As Long as there is love-Chapter 21
“Hey.” Michelle paused on her way to her cubicle to acknowledge her coworker and friend Rachel, “Yes?”
“I’m about to head down to the cafeteria, are you coming?”
“Yeah give me a minute to check my voicemail.”
Michelle entered her cubicle sitting down at her desk as she reached for the phone. She dialed the number and listened intently to the messages. The first message was her mother asking when she and Justin were coming to visit. She deleted it deciding that she might call her back later.
The second message was from Nina telling Justin that he didn’t have to pick the twins up from school anymore because Quincy was going to ride her over there. She figured…hoped that Quincy was some guy that Nina was dating. If that were the case, she would no longer have to worry about her and Justin’s relationship.
Suddenly, the voice on the last message grasped her attention. She didn’t recognize it, yet the person had clearly addressed her. “Hello Michelle Warren this is Jennifer Adams calling on behalf of the Dunbar High Alumni Committee…”
Michelle raised her brows, confused. “Jennifer? I don’t know-wait she was in my Biology class freshman year. I haven’t seen her in years! Why is she calling…?” Her words faded while she listened.
“You’ve been invited to the Dunbar High Class of ‘98 five year reunion. If you wish to attend contact me at-” Another call beeped in before she could register the number. She figured she could get it later as she retrieved the telephone.
“Hello?”
“Are you coming to lunch or what?” It was an impatient Rachel on the other line.
“Of course Rache, just let me make a quick phone call.” She hung up before Rachel responded.
“Hey Shelly what’s up?” Justin answered on the first ring.
“Where are you?”
“At the studio.”
“Okay. Guess what, I scheduled an appointment with the owner of the reception hall.” She answered, not waiting for his reply.
He gasped. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Yes.” She giggled. “But even if I did you couldn’t blame me, the wedding is not too far away.”
The wedding was three and a half months away to be exact. Things had been a little rocky between them last month but presently they seemed to be back on track. They only had limited conversations about Nina and the twins. And she was still trying to grasp onto the complicated matter of Justin being a father to her used to be best friend’s children. Other than that, everything was just fine.
“Oh Nina left you a message.”
“She did?” Justin questioned as if he hadn’t heard her right. “On the house phone?”
Michelle rolled her eyes. “Yes, she did.”
“What for? Something wrong with the twins?” He unknowingly began to panic. He had picked up the habit from Nina.
“No.” She heard him release a breath before she continued. “She just said that you didn’t have to get the twins from school anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because Quincy is taking her. Now, I don’t know who Quincy is but-”
“That brawny dude? Aww man.” Justin pouted.
“You’ve met him? What’s wrong with him?” Usually any topic revolving around Nina she stayed clear of but for some reason unknown to her, Michelle found herself interested anyway.
“Well, I haven’t actually met him but there’s something about him. He’s always in Nina’s face.” He smirked.
Michelle raised her eyes heavenward. “Justin did you ever stop to think that maybe they’re dating-”
“I know Nina. They’re not dating.” Justin quickly interrupted sensing that his two cents was needed. Yet, he remembered witnessing the kiss between them from the window.
“He could be her boyfriend though. I mean you said you haven’t met him. And I don’t know when you’ll get it through your head that Nina doesn’t need your protection.” Her tone said that she was determined get through to him. However, Justin dismissed her, shifting the direction of the conversation altogether.
“Humph, whatever. What else did you have to tell me?”
Michelle didn’t immediately respond. She was trying to figure where his mind was at the moment. “Oh um, we-well, I was invited to my five year high school class reunion today. We would have to fly to Memphis but I want to go and I think you should come to. I’m sure plenty of people will be surprise to see you there.”
“You just wanna show me off.” Justin joked. “Was I even invited?”
“How exactly were you supposed to be invited? It’s not like your address is on file, besides you’ll attend as my guest.”
“If I said no would you make me go anyway?” He tried pressing his luck.
“Yes.”
“Damn.” They both laughed. “Okay, well I got to go baby, I’ll call you back later. Have a good lunch.”
“I will, love you.”
“Ditto.” Michelle replaced the phone after Justin’s last words. She turned to get up and saw Rachel behind her.
