Forgive Me Read Free Page B

good time had been to him. At fifty-nine, he was better-looking now than when they met in high school. He was still “The Towering Wonder,” the nickname he was given as Harlem High School’s standout forward. Women were always drawn to his smooth, dark skin, muscular frame, and a smile that made them strike up a conversation just to see his teeth. His eyes had the same mesmerizing effect. The Stanton men were generational legends in the conquest department. She realized why Aruba was so drawn to James. He was like her father in so many ways.
    â€œWhen is Aruba’s next appointment?” Lance asked. He rubbed Darnella’s shoulder.
    â€œShe has a checkup next Tuesday with her podiatrist in Augusta.”
    â€œYou know what I mean.” He stared at her and raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t make the appointment, did you?”
    Darnella sighed. “She won’t agree to seeing a psychiatrist.”
    â€œNella, this isn’t up for debate. She’s gone past being in a funk. Something’s wrong with our daughter that’s beyond our control. She needs to talk to someone. I’m not saying she needs to take medication. I ain’t with people taking all these antidepressants anyway, but something has to give. She won’t eat or bathe. She barely talks to us, and she acts like Jeremiah isn’t even here. I’m tempted to reach out to James for help. At least for Jeremiah’s sake.”
    â€œWe will do no such thing!” Darnella snapped.
    â€œNella, that’s the man’s child.”
    Darnella pursed her lips and snatched her arm from Lance’s grip. They’d visited Indianapolis last year for Black Expo and were amazed at how successful James’s business had become. Make that businesses. As she lay arm-in-arm with Lance at the downtown Hyatt, she wanted to vomit at all the Dixon’s Hair Affairtelevision commercials. He now had four locations. One location doubled as a salon and a barbershop. He had a children’s shop that catered to boys and girls; a shop that catered to senior citizens only with press-and-curls, haircuts, and Wednesday Bible studies; and he had opened an all-natural hair salon that very week, which was billed, ‘the curly girl’s cure for kinks.’ ” Darnella fidgeted for the remote control to turn up the volume when she saw James being interviewed about his meteoric rise to success. Sitting next to him was that bony Shandy Fulton. Darnella watched them finish each other’s sentences and discuss how they operated as a team. She rolled her eyes as they rattled off the addresses of the locations. Aruba should be sitting there, Darnella muttered under her breath. He wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for our daughter . Darnella flipped the channel before Lance could protest. Aruba was wrong for cheating, but his whorish ways played a part in her daughter’s actions. Darnella burned over the realization that James was living the high life off the seed her child had planted. Now, Aruba was barely coherent and couldn’t enjoy the harvest.
    â€œAs far as I’m concerned, James doesn’t ever have to see Jerry again,” said Darnella. Her anger rose at the memory of the commercials and the interview.
    â€œJames has been reaching out to Jerry since the divorce. Look at how he went to California all those times to see about him.” Lance believed divorce shouldn’t equal child abandonment.
    Darnella sighed. “We were having a great time until the thought of James got my blood pressure up. It all seems so unfair that he’s moved on and is doing well. I don’t want to give Jeremiah any false hope.”
    Lance nodded in agreement but said, “You should know by now life isn’t fair. Besides, who knows what the future holds? I thinkthey could have a great father-son relationship if you stop blocking him.”
    â€œI suppose you’re right.