Drunk In Love 4: An Original Love Story

by Tiece

  Patrice sat out in the waiting room with the twins and Lil Romeo. She’d been at the hospital, almost around the clock waiting for her cousin to wake up. It was definitely a scary situation for all of them and it was certainly unexpected how it all happened. As she sat there rocking one of the twins in her lap, her cell phone began to ring. She didn’t recognize the number, so she didn’t answer it. A few seconds later, her cell phone began to ring again. This time she answered it.

  “Hello,” she said.

  “Why you didn’t tell me that Felisha was in a car accident?” The heavy voiced irritably questioned.

  Patrice instantly frowned. “Huh? What? Who the hell is this?”

  “This is Mark.”

  “Mark?” She questioned still looking perplexed. “Why are you calling my phone and where did you get my number?”

  “Never mind all that.” Mark said. “What’s going on with Felisha?”

  “Why is that a concern of yours? And there is nothing going on with her.” She lied, not really wanting to tell him anything about the accident.

  “Well, why do I see her clients and family on social media praying for her and hoping that she gets better?” He questioned like he knew something was up, they just didn’t want to tell him.

  Patrice sat quietly for a moment while thinking. The last thing that Ms. Tolver wanted was for Mark to know about Felisha’s condition; especially with him wanting to see the kids so bad. It was no telling what he’d try to do to see them with Felisha being unresponsive.

  “Patrice, talk to me. You know if something is wrong with her I should have a right to know. She is the mother of my kids. I need to know that they’re good.”

  “They’re good,” Patrice quickly said just as Monae’ began to cry in the background.

  “Is that my baby?” Mark pondered.

  “Yes, it’s your daughter, Monae’. She’s a little fussy, because she’s hungry.”

  “Oh,” Mark said. He wanted to say more, but then the thoughts about Felisha’s wellbeing crossed his mind again. “Please, just tell me how Felisha is doing. I know that something is wrong with her. I even called the shop and one of the employees told me that she would be out and she didn’t know for how long.”

  Talking ass employees, Patrice quickly thought. “Felisha is in the hospital.” She confessed.

  “In the hospital? What’s wrong with her?”

  “She was hit by a drunk driver that was speeding.”

  “My God, how is she?”

  Patrice took in a deep breath while thinking if she should reveal Felisha’s full condition.

  “Come on, Patrice. Just tell me if she’s okay. You’re scaring me.” He said while sounding sincere.

  “She’s in a coma.” Patrice hesitantly confessed.

  “Say what now?”

  “I said that she’s in a coma. The doctors are keeping a close eye on her condition, but her vitals are good and she’s breathing on her own. She’s just not alert or responding.”

  Mark was somewhat confused. “What do you mean by that?” he pondered.

  “Felisha suffered a head injury caused by the accident. I think it was the air bag that caused it, but I don’t know. It could’ve been from how hard her car was hit. But, the doctor’s called it a mild coma and also said that she should be waking up from it at any given time.”

  “So, but she’s breathing on her own? There aren’t any tubes or anything in her mouth is it?”

  “There aren’t any tubes in her mouth, Mark. She just looks like she’s sleeping. Her face is bruised up from the blow the air bag gave her, but other than that she seems to be in a deep sleep.”

  “She didn’t break any bones did she?”

  “Weeeeell, her leg is broken and two of her ribs.”

  “Damn,” Mark whispered. “I hate to hear that. Do y’all need me for anything? Like, do y’all need me to watch the kids while she’s in the hospital?”

  “No,” Patrice snappily responded. “You know that my aunt is taking good care of them.”

  “Yeah, but I know that even she needs help. Felisha is in the hospital. I know that she wants to be there with her daughter around the clock, but she also has to watch her grand kids, too. That can’t be a good thing or easy for that matter.”

  “I’m here and so is my mom. We’re all pulling our weight and helping out until Felisha is back on her feet.”

  “Yeah, but I’m their father. I want to help, too. I want to be there for my children.” He pleaded.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Felisha has to have a say so in this and since she’s not alert then I’m definitely not going to approve of this and neither will auntie.”

  Mark sat quietly on the phone. He was a bit discouraged, but realized that it was no need to keep going back and forth with Patrice. There was no way that he’d win. “Okay, Patrice. I understand.”

  “I’m glad you do,” Patrice said while feeling relieved that he would let it go.

  “Thanks for the information. I guess we’ll talk soon.”

  “Not too soon, I hope,” Patrice added with an uneasy grin.

  “Yeah well, we’ll see.” Mark said, and with that he ended their call.

  ***

  Angel sat across from Mark at their kitchen table. She’d heard everything that was going on since Mark had Patrice on speaker phone. She sat in silence waiting for him to say something first. A couple of minutes passed with Mark hanging his head low. He still hadn’t said anything about the call. This concerned Angel so she finally decided to speak up about it.

  “What are you going to do? I know you’re not going to just sit here and let them treat you like this. You have rights, you know.”

  Mark glanced over at her. “I know, but I don’t want to cause any more tension between me and Felisha. She’s already considering the thought of me keeping the kids.”

