The Anniversary

Unfortunately he didn’t seem to be going anywhere right now.

“How’s Toby?” Mike seemed to know he was making his sister-in-law uncomfortable and was enjoying it. “He looked a bit agitated when he left me earlier.”

“He’s fine.”

Simone wanted to turn away and pointedly let them know the conversation was over but her manners told her not to be so rude. What she really wanted to do was punch the smug look off his face. But not with Nick there. She wouldn’t subject him to that sort of violence.

“It’s strange. Every time we have a meal together he gets agitated.” Mike shrugged. “Can’t be anything I’ve said.”

“Maybe you should have someone filter you out and see what happens.” Simone quipped.

Behind her she heard a small sound that sounded strangely like a giggle. Ayeesha was still at the cash register and was overhearing the conversation. While Simone didn’t want anyone to see Mike’s disgusting attitude towards her and Nick, at least she had witnesses if something happened. Mike had tried to pull that before but people had been around and proved him to be a liar.

“At least Mike’s not afraid to say what everyone else thinks about you two.” Candace sneered, her jaw moving around the chunk of gum in her mouth.

Simone sighed. Candace was just like Mike but she was not as subtle. In the nine months they had been together, both of them had fooled around and they had a volatile relationship. But Candace gave as good as she got and Mike had his work cut out. They were still together because Candace didn’t know better. She was just as horrible as her much older boyfriend.

So she knew exactly what Candace was going to launch into. Racist taunts to antagonize her. Simone’s patience wore thin each time that happened and it was close to snapping. Candace knew it and made the most of it.

“Look, Candace, I’m not interested in listening to your disgusting comments.”

“You call the truth disgusting?”

“I call your truth both disgusting and delusional.” Simone took a step back so she wouldn’t be tempted to swing and half-turned towards Ayeesha. “I’m simply here to get pizzas for a family night in. I don’t want a fight and you can’t force me into a fight by goading me.”

“We haven’t said anything yet.” Mike said smoothly.

Simone knew it would only take a moment. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to try a physical altercation in front of Ayeesha – Mike wouldn’t but Candace could go either way – but Simone knew the verbal would be worse.

It was astonishing that in the twenty-first century racism was still going strong in the United States. Charleston was having a hard time catching up with everyone else.

“Uncle Mike?” Nick had stood up. He was looking at Mike calmly enough but his hands were clenched at his sides. “Why are you so mean to Mom?”

“Because your mother shouldn’t be married to a rich white man.” Candace said nastily, cutting a glare at the boy.

“At least that’s one less man you can get your claws into.”

Simone bit back a smile at the smooth retort. Candace bared her teeth at Nick and slowly advanced on him.

“Would you like some claws in you, little half-caste runt?” She asked, flexing her fingers.

Simone knew if she didn’t stop her now there was going to be a fight. Stepping between her son and her brother-in-law’s girlfriend, she shoved Candace in the chest and forced her back against Mike.

“Get your girl out of here right now, Mike.” She snapped, “Or I’m calling the police right now.”

Candace snarled and tried to go after her but Mike held her close. Simone knew that he could see she would do it. Saying things to her was one thing but going after her children was crossing the line. Bas*ard that he was, Mike knew what Simone’s thoughts were when it came to going after her children. She certainly meant it and never said she would call the police as an idle threat. He tugged Candace towards the door.

“Let’s go, honey. We’ll order something else. We’ll leave the gold-digger to it.”

Simone was shaking as they left, the door banging behind them. Then she sagged into a chair and pulled Nick in for a hug. It was a while before she stopped shaking.

*****

“I can’t believe it.” Emil said.

Toby slumped in his office chair and rubbed his hands over his face.

“I can’t believe it, either, but it was there in her phone.”

“I’m not doubting what was there, Toby.” Emil leaned his hip on the edge of the desk, folding his arms as his frown deepened. “But Simone doing the dirty on you? She’s not the person who would cheat.”

Toby knew that as well. Simone was the most loyal person he had ever met. So when he had seen Simone’s cell phone, which she had left on the kitchen island, he hadn’t thought anything about picking it up and checking the text message when her phone buzzed. They always did it. Simone would check his messages and answer his phone if it was near her and vice versa. They had been married long enough to trust each other with their callers and contacts. Simone never hid anything from him.

So when he had seen a text message from a number he didn’t recognize, the caller saying it was Brett and he had everything in the works and he hoped she liked it because it was going to be the best ever. Toby didn’t know who Brett was, what they were talking about, and what was going to be the best ever.

Then everything that Mike had said earlier swirled around his head about black women cheating. Toby didn’t believe it before and had dismissed it immediately in the past. But things today seemed to be taking hold and refusing to let go.

He rubbed his hands over his face.

“Simone always tells me who’s texting her and who she’s in contact with. We answer each other’s phones and text messages.”