I Saw Your Profile Read online

  “I’m not even gonna ask what you’re talkin about,” Vanessa said. “I just wanna know if this tape will convince her not to marry him?”

  “Yeah, unless she’s a straight up fool,” Arianna said. “It proves he was just here with me when he’s supposed to be marrying her.”

  Beep! Beep! Beep!

  Arianna announced her arrival at Nicole’s with her horn. She’d left work early that Friday to beat rush hour traffic getting to Maryland, but still had to face bumper-to-bumper cars on her way to Richmond as weekenders headed to Virginia Beach.

  This was the first time the new friends would see each other.

  Arianna exited the car and waited beside it. She wore a powder blue designer pantsuit with turquoise accessories.

  Nicole, who had changed after work, bounced down her town house steps in a pair of jeans and a long flowing white blouse. She embraced Arianna.

  “Hey lady,” Nicole said. “It’s nice to finally put a face with the voice.”

  “I know. I can’t believe we’re actually meeting each other,” Arianna said.

  “You look just like I thought you would,” Nicole said.

  “How’s that?” asked Arianna.

  “Sophisticated,” Nicole said. “Polished.”

  “What made you think that?”

  “The way you talk. How did you imagine me?”

  “I’m not sure,” Arianna said. “I guess an attractive woman about my height.”

  “Okay, so you got my height wrong but...”

  Arianna smiled. “Yeah, but I was right about you being attractive.”

  “Thanks,” Nicole said.

  Arianna wondered about Janelle and the others.

  “What did the women in your support group look like?”

  Nicole laughed. “It’s not a support group. They were all different, though. I think we were all surprised, but you know how sisters do. We tried to act like we weren’t comparing ourselves to each other, but we were.”

  “It must’ve been pretty awkward for you, considering you’re the one he lived with.”

  “Yeah, it was harder than I thought. Even though I kicked him out and it’s over, I was still a little jealous seeing all these women he dated while he was under my roof.”

  “So why are we doing this? I could’ve mailed the tape to Vanessa so she could give it to Janelle. How do you feel seeing me knowing I slept with him?”

  “Oh, I’m over the jealousy, now,” Nicole said. “I prayed about it and Jesus took it away. And I feel like doing this in person is part of my healing process. It’s what God wants me to do.”

  Arianna rolled her eyes. She was beginning to hate that she’d let Nicole talk her into making the trip.

  I hope she doesn’t preach all the way down there.

  They got into Arianna’s car and put on their seatbelts.

  Arianna turned on the ignition. Her CD player was going full blast with Pru singing about the aroma of a man.

  Nicole turned down the volume.

  “Speaking of you sleeping with Chauncey, what was he doing at your place last weekend, and please don’t tell me you let him in your X-box Miss Thang?”

  Arianna’s face registered her surprise.

  “I wanted to ask you the day you mentioned it on the phone, but I didn’t want to do it with Vanessa on the line,” Nicole said. “After we decided to take this trip together, I figured I’d wait ‘til I saw you. So spill.”

  Arianna stared straight ahead.

  “Well?” Nicole said.

  Arianna exhaled, and then the words tumbled from her mouth.

  “I didn’t mean to sleep with him. Well, I did mean to, but… Okay. He asked to explain what really went down between you two and I was dying to see what bullshit story he was going to tell so I let him come over. I figured I’d at least get something to use against him. Anyway, I’ve got my needs and…”

  “So you slept with him knowing he’s a con man,” Nicole said, interrupting Arianna and giving her a chance to catch her breath.

  Arianna twisted her neck in Nicole’s direction with attitude written across her face.

  “I used him just like he used me. And you. And Janelle and God knows who else. Simple as that.”

  “Is it?” Nicole asked, a hint of accusation in her voice.

  “Meaning?” Arianna said, her attention back on the road.

  “Are you sure you don’t have feelings for him?”

  The question amused Arianna. She turned again to face Nicole.

  “Are you serious? Women can have sex without emotions or have you been in love with every man you screwed?”