  “How can she consider anything in the condition that she’s in? She’s not even really with us right now.” Angel told him.

  “That’s true, but I still feel like I’d be crossing a very thin line with her and that’s not what I want to do. I want us to get along and be good parents for our kids.”

  “How can you be a good parent to your kids if you’re not allowed to see them? She holds all the cards in her hand; even in the condition that she’s in. I don’t think that’s fair.”

  “She’s in a coma, Angel. I’m sure that she didn’t want or ask for any of this to happen.”

  “I know,” Angel sincerely said. “And I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound like I don’t care, because I do. I care about you and none of what you’re saying excuses the fact that you’re the father of her kids and they need you right now. Sure she has a mom that is taking on the responsibility, but let’s keep it real here. That’s not her place or her job.”

  “You’re right.” Mark said.

  “I think you should call your lawyer. I know that the first thing they’ll need is for you to have a legal paternity test done on the kids to prove that you’re their father. The minute that has been confirmed then you can fight for the right to spend time with them; especially with Felisha being out of commission for no telling how long.”

  Mark sat there contemplating what Angel was saying. Now would be the perfect time for him to fight for the right to see his kids. Felisha couldn’t physically fight back and Ms. Tolver could only do so much being that her daughter was unresponsive.

  “I think I’ll call my lawyer now,” Mark said as he stood up from the kitchen table. “I’m going in the bedroom for more privacy.”

  “That’s fine with me, babe.” Angel responded. “Just make sure you explain everything to him so he’ll know the proper measures to take in helping you.”

  “I will,” Mark said. He smiled at Angel now feeling pretty good about making the phone call. “I love you, baby. Thank you so much for opening eyes up.”

  “That’s why I’m here my love. I want you to be happy. If you’re happy then I’m happy
.”

  “And, if you’re happy then I’m happy.”

  Angel smiled. “Well, you know what you need to do then.”

  “Say no more,” Mark responded as he exited the kitchen to make an important phone call.

  The minute Mark was gone, Angel started smiling. Just knowing that Mark had a chance to get the kids was a great feeling to her. She’d prayed for children and couldn’t seem to have any of her own so maybe God was answering her prayer, but in another way. Maybe it was meant for her and Mark to raise his kids and she love them as if they were her own. It was certainly a thought that had played over and over in her mind and one that actually kept her spirits up.

  She reached on the table in front of her and grabbed her cell phone. There was one person that she wanted to speak with right quick. She dialed the number and listened to it ringing. The minute the person answered the phone, she began to talk.

  “Hey, how are you?”

  “I’m good,” the person responded. “How are you?”

  “I’m actually feeling much better today.” Angel responded.

  “Well, that’s a good thing.” The person said.

  “You know that thing that we talked about? Well, I may not need you to do what I’d previously asked of you. I know that you were a bit hesitant in the first place, but now our problems may be solved.” She happily said.

  “So, what happened that has changed your mind?”

  “Oh, let’s just say that God works in mysterious ways.” Angel said with a vindictive smile on her face.

  “So, there’s nothing that you need to tell me?” The person questioned.

  “Nothing at all. Just forget all about what I’d asked of you earlier.”

  “You sure?” The person questioned.

  “I’m positive for now. Have a good day. We’ll talk soon.” Angel said, and then quickly ended their call. She got up from the kitchen table and eased down the hallway. She wanted to hear what Mark was saying to his lawyer. It was important that he played his cards right, because if he did then she’d have three kids that she could call her own.

  ***

  “So, how is Felisha doing?” Zoe questioned Olivia as they grocery shopped.

  “Her condition is pretty much the same. She’s still not responding.” Olivia responded.

  “Damn, I don’t like her at all, but I really hate that this has happened. Isn’t that crazy how it happened, though?”

  “I mean it was the craziest thing,” Olivia said as she thought back to the day the accident happened. “She had only come over to apologize and I was not nice to her at all. I kind of feel bad at how I talked to her. Maybe if she wasn’t crying then she would’ve been paying attention and she wouldn’t have pulled out in front of that Suburban.”

  “Look Sis, none of this is your fault. You said what you said, because it needed to be said. What happened to Felisha had nothing to do with you. It happened, because some man was driving drunk and speeding through a neighborhood like he was on the highway. If anything, he’s to blame for her condition, not you.”

  Olivia nodded her head while agreeing. “I guess you’re right about that.” She said. “I just feel bad for her; especially for her babies. I’m going to get Lil Romeo on tomorrow and keep him for a couple of days to help out Ms. Tolver.”

  “Right now, she needs all the help that she can get.” Zoe said.

  “That she do. You know while she was talking to me she said that Mark wanted to spend time with his children, but from the way she was talking, it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.”

  “Why would she even bring that up to you, anyway? Who wants to talk to their ex-best friend about children that she’s had by your ex-husband? That’s the kinda shit that makes me not like her; dumb ass.” Zoe added with a disappointed shake of the head as she put a box of macaroni elbow noodles into the buggy. “I’m cooking macaroni and cheese tonight with those grilled pork chops.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Olivia responded since she and Zay were invited over to Dillon’s place for dinner with Zoe showing off her master chef skills. “Well, do you think that Mark should be able to see his children? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care for Mark at all and I really don’t like how he kicked Lil Romeo to the curve when he ran off with Angel, but he’s still their father.”

