My Husband’s Secret Life

Meet Ramon

                                                                         Chapter Two

 The phone rings Janice answers it; it was her cousin Raymond, but he likes to be called Ramon' let me tell you a little about Ramon', he is Janice second cousin on her mother side and he is gay. He works as a hairdresser during the day and bartends part-time at night. He would always try to get Janice to go out with him but she would never go, he called to see if Corey was home or not and could he stop by for a little while before he goes to work; he usually stops by to have a cup of coffee and visit with Janice and the kids while Corey is at work, she says “ No, he's not here today, he went in to work for awhile." "And yes I could use the company.” Corey doesn’t like Ramon, he doesn’t like him being around the kids he says he is a bad influence on the kids. So Ramon doesn't go over when Corey's home. Ramon arrives at the house with his pink polo shirt, white jeans, pink sneakers and man bag on his shoulder. Janice walks to the door to greet her cousin, “Hey girl, how have you been?” He says as he hugs his cousin “I’m ok I guess,” “what do you mean you guess?” “No no no sweetie you better be more than just ok; what’s going on with you?” Ramon says "nothing I am fine Ramon" "Janice, who do you think you are fooling?" "Girl remember we grew up together; so you can't fool me, remember I’m the one who got in trouble with you when we were kids because we stole one of your mother’s good wigs and lipstick and put it on your little sister Rachel  so we could be the dream girls and your mom asked you because she knew you was a bad liar, now I’m going to ask you again what's really going on with you and don't lie to me cause I know better?" Just than Janice burst out in tears “I think Corey is having an affair” she says. “What!” “Are you sure?" “Not Corey,  not Mr. conservative;  the same man who says he works hard so his wife and kids could have the very best  of everything. that Corey” “yes that Corey,” “Come on girl, let's go in the house before the neighbors hear you, you know they are nosey around here especially Ms. Davis, you know she is probably looking out her window as we speak.” “ Look see there she is Mrs. Davis with her nosey behind knowing she's not pulling weeds out of her flower bed this early in the morning, look at her just waiting to tell somebody’s business, "Hey Ms. Davis with your old nosey ass.” Ramon pushes Janice in the house and they go into the kitchen, Janice sits down at the kitchen table as Ramon pours them a cup of coffee. he gives her a paper towel to dry her eyes as she starts to tell him about all the late nights at work and the cigarette smell on Corey's jacket.

 “Janice, did you ask him about those things?” “No, I didn’t have the chance to; he was trying to get out of here in a hurry he didn't even have time to have breakfast with me and the kids and besides I don’t know what to say.” “What do you mean you don't know what to say, you just come out and say; "Corey, are you cheating on me?” “Plan and simple, don’t beat around the bush just ask him, and if he says yes then you walk over to the stove grab a skillet and knock his ass out, plan and simple,” Ramon replies; “do you think he is really working today working?" What do you think?" "See I know you mean about him working on a Saturday, he never worked on Saturday’s,” “he always say Saturday is his time to spend with his family and relax that’s why he doesn't like for me to come over when he's home; but he can’t fool me I know he really likes me.” “Where's that big bougie college he works at located?” "its downtown off Martin St." “Do you want to ride down there and see what's really going on with Mr. Man?” “No we can't do that, it want be right, it will be like I'm spying on him." " Ah hello, what do you mean it want be right?" "This man might be having an affair on you right?” “But you don't wont to go down there because you feel it wont be right." Ramon sucks his teeth and rolls his eyes. “Well let me know if you want me and Louis to go down there for you?”  Janice looked confused and ask Ramon “Ramon who is Louis is that your new boyfriend?” “No, I never introduce you to Louis?" "Ramon I would have remembered him if you ever introduce us," girl Louis  is the baseball bat I keep in the trunk of my car, you know my Louisville slugger I have a hell of a swing, you remember I use to play little league baseball I was the best batter they had on the team, you remember the time when I chase those two big girls down the street after they had stole my bike.” they both started to laugh " that's what I like to see my cousin smiling and not sitting here looking like she has lost her best friend or in your case husband. Look you know if you want to go I have no problem driving you and the kids down there, we can see what he is really doing and if it’s something we don’t like we can both beat the hell out of him together and the little tramp he’s with, you know I'm always down for a beat down.” “Then it could be just all in your head little cousin.” “Ok I’m getting you the chance to go down there before I have to go to work, what do you want to do?” "Ramon I said no, Corey wouldn’t like that, who cares what he don’t like, you want answers right?” “Yes but I don’t want to find out this way” “Ok fine.” "But if a man was cheating on me and I found out he was making a fool out of me; he is a good one and a dead one and didn’t live to tell the story, I don’t play around like that." Janice grasps "Ramon!" "What, I'm just telling the truth." “I don’t know what to do.” “I just don’t want this to end in a messy divorce with us fighting over whose going to get the kids and having the kids in the middle of this.” “I really love him, and I think he loves me, I don’t want to lose him.” Janice and Ramon were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and talking as the phone starts to ring. 

