Misguided

Chapter 8: Bitter

Tanya was a cross between vexed and depressed. The rejection she felt on that phone call never left her, no matter how much time passed.

She respected Jamal for wanting to be there for his kids, but not for dragging something out, when he clearly was unhappy... Unless, that is just what he told her.

Tanya wouldn't question it though, it wasn't her place. Those decisions that he made were about his family, his marriage, and ultimately his life.

She understood children should always come first, but she also believed in logic and being rational. Jamal was concerned about being in a two parent household and keeping up an image, but to what lengths should a person go to prove that point? If you're unhappy and it becomes unhealthy. What kind of example is that?

It felt like a low blow when he didn't even have the decency to call and fill her in about him moving back to his hometown.

Tanya was speaking with her boss, and was informed that one of the board members would be participating in their monthly meetings over the phone, due to welcoming a new baby. Her eyes nearly bucked. She tried hard to hold it together. Instead of breaking down in front of her director, she went to the restroom to calm herself and take a mental break.

After the bombshell was dropped, Tanya would call Jamal almost everyday in hopes that if she spoke to him enough, it would be a reminder of what they had and possibly change his mind.

Most times, Jamal would either have to call her back, or was busy with the kids. She wanted to care, and would ask about his son, Jamal Jr. but a bout of sadness would overtake her every time.

Tanya always thought about what Jamal promised her, and it was that they would be together and she would have his first son. Now, he was living their dream with someone else.

As she came to the realization that things weren't going to change, she let days roll by, without so much as a text.

It had now been two months, and the communication between the two were becoming obsolete. She figured if he wanted to speak with her, he would call. She shouldn't have to try so hard to be with him.

Even with her new sense of empowerment, she was still on reserve about moving forward with relationships and declined several dates because of her unresolved feelings. Unlike Jamal, Tanya would never jump out of one relationship into another.

As Tanya was finishing her morning jog, her phone started to ring. She looked at it in confusion, as she didn't recognize the number, and let it go to voicemail.

She took a seat on the park bench cooling down and observing the lake, when the phone started ringing again. The same number was calling, so she figured it was important.

"Hello." She answered skeptically.

"May I speak to Tanya please?" A woman asked.

"This is she."

That was all it took for the woman to start going off. Christine was pretty much yelling and asking what she expected from a married man. She told Tanya she was young and dumb if she ever thought Jamal would leave his wife and children for her. She tried intimidating her, making her feel low.

She even went as far as telling her, that she would probably never get married, and that if she did, her union would be cursed because of the choices she made.

Tanya was fuming. When Christine finally shut her mouth, she wanted to return the anger that was spewed out on her end. Instead, she was graceful.

"I can understand why you're upset... but you don't have all the answers, and you don't know EVERYTHING." Tanya made sure to put emphasis on everything. A lot had transpired and instead of making assumptions, Christine should have asked.

"He checked for me. I didn't even know he was married... and just so you know, you shouldn't wish bad on others what you wouldn't want for yourself. I'm happy for you over there, so that I can catch my blessing. I would really suggest you check Jamal before you try stepping this way. You females make me sick always coming for the woman when the man involved is the problem."

The sound on her end of the phone, let Tanya know that Christine had hung up. She refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing her lose her cool. Tanya believed that if someone angered you, they conquered you. That was not happening over here.

She wasn't even sweating Jamal at the moment, and it provoked Tanya to know that she had the audacity to call her up. How did she even get her number?

Her phone rang again. If it were Christine, she was going to get it.

Speaking of the devil, she thought.

"What is this? Some kind of game? Your wife just called here." She said. "Now, what do you want?"

"What do you mean she just called there? I told that bi- I told Christine, not to call you!" He spat into the phone. She could tell by the sound of his voice that he was pissed.

"It's my fault, and totally unacceptable. I-" Jamal did not get the chance to finish, because Tanya cut him right off.

"Well, that seems like something you need to work out with your WIFE," She said sarcastically. "Anything else?" She asked.

"No, T."

With that she hung up the phone. She didn't have time for the games or the bs.

Tanya was familiar with the saying that, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She hoped that this situation with Jamal brought no more unnecessary drama into her life. If his wife would call her up, she wondered what else she would do.

Tanya knew Christine was more entitled for how she felt, but she could definitely agree that they were both bitter.

She was over it all, but Jamal had plans of his own.