Gate Wide Open (22 page)

Case Closed
February 1
^st
, 2019, 11:32
A.M
.

I sat in my chair in my office, my door closed, and I had the obituaries of Jerry Parks and Sherry Adams in my hand. James' funeral was about two weeks after I had found him dead in the apartment with Sherry and the John Doe. The family had a double funeral, since they were killed together.

I had secretly taken the day off to go because I just had to see what his family was like. Were all of them as crazy as those two? I had snuck in the funereal and sat in the back row, hopefully unnoticed. I had gotten there just in time to see a couple of people at the caskets.

It was a closed casket for Sherry. From what I saw in the apartment, she was shot in the forehead at close range. James' casket was open because he was shot in the back of the head at an angle, so the hole in his head wasn't visible. I decided to get a quick look at him and make it back to my seat.

As I walked away from the casket, I saw an older, thin lady that James heavily favored in looks being consoled by various mourners as she sat in the front row. I also happened to notice a dude with dreads crying harder than most. You would have thought they were messing around or something.

I continued to walk away and passed my seat. I exited the chapel, deciding not to stay any longer. I felt kind of bad, though, because the way he died was horrific. Nobody needed to be murdered.

 

Buzz!

“Mr. Black, your wife is on line two.” My paralegal, Renee, buzzed into my office, breaking me out of my recollection.

“Okay, I got it,” I said, picking up the phone. “Hello.”

“Shawn, do you have a minute?” Mona asked, a little shakiness in her voice.

“Sure. A couple.” I sat up in my chair, ready for some bad news.
What else can go wrong?
“I don't have to be in court for another half-hour or so.”

I was actually trial free today and planned on going to spend some time with my newfound son. It was getting harder and harder to look at him, knowing that I had to tell him soon that his mom was dead.

“Is everything okay?” I asked wearily.

“Well, ah, I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it.” She was breathing into the phone like she was blowing out candles on a cake or something. “James is dead.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Is that all you have to say?” she said, surprised by my reaction.

“Well…ah…yeah.” I paused. “What should I be saying, Mona? This dude tried hard to wreck our lives, and you had two affairs with him. I'm glad he's gone and I surely don‘t miss him.” I got up from my chair and walked toward the window. I wasn't ready for this conversation.

“Well, Shawn, you don't have to be so heartless about it.” She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “He was a human being. And I told you that sleeping with him was something I regretted deeply.”

“Look, Mona, baby, I apologize for bringing up you cheating on me with him. I said that I forgave you, and I meant it, but you still have to take into consideration what he did to me.” I quickly wiped a tear that slid out of my eye.

“I know, Shawn. It's just too much right now, and I don't know how much more I can take of this.”

“Don't worry, when James died, most of our problems died with him.”

I didn't even believe that one myself, but I had to say something to calm her down. Shit. James' dying only left me with one thing to do—Get Li'l Shawn in my house without Mona giving up and leaving me. That wasn't going to be an easy pill for her to swallow, especially considering she and I didn't have any biological children together.

“Okay, Shawn, if you say so.”

“All right, baby. I love you. I will see you when I get home.”

“I love you too.” She hung up the phone.

As soon as I hung up my office phone, my cell phone started ringing. The caller ID said that it was James calling me.
What kind of game is going on here? I know, the fuck, James didn't fake his death. And I know that was his grimy ass in that casket at the funeral.

“Hello,” I answered the phone, afraid of what I might hear. James pulling the ultimate stunt. Insurance Fraud. Then, again, I didn't think he'd be that dumb.

“Who am I speaking with?”

“Shawn Black. Who wants to know?” I said, putting on my authoritative voice.

“I'm a friend of James, and I, he was my”—The guy's voice started to break up like he was about to cry. He continued, “James was my lover, and I found…he left his phone in the house the day…the day they found him murdered. They killed him, and they wouldn't even tell me who.” He broke down again.

There was a long pause.

“I just needed to know who you were because your number was in his call log several times, and I figured you could tell me about my baby.”

“Look, buddy, I am just James' lawyer, and I really don't know a whole lot about him.”

“Oh, ah, his lawyer,” he said, sounding a little happier. “Well, maybe you could tell me who did this to him.”

“Look, ah, um, um—”

“Wallace.”

“Okay, Wallace, that's something I can't do. I really don't know much.” Well, I knew some stuff, but why should I help the nigga who was sleeping with my nemesis?

“Oh, okay,” he said, disappointment in his voice.

I paused for a couple of seconds. “Look, ah, Wallace, let's meet somewhere. Maybe I can help you out.”

“Great!”

“But, like I said, I don't know much.”

We decided on a meeting place, and I headed out of the office.

 

I pulled up to Owings Mills Mall, parked my car, walked through Sears, and headed for the food court. I had described myself to him, and what I was wearing, so he could find me.