“I’m done now.” She held up her hands in defense.
“Good. I’m beyond starving at this point.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Coming from the living room, Ronnie rushed into the kitchen, barely answering the phone before the caller hung up. “Hello, hello.”
“Damn Ronnie you’re out of breath. What are you in labor?” Justin joked.
“I was rushing but now I realize I should have taken my time. Better yet, I should have let you hang up.”
“Aww Ronnie don’t be like that. We’ve been cool with each other for a whole month.”
Ronnie rolled her eyes. “Who told you that! I never said we were cool. Anyway what do you want?”
“Is Nina home?”
“Why?” Ronnie didn’t attempt to hide the cynicism in her voice.
“I have to ask her something.” Justin simply replied. He didn’t want to say too much so that Ronnie could tell Nina something different. She had been monitoring his calls ever since that kiss.
“Mmm hmm. She just walked in the door, hold on.”
Nina had just sent the twins upstairs when she heard Ronnie calling her. “Nina, get in here.”
“Uh-um I’ll be right back.” She told Quincy on her way to the kitchen. “What?”
“Justin’s on the phone for you?”
“What does he want?”
Ronnie shrugged her shoulders handing over the phone. “Hell if I know.”
“Yes?” Nina spoke into the phone.
“Nina is that you?”
“It’s me. Why?”
“Oh you sounded like Ronnie.” Nina glanced over at her sister at his comment.
“Hmm, really? Anyway, this call did have a purpose, right?”
“Wow! You’re really acting like Ronnie now. But yes this call has a purpose. I wanted to know if you got the invite for the class reunion this weekend.”
“Yeah I got it but I don’t know if I’m going yet.” She sat down at the counter cradling the phone in the crook of her neck while Ronnie watched her curiously.
“Why not? It’ll be fun.” He was using the same tactics Michelle had used to convince him.
“Maybe, but the idea of going back to high school isn’t exactly tempting, bringing up old memories, ya know?”
“By old memories you mean me, right?” While Justin was straightforward to question her, Nina wasn’t as quick to respond. In fact, she didn’t say anything. She remained silent allowing him to make his own judgments.
“What is he saying?” Ronnie rose from her seat after witnessing her sister’s irritated expression. Nina waved her off.
“Why you so quiet Nina?” Justin taunted.
“Bye Justin I have company to tend to.”
“Wait, wait.” He stopped her from hanging up. “I’ll come by to see the twins before my flight leaves tonight.”
“Tonight? Fine, whatever.” She sighed ending the call. “Here hang this up for me.”
Ronnie replaced the telephone on the hook then focused on her sister. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. He’s leaving to go to Memphis tonight.”
“What’s in Memphis?”
“High school reunion.” Nina rolled her eyes as a smile formed on her sister’s face.
“Don’t even think about it?”
“What?” Ronnie feigned ignorance.
“I’m not going. I already told ya that.”
“Because Justin’s going?”
Nina huffed crossing her arms underneath her breast. Being that Justin has an ego the size of Texas, she could understand him thinking that the reason she didn’t want to go to the reunion was because of him. However, Ronnie was another story.
“It’s not him.”
“Oh I’m sorry it’s the memories, right?”
“Right.” Nina stood preparing to exit the kitchen. She stopped immediately. “You don’t believe me for one second do ya?”
Ronnie shook her head smiling. “Ya sister knows the truth about everything honey.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So Michelle how’s life, how’s the wedding planning been going?”
Michelle lifted her head from the plate she was preparing and turned to Rachel. “Um it’s been going, but we had to put some stuff on hold.” After placing a minimal amount of food on her plate, she followed Rachel to a table in the center of the cafeteria.
“Why, what‘s up?” Michelle observed the expression on Rachel’s face and saw genuine concern.
“Nothing. I’m just a little tired.”
“Tired from what?” She inquired, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
Michelle tried to smile but failed miserably, “It’s not from that.”
“Then what is it?” Rachel said, hoping Michelle would get to the point.
“It’s just that Justin’s been spending a lot of time with his daughters lately.”
