Destination D

by Lori Beard-Daily

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Marco’s voice hummed through the room as he joined her on the window seat and stroked her hair. He was wearing a golden silk fabric monogrammed robe with nothing underneath it. “It’s a lovely view, isn’t it?”

  “Fabulous,” she said as she looked at him lovingly. “And so are you.”

  “New job, new home, and a great boyfriend. What more could a girl ask for, Counselor?” Marc said with a grin.

  Pam hugged him. “I’ve never been happier. Thank you.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re happy.” He kissed her on the forehead and held her close to him. She felt something stick her in her ribs.

  “Ow, what ya got there? Is there something in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” she said in a playful imitation of Mae West and grabbed his hardened penis.

  He laughed. “I didn’t think you were old enough to remember Mae West.”

  Pam smiled. “My father used to watch her old movies. And I’ve seen the reruns of Janet Jackson imitating her on The Jackson Show from back in the ‘70’s.”

  “Well, you do a pretty good imitation yourself.”

  “All right, all right, you’re changing the subject,” she said, looking down. “What was it that just stuck me?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Marc looked at her, pretending to be innocent. She put her hands underneath his robe and started tickling him all over his body.

  “All right, I give…I give…Uncle!”

  She stopped and eyed him daringly. “Give it up, mister!”

  He reached down in his pocket and pulled out a small crimson velvet box. Pam was speechless as he opened the box and displayed a two-carat emerald cut diamond ring set in platinum. He slid Pam over on the seat and bent down on one knee. Pam felt tears trickling down her face as she tried to catch her breath.

  “Pamela Madison, I love you. I want you to be my wife if you will have me,” he said as he slipped the ring on her finger.

  The diamond shimmered on her fourth finger. It was a perfect fit. Just like the two of them. Her tears were flowing down her face as Marco caught them with the back of his hand and wiped them dry. All she could do was nod over and over again. The words were stuck in her throat.

  “Should I take that as a yes, Counselor Madison?”

  She continued nodding her head, then pulled him up and stood on the window seat so she could look into his eyes. She kissed him with all of the passion that had been buried in her heart for years. “Yes, Dr. Marco Grimaldi, I’ll marry you.”

  Dream Vacation

  The white sugar beach and the sky-blue backdrop of the ocean looked like a tropical paradise. The breeze swayed lightly, giving Amanda’s eggshell-colored gown an elegant flair as Melvin looked lovingly at her. He gently glided her veil away from her face. To him, she looked like an angel that had just been flown down from the heavens.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said as his white robe flapped lightly against the wind. “You may kiss your bride,” he said, then closed his Bible and watched the couple prepare for their first kiss as husband and wife.

  Melvin bent down and held Amanda’s face tenderly in his hands. The kiss was as warm and gentle as the sea breeze that was leisurely brushing past them. As they turned around to present themselves to their audience, Amanda’s parents and Melvin’s mother clapped as they walked toward the couple. Tracey and Rickey followed behind them as Rickey gave Amanda a congratulatory hug and Melvin a firm handshake.

  “Thanks, man,” Melvin said.

  “No problem. The wedding was beautiful.”

  “No, I mean it. You didn’t have to do this. Amanda and I really appreciate it.” Melvin said, referring to the fact that Rickey had flown everyone out to the Bahamas as a wedding present and a peace offering.

  “Well, it’s the least I could do.”

  Melvin nodded as Tracey came over and hugged him. “Melvin, I’m so happy for you and Mama. This is the best place to get married,” Tracey said as she pulled the cell phone from her purse.

  “Now, who could you possibly be calling during our wedding, Tracey?”

  “Don’t worry Mama. I’m going to take a picture of you and your new husband. Now smile,” she said, pressing the button. “And I’m sending this to Auntie Dee! Look at how nice you two look!” she said, showing them the photo.

  “That’s pretty good for a camera phone,” Melvin chimed in.

  “I know,” Tracey smiled proudly while she soaked in the view of the beautiful scenery and breathed in the fresh tropical air. I think I want to do this too, when it’s my time.”

