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  “Nia, telephone!”

  Nia had been lying down in her old bedroom upstairs battling a migraine when her mother yelled up the stairwell. She sat up and asked, “Who is it?”

  Her mother replied, “Neena!”

  Nia got up and walked out into the hallway where there was a wooden telephone stand with a small, tapestry-covered bench attached to it. She hesitated for a few seconds and took a deep breath before picking up the extension.

  “Hey, Neena!”

  “Hey, Sissypoo!” Neena blared cheerfully into Nia’s ear. “Merry Christmas!”

  “Same to you.”

  Neena’s happy mood made Nia’s stomach hurt. She was overwhelmed with guilt.

  “I’m just calling to check in. You know I had to try to earn some brownie points with Momma.”

  That made Nia laugh. She knew all about earning brownie points when it came to their mother. “How’s Houston?”

  “Boring as hell, but they have some fine ass men down here. Speaking of fine ass men, did you email Jacob and explain why I couldn’t keep our date?”

  Nia sat down on the bench and shielded her forehead with her hand. Her brain felt like it was pulsating.

  “Yeah, yeah, I took care of that,” she lied.

  “Thanks, I know I can always count on you.”

  Actually, you can’t count on me worth a damn, Nia thought to herself. She tried to rush off the phone before Neena asked any further questions about Jacob.

  “Did you want to talk back to Momma?” she asked. “I was taking a nap because my head hurts.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I probably just overate,” Nia said, telling yet another lie. She’d piled up food on a plate, but picked over it before getting rid of the evidence in the garbage disposal. She knew there would be hell to pay if her mother had discovered a plate of food tossed in the trash.

  “Sure, I’ll talk back with Momma. I just wanted to holler at you. Is Uncle Earl over there getting tore up?”

  Nia laughed. Their Uncle Earl was an alcoholic, but a smooth one. He almost made being a wino an art form.

  “He’s been tore up. He’s already talking about how he was the captain of the basketball team in high school.”

  “Yeah right, about thirty years ago.” Neena guffawed. “Just try to stay out of his way before he gets to patting asses.”

  “I know that’s right!” Nia exclaimed, remembering the numerous occasions when he tried to feel the two of them up, along with all the other female relatives, when he was in the middle of one of his drunken stupors.

  “Take care, Sissypoo. I’ll see you in a few days.”

  “Take care.” Nia pressed the handset into her collar bone and yelled, “Momma, telephone!”

  Nia went back into her bedroom, collapsed on the bed, buried her head in a pillow, and cried. She had created a mess and had no idea how she was going to fix it.

  Chapter Eight

  Jacob was going through the pile of mail that had piled up on his desk over the last week. His brother, Jaleb, startled him as he walked in. “You’re home!”

  Jacob got up to give Jaleb a hug. “Hey, baby brother! Merry Belated Christmas!”

  “I wish you would cut out that baby brother mess. Eight measly minutes doesn’t make you a big brother.”

  “No, but my balls that outweigh yours two to one do.”

  “Keep dreaming!”

  Jacob sat back down while Jaleb took the seat on the opposite side of the desk. “So what did you do when I was away?”

  Jaleb shrugged. “The usual. Just hung out.”

  “Where did you hang out?”

  “I hit a few clubs with Rodney and Keith.”

  “Picked up some honies?”

  “No, not really.”

  Jacob surveyed his twin and knew he looked upset about something. He could always tell. He assumed it was because he’d been called away on business unexpectedly during the holidays. “Well, I’m sorry I missed Christmas dinner. I felt so guilty since we spend it together every year.”

  Jaleb smirked and waved off the apology. “Jacob, we’re grown men. No need to apologize. I actually went over to Keith’s crib for dinner. His wife hooked up a serious meal.”

  “Cool. I still owe you a present though.” Jacob got out and headed outside of the real estate firm they co-owned to his hunter-green BMW. He and Jaleb shared the same tastes, right down to their choice in automobiles. “Be right back.”

