Playing For Keeps (20 page)

They were all startled when Mama Claudette suddenly called Malcolm's name, panic ringing in her tone. “Malcolm! Malcolm! Come quick!”

His eyes widened as he suddenly bolted out the room.

Cleo and Claudia jumped to follow before Cilla stalled their steps. “You girls stay right there,” she admonished. “Let your father handle whatever's going on.”

“But what's happening? Who is it?” both exclaimed simultaneously.

Hearing the raised voices Cilla had her own questions but insuring the girls were safe took precedent over her curiosity. She took a deep breath. “If your dad needs us he'll let us know,” she said, pointing them both back into their seats.

Mama Claudette rushed into the room. She tossed Cilla an anxious look as she wrung her hands nervously together.

“You two stay here with your grandmother,” Cilla snapped as she headed toward the front of the home.

Malcolm stood in the doorway, his cell phone pressed to his ear with one hand, the other holding tight to the front door. Shanell stood in the doorway, barring him from closing it. She was drunk and sloppy, her arms flailing, slurring her words.

“Those are my damn kids,” Shanell was spitting, slapping a heavy palm against her chest. “I wanna see my babies!”

“There is a restraining order against her,” Malcolm was saying, clearly speaking to a 911 operator. “She's intoxicated and she's being violent,” he added as he ducked, Shanell taking a swing at his head.

“I'm not 'toxicated!” Shanell snapped, swinging a second time. She lost her balance for a brief moment but came back throwing her petite frame at the door as she tried barreling her way inside.

There was suddenly a piercing shriek vibrating through the whole house as Shanell screamed loudly for both girls. “Cleo! Claudia! Where are you! Where are my babies?”

Cilla heard the girls racing toward them before their grandmother could stop them. “Claudia, stop!” she said as she grabbed the girl by her shoulders. Cleo stopped on her own accord, coming to an abrupt halt at Cilla's side.

“Mommy?”

Malcolm tossed a quick glance over his shoulder. Frustration creased his brow, a level of anger in his eyes that the girls had never seen before. It was almost frightening. Cilla drew both girls to her. Behind her she could hear Mama Claudette breathing anxiously.

“Upstairs! Now!” Malcolm snapped, looking from one child to the other.

“But Daddy, it's just . . .” Claudia started, hot tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.

“Claudia, please! You and Cleo get upstairs now!” he ordered, his tone brusque.

Mama Claudette grabbed both girls by the hand. “Come with me,” she said, pulling the two along with her.

Shanell was still screaming in the doorway, trying to push her way inside. “I wanna see my babies! Let me see my girls!” Her tone shifted from begging to angry. “Cleo! Claudia! Get over here! You hear me? Get over here now!”

The two women suddenly locked gazes. Venom pierced the stare Shanell gave Cilla. She was suddenly even more frantic, punching and slapping at Malcolm as she tried harder to force her way inside. Profanity spilled past her lips as she called Cilla everything but a child of God. In the distance they could all hear the sirens turning into the drive. Flashing blue lights flickered against the darkening sky. And then Shanell fell to the ground sobbing. As the first police officer stepped onto the porch Malcolm's ex-wife was inconsolable.

 

 

Malcolm was still filling out a report with the local police department when Cilla climbed the stairs to check on the girls. Both stood at the front window in Cleo's room staring out to the line of patrol cars in the driveway. Their mother sat handcuffed on the manicured lawn as two EMS officers checked her vital signs and the injuries to her arms and hands from the strikes she'd thrown.

“What's wrong with her? Why did she do that?” they asked, throwing questions at Cilla faster than she could answer them.

“Let's come away from the window,” Cilla said, gesturing for them to sit beside her.

Both girls sat reluctantly, turning their tear-streaked faces toward her. She sighed, air blowing past her lips. “I'm really sorry that you girls are upset,” Cilla said. “Your mom and dad didn't mean to scare you.”

“She's drunk, isn't she?” Cleo snapped, a hint of attitude in her tone.

“She's been drinking and she's not herself right now.”

“I hate her,” Cleo said, tears streaming over her cheeks.

Cilla shook her head. “No, you don't and don't you ever say that again. Your mother has an illness and she's sick. When she gets like that she doesn't know what she's doing. But she loves you.”

“No, she doesn't.”

“Why would you say that, Cleo?” Claudia cried.

“Because it's the truth,” Cleo snapped back.