  “Your time?” Amanda said.

  “That will be some time from now,” Rickey chimed in.

  “A long, long, long, long, long, long, time!” Melvin yelled as everyone laughed and strolled down the beach to the wedding reception.

  Flying Solo

  The silence was deafening. Dee looked around the large condominium at all of the new furnishings within the last few days. New furniture, oil paintings, sculptures. You name it, she bought it. Her excuse was that she was trying to make it a place all her own. It had been Pam who bought most of the furniture when she was in Chicago. It was Pam’s money, Pam’s furniture, and everything in it had reminded her of Pam. Now it was her furniture and her taste. The only problem was that she’d squandered Sedrick’s savings as well as the four months’ rent that Pam had paid her. She knew she had taken advantage of them both and an intense feeling of remorsefulness came over her.

  Dee picked herself up off the steps and walked to the phone, calling the only person she knew that could help her.

  “Hi, Dr.Grimaldi?” Dee wiped her running nose with her sleeve. “Hello Deirdre, this is quite a surprise. I haven’t heard from you in a while. How are you?”

  Since Dee had broken all ties with him, she hadn’t realized how much she missed the soothing sound of his accent. Dee swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ve been trying to work things out on my own,” she said as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “I see. How’s that been going?”

  “Not well. That’s why I wanted to talk with you. I’d like to start my regular sessions again.”

  There was a long pause and Dee wondered for a moment if they had been disconnected until she heard a troubled sigh at the other end of the phone.

  “Dee, I’m sorry, I don’t know quite how to tell you this, but I’m retiring. And besides, it’s not in your best interest for you to continue seeing me as your psychiatrist.”

  Dee felt like he’d pushed a knife inside her and twisted it.“ But why? I don’t understand.”

  The doctor sighed again. He could feel the strain that his words had on her.“ Dee, unfortunately, a boundary has been crossed, and as a psychiatrist I can’t take the chance on losing my ability to stay objective. Ethically, I just can’t continue because of this dual relationship I have with you and Pam. I have to stop seeing you as a patient.”

  Dee’s hands shook as she tried to hold the phone and herself together. How could he do this to her? She was at the end of her rope and he couldn’t see her anymore?

  “Dr.Grimaldi, you have to make an exception. Please, I’m begging you.”

  “Dee, please. This is very difficult for both of us. But it wouldn’t be right. I am confident, though, that I can recommend an excellent psychiatrist who has worked with clients with similar issues as yours.”

  “I can’t possibly start over again with another doctor. I have to see you!”

  The doctor was silent. He felt caught in the middle. He was about to marry her best friend and knew it wasn’t his place to tell her. “Dee, I’m sorry. But this is the way it has to be. Do you want me to give you a list of doctors or refer you to someone? You have grown a lot from our sessions, and I am confident that this next psychiatrist can help get you over the hump.”

  “You are…leaving me…with no choice here, Doc,” she said crying between her words.

/>   “Dee, I am giving you my only choice.”

  New Route

  (2 ½ months later)

  Good evening, Miss Madison. Here are the last of the testimonies from Tenson Enterprises.”

  “Thanks, Grace. Listen, it’s 6:00. Why don’t you take off? I can handle it from here.”

  Grace had been a paralegal at Richmond and Lieberman for a little over five years. Pam had only been at the firm for a couple months, but found Grace’s knowledge of cases impeccable for someone who had led such a tumultuous life as a victim of spousal abuse.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind, you know.”

  “You can go home, Grace. I’m sure your boys will be glad to see you.”

  Grace smiled. “All right, if you say so. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

  Pam thought about how her life and her personality had changed since she’d left Atlanta and fallen in love with Marc. With his support, she was no longer inclined to resort to intimidation tactics. The new Pam Madison had empathy for Grace’s situation as a single mother with two sons. She looked at the clock on the wall and decided it was time to put an end to her workday. Anything else that was left for her to do could wait until tomorrow. After all, she also had someone waiting on her at home now.

