Played Affair

Chapter 7

                        PART II

                   16 Years Later

CHAPTER 7

       “Nathanial! Get ya’ ass down here. Now!”

       He walked downstairs with an undershirt on and a pair of baggy pants. “Yeah Ma?”

       “Leave a dirty plate on the table one more time...”

       Nathanial grumbled and picked up the plate and slipped it into the sink. “Always gettin’ in trouble over B.S.”

       “Cause you don’t listen,” Natasha, his sister, laughed.

       “Shut up. Nobody ain’t talking to you!”

       “Keep it up! Yall both ‘bout to get an ass whoopin,” Faith yelled. She sat down with a sigh. She was so stressed today. She worked overtime because her co-worker, Nelly, didn’t show up.

       “Mama, don’t forget we get out of school at noon tomorrow.”

       “Natasha, trust me. I won’t forget. I’ll probably still be at work, so if I don’t answer, don’t worry about it.” Faith laid her head back and began to rest a little. Then she heard a familiar name come from the T.V.

       Egyptian’s Paradise was still at the peak of their careers but came to an abrupt halt when news of an affair with original band mate Faith Thomas and then fiancé of Connie Brown, Adrian Nelson, arose. Thomas was in a relationship with the Atlanta Falcon’s twin brother at the time during the affair. She was cut and has since been replaced. After the cut, Thomas moved away from the public eye and has not been back since. Rumors have surfaced that the former singer died in a car crash in late October of 2009.

       “Is that what really happened, Mama?” Natasha asked.

       Faith sat up and sighed. “Yeah. I made a lot of mistakes.”

       They began to ask question about why the affair happened and what the music business is really like. Faith stopped their questions and changed the channel. She shook her head. Her children just found out about her horrible ways which caused them as a result. Damn.

       Faith took two menus top give to her customers. She was tired as hell and couldn’t get any sleep at all after yesterday’s E! News special on her former life. They always had a tendency to have some kind of negative connotation on her life. For now, her alias would be Nadia in her work place until she could explain herself.

       “Welcome to Casanova’s. I’m Nadia and I’ll be your waiter for the evening. Can I start you off with any drinks?”

       “Yeah. I’ll have just a glass of water please,” a familiar voice responded, her head still looking at the menu.

       Faith scribble on her notepad, not making eye contact. “And for you-”

       “Faith?”

       Faith stopped writing and looked to see Alex sitting in front of her.

       “Oh. Um…hey Alexander.”

       “Wow…long time no se,” Alex said examining Faith head to toe.

       “Yeah…um...”Faith drifted off. “Your drink please?”

       “Coke would be fine.”

       “Alright then-”

       “Who are you? I think I know you from somewhere…Although your name doesn’t ring a bell,” the woman asked closely, finally looking at Faith.

       “Just an old schoolmate of his. That’s it.”  

       “Oh, well I’m Melissa Parker. I’m his fiancé.”

       “Fiancé?” Faith almost choked. “Well congratulations.” She walked away as her heart skipped a few beats rehearing the word fiancé through her head. She could see the shaking in her hands while pouring the drinks. Faith knew today would probably get worst, especially since she knew who Melissa outside of work.

       She returned with the couple’s drinks and gave a fake smile. “Are you guys ready to order, or do you need more time?”

       “Oh, we’re ready. I’ll take the cocktail salad. Side…Um how about green beans.”

       “And you sir?”

       “Steak special, please.”

       “Okay, I’ll be back shortly-”Faith said in a rush before getting stopped by Melissa.

       “Excuse me, do you happen to know someone by the name of Nathanial Thomas?”

       Damn it Nathanial. “Yes…Why do you ask?”

       “Oh, he’s always getting in trouble; visiting my office 24/7. “

       I was right. It’s the principal. “Well that’s Nathanial for you,” Faith laughed uneasily.

       “Who’s Nathanial?” Alex questioned. Faith could she him staring at her from the corner of her eye.

       “That’s where my question comes in. Aren’t you his-”

       “Aunt.” Faith blurted.

       “You sure?” Alex questioned again.

       “Yes.”

       “Well on his contacts it lists-”

       “I’m his aunt.” Faith said once again hoping to escape this hell hole she wished was a nightmare.