by Forever Redd
“Whaaaaat? Oh, my God, Jody. That’s serious. A child? You couldn’t tell she was a child by her conversation or anything? How long ago was this that they’re just now bringing it up?”
“Calm down, baby, this happened three years back. At the time, you and I were just dating. I ain’t know where we were going to go with it. I met her at a club. How she even got in there, I don’t know, fake ID maybe. Either way, she was there and things escalated from there. I am so sorry this happened. I should have told you about it up front, but I had no idea they were going to issue a warrant, and on my wedding day at that.”
“Three years to wait is just a long time, Jody. That’s all I was saying. Maybe I could look some things up and see what’s going on.”
“No! I don’t want or need you to do anything like that, Victoria. I said what happened and that’s all there is to it. I know I was wrong, okay? I admit it, but I don’t need you checking for shit behind me. I am a man, damnit. Let me be a man and handle my shit. The fuck you look like taking care of my business. I got this okay?”
“I’m sorry. I was just trying to help, not insult your manhood.” I really didn’t think something so simple had to be made out to be so big. I wasn’t trying to offend him at all, and the blow up was totally uncalled for.
“It’s whatever, Vic. You done getting ya shit together for our honeymoon?”
“Yes,” I said and moved on. I wasn’t up for arguing over something that he did to have wronged me. I wanted to go on my trip, enjoy myself, and let the past be the past. I trusted him, and if that was the story, I was going to try and roll with it.
14
Victoria
“Time check,” Jody asked.
“5:47AM, baby.”
He slapped my thigh and said, “Come on, ma, we gotta shower and get to this plane.”
I rushed to the shower, so we could get a move on. Everything had already been packed, best idea in the world. All we needed to do now was get dressed and ride. Jody called a cab, and we double-checked the house making sure everything had been turned off and was tidy before we left for the airport.
Shortly after leveling off amongst the clouds, Anthony came scooting by with a tray of beverages and peanuts. When he reached us, I asked for a ginger ale and if I could have crackers instead of peanuts in hopes of keeping the baby settled.
“You can have anything you like. Is this your first time flying?”
I know I didn’t ask for the extra lip service, just give me my damn drink and crackers. “No it’s not, I just don’t feel very well,” I said with a slight smile.
I nudged Jody to find out what he wanted to drink so Anthony didn’t have to stay longer than necessary, and maybe I could go to sleep. Anthony poured our drinks into small plastic glasses and promised he would return with the crackers. Jody had his eyes shut already and was enjoying the peaceful sleep.
“Jody, I know you’re not sleep already, or did I tire that ass out this morning?”
He cracked one eye open and looked at my smiling face. “Girl, if you don’t go somewhea with that bullshit, that you don’t even believe yo’self.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that too. “Whatever, man, just lift up your arm and hold me. You know I done got used to lying in your arms when it’s time to sleep.” Jody cradled me, and I placed my ear to his chest and allowed the beat of his heart to lull me to sleep.
A slight change in the smooth ride woke me from my early morning sleep. Jody grabbed the armrest as his eyes popped open. “What the fuck?” Jody asked all wide-eyed.
I scanned the plane to see if anyone else had felt that. Everyone was looking on in fear, and I began to silently pray that we were going to be okay and the plane would stay in the air.
“Good morning once again ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the turbulence, but we seem to be having a small mechanical issue and we will be landing in the nearest airport, Philadelphia International. Please remain seated and keep your seatbelts fastened. We will be landing here in the next ten minutes. I apologize for the delay folks, and again, thanks for flying Delta.”
Okay, great. Just what we needed, a delay in the plans. I couldn’t get any rest no matter how hard I tried, but at least I could get up and walk around for a few minutes.
“How long you think this will take?” Jody asked me as if I knew, so I jokingly replied, “It has been so long since I was an airplane mechanic, I am gon’ hafta say anywhere from thirty minutes to thirty hours.”
Jody pinched my cheek and started laughing, “Aww, isn’t that cute. V made a funny. Do ya got another?”
