“Only two days, Marcus?”
“Yes, two days, Lil! Christ!”
“Marcus... what is today's date,” Lil asked softly.
“October twenty-seventh,” I yelled. “Damn it! Is that the end of the psych evaluation?”
I looked around the room. They appear stunned, standing around like exhibits in a wax museum.
“Can I get some ice for my fucking face,” I shouted, storming off.
I pressed a bag of frozen corn to my jaw then walked into the study, flopped on the couch, and closed my eyes. I heard breathing other than mine and opened my eyes. Mother, Lil, Dad, Matthew, Joshua, Evelyn, Mandy, Lisa, Nathan, Russell, Tom, Ethan and Thomas were surrounding me.
“What is this, an intervention? Fine. I got drunk and disappeared... won't happen again.” I yawned, closing my eyes again.
“Marcus, it's not October twenty-seventh,” Joshua said, speaking slowly, like I had brain damage. “It's November eighth.”
“Not funny, Twerp. Sounds like something Toad would say,” I murmured as I put the cold bag over my eyes.
“Marcus... have you been drinking? Excessively?”
“Yep,” I answered, completely amused.
“It's not a break. His brain is flooded and he's blocked. He has to be prodded and no more alcohol.”
“Uh... HE can hear you, Lil. And HE should be able to drink when HE wants. HE is over twenty-one, you know.”
Lil sighed. “Marcus, you've blocked recent events. I'm worried you may have blocked other things as well; things you consider important, vital even, to your life and career.”
“I haven't blocked anything. I'm a pediatrician and part owner in HRC. I have three siblings and I'm annoyed with two of them.” I looked around the room. “There's Mother, Dad, Evelyn, Thomas, Ethan, Tom, Russell, Lisa and Nathan.” I looked around again and scowled. “Tom? Shouldn't you be on your honeymoon? Where's your wife?”
“Yeah, I should and she’s with Rachel,” Tom muttered then shook his head.
“Something's missing. Something's… wrong,” I murmured. I looked around the room again. I sat up straight and settled on Joshua. “What's wrong? What the fuck am I missing?”
“Marcus, what date did Joshua just tell you,” Lil asked.
“November... eighth? It's November eighth?”
“Yes, it is,” she confirmed.
“Fifteen days?” I blinked, attempting to think past the alcohol. “I lost fifteen days?”
“Yes, darling,” Mother sighed.
“Why,” I mumbled. “How fucking drunk did I get?”
I tried again to think. Nothing. I couldn't remember a damn thing! Me, forgetting something… how beyond fucked is that?
Nathan flashed a light in my eyes. He had me follow his finger and shook his head. “No sign of concussion,” he murmured then asked, “Marcus, are you sure you were in San Francisco?”
I held my head and thought, long and hard.
“Yes. I got in the car and drove and drove, the night Mariah left me.” Pain shoots through my entire being. I inhaled sharply and jumped up. “Mariah's gone! We have to find her!”
“What the fuck do you think I was doing while you were drinking yourself into oblivion,” Matthew angrily shouted, getting in my face. “You know how hard it is, and over the phone I might add, to track two fucking people who don't want to be found because your mother insists you stay close to home because she believed she's already lost one son?”
Dropping back to the couch, I put my head in my hands again and try to remember something... anything. Why did I cause everyone so much pain; so much that my brother looks relieved to see me while looking like he wants to kill me. I groaned, feeling it all over again.
“I can't remember the last fifteen days. I think… she left me and I tried to out run, to forget that pain. I cannot believe I succeeded with the alcohol. Risked everything, my life, my health and sanity, for nothing. It’s back and hurts just as bad as it did that night.”
“So you have no idea where she is or went, Marcus?”
“No, Ethan,” I confirmed. “Not even why. There’s been no calls or anything from her?”
“Nothing,” Matthew sighed. “She’s just… gone. Not a clue where.”
I tried to rub away the pain in my chest. “Did anyone search the apartment?”
