Mr. Too Damn Good

Chapter 1 Delaney Synclair

DELANEY SYNCLAIR

“Look at them. They look like a bunch of vultures picking over the dead remains of my marriage.”

I pulled the straw to my lips and took a sip of my iced coffee. Through blurred vision, thanks to the tears I had been shedding all day, I continued looking out the large bay window that I set in front of on a barstool.

“Scavengers. That’s what they are.”

“Wait. I’m confused, Sis. Because are we upset with the man, or are we upset with the people we invited to come to the yard sale?”

I turned and looked at my sister, Aria, and rolled my eyes. I swiped at the tears and continued watching the people on the front lawn buying clothes, sports gear, paintings, and sculptures from the four people manning tables.

I watched my cousin, Tanika, as she answered questions and helped the people I hired to sell the items.

I watched strangers pick over parts of my life that I was willingly walking away from.

“Boo, we can call it off whenever you want to,” Aria stated in a low voice. She reached out and grabbed my hand. I looked at her, smiled, and turned back to the window.

I was sure that my sister and I made quite a pair, if anyone had cared to look up and see us looking out at them. As it was, they were all busy buying up the items that were on display in my front yard.

Aria and I looked alike, but we also held similar postures. We sat on barstools, holding our iced coffee that we sipped from in one hand, and our free hands clasped each other’s.

“I don’t want to call it off. Honestly, I’m getting some satisfaction from this, but I’m still pissed and hurt that it has to be done at all.”

“Well, boo, it’s all good. But look what the cat dragged in.”

“I see him,” I replied, as my belly quenched and my jaw tightened.

I knew what I had done would cause trouble, and I knew there was a battle ahead, but I didn’t care.

I couldn’t wait for him to exit his car and realize what was going on.

The look on his face would be priceless and so satisfying after all the dirt he had done.

It was just one way that I would get retribution for what he had taken me through.

“Are you good, boo?” Aria asked.

“Oh, I’m great. Let’s see how his ass handles this,” I declared, narrowing my gaze as I watched my husband looking around our yard.

The hum of anticipation buzzed loudly within my body as I watched him look around in confusion as he slowly navigated his way through the crowd and up toward the house.

He couldn’t park his Mercedes S-Class that he was so proud of, in the garage, because the tables blocked his entrance.

I knew that was the first thing that pissed him off because he always kept that precious car covered, afraid that bird droppings, a scratch from another car, or God forbid, someone would actually look at it and cause the paint to dull.

“And there it is, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve been waiting for. Look at his ass standing there in disbelief.” Aria squealed as Clayton realized that the items being sold were his.

My sister cackled when he snatched things from people as they were looking at them. Clayton spun around looking for someone he knew, and I inhaled and held my breath because I knew who he was looking for, his wife. When he couldn’t find me, he spotted my cousin, Tanika.

“Wait for it . . . wait for it,” Aria stated slowly as Tanika pointed him inside.

I exhaled when he spotted the clothesline that I had strung from one tree to the next.

There was a long line of Polaroid photos, thanks to the private investigator that I hired.

The pictures were of Clayton and different women he had cheated with.

His shoulders slumped when he spotted the last photo, a sonogram of a baby.

The woman was seven months pregnant. Beside that photo was a copy of the results of a non-invasive prenatal paternity test that Clayton and the woman took.

I paid my investigator an extra bonus for retrieving that particular item.

I wasn’t sure how he had done it, but I was thankful that he had.

It was all the ammunition that I needed to end this painful chapter of my life.

Clayton took a step closer to the clothesline and looked at the last item that hung beside the sonogram. They were the divorce papers that I had filed.

I continued quietly sipping my coffee as he ripped down photo after photo and the papers in embarrassment. Clayton was so livid that he hollered at the people to get off his lawn, and I could hear his shouts from where I sat.

“Get ready,” Aria stated as Clayton finally made his way inside.

Aria and I sat quietly watching him.

“What the hell is this? What’s going on, Del?” he demanded angrily, storming into the house and waving the papers in his hand.

His light brown face was red, making the freckles on them stand out even more, and his thick, curly hair was matted, as if he had just gotten out of bed and hadn’t combed it.

I climbed off my stool and headed to the corner of the living room where there were more items.

“Calm down, Clayton. I saved a few items for you, just enough to make sure that you get a fresh start. I even folded them for you. Whether you want them or not, I’ll let you decide.

I left you a couple of suits and some old clothes; you’re gonna need them while you’re out on the streets begging,” I explained icily.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re not only about to be out of a marriage and a house, but you’re about to be out of a job too.”

“You have lost your mind, girl! Aria, I need to speak with my wife alone, if you don’t mind.”

My sister twisted her lips and folded her arms over her chest. Then she started singing Beyonce’s song “Irreplaceable.”

As she continued to sing, I pointed to the boxes that literally were to the left, as the lyrics Aria sang indicated. If it was not so sad, it would have been humorous.

“Yeah, I’ll bet you’re gloating over this. You never did like me.”

“Because, unlike my sister who has a gigantic heart and believes the best of everyone, I saw right through you the minute that I met you. You think you’re cute with ya high-yellow ass and curly hair.