  “I don’t screw,” Nicole said.

  “Whatever you call it. Has it always been for love?”

  “Yes.”

  “Heifer, please. You ain’t been holy all your life.”

  Nicole laughed. “Okay, there might have been one guy at Hampton before I met Jamal Sr. But I thought I was in love.”

  Arianna chuckled. “No you didn’t. You just couldn’t see past your next orgasm.”

  “Okay. We were talking about you. I hope you’re done with Chauncey for good now.”

  “I’m done fucking him, not fucking with him.”

  Arianna and Nicole were greeted by loud voices as Vanessa swung open the door to her apartment.

  “Sorry it took me so long. There’s sort of a party going on in here,” Vanessa said.

  They stepped inside. “Let me take that,” said Vanessa, pointing to Arianna’s camera bag. “You must be Arianna.”

  Arianna handed her the bag. “Yes and this is Nicole.”

  Vanessa shook their hands. “Nice to meet y’all. I appreciate you drivin down here.”

  From the foyer, Arianna and Nicole saw Janelle unwrapping a lace teddy to the oohs, aaahs, and giggles of several women.

  “Is that her with the nightgown?” Arianna asked, once again surprised by Chauncey’s varied taste. She assumed he preferred his women slender given his obsession with his own body.

  “Yeah,” Vanessa said. “Those are hairdressers from the salon. They talked me into havin a last minute shower.”

  “You want us to tell her about Chauncey in front of all these women? At her bridal shower?” Nicole asked.

  “I didn’t plan it this way,” Vanessa said. “Can you do me a favor and just hang out for a little while? I’ll get you some food. The shower’s almost over and as soon as they leave we can talk to her.”

  Arianna and Nicole agreed. They followed Vanessa to the living area where she introduced them as co-workers without giving their names.

  They received cursory hellos and took seats in the adjoining dining area where Vanessa brought them plates of lasagna and tossed salad.

  “I put the camera in my room. I’ll get it later, when everybody leaves,” Vanessa whispered.

  “Thanks,” Arianna said.

  Vanessa went back to her guests.

  Impatient and unable to sit still, Arianna walked onto the balcony off the living room, leaving the sliding door open. Nicole followed.

  The air was thick and heavy, as if it carried the weight of the news they planned to deliver Janelle.

  “I feel really bad doing this today,” Nicole said.

  “She’s going to be hurt no matter when we do it,” Arianna responded.

  They peered inside and watched as Janelle opened another gift.

  “Where’s the stripper?” asked one of the hairdressers.

  “Janelle don’t need no stripper,” another guest chimed in. “Her husband can get naked and give her a massage. He’s enough to turn any woman on.”

  The room erupted in laughter.

  Arianna sucked her teeth and turned away. “Give me a break.”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He’s a freakin Greek god. Open the presents already,” Vanessa said.

  Arianna laughed at Vanessa’s comment loud enough for the women inside to hear.

  She caught Janelle looking at her with raised eyebrows and aver
ted her gaze.

  “What kind of host are you?” Janelle said. “Stop rushing me.”

  A guest handed her another gift. More oohs, aahs and giggles.

  When the last guest had been practically pushed out the door, Arianna and Nicole came back inside.

  “Do you guys live in Richmond?” Janelle asked, as she packed her gifts. “I thought I knew all Vanessa’s friends.”

  “They’re not my friends,” Vanessa said, as she emerged from her bedroom carrying the camera bag. “They’re here for you.”

  Janelle wrinkled her face in curiosity. She turned toward Vanessa.

  “What’s going on?”

  “My name is Arianna and this is Nicole. Chauncey was sleeping with the three of us at the same time.”

  “You just won’t give up, will you?” Janelle snapped at Vanessa. She stomped to the couch to grab her purse, and raced for the door.

  Vanessa dashed across the room ahead of her, locked the door and stood in front of it.

  “These women drove all the way down here and you are goin to hear what they have to say, Janelle.”

