Tastes Like Chicken Read online

  “Oh,” Hill replied, confused. “Dandre said she moved to California. He went out there to get her to come back.”

  Tyrene exhaled a heavy breath, remembering Reesy’s disconnected phone. She grabbed her forehead and closed her eyes.

  “I can’t take this,” she said. “Everything in my life is falling apart.”

  I can’t take it either, Hill thought as he sipped his drink. Something had to break in this dangerous liaison. He and Tyrene were volatile together, but good. He liked the powder-keg way they interacted. As for her relationship with her husband, it seemed to Hill that all she did was complain about Tyrone and his ways.

  He reminded himself that they had been together for years. Perhaps that counted for something.

  He wasn’t sure. Outside of his late wife, the longest he had been with someone was four months, so his points of reference weren’t very reliable.

  “You did what?”

  Dandre walked through terminal one at LAX, headed for the gate for his Southwest flight to Fort Lauderdale. According to Sleazy, Reesy had taken the prior flight. He wanted to make sure he didn’t bump into her until they were in Fort Lauderdale.

  He was talking on his cell as he looked for the gate.

  “What made you do some mess like this? What were you thinking? You couldn’t have been thinking.”

  “I was scared, man,” Rick said. “I didn’t want to lose her.”

  “Well, this seems like a surefire way to do it.”

  He got in line to get his boarding pass. Even though he had arrived an hour and twenty minutes before the scheduled departure, the line for boarding passes was already long.

  “Why didn’t you talk to me about this first?”

  “I don’t know,” answered Rick. “I got so caught up in it that I really couldn’t talk to anybody. I mean, I know it was wrong, but I felt like I was doing it for us.”

  “You were playing God is what you were doing.” He dropped his carry-on bag at his side. “So now what?”

  “Now I’m praying she doesn’t leave me.”

  “Is that what she said?”

  “At first. She said a bunch of things. We’re going to go see somebody.”

  “For what? An abortion?”

  “No,” Rick said. “To talk about it. To talk about why I did this.”

  “A therapist?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Whose idea was it to go?”

  “Mine.”

  “At least you’ve got one functioning brain cell still left in your head.”

  “I’ll do anything to save our marriage.” Rick’s voice was tinged with subdued panic. “I can’t lose her. I don’t want to end up like you and…”

  Dandre pressed his lips together. Rick sat in silence on his end of the phone.

  “See, Rick,” Dandre said, his voice low and even, “the difference between you and me is, I’ve done nothing stupid since I’ve been with Reesy. I haven’t sought trouble. If anything, trouble found me.”

  The older woman in line in front of him angled her head so that she could hear better.

  “Let me ask you this, though. Did you say anything to Misty about Rejeana coming by my house?”

  “Nah, man,” Rick said. “I’d never tell her about that. And you shouldn’t tell Reesy about it either. It’s best to just keep it to yourself.”

  “You haven’t learned anything, have you?” Dandre said. “I’m not going to lie to Reesy. Deception won’t get us anywhere.”

  Rick didn’t respond.

  “I haven’t done anything behind her back to ensure she’ll stay,” Dandre said. “I just wanted to make sure she was aware of my presence. And I’ve been tenacious. It’s important to me to know that if she comes back, it’s because she wants to be there, not because I rigged some situation that trapped her into it.”

  The woman turned at him and smiled.

  “That’s nice, young man.”

  Dandre gave her a courteous nod.

  “I’m sorry, man,” Rick said. “I didn’t mean that the way it—”

  “I know. But don’t look at my situation as a disaster, because I don’t. I just see it as a bump in the road. Take a lesson from it. If anything, be steadfast. Make Misty believe you realize what you did was stupid. Stop acting like you own her. She’s not your property, man. You can’t just play with her life like that.”

  The Southwest ticketing agents had arrived at the counter. The line began to move. Dandre picked up his bag.

  “Just keep the faith, Rick. Everything ain’t always as bad as it seems. Tomorrow’s another day.”

  “What?”

  Dandre laughed.

