That Aha Moment (24)

I sit in my car and let out a sigh of relief and laugh. Quickly I cease the laughter when I realize I should have never been in this situation in the first place. This is the first time I seen everything that has happened over the last few months was my doing. I have to be better, I cannot lose Ari. I went crazy with her just being away a month so I don't want to find out how I would feel if I lost her for the rest of my life. 

Driving home I begin to feel overwhelmed. I've never thought about being married when I was younger, all the way up to college. Honestly, I did it because that's what you're supposed to do. This is the first time I've felt like I can actually do this, you know be with her for the rest of my life. Of course I get myself together as I pull up to the house.

It's not too late when I get home but it looks like Ari has already went to bed. The lights are all out, when I walk up to the bedroom I see the tv is off. I'm actually glad, I just want to admire her. 

After I get all ready for bed I just sit at the foot of the bed and just look at her. I'm just thankful. My mother used to tell me she would sit at the foot of our beds sometimes and just admire what God has given her. That is exactly what I am doing. At this very moment everything seems so surreal to me.

I'm not even supposed to be here right now. I was the guy who had all the women and got all the attention he wanted. There was a time when I thought I needed that. Now here I am, I have her. Someone who has been in my corner from day one. She's stuck by my side through everything. The fact that I almost have myself to someone else is now suddenly sickening. 

I feel a tear run down the side of my cheek. Usually your first reaction is to wipe the tear away but not a tear like this. This is the purest tear that I have ever had, the perfect balance between love and understanding. In this tear was no guilt which a lot of my tears have had before. 

I can't remember the last time I had prayed but now felt like a great time. I stand up and go right beside Ari on the side of the bed and drop down to my knees.

"God, I know it's been awhile since we spoke but I also know you'll hear me out. First off I'm sorry for taking so long to thank you for what you've done for me thus far. For the longest time I've just believed I deserved everything that I have and I don't. I especially did not deserve a woman like Ari. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for everything else you've done for me but this woman you gave me Lord, she is my finest treasure. I mean you said it yourself, he who finds a wife finds a good thing, or something like that. I'm a little rusty on the scriptures. Well I mean that's all, I just really wanted to thank you for her and tell you I will be the husband that I am meant to be. Oh and amen."

I stay at Ari's side to speak to her while she sleeps.

"Thank you baby for getting me over my fear of relationships. For showing me that one great woman is greater than all the women on earth. I know that I've messed up a lot recently but stick with me because I will make you happy for the rest of your life. I love you and thank you for keeping me."

I get up, kiss Ari and crawl into bed with the only woman I hope to ever share a bed with for the rest of my life. 

Crazed (23)

I still can't move as thought after thought runs through my mind. I honestly believed every word she said when she told me we hadn't done anything. Why would she lie, we could've had this conversation a long time ago. I just got out of the doghouse and this is something I could lose my marriage over. If I go back and tell Ari now she's going to think I was lying when I initially told her I didn't sleep with the woman. Any way I look at it I come out the loser. 

Then again, she did lose the baby and she said she's leaving. Ari never has to know. Shit, I wouldn't have known if I didn't visit this crazy woman in this hospital. Some things you have to take to the grave and this is one of those instances. 

I finally gather enough energy to raise up from my seat even though I must look just like a zombie the way I'm moving. 

"Well Viv I have to go now, best of luck on everything. You are a smart woman so I am sure everything will work out just fine. But I have to cut ties with you, right here, right now. This has gone way too far already. "I say with clamy hands and no emotion at all. 

She sits up and laughs. "You have to be kidding me. You got me pregnant and I lose your baby and all you have to say is good luck? Wow! Pathetic, you are pathetic!." She begins to scream. 

I walk out not responding. I probably deserve everything she's dishing out but I have to drop this. 

As I walk out I see a nurse walking my way, apparently annoyed. She must've heard the raucous. I want to stop her to ask but I can't. We pass one another. I turn back. 

"Excuse me, mam?" I say afraid that what I was just told is about to be verified. 

"Yes sir, do you need something?" It's clear to me that she's annoyed now.

"I'm sorry mam I don't want to bother you, never mind. I say beginning to walk away again. 

"No, I'm sorry it's fine. It's just been a rough night." She smiles and is welcoming now. 

"Look I just left this room right over here and had a talk with the young lady and I need to know something." I say quietly. 

"Oh, you must be him." She says with smirk and chuckle. 

"Him? Who's him? Me?" I'm confused. 

"Yeah, the daddy." She begins to laugh some more.

"Um did I miss something? What's funny?" I say kind of upset she would just laugh in my face like that.

"Oh you don't know?" She turns away from me and talks to a couple of nurses sitting around. "Ladies this is the daddy." She said making quotes with her fingers and laughing hyseterically.

"Mam please tell me what's funny." I'm fed up at this point. 

"Sir, between you and me, that bitch is crazy. She swears she had a miscarriage because of some stomach pains. That's only because the woman who beat her up kicked her in the damn stomach. We just have to keep her crazy ass until one of her looney family members picks her up. But they're flying out to get hers so unfortunately she'll be here for a couple of days." She says once again laughing and walking off for good.

Wow is all I can think. I feel a little lighter with every step I take as I make my way back on to the elevator. By the time I'm walking to my car I have a little pep to my step happy as shit she was lying and even happier that she is leaving. Now I can go home and continue on with life with nothing more to hide. 

Boom Goes the Dynamite (22)

I walk as if I'm going to the elevator only to turn around when I know Ari is gone to leave right back out to the door. It's horrible that I had to lie but she would have had a fit if she knew where I was going. So many questions would have came up: "Who is she?" "Why are you visiting her?" Where do you know her from"?. We all know how women can be and it would have just went on and on from there. It's just better to avoid that all together and just go check to see if Viv is alright.

I get in my car and begin to drive. I find myself afraid of what I may see at the hospital upon arrival. How bad is it? Did they tell her it was because of me? This entire thing is just getting worse and worse as layers are pulled up. 

I arrive at the hospital pretty fast and get all signed in so that I can go up and see her. I get on the elevator and there's nobody else on it so the silence is killing me. Some small talk beforehand would have eased my mind a bit. The elevator finally stops. I step off and immediately I am greeted by a nurse who directs me to the correct room.

I arrive at the door and see a body lying there still. Back towards me, seemingly looking outside of the window. I speak.

"Viv?" I say unsure of if it's even her or not.

The body still lie still as I walk closer.

"Viv, it's me, Lance." Still nothing. I walk closer to the motionless body expecting a random person just sleeping. Instead it is Viv and she is very much awake. She is just staring outside of the window crying silently. I sit down in the chair at the foot of the bed and just start talking.

"I'm so sorry for what's happened to you. It's so cowardly that someone would even do this to you. Just know that I'm here for you and that we miss you back at the office." I lean in and try to get her to look at me but I'm unsuccessful. 

"Bullshit Lance." She says breaking her silence.

"What? What's bullshit?" I say at a loss. 

"You're the only one to show any type of care. This is an unforgiving field obviously.  But I didn't expect anyone else to come so it's fine, it really is. You, I expected you to come. We shared a connection." She was bawling at this point. 

"Well yeah, we had a nice friendship around the office and beyond." I try to make her feel a little better. 

"Lance our connection was way more than that." She chuckled during her crying which I found strange but disregarded. 

"Uhhhh I don't really know what you're talking about but I hope you get well real soon so that you make it back to work." I get up out the seat I was in attempting to leave. 

"Oh Lance it was much more than that." She said finally looking away from the window and directly at me. 

"What are you talking about Viv?" I am very interested in what she has to say now. 

"Do you honestly think you just crawled in my bed and didn't touch me. I know you're a man but damn you can't be that naive." She rolled her eyes and laughed a bit more.

"You're lying and I don't understand why." I'm upset and thrown off balance a bit. 

"You think I'm lying? Ok, go head out there and ask the nurse about this miscarriage that I just had." Suddenly the laughter stops.

"Miscarriage of what?" I barely make that sentence out.

"Goddamn Lance do I have to spell it out? You were drunk and crawled into my bed and we fucked. I mean fucked and you gave me alllllll of you. With me being lonely here, I received it when I shouldn't have. Then I learned I was pregnant and was hurt but overwhelmed at the same time because I don't have anyone in the city. The glimmer of hope I just had is gone now too so I'm leaving like we talked about before. I cannot take it here anymore I have to leave. 

My heart is in my stomach. I cannot not make out one word to respond to what I just heard. She could be lying but at the same time I am terrified to ask the nurse. I sit back down to let everything sink in. I may sit there for an hour without moving a muscle, I'm numb. 