“No, we can't get in. That manager is bullheaded; he wouldn't even let Joshua in, and he used to live there.”
After Matthew said that, I jumped up and ran out the door. Before I knew it, Matthew and Joshua were in the car with me.
“Get out,” I yelled at them.
“No fucking way,” Matthew yelled back. “We’re not letting you out of our sight for a long while, so you might as well get used to our faces, fucker!”
“FINE!” I snarled.
I sped to my apartment and as soon as I got there, I saw Mariah's car. I started to remember our last night together and the day I left.
“Her drawers were empty and all her sweats were gone,” I mumbled as I stared at the car.
“Come on. Let's have a look,” Joshua said, pulling my arm.
When I opened the door to the apartment, an odor hit my nose. I remembered Mariah's food in the warmer. I went to the kitchen and tossed it out. Dishes were piled in the sink; I put them in the washer and cracked some windows. Where the hell was Rosa? I had to get someone to call her.
“You didn't see this, did you,” Matthew asked, entering the kitchen with Joshua at his side; he gave me my wallet.
“See what?”
Matthew gave me a note in Mariah's handwriting.
10/24
Marcus,
I'm sorry. We aren't going to work out. Please know that I love you but in order to keep us from suffering more later, I feel it would be best if I end this now. I hope and pray you find someone better suited for you; who can give you everything you want and don't want. You will never know how sorry I am that it turned out to not be me. I know you don't now, but someday, boo… someday, you will understand and agree with my decision. All my love and best wishes for your future.
M.
My hands shook and I felt sick. I threw the note to the floor and gripped the counter, trying to calm. I needed to get out of there. God, I hated the fucking place now!
“She left the note with the ring and her phone,” Joshua murmured. “And her car keys.”
The Prince song! Fuck... I heard the phone ringing when I called her and I didn't think to actually go over to it… did I? I tried to think again but still, it was a blur.
“She's actually gone. Now what... what do I do,” I mumbled.
“Do you want her back?”
I shot Matthew a 'what the fuck do you think' look.
“You need to figure out what went wrong, Cramp. Did you two have a fight,” Joshua asked.
“No.” I groaned, feeling my headache return. I rubbed my forehead with my palms.
“How was the wedding plans,” Matthew asked.
“Fine, as far as I knew. She let her mother do it all.”
“Did you cheat on her, Marcus,” Joshua quietly questioned.
I snapped my glare back at him. “Are you stupid, simple or slow?”
Joshua’s nose flared as he shouted, “I’ve never been either! Something happened here! Mariah wouldn't have just up and left on a whim; something drove her away. What was it?”
“I don't fucking know,” I roared as I paced, still in a drunken fog. Fifteen fucking days... Where did the alcohol come from? “What about Rachel? How is she?”
“She's been in bed since the two of you disappeared,” Joshua answered. “She's been completely despondent, to say the least.”
“She doesn't know where Mariah is?”
“Not a clue,” Matthew replied.
“I need to go see her.”
“Yeah, you do, but you better bathe first,” Joshua chortled. “And we're going with you.”
“Don't you have a corporation to run? I don't
need one damn babysitter, let alone two!”
“The fuck you don't,” Matthew shouted. “Again, there's no way we’re letting you out of our sights so you can disappear a second time!”
“Damn it! Move!” I stormed past them and went straight to my bathroom, slamming the door. I scrubbed myself and when I finally felt clean, I left the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist.
As soon as I opened the bathroom’s door, I saw my brothers sitting on the bench in front of the bed, staring.
“Can I get dressed? Get the fuck out of here,” I mumbled going to my dresser for underwear.
“You forgot to shave,” Matthew sneered. “And no; my eyes will be glued on you, at least until I know you’ll leave the bottle alone, you won't disappear again or harm yourself.”
Glaring at the two of them, I removed my towel and slid my boxers on. Next, I grabbed jeans and pulled them on.
“There's no alcohol here,” I mumbled. “And I'm not planning to jump out of the window anytime soon.”
“Good to know,” Joshua said as he and Matthew continued to sit.
