Un-Nappily in Love

by Trisha R. Thomas

  “Miriam, I have to go.” I gave her an air kiss since it was impossible to get past her wig. “I’ll be at the rehearsal.”

  “Stay out of trouble,” she yelled.

  Shred of Truth

  Sirena opened her cell phone and saw there was still no word from Jake. She’d left four messages, asking him to call her back. She’d told him about her father, the fire, his hospitalization. Maybe he didn’t believe her this time, after she’d lied about the heart attack. Still, he could at least have called her back.

  “Cee Cee, I’m tired. I’m ready to go.” Christopher puffed on his inhaler. The plastic contraption was odd and embarrassing. If she was going to take care of him, she had to manage his asthma. She would work it out. Now that Larry was in the hospital, she couldn’t go back on her plan. In fact, it was the ideal situation. She had plenty of time to work up to her goal without any interference whatsoever.

  Letting Jake know Christopher was his son. Could be his son. She wasn’t sure how she was going to word it. All she knew was that he would be grateful, especially after she’d learned Mya wasn’t his biological daughter and Venus had miscarried their son. That Melba Dubois was very useful. Her exchange of information was minor compared to what she’d gained.

  Jay was ripe for the picking.

  “Finish your ice cream.”

  “Dairy products aren’t that good for me.”

  “Who doesn’t like ice cream? Eat,” she scolded, all the while checking her phone every five seconds.

  “Pop says ice cream makes my asthma worse.”

  “Does he, now?”

  “He says it creates mucus in the lungs. Mucus is the cause of asthma.”

  “Bad luck is the cause of asthma. Eat.”

  She could use a massage, a pedicure, and a good romp in the sack. She was already tired of Christopher whining about every damn thing.

  “Excuse me, Sirena, can I take a picture with you?”

  The woman blocked the sunlight when she looked up. That was a good thing. “Of course. My ss … brother will take the picture,” she said, nearly making a mistake. She’d practiced so long and hard explaining everything to Jake she was starting to see Christopher as her son instead of her brother. “Christopher, take our picture.”

  He gave his cone a long lick and didn’t move from his spot on the wire chair.

  “Boy, get up and take this picture.”

  “What am I going to do with my cone?”

  “Throw it away. Remember? You don’t like ice cream,” she mocked.

  He tossed what was left in the trash and wiped his hands on his new jeans. New shirt. New everything. She couldn’t have him running around like an orphan. They’d left and hopped on their morning flight without so much as a toothbrush. The fire had conveniently destroyed his old life. She’d bought him everything he was wearing, brand-new.

  “I just love your music, and your movies. You are off the chain.”

  Sirena looked up at the lady, who looked like a lifetime member of the Dark and Lovely club. Straight off the box. Her coif was curled under right at her ear. She didn’t understand why women ran around with these freeze-dried hairdos when they could run to the Korean supply and have hair down their back. No matter the age, a man dug sexy strands down a woman’s back. What was so hard to understand? You were either in the game or out.

  “Cheezz,” she sang out with Miss Dark and Lovely.

  Christopher fumbled and gummed the silver casing with his sticky fingers. “It won’t do anything.”

  “Let me show you,” the woman offered. “Here, just push this button, okay?”

  Now it was a game. Christopher seemed to play dumber by the minute. “This button?”

  “Boy, I swear, if you don’t snap this picture …” Sirena went back to smiling. After a few seconds of him holding up the phone but doing nothing she snatched it from him and handed it back to the woman. “I’m sorry. Maybe next time,” she said politely, though she wanted to cuss like a sailor.

  “No problem. My friends will just have to take my word for it. I saw Sirena Lassiter. You’re even prettier in person.”

  “That is so sweet. Thank you.” Sirena calmly accepted the compliment, though patience was not her strong suit. Go away!

  As soon as the coast was clear she grabbed Christopher by his arms. “Are you dumb, or is you crazy? What is wrong with you?”

  “Let go. I’mma tell Pop.”

  “Tell him what? That you’re acting like an idiot? Besides, he’s healing in the hospital, remember? You don’t want to make him feel worse by complaining.”