The Games Continue (21)

As I sit with my jaw in my lap I can't help but think better Viv than Ari. This is an prime example why I do not let word get out that I am married. That could have been Ari in that hospital and who knows what could have happened to our son? All that aside I still feel horrible about what happened to Viv. I almost feel completely responsible for what happened to her.

Even with that horrible news in the air the bigger story is still that of the father. He was living a double life. I just wanted to get the money for winning this case and now I'm at the point where I don't want any parts of it at all. I didn't know any facts at the beginning and now I know way more than I need to. The job would have easily been done without these random outbursts of facts shoveled my way. The worst part of it all is that it's shit I can't say to anyone but people need to know. Just the other day the boys mother called begging me to tell her if Quick shot her son, which he did. How messed up would it be for her to find out that her husband may have caused the entire thing because of some weed?

I don't even want to think about it anymore. But now I'm stumped with a new question, do I visit Viv in the hospital? Of course I do, I mean we are still friends and I am kind of the reason why that incident happened last night. I grab some things from the office and head out of my door and who else do I run in to but Zach.

"Whoa buddy what's the rush?" He says as I bump into him causing him to drop some papers.

"Had an emergency man, I just need to run." I say helping him grab the papers left on the ground,

"Oh man, is Aria alright dude?" He lowered his voice and sound very worried asking me the question. As much as a dickhead Zach is he does a really good job helping me keep my secrets.

"Ohhhh okay." He gave me sort of a smirk and didn't say anything else, he probably knows exactly where I'm going.

Already caught leaving the office, I figured that I would slow myself down so that I don't run into anyone else. As I exit the elevator on the main level of the building my phone begins to ring, it's Ari.

"Hey babe." I say answering the phone.

"Hey, I was just wondering if you would like for me to meet you for lunch?" As sweet as she asked I know that she wants me to say yes.

"Damn baby, I wish you would have told me earlier. I am up to my head in things to do here today, I wasn't even going to take lunch." I sound pretty convincing.

"Oh alright, it's cool. I was just asking to make sure anyway." She wants to come so bad and I do need to spend more time with her or she'll be calling that other nigga again.

"You know what, I'll take an hour lunch whenever you get here baby. You're more important than anything I got going on over here anyway." I say walking away from the crowd.

"No babe. I don't want to take away from your work." She says clearly lying.

"I'm not taking no for an answer. Matter of fact, I'm going down to the lobby now to wait for you so get your fine ass down here quick so I can get back to work." Good thing I was leaving work early anyway because now I look like the hero husband.

"Okay, I'll be there in thirty minutes!" Haven't heard her that excited in a long time now and we were only having lunch.

I go sit down in the waiting area to wait for Ari. I do feel bad for lying, again, but it had to be done. I couldn't just tell her I was going to the hospital because one hundred and one questions would have been asked and I would have been set back an entire month of hard work and good behavior. It's just a small lie anyway, just a hospital visit to a friend.

My phone vibrates as soon as I begin to doze off in the chair. I look and it's a text from Ari telling me that she is outside. I go out to meet her and she is there standing outside the building looking fine as can be. I go up to her and kiss her without even speaking.

"You are a new man Ely." She says in shock.

"I have to make sure I don't lose you to anyone else." I say looking down deep into her eyes.

"So where do you want to eat?" She asks me smiling ear to ear.

"You ate already didn't you?" I say with a smirk.

She puts her head down trying not to look at me because she is a horrible liar.

"Aria!" I laugh.

"Yes, oh my God, I was so hungry though baby. It was the baby." Now she was laughing too.

"It's cool babe let's grab a hotdog and then some ice cream and just go for a little walk." I say smacking her butt as we walk away from the building.

"That thing getting a little thicker ain't it?" She did a little dance to go along with it.

"Uh huh." I say stopping in my tracks as she continues to walk so I can admire.

This is what we got away from. We just always had fun no matter what we were doing and it feels good to get that back. I just want it to stay so that we always feel fresh. I catch back up with her and grab her hand.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from your work too much babe." She set her head on my arm and pulled me closer to keep herself warm.

"No, I can just stay a little longer and get things done. It's fine, this is better." I tell her.

We walk for a few blocks before stopping to get a foot long dog and big ice cream to share. Just her being here made me feel a lot better about the entire day. Like none of the stuff was actually happening. We walk around the city a little and goof around a lot before heading back to my building.

"Well I hope I didn't get you home too late Ely." She says trying to sound like we were still kids.

"I think my mom may be sleep so I can just sneak up." I play along.

"How about you sneak back out later and come to my place." She says walking away.

"I'll be there." I say trying to whisper but loud enough for her to hear me as I walk back into my building.

Shakedown (20)

Even though I know Ari and I have a lot to work out I'm glad she came back last night. Plus it's been a month since I got any so the sex we had last night was magnificent. It's something about when you miss someone and you're both angry with each other that creates fireworks in the bedroom. Unfortunately, that was last night. Today it's back to work. 

I've stopped hanging with Zach as much around the office, not only was I becoming the terrible husband he is but I was also getting his horrible work ethic around the office. I've also stopped lunch with Viv, I still consider us friends but clearly I need to keep my distance. I'm definitely making changes to help keep this marriage afloat. However, there is one thing I still haven't done. It's still a secret at work that I'm a married man, soley for safety reasons. Just this week Quick threatened me. If he knew I had a family at home there's no telling what he would do. 

That being said I go through my normal routine. Shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, put my ring in the shoebox and get up to kiss Ari before I leave. 

On my way to work Quick's words at the courthouse still lingered in my ear. I still have no clue who he was referring to when I spoke to me so I wasn't too worried. 

I get to our floor and everyone seems to be low-spirited. Even Zach and he was always seemingly in a good mood. 

"Yo man what's up with everybody?" I ask him.

"You didn't hear dude?" He says as if  I'm the only person in the office who hasn't heard the news.

"Nah man what happened?" I say puzzled.

"Viv, she was attacked last night dude, she's in the hospital." 

"Attacked!? What? Why? By who?" So many questions 

"Man nobody knows the entire story, they're trying to figure things out today." He says hanging his head down.

"Wow, that's crazy and so random. I mean you hear about attacks on women but you never think it would be some you know." I say to him still in shock.

"Yeah dude, only this may have not been random we don't know yet." He said walking away. 

That's when it hit me. I hurry to my office and sit down. This had to be just a coincidence but it could also be what Quick was talking about. I make the call and nervously wait for him to answer.

"Mr. Ely." He answered calmy as if nothing were going on. 

"You're a coward." I say.

"Whoa why the hostility?" He said as he laughed.

"Nigga you know what the fuck I'm talking about." I reply in almost a whisper to be certain the rest of the office doesn't hear me. 

"You know Mr. Ely you should really watch your language or they'll know there's a nigga in their firm." He's no longer laughing at this point.

"You attack a woman!? Shit I shouldn't be surprised, you shot a kid." I say enraged. 

"Look for the last time, that was an accident. Haunts me every night. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. His father should have been smarter."

"What?" I'm instantly confused again. 

"You thought I was just riding around looking for niggas to shoot? There's a method to my madness."

"Please, explain." I say trying to learn something new about this entire situation. 

"I was shooting at the kids father. See he robbed one of my boys for thirty pounds of weed! Thirty fucking pounds. That's sixty thousand dollars. I'm not a savage, I do good for the community you know that. I went to him and asked for the weed back with no problems. You know what this nigga said to me?" He asks.

"What?" I say reluctantly. 

"This nigga says fuck you. I'm like, oh shit ok. The next day we ride out to the niggas crib to find him. I called one more time to ask again and guess what this nigga does!?" He says clearly animated.

"Fuck you." I say coldly.

"Nigga that didn't sound like a question like I should've been but I'll let it slide because this may be a lot to take in. But yes this nigga says fuck you, again! So shit I get out the car and there he is walking from the side of the house. I start firing. I can't hit this nigga because he was hiding behind the car. That's when a kid came riding on a little bike down the street and he yelled out son stop! I turned towards the kid and fired three times. Never looked to see if I hit him, I really wasn't trying to hit him. I just wanted to scare him so I could get my shit back." He said. 

"But you didn't so what are you going to do now, shoot as his wife?" I say sarcastically. 

"Since I didn't mean to hit the lil nigga I figured he can keep the shit. I mean what's sixty thousand anyway? Maybe I taught his dumb ass a lesson." He says effortlessly. 

I'm in such a shock that I can't speak.