“Oh that’s sweet- wait what the hell!” Rachel quickly quieted down when she started to attract curious stares. “Daughters? What daughters? You never told me about any daughters.”
“Yes a set of twins. They’re five.” Confirming it to Rachel, Michelle felt as if she was finally accepting the fact.
“Wow, five? That must’ve been right before you two started going out? Who is she?”
“His high school sweetheart.” Michelle uttered, failing to contain the bitterness hidden behind her thoughts.
“Wow.” Rachel sighed again, which ticked a bad nerve inside of Michelle.
Michelle gripped the roots of her hair in frustration. “Can you stop saying that?”
“I’m sorry I-it’s just that I’m trying to comprehend-”
Michelle scooted closer. “Do you remember that time you called me saying you saw Justin with another woman and her kids?” Rachel nodded, followed by a loud gasp.
“That was her! She has the cutest kids.” She suddenly gushed. “I mean Justin does-” Michelle rolled eyes. She wouldn‘t be able to take much more of this conversation with Rachel.
“Yes, that was Nina.”
“Wow, sorry.” She immediately apologized. “So did you just find out? I can’t believe that Justin would hide something like that from you.”
Michelle hesitated. She didn’t know how to respond without saying too much, without revealing that Justin wasn’t the one hiding information, and without declaring that she found out five years ago rather than weeks ago. Therefore, she chose to remain silent. It was for the best anyway, since she told Justin that they should only talk to each other about their problems not other people. Still, she didn’t know when and if she would be up to actually talking to him about it.
Michelle sighed into her hands. No good could come of this.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“We’re finished for today.” The producer finally uttered to a relieved Justin, who snatched off the headphones and practically ran out of the studio booth.
“Damn, why you in such a hurry?” His friend Ray questioned.
“I got to go home and pack.” Justin began reaching for his coat.
“What for? You and the wife-to-be going on a romantic weekend getaway?” Ray teased, which earned him a punch in the arm.
“I wish.” Justin sucked his teeth. “She’s dragging me to our high school reunion.” He added dryly.
“What’s so bad about that? You’re basically a music superstar now. You’ll get the luxury of shitting on everyone that made fun of you in high school.”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that.” To Ray’s puzzled expression, Justin retrieved his wallet from his back pocket. He pulled out a small photograph and handed it to Ray.
“This is Michelle in high school?” Justin nodded in response, handing over a second picture.
“Aww man, this is your high school picture. Look at you, only white boy I know with nappy hair.” He snickered prompting Justin to seize the picture from his grasp. Justin passed him a third photo.
“Ooh, who is this? She’s hot.” Ray smiled.
“You’re married.” Justin almost ripped the picture from his hands prior to delivering another.
“Same woman, um and her kids. Justin, why do you have a picture of a woman and her kids? Are you their god-father or something?” Justin was about to tell him to drop the god and he would be on point, yet decided he would just prolong the picture game.
“Okay, now it’s you and the kids…oh man that’s your babies’ mama, you were telling me about?” Justin nodded again. “Why is that so complicated?” Justin retrieved one last picture.
“Aww another high school picture.” He laughed; once again, witnessing Justin’s curly fro. “You and your babies’ mama.” Ray teased. He still couldn’t believe Justin was some children’s father.
“Hey, isn’t that Michelle too?”
“Yes, which is why it is so complicated.” Justin gathered all of the photographs and returned them to their previous location.
“Damn, how in the hell did you manage that?”
“Well, I was dating Nina, that’s her name, in high school. We broke up after graduation. I started going out with Michelle when we went to the same college. I didn’t find out about the twins until months ago.” Of course, his explanation seemed simple enough, yet it was far from that. In fact, there were still some aspects about his previous relationship with Nina that he didn’t understand.
“Does Nina know you’re about to marry Michelle?”
“Hell no.” Justin answered abruptly, nearly sweating from the frustration.
“Is she going to the reunion?”
Justin sighed. “She doesn’t know yet.”
“Man, you ain’t lie this is complicated.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nina packed her last bag and began dragging it towards the top of the steps to accompany the others. “Quincy can you come get this please?” He immediately came, peering at her from the bottom step.
