Mario Finds Out

Well, we had a plan. However, plans do sometimes get a little muffed. Here’s the tea. It was a Wednesday, December 15th. We had a doctor’s appointment scheduled and I also needed to get some stuff to start decorating the nursery. Ricard had taken the morning off to go with me.

His ex-wife had sent their son Bill on a little expedition. She had become antsy that he’d been in Florida for so long and wondered if he had found a new boo. She insisted that Bill, just go check on his father, and spend time with him.

He went to the office, but the assistant told him he was off for the morning. Bill of course tried to call, but Richard didn’t answer his cellphone. We were a little busy that morning doing things.

The assistant gave him the address to the house. Imagine me walking around in a bathrobe and hearing the doorbell ring. I figured it was just a package. I had ordered a bunch of stuff.

I swung open the door and our eyes met. We stared at each other like deers in headlights. Finally, he spoke, “Lelani?”

“Bill, hi, come in,” I said as I stepped aside.

He was still standing in the entrance with his jaw on the floor, “What are you doing here, wait, what are you doing at my dad’s place?”

Richard entered, “She’s the woman of the house.”

Bill walked in and stared at his father. I closed the door.

“Is this a joke?” he laughed. But he soon stopped laughing when he looked around the house and saw pictures of us together, “Dad, seriously, she’s the same age as Jade.”

Richard nodded, “Yes, and if I do recall, Jade is a grown woman.”

Bill sucked his teeth, “What about mom?”

“Your mother and I had a night, nothing more. Lelani and I are together.”

He was fuming. I could see the steam rising from his head, “Did Jade know about this?” he asked glaring at me.

“No,” I replied. I wasn’t about to throw my girl under the bus. “I didn’t tell her.”

“So, since the wedding, this has been going on?”

Richard and I looked at each other with a grin, “More or less.” I replied. He had fucked before the wedding, but since he was already tripping, I didn’t give him any more details.

“And you’re supposed to be my step-mom, what the fuck?”

“Geesh, Bill, I’m not that bad.” He acted like I was going to go mommy dearest on him and beat him with a wire hanger. “You don’t have to call me mom everything is as it was, I’m just…you know with your dad.” I smiled and touched my belly.

It was a habit. Even though I was barely showing. I tended to touch my baby bump. He scoffed, “Are you?!”

I nodded with a smile.

He paced frantically.

“Bill, calm down.”

“This is not happening. Pregnant, dad seriously, at your age?”

“What’s wrong with my age. I’m still healthy.”

“You’re a grandfather. My wife is pregnant with your youngest grandchild, I’m going to have a newborn and a baby brother around the same time.”

We nodded, “Seems that way,” we chuckled.

“This is not funny. What you two are doing is not a joke.”

I sighed and walked over to him, “Listen, Bill, I get it. It’s a lot to take in, stay here a couple of days, let it marinate and I promise you when you’re done thinking it over…it’s not bad at all. We’re not doing anything wrong.”

Bill was conflicted. He had a duty to his mother, which I understood. I touched his shoulder, “I have to get dressed.” I left him to talk with his father and when I returned, they were both pensive.

“Is everything okay?” I asked cautiously.

They nodded. I didn’t hear any yelling while I was changing. I assumed they spoke reasonably.

“Bill decided to take you up on your offer to stay a couple of days. He wants to see what this is all about.”

I nodded, “I see. You want to see if I’m fucking your dad for his money or if I truly love him.”

He remained silent. “Well, we are off to our appointment, you are welcome to tag along or you can stay here.”

Reluctantly, he decided to tag along.

As Richard drove me to Tampa for my appointment, I could hear Bill in the back telling Jade what transpired. I also heard her reaction, “Really? Oh wow, that’s crazy, babe. I can’t believe it.”

I was dying on the inside. Like bitch you are really playing that part, someone give her an Emmy or an Oscar. My face latterly almost cracked, which I called her after my appointment and clowned her. We shared a hearty laugh about it.

After the appointment, we ended up going to one of my favorite places a Caribbean spot. since my morning sickness had subsided, I felt like I could eat. Now mind you, I was with Richard and Bill, two white guys from Boston. As soon as we walked into the restaurant, they smelled the spices and started sneezing.

I looked at Bill, “I know you ought to be used to this by now.” Since Jade was a mix of Jamaican and Guyanese.