  He rubbed his sore arms where she’d squeezed. Big baby.

  Quincy had been parked and sitting in the black Cadillac SUV a few cars down. He’d trotted over to where they were sitting. “I heard him screaming. What happened?”

  “He’s acting like a little bitch, that’s what happened.” She put out a message to her fans: Soon the world will know something important about me, about who I really am.

  Christopher coughed and wheezed. He pulled out his inhaler. When he had enough air to talk he said, “You’re the one acting like a—”

  “Say it. I dare you.”

  “Can’t leave you two alone.”

  “Sorry to have disturbed your afternoon nap,” Sirena snapped, still typing on her phone. My life is not as simple as it seems.

  Quincy didn’t have a response. He knew when to stop talking.

  “I don’t feel good, Cee Cee.” Christopher’s sullen tone cut the name-calling to a halt. He kept pumping on the plastic L-shaped tube, but it was no longer feeding him instant relief. His eyes watered and his face quickly took on a rosy hue.

  Sirena stood up, pulling him by the arm, facing the fact. “Come on. We gotta get him to emergency.”

  A Family Affair

  In Bloom was buzzing. Trevelle, Vince, and part-timer Jackie were moving like a heist was going down, loading floral arrangements in assembly-line fashion on the van.

  The business contract from the Monarch Hotel was keeping everyone hopping. Then there were the other orders from new customers who’d admired all the grand opening décor.

  Trevelle wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “I haven’t worked this hard since … I’m going to say, never. I’m working like a Hebrew slave, so maybe it was in another lifetime, ’cause it sure wasn’t in this one.” She looked at her beaten-up nails. “I have gone to the dark side.”

  “I need to talk to you, Trevelle,” I said. “Please, it won’t take long. But in private.”

  “So the fact that we are buried alive under this mountain of deliveries escaped your vision.”

  “Yeah, li’l lady, now’s not a good time,” Vince said. “We’ve got orders going in five different directions with only one van. Things are looking a little iffy.”

  “I can see that. It’s just that this is real important.”

  Vince watched us from the corner of his eye. I had to give him a sign that it wasn’t about him or his moonlighting endeavors to pay for a ring. In fact, it had nothing to do with either of them. “Go on, we’ll keep it moving till you two get back.”

  “The man has spoken,” I said, knowing Trevelle would take Vin’s sign of approval over my begging any day.

  We went to the front of the store, where it was the picture of tranquility. No one would know we were inundated in the back room. I sat down on the couch, but she stayed standing.

  “Trevelle, please.”

  She hesitated, then sat. “Go on, child, life is short.”

  “I need to know what you did to find out about my past. I mean, who … did you use a private investigator? I need someone who can help me find out everything about someone … things you can’t just find out by Googling. Like birth records,” I said quietly.

  This seemed to garner her attention. “Whose records?”

  “Do I have to tell you everything? I just need the same person you used to find out all the dirt on me and my husband when you w
ere determined to destroy us.”

  “That’s some attitude, missy. You want my help, but I’m the bad guy?”

  “Let’s face it, you did a lot of nasty things before you became the reformed flower angel.”

  “That I did, but that’s between me and my Heavenly Father.”

  “I’m not talking about your illustrious career as a teen prostitute. I’m talking about how you tried to take Mya, and used every dirty trick in the book to do it.” I put my hand to my forehead. “Please, I’m sorry. That is not what I want to waste time talking about.”

  Trevelle stayed silent, waiting.

  “It’s Sirena. She has a boy with her. She says it’s her little brother … but I’m scared. I have a feeling she’s lying. She and Jake …” I paused, feeling the familiar lump in my throat coming to cloud my words. “There’s a history between them, that goes deeper than he wants to talk about. And I know …” Swallow. “I have a feeling—”

  Trevelle put her hand on my arm. “Let me ask you something. What does it mean if it’s true?”

  I was choked up now. Fully ready to lose it. “That would be his son. His and Sirena’s son.”

  “And?”

