Married Men (45 page)
Authors: Carl Weber
“I’m not gonna work out nothin’ with you. I told you, I hate you. And if that means taking you to court and divorcing. you to get you out of my heart, then that’s what I’m gonna do. And yes, I meant every word I said.”
“You don’t wanna do this, Diane. You couldn’t possibly mean it.”
“Oh, yes I do, Wil.”
“I swear. You do this and you’re gonna regret it,” I offered as a weak threat.
“Not as much as I regret marrying your ass.” She was not threatened at all.
“You know what, Diane? I’ve fuckin’ had it.” I exploded, taking two steps closer to her. I felt like I could kill her, but something inside of me stopped me before my hands went around her throat. She must have finally been scared because the tension in her body was visible. I backed up without another word and walked to my car. If she wanted to play hard-ball and make this ugly, then I could do it too. She’d never seen the nigger in me come out, but I guarantee she was about to.
“You know what, Di? You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone,” I shouted from my car.
“Don’t count on it!” she screamed at me as she slammed the door.
It was late, almost ten-thirty on Sunday night, when Kyle and I walked into the elevator in our building. Who’d’ve thought a few years before that we’d end up two nearly divorced men living in the same lonely apartment building? We’d just returned from spending the weekend in Sag Harbor, Long Island, with a mutual friend, John Graves. Johnny had a huge house on the beach, a thirty-five-foot boat, and a membership in one of the local country clubs. Enough toys to make any brother forget his problems for a while. So we spent the weekend golfing, fishing, and drinking and not necessarily in that order. I had a chance to clear my head and relax for the first time since Diane and I split. I think it was good for Kyle, too. As bad a time as I was having with Diane, he was having an even worse time with his divorce with Lisa.
“Wil, I’ll check you later.” Kyle and I embraced and he stepped off the elevator onto the second floor. I hated to leave him alone because he looked so sad.
“Look, Kyle, if you change your mind and want me to call Lisa, just say the word. I mean, it can’t hurt.”
“Aw’ight, Wil, thanks.” I watched the elevator doors close and rode alone to the third floor.
I stepped off the elevator and right in front of me was 3A, my studio apartment. Opening the door, I looked into what had become home for the past week and probably the next year. I didn’t have much furniture. Just a table to eat on, two chairs, and a bed. The table doubled as a computer desk and the bed as a couch. I flicked on the lights and reached for my cell phone to check my voice messages. I’d left my phone behind this weekend on purpose because I knew Diane would be calling me every fifteen minutes when I didn’t show up to pick up Teddy and Katie. Not that I cared. She’d started a war when she decided to take me to court, a war that I didn’t want but was determined to win. I can’t explain how much I hated not seeing my kids this weekend, but they were gonna have to suffer a little until we went in front of the judge in two weeks to settle the child support. Now that she was taking me to court, it was time for Diane to see how important it would be to work things out with me in a manner more friendly than she’d adopted.
I dialed my code into my phone and immediately shook my head when I heard the recording. “
Your mailbox is full. Please discard any unwanted messages. To hear your messages, please press one.
” I knew most, if not all, of the messages were from my wife. I couldn’t help but wonder what was more important to her, me not picking up the kids or me not bringing over the mortgage and child support checks.
Your mailbox is full. Please discard any unwanted messages. To hear your messages, please press one.
” I knew most, if not all, of the messages were from my wife. I couldn’t help but wonder what was more important to her, me not picking up the kids or me not bringing over the mortgage and child support checks.
I pressed one to hear the messages.
First message:
“Wil, it’s eight o’clock.” Diane’s voice was full of attitude. “Where are you? You were supposed to be here an hour ago.” I pressed 3 to erase the message, but felt like shit doing so. I could hear Teddy calling my name in the background.
“Wil, it’s eight o’clock.” Diane’s voice was full of attitude. “Where are you? You were supposed to be here an hour ago.” I pressed 3 to erase the message, but felt like shit doing so. I could hear Teddy calling my name in the background.
Message erased, next message:
“Wil, dammit, it’s eight thirty-eight. Where the hell are you? Lisa and Karen are sitting over here and we were supposed to go out to dinner at eight.” I pressed 3, and laughed out loud, “Too bad.”
“Wil, dammit, it’s eight thirty-eight. Where the hell are you? Lisa and Karen are sitting over here and we were supposed to go out to dinner at eight.” I pressed 3, and laughed out loud, “Too bad.”
Message erased, next message: “Wil! It’s nine-fifteen and your ass better be in the hospital ’cause if you aren’t, I’m gonna put you there.” She sounded a little pissed off. I wonder if I ruined her Friday night. I laughed as I pressed 3.