“One would think so.” He replied. “I’ll just do the curry.”

I smiled, “And you babe?”

“Curry for me too.”

Richard went to the bathroom and Bill stood next to me. As much as he wanted to hate the situation, he liked me. I was going to be a great step-mom. We joked about some stuff and when our order came, he walked it over to the table.

I was getting a few condiments and when I looked up, I ran into Mario. We stared at each other briefly before I stepped around him and went to my table.

I was slightly flustered. Bill noticed, “are you okay?”

I **** a smile, “Yeah, hungry. You know how that is.

He nodded, “Yes. Jade’s cravings are insane. When’s my—”

“Awe, in June.”

He smiled, “I don’t hate you, Lelani.”

“I know. And I understand.”

He nodded. He ate his food, “This is pretty good.”

“I love this place,” I replied. I looked up and saw Mario giving me the stank face as he walked out with his order.

Richard came to the table and sat, “Smells good.” He sat and ate.

******

The men went off to the marina for business. I went back to my townhouse. I was turning it into a vacation spot. As I was working to add a brighter touristy vibe, I heard a knock at the door. Before I could even open it, Mario walked in, “I tried to call, but you got me blocked.”

He stood by the door and stared at me. I had on a flowy shirt, so he couldn’t tell anything. I sighed, “I blocked you for a good reason.”

“Can we talk without all the—”

“The what? Attitude? No. Because you gone get all this attitude.”

He shook his head. “I don’t even know why I came here,” he started moving toward me. He stopped in front of me, “I, I, I’m sorry.”

I nodded, “Why are you here?”

He shrugged, “You’ve been on my mind a lot lately.”

“Is that so, even with a pregnant girlfriend. Interesting.”

“Damn, Lelani. You don’t get it. I did—”

“No. stop. Just please don’t do any of that. I’m finally at a place where I can look at you without wanting to punch your teeth in.”

He nodded, “I hurt you.”

“Yes.”

“It was real. Shit was happening fast and then I found out about Yasmin being pregnant. I was just trying to do the right thing. I didn’t have a reason to break up with you, so—”

“I know. I know. I was there. It doesn’t matter. Go and live your life. Take care of your baby. Okay.”

He pulled me close and hugged me. I pushed him back. I wondered if he felt the thump in my belly. His face looked hurt. He didn’t say anything, he sighed, “I suppose you found someone already.”

“Was I supposed to sit around and wait?”

“Nah, you deserve someone that going to make you happy, I guess I was just—”

“I’m happy.”

He nodded, “Take care of yourself Lelani.”

“You too.”

I watched him leave. I swear I had the hugest knot in my throat. Mostly because I was scared. I took a deep breath, “It’s okay little baby. We’re good.”

My cellphone sounded, Bethany’s name flashed, “Hey girl, what’s up?”

“I was just returning your call from earlier.”

“I was just calling to tell you that Richard’s son came and now he knows. At first, he was livid, but I think the reality of it is slowly setting in.”

“I saw Mario yesterday with that chica. I swear she gives me some weird vibes.”

“Really, like?”

“I don’t know. She just seems sus.”

“You think everyone is sus.”

She laughed, “Most of the time they are. I’m serious. The universe will reveal her shit real soon.”

“Um, Mario was here like minutes ago.”

“Did you tell him?”

“Hell no I didn’t tell him.”

“Tell me what?” I turned and saw him standing at the door.

“Let me call you back.” I ended the call, “Nothing.”

He stared at me suspiciously. He walked over to me. I backed up into a wall. He stood in front of me. I could see how he still loved me, but I was over his bull shit. He touched my tummy, “You’re pregnant. I thought I felt something. You weren’t going to tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell. I, I just,” I moved away, I had to think of a lie quickly, “I don’t even know that the baby is yours. I was with another guy, remember.”

He nodded, “That guy I saw you with earlier?”

“Not exactly, but that’s not important. So, just pretend like none of this has happened and go about your day.”

“I can’t un-hear that you could be having my baby.”

“Sure, you can, guys do it all the time.”

“You know me better than that. I want to know when the baby is born.”

“Why? Why?”

“Because. I have a right to know. If you move on from me, fine, but if I have a child, that kid is going to know I’m its father.” He turned and left.

“Fuck!”

The day had turned into something.