Permanent Resident at the Purse Table by Keisha Bass

all of her energy.
    Ava slumped into the couch and sat bewildered. Had Ishmael seen Rene yet? Ava knew sex outside of marriage was wrong, but she’d have been better off sleeping with Xavier. At least she wouldn’t have hurt anyone but herself. This would destroy Rene when and if she found out. Ava needed to tell Rene herself, but had no desire to disclose the hurtful information.
    The knock on her front door was like a hammer to her skull. When she looked out the peephole, she made out Rene’s image. Ava’s heart catapulted into her throat. Did Rene already know about the catastrophic indiscretion?
    Ava wasn’t prepared for this surprise visit whether Rene knew or not. Get it together. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
    â€œHey, girl.” Rene handed her a cup of coffee. “I know you said you didn’t have to be at work until ten, so I brought coffee and doughnuts.”
    â€œWhat time is it?”
    â€œAlmost nine.”
    â€œI’m not going in today.” Ava cleared her throat. “I called in sick.”
    â€œI thought you didn’t look too good.” Rene sat across from Ava. “What’s the matter?”
    You really don’t want to know the answer to that question. “I have a headache and my stomach is messed up, but I’ll be fine.”
    Rene scooped up the Texans hat on the arm of the couch. “Who’s is this?”
    A nervous heat ran through Ava’s body. “Oh, that was Xavier’s.”
    â€œIshmael has one just like it.”
    Ava swiped the hat from Rene’s hand. “Yeah, he must’ve left it over here yesterday when he came by.” Just lying. Lord, forgive me. For everything.
    â€œHe came at you again? I guess he’s not the giving up type.” Crossing her legs, Rene took a sip of coffee. “Anyway, girl, I had to tell you what I went through last night.”
    Ava’s ears perked up as heat flared around her neck. “Mmh?”
    â€œYou know after you left Ish and me at the mall, I followed him to his mom’s house to drop off her car. Well, I saw some mail that Shanice had left over there for him.”
    â€œYeah?” This would be the second time Ava heard this story.
    â€œDo you know it was the same address he got my car towed from? Can you believe that?”
    â€œReally, girl?” Ava did her best to sound and act surprised.
    â€œI mean he lied straight to my face. And more than once.” Rene blew the top of her coffee cup.
    â€œSo what’d you do?”
    â€œI told him things are on hold for now. You know I can’t feel good about marrying someone who can lie like that.”
    Just wait ’til you hear what I have to tell you. “And what did he say?”
    â€œHe couldn’t say much. He got caught and I really wasn’t trying to hear anything he had to say anyway. I told him to stay at his momma’s house until further notice.” Rene bounced her fist off her thigh. “My mom told me not to let him move in. She always said shackin’ up leads to no good. Why didn’t I listen to her?”
    â€œWell, y’all are supposed to get married in a few months. His lease was up so you probably figured why not.”
    â€œI figured wrong. Guess what else I did last night?”
    Ava’s imagination and nerves scampered wild. “What?”
    â€œI went to Shanice’s apartment, and we had a little talk.”
    â€œYou did?”
    â€œYep. Ish kept blowing up my phone, but I was on a mission to get some answers. She turned out to be cooler than I thought. Even offered me a drink.”
    Ava was taken back. “Offered you a drink?”
    â€œSure did. And I took it, too. I needed something to calm me down.”
    â€œWhat’d she have to say?”
    Rene took a deep breath. “She basically said all their conversations are about Isaiah. And Ishmael did get a change of address, but he still receives mail