Cilla took a deep breath. “She does love you and you both love her. Your mom is just going through a bad time right now. It won't always be like this.”

“Do you promise, Mimi?” Claudia asked, calling her by the name they had finally agreed on. Mimi, close to Mommy but not too close. Just the next best thing.

Cilla nodded. “I promise that your daddy and I will both do everything we can to help your mom.”

Both girls moved back to the window, staring back out as Shanell was moved from the grass to the backseat of a patrol car. Outside the door Malcolm stood listening, still trying to come to grips with all that had happened. He slid down the wall, drawing his knees to his chest. Mama Claudette stood against the other wall, both she and her son eavesdropping on the conversation as Cilla promised something neither was sure they could make happen.

 

 

“I don't know what to do,” Malcolm said, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Cilla drummed her fingers against the table. “Well, we need to do something. She needs help and support and we have to find a way to make it better. And we have to make it better because if we don't it will destroy the girls.”

“Shanell is not my responsibility. Her problems are not our problems.”

“Shanell is the mother of your daughters. And your daughters are both of our responsibilities. That makes Shanell our problem.”

Malcolm closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat. He sat with his head bowed, his thoughts racing. Cilla was right and he knew it but it didn't make it easier. He felt her hand on his shoulder and he reached up to press his palm against the back of her fingers. Cilla kissed the top of his head.

“So what do you suggest we do?” Malcolm finally asked.

“Talk to the prosecutor. Instead of pressing charges against her see if they'll negotiate her going to a treatment program instead. See if the courts can force her to get help. Start there.”

He sighed. “I'll think about it.”

“Malcolm, you can't just think about it. You need to act. The girls can't go through another episode with their mother like this last time. They can't. It's not fair to them.”

He nodded. “You really are a great Mimi,” he said, lifting his eyes to hers. “And I have no doubts that you are going to make one incredible mommy when we have those sons of ours!”

“One step at a time,” she said. “Right now Mimi has two girls who need cheering up. So I'm spending the night and we're all going to have a slumber party.”

Malcolm leaned back. “You're actually sleeping over before we're married? What will my mother say?” he said facetiously.

“It was your mother's idea actually. She's making popcorn. I'm about to whip up some chocolate brownies and we're watching the old
Nutty Professor
movies. I hear that Eddie Murphy is someone's favorite.”

Malcolm laughed. “And I wonder who you heard that from!”

“Cleo says you do an impressive Professor Sherman Klump impersonation. Claudia likes your impersonation of the grandmother better. I can't wait to see them both.”

His laugh was gut deep, relieving the previous tension that had swept through the air. “I'm only doing my impersonations under one condition.”

“And what's that?”

“Once the girls go to sleep you have to show me something.”

Cilla giggled. “Can't do that. We're all sleeping downstairs in the family room together. All close and comfy.”

“How close?”

“Very close and very comfy! With your mother and your daughters. All of us together, one big happy family in one big room.”

Malcolm pulled her down into his lap. He pressed his palm to her face and kissed her mouth. His tongue trailed across her lips, sliding past the line of her teeth. He kissed her eagerly, capturing her mouth with his own. One hand trailed the length of her back, the other pressed warmly against her abdomen. His kiss was deep and passionate and lingering, building to the sweetest crescendo. When he finally broke the connection, letting her go, both were panting heavily.

His salacious stare was piercing. “We'll figure it out,” he whispered, winking one eye at her. “'Cause I'm still getting some. As soon as everyone's asleep!”

 

 

Cilla was lost in the depths of a sweet dream when she felt someone shaking her awake. A gentle hand clutched her shoulder, pulling her from the pink sand and blue ocean she was tripping through. When she opened her eyes Malcolm was kneeling at her side, an index finger pressed against his lips.

Rising up on her elbows she brushed the sleep from her eyes and took a quick glance around the darkened room. The television was still playing, the volume turned off. Mama Claudette lay on the sofa, her backside facing outward, her face lost between the upholstered cushions. The twins lay side by side in their sleeping bags, both sleeping soundly. She smiled as she connected her gaze with Malcolm's. There was a wide smile on his face. He gestured with an index finger, beckoning her to follow behind him.

Grabbing his hand Cilla moved onto her feet, tiptoeing behind him as he led the way to his office. Once inside he closed and locked the door, turning back to face her.

She shook her head. “You're trying to get us in trouble,” she said.

“Shhh!” Malcolm intoned, pulling his finger against his lips again. “They might hear you,” he whispered.