  “I can’t believe I just said that shit.”

  Reesy sat on the plane, staring out the window, tracing the outlines of the clouds with her finger.

  The puppies had lain on the bed, groggy, watching her throw things into a bag. She’d put them in the kitchen but left the doggie door closed.

  “Uncle Sleazy will be here soon to see you,” she’d said. “He’ll let you out. Be nice. I’ll be back in a while.”

  It was still dark when she’d left the house. Dante let loose with his bitch scream when he heard Black’s engine warming up. She’d cringed as she backed out of the driveway. The sound of the dog’s cries ricocheted through the entire neighborhood.

  She thought about Tyrone and Tyrene as she gazed out at the aquamarine sky. Her parents’ relationship was tearing at the seams, perhaps already shredded to bits. It was evident the last time she spoke to the two of them together. Maybe what happened in New York had sent everyone reeling in directions for the worse.

  She remembered Miss Flora’s words: “Pay attention to your parents. They’re going to be turning to you for a lot of emotional support real soon.”

  “I’ll be damned if that woman wasn’t right,” she said to the window. The seat next to her was empty. The man in the row in front of her glanced at her between the seat.

  She wondered if the other things Flora had said would prove true. She’d mentioned marriage and more children. Boys.

  The ring on her finger glimmered in the sun.

  Reesy imagined what it would be like having a family of her own. With Dandre. It was the first time she had allowed herself the luxury of thinking of being with him again. She missed him, she admitted in silence. She missed the way he held her, the way he listened, the way he made her laugh, the way he loved. She couldn’t picture a better partner than him. They had seemed so perfect.

  But then, she’d thought the same of Tyrone and Tyrene.

  The image of Dandre in those pictures flashed across her mind. She squeezed her eyes closed.

  No, she thought. No way. She couldn’t leave herself vulnerable to that type of thing again. Romantic relationships were disastrous. They always fell apart. Her parents were proof. Misty was proof. Just when it seemed like things were safe, there Rick was, poking holes in their trust.

  “You have a hard time trusting men,” Miss Flora had said.

  Once again, the woman was right.

  * * *

  Tyrone sat in his leather armchair in the library. He was on his thirtieth cigarette. They were the only things keeping him from killing somebody.

  Trini had taken the gun, and he had gotten all the equipment from him and returned it to the Spy Stop.

  At least, Trini thought he had it all.

  Tyrone still had the tap on Tyrene’s phone at the office. He knew that it was Hill who had been with his wife. He’d heard their conversation when Hill was headed to the airport on his way back to Washington.

  Tyrone was in a daze at he sat in the chair.

  He heard the doorbell ring. Anushka would get it. It rang again.

  He reached for another Newport and fired it up.

  “Is Tyrone home? I see his car’s here.”

  It was Cheri Pearson, the next-door neighbor.

  Kaye and Cheri Pearson were a fun-loving, charismatic, successful couple—prominent fi
xtures in South Florida’s social circuit. Kaye was the promoter of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, an annual high-profile extravaganza that featured numerous celebrities, glitterati, and an assortment of spectacular water vessels. The Snowdens’ yacht was featured every year.

  Cheri was a shrewd, pretty, vivacious blonde who had become a good friend to Tyrene, which was a feat in itself. She was the one white woman Tyrene allowed herself to trust. The two got together at least once a week for lunch or dinner at an area restaurant, or for a night spent chatting in one or the other’s home.

  “He’s in, ma’am,” Anushka said, “but he’s unavailable at the moment.”

  “Okay. I just wanted to see if he and Tyrene were interested in attending—”

  Tyrene’s car pulled into the driveway.

  “Never mind, Anushka,” she said. “I’ll just ask Tyrene. She’s who I really needed to speak to anyway.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Anushka disappeared inside, relieved not to be charged with having to speak to Tyrone.

  Tyrene got out of the car and rushed over to Cheri.

  “Have you seen him?” she asked in a harried tone, grabbing the surprised woman by the arm. “Did he snap at you too?”