I snatched my face back and playfully slapped him upside his head. “But for real, all jokes aside, I hope we aren’t here for a long time. I got some honeymooning to do,” I told Jody while checking my watch.
About fifteen minutes or so later, Flight 6345 landed with a thud and a screech when the wheels dropped down from their lower storage compartments. I sat and watched the control tower pass as we breezed by. We finally slowed down and came to a complete stop. The Fasten Seatbelt light had now gone off, and we were free to move about the cabin, gather our things, and get off. Jody grabbed the carry on, that had little of nothing in it since you couldn’t fly the friendly skies with the personals. We got in the exit line and slowly made our way to the door.
The airport was huge, I had never been in Philadelphia before, or any place farther north than Virginia. However, I wanted a Philly Cheesesteak, so I asked Jody if we could go and get a cheesesteak, if we had time. The Delta representative informed that we would have a two-hour layover, and as soon as there was an update on the aircraft we would be informed. Jody and I decided since we had a little time to kill, we would walk around and find a way out the crowded place and walk around outside.
We found an exit after walking for what seemed like forever, stepped out onto the busy street, and headed in the direction of 9th and Christian St. toward George’s Sandwich Shop.
As we got closer, my stomach began to growl at the scent of meat, cheese, and onions. I was too ready for that sandwich. It was almost noon, so the lunch rush was about to hit, and I couldn’t risk having to wait any longer than necessary. The baby was hungry, and so was I. When we made it to the restaurant, I walked straight up to the counter, ordered a cheesesteak all the way, add banana peppers, and ketchup. Jody ordered the same, just no peppers or ketchup.
We took a seat in the corner and discussed regular events, family, and friends while waited for our food. Jody’s mom had been doing really badly, and it was a wonder that she had held on that long.
“You talked to your daddy, baby?” I asked Jody in a concerned tone. I knew how much Jody cared about his mom and I knew it was killing him to see her in that condition.
“Yeah, ma. Pop said it ain’t lookin’ good at all. I don’t know what I will do without my old bird.”
I just rubbed his hand and allowed him to vent. “She has been the first woman to ever love me, she took care of me when I was sick. She gave me life, baby. I don’t know, I just don’t know.”
It hurt so bad to see him like that. I wished I could just take some of the pain away, but in this case, there was nothing I could do.
Our number was called and Jody left the table to grab the food. I think he needed to walk away for a few anyway, I noticed the tears that had begun to fill his lower lids. When Jody returned with the hot food on a plastic orange tray, his face held a smile, but his eyes displayed his hurt. I shouldn’t have ever brought it up. I feel awful, I thought for a second, but that did not stop me from unwrapping that greasy, hot, cheese-stuck-to-the-paper sandwich.
“Oh, my God, this is so good,” I said with my mouth full. It had to be a heart attack waiting to happen. I knew something that good had to come with side effects. I stuffed my face, and finished every single piece of the long stuffed sandwich, and Jody barely ate his. I knew his mind was elsewhere, and I understood that, so I asked was he ready to head back to the airport. We didn’t have to w
alk around touring, and as full as I was, walking around aimlessly was not an option.
When we got back onto the street, Jody asked, “You tired, ma?” I just shook my head and poked out my bottom lip in hopes of grabbing a cab for the short distance back.
Jody walked in front of me, and said, “Get on,” as he stooped down offering me his back to ride.
“No way will I get on your back for you to do stupid stuff or drop me.”
Jody wouldn’t move and when I stepped around him, he did the same thing.
“Ma, I vowed that when you were tired, I would carry you. Now, get on and shut up with yo’ old scary ass.”
I just lifted my leg, and he grabbed the other and made sure I was on safely for the ride.
My baby carried me back to the airport and we giggled like school kids the entire walk back. Delta decided that since the aircraft was having a few more issues than anticipated, they would be providing us with another aircraft to take us into Madrid. It would be cheaper to fuel the plane instead of having to have to reimburse all the travelers for reservations made on the other end. That worked perfect for me because I was ready to go.
