Diary of a Mistress by Miasha Page B

to hook up with Carlos, even if it took begging or a made-up story about needing a workout tape. She thought about the diary she had Vanessa mail. She wondered if it reached its destination, and if so, whether Monica read it. She wished she had called Carlos to see what state he was in. If he was arguing with Monica, it would have told in his voice, and she would have been able to offer support. Then she would have the chance to prove to Carlos how much she really loved him and was willing to do anything to be with him. He would be able to appreciate that, she thought.
    “Come on, Angie,” Vanessa said as she danced over to Angela, motioning for her to join the group.
    Angela frowned and shook her head no. “I can’t dance,” she said.
    “Yeah, right,” Vanessa said, as she grabbed Angela’s arm, forcing it to unfold, and pulled her to her feet.
    “Go, Angie. It’s your birthday, not a holiday, but do it anyway,” Vanessa sang as she held Angela’s arms up and waved them side to side.
    The radio started playing “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa, and Angela loosened up. “Aw, they playin’ all the old-school hits,” Angela said, starting to do the bump with Vanessa.
    Before long Angela and Vanessa were dancing to every song, doing all types of old-school moves—from the Whop and the Butt to the M.C. Hammer and the Cabbage Patch. Haywood from the kitchen had the grill lit up. Everybody around her was smiling and dancing. Even the young girl with whom she had words earlier cheered her on when it was her turn to go down the Soul Train line. She felt like she was at a family reunion with real family. It was a feeling that she’d missed ever since her parents were killed in a car accident when she was fourteen. She couldn’t even recall feeling that good and that complete during her seven-year marriage.
     
    “Hello,” Rita answered her phone.
    “Hey, Rita, how you doin’, it’s Carlos. By any chance, have you spoken to Monica today? I dropped her off to unpack and she’s gone,” Carlos explained.
    “She’s here,” Rita said nonchalantly.
    Carlos sighed with relief and asked to speak with his wife. Monica was hesitant about taking the phone. She didn’t want Carlos to charm her out of being mad. She decided to take the call, but she intended to make the conversation short.
    “Carlos, I’m staying here with Rita for a little while, just until I can cool off.” Monica got straight to the point.
    “What? What are you talking about? Cool off from what?” Carlos asked, completely confused.
    “I know all about the affair, but now is not the time to discuss it. I don’t want the boys to know. I don’t want my mother to know. I just want to stay here with Rita for a while until I can work things out in my head,” Monica calmly explained.
    “I don’t understand, Monica. What affair?” Carlos asked.
    Monica was getting angrier just hearing her husband’s voice.
    “The got damn affair. The Christmas in Langhorne. The big case you had to work on while I was in Texas. The pregnancy you wanted terminated! Do you want me to spell it out for you, Carlos? The fucking affair!” Monica replied, her voice rising in anger.
    “You watch way too many talk shows,” Carlos said with a smirk in his voice.
    That was the wrong thing to say because it set Monica off.
    “Yeah, that’s what you think, isn’t it? Isn’t that what you told her! I do nothing but sit on the couch watching talk show after talk show! Well, what about when I’m cleaning your house, or cooking your dinner, or washing your clothes? Or what about when I’m tending to your children, bathing them, clothing them, feeding them, occupying them? All that after an eight-hour day! What the hell do you call that? I’ve been a good wife to you, Carlos! And a damn good mother to Carlos Jr. and Christopher! And this is what you do to me? Why, Carlos? Why did you feel the need to get another woman? What did she do for you that I didn’t? What was worth