Friends Forever Or Not

Chapter 5

The following morning, Dexter didn’t eat breakfast at home. Last night, he and Kaleigh argued most of the night about Jewel. Dexter finally agrees she can stay through the holidays, but on January the second, he doesn’t care if she has a place to stay or not.

Jewel didn’t come out of the bedroom. Kaleigh tried to get her to come out to eat breakfast, but after five minutes, she gave up to leave for one of her beauty salons.

When she arrived, Americus and Taneasha were waiting for her with three Caramel Brulee frappuccinos. Kaleigh tells her Jewel didn’t say anything. So, she doesn’t know anything except Ferris through her out, and he’s meeting with his attorney this morning.

“Did either of you know that she was into women?” Tanesha looked between them.

"No, I didn't know. Oh, Lord, Americus is quiet." Kaleigh looked at Americus. She was now looking at a magazine.

Americus looks at Kaleigh. "Neither of you want to hear what I say. So, all I’ll say is remember what I told you the day you told us Jewel was moving in when we were younger.”

“From what I heard from Courtney, Ferris has a good case. There's a video floating around. I wonder which one is going to Aspen for the holidays.” Tanesha looked at Americus.

Kaleigh is also staring at Americus.

“Why do you two always look at me for answers when it comes to crazy people?” Americus, looking in her purse.

"Because, out of all of us, you're the crazy one." Kaleigh, looking at her schedule.

Americus walks to the door. "I'm not crazy. I don't take any s**t from anyone. My driver is here because Tanesha picked me up. I don't know why." She looked at Tanesha.

Tanesha pointed at Kaleigh with her head.

"I did tell her, but in so many ways." Americus frowns.

Kaleigh looks at Tanesha. "Tell me what?"

"Hurry up and send your cousin ass packing." Tanesha pats her hand.

Americus slides her sunglasses on. "If not, Jewel will be f*****g your man next. I don't want to hear anything about Jewel being your relative. I've watched enough of those Asian dramas to know that it doesn't matter. One sister wants the other sister's boyfriend or husband. Parents ask one daughter to give her husband or boyfriend to her sister. I wish someone would ask me to give my husband to someone. When I'm done with their ass, they won't be asking anyone for anything. Love you two. I have a meeting in thirty minutes."

Kaleigh looks at Tanesha with her mouth open.

“Before you ask me. Yes, I agree with Americus. My mother and grandmother have always said never to bring a woman into your home. If he says it’s his cousin, sister, aunt, or mother. Check that s**t out before anyone more in your house. Verify and re-verify. Make sure they're blood-related, not that step-sister bullshit. The next thing you know, the b***h will be trying to move into your house permanently. Dexter will be handing you mail that has occupant on it." Taneasha took her car key out of her purse. Haven't Americus and I taught you anything?

“Mother,” Kaleigh looked at her confused. She heard everything Tanesha said, but that was the one word that stuck out.

“Girl yes. Old women love d***s, too. Some love it more than younger women.” Tanesha hugs her. “Listen to us.”

After Tanesha left, Kaleigh leaned back in her chair. "I trust my husband."

****

After dropping Royal and Casian off at school, Cristiano meets Ferris at the Polo Lounge. Ferris called him early this morning wanting to talk with him before his appointment with his attorney. Ferris isn't sure if he should go to Aspen this year to Cristiano and Americus's vacation home. He doesn't know if Jewel's going and if she does go, if she'll bring her girlfriend with her.

Cristiano wants Ferris to go, but he understands the predicament he's in. But Cristiano also knows how Americus is about strangers being in the house, especially a woman. He reassured him if Jewel did go and if she brought someone, then he wouldn't permit them to stay at the house. He would miss him if he didn't come.

Ferris laughs "Miss me, my ass. I'm the only one that will be on your ski team." He looked at Cristiano seriously. "Man, you and Americus's relationship is solid. How do you do it? Keep that fire burning?"

