Consequences (13 page)

19

Nikki

“Nikki, you're never going to believe this.”

I was heading into the bookstore when I noticed I had missed a call from Trinette. I really wasn't in the mood to hear about her love triangle, but as crazy as my life was, it was nice to know someone else had problems other than me.

“What won't I believe?” I dared to ask.

“Donovan called me last night.”

“What?” I almost ran through a stop sign and had to slam down hard on the brakes. “What the hell! When was this?”

“Last night. Girl, I tried calling you back, but you turned your phone off.”

“That's because I caught Donovan going through my call history the other night. Not that I have anything to hide.” When I confronted him about it, he admitted he was looking for proof that I was having an affair. I was so tired of him accusing me of doing something I was not.

“Well, he sounded crazy last night. Don't you know he asked me if while he was deployed if you had been messing around?”

No he didn't. “What did you tell him?”

“What?” Trinette gave a rude snort. “I can't believe you even asked me that! I told him hell no, because as far as I am concerned you hadn't. Technically, the two of you weren't even together at the time.”

It was good to know my best friend was still quick as a whip. “Thanks, Netta. What else did he say?”

“That was it and he acted like he didn't even believe me. Said we were two peas in the pod, then told me to tell Leon to give him a call.” Trinette started laughing like it was funny. She had no idea this situation was getting far from funny. “I couldn't believe he even went there.”

Hell, I could. “You remember how he was when you were here? Well, he's starting to act like that again. One day he's normal, the next day he isn't. And now, ever since his best friend was murdered, he's back to acting like he has PTSD. It's like I'm starting all over again.”

“He's probably just being paranoid. You know how those army dudes are. They come back from a long deployment and automatically assume someone's been sleeping in their bed. It's like Goldilocks and some shit. Who's been sleeping in my bed? Who's been sleeping in my bed?” Her crazy ass used different animated voices mimicking the three bears and had me laughing.

“You are stupid!”

She laughed. “Whatever, you know I'm telling the truth. To be honest, I don't know how you have the patience. I stopped dating soldiers when I was nineteen after I realized they're all broke and crazy.”

I rolled my eyes even though I knew Trinette couldn't see me. “Well, we're not just talking about a soldier, we're talking about Donovan.”

“I know, Nikki. And you know I love Donovan, but the best thing you can do for your husband is get him some professional help,” she said as she tried her best to be more sensitive to my needs. I had to at least give her an A for effort.

“You're right. Prayer and couple's counseling just isn't enough,” I admitted while I whipped around a slow car and made a right at the corner. “Enough about Donovan. How have you been feeling?” I asked, anxious to change the subject.

“Sick as a damn dog. I don't know why women do this to their bodies! All the throwing up . . . eating like a crazy person . . . It's just too much for someone to have to go through for nine months.”

That girl is so dramatic that I had to laugh. “If women didn't do it, your ass wouldn't be here. I'm just glad you decided to keep the baby.”

“Girl, me too. It's actually worked out better than I thought. The way those two men are behaving, I plan to milk it for everything that it's worth. Leon bought me that Pandora bracelet I'd been wanting. Jrue just paid off my Macy's credit card. I'm going to sit back and enjoy this shit!” She sounded so damn giddy.

We shared a laugh. I definitely needed that with all the crazy shit happening in my life right about now.

“When's Leon getting back from Germany?”

“Saturday.” Trinette sighed. “Two weeks was not long enough. I have been enjoying spending time with Jrue without worrying about Leon sniffing my damn pussy.”

“He doesn't do that!” I laughed. My girl was so dramatic.

“Yes, he does, right before he dives in for a snack. Now that I'm pregnant I can't keep that man off me. He likes sucking on my titties and slurping on my damn clit!”

I was laughing so hard I had to wipe my eye. “He's happy his wife is finally pregnant.”

“Yeah, I know, and it's going to break his heart when I finally leave him.” I was surprised that she actually sounded sad about it.

I still think Trinette would be making a big mistake leaving Leon for another man. She already knew what kind of life she'd have with Leon. Okay, so maybe he couldn't put it down in the bedroom like Jrue, but he loved her unconditionally and once that baby was born, there would be no limits to what that man would be willing to do. But I guess the heart wants what the heart wants, and at least for once it wasn't about money, so it made me wonder if maybe this thing with Jrue really was for real.

“You never know; before that baby is born you might even change your mind.”

There was a hesitation before she finally said, “Maybe, but I seriously doubt it. I think Jrue's wife knows something is going on, so it's only a matter of time.”

“Just be careful. You see what happened to Lorenzo.”

She snorted rudely in the phone. “No offense to Tristan, but if I was Tammy and found out my husband had been fucking a dude, I would have shot his ass too.”

So would I.

We chatted a few more minutes; then I got off the phone and thought about what she had said and decided that maybe it was time to go another route with this entire situation. Donovan would kill me if he found out, but I was running out of options.

I glanced down at the clock on the dashboard. It was barely eight. I had planned to arrive at the bookstore a little early this morning and work on inventory, but there was plenty of time for that later. Right now I had something a little more important to deal with. I headed down I-70, got off at Goodfellow Road, and drove until I reached a soldier standing on guard at the entrance. I flashed my military dependent ID, then pulled my car through the gate and up to the 138th Engineering Battalion.

Donovan had joined the National Guard during college. He had been attending on a track scholarship, but with me also trying to go to school, rent, and bills, we still were barely making it. Back then they had been giving $20,000 bonuses to join the Army National Guard, as well as money for education and books. Donovan had signed up without even telling me. That had been our first heated argument, mainly because I was scared and thought he was selfish for jeopardizing his life when he had a wife to think about. He was just getting ready to leave for basic training when I had discovered I was pregnant with Mimi.

