Page 29 of I Heard It All Before

His grandparents had been calling him like crazy for the past few days, but he never answered for them. He didn’t know what they wanted and he really didn’t care.

“He runs the law firm now, since your father passed away. His wife Amy is a bitch, so I’m happy that she’s not in charge,” Demi replied.

“That’s probably why the picture is still up. If it were up to her, it would have been taken down the same day he died,” Cam admitted.

“So, you and your father didn’t get along?” Demi asked.

Cam wasn’t scared to tell his story, so he told Demi everything about his barely-there relationship with his father. Demi listened intently, as he told her about his many trips to prison, as well as the illegal activities that landed him there. Cam was like an open book, leaving no pages from his story unread.

“So, that’s my story, what’s yours?” Cam questioned after he’d laid everything out for her.

Just like Demi did with him, he listened as she told him about her career as an attorney at his father’s law firm and her failing marriage. She told him about her father being murdered and how she didn’t want that for her husband. He and Demi had just met, but it felt like he’d known her for a while. She was down to earth and easy to talk to. That was a plus in his book. Demi wasn’t the type to tell strangers her business, but she felt the need to vent.

“Damn man, it seems like your story is the exact opposite of mine. I got somebody who’s in my ear begging me to start back selling dope and you’re begging your husband to stop,” Cam said, chuckling at the irony.

“That’s so crazy to me. Why would any woman want her man out in the streets like that? I’m just scared of getting a call saying that my husband is in jail or worse. That’s why I always told him that I have no problem holding us down while he went to school. He did it for me and I don’t mind returning the favor.”

“That’s what’s up. You don’t find too many women who think like you do. I don’t have the money like I used to, but I’m not looking over my shoulder for the police or another nigga trying to rob me. I’m content with my life, broke and all.” Cam shrugged.

“You can’t put a dollar amount on peace of mind. That’s something that I just don’t have right now. I don’t even feel comfortable sleeping in my own house anymore.”

“Yeah, him bringing that shit into your house was a bad move. Nobody might know where y’all live, but it ain’t nothing for a nigga to find out,” Cam replied

“I agree,” Demi sighed.

“I don’t think y’all problems are big enough for y’all to get a divorce or nothing like that though. That arguing shit ain’t gon’ get y’all nowhere. Just sit down and talk about it and see what happens,” Cam suggested.

“Look at you, giving out advice and stuff. Let me find out I have a new best friend,” Demi laughed.

“I can be that too,” Cam smirked.

It felt good for Demi to smile and genuinely mean it. It was crazy how a total stranger had her feeling better about herself, after her own husband made her feel like shit. She didn’t care if she never saw Cam again; she appreciated him for being a listening ear.

“What about you and your situation? Do you think you and your girl can come to some kind of agreement and make things work?” Demi questioned.

“Man,” Cam said while scratching his head. “It is what it is. I’ll be good either way.”

“You must come here a lot,” Demi said, moving on to another subject.

“Yeah, most of time before I go to work,” Cam answered.

“I’m not holding you up, am I? I understand if you have to leave,” Demi said, hoping that he could stay just a little longer.

“No, I’m good. I work at my best friend’s shop, so he doesn’t really hold me to a schedule,” Cam replied.

“What do you do?” Demi questioned.

Cam pulled out his phone and showed her some pictures of his cars, as he described his job duties. Demi was impressed at his knowledge. Cam’s eyes lit up as he spoke, letting her know that he was doing something that he loved.

“How often do you come here?” Cam asked.

“Maybe two or three times a week. I fell in love with their drinks and the food is okay too,” Demi answered.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” Cam asked.

“Only if you’ll join me, my treat,” Demi offered.

“I usually get here around nine. Does that work for you?” Cam asked, accepting her offer.

“That’s perfect,” Demi replied.

Cam ended up going to work at one that evening, after talking to Demi all morning. She agreed to go back home and talk to her husband, just like Cam had said she should. Demi would have never put her business out there like that, but she was happy that she did. Cam gave some good advice and she took heed. Demi had no way of knowing that their first encounter was only one of many. The beginning of a beautiful friendship that she had come to depend on.

---