I got up and did what he didn’t have the nerve to do. I closed the door. “Afraid the missus will see you?”
“You have no idea.”
“I think I do.” I sympathized but only briefly.
Clint responded quickly, “This hospital is the most important thing in my…” He paused and thought about what he was trying to say. “Some things are worth fighting for.” His skin, usually the color of ripe darkened berries, seemed a little dull except for the beads of moisture that suddenly appeared on the bridge of his nose. His shaven head glistened with perspiration as well. “We have the staff meeting. I’ll see you there.”
“Yeah, see you there.”
He left my office, peeking first then stepping out the doorway with caution.
I closed the door behind him. Goodness, was all I could say. Kandi had the man scared for his life.
“You’ve been working overtime, I see?” Speak of the She-whore. Kandi pulled her fullness into my office. She pushed the door a small ways closed.
“Oh, you just missed your hubby,” I said, as if she didn’t know. “He just wanted to brief me on a couple of things before the staff meeting.” I took a deep breath. “Kandi, I don’t know why I’m making up excuses. I’m just going to be honest with you. There is absolutely no interest between Clint and me, none whatsoever. I don’t want you to be concerned, or stressed about it, especially with you being pregnant.”
“Do you think I’m stupid? You think I’m falling for this act. Of course you want Clint.”
“Excuse me?”
“Excuse you is all I’ve done.” She pushed my office door all the way closed.
“Kandi, honestly. I don’t think this conversation is agood idea.” I attempted to go around her and she wouldn’t budge.
She was a solid head taller than me. “If you were thinking at all, you would’ve never come here. Why are you even here?” she asked mildly.
“Okay, this really isn’t supposed to be happening.”
“No, it isn’t. You’re not supposed to be here.” Kandi tried to smile, but her lip quivered. “You may get this job, but I’m still in the position you really want to be in. Don’t even try to fake it. Let it go, Venus, for once and for all.” She shook her head and coughed out a sarcastic laugh. “I don’t even know why I’m worried. Look at you. Nothing much has changed. I never could see what Clint saw in you. The rapper’s girlfriend, now that’s a stretch.” She scrunched up her nose in disgust.
“The rapper’s wife. If you’re going to try to be insulting, get it right.”
“I don’t have to try, it’s actually quite easy. I mean really, look at you and look at me. There was no contest then, and there’s no contest now.”
“Then why are you so worried? If you’ve got it all together, why is my being here such a threat?”
To my shock, she reached out and put her finger in my face. “You don’t want this job. When are you going to let him go, Venus? You and Clint are history. They say it takes as many years to end a relationship as the time you spent in the relationship. Time’s up. You’re done. Four for four. I’m standing here with a baby in my stomach. Clint and I are happy together. There is no need for you to continue popping up every time you’re not happy in your own state of affairs.”
I kept my arm and hands entwined against my chest. My heart beat wildly against my ribs. “You better get that finger out of my face ’cause I’m about three seconds from kicking your ass.”
“I wish you’d try,” she said.
I shook my head and threw up my hands. “I feel sorry for you. I truly do.”
Her big eyes crystallized. She tried to blink the moistness away. In our fiery conversation, I hadn’t realized how close we’d gotten: nose to nose, nearly toe to toe.
I backed up and went around her. “If you want to talk about something besides Clint, you’re more than welcome to come back.”
She cut her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. And I mean that in every possible way.”
If looks could kill, we both would’ve been laid out on the floor. But the staring contest was wearing me down. I grabbed my purse and left her standing in my tiny office as I snatched the door closed behind me.
A few claps and a whole lot of “thank gods” carried across the room.
“I’m not saying this will solve our problems, but it will be a start in the right direction. I first want to acknowledge Venus Johnston, who came up with the brilliant idea. She did a full proposal on the good, the bad, and the ugly, and I must say the good outweighs them all. So I’m asking her to go to Washington, D.C., to represent us. Does anyone have a problem with that?”