After about another hour or so, we were back in our seats, buckled up, and taking flight. The next sixteen hours Jody spent asleep, and I spent back and forth to the bathroom. Guess the baby didn’t want the ketchup. I was able to get enough sleep to battle the exhaustion that had accumulated during first part of the trip.
Spain was beautiful. The moment we landed, I took in everything I could see from the runway. The airport was just as busy as ours was back in the States, people milling about, trying to reach their destinations. The clerk at the Delta desk directed us to the baggage claim to retrieve our luggage, and gave us a local map to find our hotel.
Her English was very good, but that accent threw some things off. In their language, they don’t conjugate nouns and verbs, so that’s where she was having a little difficulty, but she could definitely get her point across. Jody and I stood and watched luggage go by and by, but we didn’t come across ours. We actually stood there until the entire belt was free and clear and I gave Jody “that look.” He knew what that meant, and he knew I was about to go all the way off.
That was going to be difficult because I didn’t know what the Delta clerk actually understood, but I wanted her to know exactly what I meant when I said it. No, perhaps I didn’t have to go in on her, but it was my honeymoon, we were in another country, and we had no luggage. I’m sorry. There was no explanation that could make that acceptable.
“V?” Jody stared at me, and I turned to walk off. “V?” He called out again. I kept walking. “V, I’m not gon’ say it again.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, and turned around. Not because I was afraid, but out of respect. I was taught when your man talks, you listen.
“Baby, I know you mad, I am too. But number one, shit happens and you know dat. Number two, you not ‘bout to go act a fool and have yo’ emotions fuckin’ with my seed, ma. Suck dat shit up and let’s find out when we gon’ get our shit.” Jody placed his lips to mine and pulled me in for a loving hug.
I went ahead and sat down on a nearby bench while Jody went to do the talking for us. This is already some bullshit, I thought. First, the unexpected layover, then the illness from the restaurant and now this. Really wasn’t a good start, I was sad.
Jody approached the Spanish speaking Delta agent, “How you doin’, ma’am? My name is Major White, and that’s Victoria White. Remember us?” He was so loud I heard every word he spoke.
The agent smiled and nodded.
“Okay, we don’t have our luggage. It never came across the belt. I know you’re sorry to hear that, and I know you hafta call round, and that’s cool, it’s your job. But check it, I have a black leather Samsonite rolling bag with the letters MW engraved in the silver handle. There will be another one, with the letters VW engraved in the handle, and it’s bigger than the one with MW. Do what you have to do Miss, call who you hafta call, but find our shit. I’ma go try to calm down that lady over there, who is ready to dig in yo’ ass, but I’ma hold her back. Right now, she is hormonal, hungry, tired, and pregnant, so I strongly suggest you do that in a hurry. Thank you, I do ‘preciate it.”
With that, Jody headed in my direction. I stood up with my eyes searching his for a solution to our new dilemma. “They callin’ now, ma. She will let us know in just a few,” Jody said while guiding me to take a seat on his lap since he just sat down.
“Jody, why is this happening? Ever since we left, it has been one thing or a million. This kind of makes me feel like the universe is trying to stop our honeymoon.” Then came the waterworks.
“Stop it,V. Stop. Everything happens for a reason, ma. We made it through the ceremony, the reception and the flight. Don’t be sad, ma. We healthy, we safe, and we together,” Jody said while wiping my tears. “I’ma go back over there and see what Ms. Senorita talkin’ ‘bout.”
I stood up and allowed him to go talk, but that time I went too. “Senor White, Senora White,” the clerk greeted us. “Lo siento mucho. I very sorry, I sometimes, forget not all speak Espanol.”
I cut in, “Lo siento mucho, hable pequeno español. Hable todo Englais.”
Jody looked at me bewildered. I gave him a wink and told him, “I told her, I was very sorry, but I understand a little bit of Spanish, and I can only speak English.”
