“It's too bad this one couldn't be on the TV show.” Hank said to her before walking back to the cab of the tow truck.
Kayla turned to find Danny standing behind her. “Boss?” He said then added, “TV show?”
*****
Daniel
Had he heard correctly? Kayla was his boss and had a television show. Daniel watched as Hank went to the tow truck. Painted on the door was KKB Restorations. Suddenly he felt like a fool. At the poetry club she was introduced as KKB, her pool was shaped like a wrench, She was there with Stanley the day he supposedly sold the corvette and she was a sort of mechanic.
Kayla had walked past him not answering.
“Kayla what the hell is going on here? I think you owe me an explanation.” Daniel said following her.
“I don't owe you anything Daniel.” She said over her shoulder. He followed her into the ballroom. She stopped for a moment looking at Stanley who was dancing with his wife. She moved to the edge of the dance floor.
Daniel grabbed her arm. “Let me go right now.” she growled at him low so no one could hear.”
She turned her head to look at Daniel. “I'm not doing this with you. Tonight is about them.” She jerked her head to the dance floor. Stanley turned to her and she nodded to him. He smiled and excused himself from Petunia and stopped the music. He took the microphone from the stand.
Daniel let her arm go whispering close to her ear. “This is not over.”
“Attention everyone.” When he had everyone's attention, Stanley continued. “Fifty-five years ago, in this very room I saw the woman of my dreams. I knew that I would never be good enough for her. She was beautiful and came from a wealthy family and I was dirt poor and worked as a waiter. Even though I was not the kind of man her family envisioned, she took the time to know me and when I felt I made enough money to support her, I asked her father for her hand in marriage. To my surprise he said yes and gave us his blessing. I'm standing in this room today still in love with that woman and to show her how much she means to me I had her present delivered here tonight so if everyone will follow us I'd like to give it to her now.
Stanley took his wife's hand and tucked it into his arm and led her across the room, down the hall and to the entrance. Kayla walked just behind Matt and Holly. Vanna tucked her arm in Daniel's and he escorted her to the entrance. When they got outside the group formed a semi circle around the car.
Stanley kissed Petunia and said, “I would never sell this car. I had it restored for you.” he grabbed the tarp and pulled it off the car. Petunia gasped, tears rolling down her face. Kayla slid up to Stanley taking the tarp and sliding the keys in his hand discretely, but Daniel hadn't taken his eyes off her and he saw it. Everyone watched as he opened the door for her and she got in and started the engine. It roared to life. The crowd clapped. Stanley got in with Petunia and they drove away.
Martin came over to her. “You're KKB! Oh my God. I just started watching the TV show, but my grandson has watched you on YouTube for years. I'd be honored if you would allow me to take a picture with you. He is going to be thrilled when he finds out that I meet you. I think your story is fascinating. You took your passion and turned it into a multi million-dollar business. Wow I can't wait to tell Charlie. Kayla obliged Martin and a few others with photos.
Everyone watched or stood around whispering. Kayla took the tarp and went to the valet handing him her ticket. He sprinted off to get her car as the others went back inside.
Daniel told Vanna he'd be in a minute and waited until she was gone before speaking.
“You restored the car. You own the garage. Why did you lie to me?” Danny said from behind her.
Kayla turned and faced him. “I never lied to you. I just didn't give you all the facts.”
“A lie by omission is still a lie Kayla or should I call you KKB.” He said sarcastically. “Every time I asked about your work, you spun me off in another direction and I was so blind that I didn't see all the signs right in my face. Why would you hide that you own your business from me?”
“You want to know why? It's because men, especially men like you, can't handle a strong black woman.” She said emphasizing the last three words and stepping towards him pointing her finger in to his chest. “You were intimidated by me before we ever got together. So why would I think that you could handle my status and wealth? What would you have done if you knew that I have millions and I'm famous for what I can do with hand tools? You've buried you head in the sand and given up on anything that would challenge you or be difficult. You are the one who's a liar. At least I never lied to myself.”
“You didn't tell me who you really are because you're a chicken shit. You didn't trust me. You never trusted me.” He said as his anger rose as her car stopped in front of them. Kayla moved around it and he followed. “I don't even know who you are right now. You've been lying since the day we met and I'm starting to wonder if the story about your mother dying in a fire is true.” He said grabbing her arm.
He never saw it coming. “You asshole!” Kayla turned and punched him in the eye before jumping into her car and speeding away. Daniel stood watching her leave out of one eye while he held the other. His head swam a bit and tears ran out of the hurting eye. Daniel turned back to the club to find Vanna, Holly and Matt standing there as witnesses.
*****
Chapter 14
Kayla
“When are you going to get back to work sweetie? It's been over a week and you haven't left this place.” Lee said to her from the foot of the guest bed she was laying in.