  As Pam prepared to leave, her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but decided to answer it anyway.

  “This is Pam.”

  “Hi, it’s me.”

  Pam recognized the voice right away, and for the first time in a long time she didn’t know what to say. She paused for what seemed liked several minutes.

  “Pam? Are you there?”

  “Hi Amanda! How are you?”

  “I’m doing wonderful! I must say, Melvin and I were stunned when we received your wedding gift, and quite frankly I still don’t know how to react! But, I do appreciate it.”

  Pam smiled and felt a tinge of relief go through her body. “Well, you deserve it. I realize that it won’t make up for the countless hours you put up with me for the last three years.”

  “Yeah, but twenty-five thousand dollars is a good start, Pam. Thank you!” Amanda laughed. “But, how did you know I was getting married?”

  “You know I’m not at liberty to divulge my sources,” Pam snickered.

  “Well, it smells like someone by the name of Carol Ann is behind this.”

  “My lips are sealed, sorry.”

  “So, how are things going with your new job and new paralegal?”

  “Well, I must say that both are awesome, but you are the best and will always be. I just wish I had realized that a lot sooner than later.”

  “It’s all good, girl. If you and Dee ever do get together and start up that law firm, I’ll be glad to put my resume in for the paralegal position.”

  Pam chuckled. It was good to make amends with Amanda. “Well, I doubt very seriously that will be happening anytime soon. With me in New York and Dee, Lord knows where, it would take a long while to make that happen. Besides, if my memory serves me correctly, the last I heard was that a person still has to pass the bar,” she chuckled again. “And we both know that Dee is nowhere near close to making that happen. But, please send me your resume anyway so I can at least have it on file. You never know, I could end up back in the ATL.”

  “Will do. Have you spoken to Dee since you’ve moved to New York?”

  “No, we kind of parted on shaky ground. What about you?”

  “No, I was kind of hoping that she’d make an appearance at the wedding, but she sent Tracey and me a text saying the she couldn’t get a flight out down here. I think everything was overbooked.”

  “Where’s down here?”

  “Oh, we’re in Nassau.”

  “Nassau? Dee should have known to have bought a ticket instead of relying on her flight benefits. She knows those flights are always booked solid! That woman I tell you…listen, here I go. I just want to say congratulations to you. Nassau is a beautiful place to have a wedding.”

  “It is and we love it. Well, you take care. Thank you again for the thoughtful wedding gift.”

  “You are welcome and best wishes to you and Melvin.”

  Connecting Flight

  (almost 3 months later…)

  Dee sat straight up, swung her head back and looked Dr. Johnson right between his eyes. He was in his mid-fifties, distinguished-looking, but not nearly as handsome as Grimaldi. Dr. Grimaldi was right. He was an excellent doctor and he’d picked right up where Grimaldi left off. She took a deep breath as she stared out the window one last time. The once snow-capped mountains were now brown and the sun rested soothingly on top of them.

  Dr. Johnson took off his horn-rimmed glasses and placed the stem in his mouth. “So, have you heard from Sedrick?”

  “No, as a matter of fact, I wrote him several weeks ago, and I haven’t gotten a response. I told him how wrong I had been and I would understand if he never forgave me. I took the money out of my savings to pay Sedrick back since he had given me a week to do it. I even went to my father and told him what I did, and he is loaning me the money I used to pay Sedrick back if I keep my promise. My dad’s even been helping me with the rent until I find a place I can afford.”

  “I see,” Dr. Johnson nodded. He paused and smiled reflectively while he put his glasses back on.

  “Why are you smiling at me like that?”

  “I’m very proud of you, Dee. I must say that you’ve surprised me.”

  Dee blushed. “Really? How’s that?”

  “When you first started coming to see Dr. Grimaldi, you and your father had a very strained relationship. Now, it appears that you have been able to overcome that.”

  “Well, I told you I had to make him a promise first.”

