Consequences by Sasha Campbell Page B

child.”
    Smiling, Donovan leaned back in his chair and glanced around the table. “Well, Leon, at least you don’t have to worry if you’re the father of her child.”
    â€œWhat the . . .” Trinette started to cuss him, but Leon touched her arms and shook his head. I knew it wasn’t easy. Trinette struggled to keep her composure, although she looked ready to jump her pregnant ass across that patio table and strangle him. And probably would have if Aiden wasn’t sitting on her lap.
    â€œSeriously, man, how did you forgive your wife for messing around? How’d you manage to stay together?” he queried.
    The table grew quiet.
    â€œDon, I don’t even know why you had to even go there,” I snarled.
    â€œHey, I’m just having a conversation,” he said with a smirk. “I was hoping my boy can enlighten me so when I find out what’s really going on around here, I will know how to handle the situation.” He tossed his glass back, then rose. “Anybody else want a drink?”
    â€œNo, and neither do you,” I said with a warning glance. I wasn’t going to keep playing this bullshit game with him. All this arguing and accusing me of doing shit behind his back had to stop.
    And just like that it was like his head spun around like the girl from The Exorcist and the sweet Donovan returned.
    â€œYo, Leon, I’m sorry about that. That was completely out of line. How about we have another toast to congratulate you on the baby?”
    Trinette kept that sour look on her face, but Leon’s smile returned. As usual, he didn’t bother to take Donovan’s behavior personal. “Now that’s something I can toast to.”
    â€œLet me go get the bottle.” Donovan rose and then as if it were an afterthought, leaned down and kissed me hard on the mouth. “I love you, Nikki,” he said, and I saw so much fear in his eyes I gasped. I had never seen that before. My husband had always been the strongest man I had ever known, and now he almost looked like a scared child. As he moved into the kitchen, tears filled my eyes.
    Leon pressed a gentle hand to my arm. “Hey, you okay?”
    I shrugged because I really didn’t know anymore.
    â€œHell nah!” Netta exclaimed. Quickly, she handed Aiden to Leon, then leaned so far across the table her belly was practically on top. “Listen to me, Nikki, and listen good. Get that man some help before I break my foot off in his ass!”
    She was right. I needed to find some way to save my husband’s life.

12
    Trinette
    â€œI never knew I could be so happy . . . And I never knew I’d be so secure . . .”
    I was up out of my seat with the rest of the congregation as the soloist rocked the room. There were thirty people in the choir stand, an organist, and a choir director who was just as good as, if not better than, Kirk Franklin.
    My mama had been an active member of Sugarland Baptist Church since recovering from a drug addiction eight years ago. The congregation was large, yet it seemed everybody knew everybody and all their business, so who was I to judge?
    Mama was sitting in the pew in front of me and she glanced over her shoulder for the umpteenth time. Pride was all over her face as she clapped her hands and swayed her narrow hips. Two years ago after I had gotten past the anger of my mother being a crackhead and all the consequences of her neglect, I had donated to her one of my kidneys. Since then we’d been slowly building a relationship. I don’t think we’ll ever be joined at the hip, but it felt good knowing that I finally had my mother back in my life.
    â€œLET THE SAINTS SAY AMEN . . . I SAID, LET THE SAINTS SAY AMEN!!”
    â€œAmen!” I shouted.
    The minister rose and walked across the pulpit. Everybody lowered onto their seat and got ready for a powerful sermon. Something about being in church had me feeling all good inside. I