“Angela?” Helen called. I bent down to listen. “Olivia’s favorite color is purple. She is going to Mary C. Collins University in Virginia, and she plans on getting a degree in education.”
I wanted to cry. I smiled and thanked her. I was very grateful for that information. I would have never known. I felt there was a repair made between me and Helen. I kind of wish we were closer. I can see why Olivia loved her and cherished their friendship.
When I was inside the apartment, Pritchard was on the phone and he looked real nervous about something. I wanted to ask him where he’s been, but he turned his back to me. Andrea was sitting on the sofa sleeping and holding an empty alcohol bottle. She hadn’t bathed all day, and she was stinking. With it being so late, I decided to take a shower to get the itchy grass off of me and go to bed.
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Why did I spend most of the day calling Alex? And not once did he answer his cell phone. I think his message is quite clear. I can’t even explain how upset I am. My anger is beyond measurement at this point, and I felt helpless. There wasn’t anything I can do to reach out to him, nothing.
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Jason’s funeral is today. The whole town seemed to descend into Covington Point Projects. There were more cars parked outside than any other day before, and there were so many people standing outside Miss Carolyn’s apartment.
Pritchard and Andrea were standing on the sidewalk with other mourners, and I don’t even know why they were there. Andrea was somewhat sober, and Pritchard stood beside her. Funny, how they would go to that bastard’s funeral, but didn’t even try to go to Olivia’s graduation. I watched those two from the porch, and every moment that passed, I got more and more pissed off.
Eventually, Jason’s family came out of the apartment. Miss Carolyn was looking straight ahead like no one else was in the world. Her sister walked beside her, holding her arm tight. They got inside the limousine and slowly it drove out of the parking lot. People were moving out of the way creating a path, and some cars were trying to file in behind it. Pritchard and Andrea got into his car, and they were soon following the long line of vehicles. I thought it was funny how I wasn’t offered a ride, and they knew I used to date Jason. Whatever! I had a ride anyway, and it was fine if Andrea and Pritchard didn’t want me in the same car with them.
Tanie drove into the parking lot when everyone was driving out, and she parked right in front of my apartment. She got out of the car looking at me with a serious expression. Whatever arguments we had before was forgiven, and we simply focused on this day. Just standing beside her made my heart beat fast, knowing we killed Jason.
“Stephanie is on the way.” Tanie remarked as we watched the endless cars exit the parking lot and join the line of cars that had grew on the main road.
“Doesn’t it seem like the whole world has stopped for him?” I asked out of anger.
“It sure seems that way, but the reality is, the world is not in Colum.”
I don’t know if she said that to make me feel better or it was just the simple truth that needed to be said.
“If we relived that day again, you would still help me?”
Without hesitation, she answered, “Absolutely.”
A little smile appeared on my face.
By the time the parking lot was empty, Stephanie arrived. She was walking in her two inch black heels and carrying a black purse. She was all dressed up for the funeral, where Tanie and I wore black pants and a shirt. We got into Tanie’s car, and we went into town where parking was almost impossible. Tanie ended up dropping Stephanie off near the church because she had heels and she had a feeling there was plenty of walking to be done to get back to the church. When we finally parked, Tanie and I went over to the church only to find out we couldn’t get inside. The place had people overflowing outside the doors and into the street. We could hear singing and crying from inside. Tanie and I stood on the sidewalk across the street from the church like stone statues.
I began to feel like one of those people that only show up to be nosy. I wasn’t going to console the family or give them flowers or come over with a plate of food after the funeral. I was one of those people that were taking up space for no reason, and I didn’t like those kinds of people at all. At my mother’s funeral, there were people that showed up at the apartment and at the church, and we had no idea who they were. Complete strangers coming over to our apartment, eating the food that true friends brought us, and standing around being nosy and taking up space. I hated those people for coming around because they meant nothing and they weren’t trying to help me or my sisters. Thinking back to those most difficult days, I turned and walked away. I started strolling towards the town park to get away from the air of mourning that surrounded the church. Tanie joined me.
When we were walking up the path to the gazebo, we ran into a familiar person sitting on a bench. It was Jason’s girlfriend. What was she doing in the park instead of inside the church? She should be with the family.
She gazed up at me with her eyes holding big pools of tears. She wiped her face with her handkerchief and said, “I thought I was out here by myself.”
I stated not really knowing what else to say, “The funeral has already started.”
“Yes, I know.” She was still trying to wipe her face dry, but her tears kept coming.
Tanie asked, “Why are you out here?”
“Miss Stone doesn’t want me around anymore. She blames me.”
I asked, “For what?”
“She thinks it’s my fault he’s dead. Jason and I got into a fight at her home right before he left for the party. Jason was...hitting me, and he walked out on me that night. You think Miss Stone said a word to stop him? She just turned her back.” She started crying more. “I was always good to him, and she tells me I better stay away like I killed him.”
I stood there feeling so sorry for her. What could I say to make her feel better? I knew Miss Stone was like that, always taking up for her son no matter what he did. He was perfect in her eyes.
