If Your Wife Only Knew (21 page)

She decided to go in the store and look for Rashad. Alexis quietly walked around the huge store until she saw the back of his head. He was in the appliance department. Nicole Greene stood next to him pointing at a refrigerator. They stood close together and were talking.

Alexis walked up to Rashad. He didn't see her. But Nicole stopped talking the second she saw Alexis.

“We have a visitor.”

“What you mean?”

“Turn around.”

Rashad slowly turned around. His face turned white when he saw Alexis.

“Yo, what's up?”

“Yo, what's up?” Alexis said.

“Yeah, I am saying hi. What's up?”

Alexis glared while Nicole grinned. “He and I are busy right now. He's helping me pick out an appliance.” Nicole grabbed Rashad by his hand. He hesitated but let her pull him away from Alexis.

No wonder he can't keep his mind on what he's doing
, Alexis thought as she discreetly placed his car key in her purse.

“Rashad, are you seriously letting her hold your hand too? Oh, hell no.”

“What you mean ‘hell no'? This man ain't yours.”

Alexis was sick of Nicole. It was time to pay Rashad back.

“He's my child's father. That's what he is.”

Nicole dropped Rashad's hand. “What did you say?”

“Ask him yourself.”

“I thought you told our boss that there is no child. She came back and told me you denied it and that I need to stop spreading rumors before something bad happens. What the hell is going on? Rashad?”

“So you never told her, either?” Alexis asked. “Are you honest with any woman that's in your life?”

“Alexis, look. This is not the time or place. I'm with my client.”

“She's way more than a client. It's obvious y'all two got something going on.” Alexis whipped out the photo of them at the restaurant. “You do not pose like this with all your clients. Stop playing us for a fool. And tell the truth for once in your life.”

“Rashad, baby, it's okay. We cool like that. You can tell me anything. It doesn't matter. I'm riding with you regardless.”

“Alexis, I don't need you to dictate when I should tell Nicky what I want her to know. Now, if you don't mind, we got some business to take care of. I'll hit you up later, okay?”

Alexis felt sick to her stomach. She couldn't believe Rashad as he protectively placed his arm around Nicole right in front of her.

“Fool, you are not going to disrespect me in front of this ugly-ass bitch.”

Nicole laughed. “It's funny that he spends a lot of time with this ugly-ass bitch. He don't want you. That's why he's always with me. A long, pretty weave is not enough to keep a man. And apparently a baby with you isn't enough, either.”

Alexis rolled her eyes. “I don't have to fight over this Negro or any other one. Bye, Rashad. You are a bigger fool than I thought you were.”

Nicole gave Alexis a triumphant look the second she saw her backing away from them.

Alexis stormed out of the store. She began walking toward her car. But when she saw Rashad's sedan, she went and jerked open the door handle. She got in the car, retrieved the key, and started the engine. Alexis backed Rashad's car out of the parking space. She quickly sped away from the Home Depot. She kept wiping hot tears from her eyes as she drove down the street and ignored the calls that began making her cell phone beep.

The texts started pouring in.

Alexis drove and drove. Each time she saw a police car, she held her breath and her stomach felt tense. “He can't call the police on me. He doesn't know I have his car. But what if he finds out? Could I go to jail?”

She drove until she reached a corner gas station. She pulled next to a pay phone. She stepped out, put money in the slot, and dialed Rashad's number. He didn't pick up the first time, but he answered the second time.

“Hello?”

“I can't believe you are fucking that psycho—”

“Alexis, I wanna tell you all about that, but I got an emergency right now. Somebody stole my car.”

“What? Are you kidding me?”

“No. It's fucked up. I came out here and the car was gone.”

“Wow, karma is a nasty bitch.”

“Did you do something to my car?”

“Nope.”

“Please don't lie to me.”

“Please don't lie to you? That's funny, Rashad.”

“You sure you didn't do anything to my car?”

“I haven't done anything to your car.”

She hung up. He called her cell phone. She didn't answer. Logic and sensibility had no place in her head. She thought about herself, then thought about Nicole.

“Filet mignon versus a hot dog. J. W. Marriott versus Motel Six. Neiman Marcus versus Walmart. Hell, not even Walmart. More like the Salvation Army. He must be out his mind.”

Alexis decided to drive to Glynis's. She couldn't think of any other place to go. Once she arrived, it took Alexis longer than normal to locate a parking space. The street that was typically clear from traffic was now filled with parked vehicles up and down the block. Alexis found an available spot at the very end and briskly walked until she reached her sister's house. The door of the fence was wide open. Alexis timidly went up to the front door. Before she could knock, Hazel, the center's co-operator, answered. Hazel looked a hot mess, sweaty and funky like she'd been running from the police.

“I'm shocked you got here so fast. News spreads fast.”

“What are you talking about? What news?”

“Your sister. She's dead. She passed away an hour ago.”

Alexis's knees buckled. She sunk to the ground, her head hitting the concrete.

 

Rashad and Nicole took a taxi to her house. Once he paid the driver, he impatiently asked Nicole if he could drive her car.

“I need to report that my ride's been jacked. I would let you drive but you drive too slow.”

“Okay then.” She handed him the keys and smiled while he took the wheel. He hadn't driven too far when he got another call from an unrecognized number.

Hazel identified herself and told Rashad about Glynis.

“Aw, damn. I'm sorry to hear that. Where's my baby?”

Nicole gave him the side-eye.

“I'm on my way.”

Nicole was silent for the majority of the ride over to the north side.

“So you really do have a baby?”

“Yeah, I do. Her name is Hayley. What about it?”

“Oh, so it is true. Damn. We been rolling a long time and you could have told me that.”

