“My mother was a damn fool for having me!” Dvontè yelled, getting up off the couch and going out on his third-floor balcony. “She had to give up everything to raise me! She could’ve been a famous singer, but she went to the grave a nobody instead! You heard her sing, man! She could blow!”
Geren joined him on the balcony, watching the kids swimming in the apartment complex outdoor pool. “Yes, she did have a beautiful voice. No argument here about that.”
They shared a moment of silence while both of them ran favorite memories of her through their minds.
“I’m not making the same mistake, Geren. Things are going well for me at work. I’m hoping to make systems analyst in a few more months.”
“That’s wonderful news, man!” Geren slapped him lightly on the back. “That means you’ll get a raise and can help Janessa out with the baby.”
Dvontè shook his head. “I’m going to live out all of my dreams, and none of them include changing dirty diapers.”
“It’s not like you have any options about the money. If she has the baby, the courts will make you pay child support. Your best bet is to arrange it between the two of you and keep the legal system out of it.”
“Her ass better not try to haul my ass into court,” Dvontè said angrily. “I’ll just tell everyone what a big hoe she is and deny the child is mine. For all I know, it might not even be my baby in the first damn place. After all, she did fuck me after the first date.”
Geren had heard enough. Men who spoke such ignorance enraged him. He never thought Dvontè would stoop so low. His mother had raised him alone, and Dvontè should’ve been chomping at the bit to make sure his child didn’t have to live through the same pain. “In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never once felt the urge to hit you, but right now I want to beat the living daylights out of your pathetic ass.”
Dvontè bent over the railing in laughter. “You aren’t man enough to hit me. Besides, if you’re willing to let some pussy come between us, then we’re better off going our separate ways.” He dreaded losing the only real brother he’d ever had, but claiming a child just wasn’t in the cards. “Maybe you should just leave, Geren. I’m sure Miss High and Mighty is waiting for your return.”
“You’re right! I should leave, but I fully intend to pick this up later. Neither of us is in the right frame of mind for this discussion.” Geren headed back into the living room to get his keys off the coffee table. “Now you’ve resorted to talking about Tempest, and only bad things can come from continuing this.”
“Damn right, I’m talking about Tempest. I know she sent your ass over here. I must say, you’re obeying her like a good little puppy.” Dvontè plopped back down on the couch. “Hell, you have the imprints of her ass cheeks blistered on your lips!”
That did it! Geren punched Dvontè in the nose, sending him hurling over the back side of the couch.
It took a second for it all to register with Dvontè. Once it did, Geren was halfway to the door. Dvontè jumped up off the floor and rammed into Geren’s back, causing him to slam headfirst into the door frame.
“I can’t believe you hit me, man!” Dvontè exclaimed, still in shock. “Over a bitch?”
“I’ve got your bitch!” Geren swung around and landed a fist on Dvontè’s rib cage, knocking the air out of him.
They went at it for a full five minutes, scrambling around on the floor like a couple of WWF wrestlers and practically destroying the apartment.
Geren was straddled over Dvontè, who was beaten to a bloody pulp, getting ready to land a punch that would inevitably shatter his jaw to bits. Geren took a good look at him and his two swollen eyes and said, “Fuck it, man! You’re not even worth it!”
He got up and barreled out of the apartment, wanting to get as far away from there as possible.
He was getting into his car when Dvontè appeared on the balcony, screaming at him. “Get the fuck out of my life! Tell Janessa to call me if and only if she wants some money to get rid of it. Otherwise, tell that skank bitch to kiss my black ass!” Geren glared up at him and rolled his eyes. “Besides, who are you to judge me, man? You haven’t even told Tempest the truth about you, have you? How dare you judge me if you haven’t walked in my shoes?”
Geren couldn’t help but notice all the kids staring from the pool and their mothers shaking their heads in disgust. He could only hope the next generation of brothas would know how to be real men. He started his car up and left.