  “Get the hell away from the door, Vanessa. You can’t make me stay here!” Janelle shouted.

  Arianna reached into the bag and got the video camera.

  “Look, Janelle. If you don’t want to listen to us, listen to Chauncey.”

  She flipped open the screen, placed the camera on Vanessa’s coffee table, and pressed play.

  Janelle lumbered back to the living area.

  “What is it?”

  “Chauncey was with me last weekend and I taped it.”

  The four of them sat on the couch, their eyes glued to the mini screen.

  Chauncey’s voice boomed from the small speaker on the camcorder – “Janelle is a sweet woman who loves me.”

  Arianna’s face was absent, but her voice was loud and clear.

  “Do you love her?”

  “I care about her.”

  “In other words, ‘no.’ But you’re willing to marry her?”

  “There are many reasons to marry. Love isn’t always one of them.”

  Janelle jumped up from the couch, tears streaming down her cheek.

  “Turn it off!”

  Arianna felt like she’d committed a crime.

  “I’m sorry. But you needed to know the truth and that’s not the worst.”

  Janelle was trembling. “What else could there be?”

  Vanessa walked over to her and blurted it out.

  “The nigga’s already married that’s what. The muthafucka was gonna marry you knowin he already had a wife. Some woman in Indiana.”

  Arianna got off the couch and handed her the marriage certificate.

  “He wanted citizenship and he paid her. She kicked him out when she found out he was sleeping with her daughter, but they never got a divorce.”

  Janelle wobbled, nearly fainting. She dropped the document to the floor. Vanessa caught her by the arm and steadied her.

  “Damn girl!” Vanessa said. “Sit down. I know this is a lot to hear, but that man ain’t worth you hittin the floor over.”

  Arianna and Vanessa helped her to the couch.

  Vanessa turned to Arianna. “Can you go get a washrag from the bathroom and wet it, please?”

  Arianna found the bathroom and came back with the rag. She noticed Nicole had left the room.

  She handed Vanessa the cloth. “Where’s Nicole?”

  “She went to get her some water.”

  Janelle was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. Vanessa gently dabbed her forehead and washed away her tears, as she gently rubbed her back.

  “I can’t believe this. Why would he do this to me? Especially now,” Janelle whimpered.

  “What do you mean, now?” Vanessa said. “He’s been playin you for a long time.”

  “Nothing,” Janelle said.

  Nicole came in with the water and handed it to Janelle.

  She set it on the table without taking a sip.

  “Drink the water,” Vanessa said. “It’ll help with your nerves.”

  “No it won’t,” said Janelle. “Nothing will.”

  “You been actin strange all week,” Vanessa said. “Complainin about your stomach hurtin. You didn’t go to work for a coupla days. Is somethin else goin on?”

  “No. I just need to figure out what to do. I’m fine,” Janelle said.

  “What the hell is there to figure out?” Vanessa snapped. “Kick his ass to the curb. Period.”

  “I know. I’m talking about the rest of my life,” Janelle sighed.

  “You’ll get over him and move on,” Arianna said. “That’s what we do. When my son’s father left, I picked up the pieces and kept going because I had to. When my husband died, I did the same thing.”

  “I changed the locks on my house and got a restraining order,” Nicole said. “You might want to think about doing the same thing.”

  Janelle picked up the glass of water and took a sip.

  “I wish it were that easy to erase him from my life.”

  “Is there anything we can do?” Nicole asked.

  “You already did it,” Janelle said.

  “Be happy you woke up before you got in too deep with that son of a bitch. Before he got deeper in your heart and your pocket,” Vanessa said.

  Arianna put the camcorder back in the bag.

  “I think we should go now. Janelle, I wish we had met under better circumstances and I hope you feel better.”

  “I’m really sorry Chauncey hurt you so badly,” added Nicole.

  Janelle muttered under her breath. “You have no idea how much.”

  “Thanks for coming down here,” Janelle said aloud. “I appreciate it. I have to go home now and kick my so-called fiancé out of my house.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Vanessa said, grabbing their purses.

