by Zi'ere
Pissed off was putting my emotions lightly when I saw Que’s pic pop up on the screen. There were no pleasantries to be exchanged. I went in for the kill. I needed concrete answers from him in real time, today.
“What had you so preoccupied today that you couldn’t take my calls or return a text?”
“Babe, what are you talking about? I haven’t received a call from you all day. I was thinking I had done something wrong and you were giving me the silent treatment or something.”
“The only thing you did wrong was not talk to me all day.” I meant to come across with him full of attitude.
It was exactly what I was feeling at the moment.
“Here, look.” He put his cell phone up to the screen of his iPad so that I could see with my own eyes no incoming calls or texts from me for the day.
“Now do you see where I called you today around ten am your time?” Que was doing all that he could to make me understand he wasn’t neglecting me on purpose.
“Oh, Yvette had my electronics this morning. My batteries were low on everything. You could have called me in the office. Why didn’t you do that if I didn’t answer my cell?”
“I will keep that in mind the next time my wife goes missing.” I loved it when he called me his wife but I was puzzled as to when he was going to make it official.
“I have had the worse day ever in all of mankind.”
“I wish I had the time to listen but I am kind of in the middle of something right now. I only have a few minutes.”
“I’m ready to go public with our relationship.” I blurted out the words even though I knew it wasn’t the best time.
I knew this was a touchy subject for him but I needed answers today. I also knew that the claim of only having a few minutes to talk to me would go out the window when I said those words.
“We’ve gone over this more than a few times. Publicly announcing anything personal for me will take away from the moves I’m making in my profession. If you would put more trust in your husband we would be solid regardless to who knows what we have.” He had an irritated look on his face.
“Can you take a minute and put yourself in my position for once. You have no idea what kind of backlash I am getting from this situation. The same situation you have me here going through alone.”
“Tell me if you are ready for all of the negative backlash that will come when people find out who I am? That will open a whole new can of worms and it sounds like you can’t manage what you have right now.”
“Que I didn’t mean to upset you. As long as you are by my side, I can handle anything.”
“We talked about that as well, I won’t be able to be by your side to go through anything with you for at least another year. I am coming home for a break but I will only be there for a couple of days. Starting a media frenzy, then taking off won’t be good for neither one of us.”
“What about the frenzy that is going on in my head and heart?” I could feel the effects of tears forming in my eyes.
“I understand what you are saying but this is the decision we made together from the beginning. You knew how things were going to be before you decided to be with me. You knew what my goals and aspirations were from the start. We have gone through enough over the years. You should be more solid than you are right now.” Que’s words were truthful but that didn’t make them sting any less.
“So many things are happening all around me now. I just need my man to be beside me.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how much more I can do other than what I’m doing right now.”
I let the tears fall. Who knew a waterworks display would snap my usually calm and suave man back to recognition. After another hour of face timing, he had spun my world to being all roses and sunny days once again. We both ended the chat professing our love for each other despite our current locations on planet earth. He soothed my heart enough for me to forget all of the sadness I had felt earlier in the day. I had played him like a baby grand piano. Que telling me that he only had a few minutes to talk to me was never going to be okay. He had pushed aside whatever it was he had to do just like I knew he would. If that wasn’t love, I couldn’t tell. I settled down for an afternoon nap. I slept like a baby and awoke with a concise plan about what my next move would be.
15
Laini
In the quietness inside the car my mind began to wander, the smooth jazz Liam was playing soothed my spirit a little bit. It could have been my guilty conscious, but something was telling me that my sister’s had already formed negative thoughts about the way I chose to live my life eons before this week. Even though we had pinky swore in high school that we wouldn’t have random discussions about the other in private, I was sure that rule had been broken. Zoey and I talked about Emani’s anal obsessive compulsive ways all the time. Amina was always the sweetie pie like Zoey, so there was almost never a chance of us having anything negative to say about her. Believe me when I say that whatever we didn’t say, Emani made up for it in double time. She was Amina’s toughest critic.
In my opinion Amina let her get away with being a world class mean diva but Emani knew who to give the business too. She had never crossed me in words or actions once and that was the way it was going to remain. Watching the way Emani handled Amina made me aware of how I must come across to my own baby sister sometimes. The only difference between Emani and I was that I had couth. If I couldn’t say anything nice and positive, I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut. Emani didn’t have the ability to do the same. And that was the reason I left the venue without saying a goodbye. I didn’t have time to deal with Emani then but she had just been placed at the top of my list. In due time all things would be revealed in my professional and personal life, I was sure of it. I was positive that I had messed Emani’s mind up more than I ever could have had I stayed to cuss her out. I was going to spank Emani’s ass and my sweet Zoey knew it.