You thought every woman should fall at your feet and be grateful for the attention you paid them.

I saw how you’ve looked at me, her friends, and even your students.

I knew it was only a matter of time before you hurt her, but I’m glad she didn’t allow you to crush her spirit.

You weren’t shit, you ain’t shit, and you’re never gonna be shit, Clayton! ” Aria spat.

She was still in college when Clayton and I started dating.

I married that man six months after meeting him, and I was a recent college graduate.

He had never been my professor, but I had seen him around campus.

He was one of the newer professors who all the girls adored.

Imagine my surprise when I was the one who caught his eye.

My sister was in her sophomore year, and she had more time at the university to see him than I did.

Eventually, I learned that he married me because the board and the dean were encouraging him to get married for appearance sake.

They wanted him settled down, and they thought married life would dissuade the interest of their students.

His mentor thought it was a good idea because it would help when it came to promotion and consideration for chairing departments.

“I’m not here for you. This is my home. You can leave. Now all I asked is for you to give us a minute!” he shouted at my sister.

In the sweetest, lowest voice that I could muster, I replied, “No, that’s not going to happen.

She’s not going anywhere; you are. You’ve cheated all these years, and I foolishly looked the other way, praying that you would get it together one day.

You never did. But now I know that you’ve got one woman pregnant, and you’re screwing one of your students.

Now, the rest of the faculty and the dean will also know once I hit send on the emails I have composed. ”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t have to, but they will when they see the evidence.”

“Baby, I haven’t messed with any students.”

“Clayton, I’m done. I have bought your lies for years, but no more. All the cheating that you did, I accepted every excuse you gave for being around those women, especially the ones who were your colleagues. I accepted that you all were working on departmental goals.

“I even accepted the biggest lie of all, that the one woman who you brought in my home repeatedly was your little cousin. You made a fool of me, flaunting her in my face and allowing her to be at family functions where everyone else pretended she was a cousin too. Now that you got that woman pregnant, y’all can have your happily ever after because I’m done.

I’m glad I didn’t take your punk ass last name,” I spat angrily.

“Please, Del.”

“No, I’m over it, Clayton. The only please I have for you is please get your shit and get out.”

“You want me out?”

“I didn’t stutter. I was very clear.”

“If you kick me out, who the hell do you think will want your big ass?”

I inhaled deeply as Aria flew toward him. I grabbed her arm. “No, little sister. That’s what he wants. He wants to see us act like a clown so that he can get the upper hand. Not this time, sir. Get out.”

“I’ll get out. But your big, black ass will be lonely in this house, listening to your cousin and your sister.

Nobody wants you. They’re jealous of what you have.

I’ve told you that a million times, and you’re too stupid to get it.

You’ll be all alone in here without me. I’m the best thing that ever happened to you, Delaney.

Nobody wants you but me. Take a look in the mirror and tell me what you see,” he declared, grabbing me by the shoulders and turning me to face the mirror.

Clayton did not expect me to speak the words of affirmation that I spoke over myself. The more I spoke, the more he released his hands from my shoulders, and I felt the weight of years of oppression dropping away too.

“A bold, powerful, courageous woman with the strength to take her life back, protect her dignity, and walk with her head held up in pride. I see a full-figured, plus-size woman with dangerous curves that you could never handle. I see a dark-skinned, gorgeous beauty who knows her worth, and one who knows that you could never afford her. That’s what I see. ”

“That’s an illusion,” he hissed. “I see a woman who never knew how to please her man, because she was no good in bed. I see a woman who did nothing but sit around on her fat ass after work, eating everything in the kitchen. I see a woman who forced her man to cheat because she was too sorry to take care of him. That is why I never wanted you.”

“Let me clock his ass just one time, Sis, just once!” Aria was seething. She lunged toward him, and he stumbled backward. “Scary ass,” she stated.

I snatched her back again.

“If being wanted by you feels like this, I’d rather be unloved, unwanted, and all alone.”

“You already are. You were nothing more than a way for me to get the support that I needed at the school. You’re a charity case, Delaney.”

“And you are a hateful, evil, little man, Clayton. You have belittled my size, my looks, and my intellect almost the entire time I’ve been married to you.

But by the grace of God, I never let you break my spirit, and now that I’m emptying out the trash, you’re damn sure not about to break my spirit now. So get the hell out.”

“I really don’t have to go anywhere. This is my house too. What are you going to do?”

“If you don’t do it, I’ll call the cops and file an abuse charge.”

“I haven’t hit you, Del.”

I scoffed. “You’re not the only one who can tell lies, and I have witnesses who are willing to testify to such.”

“This isn’t over, Del. You’ve let her and your cousin out there get in your head.”

I picked up my phone and pretended to start dialing a number. “Oh, do you think I’m playing? I see you need some help leaving. Well, let me call some escorts to help you along the way.”

“Okay, okay, okay!” he shouted, grabbing his final things and heading for the door.

Aria exhaled loudly. “Were you really calling the cops?”

“No. I was bluffing. The same way that I’ve had to do this entire marriage,” I replied sadly.