"But anyway I didn't attack that woman. Like I said, I'm not a savage. That was a fucking dyke that I sent to scare her little ass. If she could fight she would've been cool but instead she got her ass beat. But hey, if you do your job right shit like this wouldn't even happen." He said before he abruptly hung up the phone.

 

Welcome Back (19)

Driving home I can't help but think about what Quick said. Why'd her mention a female? Who is he talking about? My mind wandered until my phone rang, I answer through the cars Bluetooth. 

"Lance Ely." I say assuming that it's the office calling. 

"Baby?" It's Ari.

Surprised I lean up in my drivers seat to talk as if she were right there in front of me. "Yeah babe, hi!" Usually I hold back my excitement but at this point I want her to know in excited to hear from her. 

"I miss you, I want to come home." She says lightly. 

"Yes baby please come back, we will work everything out I promise! I'm in the city I can come pick you up right now. Where are you?" I haven't been this excited for anything outside of my son for a very long time. 

"I'm at Bobbi's, I'll get my stuff ready."

Before I go off to Bobbi's I stop at 7-Eleven to get us some slurpees. Both Ari and I love slurpees with a passion but who doesn't? I buy some gum as well anticipating a kiss that I've been longing. 

As I pull up to Bobbi's place I get nervous like I'm on a first date. I park my car, take three deep breaths and get out. As I make my way up to the door I can feel my heart pounding and I begin to feel sweat develop. I take out a napkin and wipe my head as I ring the doorbell expecting Ari to open the door and fall into my arms. 

"Heyyyyy Lance!" It's Bobbi.

"Hey Bobbi where's Ari?" I ask unbothered by her presence.

"Oh she in there. You want to come in?" She asks loudly.

"No not really I just want Ari to come out." I say.

"Well she wants you to come get her stuff anyway so you might as well come in." She says turning and walking back into her townhouse and up the stairs. 

I take another deep breathe and follow, closing the door behind me. As I get upstairs I see Ari sitting on the couch consoling Luke, Bobbi's little brother. 

"Everything alright guys?" I say concerned. 

"Hell nah man!" Like raised his head up to speak. 

"What's the problem?" I say moving closer to him. 

"My pop wants me back in North Carolina. I'm just getting used to it here. I ain't trying to leave now. I was even thinking about going to college up here next year!" He tells me.

"I see. When does he want you to come back?" I ask.

"Man as soon as the school year is over and that's in a few months." He says dropping his head back down. 

"Well you can always finish your last year of school there and just come back for college." I try to reassure him. 

 

"Nigga you don't know shit!" He said standing up and quickly going down the stairs leaving out the house.

"Whoa, what was that?" I turn to ask Bobbi.

"Lance he really doesn't want to go back." Bobbi tells me.

"But why not. It's a year with his pop. Wouldn't you let him come back and stay with you so he can go to school?" I'm puzzled, not seeing the problem. 

"Of course I would. He's just scared to go back. I told you before the reason he's up here is because that he got in some trouble." She says also turning her back to walk away. 

"What the hell kind of trouble?" I ask her. 

"Don't worry about it Lance." She says. 

"Bobbi just tell him, I'm going to tell him anyway if you don't." Ari chimes in. 

"Ugh. A couple of years ago Luke and a few of his friends went to a party and they got in a fight. It was late at night. Him and his friends went to their car, it was three of them, one came back out with a gun and shot back towards the group they fought and hit one kid. He didn't die fortunately but you know how the streets are, eye for an eye. One of his friends are in prison for the incident and didn't give any names but says he wasn't the shooter. The other guys spent a long time looking for Luke and his other friend but they can't find them because they both left after their friend was locked up."

She says before turning to go in the kitchen once again.

"Wow. So why would his dad even want him to come back?" I ask still very much confused. 

"His dumbass thinks it's blown over now. I try to tell him that nobody is going to forget someone who shot them in two years. They're still kids, I'm sure they still want revenge. Especially since the guy in prison says he wasn't the shooter. They want the shooter and if Luke goes back what do you think they'll think?" She says apparently wiping a tear from her face. 

"You're right. What are you going to do?" I dont really know what to do so I keep asking questions. 

"I can't do anything, I'm not his legal guardian." She says. 

"Where'd he go?" I ask another question. 

"I don't know, sometimes when he gets upset he likes to go for walks." She tells me clearly uneasy about the entire sutuation. 

"Well look, if you want I'll try to talk to the father if you think it'll help." I say reluctantly but I do want to help.

"I mean I'll ask but he's such a stubborn guy. I think it would help though so it's worth a try." She says looking a bit relieved to be offered some help.

"Well good, everything should be fine I'm sure. But I have to do what I came here to." I say grabbing Ari by the hand to lead her downstairs out the house. 

"See you girl." Ari says to Bobbi before leaving. 

As we get in the car I see that the slurpee have melted. "Well I tried to get us a little something but I didn't see that issue coming so yeah." 

"It's okay baby. I just wanted you." Ari said gesturing her finger to come here which I gladly did as I finally was able to kiss her after a long month. 

Watch your back (18)

"Yo Lance, what's up bro!" Eric hasn't heard from me in a while and usually only hears from me if I need advice. He's very excited to hear from me.

"Hey bro." I say gloomily.

"Is everything alright?" He asks concerned.

"No man, I dropping the ball on everything. My marriage, work isn't great and I'm drinking again." I tell him.

"Well have you prayed? He asked as he always does.

"Man you know I don't pray much? I say annoyed.

"You think that may be the problem? Ever since you went to school it seems your faith has been lacking." He sounded puzzled.

"Okay first off please stop talking to me like a pastor. Secondly I wouldn't say I have gotten away from my faith, I would say that it wasn't forced down my throat anymore. You know how it was growing up. Ma always waking us up early Sunday mornings to go to church, forcing religion on us." I say.

"I am a pastor so deal with it and she never forced religion on us. She did force us to go but she is supposed to make us go. She's a Christian woman who follows the word, Joshua 24:15 says but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

"I understand all of that but it's like when you get the freedom to do with you want you just get away from it. You can finally go out late Saturday night and early into Sunday morning without having to worry about waking up. Finally I was able to do what I wanted, you know drink have girls stay the night with me" I say trying explain my position.

"And look where you that's taken you. You were an alcoholic and sounds like you're falling right back into that and you almost lost Aria on multiple occasions and by the direction of this conversation it sounds like you're on the verge once again. Sounds like to me you could start going back to your roots to me my brother. But listen I need to finish studying my word so can we resume later?" He says to me.

"Yeah of course, thanks for listening as always big bro." We aren't able to talk too often but he's always there when I call.

"No problem."' He says before hanging up the phone.

Is he right? Maybe. It's been a long time since I've prayed, I'm not even sure God will hear me. It's worth a try though so I go for it:

"Hey God, it's me. I'm not sure if you have been watching lately but things are a little hectic around here. You know, I'm messing up with Aria, Viv is throwing me the drawls and I have to handle this guy Quick. I just need help. I mean I know it's been a minute since we've talked so it may look a little messed up I come back from years of shying away and asking for something but help me out. I'll make sure we talk a bit more too. Well that's it for now I guess, I mean amen"

After finishing my prayer I see that I need to finish my whiskey too. Lights out after that.

The month is almost over and Ari still hasn't come back. I didn't think she would actually take the entire month to come home. I have been able to stay very busy though and today was court day for Quick. I have no worries going in.

"I hope this thing is almost over, I'm losing a lot of money paying you." Quick says to me as we sit down at the table on the right of the lectern.

"Look I told you, there is lack of evidence and there is no reasonable doubt. We'll be fine." I say fixing my suit jacket.

Everything was going smoothly until a witness is called to the stand.

"I thought you said this witness wouldn't be an issue." Quick said angirly.

"I never said he wouldn't testify, besides this isn't even the guy. This is his son, he's going by something off a piece of paper written by his loony father. Just a hearsay, not that bad. Relax." I whisper back to him.

"You better be right Ely." He says leaning back in his chair.

"Now Mr. Watkins, could you please tell us what your father has written." The family's lawyer asks.

"Of course." He begins to read:

"On the night of August 11, 2013 I saw a man later known to me as Quick step out the passenger side of an all black tinted window Acura. He then proceeded to shoot eleven shots in two different general directions. One direction being a home and the other the sidewalk. After firing all shots he then went back to the car and was gone."

"This shit doesn't sound like nothing, I'll take it from here." He says calmly.

"List.." I try to interject.

"Nah. I got this." Ignoring me.

