Life interrupted

When Quisha got there she was directed into the study.

“Thank you for coming, Quisha,” his mother started. “I really don’t know how to tell you children this,” she said, pausing. “I’m dying.” There were gasps amongst her children.

“Mom,” her daughter said. “Please don’t say that. How can you say that?” she finished.

“Well, it’s out of my control. Dr. Ashby gave me the news last week. I got a second opinion yesterday,” she said.

Quisha felt as though she was intruding and felt awkward. The Allencourt children were devastated—even though the writing had been on the wall for well over a year. Their mother had gotten progressively worse, but they had each held out hope for modern technology and her ability to pay for the best care to improve her health.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and continued.

“I called you all here to tell you that and because I was given the prognosis of six months or less to live…I want…,” she paused, took a deep breath and said, “I want Chad and Quisha to move up their wedding. It’s my dying wish to see my last child get married,” she finished.

Everyone in the room including Quisha sat stunned. This sham had taken on an unexpected life of its own. Quisha steadied her breathing to calm her nerves and looked helplessly at Chad. His head was down; he and his mother were very close. Quisha stood up to speak and Chad gave her a look that made her think better of outing her sham with her son.

“Mom, if that is your wish,” Chad said.

“Yes,” his mother said before he could finish his thought.

* * *

After the upsetting news Chad followed Quisha to her house.

“Are you crazy?” she asked when they got in her apartment. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

“I know, I know,” Chad said, trying to think of his next plan of action. “We have to go through with this,” he said.

“No—I agreed to be your girlfriend,” she said.

“No, we agreed to girlfriend, slash fiancée—or don’t you remember?” he asked.

“I have to think about this,” Quisha said.

“Think about it; we can go through the motions and get it annulled,” Chad said.

“Don’t you think that is a bit much for a lie?” Quisha asked. “I don’t feel comfortable anymore doing this. It’s wrong,” she finished.

“You can do this for me can’t you?” Chad asked. “We’ve become close in these last few months,” he finished. It was true; they had developed an unusually close friendship.

“I have to think about this,” Quisha told him.

“Just remember, the marriage can be annulled and you will be paid handsomely.” Chad said.

* * *

She now had more money than she knew what to do with. It felt exorbitant to her that he would spend that kind of money just to get out of marriage and end up married anyway. But it was his money to piss away and she was on the receiving end of it.

And with that, Quisha was left to her thoughts. Even though she wasn’t on the best of terms with her cousin at the moment she called her to tell her about the proposition.

“How much is he paying you?” Bridget asked.

“We haven’t discussed that,” Quisha lied. She knew Bridget would hit her up for money and God knew who else. The less people knew of her finances the better for her. By the end of the week she had her answer. She called Chad and told him.

“I’ll do it as long as it’s annulled.”

“Good. My sister will be in touch,” he said.

“Why does she have to call me?” Quisha asked. She remembered the rather chilly reception she received from his sister; even though it was subtle, it was still there.

“You don’t know the Allencourt family,” he started. “This is going to be in the society papers; there will be a lot of guests, and…you have a month to plan this,” he finished and got off the phone before she could question the folly of it all.

It was too much for a sham wedding, but if he liked it, she loved it and waited for a call from Gretchen. In the meantime she only told a few of her friends and family, but she didn’t tell them the extent of who she was marrying and the amount of money that was involved.

“Yeah, girl, get those coins,” Heavenlee said when Quisha told her of the plan.

“I’m concerned about my integrity,” Quisha admitted.

“What do you mean?” Heavenlee asked.

“A large amount of money is flashed in my face and it’s like, like, I’m selling my soul.”

“It’s just money, girl. That man wants to give you money—legitimate money. Look at this like an acting part in a movie,” Heavenlee reasoned with her. “Just don’t fall in love,” she added laughing.

It was too late. Quisha was in love and she knew it wasn’t Chad’s money—but him.

