by Angel Hunter
“What’s obvious, Summer? That we know one another, that she introduced herself to you, or that you were rude?”
“I’m not stupid or blind,” Summer said.
They walked to the car and rode to Summer’s house in silence.
When they pulled up in the driveway, Summer said, “You know we have to talk.”
“You’re making something out of nothing,” Elsie said, not really ready for a confrontation. Shit, every time she turned around, Summer was saying they needed to talk.
They took the bags in the house. Summer went into the kitchen and put the food away while Elsie sat on the couch.
Summer joined Elsie on the couch and asked, “What’s going on with you, Elsie? Do you want to break up? Is that it? Are you seeing Janay or thinking about seeing her?”
Elsie huffed.
Summer threw her hands up. “I don’t know what to think. You really need to be straight with me and tell me what the hell is going on. Do you want to be with me or not? If not, let me know, so I can move on and you can move on. I haven’t been happy, and I can be depressed by myself. I don’t need this. I don’t have time for games, and I definitely don’t want to be led on. So, you need to tell me what’s up and not give me the run around.”
Elsie was tired of lying. She was tired of the whole charade. She decided at that moment to come clean and suffer the consequences. She turned to face Summer and placed Summer’s hands into her own. “I’m not ready to move in.”
Summer moved her hands and placed them into her own lap.
Elsie continued. “I think that maybe we need to separate, to take some time apart.”
Summer’s eyes teared up. “Where is this coming from?”
“I don’t know. I just know that we don’t feel right anymore. I still love you, but I’m not in love. Summer, please believe me when I tell you it’s nothing you did or didn’t do. It’s me and this emotional roller coaster I’ve been on.”
“Is it Janay?” Summer asked.
Elsie didn’t answer her soon enough.
“It’s Janay? You’re getting back with her?”
“No, no.”
Elsie could tell that Summer was trying to read her. “You went out with her?” Summer asked.
“We went on a couple of dates,” Elsie answered honestly.
Summer placed her hand over her heart. “You’re leaving me for her?”
Elsie was ready for this conversation to end. “No.”
“Did you sleep with her?” Summer needed to know.
Elsie lied and denied it.
“Not yet?” Summer asked.
Elsie didn’t answer.
Summer stood up. “I think you should leave.”
“Don’t you want to talk about it some more?”
Summer placed her hands on her hips. “What is there to talk about? You’re not in love with me. You don’t want to be with me. I’m not going to beg you to stay, Elsie. I have a child now that I need to be concerned about. If you want out, then get out.”
The second Elsie stood up, Summer smacked her. Elsie brought her hand up to her face in disbelief.
“Go to hell,” Summer said and left the room, knowing Elsie would let herself out.
IT’S FINALLY OVER
Tina’s day in court finally arrived. Crystal was a wreck. That morning, any and everything that could go wrong, did. First, she couldn’t decide what to wear. When she finally decided on a black suit, she thought it looked too depressing and changed. Then she picked out a red suit and thought that was too showy. As a last resort, she called Susan and asked her opinion. Susan told her to wear blue, because blue meant business.
After she decided on which blue dress to wear, she went out to her truck only to find that she had a flat tire. Crystal felt that at any moment she would have a nervous breakdown. Why is this happening to me? she wondered. She didn’t want to think that it was a bad omen, but it was hard not to. With no time to wait on AAA, she caught a taxi to the courthouse.
Crystal had to admit to herself that she was more than a little nervous. She and Lange hadn’t spoken since she’d told him about seeing Lena out with another man. She wondered if they’d gotten back together, or if he was just that upset with her.
Frazzled, Crystal rushed into the courthouse. She tried not to be disrespectful and do a full out sprint down the hall, but it was a challenge. Going past several people lined up on benches, she could have sworn she heard someone call her name, but there was no way she was stopping. She had to get to Tina. Tina was depending on her.
Crystal took a quick glance at her watch and saw that she was over half an hour late. Thank goodness court never started on time. For this she was grateful but with the luck she was having, it would start promptly today. When Crystal spotted Lange talking to Tina and her mom, she was relieved. She wasn’t late after all. She slowed down her pace.
Lange noticed Crystal approaching them. He excused himself and met her halfway. “Let’s walk down the hall,” he suggested in a low tone.
Crystal took him in with a quickness and noticed that he looked intense in his tailored charcoal gray suit, black shirt, black tie, and black shoes. Crystal wanted to hug him, but knew it would be inappropriate.
“Okay,” she told him. “But let me speak to Tina and her mother first.”
Crystal went over and gave them each a hug. “Are you both okay?”
Ms. Lord nodded and Tina told her she was glad she was there. “I’m sorry I was late. You would not believe the morning I had.”
Ms. Lord looked more nervous than Tina. “How much longer do you think it’ll be before we start?”
“Honestly, I can’t say, but it shouldn’t be much longer. Listen, I’ll be right back. There are some things Lange and I need to discuss.”
“Anything to do with the case?” Tina asked.