“You think you have enough bags?” He joked, easily lifting the heavy bag on his shoulder.
“Yes no more. And I’m going to visit my grandma while I’m in Memphis.” Nina smiled eagerly. She hadn’t seen her grandmother in almost a year.
“You’re not going by yourself are you?” His eyes were concerned, his smile was curious.
“Well, my sister’s a little too big--I mean too far a long to take a flight. So, I guess I am going alone.” Nina followed behind him until he paused at that bottom.
“You know if you want me to go with you just say the word.”
“She wants you to go with her.” Ronnie appeared out of nowhere. Quincy chuckled as he went to retrieve the other bags.
“Ronnie!” Nina whispered through clenched teeth.
“What did I do?” Ronnie shrugged.
“What did I do?” Nina mocked. “Why would you-” She hesitated when Quincy passed by them on the steps. “Why did you lie to him?”
“It wasn’t a lie Nina. I’m helping out. I mean someone needed to make some progress in y’alls relationship.”
“We’re not dating.” Nina cried to nonexistent ears as Ronnie moved towards the door. “Unh uh, T will get the door, I’m not done with you yet.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Justin parked outside of Nina’s house. He exited and turned to Michelle who was residing on the passenger side wearing a frown. “You coming in?” Too late, he realized what a stupid question he just asked.
“What do you think Justin?”
“Okay I’ll be back.” Justin shut the door. He needed to make this quick. He knocked on the door and waited with his hands in his pockets. A man, who he figured was Travis glanced out the peephole. However, once the door opened, he realized he was mistaken.
Why is he answering their door? Justin quickly introduced himself, masking his suspicions.
“Yeah, I know. Quincy.” He held out his hand towards Justin.
Justin shook it briefly prior to stepping inside. “Where is everybody?” He examined the empty living room.
“Um Ronnie is helping Nina pack. Travis is eating and I believe the twins are upstairs.”
“Oh is that right?” Though he meant to ask a question, it came off as a smart remark. Just then, Nikki pounded down the steps as if she was being chased. Justin quickly snatched her up.
“Daddy!” She squealed, her little legs swinging in the air, signaling that she wanted to get down.
“Where’s your sister?”
“Shh, be quiet daddy. She looking for me. We playing hide and seek. Bye bye.” She jumped down and ran towards the kitchen. Justin smiled knowing that Neece would show up soon.
Seconds later something was tugging his shirt. Neece motioned for him to kneel. She grabbed his collar, pulling him closer as she whispered in his ear. “Daddy, ya see Nikki?”
He caught Nikki peeking around the corner but didn‘t mention it. “Sorry, little bit.”
“Aww man.” Neece ran off in search of her other half.
Justin glanced behind him at Quincy, who hadn’t uttered a word since the twins came down. Putting two and two together he figured that Nina hadn’t told Quincy that he was the twins father.
“Hmm, why is that not a surprise to me?” Justin mumbled. He could hear Nina and Ronnie talking as they made their way downstairs. When he caught Nina’s gaze, she slowed her steps. Eventually, she met him at the bottom.
Justin greeted her with a peck on the cheek, which she figured was him trying to make Quincy jealous. However, it didn’t really matter to her since she wasn’t dating either of them.
Ronnie came to stand beside Quincy. She gazed upon her sister’s situation with amusement. Nina was frustrated, Justin’s ego was about to burst, and Quincy was confused and disappointment. She would even go far enough to say he looked hurt.
“Why didn’t she tell me about him?” Quincy questioned Ronnie.
Ronnie shrugged. “Hey, everyone has secrets of their own, right Justin?”
“Right Ronnie.” Justin rolled his eyes. Ronnie always picked the worst times to put him on the spot. Suddenly a horn sounded from outside.
Ronnie glanced out the window. “Justin your dear fiancée is calling.” She said dryly.
“By the way, when am I going to meet her?” All eyes focused on Nina. It was amazing how silent the room got. “What? Did I grow a third eye?”
“Mommy!” Nikki called from the kitchen.
“Hold that thought.” She ran off to see what her daughter wanted.
Ronnie turned to Justin. “Why is it that liars get all the breaks?”