Vows of Deception: Something old, new, borrowed, and BLUE... (18 page)

“How much is it? You know I don’t make that much. The only reason I have a little lea way is because a fairy paid my attorney fees.”

“Is that so?” He decided that moment to check something on his phone. Or at least that’s how Danni perceived it. “To answer your question, the asking rent is $1200.”

“Goodness. That’s a little too expensive for me. The story of my life. I can’t afford anything right now. I may have to relocate or look for another job.”

“That’s another thing I wanted to discuss with you. A friend of the family is looking for someone to partner with them in operating a clinic.”

“What kind of clinic?”

“Psychotherapy clinic if I recall correctly. That’s what you majored in, correct?”

“Yes that’s correct.”

“I’m pretty sure that would help you get back on your feet in no time.”

“Mark, I don’t know what to say.”

“Just trying to help out a friend.”

“I really appreciate you Mark. You will never know how much.”

“No use in keeping my blessing’s all to myself. I might as well spread the love.” There was that ‘love’ word again. Danni blushed looking away just thinking about the conversation they had. It’s not that she really didn’t feel anything for him it was just too soon to tell what was real and what was infatuation. “This is the address to the condo if you want to take a look at it. The manager at the building is looking for your visit. His name is Mr. Willis. Just tell him I sent you by.”

“Alright thanks. I will do that.” Danni couldn’t help the pang of feeling pushed out. It’s like he couldn’t get rid of her fast enough. Now she just sounded pure conflicted.

“In two days, I will be meeting with the guy about the clinic would you like to join in so you two can meet?”

“Sure, that would be great.”

“Cool. Well I have some business to do at the club. Do you mind watching after Niecee? It will probably be late when I return.”

“Of course. You know you don’t have to ask.”

“I hear you. I will see you later then.” Mark said.

“See ya.”

Some of the playfulness they once had was gone. All because of a uncontrolled, hormonal, and lustful night. Although it was good, she couldn’t help but feel she may have lost her friend. ‘That’s stupid,’ she mused to herself. If they weren’t friends he wouldn’t continue to push her in a positive direction. Steadily trying to help her no matter how hard she tried to not return his feelings. She knew all too well how bad it hurts to give someone your love for them not to recognize it. For them not to really care about how deep the blood flowed for them.

Mark had opened himself up to her with no qualms whatsoever. He was at ease as he confessed his feelings of love. All Danni did was throw his love back in his face. Sadly that wasn’t what she really wanted to do but she really didn’t have a choice. It would physically kill her if Mark would ever betray her. Even in the slightest bit would probably drive her insane. Straight to the looney bin. Plus she loved Niecee so much and it would hurt deeper if she couldn’t see her anymore if everything went sour. No she couldn’t, wouldn’t go there. Even though she missed the connection they shared it was only slightly dimmed now.

~

“Hey sweetie. I’m glad you called.” Lena greeted her daughter with a warm hug.

“Hey mama. I know. I’ve just been busy with work and trying to find an apartment.”

“I thought you were living in the apartment Mark had in his basement. What happened with that?”

“Mom, I messed up.”

“You messed up or are your feelings messed up? In other words conflicted.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“It’s obvious that he is determined to be all that you didn’t have with Lamont. It’s also obvious that Mark is a very good man. Hard working, loving, caring, dependable, and don’t even get me started on his looks again.” Lena said and Danni groaned.

“He is all of that. Also mysterious, a sense of hidden danger, and too good to be true.”

“Now we are getting somewhere. Too good to be true?”

“Mom, he could find a bunch of women to fill his head and his bed. He has money, power, and not to mention a body to drool over. What do I have to offer? Nothing. I have a mediocre job right now. No apartment and only a few dollars to my name.” Danni sadly stated. “My husband cheated on me to only god knows what end. My so called sister screwed me royally by being one of his bang buddies. And to top it off had the nerve to ask me to be the god mother of her lust child. Who the hell does that?” She questioned totally forgetting who she was talking to.

“…” Lena didn’t say anything for few minutes.

“Oh mom, I’m sorry. That was really rude of me. So out of line to curse in front of you.”

“It’s fine Danni. I promised your father that I would keep my face out of his business but…”

“But what?”

“I snooped a bit further passed what you asked your dad to, pretending to be your dad’s assistant. Information containing any personal accounts he may have. Other credit cards that you know nothing about. I wanted everything. It became an obsession. In that information I snooped to a point where I found a name on one of his accounts that wasn’t his.”

“Don’t tell me he got something else in my name.”

“No honey.” Lena took a deep breath before she continued. From the look on her face she was pained by something. “It was Natalie’s name.”

“…”

“I’m so sorry honey. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. Your dad was very angry at me for snooping. Saying it was my own fault for snooping because I ran up on something I wished I hadn’t. Knowing you were already distraught over the other women, adding your…Natalie to the equation would have crushed you.”

“I know it’s wrong to hate someone but I really want to so bad right now. Mom, I’m so tired of all this mess that’s surfaced. Nothing is the way I dreamed it to be. My entire marriage was a lie.” Danni did something she hadn’t done in a while and that was cry. “She has a piece of my husband that I will never have. All this time she has been cheesing in my face while screwing him behind my back. Year’s mom. Years.”

“Baby you should thank your lucky stars you are able to get out of that mess with only a bruised heart. That will heal over time. Time and a good man will have you looking shiny as a new penny. With the way he is fighting the divorce there is no doubt in my mind if there was a child involved he would fight you tooth to nail.” Lena said hugging Danni as best she could. They had walked to a park down the road from where the condominium was located. “He would use that child against you at every chance he got. Especially with you not having a job right now.”