“No,” Crystal answered.
“Is everything okay between you two?” Tina wanted to know.
Crystal looked at her with raised eyebrows. “Why do you ask me that?”
Tina placed her hands on her hips and said, “I’m not stupid, you know.”
“We’re just friends, Lange and I.” On that note, she left them standing there and went to talk with Lange.
“How are you?” Lange asked.
“I’m fine. What about you? Are you ready?”
“Aren’t I always?”
Crystal didn’t respond.
“You know his father might be here today. Do you think you will be able to handle that?”
“I have to handle it,” she told him while she looked into his eyes. She hoped he would say something about what had transpired between them.
Taking her hand, he told her, “We’ll talk about us later.”
“You promise?” She couldn’t help asking.
“I do,” he assured her. “Right now, I just need to concentrate on winning this case.”
Before she could respond, Crystal heard, “The Lord case will start in fifteen minutes.”
Crystal looked up to see Lange watching her every expression. “Don’t worry about me,” she told him. “I’m going to be all right.”
“You know you don’t have to sit there the whole time,” Lange told her.
Crystal reached out and took his hand. “I’m okay. Believe me. Excuse me. I have to go to the ladies room.”
Once in the ladies’ room, Crystal looked in the mirror. She didn’t really have to use the bathroom. She just needed to prepare herself. Lange was making her more nervous with his concern, and she just needed a breather.
Crystal felt like she was a victim, not the one there to give support. When a person has to confront her past, she can never know what to expect. When she saw Jake, if he showed, would he say anything? What would she say? How would she react? She hoped she didn’t freak out like she did at the club.
After throwing water on her face, she prepared herself for whatever was about to come. When she stepped in the hallway, she saw that Lange, Tina
and her mother had entered the courtroom. She opened the door, and the first face she saw was Jake, Sr. Before either of them could think a thought, the bailiff said, “Please stand. Judge Eon is entering the courtroom.” She took a deep breath and turned away. It took everything in her power not to glance over in Jake’s direction again. Crystal sat behind Lange and Tina, next to Ms. Lord.
Ms. Lord reached over and placed her hand on top of Crystal’s. Crystal couldn’t help but glance over in Jake’s direction. He was staring at her with a look of confusion and shock.
Lange caught this and asked her, “You okay?”
“I am,” she told him. “Don’t worry about me.”
Crystal wanted to get up and walk over to Jake, to get in his face and ask him, “Why? Why did you rape me? How could you have violated me like that? Do you ever think about what you did? Do you regret it or did it mean nothing?” This surprised her, because instead of feeling the fear she thought she would, she just needed to understand why. Answers, more than anything, were what she wanted. She wanted to know how someone could take another by force. How could a man betray someone he knew, someone that had a crush on him?
How did he feel now that his son had done the same thing?”
Jake Jr. was on the stand, and the District Attorney was tearing him apart. Jake was coming off as arrogant and ignorant. He didn’t stand a chance. Tina handled herself well. She was being strong, brave and her testimony was believable. Crystal felt a sense of pride. They had coached her well. So, it didn’t come as a surprise when the verdict came back guilty.
When Crystal first heard those words, she looked over at Jake Sr. and smiled. She felt victorious. Crystal watched along with everyone else as Jake Jr. was led away in handcuffs.
When Tina, Lange, Ms. Lord and Crystal left the courtroom, Jake Sr. was standing in the hallway. Crystal noticed that he was watching them as they said their goodbyes. Crystal and Lange were standing together when he approached them. “Excuse me,” he said.
Everyone looked up at him. He addressed Crystal and asked, “May I speak with you for a moment?” Before she could answer, Lange stepped up and told him, “Get the hell away from her.”
Crystal touched Lange’s arm. “It’s okay.
“Are you sure?” Lange asked, looking like he was ready to pounce.
“I’m sure,” she told him.
“Well, I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Crystal took just a few steps away from Lange. She was surprised by how calm she felt. Maybe it was because this win did something for her personally or because she didn’t think Jake would try anything here in the courtroom. Then again, she hadn’t thougt he would rape her either.
“What is it?” she asked him. “What do you want to say to me?”
Jake cleared his throat and told her, “Um, I don’t know how to say this.” He glanced out of the corner of his eyes at Lange, who was watching and listening to every word.
“Say what?” Crystal asked, wanting to get this over with.
“I was young and irresponsible. I had a hard head,” Jake began. “I thought everyone wanted me, whether they knew it or not.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m trying to apologize for what happened. I’m trying to apologize for what I did to you and for what my son did to that girl.”
“You’re trying to apologize?” Crystal asked in disbelief.
He nodded.
“And that’s supposed to make it okay?” The time had finally come for her to get from him what she always wanted—acknowledgement of what he did to her. Instead of feeling a sense of relief the way she thought she would, she felt angry, like it was a little too late.
“It’s not supposed to make it okay, because what I did was inexcusable. I know that. I’m just asking for your forgiveness.”