CHAPTER 24
facing demons
“janessa, you really don’t have to do this,” Tempest said, turning around to stare at Janessa, in the backseat of Geren’s car. “Let’s just go back to my place, and you can stay there for a few days.”
Geren had agreed to drive Janessa home despite Tempest’s objections. He was sitting in the driver’s seat, trying to keep his mouth shut. He was still severely upset about his fight with Dvontè.
“Tempest, stop treating me like a child.” Janessa stared out of the window, elated there wasn’t a bunch of riffraff hanging out in front of the crack house across the street. A pleasant change. “I’m not one of those teenagers from down at the center. I’m a grown woman.”
“I understand that, Janessa. Of course you’re grown. I’m not trying to sound condescending, but you and I both know how your parents are going to react to your pregnancy. Especially your mother.”
“Oh, well, such is life.” Janessa sighed. “I’m just gonna have to deal with the drama.”
“I have a suggestion,” Geren said, interrupting their conversation against his better judgment. “Why don’t you just hold off on telling your parents until you can clear your head and make some final decisions?”
Janessa had to fight the urge to slap Geren on the back of his head. Instead she unlocked and opened the rear door and got out. She leaned down so she could glare at him.
“Are you implying I should kill my baby?” she shouted. “That is what you’re saying, right?”
Tempest flung off her seat belt and jumped out of the car just as Janessa slammed the back door as hard as she could. The entire car shook.
“Janessa, calm down.” Tempest grabbed Janessa by the elbow so she couldn’t walk away. “Geren didn’t get you pregnant. Dvontè did. The two of you created this predicament, not us.”
Janessa yanked her arm away from Tempest. “Hmph, I see. I forgot you were Miss Perfect.”
“Janessa, I’m not per—”
“Then again, you don’t have jack shit to worry about anyway. After all, there isn’t a chance in hell of anything like this happening to you.”
Janessa’s expression turned cynical as Tempest met her gaze. Tempest felt like her heart had just been ripped out. They both fell silent.
Geren yelled at them through the ajar passenger door. “You ladies please stop fighting! This isn’t going to solve anything!” He got out on the driver’s side and joined them on the curb, touching Janessa lightly on the shoulder. She flinched. “Janessa, I wasn’t implying you should have an abortion. On the contrary, I think a child is the greatest gift a woman could ever give to a man.”
Neither Janessa nor Tempest would even look in his direction. They just stared each other down, but Geren continued anyway. “I’m just saying that all of this is new. Everyone’s emotions are still riled up. If your parents are likely to make things worse, which is the impression I’m getting, then you might need to wait a few days before you compound the issue.”
Geren waved his arm up and down in between Tempest and Janessa. Still no visible reaction. They didn’t even blink.
“I’m in shock myself, and I really don’t have shit to do with it,” Geren added, taking a few steps away from them and sitting down on the hood of his car. “I’m not so shocked that you’re pregnant. You and Dvontè have been going at it pretty hard, and these things happen. What I can’t get over is Dvontè’s lackadaisical attitude.” He crossed his arms and cupped his elbows. “My best friend and I got into a fight toda
y,” he said, shaking his head in disgust. “A fistfight, at that.”
“Dvontè is a piece of shit,” Tempest hissed, finally breaking away from Janessa’s stare to look into Geren’s eyes. “Don’t even start blaming yourself for what happened today. I’m glad you gave him an ass-whupping. He deserved everything you laid on him and then some.”
“Right now, I can’t dispute that. Hopefully he’ll come to his senses. I think Dvontè is more scared than anything.”
Tempest threw her hands up in the air and then slapped them loudly on her hips. “And Janessa’s not scared?”
Before Geren could respond, Janessa said, “Look, I’m about to get this over with. Tempest, I’ll holla at you tomorrow.”
“You sure?” Tempest asked, raising her right eyebrow. “You don’t have to do this. You can just go in there and pretend like nothing’s happened until we can talk about it some more.”
