Accusations

January came and went and Chad and Quisha were heading into their six-month wedding anniversary.

It had been a month since Heavenlee had told her of Thaddeus, Donte and Spencer and with Chad’s mother getting progressively worse, it was not something she wanted to level on him at the moment.

But she thought of Donte and if her mother-in-law was indeed his mother she felt it was something that should be addressed.

“Chad I have to talk to you,” Quisha told him one night over the phone.

“I know, I know. It’s been over six months,” he said. “We can settle our agreement but I have to say I’ve enjoyed being married to you.”

Quisha laughed.

“Seriously, I, I love you. You’ve been the closest person to me since…ever,” he said sincerely. “I was hoping we could make a real go of this marriage. Get rid of your apartment and move in with me.”

She was surprised to hear him say it. She had already fallen in love with him and didn’t want to get a divorce when their agreement was over. They had been spending most of their time together anyway. They went about it backwards in a sense, but it was working out in an unexpected way.

“How about we celebrate our six month anniversary tonight?” he said.

“I would love that,” she responded. Which was just as well; she preferred to talk to him in person about this very important matter.

He arrived by eight to get her for dinner. They sat quietly in his car not knowing what to say next even though they both let the cat out of the bag with their professions of love for each other. By eight-forty-five they were being served dinner.

“Chad, I have something very important to say to you and I don’t know where to begin,” Quisha said.

“I think you and I are past the shy stage. What is it?” he responded.

“Remember when I asked you if you knew all there was about your mother?” she said.

He looked up from his plate and cocked his head to the side.

“Go on,” he said. She took a deep breath,

“I believe your mother had a child—a son before you and your siblings were born. Before she was married to your father.”

He furrowed his brow and asked, “Where the hell did you get this information?”

“That’s not all,” Quisha swallowed hard. “I also know who robbed your house…”

“What!! Bryan was right about you.”

“Right about me?” she reiterated.

“Yes, he said you probably had something to do with it,” he said.

“Are you serious? I can’t believe you. I’m trying to help you and you’re accusing me of setting you up—really?” She was so upset she threw her drink and glass hitting him on the chest and the contents splashed up in his face.

She got up from the table as all the rich, uptight patrons looked at her, as she hurried from the restaurant. Chad beckoned the waitress, paid the bill and rushed outside before she could hail a cab or whatever she planned to do to get away from him. By the time he made it outside she was around the corner and in a cab.

“I’ll deal with her later,” he mumbled under his breath as the valet got his car. He drove to his mother’s house. His sister answered the door.

“Where’s Mom?” he asked.

“She wasn’t feeling well after dinner. She’s already upstairs in bed,” she said.

“What’s wrong? You’re not looking like yourself,” his sister said, startled by his behavior.

“Stay here,” he said to his sister, who attempted to follow him upstairs.

“Like hell,” she said and followed him anyway.

“Mom,” he said softly.

“Yes, honey,” she said and turned on the light by the bed.

He looked down at his mother who had lost more weight. He almost broke down but he held it together.

“Mom,” he said again, “I got some distressing news earlier tonight.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Did you have other children?” He hoped his mother would be just as shocked as he was and deny it, but she started to cry.

Chad and Gretchen looked at each other in confusion.

“It’s true. I always meant to tell you children but when I took a turn for the worse and expected to die. I figured what you didn’t know wouldn’t hurt you,” she said, and started to sob. “Did you find him?”

“Him? Mom, please tell us this is a sick joke?” her daughter pleaded.

Their mother shook her head. “Find him, please; I must see him one last time.”

“Did Dad know about this?” Chad asked.

His mother nodded her head. “It was before I even knew him. Just find Donte…please…” her voice trailed off.

Chad and Gretchen left the room and went back downstairs.

“I can’t believe this. Donte? That’s typically an African-American name,” his sister said.

“I know. Something is not right,” Chad said. “I have to go find Quisha,” he said.

“Quisha? What does she have to do with this?” Gretchen asked.

“She’s the one who told me about it,” Chad responded.

“You know ever since she darkened our doorstep our family has been in a state of confusion,” his sister said.

“She can’t be blamed for something or someone that existed long before her,” Chad said in her defense.

“You’re the reason she’s even in our family,” Gretchen said.

Chad left without getting into an argument with his sister. When he was gone she got on the phone with their older brother. As Chad drove to Quisha’s apartment his phone rang. It was Bryan—Chad knew his sister had already spoken to him and he wasn’t in the mood to talk to him until he got to the bottom of how Quisha even knew of his brother and the robbery.

Quisha was standing by the window staring off into space when Chad let himself into her apartment.

“You’ve got some nerve,” she said without turning around.

“I know and I’m so sorry about what I said.” He walked up to her and placed a hand on her waist. She moved away.

“I talked to my mother. She confirmed I have a brother. Do you know where I can find him?”

“I’m still hurt that you would just assume something like that of me,” Quisha said.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. He was quiet for a moment.

“Is there any more information you can give me?” he asked. Quisha turned around and faced him.

“One of the dancers at the club thinks she may be dating your half-brother,” Quisha said.

“Did she give you a name?” Chad interrupted.

“Donte,” she said. “That night of the Christmas party I found a young picture of your mother holding a baby.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. “At the time I didn’t think it was my place.”

“Do you think you can ask the dancer to set up a meeting, or get me Donte’s number? Is he part Black?” Chad asked.

“Would it be a problem if he is?” Quisha asked and watched his expression.

“I can’t say that I’m not shocked. I mean…I’m thirty years old and I just found out that I have another brother. At this point his race is inconsequential.”

“I understand,” Quisha said.

“What about the robbery?” Chad asked cautiously, not wanting to incur her wrath again.

“Again, someone that Heavenlee knows. I know of him in passing, but not enough to tell you a lot about him.”

“We’ve got to set this guy up,” Chad said mostly to himself.

“I promised Heavenlee that I would keep her name out of this. This man is dangerous according to her.”

“I’m not going to put her in harm’s way. I have friends in the police department that can help us out.

Quisha nodded in agreement.

“Now, about us—I was serious when I said I wanted to try this marriage thing with you,” he said and bent his tall frame to kiss her lips. “I think it’s time for you to give up this apartment and move in with me.”

“I want to trust you, Chad” Quisha started, “But, the fact that you can so readily believe something bad about me bothers me. I sometimes wonder if, if I am just a play thing…”

He pressed his lips against her cheek.

“I’ve been an ass, a complete ass,” he said.

Quisha stifled a smart retort.

“I don’t know how many times I can tell you I’m sorry,” he said. “I mean it. I love you and want to work on this. I don’t take saying “I love you” lightly. I’ve never told another woman that before,” he said.

Quisha looked up in his face and studied it for a moment. She believed him and agreed that she would move in with him.