Dr. Feelgood

by Marissa Monteilh

  I sat back down as quickly as I stood. The churchgoers clapped. Someone heckled and made inaudible noises.

  “I just know I didn’t hear someone whistle. And don’t tell me it was the Lord. Ladies, see now, you need to come to our next Women Thou Art Loosed conference conducted by Pastor Jakes next month.

  The churchgoers were amused.

  “Well, thanks for coming, both of you, Ms. Hart and Dr. Worthy. We’re glad to have you. And to all of you, thanks for blessing yourselves with your presence today. The message this morning could apply to that little whistle blower in the back row. The sermon today is about fulfilling your life by walking with God now, rather than later. If the world should end tomorrow, have you lived your life today? Not just the life you think you want to live, but the life God wants you to live. Many of you have loved ones who have passed on. So you know how short life can be.

  “I want you to turn to Isaiah 57:15, I live in a high and holy place, but also with Him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. So no matter what is going on in your life, no matter what sins you’ve committed or how low you go, God lives among or within His people. He lives with humble people to give hope and confidence. Mind you I said humble people. Now, let’s talk about the word humble for a moment.”

  I listened to Pastor Smith talk about the contrite and the humble, but my mind wandered to when we were in church on the day of Fonda and my little niece’s funeral. A large and a small casket, both in white and chrome, sat up front for both her and little Rosie. It was the same spiritual message.

  The elderly Reverend Hornaday spoke. “Here is a young woman, and a tiny baby girl, who have gone home to see the Lord in what some would say was far too soon. But, in God’s time, and with God’s will, whether you live a day or a hundred years, the bottom line is, once your life experience is done, you pass on. But, your soul still lives on because spirit never ever dies. And so this vessel of a body ceases to function, but in spirit, you will meet Fonda again, and you will see little Rosie, but only if you’re ready when that day comes. In spirit, they live on. In memory, they are still in our hearts. Fonda Renee Worthy lived a life as a true child of God. She loved the church, she loved her mother, she loved her brother, she loved her daughter, and she so loved the Lord. She always had a smile on her face and a helping hand to lend, even at the tender age of thirteen. But, she’s with the Lord now, resting in peace.”

  Dad sat beside his cousins two rows behind us. I looked back, and his pain, the agony of losing a child was written all over his face. I held tight to Mom’s hand. She put her weary head on my shoulder and wept like a baby. My heart was broken in two.

  The reverend spoke again. “Yes, you’ll see her again. And on that day, will you be ready when you stand before the Lord? Ask yourself if you can answer God’s question affirmatively like Fonda answered. Have you served the Lord? I say to you, come up now and tell us that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.”

  The present-day voice of Pastor Smith spoke louder in my head once again. “I suggest that you come up now. Don’t be shy. So while heads are bowed and eyes are closed, those of you who are ill, who have addictions, who have lied, who have stolen, who are in need of money, or of a friend, or of peace of mind, please stand up. Stand up now. Stand up and come up to the altar. Christ stood for you so now you can stand for Him.”

  My feet wouldn’t cooperate with my head. My thoughts were to go up to seek peace, but my actions were that it could wait, as if tomorrow were promised. Here I was this playboy sinner of a big brother to a saint of a little sister, who the Lord let live longer than she. Maybe, just maybe, He wasn’t done with me yet.

  It’s Sunday night and I’ve heard it said that nothing good ever happens after three in the morning. It’s already three-oh-two and there was a knock at the door. I opened it after looking through the peephole. I must be drunk or dreaming.

  I pulled the door open and stood in amazement.

  “What the fuck is up with all those bitches?” Her frantic voice slapped my eardrums.

  I stood stunned, still trying to open one eye. Surely the other eye was deceiving me. “What the fuck is up with you, Georgia? It’s three in the morning.”

  “All of those damn calls on your cell.” She stood without makeup, no purse, no jacket, resting her weight on her right leg with her arms crossed like she actually deserved something.

