“Hey, let me call you right back, okay?”
“Call me right back?”
“Yeah, I’m on the phone with Keedra.”
There she is, talking to that Keedra again, Danielle groused silently. “Well . . . okay,” Danielle said, her voice catching in her throat. “I just really needed to talk to you. I had a terrible day. I just found out my mom died.”
“Your mom? Oh, Danielle, I’m so sorry! Hold on.”
A moment later, Nikki was back. “Okay, I’ll be right there. Tell me where to meet you.”
Chapter 39
“Hey, have you noticed anything weird?” William asked, walking to Olivia’s desk, a frown on his face.
“Weird like what?” Olivia asked, quickly putting away the lipstick she had just reapplied.
“Well, it just seems like I can never find any of my signs in any yards,” he said.
“You know, you’re right,” Olivia said. “I had a few people call to say the signs we placed in their yards were gone. And Winston mentioned he passed a couple of places where we had signs, but they are no longer there.”
“You mean to tell me somebody is stealing our signs?”
“That’s what it looks like. That, and I think we have another issue as well.”
“Which is?”
“Some people who were supporting us are now backing out,” she informed William. “This credit card situation really hurts. We’re losing support right and left.”
“So, why wasn’t I informed about this thing with the stolen signs?”
“Well, we just knew you had a lot on your mind—”
“Olivia, when things happen, I need to know,” William interrupted, slapping his palm on the table. A few heads turned. His voice lowered. “I don’t need people keeping things from me.”
“Hey, I’m sorry,” Olivia said. “Look. It was an honest mistake. I know you’re stressed about your home situation, but that doesn’t mean you can take it out on us here.”
“I’m not taking anything out on you,” William snapped.
“Look, I’m your manager.” She touched his hand. “That means I manage. And that’s what I was doing.”
They stared each other down for a moment, then William breathed deeply. “You’re right. I am wound tight. Thanks for looking out for me. You’re a good woman.”
Olivia rubbed William’s back. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of everything.”
Chapter 40
Nikki drove to the restaurant Danielle had suggested, hopped out of the Yukon, grabbed Psalm from the back and raced inside. She spotted Danielle immediately, and rushed right over to the table. Nikki hugged her friend and then sat down.
“Hey, Dee Dee,” Psalm said and hugged Danielle.
“Hey, Psalm,” Danielle said, leaning in for a quick hug. She then picked up her wine glass and took a sip.
“I can’t get over what you told me,” Nikki said. “What happened?”
Danielle put down her wine and hunched her shoulders, looking sad. “I don’t really know,” she said in a tear-filled voice. “You know they don’t talk to me. I just found out by chance. I tried to call them today when I was at work, to, you know, just reach out. And my sister answered the phone and told me in a cold voice that nobody wanted to see me and why did I keep calling. Then she told me Mama died.”
Nikki gasped and put her hand to her chest. Danielle rarely spoke of her family and had actually forbidden the topic. Nikki didn’t know much about the Esperanzas, except Danielle didn’t talk to them much because of some kind of dispute. Nikki knew the estrangement must hurt Danielle. And now this.
“I don’t know what to say,” Nikki said softly.
Danielle’s hand shook as she took another sip of her wine. “I feel so bad,” she said. “I know we didn’t have the perfect relationship, but I had hoped one day we would be able to get back to being a family.”
Nikki moved from her side of the table to where her friend sat and put her arm around her. “It’ll be okay. I’ll help you through this.”
“I can’t believe my mom is gone.”
“I know, sweetie,” Nikki said. “When is the funeral? I’ll go with you.”
“Oh, they’ve buried her already. The funeral was yesterday.”
They talked quietly throughout the meal, and when the check came, Nikki insisted on paying. She knew her bank account was rather anemic, but wanted to lend whatever support she could.
“Do you want us to stay with you tonight?” she asked, walking out of the restaurant, holding Danielle’s hand. Psalm walked a bit ahead. “Psalm, baby, slow down.”
“No,” Danielle said. Her voice was heavy and tired. “It’s all right. I think I just want to spend some time alone.”
“You sure? It’s really okay. I don’t mind coming over.”
“No,” Danielle said, unlocking her door. “I’m just going to take a bath and go to bed. But thanks for tearing yourself away from your conversation with Keedra to babysit poor li’l ol’ me.”
Nikki frowned. “Stop it,” she said. “Of course I was coming to spend time with you. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
Danielle stared at her for a long moment. “No matter what?”
“No matter what.” Nikki said emphatically.
“Thanks,” Danielle said with a watery smile.
“You’re welcome,” Nikki said and hugged Danielle. “Now, get some rest. And if you need anything, please call me.”
Nikki kissed her on the cheek. Psalm gave Danielle another hug and they separated. As Nikki drove back home, her heart hurt for her friend.
“She’s trying to be strong, but I know she’s got to be in so much pain,” Nikki mumbled.
“What did you say, Mommy?” Psalm asked.
“Oh, nothing,” Nikki said. “I was just saying how sad I feel for Danielle. Her mommy just passed away.”