I knew if I opened my mouth to attempt to say anything reasonable or harmless, I would surely cause a scene. I was positive I made their minds spin trying to figure out where I was going in such a rush that I had no desire to stay there and duke it out with Emani. She was so self- centered when it came to her thinking regarding her new life. I knew that they all were thinking I had nothing else better to do so I should be the one staying behind to attend to the problems I had created. The writing was on the wall and it was now in English. Laini had a life outside of the business just like they did. Despite how much negative energy they tried to pull out of it, I was going to be smug enough to rub their noses in the facts when my man came to town. I had total confidence in Que. I had decided upon welcoming him into my home the right way. In addition to the proposal, I would have everything set up for him to live in the house permanently.
I closed my eyes and began to enjoy the smooth ride, leaning back in my seat. Suddenly there was a sharp pain at the base of my neck. The pain made my entire body tense up. I could barely breathe and I had a numbing pain on the right side of my body. I began to meditate to ease the pain. I requested that Liam stop at the first convenience store so that I could get aspirin. My words came out choppy and weak. I could see the concern in his eyes as he watched me in the rearview mirror. My eyes fluttered a few times as tears began to stream from my eyes. The pain was so unbearable I had to kick to get Juan’s attention. I heard him faintly began to describe my ailment as he talked to the OnStar representative. I heard the words “St. Jude’s Hospital” just before I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes the pain was completely gone. I felt as if I was floating above the earth, I began to cry for fear that I was in the afterlife. I felt warmth of a large hand on my arm. I looked down to see Liam face down in the mattress of the hospital bed. I could recognize his head full of wavy hair anywhere. He had been my driver ever since I got back from college. I had looked at the back of his head several times a day, every day. He had always been professional and polite but I couldn’t understand his reasoning for bei
ng in such a vulnerable position right now. My body twitched and I regretfully interrupted his nap. Liam’s head snatched into upright position with a look of pity on his face. I noticed in that moment how handsome he was once again. I had always known that he wasn’t of sole African American descent but I never had the chance to confirm his full nationality.
“Praises to the Virgin Mary! You are awake Laini!”
I felt fine. I could not understand his tone as if he was surprised that I did wake up.
“What’s wrong with me?” I looked him square in the eyes to look for a hint of deception.
With lightning speed Liam pressed the nurse’s call button on the side railing of the bed.
“Can you let the doctors know that she is awake now?” Liam spoke in a serious tone.
“When did you stop answering my questions the first time I asked them?”
I was not so out of myself that I didn’t recognized that I asked the questions and paid Liam to answer them swiftly.
“Yes. There is the confirmation I was looking for. You are just fine my lady.” Liam rose from his seat as he talked giving the nurse and doctor the space to move around the bed.
“Why wouldn’t you think I wasn’t going to wake up?” My eyes never left Liam’s face.
“Ms. Jefferies, I am Dr. Allen. You suffered a seizure last night.” As the middle aged white man spoke my eyes darted around the room to confirm that it was indeed a new day.
16
Laini
On the third wall there was a panoramic view and I could make out the tree tops under the light of a new day. That meant that the stranger was telling the truth. I had been there all night. I tried to collect my thoughts to recall what I remembered about the previous day. I looked at Dr. Allen’s face and although his lips moved I didn’t hear a word he said. A flash of George Pollnitz’s face flashed before my eyes. I could remember going to the jewelry store with no problems. I remembered making it to the office headquarters. I saw Zoey standing before the window in her office.
“Where is my sister? Liam did you call Zoey?” I immediately tried to sit up and frisked the sides of the bed for my cell phone. I was never more than arms reach of my phone.
“Laini, I tried several times all night to contact her from my cell phone after yours died. I have not been able to reach her by cell or the landline. The offices will be opening in an hour; hopefully I can catch her before she makes it.”
Liam pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and pressed three buttons. He placed the call on speaker and held it out for all to hear. He was telling the truth. Zoey wasn’t picking up either phone line.
Dr. Allen looked annoyed by being interrupted. I gave him a sideways glance to signal he had the floor once again. He caught the hint and started to speak again.
“Ms. Jefferies I am not able to identify what caused such a serious seizure. According to the MRI scan we did last night, there wasn’t any long term underlying damage or current damage to your brainwaves.”
“I can assure you that neither I nor my sister has ever had a seizure. I am an identical twin and neither of us has ever had any ailments outside of the flu. I can’t recall seizures being a part of our gene pool at all. We don’t have any siblings.”
I wanted to be sure I was giving the good doctor the absolute truth. I tried to concentrate on memory files but I was unable to stay on task.
“Your spunk after you awoke is what I was waiting to see. As soon as you can get something in your stomach without any immediate problems such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, light headedness, and once your headache is gone I will release you to your private home as long as you stay on bed rest for the next seventy-two hours.”
“Bed rest for seventy-two hours? That is still considered three days right?”
I could tell almost immediately that Dr. Allen was used to giving orders much longer than I was. And he definitely wasn’t used to being challenged in his orders. I immediately felt it would be best for me to keep my mouth shut before I ended up confined to the hospital room I was already in. I should be able to do three days of bed rest. Considering the fact that my man would be in town in a few hours, I was going to be in bed all weekend anyway.