  “All of what calls? You mean to tell me you went through my cell phone? You had no right.”

  “You have no right to keep a harem like you do, Makkai.”

  I stepped out into the chilly air, pulling the unlocked door closed behind me. “First of all, I never told you anything to the contrary. Besides, most of those calls are from patients anyway.”

  “Bullshit. How about Royale and Magenta? Sound like hoes to me. And Mary Jane? Must be a stripper.” She rolled her neck and her eyes.

  I dared not tell Georgia she needed a Tic-Tac. “You dialed those numbers last night?” My eyes were fully functioning now, expanded so wide they were bulging toward her forehead.

  “You’re damn right.”

  I pointed in her jealous face. “You know what? You are fucking crazy. Are you trying to ruin my reputation by bringing my drama into my patients’ lives? What did you say to them?”

  She glanced down at her light-blue tennis shoes and crossed her legs at the ankle. “Nothing, I just hung up.” Her gear-shifting moods reeked of instability.

  “Damn, Georgia. What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? This is my reputation you’re screwing with.”

  Her pissed-off eyes found mine. “Oh, so I get it. You’re more worried about you being protected than my broken heart.”

  “Broken what? What did I do to break anything? I never promised you anything.”

  “What about those things you say in bed, Makkai? Don’t even try it. You always tell me I’m the one and that I’m special. And then you take me out to let the world know about me. You introduce me to your mother and now I find this out.”

  “You’re kidding me, right? I let the world know who you are? I let a small group of people know your name is Georgia, my friend. I didn’t introduce you as my woman, my fiancée, or anything other than a friend.”

  “But, they know I must be someone special to you.”

  “You are, or should I say you were. But, not any damn more, I’ll tell you that. This is a side of you I’ve never seen and don’t want to ever see again. Now go home.”

  She stuck her neck out toward me. “No.”

  I pointed toward who knows where. “Go home to your kids and calm the hell down.”

  She planted her feet firmly, folding her arms. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Don’t make me.” I inhaled.

  “What? Call the police?” She stood firm. “You surely wouldn’t do that.”

  I let out the long-held-in breath. “What do you want from me, Georgia? Why not just go home and let’s call this thing off.”

  “I want to stay here tonight.” Her eyes spelled the word please.

  Surely I looked stunned. “Why?”

  “I’m feeling some real serious hurt here, Makkai, okay? Not that you would even begin to know what that’s like. Lord knows no one has ever gotten close enough to your heart to hurt you. God forbid.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  She raised her hand to wipe her tear-soaked cheek.

  I leaned down to connect with her eyes. “Georgia, why did you have to go snooping around when I let you in my home? We had a good evening and now this?”

  She sniffled. “Makkai, are you that good at making love like you’re in love but you’re not? I just thought you felt something for me.”

  “But, even if I did, you don’t expect this to be a way to bring us closer? I’m sure you see and talk to people and I have no right to intrude or question you. That’s your business.”

  “If you cared, you
’d make it your business.”

  I reached back to find the doorknob. “Well, you can’t make mine yours. Not like this.” I took a deep breath. “You know what, fine, Georgia. Come in. You shouldn’t be out in the street this late anyway. Crash here, right on my sofa. It’ll be time to get up soon anyway.” I stepped back to make room for her to cross the threshold.

  She looked stunned for a moment. It seemed as though a cat had her tongue and I hoped she’d never find it. But, dang it, as she stepped inside I realized this woman just couldn’t seem to keep her mouth shut. “I really did enjoy being invited over here with you. It took years to get here, though.”

  I tossed a blanket and a pillow her way. “I’m never even here myself.”

  “That’s a shame. It’s a beautiful home.” She stood over near the wall where my awards hung. Did she really have two personalities? Okay, maybe three.

  I spoke to her back. “Good night. And don’t touch anything.”

  Chapter 16

  Georgia

  I didn’t dare. Watching him walk away looking like a stud of a male model, the only thing I wanted to touch was him.