  “A son I can’t give …” Swallow.

  Trevelle’s compassionate frown made me realize how far, how low I’d sunk. She shook her head. “You are not in control. If he has a son, he has a son. What you want, or wish, won’t change anything.”

  I pressed the corners of my eyes. “It will change everything. What I’m saying is, if it’s true, Jake will have to be involved, and maybe—”

  “There was a time when I thought I could maneuver people and their actions like puppets on a string.” She batted her long lashes. “I’m in a place where I know only one thing to be true: we are only passing through. Do you know why I come here every day, for no pay, for no reward whatsoever?” She cut her eyes in the direction of the back room. “Because I want to feel needed. That’s all any of us want, to be needed. It’s the simplest, and the smallest answer. You think Jake won’t need you if he has a son?”

  She didn’t wait for my answer. “He’s going to need you more than ever. Your support, your approval, your understanding. How you respond will be up to you, but don’t interfere. I learned my lesson the hard way, never interfere.” She stood up and straightened out her pencil denim. She leaned over and squeezed my shoulder. “Speaking of which, I’m sorry for those things I did that hurt you. When we’re busy manipulating, we become blinded by selfishness.”

  “No … I’m over all that.”

  “Just know I’m here because I wanted to make it up to you, and I didn’t know of any other way.” She headed back to work.

  “Trevelle.” She stopped but didn’t turn around. “Thank you,” I said sweetly.

  She put her head down. I could tell she was quickly trying to pull herself together. “Anytime,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  For the first time, I was glad to hear it.

  Vince stood in the archway. “Are we done yet? We’ve got work to do. Sorry, ladies, but we’re going to have to split up. Each of you are going to have to make a couple of deliveries in your own cars.”

  “I will not,” Trevelle exclaimed. “What if someone recognizes me, making flower deliveries like some commoner?”

  Vince lowered his eyes.

  Trevelle caught herself doing it again. Finally she admitted, “I’d just rather ride with you, even if it takes all day. I don’t want to be separated.”

  “I’ll take all the small orders. You and Trevelle can cover the Monarch,” I said. I never thought I’d see the day when I was actually helping them be together. Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel.

  Doctor Knows Best

  The doctor held the stethoscope to Christopher’s chest, then his back. Any blind Nellie could see the boy couldn’t breathe. Did he really need to hear it too?

  The doctor patted Christopher on his knee, then put the oxygen mask back over his face. “You’re going to be fine, son. Try to relax.” He faced the nurse. “He needs the shot, then start him on the nebulizer.”

  “Shot?” Sirena asked. “What kind of shot?”

  “He’s having an allergic reaction, which is causing the fluid in his lungs. Was he exposed to anything unusual?”

  Yeah, clean clothes. “Nothing I noticed.”

  “Not … suppose to have …” Christopher took a hard, rattled breath to finish. “… ice cream.”

  Sirena sneered when the doctor wasn’t looking. “Is he going to be all right?”

  “He should be fine. I’ll come back to check on him in about twenty minutes or so.”

  “Twenty minutes.” Sirena looked at her phone. “Can’t you give him the shot, and we go home?”

  “Actually, you should try to get comfortable. He’s going to be here a while. After we get him stabilized, I want to run a few tests and see what he’s allergic to. Severe allergies can cause death if not treated quickly. We should find out exactly what he should steer clear of, don’t you think?” The doctor tapped his head to emphasize he was the only one with good sense in the room. After he left, the nurse went to work on all his instructions.

  Sirena sat on the tiny white stool in the corner and cursed the day that she thought taking Christopher was a good idea.

  “Brought you something.” Quincy entered the hospital room carrying water and various snacks he’d gotten out of the machine. “How you doin’, little man?”

  Christopher sat swinging his legs and breathing into his mask like Darth Vader without a care in the world.

  “This is going to be an all-day affair. Can you believe it? I hate hospitals. Too many germs and bad attitudes.” She stood up and stretched. “I’m going outside for fresh air. Call me if something comes up.”

  Quincy didn’t say it, but she knew what he was thinking.

