Déjà Vu (4 page)

F
resh plants made the condo come alive. It had taken three days to make the place feel like Angelica, and now she sat back and smiled at what her magic had done. Her brothers were coming down for the weekend, and she wanted everything to be in order before they arrived.

Angelica brushed the back of her head and rubbed her neck to release the tension she was feeling. She looked at the phone several times before gathering enough courage to pick it up. She couldn’t bring herself to dial and hung up the phone.

Walking away, she suddenly turned back and dialed the numbers quickly before the voice in her head instructed her to hang up. On the first ring there was an answer, and Angelica was petrified.

“Hello.”

“Margo, this is Angelica. Just calling to see how you’re doing and perhaps interest you in lunch.”

There was some hesitation in Margo’s voice. “Sure. I’m on my way to show a house, but why don’t I pick you up? We can eat after I’ve finished showing the house, and we can catch up on the past five years.”

For Angelica, there was nothing much to tell. She was surrounded by prison bars, unable to touch, smell, or look into the faces of those who meant something to her.

“Okay. That will be fine.”

“Give me some directions, and I’ll be there in a few.”

Angelica gave Margo directions and hung up the phone. She went from room to room, picking up pillows and straightening up things so that everything would be in place when Margo arrived. Nerves started to replace the calm she felt when the day had started, but it was only Margo, the one person she could talk to about anything.

“Maybe I should call and cancel,” Angelica said aloud. “No, that’s the coward’s way out.”

With her hands on her hips, Angelica stopped short. Images of Malik crowded her head.
Were he and Margo having a thing in Jefferson’s absence? She could love a man like Malik—a strong and intelligent man.
Her head was confused. One minute she was thinking about Jefferson, the next Malik. But Malik was available and unattached, or so it seemed. Somehow, Angelica would have to find a way to ask Margo about it.

Angelica’s head jerked at the sound of the doorbell. She couldn’t believe Margo was already here. The mirror on the wall said she was a sharp-looking diva, and Angelica ran to the door before Margo rang the bell again.

“Hey,” Margo half whispered. She wasn’t sure if a hug was in order.

“Hey, yourself,” Angelica replied. “Come on in. It’s not much, but it’s home. I would have called you to help me find a place if I wasn’t in such a hurry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Commission isn’t everything.”

Angelica wasn’t sure if that was a slight or an attempt to make light of things in their awkward moment.

Margo glanced around the condo. She nodded her head in approval and stopped to pet the plants. “Nice place. Have you found a job yet?”

“No, I’m looking,” Angelica lied. She was going to enjoy getting up late and watching the news stories, the soap operas, and
Oprah
. When the time came for her to look for work, she would.

“Malik has an opening for an office assistant at his computer store.” Angelica perked up then thought,
Funny, Malik hadn’t mentioned it yesterday.
“He is so talented,” Margo continued. “He builds computers for his customers, and he makes good money.”

“Is Malik dating, again?” Margo frowned at her. “With Toni’s tragic death, I thought he might be…”

“Lonely?”

“Did I say something wrong? I’m not interested in Malik, if that’s what you think. I’m so out of the loop, and…”

“I’m sorry. I’m a little overprotective when it comes to Malik. He’s like a brother to me and I tend to react irrationally sometimes when it comes to his well-being.”

Tell me anything,
Angelica thought to herself.
Margo knows she wants to hit that; everyone else does, including me. No man in five years or at least she’s pretending like she’s had no one. Like a brother—humph.

“I’ll give Malik a call to see if the job is still available.”

“I think we should go. I’m supposed to meet this couple in twenty minutes to show the house. If you want, I can take you by Malik’s while we’re out.”

It wasn’t what Angelica had in mind, but it might be the right introduction for the start of her new life.

“Sounds like a plan.”

It was amazing to watch Margo create a thing of beauty, taking her clients on an Alice-in-Wonderland adventure as she shared all the wonderful intricacies and secrets of the homes she showed. It was almost as if she had a magic wand in her hand and, with a tilt of her wrist, she would have the client clinging to her every word, glancing about the room as Margo waved the wand because
the client didn’t want to miss any attribute that Margo thought most worthy of description. Angelica would have bought every house Margo showed if she had the money to do it.