“I’d be sad if you went away,” Psalm said in a serious tone and Nikki caught her daughter’s eye in the rearview mirror.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Nikki reassured the child. “Mommy’s never going to leave you.”
Even though Danielle never spoke of her family, Nikki knew the broken relationship caused her pain. Nikki had never pried, knowing that Danielle didn’t want to discuss the details. And that, to Nikki, meant it hurt too much.
And to lose your mother and not even be able to go to the funeral? It was just beyond Nikki. She punched the numbers to her own mother’s phone.
“Hey, Ma,” she said when Nancy answered.
“Hey, what’s going on? You know I never hear from you anymore.”
Nikki rolled her eyes. “I was just thinking about you and wanted to say ‘hi.’ ”
“Oh, well, that’s nice,” her mother said. “I’m trying to set the table to have it ready when Steve gets home from his golf game. I need to get his bath ready so he can get cleaned up before we eat. He likes to change the moment he gets home. I’m going to have to talk to you a bit later, okay, dear?”
Nikki sighed. “Okay, Ma. You take care of yourself. And tell him I said, ‘hello.’”
“All right, sweetie,” her mother said. “You be good. I’ll give you a call another time.”
Nikki pressed the END button on the phone. Even after all this time, her mother’s sole purpose was taking care of her husband and making sure his every whim was fulfilled. “He’s not going to leave you!” Nikki wanted to scream at her mother. “You don’t have to kill yourself trying to be the perfect wife.”
Steve had been a good provider and a welcome addition to their world after Nikki’s father walked out. But it was hard to compete with him for her mother’s attention. And any attention her mother may have lavished on her was taken up by Nikki’s stepsister, Carla.
But she’s still my mother. And I’d feel so horrible if I lost her, Nikki knew. Her mind went back to her friend who had just lost her own mother. “Danielle and her mom may not have gotten along these past few years, but that doesn’t mean th
ey didn’t love each other,” Nikki mumbled. “I’ve got to be a better friend to Danielle. She’s been through so much.”
Chapter 41
Nikki returned to an empty house. She had half-hoped William would be there. Would he spend another night away? Was he really gone? She had tried not to think too much about the tension between them and had allowed the visit with Danielle to distract her. But now, as she drove up to the darkened house, the knot in her stomach returned.
She and Psalm walked inside and the space felt so cold. The rooms seemed twice as large as they actually were and her steps across the hardwood floor seemed to echo. She looked at her daughter to see if the child noticed anything different, but Psalm raced into the house, bouncy as usual. For the child, her father’s absence felt like any other late night on the campaign trail. For Nikki, it felt like the beginning of the end of so much. She ran her hand over her head, sighing heavily.
When she finally heard the crackle of tires on the driveway outside, her heart leaped. Nikki scurried to the window and peeked out. It was the Protégé. She quickly walked to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She swished mouthwash and rubbed floral scented lotion on her arms and hands.
She stepped out of the bathroom just as William walked down the hall.
“Hi,” she said, tentatively.
He responded. “Hello.”
He proceeded to their bedroom. She followed. “Can I get you a glass of water or anything?” she asked, helping him off with his coat.
“No, I’m cool,” he said.
“Daddy!” Psalm raced into the room and hugged William about the knees.
He picked her up. “Hey, little girl!”
“I’m not a little girl. I’m a big girl,” Psalm retorted.
William laughed. “Well, you’re right. You are a big girl.” He held her over his head. “And now you’re bigger than me. You’re big and tall.”
“Yea!”
Nikki smiled at the attention William gave their daughter, but she wondered if she would ever again evoke such light-hearted affection from him herself.
When William placed Psalm down, the child tugged at his hand. “Let’s play horsy. I want to ride your back.”
“No, Psalm, let Daddy get undressed and rest a bit,” Nikki said, gently easing Psalm away.
“We’ll play later,” William said and winked at the girl.
“Yeah, it’s time for you to go to bed, anyway,” Nikki told Psalm. “You missed school today because I overslept. But that won’t happen tomorrow. Go get your gown.”
Psalm left the room and Nikki closed the bedroom door. She and William stood in silence.
“Baby, I’m really sorry about everything that happened,” Nikki said.
“Okay.” William’s tone was flat. He stepped into the walk-in closet and disrobed.
Nikki followed him. “I feel horrible,” she said.
“You should.”
His unforgiving tone stopped her. She opened her mouth, then closed it.
William walked past her. “Excuse me,” he said.
She stepped to the side.
“I need to take a shower,” he said, walking naked across the bedroom into their private bathroom.
“You want me to join?” He always liked when they showered together.
“No.”
Chapter 42
Danielle scribbled on paperwork as she sat at her desk following a confrontation with a patient. The man had shoved her and she had to call in help to restrain him. These crazy patients are getting on my last nerve, she fumed. She signed the last piece of paperwork documenting the incident. “We should lock all of them up in a room and throw away the key. That fool scratched me.”
“Are you all right?”
Danielle looked up to see Raymond, a fellow nurse with whom she shared this office, stick his head into the room. She quickly erased the anger from her face and pasted on a bright smile.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” she said. “Come on in.”