  By five o’clock, the first morning light of day had not shone yet. Makkai’s house was dark and still. I lay on his playpen sofa in my nylon sweat suit and bobby socks, with his velour blanket over my body, trying my best to close my eyes and doze. It had been my second night without sleep. I never even went to my mom’s house to get the girls. I promised my mom I’d be there in the morning.

  Before I knew it, I was on the third flight of stairs. And this time, I wasn’t worried about Makkai’s phone, or other women. This time, I wanted him to feel me, and remember me, to remind him how I made him feel. I wanted to make love to Makkai, whether he loved me or not.

  “Baby, wake up.”

  “What?” he asked his clutched pillow.

  Under the glow of dim mood lighting, I stood next to his huge bed and removed every stitch of my clothing, releasing them onto the bedroom floor. I climbed on top of the unmade side.

  He peeled his eyes open. “What are you doing?”

  I crawled toward him like a lioness, naked and ready. “I want you. I want you just like this. I want to wake up to you and be the first person you talk to and touch in the morning. Baby, lay back.” I pulled the covers toward the foot of the bed.

  Makkai laid his head back. I felt his upper body surrender. He was quiet and very warm. I moved my body downward, down to his penis, and it was limp. I kissed it through his clothes. I pulled down his gingham pajama bottoms, and he assisted me by lifting his backside. I took him into my hand and placed him inside the wetness and warmth of my wide-open mouth. I swirled my tongue and kissed his tip and inserted him in and out, over and over again, guiding him with my hand, adding major saliva to make the handling extra slippery as my thick lips sucked his length. Slowly, he started to extend, expanding inch-by-inch. Before I knew it, he was full-grown within my mouth and moaning.

  I spoke seductively on purpose, looking up at him while giving wide, nasty eyes. “Can I sit on it, Makkai?”

  “Yes,” he answered with a moan.

  I moved up, preparing to rest upon his exact spot, when he reached over, rummaging through the bottom drawer of his chest. He secured a Magnum condom upon himself, and it stood straight up, totally cooperating, waiting for me to take it in.

  I straddled him and eased it inside of me, circling my hips and grinding straight forward and back, listening to the sound of the skin friction from our bodies pumping together.

  “I want to have your baby,” I whispered directly into his left earlobe.

  He sounded lost but didn’t miss a beat. “Uh huh.”

  “We’d be so good together. Having one for you would make it perfect.”

  “Uh, huh,” he said again. “Georgia, uuuh, yes, oh, it’s so good. Do you feel that?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He opened his eyes. “Are you gonna cut out all of this crazy shit you’ve been talking?”

  “Yes, Makkai.” I stared straight back at him.

  “It would be a shame if we couldn’t do this anymore, if I couldn’t feel your insides like this. It would be a shame if I couldn’t cum inside of, of, cum inside of you like this. Oh, Georgia. Uuuuggggppphhh. Dammit!” His grunt and stillness symbolized his ejaculation.

  He broke our stare. The sound of him receiving the pleasure I brought him was such a turn-on. I wasn’t even worried about mine. I lay my breasts down upon his defined chest and hugged him tightly, with him still inside of me. I was still bouncing my ass like I was in a big booty movie, contracting until I had every bit of his final throb.

  “We’re so good together,” I whispered as I felt him deflate inside of me.

  He then moved me, scooting out from under me, and he walked into the bathroom to remove his sperm-filled condom. I got up from his grand bed and approached him from behind, checking out his fine, toned body. I planted kisses on his wide back, following the definition with my tongue, then down to his trim waist, and then on down to his firm, strong ass. I took each cheek in my hands. He made an about face, and before I knew it, his hardness met me and he was deep in my mouth again. I released him and stood straight up, keeping one hand on him below, and led him back to the bed where I got up an all fours. He grabbed another condom and placed it on himself before plunging straight on into my deepness. After a few good pumps and him feeling me clapping loose-booty all up against him, he buckled on top of me and was still. That was two for him, none for me. But, that was just how I wanted it.