Margo had a bite, and it was about to be her lucky day. A smile crossed Angelica’s face as she watched the husband and wife go back and forth until they finally settled on the house they wanted. Life was all about decisions—especially the right ones.

Margo cruised down Bragg Boulevard. Bottoms Up, The Dollhouse—Angelica cringed. Memories of a time she would rather forget flooded her mind. Her best friend Margo had no idea she used to pole dance for a living. That is where her ex-husband Hamilton found her, giving it up to a pole because it was the easiest money she ever made.

They fell into their seats at the restaurant. After placing their orders, there was an awkward silence. Angelica tapped the table lightly.

“Look, Angelica,” Margo said. “Let’s try and relax.”

“I’m all for that. I want you to know, Margo, that…”

“There’s no need to rehash bitter moments.”

Angelica placed her hand over Margo’s. “Margo, Jefferson and I did not have a relationship. I had gone to warn him about the hit on his life. I’m guilty of turning my back on Hamilton and Jefferson with the mob boss.”

“Why, Angelica?”

“I know I was selfish. Hamilton had degraded me to nothing. Every detail of our bitter divorce was in the newspapers, and when Santiago approached me offering a life of grandeur and enough jewelry to keep a sister happy for life, I fell for it. I can’t say that I was proud of what I’d done, but I waited too late to redeem myself.”

“That’s quite a story, Angelica. I want to believe you, but it’s past tense.”

“But, Margo, if we are to get past this, I need you to know the whole story—the truth.”

“I’ve forgiven you.”

“Yes,” Angelica sighed. “I don’t take that lightly. But Margo, you and I…you and I were more. We were friends. You were the first real friend that I had.” Margo smiled. “It’s sad. I know that it took thirty-eight years of my life to finally meet someone I could totally confide in and feel that they would lay down their life for me.”

“I would have, you know. What about you, Angelica? Would you have laid down your life for me or taken mine from me?”

Angelica released her hand from Margo’s. The truth hurt. While Margo had forgiven her, the wound was still there.

“All I can say, Margo, is that I’m sorry.”

“Have you told me everything? I do want to believe that, but let’s have lunch since it has arrived, and we’ll discuss this later.”

The waitress placed their meal on the table. Angelica fingered her food and stifled a tear. She felt like a stranger with her best friend.

“How’s Jefferson?”

Margo laid her fork on her plate and looked into Angelica’s eyes.

“Jefferson is doing fine. We are working through our issues.”

“You know he was on his way back to you when I told him about the hit,” Angelica added quickly. Margo stopped chewing her food and stared at Angelica. “He told me he had made a mistake with Linda, and that you were the best thing in his life. He loved you without a doubt, and he had to make you understand.”

Margo sighed. “It would have been nice if he had told me himself.”

“He thought that he might not get the chance to tell you.”

“I’m glad to hear this.” Margo began to choke up. “Angelica, I have loved Jefferson from the first day I met him. We were a team; we were one. There isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for him or he for me. I don’t know what went wrong, but I still love him and always will.

“I bore this man four beautiful children whom we have nourished and given the best years of our life together so they would be good people. It was the family I always dreamed I would have. Things happen in life, but I wasn’t ready for Jefferson’s indiscretions and illegal activities. Linda was one thing but you, my best friend, are another. I couldn’t digest it, but I hope you’ve been upfront with me today. You’ve paid your dues, and now I’m looking forward to the day Jefferson comes home.”

“I pray that you and Jefferson will heal from all that has happened to you.” Angelica looked up and smiled at Margo. “Thank you for giving a girl a second chance.”

“We still have a long way to go on our friendship, but welcome back, friend. Now let’s eat.”

Angelica smiled again and squeezed Margo’s hand. She had her friend back.

Malik was busy explaining the ins and outs of the computer system his customer was picking up. When he looked up, his eyes shifted between Margo and Angelica. Surprise registered in his eyes, and he lifted a finger and mouthed one minute. Malik helped the customer take the computer to his car and returned.