Morgan took a moment to look around. “Secondly, I’d like one of you to go with her, offer the credibility of actually being in the trenches, the effort and integrity component.” Once again she looked around. A tall lean man with graying sideburns raised his hand.
“If we’re voting, I’d like to nominate Dr. Fairchild. He’s the newest among us, but I have to say his dedication and enthusiasm give him the upper hand. Besides, he’s not burnt out like the rest of us.” A few chuckles came from behind. Everyone nodded and moaned in agreement.
My eyes never left Kandi’s. She looked like she was drowning but no one could save her. What she didn’t know is that I was drowning, too. I couldn’t go out of town with Clint. Of all the craziness I’d pulled in the last few weeks, that would definitely seal my doom.
“Is there anyone else who would like to be considered?” Morgan eyed the group. “Then we all agree. Dr. Fairchild, would you do us the honor of representing us in Washington, D.C.?”
Under the gun was an understatement. Clint looked around as if he were faced with twenty shining rifles all pointed and ready to fire. He stood up, apologetic. I already knew the answer, especially having just dealt with Kandi’s wrath. Clint stretched himself to get through the crowd and finally visible. “I’d be honored to go and speak on Jackson Memorial’s behalf. It’s just that…” He paused. Kandi softened with relief, anticipating what he would say next.
“While I’m gone I’m going to need a promise from everybody here to step it up and guard my babies with their lives.”
Devastated, Kandi looked like she was about to faint. The rest of the group let out relieved sighs. The mainstay of tension melted away with hopes of sunlight at the end of a long dark tunnel. Dr. Clint could save them.
“Don’t worry about it, Dr. Fairchild, we got your back,” someone voiced.
“Your babies will be in good hands,” another voice said from the rear.
“How much damage can we do in a couple of days?”
The room went silent. “Let’s not go there,” Morgan chimed in.
I felt Kandi staring at me the entire time. I let my eyes slide over to hers and saw fury. I dropped my eyes and turned my attention back to Clint. I wanted to mouth the words, Are you crazy, but knew she was drinking in my every move. So I clapped and nodded, too. But there was no way we could leave town together.
Clint rubbed a hand over his smooth shaven head and turned to his wife. “Baby, it’s up to you. You need to watch my babies, ’cause I don’t know about these guys.” He reached over a few broad bodies and kissed her lovingly. “Can you handle it?”
She forced a smile in the cusp of his forearm. “Sure.” I could see she wanted to cry but held it in. The crowd cheered. She feigned embarrassment by the display of affection then immediately raised a threatening eyebrow in my direction.
Now what? I was thinking. How in the world was I going to be able to explain this? After Jake had already accused me of wanting to be next to Dr. Ex-Lova, now we’d be on a plane and in a hotel alone together. It just wasn’t going to happen.
I stood up. “Um, excuse me.”
The group of doctors slowly quieted to hear what I had to say.
“Well, I certainly appreciate Dr. Fairchild taking out time to go in front of the commission. But … I can assure you, I can handle the job.”
Morgan cleared her throat. “I think it’s necessary. We’ll put all our personal issues aside and handle business as it should be handled,” she said with slightly gritted teeth. “I’m sure Mrs. Fairchild understands what’s at stake here.”
The rest of the group looked mystified, wondering what underlying drama they’d missed.
I took a deep breath. “The important thing is that the message get across that this hospital is worth saving. I think I can do that.”
Morgan stood up. “I know you can, and thank goodness we’ll have Dr. Fairchild to also get the message across. I’m going to close this meeting. I know everyone here has important things to do.”
I sat down feeling doomed.
No way out.
Several hands slipped encouraging squeezes to my shoulder as they passed. They probably didn’t realize I needed every good wish they could offer. Kandi passed in a huff. Couldn’t she see I’d given it my best shot? Couldn’t she see I wasn’t thrilled about the idea either? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and soon I’d know how much.