“Go away.” She grumbled from under the covers. She didn't want to go to work.
Lee sat on the foot of the bed. “Hon you can't hide out here forever. You know I love you, but it makes no sense to have a big beautiful house sitting empty because you're afraid to see him.”
Kayla kicked him from under the covers. “Get out,” she said forcefully.
Lee stood and yanked the covers off the bed and grabbed her by the ankles. “Kayla Kandice Barns! You pull yourself together this instant!”
Kayla thrashed until he let her go. She sat up glaring at him. “I hate you right now.”
“Mu-ah.” He said blowing her a kiss. “Go take a shower and put some clothes on.” When she started to grumble he added, “It doesn't have to be real clothes, but change out of those pajamas and come watch TV with me.” Lee left taking her linens with him.
Kayla flopped back on the bed. Had it really been over a week since she punched Danny in the eye? She had been so mad at him. She rolled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom down the hall. She looked horrible. Her eyes were swollen for the crying and she had dark circles under them. Her nose was red. Her hair was a rat's nest. She peed and then turned on the shower. She just stood there under the spray of water and the tears started again.
A while later she joined Lee in the living room. Snuggling up next to him she whispered. “Thank you for being my friend.” They sat at watched old movies and Lee made them snacks and ordered pizza. Kayla was in the kitchen when Lee sat the pizza on the counter. Kayla crinkled her nose up.
“What's with that face?” Lee asked grabbing a slice and taking a bite.
“It stinks.” Kayla said moving away from the pizza.
“Girl, the is a Fireside pie. What's wrong with you?” Lee talked around the pizza filling his mouth.
Kayla screwed her face up and said. “It may be Fireside, but it smells like shit to me.” She went back to the sofa and sat with her t-shirt pulled up to cover her nose.
Lee sat on the opposite end of the sofa turning the TV down. “Everyone is worried about you. KK.”
“I know, but I'm not ready to go back to work yet.” She said pulling her knees up to her chest.
“I'm not just talking about your crew. Stanley has been asking about you and Dan...”
“Don't.” Kayla shouted taking her head out of her shirt to do so. Then quickly tucked it back in. She had made a rule the night o
f the party when she showed up at Lee's place. They were not allowed to utter his name.
“Okay, the asshole has been calling and coming by as well. They just want to know that you're okay. I mean seriously you've abandoned your house and have been MIA from work.” Lee said between bites of pizza.
“I don't want to see him or talk to him.” Kayla said softly.
“At least talk to Stanley. He may actually have business stuff to talk about.”
“Yea, yea.” Kayla said hugging her legs. “I will call Stanley tonight. I promise.”
“I still can't believe you punched him.” Lee giggled.
“I didn't realize that I had until my hand started to hurt a few seconds after.”
“I still think this fight was stupid.”
Kayla sighed heavily. She didn't want to admit it but she thought it was stupid too. She was more upset that he had gone back to Vanna than anything else. She sighed again. He was right about her. She had judged him unfairly based on how other men in her life had acted when they found out who she was. She had been afraid that he would treat her differently.
She closed her eyes. It didn't matter anyway. They were through. She just needed to get her shit together, but she wasn't ready to go back to her house where she would be forced to see him in passing if nothing else. However, It was time to go back to the garage. “Okay.” she said looking at Lee.
“Okay what?”
“I'll put my big girl panties on and go back to work tomorrow.”
“OMG!” Lee said standing and walking over to her, looking at her like he was examining her. “Kayla is that you?” he said laughing. “I was beginning to wonder if the aliens had made off with the real you and left me a pod person.”
Kayla laughed and kicked him with her foot. “I'm still staying here though, for a while.”
“It's your condo, I just live here. So you can stay as long as you like.” Lee said going to get more pizza.
*****
Daniel
Daniel tried to focus on what was being said as the meeting progressed, but his mind was elsewhere. It had been exactly eight days since Kayla drove away from him and he was thinking about the first time he saw her, beautiful and naked slicing through the water of her pool. The way she winked and smiled at him in the grocery store. Her eyes sparkling with life as she confronted him about following her, he had actually felt jealousy when she was talking to the cashier who rang up her items.
She looked so beautiful and sexy when she forced him to take her out. He felt himself getting aroused as he visualized the performance she gave reciting her poem. He thought over all them moments they had spent together. He loved this woman with every fiber of his being. The fight they had was entirely his fault and then he thought of her unexpected strength when she punched him in the eye. She was right about his living a safe life and not following his heart. Right now his heart was twisted into knots because the one thing he wanted more than anything was Kayla and she would not talk to him.
“Daniel, Daniel.” He heard his name being called. “Daniel are you with us?” His boss asked.