“So, what brings you two to SuperComp Technical Solutions?” Malik asked, directing his question at Margo.

“Angelica is in need of a job,” Margo began, “and I think you told me you needed office help.”

It was soon clear to Angelica that, while Malik might have an opening, she wasn’t going to be the recipient of it—Malik’s body language said as much.

“I do, and I’ve already interviewed a few ladies for the job.”

“What if I donated my time?” Angelica spoke up. “It’ll keep overhead down.”

“It’s not that, Angelica.”

“It’s because I’m a felon. Is that it, Malik?”

“Okay,” Margo interrupted. “Bad idea. We’ll go.”

“When can you start?” Malik asked.

Margo smiled.

“Tomorrow,” Angelica said, not wasting another precious moment.

“The hours are nine to six, and don’t be late. If it works out, maybe we can think about permanent.”

“It’s a deal.”

“Margo, what you fixing for dinner tonight?”

Angelica looked between the two of them. She knew there had to be something going on.

“Malik, there isn’t going to be any cooking at my house tonight. Angelica and I are going shopping and we’re not sure what else the night holds.”

“Nine o’clock,” Malik said to Angelica.

“Gotcha, brother. I will be here on time.”

There was something about Malik that Angelica couldn’t put her finger on. He always deflected her advances, even when he was a serious, single bachelor. He was Jefferson Myles’ best friend, but that could not have been it. Angelica was sure Malik didn’t want her around, but she planned to be all up in his face.

A
ngelica was up early. She was like a schoolgirl in love. The thought of being with Malik for eight or nine hours excited her. Maybe Fayetteville had something to offer after all.

She picked out a lime-green, lightweight suit. The skirt hit an inch above the knees, and the jacket had a fly-away collar that buttoned just below her cleavage. She found a pair of two-anda-half-inch heels so she could look up into Malik’s eyes. It was going to be a good day. She could feel it.

Malik smiled when he saw Angelica standing at the front door, waiting to be let in. She smiled back and moved away from the door so he could let her inside. His cologne was intoxicating, and she fought the urge to run her hands through the curls in his hair.

“I am
so
ready to get started,” Angelica said, trying to cut through the slight strain or whatever it was that settled over the office.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll show you where you’ll be working after I put on a pot of coffee.”

“Let me make it, Malik. That’s one thing I’m good at.”

“Okay, help yourself.”

Angelica felt Malik watching her. She made sure her best side was in view at all times. Although Malik was turning on computers and setting up for the day’s business, his eyes were trained on Angelica.

The morning passed quickly since business was a little slow. All receipts were filed and inventory entered into the system. Angelica waited for Malik to give her further instructions.

“Lunch time,” Angelica said heartily.

“I brought my lunch. I rarely get a chance to get away from the shop, except to deliver computers and help with setups. We can share a sandwich, if you like.”

“No, that’s all right. I’ll go out and get something.”

Malik walked to where Angelica was sitting, took a chair and sat down. He ignored the smile on Angelica’s face or the legs that extended beyond the short skirt she chose to wear.

“I’m not sure what your agenda is, Angelica, but I hope it doesn’t include hurting Margo.”

“Why would you say that? Of course not,” Angelica said with a frown.

“I want to believe you. Margo has been through enough without having to look over her shoulder every moment to make sure that she hasn’t made a mistake by letting you back into her life.”

“Are you and Margo seeing each other?” Malik’s eyes widened. “You were always friends, more Jefferson’s than Margo’s,” Angelica continued, “but I’m wondering if all the preoccupation with Margo is because you are more than a big brother.”

Malik got up out of his seat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Angelica. Margo loves Jefferson, and that’s where her heart is.”

“What about yours? I see how you look at her.”

“You’ve got it all wrong. There’s nothing between Margo and me except friendship. She’s my best friend’s wife and I happen to care about her and want to make sure she’s all right.”

“Whatever. You can tell me what you want, but I know what I see.”

