“Are you alone now?” Dr. Conway asked her.
“Yes I am doctor…is there anything wrong?”
“Aaah…yes, I’m afraid there is, Miss Ellerbe. I’m afraid there is.”
Van’s heart sank as she knew the words that would come from the doctor’s mouth next. She’d heard the same story over a dozen times before. So many times to the point that her feelings were now numb to the pain, the pain of not being able to bear children. But nothing could take away the hurt, embarrassment, and sheer regret of having to tell her soul-mate, Q, that she would never be able to give him the child he so desperately wanted.
“Are you still there Van?”
“I’m…I’m here,” Van answered in a defeated tone.
“Cheer up lady, the news I have is…perhaps good,” he said after a slight pause.
“What are you saying, Doc?”
“Well, I’ve received all of your tests and it looks like… and the only reason I’m saying this is because your results are exactly the same as my wife’s were at the time she went through this process.”
“But Otis, your wife has three children,” Van said.
“That is exactly why I’m telling you this. You need to get to my office as soon as possible. And like I said a few moments ago, don’t hate me if what I’m about to say is not the case. But I’m fairly confident that you have conceived. You may be with child now!”
“Are you serious?” Van almost screamed, but the doctor stopped her.
“No Van , remember what we agreed upon. Let’s be absolutely sure. And if it’s not the case, no one will know but you and I.”
“I understand doctor,” Van whispered, fighting back her emotions.
“How soon can you get here?” he asked her.
“Later this afternoon,” she answered.
“That will be great. Give Quentel my regards,” The doctor said.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea, Doc.”
“Why not?”
“Because he already wants to kill you.”
“I see…then don’t mention it, please.”
They both laughed.
“This afternoon.”
“I’ll be there, doctor.”
“Good…see you then.”
“Okay.”
After she hung up with the doctor, Van was a nervous wreck. She looked up towards the ceiling of the RV and asked God to grant her this one thing. But whether he did or didn’t, she vowed to still give him the honor and the glory. As soon as they arrived at their home, Van rushed to her SUV.
“Where you going, ma?” Q asked her.
“I have to get Bear Jr. to the vet before it closes,” Van lied.
“Aight Shawty,” Q said, still somewhat suspicious.
After she’d driven away, Q took Skull Jr. out of the RV and into the house. As soon as Skull Jr. saw the other dogs, he tried to lung at them even though he could barely stand. It was obvious that his spirit had not been broken after his lengthy battle.
“I think he make it mun,” Baby Rasta said.
“Yeah Ras…he’ll be sore for a while, but I think he’ll pull through.”
Q’s phone began vibrating again. This time he had a call. It was from the salon.
“Damn,” he mumbled, then answered “Yes.”
“Quentel, this is Tashonda.”
“Who else would it be Tee, callin me from your salon? What do you want?”
Tee could easily detect that Quentel still had an attitude with her, but now was not the time to discuss it.
“Quentel, you have to come to my salon.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea Tee, at least not now.”
“Now Quentel Jackson. Get your black ass down here….now!!!” She screamed again.
Something was wrong and Q sensed it. Tee was irate, but this had nothing to do with their fight, days ago.
“Tee.” Quentel called her in a steady voice.
“Yes.” She answered.
“I’m on the way. Do I need to bring my two clients?” he spoke to her in codes asking if he needed his guns.
“We’ll be here waiting for you, Quentel.”
She said we, so there is someone there with her, Q thought to himself. Grabbing his two pistols, he ran towards his Benz. His sore body aching all over.
“Stay here, Ras. Inga, you come wit me.” Quentel told her.
“Aret mun.”
“What’s going on?” Inga asked Q in plain English, not her native broken language.
“I don’t know yet Inga, but something’s going on with Tee.”
They rode the rest of the way in complete silence. Once they arrived, Q was relieved to see the place not covered with cops.
“Do you want me to go in first, Quentel?” Inga asked.
“Nah, it may be someone inside holding Tee against her will.”
“I’ll go. You wait here until I say it’s okay.”
“Aret mun, but be careful mun.”
Her sudden change of speech made Q hesitate, and look over in her direction. What he saw was the coldest set of almond eyes.
“Be careful mun. Be careful.” She said again.
Q nodded then stepped out of the car. Taking no chances, he silently crept through the door and lobby area of the salon. It was empty, but he heard muffled voices coming from Tee’s office.
“Do you think he’ll show up Tashonda?”