Daniel shook his head and stood up. “No.” he said smiling. “No I'm not with you.” He took a deep breath and said. “Brian, I quit.” As mouths dropped open and the people sitting around the table whispered, Daniel turned and walked down the hall to his office gathering his personal belongings.
“Are you out of your mind? Robert asked coming through the door.
Daniel smiled at him, “No I'm finally in my right mind.” Daniel looked around the office, holding a few things that he wanted to take with him. He walked over to Robert and patted him on the shoulder before leaving the office. He had a lot to do and he was working on a plan.
*****
Kayla
Kayla had been back at the garage for a few weeks and everyday Stanley came in and after attending to his duties he would come and watch Kayla and her team as they worked on the GTO. Kayla was sitting on a stool off to the side talking into the camera while her crew worked on the car. She was explaining the latest steps in the process of restoring the car.
Stanley stood in the background watching silently until they were finished. As the crew moved away he came closer to her.
“It's so much fun watching you guys work.” He said as Kayla got up from her stool.
“I'm glad you think so, because the film crew wants to do an interview with you for an upcoming episode.” She said winking at him.
“Me?” Stanley said with surprise. “Why on earth would the want me?”
“They did some filming of me working on Petunia's car and they want interview you and Petunia”. She said putting her hand over her mouth suddenly.
“Are you okay? You look a little peeked.” Stanley asked.
Kayla took a few deep breaths. “I think I may be catching the flu or something. I'm a little nauseated today and I've been feeling a little off,” she said as he pulled the stool back to her.
“Sit.” He said. “Did you eat today?” He asked making her sit down. “I didn't think so.” He replied for her when she didn't answer. “Maybe you should go lay down in your office. I'll have Lee order something light for you, some soup and crackers maybe.”
“I should really get back to work with Hank.” she told him.
Hank called out from under the PTO, “Go lay down. We can handle this. If we need you I'll come get you.”
Kayla was kind of tired. She decided not to fight them. “Okay.” She said and left them to go lay down. She had been really tired lately and if she were getting sick the best thing to do was to rest and get better.
*****
“Kayla, sweetie, wake up.” She heard a soft feminine voice say to her. She slowly opened her eyes to find Petunia looking down at her. She sat up pushing the blanket that had been throw over her while she napped.
“Mrs. Coleman, what are you doing here?” She asked.
Petunia opened the wicker basket sitting on the coffee table in front of her. “Stanley told me you might be catching the flu or a cold and I made you some soup.” She said pulling out containers and flatware.
“You really didn't have to do this.” Kayla said to her.
“Oh pish posh.” Petunia said waving a hand at her. “My soup will have you feeling better in no time. Now eat up.” She commanded as she laid everything out in front of Kayla. As Kayla started to eat, Petunia moved the chair in front of the desk to face Kayla. “I also came because I wanted to talk to you and it doesn't seem like you're coming home anytime soon so here I am.” She waited for Kayla to speak, when she didn't say anything Petunia continued. “First I have to say thank you for all the work that you did on my car. It's positively the best gift I could have gotten. I love it.”
“You're welcome.” Kayla said between spoonfuls.
Petunia took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “It's none of my business what is going on between you and Daniel, but I know you haven't been home since the night of the party and I've heard from Matt, Vanna and Holly what happened or what they think happened. Like I said it's none of my business and I will not interfere but I have some questions about some things. I just want to understand what really is going on.” Petunia said hoping that Kayla would allow her to ask them.
Kayla put the spoon back in the bowl and set the bowl on the table. She sighed. “Mrs. Coleman,” she started.
“Petunia. Call me Petunia. She interrupted Kayla.
Kayla sat back on the sofa. “Petunia, ask me what you want to know. If I don't want to share I'll tell you so.”
“Alright. I guess the first question I need to ask is, why didn't you tell us who you really were?”
“Initially I didn't mention it because I've seen what happens when people realize who I am and then Stanley figured it out and asked me to work on your car and I was bound by my promise to keep it a secret until your party.”
“Well that explains some of this mess. Were you responsible for all of the things that happened with Va
nna, the contractor, the gifts, the car and paying off her mortgage? She told me about you buying the groceries and the money.”
Kayla took a deep breath as tears rolled down her cheeks. Petunia pulled some tissues out of her purse and moved to sit beside Kayla. “Yes.” was all she could say as she blew her nose and wiped her eyes.
“It's okay.” Petunia said patting her hand. “Those are very generous gifts to give and it takes an extremely giving person to do something like that without expecting anything in return, but you barely know her. Why?”
After Kayla stopped weeping she explained about her mother and adoptive mother and told her that sometimes she wondered it her real mother had had some support or help if things would have been different. If maybe her mother would still be alive. She told Petunia that she saw that Vanna needed help, but was too proud to accept it openly. She started crying again and Petunia wrapped her arms around Kayla hugging and rocking her gently.
Love Thy Neighbor Page 13