Two Wives Club
I arrived home ready to throw myself on the mercy of the court. Jake was going to have to understand my predicament. The entire hospital was depending on me. If I didn’t go before the health commission and present the case for Jackson Memorial, I feared they wouldn’t get the funding to privatize. I would feel responsible, as if I’d failed an entire community.
I practiced my humble pie speech, relishing briefly in the common sense of it all before being hit by a very distinct smell throughout the house. I kicked my shoes off quickly at the door and sniffed lightly at first, and then a second time, identifying the distinct scent of fried food. In my house!
I knew the smell well. Buttery and tart, swearing to stick to everything in its path. My father was the king of fried fish. He cooked it outside because my mother pitched a fit about the grease splatters ruining her walls and grouted tile.
I followed the scent straight to Trina in the kitchen. Music was blaring. She bounced to the beat of 50 Cent “In da Club,” singing along where she could and humming the rest. Her jeans fit better, revealing a shapely bottom and athletic thighs. Her T-shirt was knotted at the waist.
She spun around and dipped a fleshy piece of fish into a flour mixture. After punching it around, she transported it into the hungry grease. She caught sight of me. “Hey there, how was your day?”
“You’re frying fish?” was all I could say before instinctively peeking up at the white ceiling and the many inset lights that would be a bitch to clean. Then to the stainless steel refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove, wondering if she realized this was a job even the Brawny man couldn’t handle.
“Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up. I just couldn’t resist,” she said, following my concerned eyes. “Found this in the freezer and thought, mmm, I haven’t had fish in weeks. If I remember, Jake loves him some fried fish. Catfish, but you know, one sea creature is as good as another.”
“But it’s Chilean sea bass, Trina. Nine dollars a pound. You grill it, you sear it, you bake it. You don’t fry it.”
She came toward me with a white meaty chunk flanked by a light fluffy batter. I said no thanks, but the sample piece found its way into the center of my tongue with the tips of her fingers to boot. Before I could spit it out, I tasted heaven.
“Mmmmm.”
“Good, I know.”
I moaned some more, chewed and swallowed, then waited for the next feeding. Trina grinned. “Ain’t talking so tough now, are you?”
“Kaaat.” Mya slapped her hands together and gave a glistening smile while she sat in her high chair. She grabbed a handful of something mashed on her plastic saucer and stuck it to her mouth.
“What’s that? Is she eating fish?” I panicked and grabbed the small plate. Mya let out a wail.
“It’s fish, but there’s no bones. Not one,” Trina said, continuing on rhythm dropping a healthy piece of battered fish into the cackling oil.
I went to remove the plate and Mya screamed at the top of her lungs. “Shhh, I’m sorry, Mya. Mommy has to look out for you.” I turned around and saw a flash of hurt on Trina’s face.
She turned her back to me and tended to her fish fry. I took a long deep breath and tried again. “I’m sorry for stepping on your toes. Really. It’s just been a long day, and my brain is on lockdown. Really, I’m sorry.”
“I understand.” Trina used her shoulder to brush away the dry sprig of hair that tickled her ear. A righteous-sized diamond stud sparkled. Real, I quickly surmised from the setting.
“Those are pretty.”
“Oh, yeah, thanks,” Trina said, as if she’d forgotten she was wearing two karats in each ear.
Of course my second question was, Where’d you get rocks that size? though I stopped myself. Nor did she feel the need to volunteer the information. She must have felt me staring and used her shoulder to put the hair back in place.
“What’s that smelling so good?” Jake came into the kitchen completely ignoring me and went straight to the steaming plate of freshly fried fish. He picked off the same piece I’d tasted. “Oh-ma-gawd. Umph.”
“I’m going to take a quick shower.” I headed upstairs still hearing Jake’s praises of Trina’s cooking. A few lip smacks, some overblown umphs, and a whew for good measure.
After my bath I came out feeling relaxed and light. I wrapped my robe tight, ready for round two of Trina’s fried delight. I heard laughter as I got closer to the kitchen, Jake’s honest belt of amusement traveled the halls and rose above the stairs.