“He’ll be here,” Tee answered, not so sure, herself.
“Maybe I should just go…maybe it was a mistake coming here like this.”
Tee could see that Asia was about to lose control, and she was about to try and comfort her when Q’s voice penetrated the room.
“What the hell is going on Tee?”
“Quentel!” Asia shouted and before either Tee or Q could respond, she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him as she cried.
“AAAHHH!” Quentel screamed, almost losing his balance from the pain coming from his sore ribs.
“Get off of him,” Tee said, immediately prying her away from him.
“What happened to you Quentel?” Tee asked, noticing his bruised face for the first time. “Who did this to you?” she asked question after question.
“It’s a long story, one that I don’t have time to tell right now. Now, what’s going on, and why are you here Asia?”
“To help you.”
“To help me, how? And why should I believe anything you have to say?”
“Quentel, whether you believe me or not, this is something I have to tell you. I can’t make you believe anything. That choice will be up to you.”
“I think you need to listen to her Quentel.” Tee cut in.
“Aight, let’s hear it, but it better be life saving for me and you,” Q finally said.
Before Asia finished telling Q her story, Inga had stepped inside the salon and was standing next to him.
“Do you want me to end dis now mun?” she whispered to Q.
“No, let her finish.” Q insisted.
“Aret mun, but this wicked one be dangerous…dangerous I say. And she needs to meet my sistah!!!” Inga said, her words full of the poison she had a reputation for.
“Nah, let’s hear what she has to say. I think she on to something.” Q said again.
Asia avoided all eye contact with Inga whose stares penetrated her like knives. She calmly steadied her nerves, then finished telling Q everything she knew. After she was done, Q sat quietly thinking to himself.
A few moments later, he asked “What did this woman look like? And would you know her if you ever saw her again?”
“I would,” Asia said.
“Do you believe this woman, Quentel?” Tee asked him.
Q’s mind momentarily flashed back to the last words he’d heard come from Scar’s lips.
“I believe her.”
“No mun,” Inga protested, “she lying through the teeth mun,” she hissed.
“No, what she is saying is true Inga…That ni
gga Scar confessed the same exact thing.”
“What are you going to do Quentel? I mean, this dirty cop wants you either dead or rotting away inside some prison for the rest of your life.” Tee said.
"Don't worry, I will handle all this real soon. And as for you Asia, you need to get as far away from here as quickly as possible."
“Why I'm not the one that's in danger, you are.”
“You are in more danger than you know, and I can hold this one back,” he spoke, looking at Inga. “But if Van gets word of you in Rockingham, not even God will be able to save you.”
Asia looked at the death in Inga's eyes, she could now see the danger Q was speaking of, she knew if Van was worse than Inga, she needed to get missing real quick. Asia gathered herself, and just as quickly as she had come in, she left. Inga decided she would show her to her car for good measure, leaving Q and Tee alone for the first time since the Jamal incident.
Tee went to the closet and grabbed her first aid kit. Q fought back waves of pain as Tee wrapped a bandage around his badly bruised midsection. I best take my black ass to see a doctor, he thought. It was very possible he’d suffered a few broken ribs during his battle with Scar.
“Am I wrapping this too tight Quentel?” Tee asked.
“No.” Q said through gritted teeth.
After finishing, she spoke. “Quentel,” she said softly to him.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry about what happened between you and Jamal. I didn’t know he’d tried to keep your son away from you.”
“Who was he Tee? And why didn’t you tell me you were in a relationship?” Q couldn’t help asking both questions.
“I’m not in a relationship Quentel. Jamal is only a friend that I met while visiting Lauren in Charlotte.”
“When were you going to tell me, Tee?”
“There was nothing to tell, Quentel.”
“Oh there wasn’t?” Q said unable to hide his anger.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Quentel, and you know it.” Tee corrected him. “And before you let your mouth get you into trouble Quentel,” she paused, then continued, “I have not slept with Jamal. Do I like him? Yes I do. But liking him is not enough when …when I still love you Quentel.”
Tees words were so heartfelt, briefly Q found himself unable to respond, or look into her eyes. After the short silence Tee finally continued.
“Quentel, I will always love you, but I also know I can never have you to myself. Just like you don't like the feeling of me dealing with another man, how do you think I feel knowing you are with another woman? And not just physically but emotionally. Do you know how hard it is to love someone with all your being and know that they love and belong to someone else?"
