The Dirty Divorce (11 page)

“Lisa, I’m gettin’ ready to lose my fuckin’ patience. Can you tell Denie to get on the phone? I’m not really interested in talkin’ to you about anything right now. It’s Christmas, shit. Can I get one day with no damn naggin’?”

I was so mad, that I instantly threw the phone across the room causing it to hit the wall and shatter in several pieces. “Fuck him!” I belted as I jumped out of bed. At that moment, I told myself I wasn’t going to allow Rich to fuck up my day.

Walking downstairs, I attempted to enjoy the holiday with Denie and put aside our differences. She was on the floor opening her presents, so to break the ice I gave her a kiss and sat on the floor beside her.

“Thanks for my Tiffany necklace, Ma.”

“You’re welcome, Denie. You know I love you, right?”

“Yes, I do. Who were you upstairs yelling at? My dad? Did he call?”

I shook my head. “No.” I knew it was wrong to lie, but I just didn’t care. If Rich wanted to play hardball then so could I.

CHAPTER NINE

Lisa

A week passed, and I still hadn’t heard back from Rich. He hadn’t even tried to call Denie back, which was odd. My emotions ran wild and the thought of Trixie and Rich sleeping together had me ill. With Juan devastated, I prayed that the bad news I told him wouldn’t start a war under my own roof. The anger that Juan felt for Rich had turned from disappointment to hate. His words rang over and over in my head.

“Ma, how could you stay with him? I hate that nigga! I don’t have a father anymore!” How Juan broke down right before my eyes hurt me…bad.

My long days turned into long nights of tears and emotion, but at least Juan was there every step of the way. When I woke up the morning of New Years Eve and still no calls from Rich, Juan decided to take me to an early brunch at Crème on U Street to help get my mind off of things. Not feeling like myself or the need to get dolled up, I put on a pair of Rock & Republic jeans for comfort and a long sleeve embellished top. Normally, I would’ve added my Gucci peep toe thigh high boots to the mix, but I decided to put on some flat Dior riding boots instead. We invited Denie to come, but of course she passed. Most of the time, she sat around the house hoping Rich would call or finally show up, and probably thought she would miss him if she left. After telling her we would bring her something back, Juan and I left. Luckily, we took his car and he decided to drive because I needed to lay back and collect my thoughts.

When we pulled up at Crème, the wait was so long, I instantly refused to eat there. As hungry as I was, I needed to eat quickly while I had an appetite. We stopped by a couple of other spots who had long waiting periods as well, then finally ended up at Oohs and Ahhs on 10th and U Street. Juan actually knew the owners so we didn’t have to wait. We even had our own private table upstairs.

“Do you guys know what you want to order?” the waitress asked.

“Yeah, we’ll both take the chicken and waffles, with cheese eggs and two sweet teas,” Juan replied. “Endiah, when did y’all start opening on Sundays?” He looked at the women’s thick body up and down, then smiled. “By the way, you look good as always.”

Juan was such a flirt; a trait he’d obviously picked up from his father. However, I knew he was going to make a good husband to some lucky girl one day.

“For a couple of months now. If you weren’t such a stranger you’d know that, Juan.” The waitress looked at me. “Who’s this beautiful lady?”

“Oh, this is my mom Lisa. Ma this Endiah one of the owners.”

“Your mom! Wow, I thought you were his sister. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This meal is on me, Juan. Just take care of the waitress.” She looked back at me. “Lisa, let me know how you like your food and make sure you come back and see us,” Endiah said.

“I sure will, nice meeting you, too.”

“So, Ma, how are you feeling today?”

“I don’t know. Mixed emotions I guess. Please don’t tell anyone about what I told you, especially your father.”

“Ma, I can’t promise you that. I want Rich to pay for this shit. Fuck that!” he yelled.

“Your father will kill me Juan, you can’t say anything, please.”

“Fuck that nigga! When are you gonna stop protecting him? If he wasn’t my father man I’d…”

“Don’t say it, Juan. He’s still your father. Rich just can’t help his womanizing ways. I hate that shit, but I would never want to see harm come his way.”

“Whatever. Speak for yourself.”

“Can we have a peaceful meal without mention of Rich?”

“I’m sorry. You’re right,” Juan agreed.