“Hi.” I arrived, just missing what was so funny. I looked between them. Jake’s long lashes blinked slowly while he avoided eye contact. Trina sat across from him while Mya used the milk from her sipper cup tomake finger paint on the high chair tray. The three ofthem looked like a full-fledged family. No missing parts.
“You ready for a plate?” Trina asked, wiping the corners of her mouth. She got up from the table, taking his empty plate and glass. “The macaroni and cheese is going to knock your socks off. Isn’t it good, Jay?”
“Exquisite.”
I took the seat she left and sat beside him. I waited until he finished chewing then leaned in for a kiss. Trina reached across my face and set the plate full of food down in front of me.
“You want some hot sauce with that?”
I shook my head.
“Try it with the hot sauce. It’s good.” Jake rubbed his lean stomach, standing up for a stretch. “Delicious, Trina. You outdid yourself.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. “Here you go, an early bonus.”
Trina smiled. “Why you keep giving me money like some drug dealer? You don’t have a bank account?”
“Do you?” Jake asked, already knowing the answer.
“No. But I plan to get one … if I had a check to deposit.”
“I’ll write you a check,” I added.
“There you go—the lady of the house has spoken.” Jake washed his hands at the sink, then checked his watch. “I gotta go. Thanks for dinner, Trina.”
I was unable to taste the food in my mouth. Something missing this time, maybe Trina’s fingers. “Where are you going?”
“I have a mixer. Trina has grease duty.” Jake let a sly grin rise on his face.
“Shut up ’fore I make you do some cleaning. I bet you don’t even know where the soap is.”
“I know where everything is. You’re forgetting before I was descended upon by all you women, there was just lil’ ol’e me, and I did all right.”
I was looking for the punch line, ready to laugh on cue. Trina smiled wide and flung a dish towel at him. Jake blocked it and knocked it to the floor. Any minute I thought they were going to start butt-slapping each other.
“Tell him he better be grateful for what he’s got,” Trina said to me, but not looking in my direction.
“Yeah, most men only have one wife.” I appreciated the opportunity to play along.<
br />
Jake shot a look that said I wasn’t invited to this game. “See you tomorrow, Kat.”
“Later, Jay.” Trina started spraying 409 on everything in sight.
There comes a time when you know a mutiny is on the rise. But you ignore it so you can go about your immediate business. I sat alone at the end of the eight-foot table and scooped food into my mouth, pretending I hadn’t been snubbed publicly by my hubby. I ate everything on my plate, though it was tasteless from my misery. I got up and rinsed the plate.
Trina took the plate from my hand. “I got it. Aren’t you going to the party?”
“Oh … no. It’s just a mixer. I don’t need to be there.”
“A mixer. Jay said it was a merger party. Not that Iknow what a merger party is. All this business lingo has been going to my head.”
What the @#$%? A merger?
Before I knew it, I was upstairs squeezing gobs of gel into my hair and pulling up the zipper to my one and only little black dress.
I came back downstairs ready to roll. “You sure you don’t mind staying?”
Trina smiled. “Please. I like staying overnight here.”
“If I haven’t told you lately, I do appreciate you being here and taking care of Mya.”
“My pleasure.” She shooed me to the door, and I was on my way.
Uninvited Guest
I pulled up to the downtown building where the windows were lit on every floor. A young valet opened my car door when I pulled to the curb.
“Ma’am.” He took my nervous hand, helping me rise. I threw both legs over with perfect toes in my black strappy heels and pretended I was supposed to be there. “Thank you.” I pushed my shoulders back, my chin up, and walked in with manufactured confidence. To my shock everyone was wearing white. It looked like a summer party in the Hamptons. I scanned faces, thinking I wouldn’t recognize my own husband in the mix. Men dressed in conservative suits but all having a bit of slick wildness in their look. Women. Women everywhere in tight white dresses or belly-baring two pieces.
I muttered hello to anyone who managed eye contact long enough with the outcast in black who obviously hadn’t been invited.
Nappily Married Page 15