Both of them look at the phone, Ramon says with a look of disappointment on his face. "I wonder who that could be as he looks over at Janice." It was Corey he was stuck in traffic calling from his cell phone. “Hi honey, what are you doing?” “Oh just the usually laundry, dishes and talking to my cousin Ramon.” Ramon says in a whisper "oh please let me talk to him, I have a few words that my momma told my fifth grade teacher I had never heard her say when that heifer tried to keep me back." Janice shakes her head no to him and shushes him. “Oh, Ramon is there?” “Tell him I said hello, Ramon, Corey says hello, Ramon looks at Janice in surprise;" "You tell that good for nothing lying cheater to come home so we can; Janice shushes her cousin again and puts her hand over the receiver and tells Ramon to be quiet before he hears him, "I want him to hear me" "Ramon please." "Hello, honey are you there are you ok?" "Yes I'm here, I'm sorry Ramon was just telling me what he wanted for breakfast and he said hello back." "No I didn't you tell him I said that good for nothing lying bastard needs to come home and spend some time with his wife and kids instead of calling, that's what you tell him I said." "If you really want to tell him something I said you tell him that." "So do you think you will be home soon?" "Ah I can't say right at the moment, but I told you this morning I had to work late but they might let us go early I can't say yet, I called to apologize for this morning, I was wrong for how I treated you and what I said.” “I know I have been working late but I have a good reason but I can’t tell you just yet." “And I promise you we will take a trip to the cabin just you and me and spend some time together soon.” “It’s quite alright I know you have been under a lot of stress, we can talk about it later.” “I know you said you were working late but will you be home in time for dinner with me and the kids?” “I will try; I can’t really say right at the moment, it all depends on if I get all my work done.” “Well, ok keep me posted ok?” "Oh ok, well I was just checking on you and the kids I love you and you enjoy your time with your cousin.” “No don’t hang up yet talk to me until you get to your class, I love talking to you it’s like we are dating again, remember Janice says with a smile. "Ok honey, I just made it to my classroom, hold on honey I have a memo on my desk from the dean; oh wow, honey I hate to tell you this but I won't be home for dinner tonight the dean just sent a memo in saying we have to work late tonight he wants me to have this preparation ready before next week; we are working so hard to win this big client's approval for the school. "I feel it's taking all my time from you and the kids and I am so sorry but I promise once this is all over we will go on a long vacation anywhere you want to go ok honey; thank you for being so patience and understanding during all this." "You're welcome." "Ok, honey I have to go now I'll talk you later." "Ok, talk to you later." "What, got into him?" "I told you he is up to something; Janice I don't trust him, when was the last time Corey ever told me hi?" "You  and I know Corey doesn't like me." "Now you tell me if that doesn't seem strange to you?" Janice nods her head  as she goes into a deep stare and sits back down t the table slowly; he said he had to work late again tonight." "Ramon what can I do?" "I can't prove that he is doing anything wrong, maybe he is working late, I don't know."