  Cheri gave her an comprehending stare.

  “Did I see who, Tyrene? What are you talking about?”

  “Oh Lord. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid to go in there.”

  “What’s wrong?” Cheri asked. “Is there a problem with Tyrone?”

  Tyrene was still holding on to Cheri’s arm as she led her away from the house, down to the end of the driveway.

  “He’s been on edge since the thing with Teresa,” she said,

  “but he’s been a raving lunatic since yesterday afternoon.”

  “Do you think he’s having a nervous breakdown?” Cheri asked. “She is your only child. Maybe her wedding plans falling through and losing the baby hit him as hard as it did her. He was so excited about it. Kaye said he’d never seen a father so proud.”

  “I don’t know what it is,” Tyrene said, shaking her yellow dome. “All I know is it’s too much for me, Cheri. I’ve got so much on my head already.”

  She pulled her close and whispered, “I’ve been having an affair.”

  Cheri gasped. “Tyrene.”

  “I know, I know. I don’t know how it happened. It started in New York. The guy doesn’t live here, but he came into town yesterday to see me.”

  “Do you think that’s what’s wrong with Tyrone?” Cheri asked.

  “No,” Tyrene said with a wave of her hand. “He’s completely clueless when it comes to that. Tyrone would never expect that of me. I didn’t even expect it of me. I think he takes for granted that nobody else would want his feisty wife.”

  Cheri exhaled an enormous breath. This was a heavy burden for her.

  “I don’t know, Tyrene,” she said. “Men are very intuitive when it comes to that kind of thing.”

  “Maybe, but not him. He’s drifting. I can tell. He’s smoking again and his behavior’s erratic. I don’t know what to do. I asked Reesy to come home.”

  “Are you going to tell her about the affair?”

  “Of course not. I can’t. Besides, there’s no reason for it to come up.” She nibbled at the tip of her well-manicured nail. “I think I’m going to cut it off.”

  “I think you should,” Cheri said.

  Tyrene studied the younger woman’s face. Cheri seemed wise and centered, much wiser than she felt in that moment.

  “So what should I do?” Tyrene asked.

  “Just talk to him, Tyrene. He’s your husband, after all. No matter whatever happens between you two, you’ve known him for years, probably longer and better than anybody else. Talk to him. He probably just needs a big hug and some reassurance.”

  Cheri held Tyrene’s hands in hers. Tyrene’s eyes were teary. Cheri pulled her into an encouraging embrace.

  “It’ll be okay,” she said. “I’m right next door if you need anything. All you have to do is call me, okay?”

  “Okay,” Tyrene said, wiping a tear from her cheek.

  Tyrone took a long drag of his cigarette as he watched the two women from the library window.

  She’s probably bragging to the neighbors, he thought. “Everybody knows she’s making a fool of me.”

  Reesy took a cab to the house. She didn’t bother to rent a car. She figured she could always use one of her parents’ four vehicles.

  She paid the driver and rushed to the door. She rang the bell, then used her key.

  Tyrene was standing in the foyer when she came in.

  “Daughter,” she said, throwing her arms around Reesy as if they were the best of friends.

  What manner of madness is this? Reesy thought.

  She knocked on the door of the library.

  “It’s me, Daddy,” she said.

  She heard the lock click open. She let herself in.

  The place was a nicotine fog. Reesy began coughing the instant she walked in.

  “Tyrone,” she said. “What are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

  “Perhaps.”

  She went to him and threw her arms around his thick waist. While she had never been close to either of her parents, Reesy was always more empathetic to her father.

  “Can we get some fresh air in here at least?” she asked. “This is awful. You can’t do this to yourself.”

  She opened the French doors that led outside. The Florida humidity met the cigarette stench and made the room even more dank and miserable.

  Tyrone sat in his leather chair. Reesy came over and sat at his feet. She leaned against his knee.

  He put his hand on her head.

  “I’m leaving your mother.”

  “What?” she cried as she pushed herself up from the floor. “Why? What happened? Tyrone, are you serious?”