  The four of them walked out the door together.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “It’s a Life, Not a Choice! Abortion Is Murder!” Angry protestors were chanting loudly and holding graphic signs designed to scare women from going inside the clinic.

  Janelle stared out the passenger side window, fighting back tears as Arianna steered the car into the parking lot.

  “Ignore these ignorant people, Janelle,” Arianna said. “Not one of them would adopt your babies if you went through with this pregnancy. This is about your life, not theirs.”

  Janelle never told Vanessa about her pregnancy. Shame and embarrassment tied her tongue, and she knew Vanessa’s words would be harsh.

  On the other hand, she was impressed by the way Arianna and Nicole had gone out of their way to warn her about Chauncey. After she’d kicked him out, she found herself calling the two of them often.

  Somehow it was easier to talk to strangers, and she soon confided in them that she was pregnant.

  Janelle had made up her mind to terminate the pregnancy, but after discovering Chauncey was a bigamist, she felt she didn’t have the emotional energy to go through with the procedure.

  Arianna told her to do what she felt was right, but warned her if she waited any longer, the decision would be made for her.

  Janelle was relieved when she and Nicole agreed to accompany her.

  Arianna quickly found a parking spot, but Janelle couldn’t move. She covered her stomach with her hands and inhaled so deep, the air went to her toes. When she exhaled, the tears gushed from her eyes as though a dam had burst.

  Nicole, who was sitting in the back, unbuckled her seat belt, scooted forward and put her hand on Janelle’s shoulder.

  “It’s going to be okay, sweetie.”

  Already mourning the life inside her, Janelle was too overwhelmed with sorrow to respond.

  Arianna got out and walked to the passenger side and opened Janelle’s door.

  “You’re going to be late for your appointment,” she said, extending her hand.

  Janelle put her hand in Arianna’s and reluctantly allowed herself to be pu
lled from the seat.

  It was ninety-two degrees in Richmond and the sun was blistering. But Janelle was shivering underneath her navy cotton sweat suit.

  Nicole took her other hand after exiting the car and the two of them escorted her to the door.

  At the entrance, a sweaty, middle-aged white man with long, straggly hair greeted them. “Baby Killers!” he shouted.

  Janelle cowered.

  Arianna stepped in front of Janelle.

  “Shut the fuck up and get out of our faces, asshole. For all you know we’re coming here for a checkup. You ignorant people get on my damn nerves.”

  The man scurried away.

  Janelle, Arianna and Nicole waited for the doctor to arrive inside a cold cubicle along a narrow hallway.

  There were at least a half dozen women in the other cubicles lined up next to Janelle’s, each of them also waiting to have an abortion.

  A nurse soon appeared, taking Janelle’s blood pressure and temperature while Arianna and Nicole waited outside. Afterwards, the nurse gave her a flimsy johnny and let her friends back inside.

  “How ya doing, Miss Carter?” Arianna asked her.

  Janelle was shivering again. The clinic air conditioner was set to arctic.

  “This thing is the size of one of those slabs morticians keep dead bodies on,” Janelle said through chattering teeth as she fidgeted on the skinny cot.

  Her voice was barely above a whisper, but her despair echoed through the closet-sized room.

  “I’ve been praying for you and I know everything is going to be fine,” Nicole said.

  Nicole had tried to talk Janelle out of the procedure with the children are a gift from God speech, but Janelle already had two grown gifts from God and she didn’t want two more. Especially, if she was going to have to raise them alone.

  “I’m not big into prayer these days, but thanks anyway. I really appreciate you guys coming here to be with me. Could you hand me that blanket, please, Arianna? I’m freezing.”

  Arianna opened a thin, blue blanket at the foot of the cot and spread it over her.

  The nurse came back in the room. “Dr. Walker will be in shortly, Miss Carter.”

  Arianna turned to the nurse. “Can you give her something else to wear? She’s really cold.”