On the Other Side

by Michelle Janine Robinson

  “That was my fault. There was never enough time with work.”

  “Well, consider this your belated shower.”

  While Wendy paid the bill, Tina was already headed toward the exit door at Fitzpatrick’s.

  Wendy raised her eyebrows, motioning in Tina’s direction, to which Damita laughed.

  “I mean, really, she didn’t even try to offer to pay the bill.”

  Damita laughed again and shrugged.

  Wendy retrieved her car from the parking garage and the three women got in. It didn’t take long to get to the West Side Highway area. Wendy let both Tina and Damita out of the car while she searched for a parking garage.

  Damita stood with Tina in front of a club named Gung Ho, wondering what she was in for. Within minutes, Wendy was back.

  “I got lucky and found a parking spot on the street,” Wendy said.

  Wendy looked at the people exiting the club. There was an interesting combination of both women and gay men leaving the club.

  “This should be interesting,” Wendy said.

  Once inside, the ladies senses were overwhelmed with loud music and the constant flow of alcohol. There were flashing lights, artificial smoke, to lend effect to the performances and there were even cages of dancing men hanging from the ceiling. The place was full of half-dressed middle-aged women in a frenzied state and men dancing, who wore even less clothing. As far as Damita was concerned, Gung Ho was as cliché as a strip club could be.

  Cocktails in hand, Damita, Wendy and Tina sat transfixed as the greased, sweaty bodies of scantily clad men, gyrated to music. They had been there an hour, when Damita was sure she saw someone she recognized. Not only that, he seemed to recognize her as well. He was watching her intently. Suddenly, she realized who it was. He was the driver that Neal had paid for the use of his vehicle overnight. Damita wondered if he had been watching that night. The intensity of his gaze was unnerving. She wondered if he worked there. After all, what reason would a straight man have to come to a strip joint full of half-naked men? Given the way he was staring at her, she was relatively certain he wasn’t gay.

  As the three women prepared to leave, the driver approached Damita.

  “Your husband asked me to make sure that you got home okay.”

  “My husband? My husband isn’t even home. He’s in New Jersey. How would he even know I was here tonight?”

  “That’s probably a matter for the two of you to discuss. Mrs. Westman, you’ve had a good deal to drink tonight. I’d like to make sure you get home safely, okay?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’d rather go home with my friends.”

  Wendy had parked her car in a local garage, so she got the car out and drove both Tina and Damita home.

  When Damita walked through her front door, Neal was sitting in the living room waiting for her.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Where have you been?” Neal asked.

  “I went back to work today. Wendy, Tina and I went out for a drink.”

  “It smells to me like you had a considerable amount more than one drink.”

  “It’s been a while since I’ve hung out with the girls. I had more than I initially intended.”

  “I sent a car for you, but the driver said that you declined his services.”

  “Wendy brought her car and I was having so much fun, I figured we could all enjoy the ride home together.”

  “Nice to hear you had fun.”

  “Neal, how did you know where I would be?”

  “Whenever possible, I try to ensure that Harrison is at our disposal. Also, it’s no secret that my inheritance was rather large. We have to be careful. There are people out there that would have no problem with harming either of us for a quick buck.”

  “You never mentioned any of this when we were dating. What do you mean? You’re not talking about kidnapping, are you?”

  “Kidnapping, robbery, scams; you’d be surprised the kind of shit that goes on out there. I want to make sure that we both stay as safe as possible. So, the next time Harrison offers you a ride, would you please take it?”

  “Okay.”

  “Did you have a good time at the strip club?”

  Damita laughed.

  “Did I say something funny?”

  “Until tonight, I always thought of strip clubs as a place with scantily clad women, with tassels on their breasts.”

  “I’m curious. Why would any woman go to a place like that?”

  “For the same reasons a man goes to a place like that.”

  “So, did you get a lap dance?”

  “No,” Damita said, laughing again.

  “That’s why men go.”

  “That is the difference between women and men. Most women go to drink, yell and scream and talk lots of shit. I doubt the male strippers even give lap dances. Some of them approach women and try to sit on their laps or dance with them, but they seem to zero in on the women who don’t look like they’re enjoying themselves. They also try their best to get women to stuff cash in their G-strings.”

  “That’s one aspect that is not gender specific.”

  Neal smiled and Damita was surprised to find that she smiled back. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol she had consumed or the fact that Neal seemed calmer and maybe even a little gentler. She also noticed that he looked a bit haggard.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “I’m fine. I need to get some sleep.”

  “Do you need anything?”

  “No,” he said.

  Damita watched him. He looked like he had aged ten years since they’d gotten married and they were barely married a month.

  For the next week, Neal slept a great deal and seemed despondent. He didn’t go to work for the entire week and barely ate anything. Damita was happy that he was not angry and assumed it had something to do with the time he’d spent in rehab. She came home every night and cooked dinner and though things were still tense around the house, she tried her best to be positive.

  One night for dinner Damita prepared a roast with plenty of vegetables and roasted potatoes, since she knew it was Neal’s favorite.