  He returned with a set of brand-new Harvey Penick golf clubs.

  “Wow, those are fly as shit!” Jaleb said appreciatively when Jacob sat them down in front of them.

  “Yes, and they cost me a pretty penny too,” Jacob added. He wanted Jaleb to know that his gift didn’t come cheap. Both being avid golfers, he was sure Jaleb recognized that already but decided to rub it in anyway.

  “Your gift is at home. I’ll give it to you tonight.”

  “Great! I can’t wait to see it.”

  “I think you’ll like it.” Jaleb held in a laugh. He’d purchased Jacob the exact same set of golf clubs. He couldn’t wait to see the expression on his face later that night. “I love the clubs, bro. Thank you.”

  “Welcome.” Jacob returned to opening his mail. He asked matter-of-factly, “So, did you get a chance to email Neena for me?”

  “Who?” Jaleb replied, acting confused.

  Jacob looked up and glared at him, tossing the envelope he’d just opened back on his desk. “Neena. The sister I told you to email about my sudden trip. Please tell me you did it, Jaleb.”

  “Of course I did, but…”

  “But what?”

  Jaleb shifted in his seat. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Neena.”

  “What about her?”

  “Doesn’t she live down near Charlotte?”

  “Yes, she lives in Kannapolis. Why?”

  “Because I’ve heard some things,” Jaleb said solemnly, diverting his eyes to the floor. He didn’t want Jacob to be able to see his eyes. His eyes always gave away his lies.

  “What kind of things?”

  “Bad things.”

  Jacob raised his voice. “Come off it, Jaleb. What did you hear?”

  “Rodney said he hit it, man.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “No, I’m not. Call him and ask him if you don’t believe me.” Jaleb got up and picked up the handset, holding it out to Jacob. He was hoping Jacob wouldn’t really call Rodney because Rodney didn’t know a damn thing about Neena. “He’s not the only one, either. I hear she gives it up to just about any man that asks.”

  Jacob slumped back in his leather desk chair. “Neena lives two hours away. How the hell did Rodney meet her in the first place?”

  Jaleb placed the receiver back on the cradle, relieved that Jacob trusted him enough not to call. “Hell if I know. I think he mentioned something about meeting her at a house party in Greensboro.”

  “It’s probably someone else.”

  “Another Neena? Another Neena with a twin sister named Nia? Your Neena does have a twin, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “See, I rest my case. You never told me that she has a twin so how would I know?”

  Jacob was dumb-founded. There was no conceivable way that Jaleb could know that Neena had a twin. As for Neena, he’d never told her that Jaleb was his twin. He planned to take her by surprise when they finally met and he took her to his house. Their house.

  “Even if she slept with Rodney, that was a long time ago. It’s not like I don’t have a past.”

  “You call last month a long time ago?” Jaleb asked sarcastically.

  “Last month?”

  “Yes, last month.”

  “But she was talking to me last month.”

  “My point exactly. And get this, Rodney said he slammed her less than two hours after they met. Right there on the hood of his car. Nasty ho!”

  Jacob slammed his clenched fist down on his desk in fur
y. “I can’t believe this shit!”

  “Believe it! I’m sorry, bro, but maybe it’s better that your Christmas Eve plans didn’t work out. You were pretty serious about the sister and everyone knows that you can’t turn a hoe into a housewife.”

  Jacob was heartbroken. He’d held Neena in such high regards and had often imagined building a stable future with her. She was beautiful, had her head on straight, and always brightened his mood whenever they talked. “I thought she was special, Jaleb. It really felt like she was the one.”

  “There’ll be others.” Jaleb’s stomach started hurting. He was having an anxiety attack, not to mention being overwhelmed by guilt. He decided to change the subject. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s celebrate Christmas late. We can go clubbing tonight.”

  “I don’t feel like it.”

  “Oh, so now you’re going to hold up in the house and sulk over some woman you never actually met?”

  Jacob stared at Jaleb. He did have a point. If Neena wanted to spread her legs for every Trent, Dante, and Hakim, let her. He was cutting all ties and moving on.

