Raging Blue (10 page)

Chapter 19

Mia

Mia swung a hard right off of Linden Boulevard, sped through three stop signs, made a quick left, and pulled up in front of her childhood home in St. Albans, Queens. She questioned whether or not she should actually get out of the car. The only reason she'd decided to stop by was because Myra knew she was in town. After her mother’s call, it was obvious Mrs. Reynolds knew, also.

Myra’s late model Altima was in the driveway. Wishful thinking made Mia hope her sister wasn’t inside. A few familiar faces walked past, and Mia wondered if anyone noticed her. The cheap Dodge rental wouldn’t give her away because it wasn’t a car she would be expected to drive. She watched more people pass by as she pondered her reservations about going inside. Plus, Myra’s car was still in the driveway.

The urgent tapping on the driver’s side window startled Mia. She looked up and scowled when she saw Myra standing outside the car with her arms folded. Mia sucked her teeth, paused, and then eased down the window.

“You coming inside or what? Everyone is waiting,” Myra demanded.

Before Mia could conjure up an indignant answer, Myra had already headed up the walkway. The front door was open, and their tightfisted stepfather was standing in the opening in his old transit uniform, decked out with a cheerful smile. That man hadn’t worked on Saturday in years, but his cheap ass wore uniforms seven days a week to keep from spending money on clothes. It was evident that much hadn’t changed around the Reynolds’ household. Mia braced for the visit and lugged herself out of the car.

“Hey, baby girl! It’s good to see you,” Clarence said, grabbing Mia into his arms. Mia didn’t return his enthusiasm. “Your mother’s been in here cooking all day just for you. Got all your favorite foods. Should have seen the grocery bill. I thought your mama lost her mind,” he said, chuckling. “But she’s a good cook, so I can’t complain.” He laughed from somewhere deep in his belly.

Stepping into her mother’s home was like falling into a neatly
packaged 1980s time warp. Every wall was painted dull beige, with heavy oak furniture taking up too much space in each room—a complete contrast to the crisp, feminine, but contemporary, palette in Mia’s place.

Mia forced a smile as Clarence took her by the hand and led the way to the kitchen.

“She’s here, baby,” he said, presenting Mia to her mother.

A cozy smile enveloped Eve Reynolds’ face. She put down the dishtowel and held her arms out for her daughter. Mia stepped into her mother’s loving embrace. Eve pulled back and held Mia at arm’s distance, examining her daughter before pulling her in for a second hug.

“Looking good, girl,” Eve said, smiling her approval.

As Eve looked her over, Mia almost felt exposed, hoping her mother-sense didn’t pick up on the fact that she was pregnant. She wanted to save that bit of information for another time.

“A little skinny for my taste, but still looking good,” Eve continued. “I like your haircut. I’ve been seeing that look around the city lately.” Eve stopped and smiled. “You’ve always been on top of the trends ever since you were a little girl.” Eve’s hand guided Mia towards a seat in the small eat-in kitchen. “Sit down and talk to me some. I wish your brother could be here to see you. Have you seen Myra?” she asked before turning her attention to the soulful cuisine cooking on the stove.

Mia discreetly rolled her eyes at the mention of Myra’s name.

“Yes, when I pulled up. I don’t know where she went,” Mia said.

“Well, I hope she plans on staying for dinner. I made some of your favorites, like turnips and dumplings, macaroni and cheese, honey BBQ chicken, cornbread, and for dessert, Dad ran over to Junior’s and picked up a cheesecake. You can’t get that in Atlanta.” Eve puffed her chest and smiled. “I didn’t put pork in the greens because I know you don’t eat it anymore.”

Mia’s mouth watered from the flavorful medley of aromas wafting throughout the home and the litany of goodies her mother named. It had been a long time since she'd had her mother’s home cooking. Mia would come home more often if she weren’t so disgusted by her mother’s submissiveness to her paltry husband.

Eve was full of life and she still had a nice figure. Those high cheekbones and straight black hair made her beautiful. Mia felt she could have had so much more out of life, but had settled for a meager existence with Clarence. Mia didn’t know what Clarence had over her mother, but it was sickening.

Myra bore down on Mia’s private thoughts with the heavy tension she carried into the room.

“Ma, it smells so good in this kitchen. All this for her?” Myra asked, referencing Mia with a flip of her head. “I’m here all the time, and I don’t get all my favorites,” she teased, then gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.

“Where’s Kenny?” Mia asked about her baby brother.

“He’s away this weekend with his new girlfriend,” Myra answered without looking directly at Mia.

“Oh,” Mia said.