After waffles that melted in our mouths and eggs that were cooked just right, we left the restaurant and headed back home. Our twenty minute ride back up 16th Street went by slower than usual. Every slow song on the radio just made me sink more into my already somber mood. Hopefully at some point, I would snap out of it.

When we pulled up to the house, surprisingly Rich’s truck was parked back in his spot.

As Juan pulled behind my car, we both gave each other concerned looks. With both of us beyond pissed, we didn’t know what to expect from each other.

“Juan, please promise me that you’re gonna control your temper, and I’ll do the same.”

He sighed. “Okay Ma, but the minute that nigga gets out of line, I don’t think I’ma be able to keep that promise.”

“Fair enough.”

When Juan got out of the car and opened my door, I could tell he was trying his best to keep everything inside. Hell, I was, too. I even said a silent prayer before we walked inside the house. As soon as I placed my foot on our brand new hardwood floors, it was like everything was in slow motion. I didn’t know how to react. I was so upset with Rich, but at the same time I didn’t have the energy to fight. Denie was the only one in heaven. She had the biggest smile on her face as she and Rich played a bowling game on the Wii.

“Why the fuck did you do that shit to my car Lisa?” Rich asked. No Hi, how are you? How was your Christmas…nothing.

“Nigga, fuck you and that car. Don’t come up in here with that bullshit disrespecting my mother. You’ve done enough!” Juan snapped.

So much for Juan controlling his temper, I thought.

Rich quickly turned his head. “Who the fuck you talkin’ to, boy? I’ll whoop your ass for disrespectin’ me!” At that moment, Rich threw the Wii remote and lunged toward Juan.

I quickly stood in between them and placed both hands on Rich’s chest. “Stop it, Rich! I’ll be damned if you’re gonna put your hands on my son. I can’t believe you waltzed your ass back in here like nothing’s wrong. We haven’t heard from you in a damn week!”

“And it’s gonna be another week, if you don’t watch who you’re talkin’ to,” Rich quickly shot back.

“Denie obviously doesn’t care how you treat her, but you’re not gonna treat me like shit anymore,” I added.

“Stop it Ma, before you make him leave again!” Denie interjected.

“If it wasn’t for these kids, I would’ve left your ass a long time ago. I don’t know how much of this bullshit I can take, Rich. You’re mad at me about a fucking car, but not once have you said you were sorry for what you did. You hit me after you promised that you would never put your hands on me again!” I didn’t even bother mentioning the money. I continued ignoring Denie’s pleas, as I looked Rich right in his eyes. I had to keep him from hitting my son. “Juan and Denie, please go upstairs. I need a moment with your father.”

“Are you sure, Ma?” Juan asked.

I nodded my head. “Yes…I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, she’ll be fine,” Rich repeated. “Juan take your ass upstairs before you get hurt.”

When Juan and Denie both walked upstairs with attitudes, Rich turned to me.

“I’m really not in the mood for any questionin’.”

“You know what, Rich? This is not the fucking 80’s and 90’s. You’re not gonna treat me like an afterthought. I’m tired of this shit!”

At that moment, Rich reached on the coffee table and threw the Christmas gift that I still hadn’t opened across the room. “You ungrateful bitch. You didn’t even bother to open up your Christmas gift.”

“Fuck that gift. You think gifts are gonna keep patching up this sorry-ass marriage? That’s real classic, Rich. That’s exactly the type of shit I’m talking about. All you do is fuck up, then buy me gifts like that shit is supposed to patch things up!”

“Yeah, I left that shit before I went in the garage and saw what you did to my car. Trust me, you’re not gettin’ shit else from me. As a matter of fact, you better go out and get a fuckin’ job because I’ma make your ass pay for that shit!” He obviously hadn’t been upstairs to see what I’d done to his clothes.

“And it is obvious I never pleased you with all the fucking you’ve been doing.”

“Lisa, what the hell are you talkin’ about? I just told you that I wasn’t in the mood for this!”

“Are you finally gonna come clean on why that dude raped me?”

Rich threw up his hands. “Man, here you go.”

I cut right to the chase. “Did you fuck Trixie?”

Rich finally gave me eye contact. “What?” he responded with a dumb look.

“You heard me. Did you fuck Trixie?” When he didn’t answer fast enough, I went off. “Don’t lie to me! You fucking her, got me kidnapped and raped. That bastard told me you fucked his woman. Why wont you just admit it? Be a man…for once!”