Heavenlee and Quisha had formed a close friendship since Quisha had come to Detroit. Quisha was thankful that she had Heavenlee to confide in. She and Tamla had not been on good terms since the Miami trip and she felt bad that she couldn’t tell Tamla the news. Quisha was living the life that they had both dreamed of once upon a time.

* * *

“Hello,” Quisha said when Bryan called. He didn’t even try to hide his displeasure with her.

“I don’t know what type of game you’re running on my brother, but I know you’re a dancer at Drop it Like it’s Hot strip club. Chad would never mess with the likes of you. I want you to leave our family alone. If you don’t, I will tell Chad exactly what kind of woman you are.” He hung up the phone without giving her a chance to respond.

Quisha was angry at the way he spoke down to her and even angrier that he wasn’t aware that it was his brother’s plan. She wanted to call him back to cuss him out, but he was smart enough to block his number.

“So, what are you going to do,” Heavenlee asked when Quisha went back to work in the club.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Chad still owes me some money for the time I put in as his fiancée. I didn’t tell him his brother called me and pretty much threatened me.”

“That’s a bummer,” Heavenlee said. “Blood is thicker than water; I’m sure Chad will take his side—too bad you put all that time in for nothing. I hope Chad does right by you and gives you the rest of the money he owes you. It’s not your fault he’s got a jerk for a brother.”

“Well, he’s already given me a few thousand dollars, but he still owes me at least half of what he’s already given me,” Quisha said.

“Just out of curiosity, I have a question,” Heavenlee said.

“What?” Quisha replied.

“Have you, um… are you living up to the fiancée name? I mean, that’s an awful lot of money for a man to give away if he’s not hitting it. I’m not judging. He’s beautiful. I’m just saying I’d take full advantage of that one,” Heavenlee said.

Quisha laughed. “I let him hit it a few times. But, yes—this is strictly a business deal,” She said, even though in her heart-of-hearts she knew it was something more. But she already felt that she’d told Heavenlee more than she should have.

“Uh-huh, rich people problems,” Heavenlee said. “I wish I had thousands to throw away on a sham relationship.”

“I know—right.” Quisha said and laughed.

* * *

Meanwhile

Quisha was the least of the Allencourt family worries. A young man living in Detroit was about to make his presence known and disrupt their perfect rich lives. His name was Donte Washington and he was a college grad doing well for his life considering where he came from—a rough neighborhood subject to a lot of gang activity.

His mother was a school teacher and his father was a principal at an area high school who wanted better for his son. He loved his son and it was helpful to keep him out of gangs and other trouble—earning him the nick-name Daddy’s boy. As Donte got older he started to question why he didn’t look like the rest of his family.

He was tall like his father but very light-skinned with green eyes and a wavy curl pattern and his parents and sister, Denise were all dark-brown. There were no other green-eyed people that he was aware of in his immediate family. There were always whispers in his family about his true parentage, but asking his mother and father about it was futile.

“Sweetheart, who is filling your head with that nonsense—that Dad and I are not your real parents?” His mother would ask and he would promptly drop the matter. But he didn’t forget about it. He would leave it for another day and time to get to the bottom of it. He had one too many family members hint at the fact that one of his parents was not really his legitimate parent.

* * *

While standing in line at the grocery store one day, Heavenlee caught the eye of tall and handsome Donte. He kept an eye on her until he could pay for his things and try to catch her before she got into her car.

“Hi,” he said after he rushed out of the store after her.

She turned and looked up at him. She was accustomed to men chasing her, but most, when they found out that she was a stripper, either used it to their benefit or immediately dumped her upon finding out her occupation. But there was something different about this young man as she peered up in his face; there was also something strangely familiar about him that she couldn’t pinpoint.

“Hi,” he said and flashed a perfect smile.

“Hello,” Heavenlee replied.

“Can I get your number?” he bravely asked.

She handed him her business card instead. A subtle expression crossed his features when he realized where she worked. She always tested men to gauge their reaction.

“I’m usually there Wednesday, Friday and Saturday,” she said and went to get into her car.

“Ok,” was his reply.