Free Living Separate Lives by Paulette Harper

you are, you ain’t getting out of here alive. I’m going to kick your butt something bad,” Jordan said angrily.
    Tiffany and Kaylan were stunned and speechless. They stood there with their mouths wide open. The last time they heard Jordan talk like that was in high school when she beat the heck out of Stacie Green after the basketball game.
    Tiffany and Kaylan jumped in the middle of the brawl. Tiffany grabbed Jordan by the waist while Kaylan grabbed Candace.
    “Stop this, right now!” Tiffany yelled.
    Kaylan looked intensely at Jordan. “Let the purse go. We are going to find out the truth, right Candace?”
    “Okay. If I call that number again and it’s your phone, there is going to be some trouble. You know what I mean? Do you get me?” Jordan’s eyes glanced at Candace. Tiffany and Kaylan released their grip on the women and stood in front of them.
    Sweeping her right hand across her forehead to get rid of sweat, Candace clinched her purse with the other hand.
    Kaylan spoke in a quiet voice. “Let’s calm down. There is not going to be any fighting going on here. We are adults, and this is going to be handled in an adult manner.”
    Tiffany chimed in cautiously, “Agreed. Jordan, what happened to those scriptures you been quoting? You can’t be fighting nobody. You know what the Bible says: ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spirits in high places.’ That’s how it goes, right?” Tiffany paused and waited for a response.
    With her hands on her hips, Jordan said, “You serious?” She let out a long breath. “Tiffany, call the number.”
    Candace licked her lips and responded, “You don’t have to call the number. I’m so sorry, Jordan. I’m the other woman. I have been having an affair with Eric. But it’s not what you think. At first I didn’t know he was married, and I definitely didn’t know he was married to you! I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
    Jordan gasped. Tiffany and Kaylan stared at her with the most disgusted look they could muster. Candace began sobbing uncontrollably, making a spectacle of herself. She begged and pleaded with Jordan for forgiveness.
    In between the sobs, Candace began to explain how she and Eric met: “During Christmas, I went out for dinner and there he was at the bar. He approached me and we began talking. Believe me, I didn’t go there to pick up any man and I didn’t know he was married or married to Jordan. We exchanged phone numbers, and the rest… I don’t need to go into all the sordid details.”
    Jordan wasn’t moved by Candace’s emotional outburst. One minute later into the theatrics, Jordan shot in between Tiffany and Kaylan, got in Candace’s face, and slapped her. Tiffany and Kaylan grabbed Jordan and pulled her away from Candace. Candace looked dazed and stood with her mouth wide open.
    Jordan screamed, “How could you, Candace. You know what? Just get out of my face. What you’ve done is inexcusable.”
    Confused, Kaylan stared at Candace. “You told me his name was Derrick and that he died.” She tilted her head to one side. “What is wrong with you? Who makes up something like that? You’re sick!” She raised her voice three octaves.
    Tiffany added her two cents. “You should be ashamed of yourself! How dare you smile in our face, all the while knowing that you are sleeping with Jordan’s husband! You know what they call women like you? A home wrecker is the polite word.”
    They waited for her to respond. Her voice cracked. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I am so sorry for hurting all of you.” She stared down at the floor. “Please forgive me.”
    “Shut up!” Jordan ordered. “I don’t want to hear another word from those lying lips. Sleeping with my husband? That’s low. You know what? Ya’ll deserve each other.”
    Kaylan crossed her arms and jumped in Candace’s face. She stood still, but inside she wanted to slap Candace, too. “You come telling me that sorry story about you