  “That was really good, Damita.”

  “Thanks. I was hoping you’d like it.”

  “I’m going to go back to work on Monday. That place must be a mess. I haven’t gone in or checked in for days.”

  “That’s how it was when I went back.”

  • • •

  The next day Damita called Carmella and met her for lunch.

  “He’s been different since he got back,” Damita said.

  “From what I hear, rehab is no walk in the park. It’s pretty tough.”

  “It looks like it was. I swear, when I walked in that front door and saw him sitting there, he looked like he had aged ten years.”

  “How have things been going with the two of you?”

  “It’s strange, Carmella. Lately there have been moments when I could actually forget what happened before he went to rehab. Do you think it could have been the drugs that caused his behavior?”

  “You know my opinion on that. But, like they say, opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one. In the end, all I’ll ever want for you is to be happy. I hope like hell that I’m wrong and Neal was so altered by drugs that it changed him completely. I hope that’s the case. It’s a lot easier to stop taking drugs than it is to change the person you are.”

  Damita began to settle into the routine of work and was happy to see that she hadn’t lost it. She was as good at what she did as ever. Neal also returned to his business and though his clients questioned his extended absence, he resumed several projects he had been working on. It was as if he never left.

  After weeks of both Damita and Neal walking on eggshells, they began to try connecting with one another.

  “I was thinking maybe we’d go to the movies tonight,” Neal said.

  “That sounds good. What did you want to see?”

  “Scary Movie 2 looks like it will be
funny. We’re both overdue for a few good laughs.”

  “The Wayans should do the trick,” Damita agreed.

  “We could make a night of it. Maybe have dinner after, unless you’re hungry now.”

  “I’m good. Besides, I want to save room for popcorn and Twizzlers.”

  “I almost forgot about you and your popcorn and Twizzlers. I don’t know how you can eat that junk and stay as tiny as you are.”

  “I was blessed with a killer metabolism. If that’s not enough, I burn it up working my ass off all day.”

  “I can relate. I don’t think I’ve worked more in my entire life than I have in the past few weeks. Business suffered while I was in rehab, but finally things seem to be rebounding.”

  “I’m glad. I know how important your company is to you.”

  “Not more important than you.”

  Damita wasn’t sure they were ready for moments like these, but she decided she was at least ready to try.

  They got to the movie theater early and found their seats.

  “Oh, we forgot your popcorn and Twizzlers,” Neal said, standing up.

  “No, I’ll get it. You’ve been working so hard lately. Relax.”

  As she was walking away, Neal called to her. “Damita?”

  “Yes, Neal?”

  “Thanks.”

  They both knew Neal was talking about more than Damita’s offer to get snacks.

  “Did you leave anything at the concession stand?” Neal said, laughing when she returned with her arms full of junk food.

  She smiled. “As a matter of fact, I forgot my Goobers.”

  “I don’t know where you put it all. Save some room. There’s a juicy burger out there with your name on it.”

  “Ooh, that sounds good.”

  The movie was exactly what they needed. Both Neal and Damita laughed more than they had in a long time.

  After the movie they decided to go to Burger Heaven.

  “So what did you think of the movie?” Neal asked.

  “Those Wayans brothers are crazy as all hell. It’s nice to see a sequel that’s as good as the original.”

  “You really thought it was as good as the first one?”

  “It was definitely as good as the first one.”

  Neal reached over and touched the bridge of Damita’s nose. “How on earth did you get ketchup up there? Slow down, kitten. No one’s going to take your food and, if they do, I’ll get you some more.”

  Damita’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered the first time Neal had used his pet name for her; kitten. The first time he called her that was the moment she knew she would love him forever.

  “I really missed this,” Damita said.

  “I missed it, too.”

  It was a beautiful warm night, so they decided to walk home. They stopped and looked in store windows and reminisced about places they had been when they were dating.

  “Oh my God, Neal, remember that place?”

  Damita was pointing at an Indian restaurant they had gone to on their third date.

  “Of course I remember. We were green for days. That was the worst food poisoning I’ve ever had in my life,” Neal said.

  “I used to love Indian food before that place. Now, I can’t even look at Indian food without feeling green all over again.”

  “Sounds like chicken saag to me.”

  “Yuck, Neal, that’s nasty. That’s an image I don’t want to have, especially after that huge burger and fried onions I ate.”

  They both laughed.

  Neal and Damita hadn’t slept in the same bed for quite some time. When it was time for them to go to bed, they were both uncomfortable. Lying straight as arrows on their respective sides of the bed, Damita was the first to break the ice.

  “I saw this in an old movie once and the woman insisted the man put a sheet between them, but they weren’t married. Why don’t you move over? I don’t bite.”

  Neal moved closer to Damita and propped himself up on his elbow. He reached down and moved her bangs away from her eyes.