Cristiano put his coffee on the table. "I love Americus, she's one in a million. Our marriage isn't perfect, no marriage is. She and I have our moments. But I would never have an affair. I'm not perfect either, but the one thing she doesn't have to worry about is me having s*x with anyone."

"Hell, she doesn't have to worry about you doing anything. Because if you did, Americus would kill you and the woman. Man, your wife has a temper." Ferris is serious.

"My wife's temper does flare up. Americus isn't a pretender or a fake. What you see is what you get. My wife is well aware of everything I do. Believe me, she knows, sometimes." Cristiano looked at his coffee and thinks. "She might not say anything. But I know she knows because of the punishments I receive until we work things out." He's brought out of his thoughts when Ferris snaps his fingers in his face.

"You seem to have drifted into another world. Is there anything you need to talk about?" Ferris is concerned because this is the first time he has heard Cristiano say his marriage isn't perfect.

Cristiano smiled. "No, I was thinking about something. Have you and Jewel thought about seeing a marriage council? I'm not saying forgive and forget what she has done. I'm saying think about it before you divorce her."

Ferris shook his head. "Hell no, what I saw Jewek doing is something I can't forget or forgive. Man, my wife's face was between that woman's legs. Divorce is my only option. I wish I could stop seeing that." He threw his napkin on the table.

"I was just checking. I didn't want you to regret it later. You have my support." Cristiano reads a text from Americus. She wants him to remind Ferris the plane leaves tonight at seven and not to be late, or I'll hunt him down. He shows Ferris the message. "We see who my wife is supporting."

Ferris chuckled. "Tell her I'll be there. I don't want your wife hunting me. Nope, not her."

****

Courtney and his son Medrick are out Christmas shopping before they leave for Aspen. He has been avoiding Kekoa's calls for over a week. So far this morning, she has called him over twenty times. Courtney spoke with his father last week after Kekoa’s third call. Garner told Courtney there wasn’t anything wrong. Kekoa wanted money. He had Cash App her a thousand dollars the day before. She complained that it wasn’t enough money, and he refused to send her more.

He and Medrick are listening to carolers singing Mary Did You Know when his cell phone rings again. He’s looking at his sister’s picture on the phone screen. He hesitates about asking but decides he might as well get this crap over with. The last thing he needs is for Kekoa to interrupt their family time. As soon as he said hello, Kekoa asked him to send her two thousand dollars. Courtney says that’s not happening. Their father sent her a thousand dollars last week. She said that wasn’t enough, and he wouldn’t miss that small amount. Oh, you’re scared your wife will get mad. She doesn’t have to know.

Courtney removes the phone from his ear and counts to ten. That wasn’t helping. He looked at Medrick, looking at him smiling. Courtney smiles and then continues the call. Tanesha and I don’t keep secrets. Regarding the money, the only way I can send you money is for my wife to agree. The last time I sent you money for an electricity bill we found out that Mother had already paid. Kokoa, you have to get a job or find a man to marry and support you and your children. You can’t expect others to take care of them. We'd have told you to go after their fathers for child support. Merry Christmas. He hung up. “When will that girl learn?”

Two young ladies notice him and all they see is money and having s*x with a pro football player. They run over to him but are stopped by four bodyguards. Courtney is talking to Medrick when one of the ladies asks for an autograph. He doesn't like it when dams approach him when he's with his son. Courtney agrees to the autograph but refuses to take a picture. Which didn't go well with the two ladies who were trying to slip him their phone number. He motions for the bodyguard to send the two women away and to delete the pictures they took of his son. He cut his eyes at the blonde who had taken the picture. "No one will use my son to make a profit. He figured she might try to sell it to the tabloid as another woman did. The woman said that the little boy was her and Courtney's love child. He and Tanesha sued her and won two million dollars, which they still haven't received.

The blond woman stares at Courtney thinking"I don't believe he doesn't remember me. I'll just have to make him remember me."