The rest of the day was the hearsay giving accounts on his fathers behalf. I wasn't worried becasue when it was time to come back to the case I will simply state how the account we heard was giving from a man who suffers from dementia. Quick and I walk outside and to his car and before I could even say anything he snapped.

"That's what you call control!? Sounds like they have all the fucking control my nigga. I asked you did you have things under control and you say yeah. A nigga just called me by name in front of the fucking Jury! Ain't shit under control, now I got to control shit myself." He said pulling out his phone about to make a call.

"I got this don't worry." I try to calm him down.

"No I'm worried my nigga and if I have to worry then so do you. Yeah we been watching you and the little white bitch just make sure you're watching her!" He says before getting into his car and leaving.

I stand confused. Who the hell is he talking about?

Say my Name (17)

I stumble my way to car after I pay my bill. I feel like I need to throw up but I do my best to hold it.

"Oh yeah get ya ass in this car!" Ari screams out to me.

"Look baby I did this for us." All my words are bit slurred now as I grab her chin and she smacks my hand down. 

"Nah nigga, who the fuck is Viv? That's the slut you was waking up next to?" She very animated at this point.

"You know Viv? She's just a coworker." I have to slow down now with my mouth because I'm getting a bit beside myself, I ain't that drunk. 

"Oh so these hoes can't respect your marriage? She looks at me way too long to be driving. Women don't care about lives when they're angry I swear. 

"Just a coworker baby we've worked together on a few cases her name must've been on the tip of my tongue." I say putting my head back preparing to go to sleep. 

"Yeah right nigga, ya ass probably being smart. She was probably really on the tip of your tpngue. Yeah just wait". She stops talking.

I'll happily wait. I got what I want. She's coming back to the house. That's a start. 

We get home and sit in the car in the driveway. Ari isn't speaking anymore. She seems calm. My stomach hurts too damn much to speak at this point so I'm quiet too but I try anyway. 

"Baby, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to be home with me." I say with my face in my hands.

"Lance I don't care. I'm just making sure you don't mess your career up. You already did your best messing this marriage up." She calmly says. 

"Whoa Ari, we've both hand a hand in this." I suddenly look up. 

"Lance I reacted off your actions. Had you never ignored and neglected me I would have never look elsewhere for comfort."  She said giving me a look as to say "nigga this is your fault."

Women blame everything on revenge. If a woman does slip up it's always, always, in reaction to the man doing something. They never take full responsibility for their actions. I can't make anyone do anything. However, I do know I can't win this argument and I don't want to. I just want her to stay so I just give in. 

"Ok Ari, let's just go inside. 

We both get out and I throw up as soon as I get out into the white snow. I go inside and instantly lie down. It's very early in the day about two in the afternoon so I take a little nap. 

A few hours later I wake up and go into the kitchen. 

"Ari!" I call out looking for her. 

I go to the kitchen to get a pop and there's a note on the refrigerator door:

"Lance I left while you were sleep. I really think you need to get yourself together and see if this is what you really want. I know you have a lot of stress so I'm giving you some space. With this space you need to stop drinking and distance yourself from Viv. Do that then a month from now we can talk. I still expect you at doctor appointments. Bobbi picked me up. Get it together."

"What?!" I scream out.

Everything I did just meant nothing. I begin to cry. I feel so empty at this point. 

Not knowing what else to do, I find my whiskey bottle and pour a couple of drinks. 

I sit back on the couch and become angry at everything. I want to do better I swear but I don't know how. I'm doing what I know. My dad didn't teach me anything about loving a woman why can't she just be more patient. 

I need to call my brother. My brother is a pastor now after a pretty wild life as a young man. I hate calling him because he always preaches to me but he's usually right and I need some guidance. 

 

I pick up my phone. 

Just a Blur (16)

If Ari doesn't want to come back I'll make her come back. We need to be together right now. I don't really have much work in the office that needs to be done so I leave around noon. I meet up with Quick for a bit to talk over some stuff. Honesty it was just some bs because if I listen to him his dumb ass will end up and jail. After seeing Quick I go to a bar for some food and a few more drinks. Of course I take a couple of more sips from my personal flask beforehand. 

I enter the bar and quickly find a seat. Before I do anything I text Ari:

"Baby please come home. We can work this out." 

Of course I do not get a reply. The bartender, pretty young woman, comes to see how I'm doing. 

"You ready to order sir?" She says politely. 

I look around. "Sir? You talking to me?" I asked giving my best act of a state of confusion. 

"Yes sir." She giggles back at me. 

"Baby I can't be more than seven years older than you." I say hoping she can't already smell the liquor on my breathe. 

"Well I'm twenty two." She continues to smile as she leans down on the bar making her breasts the vocal point of my eye.

"Seven years right on the dot." I say smiling back.

"So are you going to order or flirt with me all day because I have money to make, sir." She says.

"Brat with fries and give me two shots of Honey Jack...oh and a water." I say pulling out my phone as if suddenly uninterested. Sometimes I have to see if I still have that pull. 

"Ok, our bratwurst is the best and here." She pours three shots. "Have one on me." She winks. 

I take all three shots within five minutes. I have to sit up as that third one hits me. I'm pretty good with shots, my limit is about ten and I'm only at six so even though I feel it I'm still doing pretty good. 

As I wait for myfood to come I get back on my phone, this time calling Ari. Again she doesn't answer so I leave a voicemail: 

"Baby call me back. I need you to come pick me up. Had a few drinks love you."

I'm working on my water now as my food comes. 

"Here you are sir." She doesn't say anything else as she hands me my plate with a little note under it. "I get off at seven." It reads.

I may be a natural flirt but I can't help it. I'm a attractive guy. The hardest part about being attractive and married for me is having to tell all the women no. I mean damn, you should see some of them. Some are bound to get through the cracks, right? That's just the drinks talking. 

I'm not even able to finish all of my food but it's alright because I'm here to drink. 

"Aye baby, I need three more before I leave." I wave over to the young bartender.

"Coming to you in a second." She says excitedly. 

My phone rings.

"Yooooo." I say answering the phone. 

"Where are you Lance?" It's Ari.

"I told you babe, the bar!" I'm pretty drunk at this point.

"Meet me at the house." She says seriously. 

"Nooooo, no can do. I'm fucked up baby." I burst into laughter. "But look, it's this nice waitress here. I think she would take me home. I'll ask her!" 

"Lance I'll be there in thirty minutes and i whoop both y'all ass if you keep playing with me." She hangs up. 

I take my two of my three shots and lie my head down. 

I hate being drunk. Headache, stomachache, blurred vision, stumbling, I hate it. It takes away from everything else though. You're just happy when you're drunk. But thats not the only reason I'm here. This was the only I could get Ari back at the house today. She would never let me be out here alone drunk like this. 

 

I bring my head up and hold my last shot up. "Aye bartender, to love!" I holler out in laughter before putting my head back down. About five minutes later I feel a tap on my shoulder. 

"Come on Lance." I hear. 

I look back. "That you Ari? Viv?"

"Yeah bring your ass on Lance." Ari storms out. 

 

What lies Ahead (15)

As I wipe my own tears away I go after Ari about ten minutes later. I know I messed up but she messed up in her own sense and I know we can fix it. I walk upstairs only to see bags at the top.

"Whoa, who's bags are these?" I'm terrified that they may belong to Ari.

Shelia comes out the guest room around the corner and responds. "Don't worry Lance they're mine." She says relieving my of my initial fear.

I let out of sigh of relief as Aria walked out of our bedroom, bags in hand. That initial feeling came right back.

"What's that?" I ask as my heart suddenly sank to my stomach.

"You're a smart man Lance. I'm sure you see that they are bags." She responds sarcastically.

"Why? We can get through this babe." I have never seen her this upset yet calm.

"Why? Maybe because you were willing for me to look like a damn fool so that you could cover your own ass. Me being a dummy, I tell you! After being advised not to, I still told you because I could never keep something from you, my husband, my best friend. It's not even what you did. It's the fact that you woke up in that woman's bed. You kept it from me and you had no intentions to tell me." She looked exhausted

"Baby I'm sorry. I will never keep anything from you again, I swear." I plead.

"Lance I believe you but I'm drained. I need some time away with people who aren't going to lie to me. I'm going to Bobbi's." She tilted her head in fatigue.  

"Ari you are four months pregnant, you need to be here with me so I can take care of you." I cannot let her leave I plead to her. 

"Now you want to take care of me. It's okay. You're a liar, I don't trust you right now so I don't trust your care." She replied to me before taking her bags and leaving out along with her mother.

