by Pat Tucker
“What did she want?” I asked. I lowered my voice and scanned the area with my eyes.
Jessica gave me a knowing look, and I read her clearly. I wasn’t sure whether I should face the music now, or leave and consult with Ted before I met with Geneva.
The decision was made for me the moment I rounded the corner and walked to my office. Geneva and two men in suits sat waiting for me.
“Good morning, everybody,” I said cheerfully.
My voice may have been bright and friendly, but my insides were twisted in tight knots. Geneva always made it her business to trump you with the upper hand.
“Oh, Ivee, you’re here.” Geneva smiled. The smile was brittle, at best, and as far as the masks Geneva had worn, I’d seen her do better.
She must’ve thought I was crazy. That smile meant she thought she had me cornered. There was no way she’d need two security guards to meet with me if this was a friendly meeting. It was just like Geneva to grin all up in my face as if it would result in anything other than ridicule for me.
“I was looking for you,” I said as I walked around the trio and sat behind my desk.
Ted had told me that it wouldn’t come to this, but he didn’t know Geneva the way I did. I knew she would strike. I just wasn’t sure when it would happen.
“We didn’t mean to catch you off-guard like this, but a pressing matter was brought to my attention, and we needed to handle it immediately,” Geneva said.
As she spoke, I looked at the men. They looked bored. I had been with Geneva long enough to know how she operated. I may have been nervous, but I’d grown tired of waiting for her to make her move. Quite surely she didn’t think I hadn’t picked up anything during the years I’d watched her in motion.
“Something was brought to your attention?” I asked.
“Yes. And, well, I’m sure you know, you don’t make it in business unless you’re one step ahead in the game. So we need to talk about this DWI arrest and conviction, and what it will mean for your career.”
“Oh, Geneva, that’s a personal matter. I didn’t think that was what you came to see me about.” I rested my hands on top of the desk.
Geneva tilted her head ever so slightly and she looked at me like she thought I might have lost my mind. She sat erect in her chair and shifted her shoulders.
She cocked an eyebrow. “A personal matter?”
“Yes, as I said before, it’s a personal matter, which is quite embarrassing. I’m working with my lawyer to get it dismissed. I should also mention that it was an isolated incident that will not happen again, nor will it in any way affect my job performance. So, we can talk about the new client I just signed, and the other two prospects if you’d like, but I am not about to discuss my personal business.”
The stunned expression on her face told me she wasn’t prepared for my response.
Geneva needed to watch out. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought I had caught her off guard.
She glanced at the men on both sides of her and turned her focus back to me. Her lower lip curled in distaste as her jaw tightened. My mind had already begun the mental countdown. I was prepared to give Geneva and her bodyguards about ten minutes more of my time.
“Geneva, if you are not here to talk about work, what can I do for you?”
“In light of all that’s been going on around here with your client list, this new development speaks to your ethical standing, and I believe it’s in the best interest of the firm that you are suspended, pending the outcome of an investigation,” she said.
“Geneva, I’m not sure how one unhappy client suddenly becomes my entire client list, but the recent turn of events should have no impact on my work. And just to be sure, I had my attorney take a look at the morality clause in the contract. He has already briefed me on possible steps that we will need to take in the event I’m convicted of a crime. But for now, these charges against me are merely that—charges. I have not pled guilty to anything, have not been convicted by a jury, and am presumed innocent until a conviction says otherwise.”
“This is a private firm—” Geneva stated.
“Yes, it is. And according to the contract that we both signed, an arrest or mere charges are not grounds for termination or suspension. But, Geneva, if you don’t want me here, then it seems like we should be having a completely different conversation.”
“As I was saying before you cut me off,” she began, “this is a private firm, and what you and your attorney missed was the fact that we were in the midst of our semi-annual ethics push, where all employees are required to report life events. It states that such events include arrests as significant events. There is an exception for minor traffic violations, but it clearly states that DWI, even arrest only, is specifically listed as a required disclosure.”
“So, what are you saying, Geneva?”
“Your failure to disclose puts you in violation of the morality clause. While initially I thought we could clear this up through an investigation and your suspension, this conversation has led me to determine that your services are no longer needed at this firm.”
Geneva rose from the chair. The two men stood seconds later.
“So, you can grab your purse, but nothing else. We will mail all of your other personal items to you.”
My head felt as though it had spun completely off its axis.
55
PETA
The signs were all there. The gray clouds outside the window as I drove, the mind-numbing traffic I sat in on I-10, and the fact that I couldn’t find a single spot in Memorial Herman Hospital’s four-level parking garage should’ve told me to turn around and go back home. After all, I did have a check burning a gaping hole in my purse. But I needed to do what I had set out to do.
I wanted to make sure Kyle would make it and if he was able to speak, I wanted to hear what kind of story he’d tell.
At the Information Desk, a woman raised her index finger to me as she talked on the phone. I waited patiently as she gave the caller directions.
“Okay, ma’am, sorry about that. How may I help you?”
“No problem, ummm, I’m here to see someone,” I said.
“Okay, do you know their room number?”
