Brothers and Wives Read online

  Guests grin, point, whisper, and take photos with flashing digital cameras. Everyone is standing to watch the procession from both sections of the sanctuary.

  Someone remarks, “She’s radiant.”

  “That’s tanning spray,” snaps LaNecia, who’s waiting unnoticed at the back of the church. She’s wearing a gray cotton cleaning uniform, and her face has been scrubbed of all makeup. Even her own cousins haven’t recognized her. LaNecia moves in closer so she can see.

  “Isn’t that beautiful? Dani’s eyes are wet with tears.”

  “That’s Visine. She’s trying to get the red out. Pothead.”

  “She looks as beautiful as Princess Diana.”

  “Princess Diana is dead. Dead ain’t beautiful.”

  “Dani looks perfect.”

  “A perfect man-snatcher. She knows Scottie is mine. He’ll always be mine.”

  A woman standing in the row in front of LaNecia turns around so she can get a good look at the girl who’s making disparaging remarks, but within seconds LaNecia ducks from the aisle and heads out of the church, shaking with anger that the day that never should have happened is now a reality.

  — 21 —

  SCOTTIE

  Another Man’s Wife

  It’s Sunday afternoon and the newlyweds are enjoying themselves at home in their living room.

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” Scottie groans in satisfaction, then props his feet on top of an oak coffee table. He’s admiring the revolving photos from his wedding that are now playing on the digital photo frame with an eight-inch LCD display. Although he and Dani got married only two weeks ago, the twinkle in his eyes has yet to dim. He’s holding a cold can of beer in one hand; his other hand rests against Dani’s hip while she’s snugly perched on his lap.

  ABC TV just started airing a doubleheader: Detroit Pistons at Boston; later on they’ll broadcast the Lakers at Phoenix. In his mind, life can’t get any better.

  “What are you talking about, Mister Meadows?” Dani asks.

  “I’m talking about how sweet it is to live the good life. If all the haters could see me now …”

  “Haters? Like who?”

  “Like some of my boys who warned me, ‘Don’t do it, partner.’”

  “They said that?” She scowls. “Thank God you don’t listen to them.”

  “I mean, we’re tight and everything, but sometimes you gotta watch your buddies. They the main ones trying to break you up.”

  “And the ones who are full of relationship advice, yet they don’t have anyone in their own life.”

  Sunlight streaks through the living area’s bay window of their three-story town house. The lower level consists of a two-car garage and a laundry room complete with a full-size washer and dryer. The second level features a living room boasting nine-foot ceilings, a breakfast bar in the kitchen, a dining room, and a guest bedroom with full bath. The top level houses Scottie and Dani’s bedroom and master bathroom, plus a room down the hall for Brax.

  “Well, they didn’t know what they were talking about, did they?” Scottie beams at his bride and wants to kiss her on the lips, but he thinks twice. He’s already kissed her a dozen times since they woke up this morning.

  “Mommy, I gotta go wee-wee.” Brax runs up to his mother. He’s wearing a blue outfit with suspenders.

  The doorbell rings.

  “Hey, I’ll help my man get out of his clothes; why don’t you get the door?”

  “Thanks, babe.”

  Dani runs downstairs and opens the door without first checking through the peephole.

  Neil stands in front of her, looking dazed. He’s dressed in a pair of Dockers shorts and a black T-shirt that emphasizes his muscles.

  “Oh, you’re here already. Where’s Anya?”

  “We drove in separate cars.”

  “I see. Anything the matter?”

  “Yeah, can you step outside for a second?” Dani raises an eyebrow but steps onto the tiny porch.

  “Apparently, one of the folks at Solomon’s Temple saw me at the uh, the hotel,” he whispers.

  “Oh, shit.”

  “That’s what I said when she told me.”

  “Did you deny it?”

  “I tried to explain to her what happened, but she wasn’t hearing it.”

  “When did this happen? Just now?”

  “Yeah. The timing is bad since you just invited us to come over to your new place today. Scottie should’ve asked us.”

