“Why did you do it? Needed something to chat about on the phone?”
“I wouldn’t do that. I just wanted to protect—”
“You know what? Don’t say anything else.” I cut her off. “I don’t want to hear it. You did the same stuff in college and I’ve had enough. Just stay away from me.” I turned and headed up the staircase in the kitchen. It was time for me to go.
“Kerry,” she called after me, but it was too late. This was a deep cut and I was in no condition to pretend to patch it up.
After five minutes of fussing with the dress and realizing that it was going to take me much longer to get out of it than I needed to make a quick departure, I just grabbed my purse and headed for the staircase. I needed to get out of that house and away from Marcy before I broke down and cursed everyone out. How could she betray me like that? After all of these years and all of these promises she made never to share my business? She was supposed to be there for me. Especially at a time like this. Not out spreading my business.
Struggling down the hallway, I stopped at Milicent’s door to say good night. I didn’t want her to have to suffer for her mother’s shortcomings. She was my godchild and I would always love her.
I swung my purse over my shoulder and opened her bedroom door. And there, sitting in front of a mirror, was a Millicent with about a pound of caked-on white foundation on her face. Iris was beside her, applying red lipstick. Milicent looked like she was in whiteface. “Now we look just alike,” Iris said. Milicent saw me in the mirror and turned around quickly.
“Aunt Kerry, we’re just playing,” she said, clearly knowing she was doing something wrong.
“Take it off,” I said with a sense of urgency in my voice that was familiar. Painful. “Now!” I snarled, causing both Milicent and Iris to jump.
“Kerry,” I heard Damien say from the other side of the door. Milicent looked at me with a fear in her eyes that begged me not to say anything.
I hurried and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me, just as Damien got close.
“Everything okay?” he said, looking at the door.
“Yeah, they’re watching television. I just . . . wanted to say good night and . . .”
“Yeah, Marcy just told me what happened. I wanted to come and see if you were okay.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me,” I managed.
“I’m really sorry about all of this. I spoke to Jamison and he feels real bad—”
“I don’t want to hear that right now.” I stepped away from the door.
“Come on, don’t—”
“I’m angry. I’m real angry right now and I just want to be alone.”
“Jamison’s not going to leave you. He’s not that kind of man. He’s—”
“Like you?”
“You know what I mean, Kerry,” he said.
“Did you know about her?” I asked.
“Let’s not go there.”
“You did?” I eyed him hard. “You knew about this?! You were in my house. With my family. And you lied to me?!”
“It’s not about that . . .”
“If cheating isn’t about lies then what is it about?” I said. I felt my heart break again. This time for my friendships. “Give me my keys so I can go home.” I put out my hand.
“I don’t think you should do that. Not in your condition. You’re eight months—”
“Fuck my condition,” I yelled. “Give me the Goddamned keys.”
Together Forever