“Tee I know, but I —”
“No, Quentel let me finish before you speak. I know you love and care about me, but that's not enough anymore. I want to be someone's number one and I don't mean the number one side chick. I think I deserve that, and more importantly, I think I'm worth it. So if you tell me right now that you want to be with me and only me. Then I can tell you that Jamal will no longer exist in my life. But if you can't tell me that, then I ask that you respect me and allow me to find someone who will make me happy, like I am willing to do for you and Van.”
Q's whole wind was taken out of him. He looked at Tee, who was staring directly in his eyes. He wanted so bad to tell her that it would be just him and her. But he knew that was a lie, for as much as he loved and wanted her, he knew who is soul-mate was. Unable to think of the right words, Tee bailed him out when she spoke.
“And Quentel…”
“Yes Tee.”
“I want my friend for life back.”
Q grabbed her around her waist and pulled Tee close to him. Their lips met for a short kiss, both purposely held the innocent kiss longer. Mutually, they felt this could be the last and neither wanted to accept it. Hesitantly, Q let go of Tee and began to walk out. He turned before exiting the door
“Tee baby, til the casket close.”
Tee smiled and repeated it to him. “til the casket close”
They both smiled.
__________
Van sat in the waiting area of Dr. Conway’s office watching a young woman and her three children play a game of Monopoly. Every so often, the little girl would look over at Van and shyly smile. Then the little boy would do the same. These were the times when Van most envied some mothers. Here they were with three or more children and her only wish was to have one. It was hard not to be angry at everyone, including God, but Van always stayed true to her word. She wouldn’t blame anyone because God doesn’t make mistakes. Van wiped a sweaty palm across her brow in a useless attempt to stop the perspiration from running down her face and into her eyes. Nothing seemed to help. She was a total nervous wreck.
“Excuse me miss, Mommy asked me to give you this.” The little girl interrupted Van’s thoughts with the most beautiful voice. It was a baby wipe.
“Why thank you. You’re so pretty. What’s your name?” Van asked her.
“My name is Elizabeth,” She shyly answered.
“Elizabeth, that’s a beautiful name.”
By that time, the other children had surrounded Van, one on either side.
“What’s your name?” she asked the first little boy.
He gave no reply, but did something that completely took Van by surprise. He reached out and gently began rubbing Van’s stomach.
“Ba…ba…baby….ba…ba…baby,” he kept repeating over and over again.
“Stop it Jonathan.” The other little boy said to him.
“Jonathan, get over here young man,” It was his mother calling him this time. She reached out and grabbed him by the arm.
“I’m sorry miss, Jonathan does that to all expecting mothers every time I bring him to our office for his yearly checkup.
“Expecting mother?” Van said.
“Why yes…you are expecting, right?”
“I..I’m not sure. Im here to see Dr. Conway now,” she answered.
“Oh…I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Van said.
“Well good luck,” the woman said. She then bent down close to Van’s ear and whispered. “Just for the record…my little future doctor hasn’t been wrong yet.” She said with a smile.
“Thanks.” Van said looking up at her through misty eyes.
__________
Back at their home, Q, Inga, and Baby Rasta sat at the table trying to devise a plan to rid Q and his crew of Officer Stokely, and maybe his undercover narcotics agent Vie. Q’s thoughts turned to Van.
“Let me call her,” he mumbled.
After dialing her number, Q was surprised when he heard Van’s phone ringing in the entertainment area of their home. Damn, shorty slippin’ already, he thought, then walked over and picked it up. Looking at the inbox, he noticed Van had over ten unanswered messages, all from Dr. Conway. He read each one of them, but it was the last one that nearly drove Q to the brink of destruction.
Van, this is Otis. Have you left the house yet? Are you alone? I was wondering if you could stop by the office. Call me back and let me know ASAP.
“Ok, they taking this friend shit too far. I guess that’s why she had to run off so fast. I'm about to get to the bottom of the shit!” Q fumed.
Quentel’s face tightened. He felt his rage well up. He mentally calmed himself. Only his eyes showed what was building inside him. He grabbed both his Colts and walked towards the door.
“Where ye going mun?” Inga asked.
“Stay here.” Q ordered, never looking back.
__________
“Greetings Van, I assume that you did receive my messages.”
“Yes, I received them all, Otis.”
“Good…good. Oh, please pardon my manners, this is my beautiful wife Jennifer and our children.”
“Jen, this is Van Ellerbe.” The doctor said.
“This is your family Dr. Conway?”
“Well the last time I checked, they were,” he said in a sarcastic tone.
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