After I finish dressing, I snatch Mariah's note from Matthew and walked toward the door, Toad and Twerp, hot on my trail.
“We're going to Rachel's, Mother… She left a note, her cell, keys and the ring ... We're going out the door now.”
I stopped and stared at Matthew as he talked on the phone. “Are you working for Dad and Mother now, Matthew,” I yelled as I shoved the note in my pocket.
“I'm keeping your mother and father in consideration because both broke down after you disappeared right after learning their beloved daughter-in-law vanished earlier the same day. Your mother only got out of her bed two days ago! She thought... we ALL thought your ass was lying in a ditch somewhere, dead!”
I looked at Matthew for the longest time, his words reverberating through my alcohol-soaked brain. I began to shake and I wanted to hit something. I swung at Matthew, but my brothers each grabbed an arm and pushed me to the floor, yelling at me to calm down.
I felt every ounce of pain the alcohol numbed, the total devastation from Mariah's sudden departure. I finally calmed and could do nothing but sob in pain once I realized I may never see her again. I yanked my arms from them and cried like a child.
November 9, 2011
I opened my eyes and I stared at the ceiling. I frowned when I heard low snoring on my right. I looked over. Matthew was sleeping next to me on my bed. I looked to my left and Joshua was there, sleeping as well. I let out a groan when I realized those idiots stayed the night with me, probably scared I’d take off again.
Jesus... fifteen days... I closed my eyes, needing to think. What the hell happened? Think... nothing. Just the memory of discovering Mariah left me. I reached in my pocket, unfolded the note she left and read it again.
What was it she thought she wasn’t suited for with me? Why did she accept my ring if she was having doubts? Why leave and not tell Rachel? Shit...
“Anything?”
I startled at Joshua's voice. I looked at him and shook my head.
“Nothing. Tell me you called your wife.”
“Last night,” he murmured then sat on the edge of the bed and stretched. “She understands. She brought Toad and I clothes after you passed out. We need to do this with you, Marcus. You really scared the shit out of everybody.”
“I didn't think, Joshua. I just needed... I never thought I would lose fifteen days. I must have... I’m going to the hospital, get my systems checked,” I mumbled, getting off the bed.
The snoring stopped. “What's happening? Where's he going?”
“Memorial,” Joshua answered. “Gotta make sure the alcohol didn't fuck anything up.”
“Good idea. Can we trust you? While we shower in the other bathrooms, I mean,” Matthew asked me with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes... and you still snore by the way,” I chuckled, so did Joshua.
Matthew laughed then looked reflective. “When was the last time the three of us slept in a bed together?”
I stop laughing and sighed. “The night Evelyn came to live with us. We fell asleep in my room as we talked about how weird it was to have her and not Dad in the house,” I said going to the bathroom. I paused. “Matthew go now. And try to hurry, pretty boy. I don't want to be sitting here for a day waiting on you to perfect your appearance.”
“Trust me, Cramp. I don’t give a shit what I look like today.”
* * *
Matthew lied. He cared; there was an hour worth of caring. I shouldn’t complain. It usually takes a minimum of three for him to get ready to face the day. No idea how long when there’s a special occasion.
* * *
“Well,” Joshua asked at me several hours and tests later.
“I'm fine, just dehydrated. You shouldn't have called Dad, Twerp; I could've done without the lecture.”
“Yeah, right. Where to now,” Matthew asked, going to the vending machine.
“Rachel's. Look, I know I disappeared and that was... scary, but I'm not doing it again, so you guys can go. I'll meet you both at Mother's, later.”
Joshua frowned. “Not happening, Cramp.”
Matthew scowled, putting a bottled water in my hand. “Not a chance.”
I spotted a pretty nurse. She should distract Matthew, at least.
“Mmm, nice,” he murmured, never breaking stride in front of me. “I'll definitely look her up later.”
Damn. Not even a pretty woman would sidetrack him in the usual way.
Joshua smacked the back of his head. “Focus,” he muttered, jerking his head back at me.