I parked my car in the visitor's parking lot, then moved inside the building. I had been there enough times that I knew where I was going. I nodded as I passed several soldiers in their battle uniforms. It doesn't matter how often I see it, nothing is sexier to me than a man in uniform. I guess it's what the uniform stands for. The pride and the confidence all together seemed to give a man swag.

I moved quickly across the drill floor to the battalion headquarters and stepped through the door. There was a young light-skinned female private sitting behind the front desk.

“Can I help you?” she asked. I didn't miss the way she was looking me up and down. I guess wearing a uniform made it hard for a woman to feel feminine. I was rocking blue jeans, yellow pumps, and a white striped blouse. My locks I had pulled up in a cute ponytail. Yes, this sistah looked fierce.

“I'm Staff Sergeant Truth's wife. Is your first shirt here?”

I saw the way her light brown eyes lit up at the mention of my husband's name. I gazed down at the last name on her shirt.
Sanders
. I might have to bring her name up at dinner tonight and find out what her story was.

“Hold up.” She rose and walked around the corner and a few seconds later returned and signaled for me to come back. “Clarke said to come on back.”

I nodded and sashayed past her, leaving a whiff of my perfume for her to inhale. Just because she was wearing a uniform didn't mean she couldn't still smell good. I read the names on the doors until I spotted SERGEANT FIRST CLASS CLARKE.

“Mrs. Truth . . . please . . . come on in.”

I nodded and greeted him with a warm smile. “Thank you. It's good to see you again.”

“Yes, it is.” His grin became a devilish smirk. I watched as his eyes gave me the once-over, stopping at my ass. I rolled my eyes inward. Like I said before, men ain't shit.

“Have a seat. What can I do for you this morning?”

I suddenly felt like I was betraying my husband by being there. The last thing I wanted was to put his business in the street, but at the same time he needed help and it was his unit's responsibility to make sure that he got that. I lowered into the stiff chair across from his desk and waited until Clarke had taken a seat before I spoke.

“I've been wanting to talk to you about Donovan. Did you receive any of the messages I left?”

He shook his head. “What messages?”

Something in his eyes said he was lying. He'd received my messages but felt he had better things to do than return the calls of one of his NCOs' wives.

“Never mind,” I muttered while I tried to hold my tongue. “The reason for my calls and for dropping by your office this morning is that I really need to talk to you about my husband's behavior.”

His brow rose and I could tell he was interested in what I was about to say. I hated feeling like I was betraying my husband, but Clarke was his supervisor, so he would know more about Donovan than anyone else. “Ever since he's gotten home from Afghanistan, he's been acting weird.”

“Weird how?” he asked suspiciously.

I could barely steady my shaking hands. “Hardly sleeping, drinking too much, and really depressed.”

He laughed. “Is that all? Everyone acts like that after a deployment.”

No, he isn't making fun of me.
I shook my head and tried to remain calm. “No, this is nothing like the way he had acted when he got back from Iraq. This time it's different. He's really distant and agitated.”

Clarke leaned across the desk and licked his lips suggestively. “It sounds to me like it's nothing that his wife can't solve at home for him.” He laughed again and then had the nerve to reach down for his cell phone and start texting. “All he needs is some loving. You can handle that, can't you?”

“Of course I can handle that!” I had to bite my tongue to keep from cussing his ass out. Satisfying my husband had never been a problem. What I couldn't handle was that nobody seemed to be taking this situation seriously. “But he's acting extremely paranoid and accusing me of messing around and trying to leave him.”

Clarke tilted his head slightly and looked up from his phone. “Have you been messing around on him?” He had this look like he knew the truth. I quickly shifted on the seat.

“What kinda question is that?”

“Because you wouldn't be the first,” he answered bluntly. “It takes a strong woman to stand by her man for twelve months. That's a long time to go without sex. Hell, I wouldn't have blamed my wife if she had.”

I couldn't believe he was having this conversation with me. “Sergeant, I have never messed around on my husband . . . not that it's any of your business.”

He smirked. “Sorry, but I gotta ask. I don't need one of my soldiers going off the deep end because he can't trust his wife.”

Again, I regretted even coming to see this prick. What I wanted to do was reach across the desk and strangle his ass. Instead, I changed the subject. “Doesn't the National Guard have programs in place for your soldiers coming home?”

He nodded. “Yes, and each one of them is required to meet with the psychologist upon return. Donovan saw her and she signed off on his evaluation form that he was fit for duty. I guarantee you, if she had thought anything was wrong, she would have referred him for further counseling.”

“That woman probably sees hundreds of soldiers a week. She doesn't have the time to spend with each one long enough to truly evaluate them.”

“She's good at what she does,” he insisted.

“Well, she made a mistake. My husband needs to be reevaluated. He had soldiers in his unit killed while in Afghanistan. Two weeks ago, he watched his best friend get gunned down at his shop. Donovan has experienced way too much trauma and it's affecting him and our marriage.”

Clarke sat there staring across the desk at me for a long moment. “Weren't the two of you having marital problems a few years back?”

No he didn't. “What the hell does that have to do with anything?”

He shrugged. “I'm just saying . . .”

“Then next time check your facts. Our marriage has been stronger than ever! We were happy before he left on this last deployment. Now my husband's been back eight months and something still isn't quite right. It's like he lost his soul down there.”

There was a brief pause. “How about I call him in and talk to him?” he said like he was doing me a favor.

“Talking to him is not going to help. You need to have him evaluated for PTSD!” I was screaming now. “Listen, you either do something or I'm going over your head and having a talk with the commander about you blowing me off. I'm sure the last thing he wants is for one of his soldiers to be on the evening news after he's snapped!”