“I don’t want to talk about him, Mama.” I bit my lip. I had heard this all before. Maybe not this exact scenario, but I’d heard a hundred versions of it. They all ended badly when his boss screwed him over, or he just wanted to go out and celebrate, or his co-worker did him dirty. “I want to know if you are okay.”
“I’m fine, honey. I always am. You know that.”
“Is he still hitting you?” I bit my lip again and held my breath for the answer that never came.
“Oh, sweetie, I hear your father. I’ll talk to you next week.”
Click.
“Wait! Mama! Mama!”
doo-ooo-oooo
I stared at the phone in my hand, connected to nothing but the sound of a dial tone. It never changed. She always pretended everything was great, defending every bad thing he did. And he just kept doing them.
Noah
I felt my heart beat in my chest, a rapid pounding that signaled my panic. Trotting down the steps as I left the office, I had just raised my hand to hail a cab when I felt someone bump into me from behind. The hit knocked me from the curb and into traffic.
“Oooofff! Watch where you’re going.” I swung about and stepped out of the street, coming face to face with Lena’s father.
“Watch where you’re going,” he said, bumping this big belly into me, forcing me take another step back, almost into the street.
“Excuse me. I was just leaving.” I made to move around him when he got in my face again.
“I don’t think so. We need to have a chat.”
“I’m afraid we have already said all there is to say. Now, excuse me.”
He again moved in and blocked me. “I don’t think so. You are shacking up with my daughter. You took her straight from the loving arms of her mother. I need some assurances she is being properly taken care of and that you are gonna do right by her.”
“Straight from the loving arms of her mother? I don’t think so.”
“Took her from us. Left us barely making ends meet.”
“Will you please let me pass? I don’t need a scene here at work.”
“A scene?” he shouted. “You’re worried about a scene?! After you took my daughter, my pure, innocent girl, and had your way with her?” He turned to the passersby. “He’s defiled my girl and won’t do right by her. Big shot thinks he can get away with anything.” He swung back to me. “So tell me, you gonna do right by my girl?”
“Shush!” I took him by the arm and led him around the corner. “What do you want?”
He looked me up and down, a sly glint in his eye. “You look like you’re good for a bit. Two hundred.”
“Two hundred dollars? You want two hundred dollars for your daughter?” Incredulous, I stood there in the alley and just stared at the man. How could anyone be willing to trade his child away for a good night at the bar?
“Well,” he blustered, “I just want to make sure you can provide for her. I wouldn’t want her to go to just anybody.”
“If I give you two hundred, we will never hear from you again?”
At this his eyes narrowed and got shifty, he licked his lips and faced me again. “You want her for good?”
“What will make you go away?”
“She’s a good one, is my daughter. Always takes care of her mama and siblings. I think she’s worth more than $200. Whadya think?”
“How much?” Irritated, tired of his games, my mind shifted to what I needed to do with my own problems. Having to deal with Lena’s issues over and over again made me wonder if I had messed in business I shouldn’t have. Maybe my mother was right, and our two worlds really couldn’t mix.
“Well,” I could see him looking me up and down, calculating what he could get from me. I silently laughed. He had no idea. He couldn’t fathom the resources I had access to. “Five hundred dollars, and then I want $100 every week.”
“Done.” I pulled out my wallet, pulled out the hundreds, and shoved them into his hand. Then I grabbed him by the collar and said, “And if I ever even see your face again, I will call the police and have you arrested for theft and assault. Am I clear?” I got into his face before releasing him. “I’ll leave an envelope at the front desk for you every Friday. Don’t contact me or Lena ever again.”
“A pleasure doing business with you.” He smiled broadly, counting the bills before hitching up his pants under his belly.
Disgusted, I just shook my head and walked away, worried this was too easy, and it wouldn't be the end.
Lena
I looked up as Noah walked into the office. He had a peculiar expression on his face—part puzzlement, part disgust.
"I thought you were going to see your mother?" I glanced at the clock and noticed he had only been gone for 20 minutes.
"I ran into a few issues.”
"Is everything okay?"
"I am not sure I can do this," he said.
"What do you mean?" He was starting to worry me. What this was he talking about? The business? Partnership with John? Me? The baby?
"I am not sure I can go against my family and cancel my engagement with Haley to be with you. I think we might be from two different worlds."
"Noah! I can't do this alone! I thought we were going to try to make this work? What happened?" My heart rose in my throat, choking me, and I started to panic. The blood drained from my face, and my eyes grew wide. What does this mean for me? What happened to make him change his mind?
Lena
Ring. Ring.
I licked the spoon on the yogurt I was eating, stood it up in the cup, and set it to the side as I answered the phone.
“Good morning. Mr. Hendrix‘s office. Lena speaking. How may I help you?"
"Lena, this is Mrs. Buckingham. I need to see you in my office immediately."
"Good morning, Mrs. Buckingham. I'll be down in a moment."
"See that you do." She hung up, and I was left with the dial tone ringing in my ear.