“I’m sure. There’s no sense in running from it. They might as well know about it tonight.” Janessa put her arms around Tempest and embraced her. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’m stressed the hell out, but I love you the same as ever.”
“I love you too, sis.”
Janessa forced a smile as she walked backward up the front walk. “You know you’re my shero.”
Tempest managed to giggle, even though she didn’t feel like much of a superhero that night.
“Take it easy, Janessa,” Geren said. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
Janessa winked at him and shook her finger. “Yeah, I know where to find you, aiight! Up in Tempest’s bed!” Geren blushed, and then she added, “On the real, though, thanks for the ride home.”
“Not a problem. Anytime.”
“More importantly, thanks for trying to talk to Dvontè on my behalf.”
Geren diverted his eyes to the ground briefly, ashamed that he had failed at his task. “I just wish things had gone better.”
Janessa unlocked the front door and waved. “Good night.”
“Good night,” Tempest called, repressing the urge to run after her and make her come back.
Geren said, “Peace,” as Janessa disappeared inside and closed the door.
Geren waited patiently for Tempest to get back in his car so he could close her door but she didn’t budge.
“You’re really worried about her, huh?”
“That’s an understatement. Don’t be surprised when I have black bags underneath my eyes from lack of sleep and patches of my hair start falling out.”
Geren wrapped his arms tightly around Tempest from behind. He kissed her on her left earlobe. “Oh, baby, everything’s going to be okay.”
No sooner had the words left his lips when the shouting started. They could hear the words heathen, whore, and slut being thrown around interchangeably by Janessa’s parents.
“I’m going in there!” Tempest yelled out, breaking away from Geren and speed-walking to the door.
Geren caught up to her midway and pulled her back toward the car. “No, Tempest. Janessa said she wanted to talk to them alone.”
“That’s her prerogative, but they better not lay a finger on her. I respect Janessa’s parents, but I will get in their asses if need be.”
Geren tried to prod Tempest to get in the car. “Let’s just go. This is only upsetting you.”
“Can we just stay for a few more minutes?”
Geren was about to say no when he spotted a tear in the corner of her eye. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “If it’ll make you feel better.”
Tempest buried her head in Geren’s chest, listening to the ruckus coming from within and trying to hold back the rest of her tears.
25
the confession
tempest stared out of the beveled window of their suite at the Pines Bed and Breakfast Inn in Portland, Maine. The view was magnificent, but Tempest was lost in thought, dreading the moments to come.
Geren had insisted on the weekend getaway, making plane reservations before she could blink twice. He told her that he had something important to ask her. They both knew the deal. The only thing left was a formality.
Geren couldn’t have chosen a more romantic place to pop the question. Their suite was adorned with antique furniture well over a hundred years old. A wooden sleigh bed on a three-step riser was the main attraction of the suite.
Geren came into the bedroom, smelling fresh from the shower and clad only in a towel around his waist. “Shall we have dinner in the room tonight, or would you like to go out? I heard there’s a great seafood restaurant a few blocks away with a deck overlooking the ocean.” He got no response. “Tempest?”
“Sorry. What did you say?” Tempest turned from the window to face him. “I was distracted by the beautiful view,” she added, lying.
“I asked if you wanted to dine in or out.”
“Actually, I’m not hungry.”
“You should be starving. I am. We haven’t eaten a thing since breakfast.”
“Geren.”
“Yes?”
“We need to talk.” Tempest walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Before you ask me whatever it is you want to ask, there’s something I really need to tell you.”
Geren splashed on some aftershave and then searched through his toiletry kit for his deodorant. A twinge of nervousness shot up his spine, but he tried to act nonchalant.
“Go ahead, sweetheart. I’m listening.”
“This is so difficult. I don’t want to lose you, but I’ll understand if I do.”
Geren chuckled. He found her statement ludicrous; he had no intention of ever breaking up with her. “You’re not going to lose me, Tempest. I promise you that.”