  “Damita, I’m sorry about what I did to you. You don’t know how sorry I am. I learned a lot while I was in rehab, but I didn’t finish. I checked out before my time was up. I wanted you to know the truth. This night has meant more to me than you know, but I’m afraid it may be only temporary. I feel like something is broken inside of me; something that can’t be fixed. So, I want to say this, while I still have the strength to. I don’t think I could stand to lose you, but if I have to, now would be the best time for you to leave. I’m drug and alcohol free, and I have a better idea of what’s going on with me. So, Damita, if you want to leave me, you should do it now.”

  Damita stared at Neal, still unsure of what she was going to say. Then, suddenly, she knew what she wanted.

  “Neal, I love you. I never stopped loving you. If there’s a chance that we can work this out, I want to at least try. You seem like you’re better now; or at least getting better. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be one of those old couples, married forty or fifty years, who tell their grandkids about that dark period when Grandpa wasn’t so nice to Grandma.

  “Maybe we will.”

  Damita kissed Neal, drawing him into her with each breath. After making love, Neal tried to stay inside of Damita as long as he could. He didn’t want the connection broken. They clung to one another so tightly, it was difficult to tell where one body stopped and the other started.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Damita was surpised at how easy things became after Neal’s short stint in rehab. They even discussed things; like balancing their home life. They both were involved very deeply in their careers and they both agreed it was ludicrous to expect Damita to take on the traditional role of housewife. Therefore, they settled on taking turns cleaning and cooking and balancing it with dinner out. One night Neal decided they would go to his favorite French restaurant, Georges Bistro. The dimmed lighting and the Old World feel of the restaurant was relaxing and just what they both needed after a hard day at work. They drank plenty of wine and enjoyed a great meal of bouillabaisse, steak tartare and French apple cake. They left the restaurant, went home and made love. Damita couldn’t help but think that she actually felt happy.

  The next morning, Damita arrived at work with a smile on her face and humming.

  “Good morning,” she said brightly, upon entering the office.

  “Good morning, Mary Sunshine. Somebody got some last night,” Wendy said.

  Wendy joined Damita and walked with her to Damita’s office.

  Damita chuckled. “Damn! What do you have a sex radar or something? I just walked in,” Damita whispered.

  Once inside Damita’s office, Wendy spoke freely.

  “Those of us who are experiencing dry spells are typically acutely aware of when others are getting busy on the regular. And, you, my dear, are definitely getting busy on the regular. From the looks of that smile on your face, you’re more than getting it regularly; you’re getting it good and on the regular.”

  “Shhh,” Damita cautioned.

  “What? It’s just us girls here.”

  “Mr. Underhill gets in earlier than everyone else. Do you want him to hear what we’re talking about when we’re supposed to be working?”

  “From what I hear Mr. Underhill is the Energizer Bunny. I don’t think he’d mind a little harmless sex talk.”

  “Great! Thanks a lot, Wendy. Now I’ll have that vision in my mind, and just a few short hours before I have to eat lunch.”

  “What’s wrong with Undy? He’s hot!”

  “You would think so. We have really got to get you laid.”

  “That’s what I keep trying to tell you. I swear to God, my cherry’s grown back.”

  “You are so nasty,” Damita said.

  “Do you want to go out for lunch today?” Wendy asked.

  “That sounds good. How about one o’clock?”

  “One o’clock it is!”

  Wendy came looking for Damita
in her office and when she didn’t find her there decided to look for her in the restroom. As soon as she walked in she could hear someone throwing up.

  “Damita, is that you?” Wendy asked.

  “Yeah, it’s me. See, I told you your little anecdote about Mr. Underhill would make me sick,” Damita said, chuckling.

  “I don’t care what you say, he’s hot! Are you going to be okay?” Wendy asked.

  “Sure, I’ll be fine. It’s probably something I ate. Neal took me to this fancy schmancy French restaurant last night. I don’t think all that rich food agreed with me.”

  “I think a little more than some rich French food has gotten in to you.”

  “What are you babbling about now?” Damita asked.

  “If I were a betting woman, I would bet every dime I’ve got that it’s that rich husband of yours that gotten into you and not that French food.”

  “Huh?”

  “Neal and Damita sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Damita with a baby carriage.”

  “Now I’m convinced you’ve finally lost your mind. First of all, did you really just sing that elementary school song to me and second, I’m on the pill. I can’t be pregnant.”

  “Don’t you read the information provided with your medication? Abstinence is the only one hundred percent foolproof method of birth control.”

  “I’ve been on the pill for as long as I can remember and I have never had a slip.”

  “When was the last time you had your period?”

  “Uh, uh, I don’t really remember. I’ve had so much going on lately, I haven’t really been keeping track.”

  “So, let me see. You’re throwing up, you don’t think you’ve had your period and lately you’ve been eating like you’re Damita Whitmore-Westman, the human trash compactor. You know what all that adds up to? You’re pregnant.”

  “I can’t be. This is the worst time.”

  “You better go to the doctor and check it out; especially if you think you might want to manipulate the outcome, so to speak. In the meantime, we can go to the drugstore and get a home pregnancy test.”

  “Do you mind if we stop at the drugstore before we go to lunch? I don’t think my mind is going to be able to rest until I find out for sure.”