  “Baby, here, take that off. I’ve got it,” I said as I rolled him onto his back.

  “No, I’m cool,” he said. He covered his dick with his hand and started to doze.

  I got up and went into the bathroom where I turned on the copper faucet and closed the door. Boy even had the tops of his Versace cologne bottles engraved with his initials MW.

  I didn’t want him to hear me pee. But, the pee wouldn’t come anyway. I sat on the toilet and looked around at the manly towels, the contemporary wallpaper, the beautiful black art on the walls, and then I looked down. The first condom he’d placed inside of the toilet stared at me. I reached inside and grabbed it as tepid water dripped from my hand. I lowered the lid and sat on the toilet, leaned back, bending my knees up toward the ceiling, and inserted the condom deep inside of me.

  I exited the bathroom, found my sweat suit and got dressed. “I’m going to go ahead and get home.

  It’s almost six, and I need to pick up the girls soon. I’ll let you sleep.”

  With half-open eyes, he glanced over at me, almost looking like he’d hoped he was dreaming. “Okay.”

  “I’ll lock up.”

  His eyes widened. “No, I’ll walk you out,” he said, coming to a stance, slipping on his pajama bottoms. He went to the bathroom and flushed the other condom, washed his face and hands, and proceeded to take my hand as we walked downstairs to the front door.

  I stood before him. “Will I see you again, Makkai? I really am sorry.”

  He gave long blinks. “We’ll talk about it.”

  “You’re mad at me.”

  “I’m tired, Georgia.” His chest looked so good.

  “I’m sorry. I think I’m about to get a visit from Aunt Flo. You know, just hormonal and stuff.”

  “It’s cool.” He put his hand on my back. “Go home, Georgia. And be safe.”

  “I will. I love you.”

  He closed the door as my sentence ended.

  I rummaged through the white pages and there it was.

  “Hi, Mrs. Cotton. This is Georgia, Makkai’s friend. How are you?”

  “Oh, I’m fine. How nice of you to call. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  Oh, hell. As I sat at home one afternoon more than one week later while the kids were in school, I realized it was her voice I’d heard that sounded so familiar when I called the number I took from Makkai’s cell. She must have been sleeping then, because now, s
he didn’t sound sexy, or groggy, or pissed off. I can’t believe I did that. “I just wanted to tell you how nice it was meeting you the other night.”

  “It was my pleasure. You seem to be a very sweet girl.”

  “Thank you.” I played twirl and roll with my hair.

  “How was your day? Did you work today?”

  “No, I wasn’t feeling well.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure. Just feeling a little nauseated, that’s all.”

  “Well, take it easy and perhaps you can try some Pepto Bismol. That works for me every time, especially when I eat food that’s a little too rich for me.”

  “Okay. I’ll remember that.”

  “Did you eat anything different lately?”

  “No.” I didn’t tell her that I hadn’t been eating at all.

  “How are the girls?”

  “They’re fine.”

  “I still can’t believe how gorgeous those girls are. The two of them together in that picture is just priceless.”

  “Thanks. You know, I was going to ask you, do you mind if maybe I stop by tomorrow? I have an appointment for Treasure and Love to take new pictures, and it’s in the Crenshaw mall right around the corner from you.”

  “That would be great. What time would that be?”

  I flipped through my day planner. “Around noon. We should be done by then.” “Okay. Do you know where I am?” “I know you’re in Baldwin Hills. I know we dropped you off on Cloverdale, right?”

  “Yes, it’s 3802 Cloverdale Avenue. It’s at the southeast corner of Cloverdale and Coliseum, just west of La Brea.”

  “Sure, I remember where it is.” “That’ll be so nice. Thanks for thinking of me. My husband Al should be here, too. Makkai is coming by at six tonight to take me to dinner. Are you coming?”

  “No. I haven’t talked to him about that.” “I see. Well, Georgia, thanks for calling. I’ll see you and those baby dolls tomorrow.”

  “Okay. See you then. Have a good night.” “You, too.”