“If Carmen ain't here she should be. I can tell she's digging you by the way she looks at you.”
“I know. We talked a little about that tonight.”
While Garrett went on about how he could size up any woman and how fine Carmen was, Marcus thought about her. After they left Goosebumps, Marcus drove Carmen back to her hotel. They stood outside the hotel laying the foundation of a new relationship. Carmen showed Marcus a few of her old dance routines to prove she still had it. Marcus was mesmerized by Carmen's smooth, yet erotic movements. For over an hour they laughed and talked and made plans to meet for dinner at Carmen's new apartment at seven the following evening.
“Hold up, Garrett. I know you didn't come here at one in the morning to tell me how fine Carmen is?”
“No partner, I needed somebody to talk to.”
“Why don't you go home and talk to your wife then?”
“I can't do that.”
“Why not?”
“Paven left me.”
“What did you say?”
“I didn't stutter. I said, Paven took the kids and left me. I got home around nine tonight and the house was in darkness. Even though it's Saturday night, I didn't think much of it. I just figured somebody had come and picked them up. When I got in the house Paven was sitting at the dining room table. She was leaving me a note.”
“What did the note say?”
“She didn't have to finish it; I was standin' right in front of her.”
“What did she say?”
“Garrett,” Paven said, startled by his sudden appearance. “I didn't think you'd be home so early.” Garrett walked up to her and tried to kiss her, but Paven resisted. “Garrett sat down. There's something we need to talk about.”
“What's the matter, Paven? Are the kids alright? Where are they anyway?”
“They're fine, Garrett. They're at my mothers.”
“What they doing over there?”
“Garrett, sit down, please.”
Reluctantly Garrett sat down at the table and waited to hear what Paven had to say. “I—” Paven said and looked away. “Garrett, the kids are at my mother’s because I'm leaving you.”
“What you mean, you leavin' me, Paven?”
“I can't say it any plainer than that. I'm not happy with us, Garrett.”
“Why.”
“You're never here, for one.”
“I have to work, Paven. You know there aren't any set hours in what I do. I gotta work to make a good life for you and the kids.”
“I know that, Garrett, but do you ever think about what that is doing to us? To your children? We need you here with us sometimes, too. They need their father and I need my husband.”
“I am here for you, Paven. Everything that I do, I do for you.”
“You're not understanding what I'm saying, Garrett. You are, and always have been a good provider. You've always taken good care of us. We've never wanted for anything, but I need more. Your son will be fourteen years old soon and he needs his father to set a positive example for him.”
“So now I'm a bad influence on him, huh?”
“No, but the only example you are setting for him is that he should work all the time.”