The lady informed us that our luggage was still in Philadelphia International, and it would be on the next flight out tomorrow. Tomorrow? That bitch was out of her mind. All we had in the carry on was a checkbook, some personal documentation, a pair of fresh underwear, and my prenatal vitamins. I was too done. All I wanted to do at that point was find the hotel, wash my behind, and go to sleep. I’d had enough for a day or two.
Jody and I hailed a cab to get us from the airport to the hotel. We were staying at the Best Western Hotel, Villa De Barajas, Madrid. We had stayed at a Best Western in the States and had been very satisfied, so why not give them a shot while we were there. It was reasonably priced and after what we spent on the wedding, reasonable was what we needed.
We checked in at the front desk, and the hotel was nice. Not luxurious, but it was nice. Our room was pretty much the same thing you would find at home. Wi-Fi, large bed, air conditioning. At that point, it didn’t even matter. I was so over the trip already.
“I’ma go shower, Daddy. Care to come with?” I asked Jody as he stared out the window and into the parking lot.
“Yeah, ma. I’ma call home and check on Mama, and I will be in there shortly.
My baby was carrying a large weight on his heart, and I gave him the privacy he needed to check on his mother. I had him for a lifetime, so his absence for a few minutes wouldn’t hurt. I entered the bathroom and gave my bladder some relief, then I started the hot water in the shower so it would be nice and hot when I got in.I hoped to wash away some of the day’s stress.
I stood under the showerhead, closed my eyes for a few minutes, and allowed the heat and stream to beat down on my body. I opened my eyes to grab a bar of the cheap hotel soap, just as Jody entered the bathroom. He looked like he had aged five years from that five minute conversation and I could see the toll it was taking on him.
Jody got in the shower without saying a word, took my washcloth from my hands, and lathered it up. Jody lathered and massaged every part of my body in total silence. After he was done with me, he took the front and allowed the liquid massage to relieve some of the tension that had built up in his body. We got out of the shower, dried off, and made our way to the bed, nude. It wasn’t about being freaky, we had no pajamas.
When we got into the crisp white sheets, Jody turned to me and said, “I love you, baby. Can you do something for me, please?” His voice was tired and racked with pain.
“Of course I will, Daddy. Anything you want,” I replied, with my voice full of concern. I had no idea what he wanted, or needed, but at that point, nothing was off limits.
“Hold me.” That’s all my baby said, and he snuggled into my chest and listened to my heartbeat. I just rubbed the back of his neck, and kissed the top of his head. Jody needed me, he was on an emotional rollercoaster, and he didn’t wanna ride anymore.
No sooner than I started to drift off, I felt the moisture as it gathered in my breasts. My baby was crying, but why? What happened with that phone call? I knew his mama was still alive because we were still in Spain. I thought about asking, but I heard that sometimes you gotta know when to just shut up and leave well enough alone. At that point, I was going to leave well enough alone and allow Jody to handle his feelings how he saw fit. He just needed the release, I guessed. I gave him that moment, but his hurt was hurting me so much, I just wanted to fix it for him. I wanted to endure his pain, share his burdens, and heal his heart. Without knowing what the problem was, I just held him and cried right along with him until we fell asleep.
The bright sunlight beaming through the window caused my eyes to flutter open, that or all the hog calling Jody was doing. He had to be tired. I squinted at the time on the clock on the nightstand, and it read 9:52AM. Wow, we were out. Jet lag, mixed with frustration equaled a good sleep. I carefully untangled my body from Jody’s and went to use the bathroom and brush my teeth. I did have an outfit and a pair of panties in the carry on, so at least we could get decent and sight see for a little while.
While in the bathroom, I had a thought, since we not home and I had no kitchen, I would order my husband some room service and have him eat breakfast in bed. Last night was a little rough for him, so maybe that would cheer him up. He hadn’t really eaten either, so surely he was hungry. I knew I was. I quietly exited the bathroom, and grabbed the hotel guide located on the nightstand next to the clock. I looked up the number for room service, and ordered us both, T-bone steaks, scrambled eggs and cheese, fresh fruit and toast. I also ordered him a mimosa and myself an apple juice.
