“Well, he didn't take much convincing from you, did he?”
“Hopefully, neither will you. Now, if it's all the same I need to get some sleep and you need to get going back to your -research. East is that way. If you go back the way you came it shouldn't take you long to find your little light thingy.” I said pointing into the forest. “It was a pleasure to have met you, Anna.” He said with a smile nodding his head to me. “Likewise.” I sarcastically replied nodding back. “Good night to you, Anna.” I watched as he disappeared into the trees.
- FIVE -
It had been weeks since our run-in with Trundi in the woods. Sammie nor I had mentioned this meeting to anyone else, though we do share a knowing glance whenever we are in each others' presence. Trundi has already taken up six pages in my journal. I wonder about him. Where was from? What type of research was he doing in the woods? Was he really a scientist? Would he return? And did he know my father? The names were so similar. Could they be related and he just didn't want to tell me? Along with the wondering came the daydreams about him, about kissing his thick lips and touching his handsome, slender face. Damn I'm trippin'. Why was I fantasizing about a weirdo? Well, he was a cute weirdo at least.
My curiosity about Trundi did help me get through the next two months of school, work and making sure my mother doesn't drink herself into an early grave or jail, which is where we both almost end up one Saturday night. She brought another acquaintance home from the bar, but Charlie wanted more than booze and drunk sex. My mother awoke in the middle of the night to him rummaging through her nightstand and dresser. He nearly made off with $300 and most of her jewelry.
I ran into her room soon after the struggling and shouting began. He had a knife to my mother's throat and demanded I go into the living room and bring my Xbox to him as well. I obliged and went to grab Joseph's old gun from the kitchen cabinet instead. My mom talked me out of killing him on the spot. However, my aim stayed on him until police arrived. I assumed the incident scared her as bad as it did me, because she hasn't brought another man home since.
Although, mom and I were both relieved that the situation went better than expected, all of the pressure and stress begin to tighten it's grip around me. I first felt it when my car started to run hot. For an entire week I got around on a wing and prayer. Although the Taco Bell where I worked was only around the corner from school, I will still consistently late for work.
“You're late, again.” The shift manager informed as I walked through the door pulling my hair up into a pony tail.
“Sorry Bobby, my ride quit on me again.”
“Oh girl don't worry about it. I clocked you in before your five minutes was up. Just make sure you leave your badge or I won't be able to help your ass.”
“Thanks Bobby.” I smiled. “Finals are next week and now my car as decided to give me a hard time. I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of this semester.”
Bobby slung his hand around my shoulders. “Come on, sweetie, don't talk like that. Think positive. You have to work with the universe and it will work with you. Besides, there's something special about you. You're different, not like all these others heffas around here.”
“Speak for yourself, bitch!” Sonya protested. “I don't know about the universe, but you need to make sure your ass ain't late when Diana is here. Besides, girl, why don't you borrow a car from Terry?”
She just had to bring him up. Sonya has been crazy about Terry every since I started dating him two years ago. Our relationship was pretty much on and off. And although he expressed many times that he wanted us to get back together, dating Terry was the emotional equivalent of picking petals off a flower playing He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not. Nothing about his love was stable or consistent. In fact the only thing about Terry that was unchanged was his ego. Terry bought and sold auction cars for a living, but I knew making that type of arrangement with him would mean rekindling our relationship as well. My life was falling apart enough without Terry contribution.
“So, are you gonna call him?” Sonya asked.
“No.” I spat.
“I knew you would say that, which is why I did.”
“You did what?” Anger boiled up inside me.
“I called him.” She shrugged. “I told him your ride was messing up and you were struggling to get around and that you needed his help.”
“Sonya, how could you?”
“Because, you need his help, plus you guys are meant to be together. I know he's an ass, but you can make him better girl.” As she rambled on I was more that tempted to risk my job by giving her a big slap across her nosy, prying in everyone's business face. “Sonya, you don't know what happened between us and you don't Terry Carter!”
“Who dat don't know Terry Carter?” His voice flowed from behind us. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning around to see who I knew there. His smile was big and handsome as he tapped his fingers on the counter waiting for an answer. I looked at him and searched my brain for the most offensive answer I could find. “I don't know Terry Carter.” He looked away and laughed. “Oh sure you do, more than anyone else.” He said with that wide smile. I tried to avoid looking him in the eye. As bad as I needed transportation right now, I'd rather hitchhike than start back dealing with Terry. When our last relationship ended it took so much of me with it. No, just, no. There had to be another way.
“Why are you here, Terry?” I grumbled.
“You, baby, I'm here for you.”
“Well, thank you but I don't need your help. I can make it just fine.”
“That's not what your friend said.” He protested.
“Look, I know what she said, but I'm good. I can find a way to work out my own problems.”
