. I’m tired of you running in the streets, and I can’t have that shit running through my mind while I’m carrying our child. You blew it today by keeping up this stupid lie of yours. I’m so tired of it. It’s gotten old, boo, and I don’t wanna put up with it anymore. Maybe this would be okay in another lifetime, but not now. Look at it this way, you can have all the fun you want to have while I’m away and if you’re ready when I return, then we can make things work out between us.”

“But, what about your doctor visits? I’m going to miss them.” Monty said. He felt really hurt.

“Don’t worry about them. I will keep Mrs. Cat and Mona updated and I’ll send you sonograms of the baby. Trust me, Monty. I want this to work out, but I’m too young to be going through this bullshit already with a man that I love so much. I can’t make you stop sleeping around, but I can focus on me and do what’s in my best interest right now. Your behavior is not on the list of things I have to put up with. I love you and please don’t call me, because I will not answer. I’ll be alright. You’ll see.”

“Candy, baby, will you let me talk to you before we end things like this?”

“Are you willing to tell me whose house you were over and that you went there after you put me out?”

“Candy, I don’t wanna talk about that. I wanna talk about us.”

“It’s too late. You decided that one when you continued to go on with your ridiculous lie. Bye, Monty,” said Candy. She hung up the phone.

Monty quickly drove his car over to Candy’s house.
Damn, I should have been honest with her. Why did I have to lie? I couldn’t tell her who I was with, though, because she would’ve had a fit. She knew what kind of feelings I had for Monica back in the days. I couldn’t be honest about that one. No way in the hell!

Monty pulled up in Candy’s neighborhood as a big body, sleek, black BMW 750 slowly drove by him. He looked in the car, but couldn’t see anything because the windows were darkly tinted. He wondered if it was Candy in Nancy’s car, but remembered it was another one just like that a few houses down from hers. He watched it in the rearview mirror as it halted at the stop sign, and then quickly drove off. Monty pulled up in Candy’s driveway and looked down the street as he watched a man and a little boy in the yard washing the same looking BMW 750 he’d just passed by. He quickly realized that the car was Nancy’s and Candy was driving it.

“Damn, she didn’t even stop for me. I know she knew I was going to her house!” Monty hit his steering wheel. “Damn!” He sat in her driveway, shocked. He immediately dialed her number but she didn’t answer. He text messaged her, hoping she’d turn around and come back home.

Candy… Please call me back. It’s not like that. We need to talk. Mo Money

He sat there and waited for a response, but he didn’t get one. He began to feel a little sick knowing he drove Candy away because he believed that she truly did love him. He felt bad for stressing her out while she was pregnant with his baby. He backed out of her driveway and headed home.

Monty drove down the long, narrow, dirt path which led the way to their new home. He pulled up to the two
story, brick house and smiled a little from the progress he’d made while running in the streets. He looked around at their five acres of land surrounded by big trees. Not being able to see the neighbor’s house felt good. Catherine had given Mona her car to get back and forth to school, and Catherine bought herself a new white Acura TL. Monty got out of his Tahoe and walked up the steps leading up to the big, long front porch. He looked at the four wooden rocking chairs that rocked a little from the wind blowing and turned his head to check out the whips in his yard. Without his pawns, he’d still be living in the projects.

It felt good to have his mama and sister back living the way that his daddy would want them to be living. It felt even better to know that he was stepping up to make that happen.
Maybe Candy is right. I can do my thing while she’s gone and enjoy saving up my money for when she returns. Then, just maybe, I can shake this career of mine and go into a more legal and honest way of making money. She’ll be happy about that,
Monty thought as he walked into the house.

“You done did it now, with your big head self,” said Mona as soon as he entered.

“What are you talking about?” Monty asked as if he didn’t know.

“You finally pushed Candy away. Now, she’s gone to Atlanta for no telling how long. She came over here crying, searching for answers, looking for some kind of support, and feeling bad as hell about whatever the hell went down at IHOP after the party. But, the main person she wanted to see wasn’t even here for her. How do you think she was feeling?” Mona asked. She was very upset.

“It wasn’t like that!” Monty walked past her and upstairs to his bedroom.

“Oh yeah?
Then, what was it like? I bet you were laid up with another woman while your baby’s mama worried about you. Weren’t you, Monty?” Mona followed Monty up the stairs.

“Get from behind me, Mona. I wasn’t with
no woman!” he screamed. Monty already felt bad enough about Candy leaving.

