“Aren’t you glad all of this is finally behind you?” Envy asked as they all walked out of the courtroom and outside into an overcast day.
“Yes, I am. It’s amazing how you think you know someone, but you find out you don’t know that person at all,” remarked Layla.
A knot formed in the base of Envy’s throat before she answered. “Yeah, it is.” Envy quickly changed the subject. “I don’t know if you talked to Kacie, but she had to work and couldn’t get here this morning.” Envy paused. “And I need to go myself. Are you going to be all right?”
“Sure, I’ll be just fine. We’re going to go get some lunch, and then Becky and Lee are leaving. Lee is going to ride as far as Nashville with Becky and Alonzo and fly out of there to Chicago.”
“Oh, that’s right." Envy then called out to Layla’s siblings and ran toward them as they stood at the bottom of the courthouse steps waiting on Layla. Envy hugged both Lee and Becky. “It was good to see you all again, although I wish it had been under different circumstances. Have a safe trip back, and don’t worry; Kacie and I will make sure Layla is well taken care of.” They returned the hugs and goodbyes. As Layla joined them, Envy concluded with, “I’ll talk to you all later on.”
”Becky, Lee, Mom and Dad, I love all of y’all so much. I have the best family in the world,” Layla cried with excitement ringing in her voice. Mom, I really want to see the new apartment, and then after that, I want to get some rest and take a pain pill. I’m hurting pretty badly right now.”
“Why don’t you wait then, honey?” her father strongly suggested.
“No, I want to do it while I’m out. I’ll be okay,” insisted Layla.
When her parents took her to her new apartment, Layla’s blues turned to smiles. The apartment was decorated impeccably with her favorite colors. Anyone who knew Layla knew she loved color. They used tangerine, lemon, mint, and greenery to accent the otherwise white walled apartment. There were several live plants strategically placed throughout the two bedroom apartment and nice pieces of art. From the dining room table all the way to the bedrooms, no stone had been left unturned. Layla was so overcome that she broke down and cried like a baby. Tears flowed endlessly as her family and one of her church members, who’d come over to take pictures for the church photograph ministry, couldn’t stop her.
Layla mumbled incoherently, but it was finally understood that she was just overcome with sheer joy and thankfulness. Several minutes later, she blew her nose, and as more tears formed she said, “God’s love is amazing. He promised He would never leave me or forsake me, and He didn’t. He promised that whatever the devil did with the intent to harm me that He would make it work for my good. And look at this.” She spread her arms out and looked all around. Layla lifted her head and her hands and praised God. Her family and the church visitor couldn’t keep their control either. They prayed, they sang, and they cried and gave God all praise, honor, and glory.
Layla’s mother told her how the church pitched in and provided many of the things needed to fill her apartment. There was not one item left to remind her of the apartment she’d left behind. The blood splattered sofa and loveseat had been replaced with a chocolate leather sofa accented with oranges, yellows, and limes.
Layla managed to tour every inch of the house, including the balcony leading from her living room.
“Baby, we’d better get ready to leave,” her mother told her, “so you can get some rest.”
“Mother, and the rest of you; hear me out. I want to stay here. I’ll be fine. I’ve cried so much that I’m in pain. I want to lie down on my new bed.” Layla smiled. “I want to sleep here. I have a dose of my pain medication inside my purse.” She hugged everybody once more before they reluctantly left.
Layla’s parents appeared quite concerned, but Lee spoke up on her behalf. “Mom, Dad, remember that you’re just a couple of blocks away from her. Layla has a phone already installed and turned on.” Lee looked at Layla who returned his look with one of total surprise. The security is great over here, and being here alone for a few hours might actually help her.”
Sighing deeply, Mr. Hobbs finally gave his okay. “Layla, you have to promise to answer the phone. Me and your momma have a key, and if you so much as hear a creak, I want you on the phone to security. All you have to do is put in your apartment number, and they’ll come running.
“Daddy, I promise. And Mom, please don’t look so worried. God has already revealed how He’s looking after me or I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” Layla tilted her head and smiled gingerly at her mother who relented and smiled back.