She shook her head, her smile seductive. “If anyone can hear us then we definitely shouldn't be here doing this,” she said, whispering back.

Malcolm nuzzled his face against her neck. “We're not doing anything,” he said, blowing warm breath past her ear. He trailed his tongue across her earlobe, the gesture teasing.

Cilla relished the sensations sweeping through her. “It feels like something,” she muttered. “It feels like a whole lot of something.”

Malcolm continued trailing his mouth across her skin as he navigated her back against his desk. With one hand he pushed the contents lying atop the wooden surface aside. Papers, pencils, and pens flew and folders dropped to the floor. They both came to an abrupt halt, hoping the noise hadn't been loud enough to wake anyone. Seconds later Cilla giggled softly and Malcolm chuckled with her. He kissed her mouth, stalling the sounds that billowed through the room.

With one swift move, Malcolm dropped his hands to her waist and lifted her off her feet. He sat her atop the desk and eased himself between her parted legs. He felt warm and snug as he cradled himself tightly against her, moving her to wrap her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Their loving was quick and easy, a sweet and gentle connection. With everything that had happened Malcolm needed her touch, needed it like he needed to breathe. He craved the heat from her skin, her breath billowing against his flesh. He yearned for that intimate connection, his body possessively marking hers. That moment when he could be afraid and vulnerable and just the nearness of her made everything well and good. His need was urgent and demanding and almost obsessive and he clung to her and she to him as if their lives depended on it. Loving Cilla felt like bliss.

Chapter Seventeen

“We should dress alike today,” Claudia said, her mouth filled with syrup-soaked pancakes. “It would be fun.” She licked the taste of maple from her fingers.

“As long as you don't pick out some dumb dress,” Cleo responded, swallowing her own bite of sausage.

Claudia nodded. “Let's wear the new jeans Mimi got us and I'll pick the shirt and you pick the shoes.”

“I'll pick the shirt.”

Claudia grinned. “Okay, just don't get us in trouble, please.”

Cleo rolled her eyes, her own smile a bright beam in the center of her face.

Mama Claudette interjected. “It doesn't matter what either of you chooses. You still have to pass my inspection before you walk out of this house.”

Both girls giggled.

“Who wants more pancakes?” Mama Claudette asked.

“I do,” Claudia chimed. “Just one more, please.”

Cleo shook her head. “I'm full, Grandma.”

Mama Claudette nodded. “Well, you both need to finish up, clear your plates, and go get dressed. I'll drop you off on my way to the market.”

“Where's Dad and Mimi,” Claudia asked.

“They both had to be at work early. Cilla is going to pick you up after school today so don't dawdle around making her wait.”

The two girls tossed each other a quick look.

“What?” Mama Claudette asked, eyeing one and then the other.

“It just feels like we're a real family with Mimi now.”

“We like it when she picks us up and spends time with us.”

Mama Claudette smiled as she reflected on their comments for a brief moment. “I think your Dad did good with that one.”

Cleo and Claudia laughed. “Me too!” both clamored simultaneously.

“Go get dressed now,” Mama Claudette said, changing the subject. “You're well ahead of the schedule right now so let's keep it that way.”

Minutes later the twins were still chatting back and forth as they dressed. They moved between their two rooms, stealing glances in the adjoining bathroom mirror as they passed by it.

“The blue looks really good,” Claudia said. “Good choice.”

“It picks up the blue stripe in our shoes,” Cleo said, kicking out her foot to look at the canvas Toms her sister had chosen.

Mama Claudette's voice echoed from downstairs. It was her second time calling and there was a hint of frustration in her tone.

Cleo stuck her head out the door and called back. “Coming, Grandma. We just have to brush our teeth!”

“Hurry up, please!” the matriarch called back. “You don't want to be late!”

Both girls hurried into the bathroom. After a quick brush and swish they parted in opposite directions to retrieve the last of their belongings. With book bags tossed over their shoulders, Claudia grabbed a sweater and Cleo her cell phone as they headed for the door.

Cleo came to an abrupt stop, staring at her cell phone screen.

“What?” Claudia asked, turning to stare at her. “What's wrong?”

“I got a text message from Mommy,” she whispered, her voice low, tension rising in her tone.

Claudia rushed to her sister's side, pulling her own phone out at the same time. The same message was registered on her device.

The two girls stared at each other.

“What do we do?” Claudia asked.

