Consequences

33

Taraji stood in front of the crowd of high-school seniors. The college was hosting a women's high-school basketball camp. Taraji loved working with the young women trying to make it to where she was. She listened to her coach talk about how different college basketball was from high school. The coach called Taraji to the front. Many of the girls' eyes widened, staring at Taraji as though she was some sort of star.
"I prefer to answer questions, so feel free to ask,"
Taraji said.
The young women's hands flew into the air. They started with the question everyone wanted to know:
Was she going pro? Taraji evaded the question, stating that she hadn't chosen what option she wished to take at that time, but that she was happy she had options, due to getting a college degree. She used that to begin talking about how important college is. Most of the women listened, but there were a few who were uninterested in anything besides the hope of going pro.
The side gym door opened. The bright light coming in made it difficult to see who was entering. Taraji continued to talk until the focus was no longer on her, but on the tall pro basketball player that entered.
The girls whispered and screamed as Kendall walked closer.
The coach, very surprised to see him, gave him a hug and introduced him to the crowd.
Taraji headed to the bleachers next to Michelle.
"Guess you can't compete with that,"
Michelle stated since the girls were no longer interested in hearing from her. Taraji took a sip, trying to ignore Kendall, who was talking to the girls about the exact same thing she was just saying. She thought about Fantasia.
"Nah, I think I can take the dude."
"Dig that then."
Michelle laughed. Just then the coach called for Taraji to come over. Taraji knew trouble was ahead.
"Yeah, what's up, coach?"
Taraji said. She tried not to make eye contact with Kendall, but could feel him eyeballing her.
"Nothing much. Kendall wants to speak to you, so y'all can take my office."
The coach smiled.
Kendall and Taraji headed into her coach's office.
Taraji watched Kendall sign autographs and take pictures with a few girls. He quickly excused himself and headed toward the coach's office. Kendall gave her an evil look as he passed her. Taraji shook her head. Here we go.

Two days had passed before Fantasia finally decided to check her voice mail. The messages started out calmly and ended horribly.
Hey, baby, I'm on my way home. See you soon, boo.
Fantasia deleted the first message.
Kendall seems shocked in the second message.
Bae, where the hell are you, and why are most of your things gone? Why the hell aren't you answering your phone? Fantasia, what the fuck is going on!
Fantasia could hear the baby crying in the background.
Kendall was panicked now.
Fantasia, baby, I know you are pissed, but please come home and let me explain. Baby, don't do this. I'm so sorry. Just please answer your phone. Please. I need you, please, baby. I'm sorry!
Fantasia started to feel worse with each passing message. Kendall sounded like he was completely distraught.
Baby, I'm dying without you. I can't eat. I can't sleep. I'm not whole without you. Baby, please.
That message broke Fantasia's heart. She began to cry, wondering if Kendall was all right. She turned around and looked at a picture of Taraji. She began to feel guilty. She knew she was no saint. She fell for Taraji and let her have her body. She knew it wasn't as bad as what Kendall had done, but one sin isn't worse than the other.
She looked down at her ring. "For better or for worse."
She knew what she had to do. Fantasia heard the front door open.

"Knock, knock."
Zaria and Armani walked into the house.
"Hey, girls,"
Fantasia said as she hugged both of them. Armani hugged Fantasia.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. When Zaria called me, I took the first flight I could get."
"It's OK. I'm going to be OK."
Zaria poured them some wine.
"Yes, we are all going to be OK."
Fantasia looked at Zaria.
"Are you OK?"
Taraji had informed her of the situation with Nic.
Zaria sighed.
"I'm great. Nic told me everything. She's such a strong woman. I don't know how she held all of that in for so long. But we're going to be just fine, and we are going to make it. Have you talked to Kendall yet?"
Zaria said as she and Armani looked at Fantasia.

"No, I haven't talked to him. I know he is freakin' out right now. I just can't talk to him right now."
"I feel you on that. Fuck him. Make his ass sweat,"
Armani responded.
"Tasia, what do you think you want to do?"
Armani said as she handed Armani a bottle of water.
"I mean, are you going to get a divorce?"
Fantasia stared at the wall.
"Why does this have to be happening to me? I never thought I would be considering divorce, especially not this early. I haven't even called my mother. She's gonna flip out, but I know she's gonna tell me to stay."
"Why do you think that?"
Armani said, disgusted by the thought of a mother telling her daughter to stay in a bad marriage.
"Because that's what high-society wives do. They turn the other cheek. Hell, I've been turning the other cheek for years now."
Fantasia looked at Zaria and Armani. She knew they both knew she was telling the truth.
"I always knew that Kendall cheated on me. I knew the whole time I was in Atlanta and he was here that he had to be getting it from someone. I know that on the road he's probably meeting a groupie or two, but I was content knowing I'm number one. But to know that this was an ongoing relationship, he was treating her like a girlfriend, not a groupie. He had a child by someone other than me. I've lost out on the chance to have his first-born because he already has a child."
They sat in silence thinking about the situation.
"You know, back when I found the picture of the little boy, he could have come clean then, but he lied. I would feel ten times better if he would have just told me then."
"Well, we are here for you, no matter what you decide to do."
Zaria placed her arm around Fantasia.
"Yeah, if you want me to get some homies from the neighborhood to kick his ass I will," Armani joked. They all laughed.

Taraji made sure to keep her defensive stand just in case Kendall wanted to get out of place with her. She could tell Kendall had been going through it. His eyes looked completely worn out.
"Taraji, where is my wife?"
Kendall said calmly. Taraji looked through him.
"Taraji, tell me."
"I don't know,"
Taraji lied nonchalantly. She could tell Kendall was close to blowing.
"Look, I already called Zaria and got cursed out a few times. I know she isn't in the dorms. No one has seen her. Now the only place I haven't checked is your place, and I just bet that's where I will find her."
The aggression was present in his voice.
"Now are you going to tell me where to find my wife, or am I going to have to do it the hard way?"
Taraji felt herself becoming angry.
"Man, don't come to me like that. You fucked up, and you have the nerve to come threaten me? You really have lost it."
Kendall slammed his hand against the coach's desk. Taraji didn't flinch.
"Damn, Taraji, I'm losing it. I need to talk to her.
She isn't answering my calls. Now her voice mail is full.
I just need to talk to her and work things out. I love her."
Kendall sat down in the chair. Taraji could tell he was seriously hurting.
"Look, Brandon, I don't know where she is for this very reason. You're predictable. She knew you would come here looking for her."
"Really? I wonder why she figured that. Y'all think I'm some sort of fool!"
Kendall knocked over a chair and ran up to Taraji. They were standing face to face, but Taraji didn't back down.
"Oh, is that right, huh? You men are all the same. You want to look at me 'cause ya girl left. Look at your muthafuckin' self,"
Taraji said gravely.
"You fucked up, not me!"
Kendall turned around and put his shades on.
"I know the deal on you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Taraji questioned. Kendall turned back toward her.
"I know you've always wanted her. If I find out you had your dyke-ass hands on her, I'm going to kill you."
It took everything in her not to hit him.
"Is that the best you can do, Kendall? You think a threat means anything to me? You're pathetic. You're married to a fuckin' diamond, but you go around fucking glass-ass girls. But you want to threaten me? Get the fuck out of my face."
"Yeah, well, it's my diamond. I can wear it. Hell, I wear it out nightly."
Kendall smirked as he opened the door.
"You'll never have it."
He walked out the door.
"That's what you think."
Taraji grabbed her things and headed out of the gym. She looked at her missed calls. One of the numbers looked very familiar. She called it back.
A young woman's voice answered,
"St. Francis Hospital. How may I help you?"