There were five straight messages that were all hang-ups after that. I figured they were probably from Diane hanging up the phone in frustration. I erased each one until I heard a message from Allen.
“Hey, Wil, it’s Allen. Diane called me three times lookin’ for you. I haven’t told her where you are, but she’s talking about calling the police. I think she’s really worried. Yo, give her a call, okay?” Damn, I didn’t mean for her to bother Allen. I pressed 3.
Message erased, next message:
“Wil, it’s Diane and it’s a little after two in the morning.” Her voice was soft and sounded concerned. “It’s not like you to not answer your cell phone. Please call me. I’m worried about you.” I played the message back. Wow, she sounded like she actually was worried about me. I pushed 3 to get to the next message.
“Wil, it’s Diane and it’s a little after two in the morning.” Her voice was soft and sounded concerned. “It’s not like you to not answer your cell phone. Please call me. I’m worried about you.” I played the message back. Wow, she sounded like she actually was worried about me. I pushed 3 to get to the next message.
Message erased, next message:
“Wil, it’s six o’clock Saturday morning and I’m really worried about you. Please give me a call. Look, maybe you’re right. We can work this out.” I almost dropped the phone. She sounded even more sincere this time than the last message. Almost a little scared. God, would I love to work things out with her. I pressed 3. I was curious to see what else she might say.
“Wil, it’s six o’clock Saturday morning and I’m really worried about you. Please give me a call. Look, maybe you’re right. We can work this out.” I almost dropped the phone. She sounded even more sincere this time than the last message. Almost a little scared. God, would I love to work things out with her. I pressed 3. I was curious to see what else she might say.
Message erased, next message:
“Yo, what up dawg? This is Jay. Listen, Diane called over here waking my ass up at six somethin’ in the mornin’ askin’ a whole bunch of questions about if I knew where you were. I think she thinks you’re gonna kill yourself or somethin’,” he laughed. “Look, if you’re out gettin’ some, get some for me too. Otherwise, call your wife. She sounds like she’s ready to let you come home,” he laughed again.
“Yo, what up dawg? This is Jay. Listen, Diane called over here waking my ass up at six somethin’ in the mornin’ askin’ a whole bunch of questions about if I knew where you were. I think she thinks you’re gonna kill yourself or somethin’,” he laughed. “Look, if you’re out gettin’ some, get some for me too. Otherwise, call your wife. She sounds like she’s ready to let you come home,” he laughed again.
I knew she really must have been worried if she picked up the phone and called Jay. I pushed 3 again, wondering about Jay’s comment. Did she really think I would kill myself?
Message erased, next message:
“Wil, this is Allen. I think I fucked up. Diane came by here a few minutes ago on her way to the police station. She said she was gonna file a missing persons report on you. I’m sorry, man, but I told her you were at Johnny’s place in Sag Harbor. I mean the woman was crying, and she had my goddaughter in her arms. Man, I felt sorry for her. Look I tried to call you at Johnny’s but his number in Sag Harbor is unlisted. I think you’re gonna have to talk to her. To say she’s pissed off is an understatement. Hey, I’m sorry, man. Call me.” I pressed 3 and hung up the phone.
“Wil, this is Allen. I think I fucked up. Diane came by here a few minutes ago on her way to the police station. She said she was gonna file a missing persons report on you. I’m sorry, man, but I told her you were at Johnny’s place in Sag Harbor. I mean the woman was crying, and she had my goddaughter in her arms. Man, I felt sorry for her. Look I tried to call you at Johnny’s but his number in Sag Harbor is unlisted. I think you’re gonna have to talk to her. To say she’s pissed off is an understatement. Hey, I’m sorry, man. Call me.” I pressed 3 and hung up the phone.
There were probably another ten messages to go, but I didn’t wanna hear any more. I knew most of them would be from Diane and I had a good idea what she would be saying. I was sure it wouldn’t be nice. I was about to call Allen when the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Wil. How was your weekend? Did you have a nice trip?” It was Diane and her voice was a lot calmer than I expected.
“Yeah, it was nice. I had a good time. How was your weekend?” I decided to play along and not mention all the phone messages until she brought them up.
“It would have been fine if you came and got your fucking kids!
And
brought me my money!” she screamed. “Where the fuck is my money, Wil?” Her voice was so loud that it made the phone feel like it was vibrating. So much for her being calm.
And
brought me my money!” she screamed. “Where the fuck is my money, Wil?” Her voice was so loud that it made the phone feel like it was vibrating. So much for her being calm.
“How are the kids, Diane?” I was being sarcastic, but I was hoping it might calm her down.