“Well, dinner is ready. Let’s get the table together so we can all eat,” Eve directed.

Getting up, Mia helped Myra set the table in the adjoining dining area. She grimaced in response to Myra’s demeaning gaze.

Mia stopped placing the plates and commanded of Myra, “What?” She whispered hard, trying to keep their mother from overhearing the impending fight.

Myra followed Mia’s lead, matching her hard whisper. “You know what! How could you? Blue is your best friend!” Myra shook her head. “I can’t believe you.”

“We aren’t friends anymore,” Mia said, flipping her hand dismissively.

“So that gives you the right to screw her husband? Nothing, and I mean nothing, justifies that.” Myra tossed her hands in the air. “I can’t believe you,” she repeated.

“Mind your business!” Mia said somewhat loud and then pulled her voice in. She looked around before continuing. “You don’t know the entire story, so don’t judge me.” She paused, placing her hands on her hips. “And since when did you work as a security guard for the W anyway?”

“For your information, I’m the head of security, and as far as you and Jay are concerned, I know all I need to know after seeing the two of you practically screwing.” Myra recoiled as if remembering the sight made her nauseous. “I don’t care what happens between friends. Boyfriends, husbands, and ex-husbands,” she said, counting on her fingers, “are always off limits.” Myra then narrowed her eyes at Mia. “You have always been selfish and ungrateful!”

Mia put her hands on her hip, cocked her head to the side, and glared back at Myra.

“What are you trying to say, Myra? You’re no role model for the sweet and innocent. I know some of the things you’ve done, too.”

“I never said I was innocent, but I’ve never slept with my best friend’s husband either.” Myra stepped to Mia, her eyes brandishing her suspicions. “Are you getting money from him, too?”

“I take damn good care of myself,” Mia said, raising the volume on their conversation. “I’ve never asked you, Ma, or that cheap-ass Clarence for anything.”

Myra’s mouth fell agape. Mia took a step back as Myra closed in on her.

“That’s your problem,” Myra said, lowering back to a whisper. She huffed. “Talk about taking care of yourself. Tell me this, when is the last time you worked?”

“That’s none of your damn business!” Mia screamed, stepping all the way into Myra’s space.

Myra didn’t back down. “Oh yeah?” she screamed back. “It will be when your gold-digging ass gets into a situation that you can’t finagle your way out of. Who are you going to call then, huh? Me! Just like the other times. And where do you think the money comes from?” Myra stopped like she was waiting for Mia to answer. “Cheap-ass Clarence!”

Clarence and Eve rushed into the dining room with puzzled faces. Clarence’s expression fell with the mention of him being cheap. He and Eve exchanged questionable looks.

“What the hell is going on in here? What are you two fussing about, and what the hell is this talk about Clarence being cheap?” Eve asked.

Mia grunted. “I’m leaving, Ma. Thanks for dinner,” she said and started to walk off.

Eve hopped over to Mia and grabbed her arm. “What? You just got here. What’s this all about?” Eve inquired, looking back and forth between Mia and Myra.

“Ask your daughter!” Myra snapped. “You know what, Mia? You don’t have to leave. I will. Besides, I get to see a lot more of Mom and
Dad
than you do,” Myra said, then stomped out, slamming the door behind her.

Clarence and Eve watched Myra’s exit and then looked back at Mia.

“Ma, I’m sorry,” Mia said with both hands in the air. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you when I get back to Atlanta.”

Mia gave both her parents a quick kiss on the cheek and walked out, leaving them baffled. Eve called after her several times, but Mia just walked faster.

By the time Mia got behind the steering wheel, she was winded. She jammed the keys into the ignition, slapped the car into drive, and sped off. The car jerked forward, then caught the gear. After a few blocks, Mia pulled over and caught her breath.

Her mother didn’t deserve that treatment, but she couldn’t spend another minute stifled in that environment. Myra’s words penetrated, pissing her off. She knew sleeping with Jay was wrong, but now that Blue had written her off as a friend and evicted her from their house, there was nothing left to lose. She was free to be with him if she wanted. Besides, he was going to be the father of her child. The more she thought about it, the more comfortable she became with the idea. All she had to do was help him sustain regular funds. Then they would be perfect together.

Chapter 20

Blue

Jay was waiting in the lobby when Blue arrived home from work. She quickly spun around to make a hasty exit, but it was too late. Jay was on her heels, calling her name, by the time she made it to the door.

Blue felt Jay at her back but refused to turn around. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hoping his presence was a figment of her imagination.

“Hey, babe. Can we talk?” Jay asked, gently touching her shoulder. “It won’t take long,” he continued, talking to her back.

