The Real Housewives of Adverse City Read online

  Carlton’s changing complexion signified that she had hit a nerve.

  “Look, cut to the chase. How much do you want? If you say it’s not money you want, then tell me what it is that you do want. Drugs? Whatever it is, just tell me. And I don’t want to hear any more nonsense about me and you getting together. Not going to happen Not back then. Not now. Not ever.”

  “Let me think on it since I’ve just been enlightened about these new circumstances. And let me tell you this Carlton Porter, big shot preacher, the stakes just got higher.”

  ●

  On his way from meeting with Breyonna, he thought back on the first time he saw Peyton after they had graduated from college and gone on to live separate lives. It was at Perfecting Your Faith that he first saw the boy, too, who was in the arms of Peyton. He had finished his morning sermon and extended the call for those who wanted to join the church, have prayer, or get saved, when Peyton and Derek walked up.

  “Peyton?” he said as he shook her hand and then embraced her.

  “Yes, it’s me.” She smiled. “This is my husband, Derek Hudson, and our son, Liam.”

  “What a pleasant surprise. It’s been a long time.” Carlton greeted the couple but when he looked at their son, he thought he was seeing things. The boy reminded him so much of Carlton, Jr. Suddenly, he thought about Breyonna and what she’d told him. ‘I’m pregnant and it’s your kid,’ she had told him.

  He dismissed the thought, but it didn’t stop him from staring at the boy who appeared to be about two years old, the same age as what Breyonna’s supposed to be child would be. The boy had the same eyes, the same lost look, the same sandy colored hair as Breyonna. If he did have a kid by Breyonna, he imagined him looking just like this little boy. But Carlton knew that was impossible because this was Peyton and Derek’s child. He quickly dismissed all the similarities and welcomed Peyton and her husband to Perfecting Your Faith.

  Over the years, Carlton watched as the boy grew up to become a bright, happy kid and now the same little boy was a teenager who Breyonna swore belonged to him and her. As he drove home, Carlton couldn’t contain his worry. He called out to God for guidance.

  “Father, God. I’ve messed up. I need you to first of all forgive me for the mistakes of my past. I ask that you work this situation out with Breyonna. I pray that she’s lying about Liam and that the truth will be revealed. As for my marriage, Lord, you know I love my wife, but you also know that I’m just not in love with her anymore. My heart belongs somewhere else. I can’t stay in this marriage. I just can’t.”

  Chapter 22

  “We’re just ordinary people.” John Legend

  Eva chilled on the chaise lounge outside of her home next to the infinity pool. A plum straw beach hat shielded her face from the rays of the sun while her matching bikini barely covered the tiniest portion of skin. On the table next to her was a tall, cold glass of freshly made pineapple mint fruit water. Her headphones were in her ear as she listened to the melodies of John Legend, one of her favorites.

  It was the perfect time for her and Harper to sit by the pool together, cuddle, or even make love under the sun. Only Harper, like most mornings, had left for the hospital before the sun made its appearance.

  Eva lifted her head up slightly, opened her eyes, and reached for her water. She took a swallow or two of the refreshing drink. Placing it back on the table, she became startled and the glass fell on to the concrete.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Harper’s son said, rushing over to where she was half way sitting up in the lounger. “Don’t move. Lemme get something to clean that glass up. I don’t want those pretty feet cut up,” he said, flashing a smile.

  Before one word came out of her mouth, he had disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared. Moments later, he returned with a broom, a dustpan, and portable hand vacuum. He began sweeping the glass into the dustpan and then he started sucking up the remaining glass with the vacuum. Next, he used the broom and dustpan again to gather any remaining glass particles, and one last time followed up by using the handheld vac again.

  “I think you got it all,” Eva finally said.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “You didn’t do anything. I had my earbuds in and I didn’t hear you when you came out here.”