“You’re right, baby. I just want you to be safe. Safe and happy,” her mother said. “I’ll get you a glass of water so you can take your pill while you say your goodbyes to your sister and brother.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Layla shed more tears and embraced Becky, Lee, and her brother-on-law. “Thank y’all for everything. Be safe on the highway, and Lee, please make sure you call when you get to Chicago.”
“I will, li'l sis. I will.” They all hugged again, and Mrs. Hobbs gave Layla her pain pill and a glass of water.
“Now get you some rest. It’s been a long day. And if you want me to come back and spend the night with you, just call me, you hear?” Mrs. Hobbs asked.
“Yes, I will, Mother. I promise. Now y’all just go. I’m ready to lie down.” They kissed a final time, and Layla got the set of keys from her father and made sure all doors were locked behind them and the security alarm was on.
Like she said she would, Layla lay back on her new bed and sleep met her quickly. She slept for the next three hours until the phone ringing caused her to wake up.
“You asleep?” It was Envy. “I’m so sorry; we didn’t mean to wake you.”
“We who?” she asked groggily.
“Me, I’m on the phone too,” said Kacie.
“No, I’ve been asleep for a few hours. What’s going on?” Layla asked and walked to the bathroom to empty her bladder.
“Do y’all feel like going out to celebrate a little tonight?” Envy asked her two friends.
“Go out where?” Kacie asked.
“My job gave me a one hundred dollar gift card for dinner at O’Charley’s or Chili's. Y’all got other plans?”
“I’ve just had a long day, and I’m totally tired,” Layla answered groggily. “Envy, why don’t you and Kacie go and celebrate for me?”
“I guess y’all forget I have kids,” Kacie pouted.
“No, I was thinking you could get that teenage girl down the street from you to watch them for a couple of hours, since she’s watched them before.”
“Yeah, girl. Go on and call her. Y’all go and have some fun for me. But I’m just not up to it. Maybe some other time real soon,” Layla added.
“Kacie, we won’t be gone that long. I have to work in the morning. I just wanted to do something to celebrate what happened with Mike in court, plus Layla’s new apartment and just for everything God has brought her through. We can wait until another time if y’all want to. It’s up to you two.”
“Which is why I want y’all to go on and go tonight,” Layla insisted. “Celebrate for me.”
“Okay, then,” added Kacie.
“Okay, we’ve got a plan. Where are we going? Layla, since this is really your celebration where do you want us to eat?”
“O’Charley’s,” Layla answered right away.
“I agree,” commented Kacie.
“O’Charley’s it is. Long as I can get my grub on,” added Envy.
“For somebody who eats a ton, you stay thin as a spaghetti stick. I hate you,” Layla joked.
“Girl, puhleeze. Since you got half of your stomach removed, you’re losing weight like crazy. You keep it up and you’ll be the one looking like a straw.” Envy laughed. “Anyway, I have to get to this meeting and finish working on a project. Kacie I guess it’s me and you. I’ll meet you at the restaurant around six thirty.”
“Bye,” each one
replied.
×
Kacie and Envy arrived at O’Charley’s almost at the same time. Kacie parked and jumped out of the car. She stood next to Envy’s car in silence when Envy raised a finger beckoning her to hold on for a moment.
‘What did you just say?” Envy’s face turned colors and her expression changed from relaxed to serious. “I can’t believe you, Nikkei. You wait until now to call me with this when you knew you were going to do it today. See, that’s what I mean about you. You do stuff like this just to be spiteful and low-down. But you know what? That’s all right. You’re going to get yours. Goodbye.” Envy shut her phone and stuffed it inside her purse.
In total amazement, Kacie asked, “What was that all about?”