As I walked toward the table, I noticed a guy waving me over.
Shit! That dude was bawling his eyes out at the funeral.

I sat down at the table across from him. This dude wasn't bad-looking. He was well dressed and had on some fly shit. His eyes were bloodshot red, and he had the look that said, “I just lost my best friend.”

The James I knew was incapable of love, so how could this nigga be this fucked up over him being gone?
Well, the ass was good.

“Ah. Hi, Wallace?”

“I'm just…sh-shocked mostly.” He was falling all over his words again. Tears escaped his eyes and hit the table as he held his head down.

This nigga is fucked up. James musta put it on his ass good. There is no way I would be acting like this for no nigga. “Look, I'm sorry to hear about your loss.” I had to say something semi-sympathetic to get this over with.

“Thanks,” he said, now looking off into the distance, like he was in a trance.

“So, uh, anyway, you needed to ask me some stuff about James?” I said, reminding him why we were there. I still had to go and visit my mom and Li'l Shawn.

He slowly turned back around and stared at me for a minute.

I was getting uncomfortable by the second. For some reason, he started to look good to me. I knew I had to hurry up and get the hell out of here, not wanting to go down that road again.

Seriously, I wasn't, but he sure looked like he can ride it good. I felt my manhood rising.

“I really have somewhere to be soon, so can we make this fast? I'm not trying to be rude, I just have some stuff to take care of.”

“I just needed to know if James ever talked about anyone from his past that might make someone want to hurt him? I went to the police, and they were like, since I wasn't family, they couldn't release the information about the killer.”

“Oh, is that all you want to know?”

He shook his head yes.

“It seems like it was a double murder and suicide. They say whoever this dude was, he was crazy. He killed James and his cousin in a fit of rage. The motive seemed to be about some scorned-lover type of shit.”

“Did they give you the name of the guy?” he said bright-eyed.

“Yeah, but he's dead.”

“I just want to know,” he said, a little furious that I was withholding information.

“His name was Tyrone Jenkins, and he was from California.”

He looked at me, shock written all over his face. His fists balled up and he looked like he was about to explode. “My muthafuckin' cousin,” he mumbled, his jaw twitching.

“He was your cousin?” I said, looking around. “You sure?”

“Yeah, man, his ass called me a couple of weeks ago saying he was going to be in town on business and shit. We even hung out a little bit. I can't believe this shit. My fuckin' cousin killed my baby.” He just got up and walked away.

Just like that, he was gone. That's some messed up shit. His cousin, James' first love, killed his lover, James. Crazy. I got up and walked away myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

Second Time Around
February 14
^th
, 2019, 12:04
A.M
.

This was it, the day I was waiting for. The day I was going to marry the man of my dreams again. Valentine's Day. And we had a packed house.

I know it seems cliché to be getting married on that day, but I thought it was the perfect time.

I was in the back dressing room in my off-white wedding gown, which was nontraditional but elegant. I wasn't about to drag a train down the aisle again.

Other than that, I was so happy to be closing the doors on some very ugly chapters in my life. James was dead. I was happy and sad. But I knew it was for the good of the kids. I could tell them now who their biological father was and not have to worry about them wanting to meet him. Well, they'd already met him, but they didn't really know who he was.

“Mom, you look
sooo
pretty in your dress,” Diana said in a loving voice.

I loved my little angel. She was the flower girl, intent on being the best she could be. Many times I'd watched her have a play wedding with her dolls, and she'd walk around the house with a flower bouquet, practicing her little heart out.

I turned around to see what Ashley was doing. She looked radiant in the dress I had picked out for her to wear. She didn't seem too enthusiastic about being here, and she looked preoccupied with something, every so often talking on the phone.

“Ashley, baby, you okay over there?” I said as I pinned the veil onto my hair.

“Yeah, Ma,” she said like she was annoyed or something. “I'm fine.”

Ashley had been so moody lately, and I know it wasn't her time of the month, because ours usually ran around the same time. I had to make a mental note to have a one-on-one with her just to see if she wanted to talk. It was past due, and I was usually on top of my girls, but I was preoccupied with setting all this up, and running the house. My job was never done.

“All right, girls, go out there and head to your posts. It's almost time for me to come out.”

As they walked out, my mom came in with a big smile on her face, just like she did the first time around.

“How's Mama's baby?” she said, tears flooding both our eyes.

“Well, Mama, I'm good. Just a little nervous,” I said, though I remember being a wreck the day me and Shawn got married the first time, and today was just the same.

“Oh, baby,” she said as she put out her arms and embraced me.

My mother's love was something I needed, and I was glad she was here to share this moment again.

Tears again flooded my eyes. I was marrying the man of my dreams again. I was so happy that things would be going back to normal now and I would be able to let the children know the truth.

“You are so beautiful, just like you were the first time.”

“Thanks, Ma,” I said, checking my makeup in the mirror. “All this crying gonna mess up my makeup.”