  “Yes, I know. We’ll get to that. I like how you have taken charge of your responsibilities. Writing a letter to Sedrick and acknowledging your faults was a huge step. And then taking the ownership of paying him back his money—that’s incredible. Look at you, you feel very confident. It shows in your mannerisms. You no longer have to stare at the floor to talk to me. And best of all, I can tell the lies have stopped.”

  “Yes, well, I have no one else to lie to,” Dee joked. “Pam, Sedrick, Steve, and Chris. Poof! They’re gone,” she said, throwing her hands in the air. “I don’t want to experience that type of loss again.”

  The doctor only nodded. “So what are your plans for Pam?”

  Dee was silent. “Well, I sent Pam a letter at the same time I sent Sedrick’s and I haven’t heard from her either.”

  “Why do you think that is?”

  “I think they just need time. I’ve made some really bad choices and I’ve hurt them. I know that I have no one to blame but me.”

  “Very thoughtful answer, Dee.” He paused then said, “Well, it appears that all that is left now is for you to take the bar that you’ve been studying so diligently for all of these months.”

  Dee looked up at him like a doe caught in a headlight. Dr. Johnson looked concerned by Dee’s reaction. “Did I say something to offend you?’

  Dee was quiet and only shook her head. “I was going to tell you.”

  “Tell me what?” “It’s about the bar.”

  “You do still plan on taking it, don’t you?”

  “Yes, that was the promise I made to myself and to my father. I took it a couple of weeks ago.”

  “And you didn’t breathe a word?”

  “I was going to wait until I got my results back.”

  The doctor stood up and grabbed both of her hands. “This is remarkable, Dee. Truly remarkable. Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement!”

  “Thank you,” she said quietly.

  “So, that’s it. You’ve set out to do what you’ve always wanted to do. You realize that you can lead a life being happy with who you are, and best of all, you are on your way to doing something that will be fulfilling and that can make you proud.”

  Dee looked at the clock on the wall ju
st as it was about to strike 5:00. She stood up and said, “Well, I see our session is over, Dr. Johnson.”

  “My, that is a switch. I usually tell the patient when the session is over.”

  “Well, I guess I’m no longer a patient, now am I?”

  “No, I guess you’re not, Dee.” He smiled proudly. “You certainly are not.”

  Dee returned home to pack up the boxes in her sparsely furnished apartment. She was moving in a few days to something smaller and more affordable until she figured out how she would transition from flight attendant to lawyer. She unloaded the mail on the one table that was still left in the apartment and sorted through it. Tucked away inside one of the many magazines was an envelope stamped Return to Sender. It was the letter she wrote Pam a few weeks ago. She took her phone out of her purse and looked at Pam’s contact information to verify the address. To her surprise, she’d inverted the last two numbers of the firm’s address. She couldn’t send it to Pam’s home because she didn’t know where she was living.

  She threw the letter across the table in frustration and looked down at the next piece of mail. It was from the Georgia Bar Exam. Just as she was about to tear open the envelope she heard a loud knock at the door. Her heart stopped as she tightly clutched the letter. Maybe this was a sign that she shouldn’t open it now. She opened the door and got another surprise.

  “Hey!” she said, stunned.

  Sedrick smiled and nodded. He was dressed in a pair of Levis and a white t-shirt. He looked so handsome and at ease since his practice opened. She’d never thought she would miss the ribbon cutting ceremony. But Sedrick had made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want anything else to do with her the last time they saw each other, even after she paid him back his money.

  “Can I come in?” Dee nodded and held the door open wider for him to step inside. “I got your letter a while back. I didn’t know how to react at first. But I find myself reading it over and over again.”

  Dee was still silent. His voice was so soothing. She thought about how much she had missed hearing it.

  “I guess what I’m trying to say is…and I should have said this years ago, then maybe all of this would have been avoided. I love you, Dee. I always have, and if what you said in your letter is really true then I’m willing to give us a try. But I can’t go back to the lies. Is it true, about Dr. Johnson? You said in your letter that he felt confident that you would be able to stop therapy soon.”