“Nikkei’s low-down butt. I swear. I know she’s my sister, but I sure can’t tell it sometimes. She talked to me a few weeks ago about putting mother in a nursing home. And I sort of agree because Momma is just getting worse. I mean she’s walked off from Nikkei’s and she keeps forgetting that she is not with daddy anymore. Somehow she thinks the two of them are still together. So like I said, I know I can’t take care of her. And I know that Nikkei can’t take care of her anymore either. I understand that. But the thing that makes me so mad, Kacie, is that she just called and told me that she put our mother in a nursing home up in Murfreesboro. That’s four hours away from here. How will I ever have the time to see my mother? She never bothered to tell me she was even thinking about moving Momma that far away from here. Momma doesn’t know anything about Murfreesboro and neither does Nikkei or me.”
Kacie’s lips parted in surprise. “Why would she do something like that?”
“I told you. She’s spiteful and vengeful. She’ll do anything she can that will make me go off. And since she’s the power of attorney over mother, there’s not a dang thing I can do about it. She’s going to pay for being the smart butt, conniving sister she is.”
The ladies entered the restaurant and waited for the hostess to seat them. It wasn’t crowded so the two friends didn’t have to wait to be seated. They looked over the menu the hostess left, and when the waitress arrived at their table, they knew exactly what they wanted.
They spent the next two hours munching on two appetizer dishes of nachos, veggie egg rolls, Buffalo wings, and spinach dip. The waitress delivered a pitcher of strawberry margarita to add to the delicious delicacies.
Laughing and talking between eating and drinking, Kacie spoke up after downing her first margarita. The light buzz she felt from the alcohol sent any inhibitions she may have remotely had right out the window. She ranted on and on about Deacon. Deacon this and Deacon that.
“Kacie, what’s up with you? You said not long ago that you had something to tell me and Layla.” Envy stared without blinking at Kacie.
“Oh, nothing that can’t wait. Just something about me and Deacon, is all. I want to wait ‘til both of my home girls are here.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me now?
“No no. That won’t be necessary, really,” Kacie answered and placed her hand on her breast.
“Come on, then. I’m ready to get home. You get home too, or you’re going to owe that babysitter all of your paycheck,” joked Envy.
Kacie never revealed that she’d left the kids at home again by themselves. Everything wasn’t to be shared, friends or no friends, is how Kacie often thought.
“Check you later, Kacie. We’ll talk tomorrow. Tomorrow, no more excuses,” Envy pointed and wobbled a bit. “I want to hear what you and Mr. Deacon are up to. For all I know, you might be getting ready to walk down the aisle.” Smiling, Envy transferred her gaze from Kacie, then she opened her car door and climbed inside.
Kacie brushed Envy off with her hands. She got in her car and sped off, burning rubber out of the restaurant parking lot. She flipped the radio stations until she heard one of her favorite Mary J. Blige songs. She turned up the volume and swayed to the beat of the music. A few minutes later, Kacie wore an inward smile when she thought about the new life forming inside of her belly. “I love that song,” Kacie said when it ended.
Envy arrived home only to be stunned at the sight before her eyes. She sobered up instantly when she pulled into her driveway only to see Mrs. Rawlings outside, on her knees, tending her garden. “It’s almost nine-thirty at night. What is she doing outside?” Envy asked herself.
Envy closed the door to her car. Concerned, she walked over to Mrs. Rawlings’s side of the yard. “Good evening,” Envy said as she approached the elderly woman. “Do you know what time it is?”
“I’m not feeling too well to tell you the truth, so I thought I’d come out here and work in my garden. I thought it would make me feel better.”
Mrs. Rawlings wiped her forehead, straightened up, and then walked over and sat down on one of the steps leading to her duplex. The fall weather hadn’t affected Mrs. Rawlings at all. She looked flushed and sweaty like it was a hot summer day.
Envy touched her head with the back of her hand. She felt clammy and warm. “You shouldn’t be out here, Mrs. Rawlings. You feel feverish.”
“I’ll be all right. Believe me, I’ve had worse days.”
“Maybe so, but I don’t want you to have any more, especially when I can do something to help you. Have you eaten today?”
“I had a few peanut butter crackers, and a cup of coffee. Didn’t really want it, but I made myself eat it.”
“Are you in pain?”
“At my age, you’re always going to have pain at some time or another. I don’t complain.”