“I didn't want to tell you. I still don't. That's my private business. I just didn't know when to tell you.”

“But what man denies his child?”

“I've never denied my kid.”

“I'm just saying. We tight. You can trust me.”

“I can trust you to do what?”

“I won't tell a soul.”

Rashad didn't say another word until they pulled up on the block and ended up having to park the next street over.

By the time they walked into Glynis's house and Rashad saw Alexis nursing her head injury, he went and knelt beside her. “I heard what happened. You all right? You gone be okay?”

He grabbed Alexis in a bear hug. She let him hold her. Nicole stood to the side with her arms folded. Alexis didn't care about the hateful looks Nicole shot at her. When Hayley stumbled into the room with her arms outstretched saying, “Mama,” Alexis scooped the precious little girl into her arms. She squeezed her tight. She knew Hayley was looking for the woman who had always acted as her mother.

“Mama,” she cried out as she squirmed and curiously stared at all the people that began to congregate throughout the house.

As the house started to fill up with family, friends, and associates, Alexis heard in bits and pieces the details about her sister's passing.

“She was driving to the store and she passed out at the wheel and crashed through the front of a Starbucks. Her blood sugar dropped too low and she blacked out. She died instantly.”

Alexis felt so sad and dry inside, she had no tears. She and Glynis had butted heads off and on for years, but she'd never wish death upon anyone.

“This is shocking and so unexpected,” Alexis said. “I knew she had seen the doctor about her blood sugar and she was on insulin. I thought she could beat this disease. Now this.”

“Thank God the baby wasn't in the car with her,” another person said.

“Speaking of cars . . .” Alexis told Rashad. “Did you find yours?”

“No. I was on my way to the police station when I got the phone call about this.”

“Thank you for making this a priority.”

“No problem.”

“And I know where your car is.”

“You do?”

“Follow me.”

Nicole tightly held onto Rashad's arm as he rose to his feet. Alexis told her, “This has nothing to do with you. It's just me and him. Have a seat.”

Nicole defiantly kept standing.

When Rashad proceeded to walk out of the house, Nicole was right behind him.

Alexis told him, “Please handle this.”

“Chill, Nicky. I got to take care of my business real quick. And I'm warning you, don't ever tell anyone about my child. She's innocent and doesn't deserve to be in the middle of a scandal. If you tell anyone, especially Kiara, we are through, you got that?”

“Okay, I won't tell a soul. I love you, Rashad.”

“Good. Now go get something to eat. I'll be back.”

Nicole gave Alexis a hostile look but she smiled at Rashad and said, “Okay, babe.”

Most women wouldn't put up with Rashad's reckless ways, but Nicole wasn't most women. She knew he wasn't a perfect man, but she could sense he was a man who tried to act like he had it all together. But she knew he had his fears about life, yet he tried anyway. He had a strong work ethic. And he was generous and thoughtful. Nicole felt she understood him. When he previously told her about the clashes he had with his own mother, and how disappointed he was at not receiving his mom's full support when he became a young man, Nicole wanted to hold him in her arms and let him know that she would ride for him no matter what. She believed in his potential. She knew that, if he had the right woman, he could excel. She felt he lied because of fear, and fear was something Nicole understood well.

Once Nicole left them alone, Alexis and Rashad stepped outside the house and walked down the block. Alexis cleared her throat. “What the hell is going on?”

“I told you, she's my client.”

“Cut the bullshit. I can tell by y'all's body language that you're fucking her.”

He scratched his head and looked away in the distance.

“It is only because you had a death in the family that I will ignore that accusation. Meanwhile, we got something serious on our hands. I am assuming you will take Hayley with you at some point till I figure out what to do.”

“Rashad—”

“Here, take this.” He handed her a wad of cash. She tossed the bills in the air.

“This is what you can do with your guilt money.”

She proceeded to head back toward the house but he grabbed her.

“Okay.” He couldn't look her in the eyes. “I messed up. I messed up.”

“That's all I ask is that you be real with me. I know you too well for you to try anything else.”

“We kind of fell into a little thing; before I knew it, I was in deep. It wasn't planned.”

“No wonder you disappeared on me. But it's cool. Hayley and I will be just fine.”

“This does not mean I have abandoned you, nor Hayley.”

“Save it, Rashad.”

He apologized again and reached down to pick up the money. When she turned around to walk back to the house, he called out after her, “What did you want to tell me about my ride?”

“Nothing, Rashad. I know nothing about your ride.”

She started to walk away but she turned back around and looked him in the eye. “Except that you can find it parked all the way down the street on the right-hand side. Next time roll up your windows, lock your damn doors, and remember to take this with you.” Then she reached in her purse and retrieved his key.

 

Alexis returned to the house where her relatives were grieving and swapping stories about her sister. By the time evening arrived, Alexis grew completely exhausted from all the talking and asking questions. Rashad told her, “Come on. We'll take you to Home Depot.”

“We?”

“I meant me. Alexis, go and get Hayley's things so she can spend the night with you.”

“She's not just spending the night. She's going to live where she always belonged.”

While Alexis packed, Rashad fielded calls from Kiara, who'd been trying to reach him all day. Nicole stood around trying to listen to his conversation but he ducked inside another room. Alexis and Nicole were left alone.

“Sorry about your sister.”

“Shut up, Nicole.”

“You know what, I'm trying to be nice to you.”

“I don't need you to be nice to me.”

“You are one stupid ass—”

Alexis shoved Nicole up against a wall and held her by her wrists. “You and I are not friends. Got it? We have nothing in common. Nothing!” Alexis was close enough to spit on her.