“All right, baby. Let me get to my seat. I can hear the musicians warming up. I ain't trying to miss my baby come down the aisle again.” She eased out the door.

I looked at myself in the mirror one last time, turned around, and made my exit out to the foyer of the church.

As I made it out, various family members were just arriving. They stopped and whipped out cameras and took a few quick shots. I took a couple then shooed them away.

I watched as the ringbearer made his way down the aisle, followed by the maid of honor. I know, I know. I overdid it. It was just supposed to be a renewal ceremony, but it was so good the first time, I had to do it up again.

Alex stood at the door, all smiles, even though he still couldn't quite look me in the eyes that long yet. He had some shame in his eyes ever since I'd seen him naked in the basement. I tried to reassure him a couple of times, but I was going to tell Shawn what happened, and let him deal with him. It was a man thing, as they say.

I had asked him to walk me down the aisle, since my father was dead.

“You ready, Ma?” he whispered into my ear.

“Yes, baby. And don't be trying to trip Momma up and have her fall in front of all of these people.” I laughed lightly.

He laughed too. “Never that, Ma.”

The music started for me to make my way down the aisle, and a smile crept across my face. Everybody stood up and turned toward us as we made our way down the aisle. Under my veil, I could see my husband-to-be smiling as he stood at the altar.

We finally made it down the aisle, and Alex handed me over to Shawn. I saw a couple of tears roll down his face. He, too, smiled that goofy-looking smile.

“That's my baby,” I said to myself. With all the stuff we'd been through, I knew it was God keeping us together, and nothing could tear us apart.

We went through the ceremony in a breeze, but something happened that almost made me run out of the sanctuary and never look back.

When the minister got to “Does anybody here object to these two being together?” the room was silent.

I knew everyone here loved seeing me and Shawn together, and quite frankly, they couldn't do a thing about it because we were already married.

But, out of nowhere, a little boy pops up and yells, “No, Daddy, you were supposed to marry my mommy!”

It was like the movie,
The Matrix
. Everything stood still. The look of shock covered everyone's face as they turned around to see who this little boy was that had just dropped a bombshell on the ceremony.

I turned and looked at Shawn. He looked like he wanted to run. Then his mother quickly yanked the boy back down, as if the outburst didn't happen.

Okay, so now what the hell do I do?
was the thought that flashed across my mind.
Run or stay? Or fuck him up for GP?
I stood there like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. I couldn't move, but staying in the spot felt like it was going to kill me.

“Baby,” Shawn said as he shook my hand that he was still holding.

I looked at him with pain in my eyes. He was pleading with his eyes for me continue on with the service, but was I woman enough to handle this? How can I stay? Who is the mother? How long did he know? What in the hell? All of these questions floated through my head in those few seconds standing there.

I awaited Ashton Kutcher to pop out with his camera crew, telling me that I was being punked, that I could go on with the ceremony. But no Ashton, no camera crew. Just me, Shawn, and both of our families here staring at us.

Okay, so I turned back toward the minister and nodded my head, giving him the approval to continue. I know. How could I stay? But, then again, how could I leave? This family needed me, and I needed them. Walking away wasn't an option. The devil was a liar and a defeated foe. All those Sundays I spent on my knees in His house were not going to be in vain. This was one black family that was going all the way. Through hell and high water. We were going to make it.

The ceremony was sealed with a kiss. And, boy, did I kiss my husband! He was mine, and I wasn't giving up on him. Ever. God didn't, so why should I? We walked down the aisle and out of the church to the limo waiting for us outside.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I was mad as all get out. As soon as we closed the door to the car, I sat back with my arms folded. “So?”

He was sitting across from me, sorrow on his face. “Well, um, where do I start?” He paused.

I just looked at him. There was nothing for me to say.

“I have a son by James' cousin, Sherry. The condom must have broken when I had sex with her.”

“How long did you plan on hiding him at your mother's house?”

“I was just buying time, trying to figure out a way to tell you. I just didn't want you to leave me, Mona. I put you through enough, and I thought this would be the straw that broke the camel's back.” He broke down and started crying.

I got up and sat next to him and pulled him to my chest. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a forty-five-year-old man cry. He was my baby. I couldn't stay mad at him.

“Shawn, all these secrets and lying have to stop right now. Our family is not going to make it if we can't be honest with each other. I love you, Shawn. There is nothing too big for us to handle, with God on our side. It's time for us to be examples for our children. All five of them.”

He popped up with a smile on his face. “Five?”

“Yep, I'm pregnant again. I found out about a week ago, but I wanted to wait to tell you.”

“Wow! I'm too old to be going through this again.” He laughed.

I laughed along with him. “You sure are.”

Shawn pinned me down on the seats of the stretch limo, and we made out, until the limo driver signaled us that we were at the reception hall.

After we spent about a half-hour in the hallway, some commotion broke out at the door, putting everything on pause.