“I don’t wanna hear this shit. I told you he lied!”

“So, the news lied, too? I saw Trixie on the news, crying and screaming. She found my attacker’s body in her basement, Rich. You’re the one who’s lying, so just stop it. I don’t know why you can’t face the truth. He was getting back at you for fucking Trixie!” For once, Rich was quiet for a moment, so I took the opportunity to continue ranting while I had the chance. “They showed Trixie on television the next morning talking about how Michael Johnson was such a great man.”

“How did you know it was the same guy?” Rich had the nerve to say.

“Because I saw his face!”

Rich started at me again. “Look, Lisa I…”

I cut him off. “I’ll never love you the same. I hate you…just leave. Get out!” I yelled.

“Lisa, did you forget that my daughter is upstairs listenin’ to everything you’re sayin’? Do you know what I’ve been through over this last month? How the fuck you think I felt knowin’ that my wife had been raped right in front of my face and I couldn’t do anythin’ about it?” Suddenly his voice got extremely low. “But I did it. I took care of him. He’s never gonna hurt you again.”

“So, you can admit to taking care of him, but you can’t seem to admit that you fucked Trixie. She was my friend, Rich. How could you?” I was so furious I couldn’t even wait for a response. “Rich, go to hell!” I went straight upstairs and grabbed all his bleached clothes and jewelry and started hurling his shit at him from the top of the stairs.

“Get your shit and leave…now!”

His eyes became enlarged. “What the fuck did you do to my clothes?” Rich began to look around on the floor at each item. “And my watches! Have you lost your fuckin’ mind?”

“Yes, I have!”

“Damn Trixie, what do you want from me?”

I stopped and looked at him like he was crazy. “What the fuck did you call me? Did you just call me Trixie? So, is that the reason why you didn’t want me going to her salon, you bastard. Get your shit and get the fuck out!” I yelled to the top of my lungs.

“This my house and I’m not leavin’! Bitch, you think it’s gonna be that easy to get rid of me wit’ all the shit you know. You must be fuckin’ crazy. Consider yourself stuck wit’ me for life. You know what comes wit’ the territory wit’ fuckin’ a nigga like me. You know how many bitches would love to be in your shoes.”

“Let ‘em have your ass. I don’t want you anymore. What is it gonna take for you to go? You need me to go out here and start fucking, too. Maybe I will so you can hate me like I hate you!” I took off my five carat wedding ring, and threw it at him. I used to love showing off the canary yellow diamond, but now none of that shit matter anymore.

“Fuck you and this marriage!”

At that moment, Rich ran up the stairs toward me skipping two and three steps at a time. However, by the time he made it to the top, I ran to our bedroom, locked the door, and immediately went to my nightstand. It wasn’t long before Rich knocked down the door, but when he did my .25 was pointing right at his head.

“Get the fuck out or I swear to God I’ll shoot you in your other fucked up knee!” By this time, Juan and Denie were standing behind him.

“Ma, please put the gun down,” Denie said. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Denie, fuck him,” Juan said.

“Fuck this,” Rich said as he lunged at Juan. This time he didn’t miss. He sat on top of my son and took all his anger out and punched him in his face as if he was a stranger.

I screamed then began firing several shots in the air. It was the only thing that stopped Rich from pounding on Juan. Drywall fell from the ceiling all over my head.

“Get off of him!” I screamed.

When Rich quickly did as he was told, Denie ran up and threw her arms around his neck. She was crying uncontrollably.

“Look, I think all this shit has just gotten completely out of hand, so I’m gone for now, but I’ll be back when shit calms down,” Rich said. He removed Denie’s hands.

“No, don’t go,” Denie pleaded. She sounded like a little girl.

“Don’t worry, Baby Girl. I’ll be back. Your mother and I just need some space.”

Moments later, he finally left with a defeated look.

What a way to start off the fucking New Year
, I thought. Never having the courage to stand up to Rich before, I was proud of myself as I ran over to Juan to see if he was okay. No matter how much pain I was in mentally, I was done with Rich once and for all. There was no way I could forgive him for this shit. He was sadly mistaken if he thought that all we needed was some space or time apart. I needed more than that. It was time for a divorce, and I knew things were about to get dirty.