I can't even move. I'm in shock as I stand and watch Ari leave out with her mother. I sit on the stairs for a long time waiting for her to come back. Two hours go by and nothing. I begin to call only to be sent straight to voicemail. In my head I think out a long elaborate text of how everything will be fine and that we will work it out and even begin to type it. However I delete it, maybe it's pride. I'm letting my own pain stand in the way of what I've done. 

After waiting for hours I realize it's pretty late and I still have to work in the morning. Before I go to bed I go down stairs for a few quick drinks. At least that can numb me at least for now. 

The next morning I can't help but feel as though I lost Ari for good. I know I've messed up plenty of times in our younger days but all of it stopped after we got married. I apologized, isn't that enough? She messed up too. All the thoughts run through my head as I enter the office. 

"Yo what's up dude?" Zach approaches me as I exit the elevator. 

"Ari found out." I whisper. 

"Found out about what? I hope not Viv." He replies. 

"Yeah, she left." I tell him looking at him as though it's his fault. 

"Damn dude. If I would have known she would have found out anyway I would've told you to just tell her. Now she probably knows you were hiding it." He says putting a hand on my shoulder. 

"Thank you Zach, I appreciate your dumb ass advice. Since college I've been hanging out with you doing the same dumb shit as you because we are friends. You have to grow up!" I become upset. 

"Hey man I don't make you do anything. Am I a bad influence? Hell yes! But you choose to hang out with me. Association is with other people led others to do things so either I was going to start straightening up like you or you was going to start doing bonehead things like me." He said surprised I lashed out to him like that. 

"You know what dog, you're right. Guess I need to walk away from some things too." I say leaving him there by the elevator. 

Is everybody right but me these days? Zach really hit home with that statement. My mother used to say something like show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Hanging out with my best friend all the time who's had nothing but broken relationships, I've found myself on the brink of breaking my most important one. 

"Glad to see you're feeling better Mr. Ely." I hear a voice behind me. 

"Huh?" I respond confused on the statement as I turn around. 

"Last night? The cold? You may have taken too many meds." Like clockwork it's Viv.

"Oh yeah, I'm feeling much better. Can't talk right now though, have a lot of work to do." I really want to stay clear of everyone and just take care of business. 

Finally I get to my office. As I begin to look over some files my phone rings. Thinking it's Aria I immediately answer without even looking. 

"Hello!" I say loudly.

"Yes, Mr. Ely?" A soft feminine voice says.

"Yes speaking, may I ask who's calling?" This voice is unfamiliar to me. 

"Hello my name is Kristin Young." She tells me. 

I've heard the name before but still I have no clue who she is.

"My son is Richard Young." She says. 

Richard is the boy that Quick shot. "Yes mam, is there something I can do for you?" I'm confused because I'm not sure if I can do anything for her at all.

"I just want to know." She says calmly.

"What is it that you want to know?" I ask.

"Did he do it? I know you know?" She gets a little louder.

"I cannot discuss this wit..." I'm interrupted. 

"Please! We can't afford a lawyer like you and ours is doing a horrible job. I, we just want to know. That was our son, our only child. Do you have children? He would shoot your kids too if he could. Do you want that to happen?" She's crying at this point. 

"I'm sorry Mrs. Young but I can't help you." I hated to say it but I can't do anything for her. I hang up the phone. 

Already thinking that today would be a tough day, I pull out my flask I had prepared this morning just in case things became too hectic. It's early but it's just too much going on so I take a sip of the whiskey inside. 

"Ahhh." The burning sensation in my chest is somehow soothing. I know this is going to be a long day. 

When it Rain it Pours (14)

I kind of close the door a bit when I realize that it's Viv. I cannot believe this is happening. How the hell did she figure out where I live? Why did she figure out where I live?

"What a surprise, um, what's up Viv? What are you doing here?" I say clearly in a state of fear and confusion.

"Oh yeah sorry about popping up like this, I know it's pretty late. I would have called but I left my phone charger home and my phone died." She said kind of pouting her face.

Still not opening the door more in fear Ari will pop back up behind me. "Well is everything alright"? I honestly do not care I just need her to leave.

"Yes, yes of course." She's speaking pretty loud and I'm terrified at this point.

"Okay good, so why are you here." I chuckle uncomfortably, maybe it's just me but things were getting a tad bit uncomfortable.

"'Wow, I'm sorry. I'm just rambling. I was cleaning the other day and I found your wallet in my couch. You must have lost it coming out of your clothes and of course you address is on here so I just came to drop it off so here you go." She was laughing again, apparently flirtatiously.

I grab the license while letting out a yawn and a obnoxious cough. "Thank you so much." I say clearing my throat.

"Are you alright? She asked.

"Yeah I just think I may be coming down with something. Took some Nyquil just in case." I say sounded fatigued.

"Well I would offer to come in but I'm a horrible nurse. Hopefully I'll see you at work tomorrow." She says in a little cute voice.

"I hope so. Thanks again. Goodnight." I let out a sigh of relief putting my head on the door. I have to smile because I just avoided a crises. I close my eyes leaning my back and head on the door as I lock it only to hear a voice.

"Why were you undressing in that girls home?" Shelia says coming out of the study room which happens to be right next to the front door.

Again, my heart drops. "Ma..ma..mama Shelia what you doing down here?" I ask nervously.

"Well I was sitting here in the study just reading my bible quietly until you and Aria got the talking right outside the door. I heard pretty much everything."

I guess it's natural to get upset when you know you're wrong because I know I'm wrong but I become enraged. "Shelia why is it that you're always snooping." I'm sure Ari hears me but I'm not even thinking at this point.

"Whoa. Lance what you need to do is calm yourself down. I was in here long before your tired behind came home. Aria knew good and well I was in hear doing my reading. If you were more knowledgeable about your surrounding you would probably not be in this mess and you also would have seen the lamp on in this room. So what you aren't going to do is snap at me because you're dropping the ball." She stood very firm in her statement and looked at me in a way that a mother looks at her child. It was scary and refreshing because I knew she loved me still but was angry.

"I'm sorry. I just need to think some things out." I tell her calm again and embarrased.

"You don't have time to think, you need to tell her because if you don't then I will." Still firm.

"Lance why the hell are you yelling and tell me what?" Ari appears now, obviously in result of my yelling.

"I'll give you two some privacy, I'm sure you will appreciate that Lance. Aria I'll be upstairs getting me a flight for tomorrow hopefully." Her sarcasm was very well timed unlike her departure.

"Okay baby look, I messed up." I say trying to get close to her only to meet a hand in my chest keeping me to a distance.

"How the hell did you mess up?" She asks, arms folded and one leg sticking out staring at me waiting for an answer.

"When I went out with Zach last weekend I got drunk and..." I'm not even able to finish.

"You're drinking again Lance?! Wow! Now I know your dumb ass messed up because I know how you get when you drink. I thought you left that drinking shit behind you. Remember that drinking problem in college  you had and how I stayed with you regardless of the dumb shit you did when you were drunk?" I can see the anger and pain in her eyes.

"Yes baby I remember and I..." again I can't finish my sentence.

"No you can't." She says crying but laughing at the same time. "You had to forget. I would feel better if you would forget. Just forget those women you "accidentally" slept with because you were drunk." Now completing sobbing, I stand ashamed.

"Baby I'm sorry. I did not sleep with her. I did mess up and end up at her place and waking up naked in her bed but I swear to you I did not sleep with her." I say crying myself, I forgot how much pain I have brought to her.

"Well you should have." She just shakes her head and walks away wiping away her tears.

Decisions, Decisions (13)

I go see a movie to clear my head. Then I drive around a bit and listen to Gospel, I calm down. I think of what I should do, I even pray and I ain't pray in the longest. Unfortunately after I pray I realize that I'm supposed to tell her what happened. Sorry Lord but I'm not doing that. I decide that we are even, I'll forgive her and act like it never happened. That way I never have to come clean. 

I begin to drive back home and all of a sudden I hear sirens. 

"Great, just what I need." I pull over and set my hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer. I hear the tap on my window and proceed to roll down my window. 

"Good evening sir." The officers comes off as polite which is refreshing these days. I try to catch a glimpse of his face but the flashlight was right in my eyes. 

"Good evening Mr. Officer, did I do something wrong?" I reply hoping that being polite myself would get me out of here quicker. 

"No sir, you just have a tail light out. I'll just need your license and registration. 

"No problem." I open my glove box to grab my registration then reach for my wallet, slowly of course, to grab my license. I open up my wallet only to see that my license isn't there. 