“Mrs. Rawlings, I understand that, but I’m asking if you feel different, like you’re coming down with a cold or flu?”
“My legs and head have been hurting. I thought if I came outside and worked in the yard, that I might feel better. But to tell you the truth, I feel a little weak.”
“Come on, let’s get you inside.” Envy pushed the remote lock on her car door before grabbing hold of Mrs. Rawlings’s elbow. She helped the old lady to her feet and up the steps to her opened door. She’d been inside Mrs. Rawlings’s home twice since the time she’d lived next door to her. Everything was practically the same as she remembered. Antique pieces of polished furniture were in the living room and dining room. The house was clean but still had what some folks called “an old folks smell.” Envy led Mrs. Rawlings into the den and assisted her in sitting in her recliner. “Where is your first aid kit?” Envy asked. “I need to take your temperature.”
“In the bathroom. Look in the bottom drawer of the vanity, and you’ll see it.”
The kit was exactly where Mrs. Rawlings told Envy it was. She took her temperature and found that it was 101.2. Not good for someone of Mrs. Rawlings’s age.
“Mrs. Rawlings, I’m going to take you to the hospital. Your fever is too high, and you’re looking listless and weak.
“Baby, I don’t need to go to the hospital. All I need is a cool drink of water and a Tylenol. I’ll be just fine after I take it and lie down. You go on over there and check on Fischer. You know he knows you’re home. Dogs can hear good; real good, you know.”
“Yes, I know. And I’ll let Fischer out, but then I’m taking you to the emergency room. And I don’t want any arguments about it.” Envy’s voice was firm and matter of factly. No matter how much Mrs. Rawlings worked her last nerves, she cared about the old woman. Mrs. Rawlings was like a grandmother to her. Envy would never admitted it, but she loved that old woman, nosy and all. “Mrs. Rawlings, I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, just as soon as Fischer does his business.”
Envy gave her a glass of tap water and a Tylenol for the fever and ran over to her side of the duplex to let Fischer outside to relieve himself. Afterward, she did just as she had promised and headed back over to Mrs. Rawlings’s place.
On the way to the hospital, Mrs. Rawlings was unusually quiet. This concerned Envy even more. There was hardly a time she’d not heard Mrs. Rawlings talking, giving her advice, or telling her about her
own business. She always had something to say. Now here the old lady sat on the passenger side of the car, and the only sound emitting from her lips was a raspy breathing of sorts.
Envy reached over and touched Mrs. Rawlings’s wrinkled hand. “We’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes, Mrs. Rawlings.”
Mrs. Rawlings murmured incoherently.
A few minutes later, Envy pulled into the emergency room parking area. “Mrs. Rawlings, I’m going to go inside and get a wheelchair. I’ll be right back.”
Nothing.
Envy left and then quickly returned with the wheelchair, and with ease, she transferred the petite woman into the chair and headed off to the emergency station. The triage nurse checked Mrs. Rawlings’s vitals and asked her a few questions, but Mrs. Rawlings was rambling. Envy told triage how she’d discovered her outside in the yard and from that point on, Mrs. Rawlings’s health had deteriorated rapidly.
Two hours later, a male voice called Envy’s name. “Ma’am, are you Mrs. Rawlings’s next of kin?”
“No. I’m…I’m her neighbor. I look after her. She doesn’t have any living relatives that I know of. How is she?”
“She’s going to be admitted to the hospital. She has diabetes and her sugar level is quite high. She’s also dehydrated and she has a fever, which indicates there might be some infection.”
“Is she going to be all right?” Envy was shaken and her nerves were on edge.
“I believe so, but with her age and the health problems we’ve discovered, it can be tough to get things under control. If you want to come back to her room, you can. As soon as we get a vacant hospital bed, we’ll be moving her.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She followed the nurse to the ER room where Mrs. Rawlings was. She was hooked up to an IV. Envy couldn’t fathom how, just moments ago, Mrs. Rawlings was talking and now she was looking frail; like the wind had been sucked right out of her. “Mrs. Rawlings, how are you feeling?”
Beautiful Ugly Page 8