“Please don’t make me promises you can’t keep.”
“Oh, but I can keep that one. I adore you.” Geren flashed his cinematic smile at Tempest, but he could feel the tension rising in the room. “You know that, don’t you? That I adore you. In fact, that’s what I wanted to—”
“Please, Geren!” Tempest shouted at him. “Just let me get this out before I lose my nerve. I should’ve told you everything a long time ago.” Tempest sighed heavily. “Before we ever became intimately involved.”
Geren was putting his deodorant back in his bag on the dresser when the last comment froze him in place. He looked at Tempest’s reflection in the mirror. “You don’t have a disease, do you?”
Tempest sucked in her bottom lip and glared at him. “No, no diseases. We discussed that already. I’d never put your health in jeopardy, Geren. You should know that. Maybe you don’t really know me at all.”
Geren came and sat down beside her on the bed. “Not only do I know you, I love you.” Tempest didn’t respond. She edged farther away from him on the bed. He didn’t know what to make of it. He had planned out the weekend perfectly in his mind, but as usual, things were never the way he dreamed them up. He felt like their relationship was all of a sudden bordering on disaster. “Okay, so what is it? Are you seeing someone else? Did one of your ex-boyfriends come back into your life?”
Tempest couldn’t hold it in a second longer. “I’m sterile, Geren,” she whispered in a barely audible tone. Geren’s eyes widened in stunned disbelief. “I can’t give you the household full of children you’re always talking about. I would sell my soul if I could, but I can’t. I can’t.”
Geren’s throat was extremely dry. He reached over on the nightstand to get a bottle of springwater. Tempest moved back farther on the bed when his fingertip accidentally brushed against her thigh. She made him feel like he’d done something wrong.
“I don’t know how to respond, sweetheart. I’m stunned. Are you sure about this, baby?”
Tempest pulled a pillow up in front of her chest and crossed her legs Indian-style on the bed. “Unfortunately, I’m positive.”
“It’s okay,” Geren said without hesitation. “I still love you, and I want to be with you always.”
“That’s very admirable,
and I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything less from you, but I need to tell you everything. Once I’m done, you’ll probably think I’m the stupidest sistah in America and kick me to the curb.”
“Why do you keep saying that?” Geren asked, getting irritated by Tempest’s assumptions. “I’m not dumping you. It sounds like you almost want me to.”
“Part of me feels like I deserve it,” Tempest said, the first tear finally escaping and making a caravan down her right cheek. “Losing the one man I’ve ever truly loved seems like just punishment for what I did.”
“What did you do?”
Tempest fell silent for a few moments, searching for the right words—words she should’ve spoken months earlier. “Geren, the reason I went so ballistic when Dvontè abandoned Janessa and the reason I’m so determined to help Kensington is because I know how they both feel. I know how it feels not to have anyone to talk to, anyone to help you.”
The truth hit Geren like a Mack truck. “You were pregnant before?” he asked rhetorically, already knowing the answer.
Tempest took the pillow she was holding, placed it on the bed, and lay down, facing away from Geren. She felt so ashamed she couldn’t even bear to look at him.
“I was seventeen. Kenny was the father. You know, my ex who’s shacking up with my aunt now? I told you about him. You remember?”
“Yes,” Geren responded, reaching over to rub her back. He was elated that she didn’t flinch. “I remember you telling me about the dumb bastard.”
Tempest giggled slightly. Kenny was a dumb bastard. “I found out I was pregnant less than two weeks after I found out they were sleeping with each other. I was devastated.”
Geren began to cry silent tears. He didn’t want Tempest to know he was weeping. “You’ve been through too much, baby. Too damn much!”
“Not only had I lost the only person I’d ever cared about and the only lover I ever had, but I lost him to my own flesh and blood. I never thought she would ever hurt me like that. When I was little, Aunt Geraldine would spoil me and take me places my parents refused to go. Then she turned around and stabbed me in my back.”