Blue turned slowly and walked towards the elevator, replaying the way Jay said ‘babe’ over and over in her head. The soft cadence took Blue back to the way things used to be. Back then, those words had soothed her spirit. Now the expression grated at her nerves. She wanted to slap him for his audacity.

“I’m not your babe,” Blue said, but kept walking. She smiled at Tony, the doorman, who returned a look that said,
Call me if you need me.
With a wink and a smile, Blue acknowledged her compliance as she stepped into the elevator with Jay still on her heels. The last thing she wanted was a scene in the lobby of her building, so she quickly relented and allowed Jay to come up.

Neither of them spoke during the ride up to the home they'd once shared. Blue walked into the apartment, stepped out of her shoes, dropped her bag on the console near the entrance, and motioned for Jay to have a seat in the living room. Words still had not been exchanged.

Jay sat quietly while looking around the apartment. Blue excused herself before he could begin. His belongings were still on the floor in the guestroom. Blue closed the door, then returned to the living room and sat down on the opposite side.

After a long breath, Blue asked, “What do you want?”

“Us,” Jay said. “I want us back. I’ll admit I messed up, but we can get past this. It isn’t like you don’t know the lifestyle of athletes, and you’ve never seemed to be concerned about other women before. Let’s go back to what we were.”

Blue cut her eyes before staring up at the ceiling. She then stood to her feet and crossed her arms in front of her. With the anger and energy that suddenly began coursing through her body, sitting made her feel like she would explode.

“First of all, there is no ‘us’!” Blue glared as she spoke, waving her finger back and forth. “Second, I can’t believe…no, I do believe your nerve, because you’ve always thought everyone was supposed to overlook your offenses. Well, like your former coach...” Blue paused for effect when she noticed the disapproval in Jay’s eyes at the mention of his coach. “I’m done with you. Never again will there be an ‘us’.”

Jay stood and began pacing, then walked to the massive windows overlooking Manhattan’s East Side.

“Do you still love me?” he asked, looking over the city.

Blue didn’t know if she wanted to cry or push him through the massive windows
he was peering through.

“This conversation is over,” she said, throwing her hands up. “How about you see yourself out?” Blue turned to walk off towards the kitchen.

“Do you still love me?” Jay asked again. His tone was stoic and purposeful.

“Why?” Blue asked, rubbing her temples.

“I need to know. I need to know if there is still a chance for us.”

Blue raised a brow and stared at him in disbelief. Suddenly, conflicting feelings flooded her. The part that still loved Jay wanted to reach out and touch him. The angry part wanted to slap him hard and relish in the after sting. The part harboring the pain simply wanted to know why. None of these parts would have their say
because she kept quiet.

Jay went to her. “Babe,” he said, taking her hands in his, “I still love you, too.” Obviously, he took her silence for granted. “I don’t know what happened to me that night. I never meant to cause you any pain. I was wrong, and I’m sorry. I just need for you to tell me if you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

As tears fell reluctantly, Blue became angrier for letting Jay get inside her emotions. He apparently took the tears and her silence as a license to continue.

“I can make this up to you. I know I can,” he almost pleaded before attempting to embrace her.

Blue pushed him back with all the force she could conjure up in both hands. Jay stumbled back, then looked at her in disbelief.

“Did you forget the fact that you fucked my best friend and got her pregnant?” Blue’s voice elevated with each word. The curse fell out with unusual ease. She felt her breathing become ragged.

Jay shrugged her off. “I don’t even think the baby is mine. You know how Mia is. She’s
your
friend.”

“Get the hell out of my house!” Blue screamed.

Jay looked away for a moment, and Blue started pushing him in the direction of the door.

“Blue!” Jay kept calling her name, but she wouldn’t respond. “Babe!”

Blue stopped. “I told you to stop calling me that. Now get the hell out of my house,” she squeezed through tight teeth.

Jay turned and walked the rest of the way to the door on his own. He turned back to Blue and cast a calculating gaze.

“Fine. If this is how you want it, then I want the townhouse in Atlanta. You can keep this shit here. And I want every dime I’m entitled to as your husband.”

Instead of leaving, he walked back to her, closing in so tightly she could feel his breath on her face.

“You know how I am when I don’t get what I want. Trust me, you don’t want this fight!” Jay threatened as he backed away with a snide leer. He turned and quickened his pace, then slammed the door shut as he left.

Blue watched him leave, feeling the nip from his brisk emotional shift. She quickly shook off the uncomfortable feeling and allowed her anger to spearhead her thoughts. She was ready for him and was almost happy he’d already begun to underestimate her.