Puzzled, I scooted my chair back and stood, struggling to button my skirt over my protruding belly. Smoothing my sweater down, I let it hang in a fashion that would hopefully hide my burgeoning shape. I hadn't spoken to Mrs. Buckingham in weeks, and I hoped this was nothing serious.
"Excuse me, Noah. I need to go see Mrs. Buckingham for a moment." I stuck my head in his office to let him and John know that I was stepping out. Things were a little awkward, and I missed the easy camaraderie.
He looked up for a moment, his eyes resting on my belly before they traveled to my face, and he nodded, never saying a word. His face was a mask of misery.
I walked down the hall, attempting not to waddle, my fingers twisting as I wondered what Mrs. Buckingham wanted to say. As I entered her office, she didn't even look up, simply saying, "I'll be with you in a moment.”
When she finished the report she was reviewing, she set it on her desk, removed her glasses, and let them hang from the beaded chain. She leaned forward and folded her hands in front of her. "Lena, I'm very disturbed by some reports I'm getting regarding your behavior."
I stood, shifting from foot to foot, nervously wringing my hands in front of me. “I'm sorry Mrs. Buckingham. I was unaware Mr. Hendrix was unhappy with my performance. I promise to try harder and do better. Is there anything specific I need to change?"
"Mr. Hendrix is not unhappy with you." She stared down her pointy nose at me, and sweat started to break out on my brow. I could feel my armpits dampening and a bead rolling down between my breasts.
"Then I am confused. What have I done wrong?" Mrs. Buckingham was the malevolent dictator of the secretarial pool. It was never good for her to be unhappy with you. You could end up being lent out to the grossest, most lecherous pig of a man in the building just as punishment for pissing her off. She’d offer girls to the lowest office workers, ones who didn't even get secretaries of their own, just to punish the girls who displeased her.
"Are you in the family way?" "
My brain froze. I didn't know what to say.
"I'm not stupid. I can see that you are. You know the rules, and you broke them. While I feel for your situation, you can no longer work here.”
“But—”
“I cannot favor you over the other girls. As of this moment, you are to gather your things, and security will escort you from the building.”
“But what will I do?! I need this job!" I rushed her desk placing my hands on the surface, leaning over, begging her.
"I truly am sorry, Lena. I like you, and you're a hard worker. But it is time for you to go." I tried to stifle a sob as my world came crashing down around me. Mrs. Buckingham picked up her phone and called security. "Robert, please come escort Miss Bishop to her office to gather her things."
My face crumpled, and I couldn't hold back anymore. The tears started rolling down my face, and Robert came to lead me in the walk of shame to the escalator down the hall and back to my office to collect my personal items.
"Lena? What's going on?" Noah stood in the doorway to his office as he watched me put my items in a box. Robert supervised me, hands folded behind his back, security badge gleaming on his chest.
"I— I—" I could barely get the words out. "I've been let go." I couldn't say anymore. I just finished putting my plant, my extra sweater, and my lunch in the box before standing and turning to leave. There was nothing more to say.
Noah
I stood in shock as Robert led Lena down the hallway, her shoulders shaking with her every sob. Her face was red and blotchy from crying. I had no idea what happened.
"What's going on?" John came to stand next to me. "Where is Lena going?"
"I have no idea."
"She okay?" He scratched his head and started to walk out of the office. I put a hand in front of him to block him for a moment
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. Let's finish up so I can go check on her.”
"She sounds really upset."
"I said I'll take care of it. Let's finish up signing these contracts. "
He stopped and just looked at me, giving me a knowing glare before closing his mouth and nodding. I was afraid he saw a little too much.
"Look, Noah, you've already been over all these. I'll read them and sign them. You go take care of things. I'll hold the fort down here."
I nodded afraid to open my mouth and say anything.
"And Noah…"
I looked back at him.
"Don't screw this up."
Lena
I hailed a cab, not caring about the cost. I was in no shape to ride the bus home.
"Miss, are you okay?" the cabbie asked, looking at me in the rearview mirror.
"I'll be okay." I buried my face in my arms, my body still shaking with sobs.
"Really, miss, is there somebody that can help you?"
"I just want to go home."
We drove the rest of the way in silence. He helped me carry my things up to Noah’s apartment, leaving his cab idling at the curb.
“I hate to leave you alone here, miss. Is there someone I could call for you?” He was a nice old man, but nice just made me cry harder.
“Thank you. My family will be here soon.” I dropped my box on the couch, went to the bedroom, and flung myself face down on the bed. The bed Noah and I shared. The bed we loved in. It was a total lie; no one was coming.
I had no one but Noah, and where the hell was he? Wasn’t he supposed to be taking care of me? How could he just watch me be escorted from the building like we meant nothing to each other?
My tears stopped as I got mad. How could he?
Suddenly, I was done. I was done waiting for Noah to end things with his fiancé. I was done playing house with someone who didn’t value me. At least at home with my family, I knew where I stood.
Anger replaced the tears, and I made my decision. I was going home. I stood, pulled two bags out from under the bed, and packed everything I owned. It took two trips to haul it all downstairs, but in under an hour, I stood on the curb, hailing a cab.