  “Sit down, or I’m not going to be able to get this out.”

  Reesy set back on the floor with reluctance.

  It was a while before her father spoke again. He lit up another cigarette first. Reesy thought about stopping him, but from what she could see of the butts in the ashtray, she was already about thirty-five cigarettes too late.

  “She’s been cheating on me,” he managed to say. “Right up under my nose, after all these years, she’s been making a cuckold of me. Can you believe that, Teresa?”

  Reesy’s head was reeling. A cuckold? Her father was speaking in Elizabethan terms. Her mother must be right, she decided. He was losing his mind for sure. She wondered if he’d been drinking as much as he was smoking.

  “Daddy, Tyrene’s not cheating on you. Why would she? You give her everything she needs. She’ll never find another man that lets her boss him the way you do.”

  Her attempt at being lighthearted failed. Tyrone erupted in a fit of tears, horrifying his daughter. She stood and ran behind the chair, throwing her arms around his neck.

  “Tyrone, oh, don’t do this. I can’t take it. I’ve never, ever seen you cry.”

  The big man got up from the chair and marched around the room, trying to shake the tears off. He coughed and convulsed and sobbed in an awkward dance that made Reesy want to go clock her mother for bringing her father to such a state.

  “You don’t understand,” he said. “The reason I locked myself up in here is to keep from killing her. If I stop smoking these cigarettes, she’s a dead woman. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me calm. That’s why I know I have to leave her. I can’t stay. If I do, I’ll end up in jail for the rest of my life. Or I’ll just kill us both and put everybody out of their misery.”

  Reesy was shaking, unable to believe what she was hearing. Tyrone talking of killing Tyrene was too much. Although her mother could be pretty annoying, Reesy didn’t believe she deserved to die.

  “Tyrone, please. I really don’t think Tyrene’s been unfaithful. A lot has happened since the day I was supposed to get married.”

  She sat in h
is leather chair, watching him pace.

  “Everybody’s been going through changes. You took things a little hard. You were the only person who didn’t vent that day. Maybe now it’s just starting to come out.”

  Tyrone puffed and pulled on the cigarette with urgent apprehension.

  “C’mon, Daddy, this is Tyrene you’re talking about. Be realistic. This is probably all just some passion of the mind.”

  “Passion of the mind?” Tyrone bellowed. He pounded his fist on the library desk. A vase bounced off and shattered on the floor. “Passion of the mind? I’ll tell you about a passion of the mind. I have proof. How’s that for a passion of the mind?”

  He stared down at her, his nostrils flaring with rage. Reesy was crying as she looked up at him. Tyrone almost said the words, but through his haze of wrath, he saw the dread of expectation in her eyes. He stopped himself.

  He realized his daughter had experienced enough recent pain, and although things with him were a maelstrom of chaos, he had to protect her. He couldn’t burden her further by telling her about the despicable father of the despicable man she almost married.

  “I’m sorry, baby,” he said, dropping to his knees before her.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  He reached out, enfolding her in his arms.

  “It’s best that I leave,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt anybody. If your mother wants to be with someone else, I’m not going to hang around and watch her make a fool of me. I’ve done everything for her. I’m not going to stand for this.”

  He let go of her and stood. Reesy reeked of the smell of his cigarettes. He walked to the door.

  “Where are you going?” she asked. “Are you at least planning to talk to Tyrene?”

  “Can’t do that,” Tyrone said, clearing his throat. “We have nothing further to say. I’ll send for my things later. Sela.”

  He opened the library door.

  “Daddy?” she said, feeling once again like his little girl.

  Tyrone didn’t look back.

  Dandre rented a car at the Avis counter and made his way toward the beach. The route to the Snowdens’ house from the airport was not complicated. U.S. 1 South to Seventeenth Street Causeway, a right, then head in the direction of the beach. He didn’t remember the exact name of the street they lived on, but he knew it by sight. He figured Reesy should be there by now. Whatever was going down with her parents, he wanted to be by her side to help.