  “I still should have said something. I didn’t mean to intrude on your private time. I thought I’d come out here to swim a few laps. I didn’t know you were out here. Where’s my dad anyway?”

  “Harper usually leaves for the hospital before sunlight, and he doesn’t get back home until, well sometimes as late as midnight.”

  “What a fool.” Seth strolled over toward the deep end of the pool.

  “Why do you say that about your father?”

  “I mean no disrespect to him, but to leave a woman as beautiful as you all alone every day, he has to be nuts.”

  Eva blushed then looked away.

  “You mind?” he said, looking at her, then at the deep blue water.

  “No, go ahead.”

  Seth dove in the pool.

  Eva leaned back against the chaise lounge but she still had a good view of Seth. She watched as he swam from one end of the pool to the other, swimming several laps before getting out. Beads of water dripped from his body with the weight of the water tugging on his dark blue swim trunks.

  When he met her stare, again she hurriedly focused her gaze on something else.

  “You ever get in?” he asked, walking toward her. “Mind if I sit here?” his eyes pointed to the lounger next to hers.

  “Of co-orse,” she replied. Her accent became more pronounced, something that often happened when she was nervous.

  “Of course I can sit here or of course I can’t?” He chuckled.

  “You can sit there.”

  “You didn’t answer my first question.”

  “Which was?”

  “Do you ever get in the pool?”

  “Sure. All the time. I love the water.”

  “Cool.”

  Eva sat upright and started getting up. “You stay out here as long as you want. I’m going inside.”

  “Don’t let me run you off.”

  “You aren’t. I usually come out here and meditate, listen to a little music before I start my day. I’ve done that.”

  “What kind of music do you like?”

  “Hip-hop, R&B, Gospel, Pop. You name it.”

  “Rap?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Seth smiled. “I can’t see you and my dad sitting around listening to Drake.” Seth grinned.

  “Your dad is, well, let’s just say, the last thing on his mind is music. He’s more of a bookworm.”

  “You don’t like reading?”

  “No. I mean yes, I enjoy reading, but I was just saying that Harper will choose Time Magazine over music any day.” This time Eva laughed lightly as she stood and walked away.

  “Owww,” she yelped, suddenly stopping and looking down.

  “What is it?” Seth asked.

  Eva looked at her own blood as it oozed from underneath her foot and on to the concrete.

  Seth bounced up and ran toward her. “Man, you’re bleeding.” He looked briefly around the area where Eva stood. A piece of glass glistened in the sunlight. “Don’t move. Glass is still down there. There may be more so hold still.”

  Seth scooped her up in his muscular arms and carried her inside to the mudroom and sat her down on the all-weather sofa.

  “Hold up. Let me get something to clean that cut.”

  Eva couldn’t believe that he had actually picked her up and carried her inside. She wasn’t prepared for the rush it gave her. It felt good; like she was a damsel in distress being rescued by prince charming. She smiled then flinched as the stabbing pain at the bottom of her foot brought her back to focus.

  Seth used a cloth from the overhead cabinet in the mudroom. He ran cold water on it from the small sink in the room and proceeded to carefully clean the w
ound and apply pressure to stop it from bleeding. After he finished, he retrieved a band-aid from a first aid kit he saw inside the cabinet too, and put one on the bottom of her foot.

  “Come on, let me help you in the house,” he offered.

  “No, you’ve done enough. Anyway, it’s not bleeding anymore. You put the band-aid on it so I’m good to go.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. I’m good.”

  Eva got up and walked out of the mudroom with Seth close behind.

  When she got close to the stairs, she stopped, almost colliding into him because he was so close up on her.

  Out of nowhere, she felt her heart pick up its pace.

  “Enjoy your day, Seth.”

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? Do you need me to carry you upstairs?”

  Eva laughed. “Nooo, really. I’m fine. See you later.”

  Eva turned away from him and walked upstairs to her room. She hurried up the stairs as quickly as she could considering the bottom of her bandaged foot hurt like she’d cut it with a knife instead of a tiny piece of glass.

