"Someone called for you today, a woman named Nia. Do you know her?" Kimani asked innocently as she diced tomatoes.
Harrison, her husband, just shrugged and Kimani continued,
"Well, she seems to know you real well. So I'm going to ask you one more time. Do you know her?"
Harrison looked up in confusion only to find Kimani holding a knife and looking pissed. Kimani was beautiful. She had sun-kissed caramel skin, hazel eyes, deep dimples, and a banging body even after giving birth to their son, Amir, but an angry knife wielding Kimani was not a pretty sight.
Kimani looked at Harrison with disgust. He sat across from her, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, putting on like he was innocent. And just like she expected he would, Harrison stuck fast to that defense.
"No, I don't know her."
Kimani put the knife down because him lying was causing her to contemplate homicide. She stared at him and wondered how she hadn't known that he could be so deceitful.
But then she noted how handsome he was and knew exactly why. He had always reminded her of Boris Kodjoe and she had given him the star treatment ever since they had met. That's why she couldn't believe he would do this.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Kimani asked angrily.
Harrison quickly told her no but she dismissed it.
"No! You must think I am because you just told a bold faced lie! You think I don't know you sneak out of our bedroom at night when you think I'm sleeping and that I haven't noticed that you jump directly in the shower everyday after work. Which is odd because you have an office job and we have an at home gym, so that 'I went to the gym after work' excuse won't work."
Harrison saw Kimani's anger building and he tried to calm her but it was too late she was on a roll.
"Oh, but let me not forget that you've let your phone become your goddamn Siamese twin. Because you're always on it. But its crazy because you walk away from me to answer it, put it away when I'm around, and have even put a lock on it."
Harrison tried to interject and was deflected easily. "Babe, I"
"Don't 'Babe' me! I want to know are you cheating on me?"
Harrison looked at Kimani and weighed his options. He could A) Tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may or B) Deny everything.
Harrison took a deep breath and Kimani thought he was about to confess but much to Kimani's dismay he did the complete opposite. He denied it all.
"No. I'm not cheating on you. I would never cheat on you and for you to even accuse me shows where we stand."
Kimani groaned at his dramatics. "Where do we stand Harrison?"
"We're standing on a ground that's shaking because you just broke our foundation. Our trust."
Harrison shook his head at Kimani and she felt ashamed by her accusations. Her husband would never do that to her? Would he? Could he? Did he? She watched Harrison walk away from her as these questions swirled around in her head. Even as she cooked and cleaned those questions wouldn't give her peace. So she had to get an answer that would make sense.
Harrison pushed his food around his plate, not trusting that it wasn't poisoned, and allowed his mind to wonder to his earlier conversation with Kimani. He felt guilty for lying and shifting the blame to her but it had to be done.
Yes, he had lied, but for her own good. She didn't need to know that he had gotten addicted to the sex of another woman. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her was how he looked at it. He looked up and found her coaxing Amir to eat his peas.
"C'mon Amir, one pea for mommy?"
Amir kicked and pushed her hand away as he whined a high pitched "Nooo!!!"
"Ok, then I'll eat them." Kimani said taking his plate.
She ate a spoonful of peas and moaned her assent.
"Mmm! Your peas are so good Amir!" She exclaimed.
Amir was three but was in an extended terrible two stage of childhood which included the "Mine!" phase and Kimani was a pro at using it to get him to do what she said.
Harrison watched as Amir took back his plate of peas and began eating them heartily. Simply so Kimani wouldn't have them. Harrison laughed out loud and Kimani looked up in surprise.
And they became locked in a staring contest, silently challenging each other, and as the tension grew thicker even a fidgety Amir became still. Kimani wanted to start their previous conversation up again but she didn't want to fight in front of their son. Likewise Harrison didn't want to speak because the truth was on the tip of his tongue. And just when he was about to open his mouth she spoke first.
"You eat your peas too. I want Amir to always follow your example."
Harrison's mouth went dry as conviction hit him. He had to get out of there.
"Babe, I have to go. I just remembered I left something at the office."
Harrison got up from the table and Kimani knew the truth.
"If you leave don't come back."
Harrison looked at Kimani in confusion.
"Don't play dumb Harrison! You're going to go see her. So if you go don't bring yo black ass back."
Harrison rolled his eyes before saying, "I'll be right back."
Then he kissed Amir and left.
**************************************************
Nia didn't understand why Harrison was so upset. So she had called his house. How was she supposed to know that he had a wife. He had forgotten to relay that message in the time that they'd been together, so if anyone had a reason to be mad she felt it was her.
He had been using her and then going back to his happy home like they were nothing. Like she was nothing. But she wouldn't get angry because Harrison knew the truth. She had the goods.