I was going home.
Noah
“Lena?” I called as I walked into the dark apartment. “Lena, honey, are you okay?” I crept into the bedroom, not wanting to wake her if she was asleep.
I stood peering around the darkened space, looking for her form on the bed. I finally flicked the light on and realized she was gone. Her drawers stood empty. Her half of the bathroom counter sat bare.
The loss felt like a fist to the chest. Lena was gone. I slumped to the bed, stricken.
Bzzzz.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
“Hey.”
“Is that any way to greet your mother?”
“Hi, Mom.”
“You’re late.”
I looked at my watch. I couldn’t remember any meetings scheduled that afternoon, but I had rushed out of the office so fast I didn’t check my calendar before leaving.
“Late for what?”
“You are supposed to be escorting Haley to the Republican dinner at the club.”
I closed my eyes and fell back on the bed. The last thing I wanted to do was go schmooze at some fancy political dinner.
“Noah?”
“Yes, Mom?”
“I expect to see you here with Haley on your arm in thirty minutes. Don’t disappoint me.”
I sighed. “Do I need to pick her up?”
“I’ll have a car outside your building in ten minutes. Just make sure you are ready.”
“All right.”
“Good bye Noah.”
Click.
The jet black limousine glided up to the curb. Tinted windows hid its occupants from prying eyes. The doorman stepped out from his post, opening the back door with a flourish to give me entrance to the dark interior.
The door closed behind me with a thump as I took my seat across from Haley. She sat primly, hands folded in her lap, clad in a deep indigo dress, sleeveless with a straight neckline, and the skirt ending just above her knees. Sheer stockings covered her long legs, which crossed demurely at the ankle, showcasing her pointy-toed heels with thin ankle straps. She wore small diamonds in her ears, and a delicate diamond necklace circled her throat. Her blonde hair shone in the light from the streetlamps we passed, her tresses piled high in a smooth sweep that complimented the elegant curve of her long neck.
Her nails were filed in neat ovals, and her hands bore nothing but my grandmother’s engagement ring, which I did not remember giving her. My mother must have remedied that oversight. My proposal wasn’t exactly traditional. Her long fingers wore the ring well. It boasted a large, deep sapphire encircled by at least a carat in seed diamonds that all sat in a platinum band.
Texas oil money followed by shrewd investments had grown an already robust fortune into enough money to support a small country for decades. The fat sapphire made sure everyone who saw my grandmother knew it. Now it adorned Haley’s hand, and she was anything but discreet about it.
Her icy blue eyes settled on me, and she sat there like a spider waiting for a fly to stop fighting its capture in her web. No matter how I beat my wings against my prison, she was going to catch me.
“You’ll do.” She swept those eyes up and down my length, taking in my black tuxedo, starched white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie and shiny patent shoes.
I hadn’t taken time to shave, so I had a dusting of five o’clock shadow. I rubbed my jaw, feeling the bristly hairs, wondering how the hell my life had come to this.
“You look lovely Haley.” I had to force the words.
“I’m glad you noticed.” She turned to look out the window, saying nothing else as the scenery passed by.
The night could not end soon enough.
Crystal clinked and candles burned as we entered the main dining room at the club.
Haley rode in on my arm, her hand resting lightly on my tuxedo sleeve. The sapphire ring sparkled in the lights.
Over the blood rushing past my ears, I heard the exclamations of those around us. They wished
us well and asked when “the big day” would be.
I felt choked. Images of Lena flashed through my mind as I wondered where she was and how she was doing. She’d left the cell phone I had given her on her nightstand. I didn’t even know how to get in touch with her.
Where would she go? Is she okay?
I had been shocked when I finally tracked Mrs. Buckingham down. She’d informed me that Lena was “in the family way,” and could no longer be employed by the firm.
“Noah!” Haley’s voice ripped me from my reverie.
“Hmmm?”
“Congressman Hadley would like to express his support for your nomination.”
“Oh, thank you, Congressman.” I searched the faces before me, wondering who the hell Congressman Hadley was. A white haired gentleman held out his hand, and I decided he must be the right person. “I appreciate your support,” I said, shaking his hand and pasting a fake smile on my face. I was a Hendrix; appearances were the most important thing.
Lena
The little yellow taxi cab pulled up in front of our rundown apartment. The cabbie had to help me out. My bulk made me rather ungainly, especially trying to carry the bags holding all my worldly possessions.
I saw the curtains move behind the dingy windows of our apartment. I’m sure one or more of my siblings had just witnessed my embarrassing return home (in disgrace). Of course, not one of them came to help.
I waddled up to the drab brown door, trying not to touch the dust coating it or the spider webs decorating every corner. I set my bags down and stood upright, arching my back to work some of the tension out of it. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
After a few moments, Toby opened it. His little face was grimy and his white undershirt stained with any number of unmentionables. His ever present blankie trailed behind him, its blue color completely obscured with filth. I don’t think it had been washed since I’d left.
Noah Page 9