  Once at the top of the stairs, she turned and looked over her shoulder. Seth was gone. She sucked in a deep breath before slowly releasing it and going to her room to get ready for ladies day out with the girls.

  While she dressed, she found herself comparing Harper to his son. They had some similar ways. Harper was charming. It was his charm that swept her off her feet. She found Seth to be the same way, charming that is. Seth shared his father’s good looks, dark hair, deep dimples, and dashing smile. Like Harper, he was attentive and caring, only difference was Harper’s attention had drifted completely from her to Adverse General.

  She smiled to herself when she thought how chivalrous Seth was. It felt good to have someone, particularly a man, to show her some attention.

  Eva shook her head as she put on an over the head one-piece colorful dress. The next hour she spent getting dressed then dashed downstairs, out to her car, and drove at lightning speed to meet the housewives.

  Chapter 23

  “It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.” William Blake

  “Why are you walking like you got something stuck up your behind?” Peyton frowned as Eva approached the table. Peyton was sitting alone, a vodka martini on the table.

  “You are so vulgar,” Eva told her.

  “Call it what you want. Now answer my question. Why are you walking like that?”

  “I cut the bottom of my foot on a piece of glass.” Eva got ready to pull out her chair when a man walked up behind, beating her to it.

  Eva turned around to see who had done such a thoughtful thing. She looked down at the man who was at least two inches shorter than she was. Not only short in stature, he was chubby with a gapped-toothed grin, thick-rimmed glasses but dressed to the nines in what Eva guessed had to have been a tailor made suit. There was no way with his build that he could buy a suit off a rack.

  Eva smiled as he held the chair out for her. “Thank you,” she said taking a seat.

  He answered, “Anytime, my queen,” and waddled off while Peyton took a sip of her martini before she started laughing.

  “Stop laughing. That was nice of him.”

  “It sure was,” Avery said as she and Meesha walked up to the table and sat down, both ladies smiling.

  Right away, the housewives started talking about what had been going during the past week.

  Eva talked a little about Seth but she didn’t tell the housewives that she felt a weird sort of attraction to him. It wasn’t like she couldn’t tell them, she just chose not to. There was nothing to tell anyway. Harper was the love of her life. No one would ever be able to take his place.

  “Peyton, you need to go to AA,” Avery said when the server brought Peyton another martini.

  “Don’t start with me. Maybe if you had a drink or two sometimes you’d loosen up a bit. Being all uppity and thinking the world revolves around you is not going to cut it, Miss Prissy. At least I’m not trying to kill myself over some foolishness.”

  “I know you are not trying to come down on me,” Avery snapped back. “You think you’re all of that? Well, today I’m going to set your lily white behind straight. I’m sick of you always saying something negative. You should be the last one to talk.”

  “Stop it, ladies,” Meesha spoke up. “This is not the time nor the place.” Meesha looked around like she was expecting all eyes to be glued to their table.

  “She’s the one that started it,” replied Avery.

  “Come on, you two. You heard Meesha,” Eva added. “We’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves, not sitting here belittling each other.

  Peyton rolled her eyes at Avery. “I’m fed up with her, and all of you, for talking about what I do. I’m a grown woman. I don’t have to answer to anyone. And back to you, Avery. I’ve never called you anything other than your name, but you want to call me out of mine? You jealous or something?”

  Avery smirked. “Jealous? Are you serious? Why would I be jealous of you, Peyton?”

  “I can think of a number of reasons, but I won’t even go there. Like Meesha said, this is not the time or the place.”

  “I think Harper’s son has a thing for me,” Eva blurted out, like she was hoping her bluntness would produce a much needed break from the mounting tension.

  “Whaaat? What makes you say that?” Meesha asked.

  Avery and Peyton looked at Eva.

  “I just know, plus he flirted with me earlier today.”

  “And?”