“I can’t give that to you Jake . . . not right now anyway.”
“I understand. But I hope one day you will be able to.” On that note, he walked away, past Lange, who said to him in a threatening tone, “Don’t you ever come near her again.”
Lange approached Crystal, who by now had tears in her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her.
“He apologized to me,” Crystal whispered then broke down.
Lange pulled her to his chest. “It’s okay,” he told her. “It’s okay.”
The funny thing was that it was okay, and that was why Crystal was crying. She had been holding onto anger, resentment and hatred for so long. To finally be able to let it go, just a little, was a relief. Forgive him? She wanted to. Heck, she needed to, and figured one day she would. Of course it was easier said than done.
As she wiped her eyes, so many things became clear to Crystal. There were things in her life she needed to change, and she was ready to do just that. It was like all these years she had been holding onto pain and resentment, and she was tired of it. She needed to move on with her life. She needed to get past her past, but most of all she needed her mother. She wanted to talk to her, to move forward.
“Let’s go somewhere and eat,” Lange suggested. He didn’t want her to be alone.
“No, I think I just want to be alone,” Crystal told him.
“Well, let me walk you to your car.”
“I caught a cab here.”
Lange questioned her with his eyes.
“My tire was flat.”
“How come you didn’t call me? I would have changed it for you.”
“I didn’t think of it. Plus I have Triple A.”
“Well, I’m not going to let you catch a cab home, I’ll drive you instead.”
Crystal knew Lange wasn’t going to allow her to say no, so she agreed. They walked out of the courtroom holding hands.
Once in the car, Lange said, “This has been quite a day, hasn’t it?”
“That it has,” Crystal replied and looked over at him.
“Are you still upset with me about the whole Lena thing?”
“Not really. I just couldn’t understand why you didn’t tell me that you’d seen Lena with someone else when it happened.”
Crystal didn’t have an answer, not one that sounded good to her own ears, so she left it alone.
“What’s done is done,” Lange said. “Crystal, I care about you a great deal. I’m sure you know this. If circumstances were different, I’d try to make you my woman. But they’re not. I’m getting separated; you’re dating a cop. I don’t want to put pressure on you or anything, but once my divorce is final, would you consider dating me? Exclusively.”
Crystal’s voice was caught in her throat. This was what she had wanted for quite some time. Now that there was a possibility of it happening, she wasn’t too sure anymore.
“So, you’re not getting back with Lena?”
“No.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m positive.”
Crystal looked out the window. “I’m just supposed to let Roger go because you want me to?”
“You care for me, right?” Lange asked.
“More than I want to admit.”
“Then let him go,” Lange said.
Crystal looked over at him and said, “You say it like it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. I can’t just let him go like that. He’s a good man. I don’t want to hurt him.” The truth was that Crystal planned on ending it with Roger before this conversation even took place. She just didn’t want to answer Lange right away because a part of her knew it was time for her be alone, to get to know herself. She needed to soak in this new sense of freedom she was experiencing. “You don’t think that starting a relationship so soon after your divorce is going to look bad?” she asked Lange.
“I don’t care how it looks,” Lange said. “We’re adults.”
“Are you sure that a relationship with me wouldn’t just be one on the rebound?”
Instead of answering her, Lange said, “I see you need time to think about this.”
“Yeah, I do,” she told h
im as he pulled up in front of her house.
“I’ll give you that,” Lange told her. “You want me to come in?
“No. I think I’m going to go in and call my mother.” Lange watched her as she climbed out of the car and walked toward her door.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Jewell and King were at Tyson’s first basketball practice. A couple of months had passed since the accident, and they were both relieved to see their little man active again. Jewell wasn’t too sure about letting him play this season, but after meeting with the doctors and getting their okay, she decided to give it a try. Since sitting down, King barely said two words to her. Jewell wondered what that was all about. Shit, she was the one who should have had the attitude. He was on a dating frenzy and it was pissing her off. The team was on a break when Tyson ran over and gave them each a hug. “How about we all have dinner together?” Jewell asked.
“I’m staying the night at John’s house,” Tyson announced.
“Are you asking us or telling us?” King wanted to know.
“I’m asking,” Tyson replied as he looked at the ground. “He’s supposed to stay the weekend with you,” King told Jewell, “so it’s your call.”
“It’s okay with me,” Jewell said. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad,” Tyson said before he ran off.
“Well, does the invitation for dinner still stand or was it just a package deal?” King asked. “I don’t have any plans for tonight.”
“No hot date?” Jewell asked.
“No.”
“Well, it still stands,” Jewell said. “Be at my house no later than eight.”
King told her he’d bring a bottle of wine.
Later that night, Jewell was taking the steaks out of the oven when the doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock and knew it was King. He was always on time. She placed the steaks on the counter and opened the door.
King sniffed the air. “It smells good in here. I’m starving.”
Jewell led the way into the kitchen and while King sat down, Jewell made their plates.
“So, what’s up?” King asked.