Tanie asked, “Does Miss Stone thinks someone killed him?”
Tanie and I stole a glance at one another. I guess it was a question that had to be asked.
“No, she knows it was an accident, but she wants to blame the world anyway.” She was still wiping away tears. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” I asked.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done to you, Angela. It was crazy of me to try and hit you. I’m really not that kind of person. I was trying to show him that I would do anything for him. No matter how hard I tried it was never good enough.”
I felt bad for her. At least, I wasn’t the only person he treated like crap.
“I can’t continue to sit here.” She glanced over at the church before standing. “Angela, I’m truly sorry.” She walked the opposite direction of the church and out of the park.
I asked Tanie, “Do you remember her name?”
“I believe her name was Natalie.”
That sounded right. Tanie and I continued on our stroll. That was the last time I saw Natalie.
Most of the stores were closed. The urgent care clinic was open, but there were only a couple of cars in the parking lot. By the time we made it back to the church, it was emptying out again. The casket was being put into the hearse, and the tears and cries that flowed inside the church came right out into the street. The hearse slowly began its trip to the cemetery. Tanie and I stood across the street hoping to see Stephanie. We only had waited for a little bit before we spotted her.
Stephanie’s face was moist from tears, and she gave me a hug. I think she needed consoling more than I did. She asked me, “Wasn’t the eulogy beautiful?”
Tanie answered quickly, “We didn’t hear the eulogy. We were out here.”
“Oh, the church was at capacity. I want to go to the grave site.”
Tanie and I remarked at the same time, “NO!”
“But at least, you’ll be able to hear the final words.”
“I’d rather not.” I said. “We can go to Tanie’s house and drink the day away. Do you have to go to work?”
“No, I’m off for the week.” Stephanie answered.
Tanie said, “I’m all for that.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
None of us had any place to go, and it felt great to just sit there with my best friends and watch a movie. Stephanie eventually fell asleep, and that was Tanie’s opportunity to talk about Alex.
She asked me in a soft voice, after she turned down the volume a little bit, “Have you spoken to Alex since he left?”
“Please, don’t start on me, Tanie.”
“I’m not going to give you a hard time. I promise.”
I answered, “No, we haven’t spoken.”
“When did he leave?”
“Sunday night.”
“Angela, what will it take for you to realize it is over?”
I was very aware it was over, but I wasn’t telling Tanie anything. I said, “I know you mean well, Tanie, but it’s my life.”
“I can’t help but to be concerned.”
“He’s going to make me happy, Tanie. You watch. He’s going to make all the difference.” It was hard to believe my own lie, and I hoped I didn’t convey that.
Now, I was itching at the bit to call Alex. I couldn’t help myself. I nearly fell over Stephanie’s legs trying to get passed her, and she didn’t even wake up when I did. I dialed his cell phone number, and Tanie was close by. The phone ranged and ranged. He did not answer, and his answering service was full and wasn’t recording anymore messages. I hung up the phone. I was only going to try once.
I was disappointed, but not surprised. “Even his answering machine is full.”
“I’m sure he could have taken a half minute to call you.”
“Maybe, he called me at home.” Trying to show hope was exhausting.
“No, Angela, you know he didn’t.”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
The knocking from the front door was loud enough to wake me from my sound sleep. The clock blared 11:14 a.m. No one else must have been home because the knocking wouldn’t stop. I slowly roused from my bed feeling exhausted and hungry. When I got to the living room, I saw Andrea peeking out the window. She was yelling for the person to stop knocking.
I went over to where she was and asked, “Andrea, who’s at the door?”
“It’s the Sheriff Department.”
“What in the world did you do now?” I was about to open the door.
“NO!” She grabbed me hard enough for both of us to fall to the floor with her landing on top of me.
Andrea smelled absolutely horrible to the point where it was unbearable. As I was trying to get away from her, the front door was broken open by the Sheriff Department. Deputy Willie Dawson was standing right in the door, and Deputy Emily Brock, the same woman that arrested Andrea before, was standing behind him. Both of them looked like they were totally pissed off.
Deputy Dawson posted an eviction notice on the door and announced, “Andrea Gray and all tenants living in this dwelling are hereby evicted as of right now. You are ordered to get whatever belongings you can carry and leave these premises immediately. GET UP!”
I was on my feet when he finished shouting his order, but Andrea was crawling to get to the coffee table.
I thought Pritchard took care of the rent! Pritchard told me. I saw his brother come over. I said, “We paid the rent.”
“Not according to your landlord.”
“I’ll call Pritchard at work, and he’ll prove it to you.” I rushed over to the phone in the kitchen and started dialing.
Deputy Brock pressed her finger on the button ending my call. I looked at her like she was crazy. She said, “You are to get whatever belongings you can carry and leave at once. Whatever proof of payment you have, need to be settled with the landlord, not with the Sheriff Department.”
I was about to say something when I noticed guys in jeans and overalls walking in, and they immediately started moving stuff out of the apartment. Whatever was in reach the moment they walked in, it was taken outside and placed on the curb. My fear of being homeless was a reality right in front of my eyes. What could I do? I felt so helpless at that point.