Terry sighed in frustration probably remembering how stubborn I was. Finally, he gave up this battle. “Alright.” He said sucking his teeth. “But when that hoopty put you down, you know how to reach me.”
- SIX -
“Where are you going this time of night?” Sammie stopped cold in his tracks looking around to find the source of my voice. “I'm right here.” I said starring out of my bedroom window waving.
“I'm just checking for something.” He lied.
“Just checking for what?”
“Nothing!” The frustration was present in this voice.
“You wouldn't be about to go back out in those woods this late looking for Trundi would you? Because if you are then it's a waste of time. He's long gone, Sammy.” I felt bad for Sammie, besides the two little knuckleheads he gets in trouble with he really didn't have anyone else in his life. I could understand why a big brother figure would be important to him. “I saw that asshole Terry come by your house today. Are you back with him again?” His face was one of disgust. “Absolutely not!” I spat. “Good.” He whispered. “Go home Sammy. There's nothing out there.”
The next few days were uneventful. Same old thing with my car. As it would happen, I did manage to be late on a day that Diana was at work. She issued a warning and wrote me up. I was down to my last unexcused tardy. One the first day of finals my car decided to quit on me for good. I had the early morning shift starting in ten minutes and my first test was at two. “Shit! Not today of all days!” I complained. I had to make a ten minute drive for my shift that started in fifteen minutes. I can't be late today. I was out of options. I had been avoiding Terry since the day he came to my job. My mom told me he came by the house a couple times, but naturally I brushed it off. Now, he was my only option.
“Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
“I knew you would come around.” Terry smiled and opened the door for me, then winked at Sammie who had stepped out onto his porch watching us, visibly upset. He shook his head in disappointment and stormed back into his house. I made a mental note to speak with him later. “Look, Terry, I only called you because I needed to get to work. I'll pay you back once I get on my feet.” Terry waved his hand in protest. “Pay me back? Come on, bae
. You know we ain't like that. I got love for you girl.” I turned away and rolled my eyes, but he went on. “What me and you had can't be replaced. Shit, you've made it hard for any other girl who came after you.” He reminisced. “And I bet there were plenty others.” I snapped. I know it was a low blow, but he walked right into it. He only sighed. “You just had to go there didn't you? Anna, look, I know I fucked up...”
“You damn right you did!” I cut in.
“Just let me finish! Damn. I put you through a lot. That girl shouldn't have even been in the picture.”
“It's Shawna! Call her by her name. Don't act like you've forgotten it. I sure as hell haven't! Shawna, shouldn't have been in the picture.”
“Look, all I know is I really hurt you and I'm sorry.” He said.
“Hurt? Hurt, don't even begin to cover what you and Shawna did to me! Not only did you hurt me but you humiliated me, embarrassed me, neglected me, disrespected me and cause me to lose the only thing that matter out of all that bullshit.” The tears were already damp on my cheeks. It had been months since I mourned the baby. The stress from Terry's cheating and the constant harassing phone calls and social media attacks from his side chick took a toll on my pregnancy. At four months I miscarried. When the baby died a part of me died with it.
“So now you're blaming the baby on me? You putting that blood on my hands?” His voice began to crack. I was relieved to see we were pulling into the Taco Bell parking lot so this conversation could come to an end. “Anna, I didn't kill our baby.” He spoke softly. His eyes were stained red, watery and fixed on me. “I appreciate the ride.” I got out of the car, closed the door and walked inside.
- SEVEN -
Terry didn't want to take responsibility for his past mistakes, but he did take it upon himself to make sure I had transportation. The day after our fight he sent one of his mobile mechanic friends over to fix my car. After about three hours of tinkering under the hood, it ran good as new. I offered to pay him from the money I have saved up, but he refused saying it was already covered. I knew Terry loved me, but with his love came with pride and pain. And at this point in my life, I couldn't revisit either.
The last day of finals were finally done and I was excited to be out for the holidays. Despite the recent drama with my car and job, I managed to ace all of my exams. So on the last day I decide to take off from work and stop by the local Mexican restaurant to grab an order of steak nachos and a couple bottles of Coronas. But my night of rest, relaxation and movies came to a screeching halt when I walked in to see my mom sitting quietly on the couch.
I wondered why she was here and not at her usual night spot, flirting with some guy. “Mom? Are you okay?” She looked up at me and patted the cushion beside her. “Sit down baby. I have something to tell you.” Well, here goes my night! Is it another man this time? Or had she done something that would send her to jail for good. I half expected for her to tell me she had to kill some guy and his body was still in her bedroom. “What is it, mom?”
“Anna, it's about Sammie.”
“What about Sammie?” My heart raced in my chest.
“He's been missing for nearly two days now. They've looked everywhere but no one can find him.”
“What! Did they check the woods? He's always wondering out there at night.”
