“It wasn’t a dream and it definitely wasn’t a nightmare,” Malcolm confirmed with a chuckle.
“How? What? Why? I’m confused right now. I’m supposed
to be pissed off at you about everything.” Olivia sank into the sofa and massaged her pulsating temples.
“It’s okay. We both were caught up in the moment. I think we’ve forgiven each other now,” Malcolm said in a lowered voice.
Olivia began to recall the night. She shivered at what she’d assumed had been a dream. “Malcolm. What does this mean? We made love like we haven’t in years.”
“Baby, you fell into a deep sleep in my arms like the old times. I had to carry you to bed and tuck you in.” Malcolm whispered even lower in a husky voice. “I didn’t want to wake you. I had to get home. You know?”
Reality snuck into Olivia’s mind. “Oh, yeah. Mariah probably wondered where you were. Is she mad at you?”
“Furious. She’d been trying to call me.”
The familiarity of the scene based on her own experience flooded Olivia’s head. She knew how Mariah had to have felt last night. Waiting, calling, and not getting an answer.
Olivia’s heart fluttered with the realization of the fact that without even trying, she’d achieved getting sweet revenge on Mariah for ruining their marriage. Malcolm had now cheated on his fiancée with his wife.
“What excuse did you give her?” Olivia wanted Malcolm to share his tried and true response.
“I told her I had to check on one of my boys who lost his job,” Malcolm whispered with what sounded like a twinge of pride about his slick lie.
“Seems to come easy to you,” Olivia chided.
“What do you mean?” Malcolm sounded confused.
“Telling lies.”
“Come on. You know I couldn’t tell her I stayed with you. She would’ve had a conniption and perhaps gone into early labor.”
Olivia’s chest filled with dread. “The whole night is coming back to me. You said some things and I said some things. Malcolm, tell me the truth about what you revealed.”
“What is it?” Malcolm asked.
“When you said you belong to me and love me, were you telling me a lie? Or did you mean it?” Olivia held her breath.
Malcolm waited to answer almost a beat too long. “Yes. I meant it. I belong to you and I still love you. I know I’ve messed up and caused a lot of damage. Believe me, those words were all the truth.”
Tears sprang from her eyes and trickled along her cheeks. Hearing Malcolm declare this made her head spin. Olivia didn’t know what to do. “Malcolm? Could last night be the turning point we needed to save our marriage?”
“It’s a new beginning for you and me.”
“What happens now?”
“Ouch,” Malcolm yelped. “Stop hitting me, Mariah.”
Olivia heard a scuffle and a loud thump, which sounded like the phone landing on the ground. She made out a barrage of words in English and Spanish.
“Why are you hiding in the pantry? I heard what you said,” Mariah screamed. “You belong to who? Who are you talking to about a new beginning? Who did you tell that you love them?”
“I didn’t say anything like that, Mariah.” Olivia heard Malcolm’s muffled voice as if he’d picked up the phone and covered the mouthpiece. “I told you to stop hitting me. Put the pot down.”
Olivia covered her mouth with her hand. She pressed the phone closer to her ear to listen to everything.
“Were you talking to her?” Mariah yelled.
“Stop yelling. You’re going to wake up the kids.”
“I don’t care. Were you talking to her?”
“Who is her? What are you talking about? You must’ve been dreaming,” Malcolm said.
Olivia heard another scuffle and it sounded like the phone dropped to the floor again. She heard someone breathing hard followed by Mariah’s voice. “Who is this?”
“Mariah, give me my phone,” Malcolm demanded.
“Who is this? Were you with my man last night?” Mariah yelled. “He doesn’t love you. He loves me. Do you hear me?”
“Your man? How about the fact he’s still my husband?” Olivia let out a sinister laugh. “Heh, heh, heh. Now you get to suffer the same way I did. Are you stupid enough to believe he loves you? He put a Cracker Jack ring on your finger. Think again.”
“I can’t believe you were with her. How could you do this to me? I’m carrying your baby,” Mariah screamed away from the phone. “You said you didn’t love her anymore.”
“Mariah, relax before something happens and you go into labor. Give me back my phone.”
“I hate you, Malcolm. You said you loved me.”
Olivia heard more scuffling and what sounded like slaps on someone several times.
“I told you to stop hitting me,” Malcolm ordered.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Olivia heard what sounded like Simone’s voice. “What’s all the yelling about? Mariah, stop hitting my Dad.”
“Simone, go back to your room. I’m okay. We’re having a discussion. Ouch.”
“Stop hitting my Dad,” Simone cried out.
“What’s going on?” Olivia heard Christian’s voice.
Olivia panicked. Her kids were witnessing Mariah hitting Malcolm. “You better not lay a hand on my children, Mariah. Otherwise, this will be your last day on the face of this earth. I’m coming over there,” Olivia yelled. She wasn’t certain if Mariah heard her warning in the frenzy of the moment. Olivia strained to make out the jumble of voices.
Malcolm’s voice came through the speaker. “No. Don’t come here. I’ve got it handled.” Olivia heard him yelling away from the phone. “It’s okay, Son. Go back to bed. We’re fine. Mariah, give the pot to me,” Malcolm growled. More scuffling sounded through the phone.
“You’re hurting my hand, Malcolm,” Mariah cried out. “Let me go.”
Olivia heard clanging that sounded like the pot hitting the ground.
“You said you loved me. Why were you with her? You said you loved me.” Mariah’s constant wail began before the phone died.
Olivia sat in silence. The phone tumbled from her hand onto the sofa. She stood and marched to the bathroom to get in