“Draw your own conclusions. Fact is fact.”

“Look, I appreciate you letting me help you out, Malik. While I’d rather get paid, this will do for the moment. I’m going to be real with you. I want to get on with life, and hurting Margo is the last thing I want to do. I missed her very much. If I was half the woman…” Angelica stopped, lowered her head and then raised it. “If I was half the woman Margo has been, my life wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

“I appreciate hearing that, Angelica. You are beautiful.”

Surprise registered on Angelica’s face. “Thank you. Where did that come from?”

“Just stating what is.”

“I’m a little confused. All the times I’ve tried to get you to notice me, you’ve never given me a moment’s glance.”

“How do you know?”

“I’m stating what is.”

“Let’s say I thought about taking you on a road test.”

“A road test? You say that as if I was a piece of meat that you take out of the freezer if you get a little hungry.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Angelica. I apologize if it sounded harsh.”

Angelica got up from her seat and stood directly in front of Malik. “What is it that you don’t like about me? I know you think that Jefferson and I were together when he had the accident. We weren’t together the way you think; I had gone to warn him about the hit on his life.”

“So you’ve never been with Jefferson?”

“No,” Angelica said too quickly.

“Well, Ms. Angelica Barnes the Beautiful, my frat and best friend Jefferson must be a liar.”

“What are you talking about, Malik?”

“Why don’t you tell me? You’re turning over a new leaf. The truth might set your soul free.”

“Okay, Malik, this is over. I’m going to get some lunch, finish out my day, and decide whether I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Malik gently grabbed Angelica by both wrists. “Look into my eyes and tell me you and Jefferson haven’t been together.”

“Let go of me. Now. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Jefferson and I have not been together.”

Malik released her arms. “You haven’t learned your lesson yet, and you’ll never be the woman Margo is.”

“Funny, Jefferson said the same words to me.” Tears formed in Angelica’s eyes.

“See, I know all about how you seduced Jefferson while you were married to Hamilton. I know all the sordid details. Jefferson didn’t leave a seedy detail to chance. That’s what frats do. They share everything—their joys, their toys, and their conquests. Yes, it even got me to thinking about hitting on you, but I’m not the dog Jefferson is. He’s my boy, but I didn’t agree with half the things he did, especially where it concerned Margo. Margo has been his whole life, and I hate that I hold the kind of secrets that would hurt her to the core.”

“I believe my day here is done.”

“I will never tell Margo, you know. She never needs to know that her best friend is a pole-dancing ho who laid with her husband.”

“I hate you, Malik.” Angelica pointed her finger at herself. “You will never get to road test this because you’re not good enough. It takes a real man to handle Angelica Barnes. Ask Jefferson.”

Angelica turned on her heels and started out the door. She turned around and looked back at Malik with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you for nothing. I expected you to be more of a man than Jefferson. I guess I was wrong.”

Malik watched her walk out, stop, and then run back into the shop.

“What is it?” Malik asked with concern written on his face.

Angelica’s chest heaved in and out. “Oh my God!”

“What is it, Angelica? What happened out there?”

“I saw the guy who was on the bus with me when I left prison.”

“It’s probably a coincidence. Anyway, why would he be after you?”

“No, Malik. It was the way he stared at me. He was in jail for armed robbery and attempted murder. He told me things about Hamilton—some terrible crap that these guys are doing to him in prison, things only someone on the inside would know. But the frightening thing is he doesn’t even know me. And then he mentioned Ms. Macy.”

“Who’s Ms. Macy?”

“One of the corrections officers at the women’s prison. I have a weird feeling about that man. I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t feel good about it. If you don’t mind, I’d like to sit here a minute, and if you’re still offering half of your sandwich, I’ll accept.”

“Sure. You can have the whole sandwich; I’m not that hungry.”

“Malik, whatever you think of me, I’m not the same person you once knew. Yes, I am guilty of the things you accuse me of, but that was then and this is now.”

“What things?” said the familiar voice. “You need to get a bell in this place, Malik, so nobody walks in on you.”

“Margo, what are you doing here?” Malik blurted.