  “I promise I will be right outside. I’m not making the great escape.”

  The Avery Memorial Hospital was in midtown. The expansive building looked like a contemporary museum with eclectic shapes and abstract statues in the center of the entrance. I parked in the loading zone. The security guard saw my car full of everything from cactus to calla lilies and came over to offer me a hand.

  “Thank you.”

  He helped pulled out the metal folding cart and I loaded it up with arrangements. It was my last stop and I had let the earlier events of the day get buried by my exhaustion.

  I pushed the elevator button—two, three times, and still nothing. I was glad I wasn’t a patient, although I could admit to being light-headed, even a bit dazed. That would be the best way to explain why I didn’t recognize her when the doors opened.

  “Flowers, for me? You shouldn’t have,” Sirena sang out.

  I smiled politely and held the doors open while I maneuvered my cart inside. Still on autopilot, I really hadn’t bothered looking up. I got those kinds of clichéd comments all the time.

  “Venus, you’re gon’ just ignore me like that?”

  The doors were about to close. I put out my hand to stop them. Sirena was standing there with her arms folded and her sharp eyes narrowed.

  “Oh, Sirena. I didn’t see you. Hi.” I pressed the button to hold the doors open. “You’re here at the hospital. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, obviously holding the transgression of not seeing her against me. Who didn’t notice Sirena Lassiter everywhere she went? I stepped off the elevator, taking my cart with me.

  “I never got a chance to apologize. I really am sorry. I was out of line.”

  “You were definitely out of line. But I understand. I’d feel the same way if I were you.”

  There was an insult in there somewhere I didn’t have time to explore. “Truce, then.” I stuck out my hand.

  She kept her arms folded against her ample chest, covering a T-shirt I couldn’t read. “I have enough fake people in my life. I don’t need another smiling in my face, threatening me with sharp
objects when I turn my back.”

  My mouth dropped. “Fake?”

  “So you don’t have to pretend. We’ll never be BFFs. That’s cool with me. As a matter of fact, you’re going to hate me even more very soon.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible,” I said out loud, meaning to only think it. “I mean, really, I don’t hate you, Sirena.”

  “Not really,” she mimicked. “We’ll see,” she said before walking away.

  So much for the nice approach. I hadn’t realized I was shaking until I went to push the elevator button. My finger trembled, missing the round target three or four times before getting it right. As much as I tried to offer up reasons to not hate Sirena, I did. I hated her. I hated the gut-wrenching possibility that Sirena might have the one thing Jake wanted, truly wanted.

  I went straight to the center station. I was used to no one being there so I waited patiently for one of the understaffed nurses to notice me on their rounds.

  “Hey, where’s Vince?” A large smile topped with red flouncing curls came and inhaled the solid rose bouquet. “I saw the In Bloom T-shirt but didn’t see that gorgeous hunk of man. Not that you’re not cute as a button,” she said.

  “Why, thank you. I could use a nice compliment.”

  “Who we got today?”

  I read the clipboard. “The roses are for Jennie Forbes, room 412. This one is for Tina McCray, room 420.”

  “Perfect.” She signed for them. “Tell Vince not to stay away too long.”

  “Don’t worry, he’ll be back.” I pushed off, heading for the next delivery, wondering if Trevelle knew she had some competition.

  For the next delivery I stepped onto the sixth floor and knew by the large murals of zoo animals it was Pediatrics. Children had no use for flowers, but they were far cheaper than what they really wanted, like a new video game. At least this one had a stuffed animal attached.

  After waiting at the station, and still no one coming, I decided to find the room for the last delivery myself.

  “Knock, knock,” I whispered, just in case the little patient was sleeping. I pushed the large door completely open to a dark room, curtains drawn, lights out, and a sleeping boy with a face mask. I put the vase down next to his bed and stopped in my tracks when I saw the husky brown man sitting on the stool like Humpty Dumpty. His thick head was plopped against the wall, sleeping with his mouth hung open. I’d know Sirena’s bodyguard anywhere since he’d been in my nightmares for the past few sleepless nights.