Liam hung back enjoying the show that was being put on as if for his enjoyment. He didn’t try to hide his half smile from Dr. Allen. Surely he knew that bed rest and Laini Jefferies did not go in the same sentence. The doctor wrote down notes into my chart and passed it to the nurse.
“Ms. Jefferies we have requested a follow up appointment with an internal medicine physician for Monday afternoon. According to your insurance provider you did not have one on retainer so we chose one of high quality and within reason to your home. Take my advice and seriously get some rest. Too much too soon could be detrimental to your health. I wish you the best.” With a head nod, Dr. Allen departed the room.
Six hours later I took comfort in the seclusion behind the gates of my exclusive subdivision once I made it home from the hospital. I had been able to leave the building without any paparazzi intruding on such a private moment. For that I was thankful. It was now after noon and I had done nothing to get ready to welcome my man in what would be our home. I would take the doctor’s advice as soon as I picked up Que from the airport. Liam had returned to his professional role after he brought me home and left me to my own devices. I could tell by his forced silence he knew I was not going to follow the good doctor’s orders. But, what could he do? Zoey had not answered one of the million calls I placed to both of her lines. Assuming she was still salty from yesterday convinced me there was no need to call her in the office. She would have to pursue me if she wanted to talk to me. After all I was the one being judged unfairly.
I decided to stay in bed for the rest of the afternoon. I would have dinner catered and delivered rather than try to cook myself. Yvette had confirmed that Que’s flight would be landing at the airport at seven pm. I had no time to waste. There was still a lot I had to do. I needed to get myself together for my man. Getting my mind prepared to be engaged by midnight was completely overwhelming in the moment. I had not told anyone that Que was coming to town. I assumed they all thought he was a ghost anyway. He’d only been talked about but never seen. They would all be eating humble pie by the end of the weekend. I could not wait to savor in the looks on their faces.
17
Laini
I didn’t expect being so weary and tired, I truly was drained. Once the food had been delivered I got myself ready to leave the house. I didn’t want any side glances at me from Liam so I decided not to call him to drive me. Driving myself for a change, would give Que and I privacy on the way back. There was nothing I could do about being followed by the media when I left out, that would be the only down side to my plan. My light blue twenty thirteen Jaguar Coupe handled me well and I felt empowered being behind the wheel. I made a mental note to check out the four door models. A married woman with kids had no use for a two door coupe. I made it to the airport in record time. I parked and walked to the terminal just like I was any other red blooded citizen. Paparazzi had followed my trail just as I suspected they would when I left from behind the gates.
I had never flown commercial before and hopefully this trip would be my first and last time in an airport. The signs were confusing not to mention the security clearances were hectic. I made it to Que’s terminal just in time to see the first passengers walk through the gates. I put on my best poker face and smiled for the hundreds of pictures being taking all around me by the second. I spotted Juan in the sea of confusion. He was a photographer for the Chandler Sun and had been assigned to me for as long as I could remember. He had definitely watched me grow up and I didn’t have a problem answering his question about who I was picking up from the airport.
The answer ‘my boyfriend’ seemed to bounce off the walls and caused an increased panic around me. I didn’t notice the woman behind me moving closer and closer to my side at first. But, I did notice the figures behind
the cameras began to shift in order to get shots of two subjects. The commotion elevated to giraffe like heights as I continued to watch each stranger walk leisurely from the platform. I finally spotted Que walking down the long corridor. I smiled at the fact that he must have met a new friend during the flight because he was walking and talking with an elderly woman. I noticed that the woman pointed towards me the closer they became. My man looked so suave and debonair. I couldn’t wait to be swept up in his strong muscled arms. My heart began to pound so fast I thought I would surely faint after his first touch. I took a final look around me as I wrung my fingers in anticipation. I noticed almost immediately that the woman standing beside me was absolutely beautiful. She looked vaguely familiar in her facial features. She was a good size in weight but the obvious wig she wore did nothing to take away from her common like cheery disposition.
18
Zoey
I decided to have a glass of champagne for every ill thought I had towards Laini and Emani for the day. That left me quite dizzy by the time Mekhi had come to fetch me from the conference room of the restaurant. He sat down beside me and listened intently as I ran down the play by play action of the week. As usual he was sympathetic, nurturing, and encouraging. And as usual he was pitching the infamous Mekhi and Zoey five year plan. He was interested in starting the men’s version of Purple Label. And of course he wanted me to partner up with him but I had no desire to triple my work load. Not to mention that I had been given swift and final instructions by Laini that forbade me to do it. Lately it seemed that the more discontent I had with Quese, she would purposely shoot Mekhi into the dirt as if they were both on the same level. I refused to think that what Emani had told me about the situation was true. It was obvious her thinking was off here lately. Still I knew in my heart that Laini had no need to be jealous of anything I had. Deep in my heart I knew that Laini was happy for me and that she would not covet anything I had. Emani really should have known better. What was worse is that I was starting to realize Mekhi knew who was preventing me from joining him in his dream profession. The only result I got from that was that he had begun to pressure me hard and frequently about not choosing family over my husband.