Cleo shook her head. “I don't know.”

“Should we tell Grandma?”

Cleo shook her head. “I don't think that's a good idea. She'll call the police and Mommy will get into trouble. Daddy says that she can't contact us until after she goes to rehab for her drug problem.”

“Maybe we can tell Mimi. She'll tell us what to do and she won't tell if we ask her to keep it a secret.”

“Daddy will get mad at her if he finds out and I don't want him to be mad at her.”

“We have to do something,” Claudia intoned. “What if Mommy keeps texting us? We can't just ignore her.”

Mama Claudette yelled from the bottom of the stairs. “Cleo! Claudia! Now!”

Claudia nodded. “Don't say anything. We'll figure it out.”

Her sister nodded her agreement but her expression said something else altogether.

 

 

Malcolm was laughing as he disconnected his cell phone.

Romeo shook his head as his friend moved back to the table and sat down. “How's your girl?”

“Missing me!”

Romeo tipped his head toward Walter “Lightning” Lewis, the young piano player who'd been bemoaning his woes with the opposite sex. He laughed. “Young blood, you don't have any problems right now. Just wait until you get like Malcolm here. Then you'll know what real problems are.”

Malcolm laughed with him. “Don't listen to him. The only issues I have in my relationship is that there aren't enough hours in the day for me to get all the time with my girl that I want.”

Walter shook his curly head. “I can't be tied down to one woman. I don't know how you do it.”

“Keep on living,” Romeo said. “You can only do that juggling act you do for so long. Those games will wear thin quick!”

“You better listen to Romeo,” Malcolm said with a nod. “He knows. Boy's been there, done that, and patented the logo on the T-shirt. Got him a doctorate in Women 101.”

Romeo pointed a finger at his friend as he laughed again. “Don't listen to this fool.”

Malcolm's laugh was rich and deep as it filled the room. “You better set him straight before he hurts himself.” He turned his gaze to the younger man. “I can't give you any advice. I didn't have the nerve to juggle more than one woman at a time. The women I dated all scared me. I was afraid of what they might do if they caught me. But Romeo, I've seen him have three, sometimes four women sitting right here in this room while he bounces between them like a ping-pong ball.”

“I was never that bad,” Romeo intoned, humor painting his expression.

“Yes, you were.”

“Yeah, I guess I was! But my baby changed all that. I'd never cheat on Taryn. Not in this lifetime or the next.”

Walter rolled his hazel-toned eyes. “So now you're off the market. How'd you know she was the one?” he questioned.

“When a woman has your back like no other woman has ever had before. When you trust her with everything you have. You know.”

Malcolm interjected. “You'll know she's the one when you stop thinking about all the others.”

“Well, I guess that's my issue right now because I'm thinking about Keisha and Beverly. Trying to figure out how to get them to do a threesome with me.” The young man grinned, grabbing at his crotch with one hand as he leaned back in his chair.

Malcolm laughed again. “Sounds to me like you're trying to get hurt!”

His cell phone suddenly vibrated against the table, the ringer chiming loudly in the room. He stared briefly at the number displayed on the screen, trying to recall if it was someone he should have recognized. But he didn't. He answered it on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Good morning. Malcolm Cobb, please.”

“This is he.”

“Mr. Cobb, this is Mrs. Winters from the attendance office at Ravenscroft School.”

Malcolm sat forward in his seat. “Yes, Mrs. Winters, hello. How can I help you?”

“We're just calling to verify your daughters' absences. We didn't get a call or message from you saying they wouldn't be at school today.”

Malcolm felt himself tense. “I'm sorry but Cleo and Claudia should both be in class.”

“No, sir. They didn't report to homeroom this morning and neither has been in any of their morning classes.”

There was a pregnant pause as Malcolm's head was suddenly spinning. His eyes flickered back and forth as he tried to reason why the twins weren't headed to their math and science classes.

“Mr. Cobb? Are you still there?”

He sputtered. “Yes . . . I'm . . . I apologize.” He took a deep breath as he collected his thoughts. “I wasn't aware of any reason the girls wouldn't be there, Mrs. Winters. It was my understanding that my mother, their grandmother, was dropping them both off this morning. Let me give her a call and I'll be sure to send a note with them tomorrow to clear their absence.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cobb, and if for any reason you need to speak with me, please don't hesitate to call either myself or the headmaster.”

Malcolm nodded into the receiver. “Thank you,” he said as he disconnected the call.