“Put it on our daddy’s grave then,” said Mona. She knew Monty was not going to lie on their dad’s dead body.

“I ain’t gotta say all that! But, I wasn’t with no woman.” He slammed his room door shut in Mona’s face.

“I knew you were lying! You were with another woman!” Mona yelled. “You’re such a liar, Monty. Mama is going to be real upset when she finds out Candy has left here, all because of you. You better hope she feels sorry for your sorry ass and come back home to have your baby! You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Damn, it’s a New Year and you’re already starting that bullshit!”

Monty sat on his bed with his head buried in the palm of his big hands as he thought,
How could I be so stupid and fall asleep over to Monica’s crib. I really fucked up with Candy this time. I have really got to get it together before I lose her for good, and I don’t want that to happen over some dumb shit. That girl has had a thang for me ever since I could remember. She’s always been down for me even before we started kicking it. Damn she got me feeling bad as hell.

Monty sat there while thinking. They had only been together five months, but it felt like he had known Candy forever. She practically lived with them every other weekend as she and Mona would take turns sleeping over at each other’s house. Plus, for many years they lived right across the street from each other. He lay back on his bed as he started thinking about the things that made them become so close with each other in the past few months. He smiled as he thought about the soft hugs she’d give him, the bubble baths they’d have, the sex games they’d play, and how the tasty lip gloss she wore stayed sweet on his lips for hours. She had a way of making him see that she was the one for him.

He enjoyed the way she’d get in the kitchen and whip him up something special that she got out of her mama’s cook book, probably to keep him from being with his pawns, but as usual, it always worked like a charm. They had movie dates every Sunday night whether they went out to a theater or watched a good movie at the crib. And, he made sure every week he’d spend at least three nights with her no matter what was offered from a pawn. He’d gotten extra close to her because he knew what the loss of a parent felt like and this made his feelings for her grow more. Even though she slapped the shit outta him after Paris called her with that bullshit, she calmed down and simply asked him to let it all go and she’d front him the money that he needed to start his business.

Monty had too much pride to take money from her, so he couldn’t avoid hurting her feelings by continuing his gig. He rolled over on his stomach and rested his head on the pillow as
he thought about her getting pregnant the first time he made love to her. Still, that wowed him. He knew that them having this baby together was meant to be. Candy had always told him that she would be his lady whenever he decided to notice her like that and she wasn’t lying.

Maybe her going away for a few months is for the best,
he thought.
He hated how and why she left, but it was probably the best thing that she could do for her and the baby, because he could finally handle his business the way he needed to and as long as she was with Linda he knew she’d be alright. Plus, Mona and Catherine would always keep him filled in on how she and the baby were doing.
His thoughts begin to cloud his mind.
Maybe I should go see her. Surprise her or something. Naw, I don’t wanna make it worse. She doesn’t wanna see me right now, so I’ll just leave things as is. I gotta get focused here. What a Birthday,
Monty considered just as he received a text message.

Can I c u before I leave 2morrow…? Symone

Let me get back with u later… Mo Money

He put his phone down and continued to think.
Damn, she ain’t playing, either. I can’t believe she just left me like that.
Monty called Rico quickly.

“Hey, what’s up, birthday boy? Did you and Miss Candy enjoy each other last night?”

“Naw, man, it’s a long story, so I need to talk to you ASAP. Are you at home, man?” Monty asked as he grabbed his keys.

“Yeah, I ain’t had the strength to leave here after fucking with Paris all night. I’ve been sleeping like a baby. I was just about to call you, though, because after I turned my phone back on, my people called and said you beat the shit out of a nigga last night. What happened?”

“We’ll talk about that when I get there. I’m on the way.” Monty ended the call and drove over to Rico’s place. He pulled up to Rico’s house and got out of his Tahoe, then walked on the porch just as Rico opened up the door.

“Come on in, man. What’s up?”

“I ain’t gonna even beat around the bush.” Monty sat down on the leather couch in Rico’s front room. He looked around. Rico’s house was nice with an old fashioned layout and a countryside look to it. His mother was an interior decorator and she did a good job on the place while making good money decorating other people’s houses, too. “You would not believe who I got with this morning after I put Candy out.”

“What you mean, after you put Candy out?” Rico asked.

“Candy and I ended up having a huge disagreement after we left the club. I watched some dude flirting with her, so when I saw him put his hand on her stomach, I went crazy. I beat his ass so bad that they called the police on me. I took her home afterwards.”

“Damn, man. What made her let another dude get up on her like that?”