"Is there a problem sir?" The officer asks.

"It's looking like I may have lost my wallet." I reply knowing a ticket is coming.

"Well what's your name so we can get this sorted out?" He quickly replies. 

"Lance Ely." I tell him.

"Lance! Hey man it's me, Harold!" 

It's amazing he can stand here so excited to see me after he knows I'm married to the woman he just took on a date. Maybe because he knows I can't hop out of the car and punch him dead in the face. 

"I'm sorry man I don't know a Harold." I say looking straight ahead. Of course I know him, I've spoken to him plenty of times at the court house. 

"Oh ok." He says it clearly knowing I know who he his. "Well look why don't you just get that tail light fixed and head on home." He adds.

"Thank you Mr. Officer." I say grinding my teeth together. 

"Tell Aria I said hello will you." He says with a smirk.

By this point I want to take his gun and shoot him with it. However I don't say anything and wait for him to leave. 

Just when I get calm more shit happens. If anything else goes wrong tonight I may just lose it. I gather myself again and just head home. 

When I get home Aria is downstairs sitting in the living room apparently waiting for me.

"Are you ok babe, I'm so sorry." She says putting her body on mine wanting me to hold her and I do.

"Yeah I'm good, just had to clear my head." I say somberly. 

"Where'd you go?" She asks.

"Just the movies, drove around a bit which turned out to be a bad idea." I tell her. 

"Why is that?" She says looking up to me with her hands around my waist, I feel mostly belly poking me during our hugs now. 

"I got pulled over by, our friend, Harold."  I know I'm wrong but I want her to feel bad because I was hurt earlier. 

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry baby I am. He didn't give you a ticket did he?" I see she is really hurt, I think that's enough. 

"No, he just did his best being an asshole. It's alright though because we are moving past it. No questions asked." She looks confused. 

"You mean we aren't going to talk about it again?" Her face is priceless. 

"Nope. I take part of the blame in this. I should have been here more, for you. I won't drop the ball again baby." I'm just feeling like a damn superhero at this point. 

"Thank you baby, I owe you so much. I'm going to make it up to you tonight and every night after this!" She said kissing all over me. 

"Well don't talk about it! Let's go upstairs." As soon as I finish my sentence the doorbell rings. 

"Yes daddy, you get that door and I'll go upstairs and prepare." She gives me that sexy look she has as she walks up the stairs. 

I played this perfectly but who the hell can be at my door at this time of night. I'm thinking it's Harold coming to start problems but he come up in here then I can care less if he's an officer or not. I open the door and my heart drops, again. 

"Oh shit, hey Viv."

We Need to Talk (12)

On my way home I stop to get some ice cream, flowers and one of her favorite movies at a Redbox. I can't believe I almost dropped the ball like that man. I could have slept with that girl and ruined everything. I told her I would step up so that's what she is going to see, me stepping up. As long as she doesn't learn the truth behind my actions I'll be happy. 

I drive up to the house, open the garage door and pulled up to the house. As I grabbed all the things that I had went to get for Ari I became nervous, hoping that all of the stuff wouldn't give me away. I take a deep breathe and went in. 

"Babe where are you?" I scream out as I came through the garage. 

"Here I come." She sounded very tired even though it was pretty early in the day, not even one o'clock yet. 

"Do I have someth..." I can't even get my entire sentence out before she just begins to cry. Not cry she bawled. 

"I'm sorry Lance I'm sorry." She began saying. 

I immediately comfort her thinking that her pregnancy hormones are getting the best of her. "It's ok baby, what's wrong." I place everything on the island and go to hold her and rub her back. 

"Lance you're going to hate me!" I barely make out what she is saying. 

"No baby, I would never hate you. I love you with all my heart." I grab her face so I can look her in the eye so she that she can see my sincerity. 

"I...I...I kissed another man Lance." She said dropping her head. 

There's no way I just heard what I think I heard. I raise up a bit and back up. "Ari what did you say?" I say it kind of softly because I'm confused. 

"I kissed another man Lance, I'm sorry." She tries to pull me closer but I'm easing up trying to back up. 

"Wait, wait Ari. How the hell did you end up doing that?!" My heart is literally in my stomach. The worst thing a man can hear is his woman did something with another man. 

"That's all that happened." She pleads. 

I try to stay calm. "That's not what I asked you Ari. I said, how did that happen?" 

"I went out with a guy but it was only a one time thing." Still pleading. 

"Why? When?" I'm almost in tears myself but I can't let myself seem that hurt. 

"I was lonely Lance. You haven't been here, I just wanted some attention. It was this past weekend when you were with Zach" She walks towards me again but I back up again. 

"Wait what guy?" I calmly asked with all my rage contained in balled fist in my pocket. 

"A guy from college. I ran into him a while back at a store. He offered to take me out and at first I declined but then he called me on Saturday and I accepted." She said no longer crying. 

"From college? Please tell me I don't know this guy Ari, please." I say running my hands down my face. 

"Harold." She says giving me a look that shows she knows that I know him. 

"Wow Ari. Harold! Police officer Arnold? The one who is assigned to the courthouse? The courthouse I have to go to? Do you know I have to see this man everyday?" I'm patting my chest hard as I ask the questions. 

"Lance I didn't know all of that I swear." She grabs my hands but I pull them back.

"Well maybe you should have thought about it before you made such a dumb ass decision. Is that it? Anything else you want to tell me?" I ask angrily. 

"Uh...um...no." She says looking away. Ari is a horrible liar. 

"Seriously, you're clearly lying. Just tell me." I'm calming down again. 

"The waitress came and congratulated me on the pregnancy and assumed Harold was the father. He said thank you and I just went along with it at that moment and the rest of the night." Her voice very soft to the point I could barely here her. 

I lied the worst thing a man can hear is his woman acting like their child was someone else's. I chuckle, not a funny chuckle but an angry disbelief chuckle. "So you're telling me you and Harold, the guy I run into a lot by the way, played like my son was his? Wow. Ok Ari, thank you for telling me. I think I need to go for a drive. I got you some things too,they're there on the counter." I say before turning and going back out the door to my car. 

I have so many mixed emotions I wasn't sure wether to be relieved or outrageously upset. This could save me really, I can just forgive her and sweep what I've done under the rug. Unfortunately I'll still be so upset with her. My heart is nearly broken. It doesn't sound like much, what she did, but it is. 

Now I need to decide wether I have to come clean or not. 

Boiling Point (11)

"Wait wait wait, you're telling me that you woke up BUTT NAKED and you didn't tap that dude?" Zach asked.

Like an idiot I had told Zach about my little slip up. I just felt like I had to tell somebody. Keeping it in to myself would have driven me crazy. 

"Yeah man and I'm glad too, things could have gotten out of hand." I say shamefully. 

"Dude you went all the way to third base, you might as well went home and scored. I'm just saying, if she finds out she's going to be just as upset and you'll look back and think man I should have just slept with her." He acted like we were discussing the Pythagorean theorem.

"You know dog, if we were in college I would agree with that. But once again, I'm a married man and I would like to keep it that way. Sleeping around will not help that." I cross my arms and slightly smile leaning back in my chair. 

"Yeah waking up isn't going to keep you married either so here's the big question, you telling her man?"

"Ehhhhh I think I have to?"

"Let's talk about this."

"Don't take this the wrong way bro but I would never take relationship advice from you Zach." 

"I understand that but I look at this more so as general human interaction between the sexes and I can handle that."

"Proceed."

"Ok, look. If you tell her she's going to dig and you're going to have to start from the beginning. You know, you not wearing your ring, going to lunch with this chick all the time, even the harmless texting messaging will pop up."

"I actually agree with you. I mean nothing happened really, some things just need to go to the grave with you." I'm confident this won't happen again so not telling Ari won't be that bad. 

"Smart man bro, smart man." Zach grabs some files and leaves the office leaving me staring at the ceiling wondering if I'm making the right decision. 

 At the office things are pretty slow until Quick showed up at the office. I was really hoping I didn't see him again until the hearing. 

"There's a man demanding to see you Mr. Ely." Jessie, the office intern was noticeably nervous.

"It's alright, have him come in."

"Are you sure, I can call security. He looked pretty upset."

"That won't be necessary Jessie."

Quick storms in the office which is a surprise to me. 

"Lance you told me this guy wouldn't be a factor." Quick was obviously upset.

"What guy?"

"The damn witness nigga. The one you said wasn't credible. Word on the streets is he can I.D me!"

I'm really tired of this guy now. Especially now that I know he did shoot that kid. 