“What's wrong?” Romeo asked, concern shining in his eyes.

The two men locked gazes. Malcolm didn't respond as he dialed one daughter's number and then the other's. Neither girl answered. He typed a quick text message to both but minutes later was still waiting for a response.

He shook his head. “I'm not sure,” he said as he pushed the
speed dial
button to reach his mother.

Mama Claudette answered cheerily. “Hey, Son-shine!”

“Are the twins with you?” he asked abruptly.

His mother bristled. “No. They're at school. Why?”

“The attendance office just called me and they didn't show up today.”

“That's ridiculous. I dropped them both off myself.”

“Did they go inside the building?”

“They . . .” She paused in reflection, trying to recall what the girls had done. “They walked toward the door. I saw them stop to talk to that Murphy girl from Claudia's dance class and then one of the teachers spoke to them. That's when I drove off. I didn't actually see them go inside.”

“I need you to go to the mall for me and see if they're there, please. And call Cilla for me. Let her know what's going on. I'll give you both a call back in a while.”

“Do you think they're playing hooky?”

“That's what I'm praying they're doing!” Malcolm quipped. “I'll call you back,” he said, disconnecting the line.

He dialed a second number. “Hey, Maxine, it's me. Is Shanell there with you?”

His ex-wife's mother answered, anxiety rising in her tone. “Boy, you know better than that. Shanell can't stay with me. Not while she's using. I know someone bailed her out of jail but I haven't seen her. Why? What's wrong?”

“The girls are missing. They didn't show up at school today.”

Maxine seemed to read his thoughts. “I'll put the word on the street that I'm looking for her. If the twins are with her it'll get back to me.”

“Thanks, Maxine. Keep me posted.”

Neither needed to say good-bye.

Malcolm stood in the center of the room, suddenly seeming deflated. His daughters were gone and truth be told he didn't have a clue where to start looking for them. This was out of character for both girls and he was suddenly scared, the emotion creasing his brow.

“How can I help?” Romeo questioned, moving to his side. He dropped a heavy hand against his friend's shoulder.

Malcolm took a deep breath. “Pray,” he said. “Just pray.”

 

 

Shanell was talking nonstop as the car they were riding in careened down Interstate 95 toward the state of Maryland. Her chatter was nonsensical, not one word making any sense to either of her daughters. The man driving seemed oblivious.

Cleo tightened the hold she had around her sister's shoulders, fear ringing in her gaze. Tears streamed down Claudia's face. Both girls cowered anxiously in the backseat of the SUV they were riding in. Neither had anticipated everything going wrong when they'd agreed to meet their mother.

Shanell had been waiting for them in the school's parking lot. The girls had gone in through the front door and straight out the back. Their mother had waved them over excitedly, hugging and kissing them both as they'd raced into her arms. And then her friend had pushed them all into the car, yelling that they needed to get moving. Before either realized what was happening the vehicle was cruising onto the highway into early-morning traffic.

The man in the driver's seat was large and intimidating. A scar fanned one side of his face, running the length from his brow to just beneath his chin. It was dark and ugly, giving him a ghoulish appearance. He grunted and gnashed his teeth, speaking very little and the few words he did say were usually admonishments for them to sit down and shut up.

“Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom,” Cleo said softly.

Shanell tossed her a bright smile, her eyes heavily glazed. “Not much longer. We'll be in Baltimore real soon, then you can go. Just hold it until then.”

“But I have to go really bad.”

“Me too,” Claudia chimed. “Can't we stop someplace?”

Shanell shot the driver a look. The stare he gave her back was venomous. He didn't bother to answer. She turned back to her children, suddenly hissing between clenched teeth. “We can't stop. Okay? Now don't be any trouble. I need you to be good.”

“Then we need for you to give us our phones back. We need to call Daddy. He needs to know where we are,” Cleo said, an air of defiance in her tone.

Claudia sat forward in her seat. “He'll be worried about us.”

Shanell's gaze narrowed. “You're father knows you're fine.”

“He doesn't. He doesn't know where we are and we need to at least send him a message to let him know so he doesn't worry,” Cleo persisted.

“No,” Shanell said. “You're not calling anyone.” She suddenly smiled brightly. “Let's sing. You girls always liked to sing. We're going to have fun. I don't know why you want to spoil this for me. So sing!” she shouted, breaking out into a bad rendition of some Katy Perry song.