You're All I Need. Karen White-Owens

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СКАЧАТЬ you tell anybody about Darnell, Nia?”

      “No. I came directly to you.”

      A sigh of relief escaped her lips. Thank goodness. The last thing she needed or wanted was a call from her mother, digging for details.

      On the elevator, Nia’s watchful gaze was constantly on Tia. Nia bit her bottom lip. Tia could tell that she wanted to say more, push a little further, but didn’t know how her twin would react.

      The pair made their way across the carpeted floor to Tia’s workstation. Once they arrived, Tia sank into her chair after dropping her purse into the bottom drawer of her desk.

      Nia rounded the desk, perched on the edge of the Formica surface, and folded her arms across her chest. “If you need me, call.”

      Shaking her head, Tia rubbed a weary hand across her throbbing forehead. “Thanks for the support. I’m okay.”

      “You can’t let this situation go on any longer.”

      “I don’t plan to.”

      “So you’re going to kick him to the curb?” Nia asked with a happy gleam in her eyes.

      “After I talk to him.”

      “For what? So that he can lie and sweet-talk his way back into your good graces?”

      “Okay. I’ve had it. That’s enough.”

      “No. It’s not. I won’t let you throw your life away on that lying sack of crap. He doesn’t deserve you.”

      Nia gently caressed her sister’s arm. “I know you are tired, hon, but we’ve got to work this situation out.”

      “I’ve got a lot to think about. I plan to get through the rest of the day, and I’ll worry about Darnell later.” Tia noticed the blinking light on her telephone. Someone had called.

      “You’re not going to keep seeing that ass, are you?”

      “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. Please, let it go.”

      Nia took her sister’s hand. “I can’t.”

      “Do the words personal business mean anything to you?”

      “Yeah, but you don’t get personal business when I’m the one who saw the jerk out with other women.”

      Tia sighed and studied her sister before asking, “What part of ‘I need time to think things through’ don’t you understand? Why can’t you let me do what needs to be done my way?”

      “I can’t, Tia. You are one of the smartest, most caring women I know.” Nia’s tone held a note of pride and then a touch of scorn. “But you are tenderhearted. You care way too much for that buffoon. You gave him your heart, and Darnell danced away with it.”

      “How about this? I’ll call him and ask him to drop by my place tonight. Will you leave me alone then?”

      Nia’s head tilted to the side as she considered Tia’s request. “Maybe.”

      “Thank goodness.” Tia reached for the phone. She left a message on Darnell’s cell phone before dialing his office. All the while, Nia watched and listened with an unblinking stare. His administrative assistant answered on the second ring. Sorry, but Darnell was out of the office. She expected him back around four. Yes, she’d have him give her a call. After a moment, Tia added that if he was too busy, he could just drop by her place on his way home.

      Tia hung up, turned to Nia, and asked, “Satisfied?”

      “Not really but it’ll do.”

      Chris rounded the corner and strolled toward the sisters. “Hello.”

      Nia turned to face Chris, giving him one of her most engaging smiles. “Hi.”

      For a reason Tia didn’t want to consider, she didn’t like the expression on her sister’s face. Nia was way too enthusiastic with Chris.

      Smiling, Chris focused on Tia. The smile vanished. He rounded the workstation and sat opposite Nia. He touched Tia’s hand. “You all right?”

      “Yeah. I’m fine. There are a couple of things I have to resolve.”

      Watching her closely, he added, “If you need me, I’ll do anything I can for you.”

      Almost in tears, Tia muttered, “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

      “I’ll take care of her,” Nia volunteered.

      “Okay.” He rose from the desk and strolled to his office.

      “What now?” Tia asked, although she really didn’t want to know the answer.

      “I’m leaving. Going home.”

      “Good.”

      Nia stood and snatched up her purse, giving her twin a hard, intense glare. “Tia, don’t let him off the hook. Darnell is a rat. You’ve got too much on the ball to let that lowlife stay in your life. Plus, if he’s messing around with other women, there’s a chance he can pass diseases to you that could end your life. I don’t want that to happen. Besides, I’d be in jail because I’d kill him.”

      That’s not a problem, Tia thought. They hadn’t been intimate in six months or more. There always seemed to be a reason why he needed to leave or had something more important to do.

      Tia watched her sister sashay out of the office. With a sense of relief, she sank into her chair. Finally, some peace. Nia meant well. She had made some good points, and in the very near future, Tia would consider them. But right now, she needed time to think, evaluate the situation, and come up with a plan.

      For an hour, Tia sat on the sofa in her living room as the images from the six o’clock news flashed before her. Nia’s words were embedded in her brain, rolling around in her head like a song she couldn’t forget or ignore.

      He was with a woman. They were all over each other.

      Nia’s words continued to echo.

      It’s not the first time I’ve seen him out and about. Darnell is never alone.

      Never alone, another woman…How many women were there? Her head pounded as questions swirled inside. Darnell was and had been cheating on her for some time. He lied Saturday night when he said that he planned to meet a client on Sunday.

      Tia shut her eyes, searching for the strength to handle this situation with dignity while keeping it from digressing into an accusatory shouting match. She needed to hear the truth from Darnell’s lips. No more lies.

      Darnell’s knock on the door came sooner than Tia expected. Like a zombie, she moved down the short-carpeted hallway to the front door. At the entrance, she paused, drawing in a deep, calming breath.

      There was a moment when she thought about pretending she wasn’t home and avoiding the whole sorry mess. Courage, her mind cautioned. СКАЧАТЬ