  “You’re right! Let’s hang out. As for Neena, that skank ho better not ever call or email me again.”

  Chapter Nine

  Nia came into the house loaded down with plastic-handled bags from Food Lion. Neena’s car was outside and she figured she must be lying down since the living room was completely dark. Nia wondered if Neena was suffering from yet another work-related migraine. She was startled when a lamp on one of their end tables suddenly came to life. Neena was sitting on the sofa boring a hole through her with her eyes.

  Nia dropped the bags on the floor. “Why are you sitting up here in the dark?”

  “Because I’m pissed off.”

  “About what?” Nia asked, praying it didn’t have anything to do with her dirt. However, she knew that everyone’s actions always catch up to them sooner or later.

  “Do you know that Jacob refuses to take my phone calls and he won’t respond to any of my emails?” Neena snarled at her sarcastically.

  Here comes the drama, Nia thought to herself before sitting down across from Neena in an armchair. “No, I didn’t know that.”

  “No explanation. No nothing. He just did a complete turn around.” Neena looked at Nia accusingly. “I wonder why.”

  Nia was a nervous wreck and searched for something to say. “Why look at me? I have no idea. I don’t even know the man.”

  “Strange that you should use that choice of wording.”

  “Why is that strange?”

  “Because after Jacob started dissing me, I got to thinking about the email I asked you to send him. The one you told me you sent.”

  “I, I….” Nia stuttered.

  “So I decided to check my sent mail box and what do I find. Emails telling Jacob that I can’t wait to see him at the club and emails talking about how much I love the picture of him that he sent. By the way, I went to my box with old mail received and saw the picture.”

  Damn, Nia thought. I forgot to clean out the incriminating emails. “I can explain, Neena.”

  “What was wrapped up in the red bow belonged to me, Nia. That poem was written for me.”

  “I know that. Will you please just listen?”

  Neena’s voice went up about three octaves. “Just tell me one thing. Did you pretend to be me and meet Jacob at the club, Nia? Did you?”

  “Yes, I did,” Nia answered, realizing that honesty was the best policy at that point.

  “I can’t fuckin’ believe you!” Neena screamed at her, getting up and walking over to stand in front of any possible escape route Nia had from the armchair.

  Nia couldn’t even look up at her. She was so ashamed. “Neena, I was confused. I saw his picture and read that poem and something came over me.”

  “Did you fuck him? Yes or no.”

  “Yes, I fucked him.” Nia heard the slap before she saw it. Her cheek felt like it was on fire. “Neena, you hit me!”

  “Damn right! You’re lucky I don’t beat the shit out of you!” Neena moved away. One slap was enough, even if it was the only retribution she would ever likely get. “How could you? I’m your sister!”

  “Neena, I promise that no matter how long it takes, I will make this up to you.”

  “Make it up? The damage is done, Nia. Does Jacob know it was you?” Neena asked. Nia finally looked at her, her eyes pleading for a reprieve. “He does, doesn’t he?”

  “I told him the next morning.”

  Neena placed her hands on her hips. “So now he’s playing silly games with me to get me to leave him alone so he can get with you?”

  “No, he’s not trying to get with me. He kicked me out of his place after I told him.”

  “Serves you right.”

  “He’s just too ashamed about what happened to meet you now.”

  “This is all your fault. I really care about him, Nia! I was trying to build something with him!”

  Nia started weeping. The inevitability of being caught was too much to bear now that it had actually happened. “I’ll fix it. I’ll go to him and beg him to give your relationship another chance.”

  “After he was all up inside you, and doing Lawd knows what else to you? I don’t even think so.” Neena let out a phony laugh before storming out of the room. “I’m through with both of you.”

  Nia heard Neena’s bedroom door slam. Through tear-drenched eyes, she managed to put away the groceries before retiring to her own room and to her own state of depression.

