The Root of All Evil by Joylynn M. Jossel

Author:Joylynn M. Jossel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Klarke was in the basement folding a load of laundry when she heard the doorbell ring.

“Just a minute!” she yelled. The doorbell rang again.

“I’m coming!” Klarke said as she went over to the door and opened it.

“Tionne, what are you doing here?” Klarke said, surprised.

“I’ve just got to get some things off of my chest, Klarke,” Tionne said.

Tionne’s chin trembled in an effort to hold back tears. Klarke stood there, waiting for Tionne to gain her composure and state the purpose of her unannounced visit.

Klarke was surprised by Tionne’s appearance. Tionne had always made it a point to look her best when knowing that she would be seeing Klarke. But now her hair was pulled back in a dried-out pony tail and it looked like she hadn’t run a comb through it in days. She was sporting a wrinkled black jogging suit and some regular white leather Keds with no socks. This was the first time Klarke had ever seen Tionne without makeup on. There were visible blemishes on Tionne’s face that Klarke had never known existed under the smoothly applied cosmetics she always wore.

“Look, Klarke, Til just get right to it,” Tionne said, wiping her eyes. “Are you and Harris trying to get back together?”

At first Klarke looked at Tionne, dumbfounded. Then she exploded with laughter.

“You’ve got some nerve,” Klarke said in disbelief. “I honestly can’t believe that you’ve come to my home with this. On a bad day I would tell you to go fuck yourself and have this conversation with your man. And he is your man now, Tionne. But since you done drove all this way to ask me that question I suppose I’ll answer it. No, Tionne. I have no intention whatsoever of getting back with Harris.”

“And is that how Harris feels, too?” Tionne asked.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Klarke grinned, putting her hands on her hips. “Ask him. I can’t tell you how Harris feels.”

“Well, you’re going to have to tell me something,” Tionne said, digging into her purse. She pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. “Something’s going on, or is Harris just running around paying off people’s truck notes now?”

Klarke took the piece of paper from Tionne and skimmed it. Sure enough, it was documentation that Harris had paid off Klarke’s truck note. Klarke’s mouth dropped in shock.

“I found it in the glove compartment of his car,” Tionne said as she studied Klarke’s reaction. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”

“Honestly, I had no idea Harris was the one who had paid this. I thought it was my boss,” Klarke said still stunned. “Please, Tionne, come in.”

Tionne came inside and sat down on the couch. Klarke fixed Tionne a glass of ice water and sat down next to her.

“I don’t want to seem cold,” Klarke said, “but you and I aren’t friends. We are cordial to one another, but that’s where it stops. I see you’re going through some things and I’m only doing what any decent person would do. I’m listening.

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