"The streets? Since you listening to the streets so much why don't you go ahead and get you a lawyer from the damn streets. If I say you don't have to worry about something then you don't have to worry about it! You either listen to the streets or you listen to me." I lose it. 

"Oh damn, you must've forgot who you was talking to nigga. I'm not that little white hoe you walk around the city with. Yeah nigga I keep a close eye on you just to make sure you ain't slipping and it seems you may be slipping." There was a fire in his eye but his demeanor was calm. 

"Look I'm just saying you can't listen to me and listen to the streets." I'm calm now. 

"Wrong, the streets ain't never lie to me. Fix it. If you don't fix it there will be consequences." Quick turns and leaves. 

As he leaves out the door Viv comes in and he turns to her and smiles. 

"How you doing white bread? Watch ya self now." He says laughing. 

"What's that about?" Viv asks whispering even though Quick is long gone. 

"Nothing you have to worry about, what's up?" I say still in shock that I was just pretty much threatened. 

"I really just wanted to see if you wanted to do lunch today or would that be too awkward?" She asked with a half smile. 

"I'm actually leaving early today, now actually. Maybe tomorrow." I say sternly. 

"Oh ok. That's fine." Clearly Viv is upset.

"Don't take it the wrong way I just have some things to do." I probably shouldn't have said anything but I really felt bad. 

I leave without speaking to anyone else. I have a lot of making up to do with Ari so I might as well start early. 

Shoe on the other Foot (10)

"Wait, what?" I stay calm but I just don't get it.

"We just can't go here, we can go anywhere else babe." She says without bringing her head up. 

"You know what I've been through getting this place?" I plead but the truth is just four hours earlier we were set to eat the spaghetti that was cooking earlier but she doesn't know that. 

"I know babe but it's just that...uh...now that we are close the smell of the seafood is kind of making my stomach hurt. I actually feel a little sick." She takes the blindfold and lifts it over her mouth as if she has to throw up.   

"Oh ok, if you're not feeling well we should go home then. We will just eat that spaghetti you made earlier." 

"Thanks babe, I'm sorry I messed up our date night. It was so sweet too." 

"It's ok, we'll make it happen another time." I say starting the car back up to drive home. 

Ari goes to sleep while I drive back home. I really did want this night to happen. Between what I did this past weekend and her feeling distant from me, we needed this. 

When I wake up the next day for work, I don't want to go. Talking to mama Shelia last night got me thinking. Maybe I do spend a lot of time at work. My wife is four months pregnant and I'm always busy. After this case is over I'm taking off for a bit. 

Ari was still sleep when I was about to leave. So instead of waking her up to talk to her a left her a little note:

"Baby I'm sorry for the way that I have been treating you lately. I haven't been around that much to cater to you and pamper you and you deserve that. I have been taking on a lot from work but just know that all that is going to change really soon. Just be patient with me. Things are going to go back to normal really soon. I made you a breakfast smoothie it's in the fridge. Enjoy baby, I'll call you on my lunch break to check on you." 

I put the note on the bed and I got my chest out a little bit because I'm thinking that's some sweet stuff there. So I kiss my baby like I always do and head out. 

"Aria do you know what time it is? Get your butt up!" Shelia came in the bedroom hollering. 

"Ma please get out. I'm in a bad mood, I don't feel well and I'm pregnant." She said with her head still on the pillow.

"None are reasons to stay in bed so come on let's go downstairs and eat."

"Nooooo ma just let me be." She says whining.

"I'll be downstairs. If you're not there in five minutes I will be right back up here so come spend some time with your mother, thank you." She replies calmly.

After about ten minutes Aria walks downstairs.

"I gave you an extra five minutes to wash your face and brush your teeth." Shelia says in between sipping her green tea.

"Oh thank you mother." Aria is sarcastic. "Why couldn't you just let me stay in bed?" She sits on the stool at the kitchen island and puts her head down on her arms.

"What's wrong, didn't you and Lance have a good time last night going out?

"Oh GOD no. We had to leave." Aria looks up uneasily.

"Well that sucks, he put so much work into it." Shelia gives me all the credit when in fact it was her idea.

"I know ma, please don't make feel worse about it."

"Why are you feeling so bad now? Why'd you all leave in the first place?"

"Well I lie to him last night. When we got to the restaurant I told him we had to leave because I wasn't feeling good."

"So why did you lie?"

"Because I fuc...I messed up ma!"

"Whoa. Get it together and explain yourself." Her mother became stern. 

"I have been telling Lance about this restaurant for a long time and he's just been too busy to go. A few weeks ago when I was with Bobbi I ran into an old friend from college. Lance knows him. I never told Lance that I ran into him. We talked for a bit and he gave me his card and said we should do lunch or dinner sometime."

"Why didn't you just say something to Lance?"

"I honestly forgot all about it until Lance left me for the entire weekend. I was cleaning out my purse and found the card. So early Saturday I called him, knowing Lance wouldn't be back that day, I told him we could do lunch. I know that's wrong but then I just kept making mistakes after that."

"Go on." Shelia is just sipping her tea not saying anything until she hears the entire story.

"I tell him we can do lunch, which I thought would be harmless, but he was too busy during the day so he offered dinner. Like a dummy I accepted. Not only did I accept but I let him take me to a restaurant that was supposed to be for me and Lance to go together because we both wanted to go."

"Well that is a bad thing but it's not horrible."

"I'm not done yet ma. He's a really charming and sweet guy and it is easy to get lost in that when you let your guard down. We talked and I told him that Lance and I were married and were expecting and he gave his congratulations. When the waitress asked what I would like to eat I asked her if they had any seafood plates for pregnant women  and she got excited telling us congrats on the baby. He played along and so did I. By the end of the night after all the laughter I kind of forgot about Lance. I was walked to my car and he kissed me. I didn't say a word. Just got in my car and left."

Shelia finishes her tea and sets it on the glass kitchen table. "Aria that is a bad situation but I do not think you went too far."

"I have to tell him, I feel horrible."

"No you can't tell him. Not the entire story any way. Especially the part about playing along as if this other man was the father of you and Lance's child. That will cut him deep and it's not telling what he would do after that." She said seriously with he legs crossed and her hands overlapped on her knee.

"I can't ma, I have to tell him. Just not yet."

Think With Your Head (6)

As I sit back up on my couch, snapping back into reality, I realize something. Ari isn't right, I am. Not once have I heard her complain about the new house in the suburbs or the car I said she could have of her choosing. Now, all of a sudden she knows how to make judgement calls on my job. Even feeling this way, I know now is not the time to have that discussion.

After sitting down for a nice period of time, I figure that Ari is already asleep and I can make my way into bed quietly. I walk up the stairs and enter the bedroom to only see she is on the phone. Automatically, I know who she is talking to but I try to play the fool. 

"Baby I'm so sorry for how I acted dow..." I begin. 

"Save it Lance, my mother will be here Sunday. I already went ahead and got her a ticket." She replies hanging the phone up and lying down without looking my way. 

"Oh great." I say sarcastically. 

Ari and her mom are as close as a mother and daugther could be. It was just them two when she was coming up so now that her mom is alone back in Baltimore, she brings her over here to Chicago whenever I "mess up" so she can fix it or try to at least. I just always think "How the hell can she fix anything, she ain't never had no man!" Of course I could never say that so I just go alone with it. 

"Why you go and tell yo mama to come here, we didn't even get a hotel yet." I say gettin in bed myself trying not to sound angry. 

"Uh uh, we are not in that little ass apartment anymore. She's staying right here." She replies, still not looking my way. 

"No." I say forgetting the hole I just dug myself into downstairs. 

She finally looks my way. There's a certain way a woman can look at you to let you know exactly what's going to happen without saying anything. "I mean because the guest room still needs some stuff." 

"Don't worry Bobbi is coming over with everything we need for it tomorrow. I spoke to her too."

"Damn. Bobbi coming back?!"

"Problem?"

"Actually no, me and Zach are supposed go out tomorrow night so can I?"

"That means Bobbi can stay here with me then."

"Deal, I'll just stay over with Zach and Rachel. You know he's going to get drunk anyway so I'm playing lifeguard."

"Ok, goodnight. As long as you aren't drinking?" 

"Of course not baby, I don't drink anymore." As I try to lean over to kiss her. 

"Ugh no, get off of me. I don't like you right now."

I kiss her anyway. Her lips. 

"Ok Lance goodnight!"

I continue to kiss her, lips, then her neck, then her stomach then I kiss her inner thigh. 

"Lance stop." She's basically moaning but grabbing my head.