“No, I don’t,” I said. “His name is Kyle Nixon.” She started to type on her keyboard. A few seconds later, she said, “Okay, here we go. Kyle Nixon. He’s in room six—oh, wait here.” She frowned. As she read from her computer screen, I couldn’t help but feel like that was the last of a string of signs that meant I didn’t need to be there.
“You know what? Hold on a minute here. I need to make a quick call,” she said.
By the time she snatched up the receiver, I turned and walked back out of the door. I didn’t need any additional problems.
I didn’t want to hang around out of fear that his wife or her family would begin to ask me questions. Besides, my mind couldn’t focus on Kyle while that money was in my purse. I was so nervous and excited about the check, I didn’t know what I should do first.
“Maybe I should do my own commercials,” I muttered as I waited at the traffic light. When the light turned green, I walked across the street to the mall parking lot and climbed into my car. I had far too much to do to be treated like I was trying to break into Fort Knox. Maybe they had Kyle under guarded protection; maybe the receptionist was about to call the police to have them come and arrest me. Either way, I was not about to hang around to find out.
When my cell phone rang, and it was Gordon, I quickly answered.
“Hey, baby,” he said. “What’s up? Are we gonna get together tonight or what?”
“Yeah, we will, but let me handle some business first, and I’ll call you back later. Cool?”
“That’s cool.”
After I merged on to I-10 and headed back home to Katy, I called Farah.
“Hey, Ms. Peta, how are ya’, sweetie?”
“Oh, I’m doing good. I wanted to tell you and Beverly about a meeting. It’l
l be a dinner meeting tomorrow evening and everything is on me,” I said.
“Okay. Where are we meetin’?” she asked.
“We’re gonna meet at the California Pizza Kitchen at Memorial City Mall,” I said.
“Oh, I love their pizzas,” Farah said.
“Good. Let’s plan to meet at about four. You ladies should bring the RV.”
“Oh, Ms. Peta, you know when we drive these things to the mall, those fashionistas and the gawkers won’t let us rest,” she said.
Farah was correct. The RVs were a magnet for people who loved to shop. Although I had four of them, it always stunned me to find out how many people had never heard of the business.
As I talked to her and wrapped up that call, a thought popped into my mind.
How come I never considered this before?
I dialed Ivee’s number and was surprised that she answered on the second ring.
“Hey, lady,” Ivee said. “What’s going on with you?”
“Oh, you’re probably busy. I actually thought I was gonna get your voicemail,” I said.
“No, girl, since I lost my job, I’ve got all the time in the world. Actually, we should get together soon! What’s up with you?”
“You what?” I screamed.
“Yes, Geneva fired my ass.” I heard fingers snap. “Just like that, honey! Just like that!”
I couldn’t read Ivee’s emotions through the call, and I didn’t know what I should say about the fact that Geneva had fired her. I really couldn’t believe it.
“So, what’s up? You down or what? I can call the girls. We can do it like we used to back in the day,” she said. “Well, not all the way like we used to since drinking was what got me into this mess in the first damn place!”
“Uh, you know what, Ivee, that’s a real good idea. And we don’t always have to get together over drinks, you know. We can do anything. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Okay, okay, well, let me reach out to Darby and Felicia. I know Felicia’ll be down. She’s been behaving like I needed to be on suicide watch over being fired. I keep telling her maybe this was the push I needed to branch out on my own. I hate to tell Zion he may have been right all along.”
“Ivee, actually that’s why I was calling you,” I said.
When she stunned me with the news of being fired, I had almost forgotten all about the reason for my call.
“Oh, girl, I’m sorry. Here I am going on and on about my problems. I didn’t even give you a chance to get a word in. My bad, but what’s up with you?”
“Well, I wanted to hire you to do a media campaign for my mobile boutiques. This would be no different than if you’d still been at the firm with Geneva. To me, the only difference now is that you’ll keep all of the money for yourself. I’ve always respected your expertise, so I’m not looking for any hook-up. I will pay you for your services.”
“Awww, Peta! So, you’ll be like my very first client!”
That time, there was no way I could be mistaken about the emotions that poured out from her end. Between sobs, she said, “Here I was feeling sorry for myself, and all I needed was one of my girls to remind me that being fired ain’t got nothing to do with my God-given talent.”
“Ivee, you should’ve called to tell us what happened,” I said.
“Honestly, I was embarrassed. That DWI has been the biggest mistake of my entire life. We are spending way too much money on this, and if you toss in my lost salary, I was deeply depressed. But you know what? All of that is in the past. Working on your project is exactly what I need to get me out of this slump.”
I listened as she sniffled a couple of times.
“Good! I’m glad to hear that. Besides, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do for each other? Y’all brought groceries to my front door when I had no clue where our next meal was coming from. I was broke and waiting on my insurance payoff. Well, now I’m able to do something for you. You need to pull yourself out of that slump, and meet with my staff and me. We’re meeting tomorrow to talk about getting the other RVs back on the road again. That would be the perfect time for you to get to know more about us, what we do, so you can draw up a proposal. How does that sound?”
Ivee sighed hard.