  “Neil, no one’s thinking about that old stuff. I just thought it would be nice for all of us to watch the game, eat hot wings, drink beer. Fuck!”

  “No, no fucking.”

  “Shut up, Neil.”

  Dani abruptly turns and runs upstairs to the second-floor living room. Scottie hasn’t returned from helping Brax use the bathroom. And the NBA analysts dominate the television screen with their predictions that Boston will put a hurting on the Pistons.

  As Dani moves to stand in the center of the room, she feels Neil close behind her. He places his hand on her shoulder. She slowly turns around and looks up at him.

  “Please,” is the only word he utters. He looks at the ceiling and takes in the decor and layout of the living area.

  “So, this is where the newlyweds hang out….” he says, his voice drifting off.

  “Um, make yourself at home. Scottie will be out in a sec. He’s with Brax.”

  “Well, are you going to fix me something?”

  “You can make your own plate.” She blushes.

  “You mean to tell me after all we’ve been through I’m not good enough to be served?”

  “I’ll serve you all right.” She pouts. “Um, more on that later.”

  She proceeds to arrange a plate for Neil. “Which kind of wings did you want? We have Cajun, lemon pepper, suicide, barbecue….”

  “You don’t remember my favorites?”

  “Sure, I do. But …” She uses the tongs to pick out ten lemon pepper wings and carefully sets them on a plate.

  “How are things going with you two? Is he treating you right? If he gets out of order, don’t hesitate to call.”

  “You mean that? I–I can’t imagine that ever happening. So far, everything’s been … um, thanks for the offer.”

  “How’re things going in …?”

  Dani is silent.

  “Is y’alls room right above us?”

  “Not quite, but yeah, we sleep upstairs. All of us.”

  “Is he better than …?”

  “Neil, stop. I don’t feel comfy talking about that kind of thing here. I just don’t….”

  “Hey, don’t mean to make you feel awkward. I can’t help but wondering, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “Hey, big brother, what you doing in here talking to my wife?”

  “Daddyyyyyyy!”

  Neil ignores Scottie, puts his food on the counter, then scoops Brax in his arms and swings him around, his little legs flailing in the air.

  “Neil, you know I hate when you do that.”

  “Do you let Scottie do it?”

  Neil continues swinging Brax up and down in a circular motion; like he’s on a ride at an amusement park. Brax laughs and screams, “Weeeee, yeah.”

  “Nothing wrong with doing this. Plus, he’s having fun. I haven’t seen my son in a few days. We gotta get to know each other again.”

  “Don’t even try it. You act like I’ve been keeping him from you. You didn’t want to come over here to pick him up on Friday.”

  “Y’all shouldn’t be arguing like this,” Scottie says. “Not in front of me. It makes a man wonder where another man’s wife is.”

  “Oh, my wife is on the way.” Neil shrugs. “She had some things to do and decided to come on her own.”

  “Is that what she told you?”

  “Yes, Scottie, sweetie, now be nice and get your brother something cold to drink, okay? Thanks, honey.”

  “When she talks to me like that”�
�Scottie grins looking at his brother—“she can get anything she wants out of me. Anything.”

  Neil turns around and carries Brax under his arm. He plops on the recliner and whispers something in Brax’s ear. His little legs carry him to the kitchen, where he looks around, spots a plate of food, and picks it up.

  “That’s my boy, bring that over here and you can have some of my lemon pepper.”

  Scottie hands him a beer.

  “That’ll work. Hey, I might get used to coming over here on Sundays.”

  “I wouldn’t count on that. Sometimes me and my wife might be caught up in other things.”

  “Hey, I’m just asking. I thought y’all wanted to start some couples thing, but …”

  “No, not really. This is just an invite so you can see how we’re living.”

  “Well, it sure feels good to have that extra room back at my house. But I’m leaving it open and available … just in case.”

  “I guarantee you, my brother, I won’t have any need for my former bedroom.”