I pop up. "Ok." as I roll over to go to sleep. 

"Ohhhh you get on my nerves." She yells.

"Shouldn't have told you annoying ass mama to come over here." Grumbling under my breathe. She doesn't respond. That was petty but I won. 

The next day, I sleep in pretty late. It was a crazy week. Unfortunately, by the time I wake up Bobbi is already there. I hear her downstairs as soon as I wake up. So I hurry in the shower, throw some sweats on, grab clothes for later and pack them up.

"Babe." I yell out as I come downstairs.

"What I'm on the toilet." 

"I'm gone. Love you." 

"Ok, love you too." She says obviously struggling in the bathroom. 

"Hi Lance." Bobbi says trying to be smart. 

"Bobbi." I say running out the door attempting to avoid whatever gossip she has for the day. 

After going to play golf with Zach and his folks, we go back to get cleaned up to head out for the night. 

"Dude, you really suck at golf." Zach tells me this almost after every time we play. 

"Well I didn't have money growing up. We played basketball coming up dog." I laugh out. 

"Anyway, about tonight." He begins to whisper, for his wife is in the other room. "Look, you know the chick Annabelle from the floor below right, yeah you know her. Well she's coming."

"Here I am thinking that we are finally just going to be two friends, who happen to be both be married to beautiful women, that go out and have a good time." I'm also whispering at this point.

"Aria's way hotter than Rachel and you know it!" He exclaims in a whisper yell. 

I just laugh it off, it's true but hey. "Alright man yeah that's cool. Let's just get ready."  

After getting ready, I go to grab the car keys.

"Whoa, what the hell are you doing?" Zach seems surprised. 

"Getting the keys." I say slurring my words looking back to him confused.

"Dude, we are getting hammered tonight. You can't drive."

"Zach you know I'm not drinking." 

"Come on man! How often do we get to do this anymore? We're almost thirty already and with my lifestyle, I'm halfway to my death age anyway, so just live it up with me man!"

"Only a few drinks man." I dial a taxi. Realizing we work in the same building, I take my ring off and leave it in my bag before leaving out. 

We get in the taxi to meet Annabelle at a bar called "Dj's". We pull up and get out the car around 8pm. Zach stops me. 

"Ok dude I have a confession."

"What." Dropping my head down letting out a sigh. 

"It's fun night for the firm, almost everyone here from work will be here." 

"You know what, it's cool. Let's have a good time."

"That's my guy."

After entering the bar I see that Zach was right. Almost everyone from work was here. I don't see Viv though, so I'm relieved. 

I was only supposed to drink a little but I probably had way too many drinks. At least seven shots, of whiskey of course, on top of three drinks. 

"Dude, I gotta ditch, here's the key to the house." Zach says leaning over my shoulder at the bar.

I barely react to him. By the time I raise up he's gone. Another hand touches me on my shoulder. 

"Hey Mr. Ely." A familiar voice. 

"Oh hey " I say turning. "Viv!" I'm surprised. "I thought you didn't come tonight." I know I reek of liquor.

"Well I didn't but Rich lost his wallet and needed money for a cab and I live up the street so I gave him a little cash." 

"That's was a ge..ge...generous." Letting out a burp. "Excuse me, I'm sorry. It's about time I call a cab myself, Zach ditched me."

"Yeah he ran out with Annabelle earlier. But don't call a cab, I can take you home." 

"Oh I'm not going home tonight." I blurt out. 

"Well wherever you need to go, I can get you there." She says sincerely.

I pause. "I didn't really plan on where I was staying, just not home."

Something's Fishy (9)

"Is that my baby coming through the door?" I come down stairs with just my towel on, you know easy access. 

"Yes it is Mr. Ely." She replies surprised. 

"Come on now, Mr. Ely is my grandfather. I'm Lance." Honestly I was just trying to get the thought of Viv out of my head and she always called me Mr. Ely. 

I walk down the stairs as sexy as I can. Now I'm about seventy two percent sure that I look like an complete idiot. As I go to take my towel off, boom!  Shelia walks in, Ari's mom.  

"Ohhhh heyyy mama." My voice cracks little in embarrassment. I reach Ari and speak try to whisper in her hear. "Why didn't you tell me you mom was here?"

"I thought it would be funny. I am sorry though, I did not know you were going to give me all that cuz I would've left her ass in the car!" She said loudly. 

"You better watch your mouth!" Her mother snapped. Shelia is a lifetime church member. I mean she even waited til marriage to give up the cookie! Too bad poppa was a rolling stone and got up out of there almost right after the honeymoon. "Hey baby, how you treating my little girl?"

"Just like the queen she is." I reply confidently.

"Ok. That better be true but I'll take your word for it, I need to get some sleep." She said yawning and stretching towards the end of her sentence. 

"Yeah go get some rest and I'll have your bags in the house shortly." I'm trying to cover myself as best as I can. 

"See that's how you treat a lady. Aria your son is going to have a wonderful example of a father. Keep him." 

"Oh I intend to." She says smirking as I head back upstairs to put on some clothes. 

A good example? Me? I just woke up butt naked in another woman's bed this same day. I'm starting to think I'm no different than her own father. I just haven't fully acted on anything, yet. 

After I grad the bags from the car I find Ari in the kitchen cooking up some spaghetti. 

"How was the weekend babe? She asks.

"You know Zach was drunk and I had to take care of him." I'm looking down at my feet leaning on the kitchen island trying not make eye contact. 

"Nothing exciting?"

"This girl did try to get Zach to take her home but of course I saved him." I chuckle uncomfortably. 

"Uh huh. What about you. I know somebody tried to get your fine self daddy."

"I wouldn't know babe, I was into the tv at the bar checking out the game." I lean back on another counter and cross my arms. This is more nerve racking than court.

"Enough about my weekend, what did you in Bobbi get into all weekend?"

"Bobbi?" She seemed surprised. 

"Yeah, Bobbi, your big mouth best friend. The one you were with the entire weekend." 

"Oh Bobbi, yeah we really just hung out nothing major. You want onions in the spaghetti?" 

"Uh yeah onions are cool, what did y'all do." I'm doing my best trying to sound interested here. 

"Could you do me a favor and go check on mama for me? You know how she snoops." 

Ok at this point I don't care anymore, I tried. "Yeah, I can do that. 

I walk upstairs to see mama Shelia in the guest room looking through the dresser drawers. 

"Something wrong mama?" I asked holding back a little laughter.

"Oh no just looking around the new place. Why you work so much boy? Don't you know Aria is pregnant and needs you around?"

"Uh" I'm surprised by here question, old folk have no filter I swear. "Well I'm working on a major case at the moment, you know how it is." I kind of shrug the question off. 

"I sure do, just know a woman needs attention. Especially when they're pregnant. 

"Ok I hear you. Why don't get that rest and I will come tell you when dinner is ready." 

"Why don't y'all go out to eat, trust me she needs the attention." 

"That actually isn't a bad idea." I needed to be around her and by the way mama is talking she needs me just as much. 

I run downstairs.

"Babe put this stuff up." I say grabbing her by the waist and nibbling on her ear. 

"Uh no, I just cooked all this food!" She was jokingly upset but upset nonetheless. 

"Come on baby let's get out the house, let's spend some time together." 

"Ugh, ok. Let me go get dressed!" Her tone quickly changed. 

We both get dressed and are both obviously excited. 

"So where are you taking me Ely." She asked anticipating a good answer. 

"Well it's been awhile since you've been home to Baltimore and I know how seafood is big there so just know that seafood is on the menu."

"Ohhhhh I like, let's just not tell the doctor." 

"Don't worry it's our secret and I already told them that we are expecting, they have special meals." 

I know it's last minute but I want it to be as romantic as possible. So as we reach the car door I begin to implement my plan. 

"Wait babe. I gotta do this. Turn around." I say smiling.

"We are outside, in public." She says turning her body around facing the other way. 

"Nothing like that my queen. I just need to blindfold you so that you don't know where we are going." 

"Where is all of this coming from, I love it!" 

I guide her in the car, put her seatbelt on and close her door. I put some nice smooth jazz on. Neither of us really listen to jazz much but it seemed fitting so hey. After about 45 minutes of driving we stop. 

"Are we here?!" She asked unable to keep those beautiful teeth hidden. 

"Yep". I take off her blindfold and wait for an reaction. 

Nothing. 

"Babe you know where we are?" I'm very surprised because this is one of the top restaurants in the city, GT Fish & Oyster. 

"I actually do and we can't eat here, no." 

I'm confused.