“Girl, that sounds like the lifesaver I need.”
56
DARBY
As I sat in the room alone, I couldn’t help but think about the last twenty-four hours. I had no idea how I had allowed my life to spin so far out of control, but that was exactly what had happened. My first mistake was I had taken Kevin’s nonchalant behavior as weakness for far too long. Little did I know, he was smarter than I thought.
Hours after the freak show that unfolded on my front lawn, all I was concerned about was the fact that Kevin hadn’t said another word about Chandler. I should’ve become suspicious right away, but he left to go to the store, then came back home without another word about it. I was relieved.
“I put some air in your back tire,” he said when he came back. That was it. One second he was there, and then the next he went and locked himself in his office. With him out of the way, I went on to fix dinner like nothing had changed.
“Kevin Jr., Taylor, dinner’s ready!” I yelled from the kitchen nearly three hours later.
When the boys came bursting in, I leaned against the counter. “Where’s Dad?”
“Oh, I’ll get him,” Kevin Jr. offered.
“No, let me!” his younger brother yelled.
The two took off and ran toward the hallway. A few minutes later, my husband followed them into the kitchen.
“Smells good,” he said.
Again, he did behave a little standoffish, but nothing that I thought was outside of the norm. My mind stayed on thoughts of how I could escape for a couple of hours.
“Thanks. Sorry it’s so late,” I said.
“You not eating with us?” he asked as he took his seat.
“Not really hungry. Maybe I’ll have a bite later,” I said.
“Worried about your mother, huh?” he asked.
Before I could answer his question, my cell phone rang. I picked it up and swiped my finger across the screen to answer.
“What’s up, Roger?” I was still so very angry at my brother. I wondered why he couldn’t simply leave well enough alone. Maybe it wasn’t meant for me to have a close relationship with my mother. I had grown to accept that. I didn’t understand why he refused to do the same.
“Ma suffered a mild heart attack,” he said.
“Yeah, well, Roger, you shouldn’t do things that you know will send her over the edge,” I said.
I also repeated my brother’s name on purpose so that Kevin would know who was on the phone. Once I made sure he and the boys were occupied with their dinner, I motioned toward the ceiling to let Kevin know I was going upstairs.
He nodded, and I continued in on my brother.
“It makes no sense to me that you keep doing this. Why would you bring her over here unannounced?” I asked as I walked up the stairs.
“Are you serious right now, Darby? I call to tell you that your mother had a heart attack because we caught you with your forbidden fruit of a boyfriend, and that’s all you have to say? Wow! You really are a piece of work, aren’t you?”
Roger had never talked to me like that before. He made me feel bad, but not so bad that my mind didn’t stray to thoughts of Chandler.
“Well, is she okay or not?” I finally asked. But just to say the words left a sour taste in my mouth. It wasn’t that I didn’t love my mother; I didn’t love how we had become.
“Why don’t you come and find out for your damn self!”
Suddenly, the call ended. I preferred to say it ended since the obvious would’ve hurt too much. My younger brother, the peacemaker who had always looked up to me, screamed and cursed at me, and then finally hung up in my face.
I threw on some clothes and grabbed my purse.
“Kevin, can you get the boys tucked in? I need to go s
ee about my mother,” I said.
My husband caught me at the front door. I purposely averted my eyes as he stood close to me.
“Is everything okay? You need us to come with you?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, I’m gonna be late. I don’t want to keep the boys out that long. I’ll call you after I get there.”
Kevin grabbed my arm, and stopped me. I looked down at his hand, then up into his eyes. An odd feeling passed between us momentarily, but I was in a hurry to get out the door.
“Hey, it’s gonna be okay,” he said.
His words may have been meant to put me at ease, but they made me feel a little out of sorts.
I sighed and closed my eyes with relief.
“Seriously, regardless of what happens, it’s gonna be okay,” he repeated.
I licked my dry lips, and my nostrils flared a bit. I turned and walked out into the night.
When I got into the car, I could hardly keep my hands steady. It nearly killed me to have to wait to turn the corner before I could call Chandler. I was desperate to get next to him and make sure that everything was going to be okay with us.
Hours later, one o’clock in the morning felt a lot later when I had to creep quietly back into my house. This time, I hadn’t made the same mistake of falling asleep with Chandler.
My heart was still racing as I locked the front door behind me and put my purse down on the table in the foyer. I may have smelled like fresh soap, but I felt like hot shit.
I nearly died of cardiac arrest when a small light suddenly flicked on. It was just enough for me to see what Kevin had meticulously lain out across the coffee table and the sofa.
I brought a trembling hand up to my quivering lips as my eyes widened in horror.
“Some bitches never learn,” Kevin said calmly.
All of those times he left the house, he had been setting me up all along. I bought his excuses, helping a friend, going to the store, since I was busy doing my own thing. My life literally flashed right before my eyes. Too bad for me. Pictures of me being fucked against a hotel’s windows, getting it on in Chandler’s car, selfies that included images of me playing with myself, and much more, lay sprawled out right there for me to see. The old baby monitor confused me, but I wasn’t about to ask any questions.