“Forget the kids! Where’s my money?”
“You really want that money, don’t you?”
“You damn right I want my money! I need that money to pay bills.”
“Hey, what’re you complaining about? You was getting your money like clockwork until now, weren’t you?” I chuckled.
“Ain’t a damn thing funny, Wil.”
“Yes, there is something funny. What’s funny is that you were getting child support money and I was paying all the bills and you still found it necessary to take my ass to court for more money.”
“Don’t play yourself, Wil. You know why I’m taking you to court.”
“No, Diane, I don’t know why. Why don’t you tell me?”
“ ’Cause I hate you, that’s why.” She said it like it was the most obvious fact on the planet.
“If you hate me so much, how come you said you wanted to work it out on those messages?” She was silent then she went back to her old routine.
“I want my money, Wil.”
“Well, I don’t wanna go to court, Diane, so we both want somethin’.”
“Too bad. We’re going to court. And you gonna give me my money too.”
“You think so?”
“I know so, or you’re not gonna see your kids.”
“You know what, Diane? If you want your money so bad, then tell the judge to pay the mortgage, ’cause I ain’t giving you
shit
until we go to court.” The line was silent for about five seconds.
shit
until we go to court.” The line was silent for about five seconds.
“Don’t fuckin’ play games with me, Wil.”
“I ain’t playin’ games, Diane, you are. I was giving you more than I could afford because I wanted to do what’s right. And you turn around and take me to court because I got a studio apartment. How petty can you get?”
“You better give me my money or—”
“Or what?” I cut her off. “You gonna keep my kids from me? I heard Teddy in the background when you called. He was screaming for his daddy. You really want that boy to grow up without his father, Diane? You know how close we are.”
“Fuck you, Wil. I want my money.” She hung up, but I was sure she’d call back tomorrow. She had to. The mortgage was due.
31
Allen
Beeep! Beeep! Beeep! Beeep! Beeep! Beeep! Beeep!
The alarm clock was screaming, but I was already in the bathroom taking a shower. I’d been up since five o’clock in the morning getting ready to take Jonathan to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. I’d already fed and dressed the baby, and now all I had to do was get myself dressed. Oh, and of course I still had to drag Rose out of bed. The last couple of weeks had been tough for Rose and me, but somehow we’d gotten through them. I was still pretty bitter about her whole disappearing act to Philly, but we’d had a few long talks and a couple of sessions with the pastor of the church, so lately I’d been giving her a pass. I found out from her doctor that she had been suffering some postpartum depression from her pregnancy and was actually jealous of the attention I was giving Jonathan. What she recommended was for us to spend more quality time together without our son. So I’d been taking Rose out at least once a week in addition to making quality time for her at home. So far it had been working out pretty well. She’d been acting more and more like a mother. Well, at least until this morning.
When I walked into the bedroom, Rose’s arm was draped over the clock radio, which had been turned off.
“Rose, it’s six-fifteen. Time to get up, baby.” I removed some clothes from my dresser and sat down on the edge of the bed to put them on. When I had my pants and shirt on, I turned around to see her still snoozing.
“Rose, it’s time to get up!” She didn’t move so I shook her.
“Stop it!” she grumbled, rolling to the other side of the bed.
“Come on, Rose. It’s time to get up. We’ve gotta drive all the way to Maryland.”
“Please, Allen. I thought you were joking about that. I’m not goin’ all the way to Maryland,” she said in a raspy voice, trying to make herself comfortable on her pillow. I reached down and took hold of the covers, pulling them off the bed.
“Will you stop playin’?” She reached for the covers and pulled them back on her.
“Rose! Get up. We’re supposed be there at ten-thirty.” The only thing on my mind was getting my baby some medical attention. I was prepared to do anything possible to fight this disease.
“I changed my mind. I’m not goin’.” She pulled the covers over her head.
“Oh, yes you are!” I grabbed the covers again, this time pulling them completely out of her reach. Rose turned over, obviously aggravated.
“I’m not going, Allen. I’m getting one of my migraines.” I felt like smacking her. How many excuses was she gonna use?
“This is for the baby, Rose. You’re always getting these so-called migraines when we’ve gotta do something for our son.”
“Allen, I have a headache. So if you don’t believe me, I really don’t give a fuck. Now I told you I’m not goin’. My head hurts.” She got out of bed, grabbed the covers, and got back into bed, turning her back to me.
“Aw’ight. Suit yourself, but this is fucked up and you know it.” I reached down and grabbed my shoulder bag, leaving the room without a goodbye. If I ended up sleeping with Cinnamon this weekend, Rose didn’t have anyone to blame but herself.
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