“I appreciate the bodyguard act you two have going but I've grown tired of it. Take off.”
“Not happening, Cramp.”
“Not a chance.”
I snatched off the hospital band and threw it in the trash. “You fools need a thesaurus,” I mumbled. I took a long drink of the water as we moved to the exit. When did these fuckers get so damn stubborn?
* * *
“Rachel, I honestly don't know what happened. I thought she was happy. She'd been distant, but she blamed exhaustion. She had the dress fittings and she was running around with Monica. Plus, it was her last week at the clinic.”
Rachel's eyes watered. I'd never seen her so withdrawn, sitting across from me in her robe and slippers.
“I don't know either, Marcus. I'm... baffled. She did ask that I stop the wedding plans, but only until after Tom's wedding, because she wanted to concentrate on that first. What did her note say?”
I passed it to her and she slowly opened it. Her tears freely flowed when she folded it and gave it back.
“I don't understand. She was happy and was looking forward to your wedding,” she whispered, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.
“I thought so, too. That last night...” I broke off, remembering this was her mother.
“She rocked your world, huh?” She smiled through her tears. “Marcus, my daughter and I don't go into detail, but she still talks to me about... things. I've encouraged her to ever since her first experience. Did she tell you about that?”
“No, we never discussed... experiences.”
My mother would faint if I was this open with her.
“He only had sex with her to see what sex felt like with a 'black' girl. At school the next day, he shouted to his friends in a crowded hallway, after dumping her, what they had done and his goddamn findings.”
I looked at her, stunned and disgusted. “Jesus! No wonder...”
“She made that comment to you in the pool house? Yes, that's why. He broke her heart and stole her virginity and she didn't tell me. A counselor who witnessed that scene told me after I went to the school to try to figure out why my baby was so stressed; she had gotten over a migraine and when it was time to go back to school, she got another.”
“Fifteen hours between,” I asked quietly.
“Yes. Did she tell you that?”
I nodded.
“That's why her disappearing like this is so confusing. She comes to me with everything, no matter how small... or so I thought.”
She stood and I hugged her. She gripped me tight and sobbed.
“Please, Marcus... you have to find her. I know she's in pain somewhere, as much as you and I are in, right now. Please don't disappear again. I couldn't... I won't be able to handle it again, especially with Mariah still gone.”
“I won't, Rachel. Matthew and I will figure something out.”
“Thank you, Marcus. I still believe you two can work this out. Whatever it is.”
11-11-11
I gripped the bridge of my nose and sighed. “Mother –”
“No, Marcus,” Mother shouted with her clapping, then heavily sighed. “Look, I want her found as much as you do, but I just want my children close to me for a while. All of them.”
“Mother, Cramp's been back three days now, and I’ll have my cell. Call me anytime you want; I’ll answer without hesitation.”
“No, Matthew. Don't you know someone who's just as good as you are? Has connections?”
“No one's as good as I am, Mother,” Matthew smirked.
“Still, there has to be someone,” Joshua questioned. “What about the guy you say is always a step behind you? The guy that screwed the nurse in the hospital?”
“Joshua,” Mandy gasped.
“Well, I'm sure he wanted to say 'fucked,’ Mandy,” Evelyn murmured. “I think he showed great tact and restraint.”
“Yes, he did but you didn't, young lady,” Dad snorted.
“Uh, Daddy... aren't I a little old to be called 'young lady'?”
“Never,” Dad assured, smiling.
Matthew turned to me. “I'll call Richards and find out when he can meet me.”
“No, I'll meet with him. I should do this.”
“Are you sure about all of this, son?”
“Yeah, Dad. I need to. It's been... difficult... since I haven't been able to numb the pain. I need to know, start to finish. And I miss her so much,” I said, walking to the window, shaking my head as I stared out of it. “I need to know what happened, what happens... every step.”
Matthew patted my shoulder as he walked out of the room. “Richards, please. Matthew Cannon. I have a very important case for him...”
Marcus: The M Series, Book Three Page 16