I know! I know what to do! I ran into my bedroom, changed my clothes, and I left out of the apartment. Andrea stumbled back to her bedroom, and Deputy Brock followed her. Deputy Dawson watched the movers as they worked fast to get stuff out of the apartment. I had to go and solve our problem.
I was on my way to Stephanie’s apartment. I knocked on the door. She was smiling and talking on her cell phone. She placed the cell phone on her chest and said, “Hey, girly!”
She saw the seriousness in my face when I said, “I need to use your phone real quick.”
Stephanie’s smile disappeared and she stepped aside for me to come in. I ran to her phone that pretty much hung in the same spot where my phone hung in my apartment.
I called the store where Pritchard worked, and the person that answered the phone said he wasn’t there. Pritchard called out for the day. I bet he was over at Margaret’s house drinking it up. He was supposed to take care of the damn rent! I was livid. I slammed the phone down, and I walked out stewing. Stephanie called my name when I stormed out the front door, but I did not answer. I did not turn around to acknowledge her. I pissed off.
When I returned back to the apartment, I tried to go into the back door of the apartment. Deputy Brock would not let me enter. She held her hand up, shook her head, and slammed the door closed. I heard it lock. I was going in, damn it! I still lived there! I had my key, and when I put it in the lock, it didn’t even work. It didn’t even go in. My hands started shaking from being angry. They couldn’t have changed the lock that fast! I was gone at the most five minutes. I ran around to the front of the apartment, and our stuff was piling up on the sidewalk. Andrea was sitting on the curb near the pile with tears in her eyes. People were coming out of their apartments and watching. There was a locksmith working on the front door lock and Deputy Dawson was standing right beside him.
I didn’t want to stand next to Andrea. She was the cause of all this. She managed to drink our rent money away month after month. What did she think was going to happen? Did she think Roscoe was going to let us live here for free? He sure as hell was no charity, and he didn’t give anyone a break. What could I do now? I had no money, no job, and now I was homeless.
“Angela.” Stephanie touched my arm gently, and I turned. I didn’t realize I had tears in my eyes until I moved. I quickly wiped them away. She asked, “What’s going on?”
“Roscoe is putting us out.”
Stephanie knew the reason without me having to explain. She stated, “I’m sorry, Angela.”
The movers started moving my dresser out of the apartment. It was broken by the time they got it to the sidewalk, and they took all my clothes from my bedroom closet and tossed them on the ground. I yelled at them and cursed them! I hated the Sheriff Department and hated the hell out of the movers! I picked up my clothes thinking I could hold them all, but they were heavy and now dirty. I got so mad that I threw them back down on the ground and I stormed over to Andrea who was still sitting on the ground crying.
“You need to fix this, Andrea! Get off your ass and do something!”
Andrea didn’t even look up at me. She turned away still sobbing.
“Stop your damn crying! You need to take care of this!”
Andrea still did not respond, and I hit her in the head so fast and so hard that I didn’t even realize what I was doing. She only raised her hand a little, not really to defend herself but more like to swat me away like I was a fly. Stephanie grabbed me before I swung at her again, and she pulled me away. By this time, it seemed like the whole entire neighborhood was watching, judg
ing me and Andrea. Stephanie started walking me away, and I was cursing people on the way simply for staring. I could see they were judging me, looking down at me like I was nothing, and I had enough of it all.
We made it halfway to Stephanie’s apartment before she let me go. I stopped walking and so did Stephanie. She stood right in front of me without saying a word. I looked down at the ground. It was all too much to bear. I began to cry, I began to yell my pain, and Stephanie grabbed me and hugged me. Why was this happening to me? Why was my life so horrible? It wasn’t fair! It just wasn’t fair.
After a while of sobbing, I ended up in Stephanie’s kitchen with a glass of water setting on the table in front of me. I was moving the glass around between my fingers more so than drinking it. Stephanie sat beside me with a cup of coffee. The microwave started beeping. She stood and got the plate out and set it in front of me, as well.
“You should eat before it gets cold.” She said in a clam voice.
“Thanks, Stephanie, but I’m not hungry.” I felt numb.
Stephanie spoke with ease, “You are welcome to stay here tonight with me. Andrea can stay, too, but Pritchard has to find his own place.”
“I appreciate your offer. What about Cooper? What if he shows up?”
“Hopefully, he won’t, and if he does, we’ll call Tanie. Maybe, she’ll take us all in.” Stephanie laughed.
She gave me an idea when she said Tanie’s name. Tanie was a solution to this whole problem, and I needed to get in touch with her. “Stephanie, call Tanie and ask her to come over. Can you tell her I need to talk to her?”
“Of course, I can. Hold on.” Stephanie brought out her cell phone and dialed Tanie’s number. She asked Tanie to come over right away, and Tanie did not waste any time.
Stephanie let Tanie in, and we all sat in the kitchen together. Tanie asked, “What’s all that stuff in front of your apartment? And the Sheriff Department is there. What did Andrea do this time?”
The Ex Killer Series Page 20