  “Yeah well, he is, but that ain’t got nothing to do with us.” Zoe said as she picked up four T-bone steaks and put them into the buggy.

  “It kinda does have something to do with me, because I’m still a big part of Lil Romeo’s life and that lil fella is super smart for his age. He asks all kinds of questions and a lot of those questions have to do with Mark. I just think that I want this whole thing to be over with and the truth comes out so that Lil Romeo will know. It’s better that they do it now while he’s young and not wait until later when he’s older.”

  “I agree, because when he gets older he could be more resentful about the whole thing.” Zoe responded.

  “Speaking of a child getting older. What’s up with Dillon’s ex-girlfriend? He still haven’t heard anything from her yet?”

  “He hasn’t, but I think that chick is hiding something. Why not just tell him what the deal is? I’ll tell you why. Because, she’s hiding something.”

  Olivia grinned. “Your ass is crazy, but it makes sense.”

  “Why not just tell him if that’s his child or not. She ain’t no damn fool. She knows unless she was also fucking somebody else during the time that she was fucking him. And hell, if that’s the case then she just need to go ahead and say that. Ain’t nobody gonna be mad about that. Hell, he can’t miss what was never his.”

  Olivia nodded her head. “You said a mouthful then.”

  “It’s like the chick is playing games or something. He can’t even speak with her directly. The only person that he talks with is her cousin. Hell, he only spoke with her twice.”

  “Well, what is she saying?”

  “The last time she spoke with him she said that she had given Rhianna his number and that she said she’d call him. However, she still hasn’t called yet.”

  “Do you think that the lil girl is really his?” Olivia questioned as they headed up to the checkout area.

  “I don’t know what to think. The timing adds up. Plus, the way she’s strangely acting makes me think something. If he wants to ask questions about her daughter; especially if it has anything to do with him then she needs to answer them. Hell, even if she told him that the Delia isn’t his. Just let him know something.”

  “I feel you,” Olivia chimed in. “If Zay had an outside child with someone else I’d certainly want to know. I think that it would only be fair that he knew, too.”

  “See what I’m saying. I just think it’s something up with that. Maybe the bitch don’t know who her baby daddy is or maybe she didn’t know how to tell Dillon that she was actually seeing somebody else and that she got pregnant by him. That’s probably why she left him like that.” Zoe said as she tried desperately to understand what could’ve happened. “One thing’s for sure. Whatever happened, she’d gotten herself knocked up right around the time that she and Dillon went their separate ways.”

  “Yeah, I’ve always heard that if it smells like fish then it’s definitely something fishy going on.” Olivia said.

  Zoe grinned while glancing over at her sister as she watched her unload the buggy. “You will make up some shit. Just say that something smells fishy. My gosh,” she said with laughter.

  “Hell, you know what I mean.” Olivia laughed. “Anyway, speaking of our men. Where is your man taking my man today, anyway?”

  “You know Dillon is always up to something. He’s taking Zay to see this new night spot that just opened. He thinks it’ll be a great place to throw Zay a bachelor party.”

  “What kind of night spot is it?”

  “Some place called Kitty’s.”

  “Kitty’s?” Olivia questioned with a frown. “I’ve never heard of it, have you?”

/>   “No, but didn’t I say that the place just opened. I mean, we can go there and check it out before the bachelor party and see where our men plan on hanging out at the night before Zay becomes my brother-n-law.”

  Olivia cut her eyes over at her sister, and then she responded. “I think that’s a good idea and it better not be no strip club with a name like that.”

  ***

  Zay and Dillon walked inside of Kitty’s Night Club and headed straight over to the bar. Dillon sat down first on a bar stool, and then Zay followed suit. The bartender walked over to them and smiled.

  “Hey Fellas, what can I get for you this evening?” she questioned.

  “I’ll have some Ciroc and splash of cranberry juice,” Dillon said.

  “I’ll have the same,” Zay stated as he glanced around the lavish night spot. “It’s nice in here. I think we’ll have a ball.”

  “Ain’t no thinking. We will have a ball.” Dillon said.

  Zay admired the layout of the club. It was nicely furnished with red, leather lounge chairs and the disco lights shined throughout the place. There were small, diamond shaped mirrors covering entire wall behind the bar. It only enhanced the bright array of jumping lights from the disco balls. “So, who owns this nice ass spot?” He questioned as the mixologist sat their drinks in front of them.

  “I do,” the beautiful light skinned lady said as she walked up.

  Both Dillon and Zay was taken aback. “Hey,” Dillon quickly said as he reached out for a handshake. “I’m Dillon and this is my brother, Zay.”

  “Well, hey Dillon and Zay. I’m Karla.” She said with a smile.

  “I wasn’t expecting to meet up with you. My boy, Rico, used to own this place.”

  “Rico is still the owner. I’m his sister and partner at this establishment.” Karla said as she sat down on one of the barstools next to them. “So, which one of you lucky guys are getting married?”