  “And what?” replied Eva.

  “What did you do? What did he do?” Avery asked.

  “He didn’t do anything and neither did I. You know a woman knows when a man is flirting.”

  “I guess it makes sense. I mean the two of you are only a few years apart in age. Harper is old enough to be your daddy,” Peyton stressed.

  “See, that’s what I mean?” Avery said. “You can never say anything positive. Why don’t you sit over there and shut up.”

  No one seemed to see it coming. Peyton threw the remainder of her vodka martini into Avery’s face and within a millimeter of a second, the two women were clawing and scratching at each other.

  Eva and Meesha jumped up. Eva grabbed Peyton while Meesha tried to control Avery. Two servers rushed over and helped pull the women apart. One cuss word after another poured from each of their mouths.

  Avery used several choice words while Peyton pulled out a few choice words from her vocabulary too.

  Once they were separated, the manager came over to their table and asked them to leave. He knew the ladies because they frequented his establishment. He usually made sure they had a table facing the ocean toward the back of the restaurant. There were times they got loud, but they’d never gone as far as they had today.

  “I can’t believe you two behaved like that. Did you see how everyone was staring at us? And some of those people probably recognize me, too. My Lord, how embarrassing.” Meesha folded her arms as the four of them walked outside of the elegant dining establishment. She may not have been the one embroiled in a bitter fight, but she was among them, which made her just as guilty.

  As they exited the restaurant and waited outside for the valet attendants to bring their cars around, Eva began speaking in her native tongue. Her lips moved like a speeding freight train with words that were equally as quick.

  “Speak English,” Avery said. “No one understands that Spanish gibberish.”

  “I understand every word she’s saying. She called us ghetto chicks. But I’ve got your ghetto chick,” Peyton shouted.

  “Am I the only one who has some dignity here?” Meesha chimed in. “Look at you two. It’s not enough that you acted like fools inside the restaurant, now you’re out here still behaving like those hoochies on one of those TV housewives shows. I’m not going to stand here and be embarrassed any longer. I’ll talk to you all later.” She waved her hand and walked off when she
saw the valet attendant driving up in her Bentley.

  Hurriedly, Meesha rushed to it, tipped the attendant, got in her car, and sped off without so much as saying another word to her friends.

  “Who cares if she left? Who is she supposed to be anyway? Carlton doesn’t want her butt either, so she can’t talk about me or any of us.”

  ‘You’re intoxicated. You do not need to drive,” Eva told Peyton.

  “I am not intoxicated.”

  “You can’t talk sense into someone who refuses to listen,” Avery remarked, interrupting Eva’s words of caution.

  Peyton turned to the side and stared meanly at Avery. “I am not drunk. I can hold my liquor, but even if I couldn’t, it’s nobody’s business.”

  The next valet attendant drove up in Peyton’s car, a tan colored Maybach S600, followed by two more Mercedes belonging to Eva and Avery.

  “You ladies have a good rest of the day. I’m going on to do something fun and exciting.” Peyton threw up her hand, walked up to her car, and like Meesha, tipped the driver before getting in her car and speeding away.

  “So much for ladies day out,” Avery said to Eva. “What are you going to do the rest of the day?”

  “Guess I’ll go to Aventura Mall. You want to come along?”

  “Sure. I’ll follow you.”

  “Okay. Cool.”

  ●

  “Meet me in an hour; same place as last time.”

  “Look, you can’t just call and demand that I drop everything I’m doing to come and meet you. I will not be bullied by you.” Peyton’s anger was easily identifiable as she spoke. Her chest tightened and she sucked in her bottom lip. The drinks she had didn’t do anything to keep her calm. A person like Breyonna was the reason she could understand how a person could commit murder. Her life was going good and now this stupid, ignorant dope fiend had showed up and was trying to tear everything apart. Peyton couldn’t let that happen. She had to do something or Breyonna would be sure to destroy her family.