“They're forming a search party to go out there this evening, but they think he may have been kidnapped.” She took a deep breathe. “There's been a strange white van driving around the neighborhood and some of the kids have been approached. So the authorities think that it's possible he may have been grabbed.”
Now I was the one fighting back tears. Sammie? Kidnapped? I can't believe that. I won't believe it! Sammie is too smart and strong to let some strangers just roll up and take him. Wasn't he? He probably wondered out into the woods and gotten lost trying to find that clearing, trying to find Trundi. In fact, maybe he did find Trundi and they're somewhere together hanging out and doing research. That's what my mind wanted to believe, but my heart sensed something worse, something much more sinister. I went to my room, grabbed a sweater and headed out into the woods.
- EIGHT -
Six weeks passed and there was still no sign of Sammie. They searched the woods and even went around the surrounding towns questioning people, but still no leads to Sammie or the alleged kidnappers. I went back to the clearing several times, only to find nothing. During my last visit I sat and wrote a note in my journal to Trundi.
I tore it out and left it there for him. It was ridiculous notion, but one that was worth it at the time. It was something about the energy of the clearing. Not only did it remind me of the night me and Sammie met Trundi, but it reminded of how happy Sammie was to discover something... someone. I looked out of my bedroom window every night hoping to see the lights or Sammie again, but darkness was all I saw.
In a moment of desperation and perhaps loneliness, I agreed to go to the movies with Terry. I did want to thank him for fixing my car and offer to pay him back. He turned it down, of course. We agreed to reach out to each other again as friends, but I knew he had hopes of us becoming more. Honestly, deep down I had those feelings too. There were moments during the movie where I was tempted to reconnect with him romantically, but all I could see was Sammie's disapproving face. Throughout the evening he kept asking, “What's wrong?” Being with Terry brought back all the memories of us being together, the good and the bad. And although it was comforting, I would still wonder about Trundi. Would he come back? Does he know where Sammie is? Does he know my father? Terry must have noticed I was distant.
“Babe, are you okay?” He whispered wrapping his arm around me. “I'm fine, Terry.” I shrugged him off. His toned arm wrapped around me reminded me of how we used to be before the bullshit. Deep down I still loved Terry, but I was afraid to trust him again. He rubbed his hand down the side of my cheek.
“Anna, please give us another chance. I still love you.” The warm, sweet air from his lips whispered into my ear.
“I'm scared.”
“Don't be. I promise I won't hurt you again. I've been out there and all I know is you're the only girl for me.”
I nearly melted. Terry's words was as sweet as honey, as he wrapped his arm around my waist and placing a warm, moist kiss on my neck. I can't do this. I can't do this! Is what I kept repeating to myself. But the more his lips touch my flesh, the more I pushed the past and Sammie's face out of my mind. Maybe this is what I needed? Maybe I needed to forget. By the end of the date I had given in to Terry's advances. I was back in his arms again. I was his again. He took me back to his condo in the city where we made love.
I opened my eyes to tapestry lined wall length windows. The apricot rays of the morning sun were blinding. The fresh aroma of searing bacon and eggs pricked at my nostrils. For a moment I thought I was home and all of the events of the past ten years was just a dream. That was until I saw him standing over me wearing a towel and that bright smile that stole my heart. “Hungry?” He asked. “Yes, I'm starving.” I sat up on the bed as he sat the serving tray in my lap.
The eggs and bacon were neatly framed by steaming grits, a trio of fluffy pancakes and a square glass of chilled orange juice. Terry was really laying it on thick. “Enjoy.” He kissed me on the cheek and started to dress, briefing flashing those perfectly toned butt cheeks in the process. “Where are you going? I asked. “Today is auction day and the early birds get the best worms. Just chill out and relax. I'll be back around one.” Before I could get another word out he left the room and quietly snapped the door shut behind him. I was slightly disappointed we didn't get to spoon, but I've never been the type of woman to get in the way of a man and his money. Besides, this was a good opportunity for me to relax and clear my head.
I got up and wondering around his home. It was different, but a few things were the same. He still had the leather sectional wrapped around his flat screen TV and his kitchen cabinet still held a wicker basket full of apples. However, the lapto
p in his study was new.
I plopped down in front of it to check my emails and Facebook, which he was already logged into. I went to log him out when I noticed a new message in his inbox. I should just close it. No need to pry in his business. But if I am going to open my heart to this man again, I need to know if there is anything or anyone else in his life. Against my better judgment I click on the icon.
“Terry I took the test again and it's positive. This is the third one. Please call me!” There was a photo of a positive Clear Blue Easy pregnancy test attached to the message. All the breath left from my lungs. My heart hit the floor. That bastard! He lied to me, again! This time he wouldn't get away with it.
Anna Rising: Creator Gene Trilogy - Book One Page 2