  “I wasn’t talking about you, brother.”

  Dani bursts out laughing, then stops. “Oops, sorry. But that was kind of funny. Neil is exposing a side I don’t always see. Anyway, we’re here to have fun, right? Put down the razors, you two, or I’m going to have to call Sola.”

  “Aw, man, she used to whip Scottie’s ass so bad.” Neil chuckles.

  “Don’t say that word in front of my baby.”

  “Dani, I don’t know why you think you have the right to even tell me something like that, with your potty mouth.”

  “Mommy has to go potty?” Brax looks up from sucking on a wing.

  “Stop listening to our conversation.”

  “Scottie, don’t play with him like that. You can’t talk to a kid that way.”

  “Hey, man, I was just …”

  “Just don’t do it,” Neil warns him.

  Scottie decides to leave his mouth shut, but he can’t help but feel frustrated. Now that Dani is his, he feels he still has to prove his worth as a man. He figures Neil could still harbor resentment but thought at one point he’d have to get over his issues, let him live his life.

  I gotta figure out how to handle my brother. Now I kinda know how Anya feels.

  Neil changes the subject. “You know Anya goes into the hospital this Tuesday.”

  “Well, it’s about time,” Dani pipes up. She’s juggling a cup of diet ice tea and a plate.

  “Don’t get it confused. Come sit right over here.”

  “I know that, Scottie.” She smiles. “How long will she be in the hospital, Neil?”

  “Tuesday through Friday.”

  “You need anything?”

  “Not really. Vette’s going to fill in and help out with Reese’s schooling. We’ll be okay. It’s only a few days.”

  “No, but it’s the aftercare that’s going to be hard, I imagine,” Dani responds. “I’ve never had surgery, but Mama has, and she talked about how hard it is to recover. Your body has to adjust and you’re so weak at first. That can be challenging for someone who likes to be active and run around like Anya does.”

  Right then the doorbell rings.

  Scottie says, “I’ll get it this time. You just keep sitting on that couch doing what you do best. Looking pretty for me.”

  The second Scottie runs downstairs, Neil asks, “Is he like this all the time? How can you stand it?”

  “Don’t hate, Neil. That’s how a man is supposed to treat his woman. Of course, you wouldn’t know anything about that.”

  “Dani, if my son weren’t here I’d …”

  “You’d what? Huh, Neil? You’d put your hands on me, wouldn’t you?”

  “I’ll bet you’d like to know, wouldn’t you?”

  They hush up when Anya and Scottie enter the living room.

  Anya wears a stony look on her face.

  “Um, hello, Anya. We were just talking about you. I do hope your operation turns out okay.”

  “Scottie, can you get me something to drink? I’m so thirsty I’m about to pass out.”

  “Anya, did you hear Dani talking to you?”

  “Neil, please. Don’t think I’m finished with our conversation. I’m not thinking about listening to Dani right now.”

  “Okay, fine. But why’d you come over here if you’re gonna have a bad attitude?”

  “Hey, hey, what’s going on,” Scottie interjects as he hands Anya a beer. “You two are our role models in a way.”

  “Scottie, if you only knew, you wouldn’t make stupid remarks like that,” Anya barks.

  “Don’t call my hubby stupid.”

  “I didn’t say he was stupid, Stupid. I said his remarks were.”

  “Now listen, Anya, I know you’re nervous and stressed these days, but if you’re going to come into our home and insult us, I think it’s best you leave,” Dani says in a very serious tone.

  “I’m not leaving until we openly discuss what happened between you and Neil.”

  “Okay, that’s fine, but do you have to raise your voice?” Dani stands up, then sits back down. She plays with her hands and strokes her wedding band, sliding one finger across the surface to note its weight and strength.

  “We’re adults here and I–I think it’s okay to talk about things … especially since I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  Anya reaches inside her purse and pulls out a red lace cami and boy shorts. “So trying to seduce my husband with your nasty lingerie doesn’t qualify as doing something wrong?” she shouts at Dani and throws the clothes on the coffee table. Her hands are trembling. She goes and picks up Brax whose mouth is wide open with a bone stuck in it. “Neil, go ahead and take Braxton to his room. He shouldn’t be hearing this.”