Raymond entered. “That last patient was pretty rough with you.”
“Yeah. But I know he’s in so much pain, so I don’t take it personally. I care about my patients so much, so it just hurts to see them go through all these things,” Danielle said, putting her hand to her chest.
“Well, you can’t get emotionally involved,” Raymond said.
She looked up at him with wide eyes and smiled sadly. “I know, but it’s so hard for me. I just care so much.”
Raymond nodded. “I know you do.”
“And now, with Smart on my tail—”
“Yeah, she did kind of put you out there in the staff meeting.”
“I’ve just been working so hard lately,” Danielle said. “I’ve been under so much stress. My best friend’s little girl is dying, and I’ve been trying to be strong for them. I’ve been trying to reach out to my own family lately, but they won’t speak to me because of some things they did a long time ago. And I’ve been really stretched thin to take care of so many patients.”
“Wow, that’s a lot on your plate,” Raymond said.
She hunched her shoulders and started working on another report. “I know, but everyone has their own issues, so I just try to do the best I can and not complain. I just wish I could help my friend get through this tough time with her child or help my family heal from the past. It’s just so hard. And when I get to work, I know I take on too much sometimes. It’s so hard to ask for help, you know. I don’t want to be a burden.”
He walked around the desk and put a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe I can help you out,” he said. “I can look over your reports in the evenings before I leave.”
Danielle shook her head. “No, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
Raymond insisted. “It’s okay. I know you’re strong and independent, but it’s okay to have help. So let me help you.”
Danielle gave him a tiny smile. “Well, since you put it that way.”
Chapter 43
When Nikki rolled over the next morning, she awoke to find William already gone, and the spot where he had lain was cold. She didn’t like this distance between them, but at least he had stayed home last night. The night had been full of tension, with few words exchanged. If she asked him a direct question, he gave a one-word answer, but it was clear to her he did not want to engage.
Nikki felt bereft at the knowledge William had purposefully left early to avoid talking with her this morning. She stopped short of getting dressed and knelt at the edge of the bed instead. It had been quite a long time since she had spent any time in morning prayer.
She had felt ashamed at her actions and unsure of whether God would hear her. But this morning, her burden was too heavy to carry alone. She opened her mouth to pray, but shut it against the words. God didn’t want to hear from her. Not now. Nikki knelt there for a moment longer then quickly rose. She raced through her morning routine, then got Psalm up, gave the child breakfast and drove her to school.
When Nikki returned home, she tried to work on her thesis, but the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Nikki Broussard, please,” the voice on the other end said.
“Who is calling?”
“This is The Times, calling about—”
“I have no comment.”
Nikki hung up. The phone rang again, ten minutes later. She checked the caller ID this time, but received no clue as to the identity of the caller, as it read UNKNOWN CALLER.
“Hello?”
“Is this Nikki Broussard?”
“Who is this?” Nikki demanded.
“I am calling to get a comment about a recent story about stolen credit cards. I have a few questions,” the caller explained.
“I have nothing to say about that,” Nikki said.
“But, we just want to give you an opportunity to share your side of the story,” the caller insisted.
“I’m not interested.”
Nikki slammed down the phone. She finally took all the ph
ones off the hook after a fifth call from a reporter, asking for her comment on the credit card fraud story.
I never meant for any of this to happen, she thought.
Nikki gave up on working on her graduate school project for the time being, and instead, went to clean Psalm’s bedroom. She was in the midst of dusting when she heard the doorbell ring. She quickly put the dust cloth aside and walked to the door. “Who is it?”
“This is Amy Collins, with Channel Seven,” the person replied.
Nikki leaned against the door. “Look, will you people please leave me alone! I have no comment.”
“Ma’am, we’d love to get a few quick comments from you, just so you can clear your name.” The person’s voice was insistent. “Just open the door. We can talk.”
“No, just go away!”
“Well, at least take my card,” the woman said.
Nikki sighed. Maybe they would leave her alone if she just grabbed the card. She opened the door and the bright light of a television camera blinded her. She blinked and held up her hands to block the light, stumbling to close the door with her body. But Amy Collins stuck her foot in the doorway and blurted out questions.
“Were you part of a vicious credit card theft ring? How many identities did you steal?” Amy rammed the microphone in Nikki’s face.
“No, I wasn’t a part of any ring!” Nikki spat the words out. “You people leave me alone! You make me sick!”
She succeeded in ducking back inside the house and slamming the door. She leaned heavily against the wall, her breath coming in sharp thrusts. Her heart was beating furiously. She wiped her sweaty palms on her shirt.
Nikki hid out in the house for the rest of the day until it was time to pick up Psalm from school. The day did not get any better. As she walked to the entryway of the school, she noticed adults staring at her.
“You’d better hold on to your purse,” a tall, thin woman warned her friend in a loud whisper. “That’s the woman who steals people’s credit cards.”
“Look at her, with her lying, thieving self!” said another woman, this one dressed in a smock over ill-fitting sweat pants. “I can’t believe she would show her face around here.”
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