  Chapter Ten

  TWO DAYS LATER

  Nia pulled up to the front of a very stylish, upper class home. A sign with Open House painted on it was on a stake in the front yard. There was a hunter green BMW parked in the drive. She was relieved that Jacob was there because her hands were trembling so much on her drive to Durham that she didn’t think she could deal with it two days in a row.

  She got out of her car, hesitated for a moment, and then strutted inside before she lost her nerve. There was no one in sight. She was about to yell out Jacob’s name when he emerged from a room in the rear. His eyes were glued to an open manila folder and he didn’t see her until he practically bumped into her.

  Jacob saw a pair of strikingly beautiful legs and inched his eyes upward until he was staring into Nia’s face.

  “Jacob, I need to talk to you.”

  Jacob didn’t know what to say. She was even more beautiful than her pictures. “Neena, what are you doing here? How’d you find me?”

  “Your secretary told me you were conducting an open house today. I’m not Neena, Jacob, and you damn well know it. At least, you should.”

  “What?” Jacob asked, having no idea what she was talking about.

  “Look, I didn’t come here to rehash what happened between us on Christmas Eve. The sex was spectacular, but it wasn’t real because you thought you were being intimate with Neena and not me.”

  “What are you talking about? On Christmas Eve, I wasn’t even in…”

  Nia cut him off. “Jacob, you don’t have to play dumb. No one else is here.”

  It finally dawned on Jacob. Jaleb had committed a major fuck up and tried to cover his ass. “Okay, I won’t play dumb,” he said, leaning against the staircase. He decided to hear Nia out. That way he’d have more ammunition when he confronted Jaleb.

  “I know that we’d decided that you would just cut Neena off, but it backfired. She found all the emails.”

  “The emails?” Jacob asked, prodding her on.

  “The emails. The poem you wrote me, I mean her, and the nude picture.”

  “The nude picture.” Jacob shook his head. Jaleb was just too damn much. He played it off and smirked. “Oh yeah, the nude picture.”

  “This is all my fault, Jacob. Neena shouldn’t have to suffer behind my actions. I won’t lie. She’s pissed at both of us and has serious apprehensions about having anything further to do with you. But we live in the same home and she’s not even speaking to m
e. It’s driving me insane.”

  “And what exactly do you expect me to do about it?”

  “Talk to Neena. Come by the house. If you don’t have the address, I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you the directions. Just come and try to work things out.”

  “I have the address, but do you really think things can be worked out?” Jacob asked, his feelings for Neena resurfacing at the speed of light now that he realized she really wasn’t the hoe Jaleb had proclaimed her to be.

  “I don’t know. I really don’t know,” Nia replied sullenly. “What I do know is that there can never be an us, and I understand that. For what it’s worth, I want you to know that Christmas Eve meant a lot to me, even though the affection and intimacy shown wasn’t meant for me. I wish things could be different.”

  Nia started crying and Jacob was tempted to stop her before she stormed out of the house. But, he didn’t know what to say. Whatever happened between Jaleb and Neena’s twin sister was something they needed to resolve. He glanced at his watch. He had two more hours before the open house officially ended. Two hours too long because he couldn’t wait to get his hands on his brother. Literally.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jaleb came into their townhouse a little after seven that evening with a paper bag of Chinese food in one hand and a twelve-pack of Miller Light in the other. He heard Jacob in the kitchen and walked back there to join him.

  “Jacob, the Szechwan Inn was out of white meat chicken so I couldn’t get your chicken with cashew nuts. I got you shrimp lo mein instead. Is that cool?” Jaleb asked, wondering why Jacob was washing dishes and then slamming them into the drainer like he was attempting to cause them serious damage.

  Jacob slammed a saucer in there and it actually broke. Jaleb was just about to ask him what was wrong when Jacob swung around and punched him in the gut.

  Jaleb bowled over in pain. “Owww, what are you doing man? Are you crazy?”

  “No, I’m not crazy! You are!” Jacob shouted at him.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Jaleb was a lot of things, but he was no dummy. He knew what was going on, but tried to play dumb regardless.