  Scottie waits till Neil leaves the room with Brax. “I–I’m not understanding.” His stomach feels like it’s dropped to the bottom of his feet. “Someone, please. Tell me what this is about. Dani?”

  She stands up. “Scottie, I swear to God. Those clothes aren’t mine. It was a setup. LaNecia tried to get me and Neil to hook up at a Marriott.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “Scottie, please don’t look at me like that,” she shrieks. “You’re going to have to trust me. I met Neil but nothing happened. I swear on my father’s grave.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you wanted us to be honest.” He looks like someone socked him in the jaw without warning.

  “Well, baby, nothing happened, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning. Plus it was a setup, Scottie.”

  “That’s the main reason you should’ve told me. You can’t be hiding shit like this from me. This is major.”

  When Neil returns to the room, Scottie leaps to his feet and bashes his head against Neil’s stomach. Neil stumbles back a few steps but maintains his balance. They stand in the center of the living room giving each other heated stares.

  “Scottie, stop it! Neil didn’t do anything,” Dani sputters.

  “Why are you defending him, huh? That’s messed up.”

  “I’m not defending him. You’re overreacting.”

  “How else should I react?”

  “Scottie, calm down. I don’t like to be yelled at.”

  “You’re yelling at me!”

  “No, I’m not, I’m trying to get your attention. I don’t want anyone hitting anybody because it’s not even about that. I didn’t cheat.”

  “But why would you even meet him at a hotel?”

  “’Cause she’s a ho, can’t you tell?”

  “Anya, shut up. You sound stupid. And you’re wrong! So wrong! I hate being lied on.” Dani slumps in the recliner and rocks back and forth holding her stomach. “LaNecia is the one who should be called out. She started this entire thing. Don’t blame me for being curious.”

  “Curious? Is that what they call it these days? You sneaking around behind my back and have the nerve to say you’re just curious? That’s not gonna cut it, baby. If I’m not good enough to
be your husband, tell me now.”

  “Scottie, you’re crazy. Don’t do this, please. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Then why, Dani. Why’d you do it?”

  “I told you. I got these texts. And I went just to see … we didn’t do anything. I never went into the hotel room. Don’t blame me for something I never did.”

  “I just hate hearing that you’d even consider going there … to meet him. I’m out.”

  Scottie starts running downstairs. Dani follows him. “Baby, where you going? Let me go with you. I love you and I want to be with you.”

  “No, I gotta think about things.”

  He opens the door to the garage and gets in the Escalade. When he ends up at LaNecia’s, he sits in the car for several minutes. Why does she do shit like this? Why did I ever get involved with her? How can she say she loves me and cause me so much heartache?

  Scottie loudly taps his knuckles against the door.

  “Hey, how are you doing? Come on in.”

  “You here alone?” he asks before making a move.

  “Yep.”

  He follows LaNecia into her living room, then swiftly turns her around and forces her to look in his eyes. “What do you think you’re doing, huh, cousin? You trying to fuck up what I got just because you haven’t had a piece of this in a while?”

  “Scottie, get your hands off me,” she sputters as he grabs her.

  “But all you want is some of my dick, right? Will that make you stop acting so crazy?”

  “Hell yeah!”

  He angrily pushes her onto the couch and unbuckles his black leather belt.

  “You want to fuck me, LaNecia?”

  “Y–you called me LaNecia!”

  “Answer the question.”

  “You’re scaring me. It don’t take all that.”

  “But this is what you’ve been working hard for, right? You work harder for me than you do for Pappadeaux and that nail salon put together.”

  Scottie can feel himself getting aroused. He can tell she’s confused. Her hair is uncombed and she looks a mess. But the sexiness he used to know still lies underneath. He tries to ignore his physical reaction to her and moves back one step.