“I know sweetie, it’s going to hurt. It may hurt for a while but you cannot punish others for where he went wrong. Do you understand?”

“I’m not.”

“Yes you are. Even though I don’t know the whole story of what’s going on with you and Mark, I can tell it has you torn though.”

“Mom. I like him but I don’t trust anyone. Especially like that.”

“Are you two sleeping together?”

“I am so ashamed.”

“Why? That man is fine.”

“I’m practically a married woman.”

“With a no good cheating, lying, deceitful bastard. Life is short honey and you have wasted a bucket load of precious time on his blistering ass. Luckily for him that I have restraint because I wanted to give him a heaping helping dose of a good ole ass whooping.” Lena said with conviction. “You have nothing to be ashamed of Danni. Yes adultery is wrong. I get that. We were all born in sin. So is pre-marital sex. Do you regret losing your virginity to Mr. Nasty before you were married?”

“Mom?!”

“Oh Danni, quit acting all shocked. I know everything. I’m a mother.”

“I probably will never get to use that line.”

“Yes you will. Just you wait and see.” Lena spoke with confidence. “Come. We have a condo to look at. For some reason that address seems so familiar.”

“I was thinking the same thing. I just don’t remember where I have heard it from.”

“Oh yeah. It was on your credit report. I thought that was where you were moving to but I knew you were living with Mark. Recalling you said he lived in a house so I knew that wasn’t it.”

“Mom, you are so sneaky.” Danni shook her head giggling.

“I know I am. It drives your daddy mad.” She only shrugged her shoulders.

“But now that you mention it. It was on my report. The day I went to the house to get the rest of my things, I was supposed to check it out. Considering everything that happened that day, it’s no wonder I got sidetracked.”

“Well let’s check it out.” Lena suggested.

“No time like the present.” The two ladies walked into the nice structure on a mission. After announcing who they were to the male attendant at the desk he notified Danni that her name was on the visitor list to speak with the manager. Both women were confused as to why they were summoned by the manager.

“Hello Ms. Hunter, my name is Sebastian. Mr. Jones wanted me to be on the lookout for you. Are you ready to look at the space?”

“Oh of course. Sure that will be fine.” Danni said shocked by the welcome. “I must introduce you to my mother, Lena Hunter.”

“Of course. Beauty in its finest. Hello Mrs. Hunter. It’s a pleasure.”

“Oh aren’t you just sweet.” Lena blushed.

“Now I must ask for you I.D.’s to show you the property. Until you are a tenant it’s required that we make a copy for our files for the protection of our residents. Even though my wonderful boss recommended a beauty such as yourself, I still must follow the rules. I’m sure you understand sweetie. It’s nothing personal.” He was super flamboyant but friendly as all get up.

“Oh it’s not a problem. It actually makes me feel safer to know there are such rules as these.” Danni said going into her wallet to retrieve her identification.

“This will allow me to rest easier at night knowing my baby is safe.” Lena said retrieving hers as well.

“Thank you ladies.” Sebastian gathered them both before looking down at them and then back up to both ladies. The smile he once had faltered for second.

“Graves?” He questioned.

“I’m sorry, I should have made that clear. Hunter is my maiden name. I am in the process of getting a divorce.”

“Oh no sweetie that’s fine. Mr. Jones explained some things to me without going into full details. It’s just that this name… Danielle Graves?” He stopped to go to his computer.

“Is there a problem?” Lena beat Danni to the punch in questioning.

“Ma’am, I don’t know how to say this but I already have the same name as a tenant.” After a few more clicks on the keyboard, he looked mortified at the information before him. “With this exact driver’s license number. What in the actual…”

“If you would be so kind as to confirm that condo number to be 2345?”

“That’s correct. It actually has you down as a co-signer now that I dig a bit deeper.”

“How is that possible? Wouldn’t I need to be present for paperwork, signatures, and such?”

“Yes ma’am, that’s correct. This condo was acquired before I started. There was another manager before me and he was fired for sexual harassment of a tenant.” Sebastian spoke with a shaky voice. “Mr. Jones won’t be pleased about this at all.”

“It’s alright Sebastian. I’m sure you won’t be blamed for this. You had no idea that something like this has happened.”

“Still… I pride myself on being on top of my game. I don’t want to lose this job.”

“You won’t, I assure you.” Lena tried to sooth his rigid nerves.

“Can I please go to this condo that is in my name?”

“I think we should call the police or something.”

“Have you ever met whoever rents the place?”

“My nerves are all over the place, let me think. When I first started there was an association meeting for all tenants to attend. As far as I know the woman goes by Mrs. Graves. That is the information that I had so therefore that is what I called her. She never disputed the name or corrected my error. Plus there is a male that visits and he is always addressed by Mr. Graves by the attendants.”

“Would you know the man if you saw a picture of him?”

“Yes ma’am I am pretty good with faces.” Danni began flipping through her phone searching for pictures hoping she hadn’t deleting them all.

“Wait!” Sebastian got her attention. “That is Mrs. Graves. Well the one that I have been under the impression of being Mrs. Graves.” He corrected.

“You are shitting me?” Lena said and Danni near about passed out.

“No ma’am I assure you I am not shitting you. That’s her.” Danni was floored. Her very own sister was screwing her royally with no Vaseline whatsoever. Sleeping with her husband behind her back, now having his baby, and destroying her credit as well.

“Here, is this him?” Lena showed him her phone. Danni had zoned out not realizing her mother was looking through her own phone for pictures.

“Yes ma’am that is him. Do you know him?”

“He is my soon to be ex.”

“Oh sweetie, I am so sorry. He always seemed shifty from first glance. A snobby son of gun. Would snub his nose at me as if I sickened him.”