Destination D (35 page)

Off Course

S
edrick opened his briefcase and took out one of the books he had just purchased and wrote:

Believe in yourself, because I sure do.
Love,
Sedrick

Before he could press the button to the elevator his cell phone rang.

“Hey Sedrick. It's Pam. Did I catch you between patients?” she laughed. “I wish. I had to take some time off and get things finalized for this grand opening. I'm practically spending the night with these contractors. If I don't stay on them, they will take their time and keep spending my money.”

“I wish I was there to help put some fire under those boys. You watch ‘em cause they will drag your building out for as long as they can and give you a nice bill at the end.”

“I know. That's what I'm trying to avoid.”

“Well, I wanted to let you know that I'm definitely going to be there. Just make sure that you e-mail or text me the final details so I can arrange my flight. Where are you now?”

“I'm headed to check on Dee and to see how her roommate situation is coming.”

“That's nice of you.”

“Well, somebody has to look out for her.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Well, thanks to you, she was left high and dry without enough rent to cover the place until she can find a new roommate. So, I loaned her a couple of thousand dollars to tie her over.” Pam was silently seething through the phone. “Pam, you there?”

“Sedrick, did you just say that you gave her some money for the rent?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I'm dumbfounded as to why you did that because I gave her four thousand dollars to carry her ass until she found someone to move in!”

Sedrick put the phone down and stuck his finger in his ear and jiggled it. “What did you just say?”

“Four thousand dollars for my half of four months' rent.”

“That's what I thought. Ah right. Let me call you later.”

“Sed, you better talk to that woman. She sounds like she is losing her damn mind. How is she going to take money from me and then take money from you, too? Between the two of us, she can go a long time without finding anybody to live with her!”

“I said let me get back with you,” Sed said, trying to remain calm.

“I know this tone. All right, I'm going to hang up, but you call me as soon as you get to the bottom of it, okay?”

Sed got onto the elevator and rushed out as soon as he got to Dee's floor. He knocked on her door and took note that it was taking Dee a little longer than usual to open the door, so he put his ear to the door and thought he heard some movement. “Dee! You in there?” He knocked again.

When there was still no answer, he decided to use the spare key she had given him in case of emergencies. “Dee!” he called out again as he took out the books from his briefcase and placed them next to the door. He looked around the apartment and thought he had stepped into the wrong one. The peach-colored leather love seats were replaced with a new olive chenille sofa. The paintings on the walls had been replaced with the most unusual looking three-dimensional octagonal mirrors.

Dee walked in with a strange-looking, small-framed man dressed in lilac knit pants and a pink shirt with ruffles flowing down the front. His eyes were hard to see behind his tinted diamond studded-glasses. He reminded Sedrick of Elton John in the ‘70's.

“Hey, Sedrick.” Dee stumbled over her words. “I didn't hear you come in. Ah, how do you like the mirrors?” she said, trying to ease the tension spreading across his face. “Sedrick, this is Omar…”

Sed still remained calm. “The mirrors are cool. You look familiar Omar,” he said, trying not to stare at his eclectic mix of fashion. “Are you Dee's new roommate?” he said secretly hoping this was Omar's furniture.

“Oh, no! I'm helping to give the place a little face lift.” Omar twisted around to shake Sed's hand.

“I see. Then whose stuff is all of this?”

“It's Miss Dee's stuff, combined with my creation,” Omar admitted proudly.

That was where he knew this guy, from a picture that Miranda had taken with him at one of the home decorating shows when she was trying to convince him that they should get a place together. This guy was top notch in the decorating field.

“So, Miss Dee, what do you think you want to do in the kitchen?” Omar continued.

“Oh, this room. I like it just the way it is,” she said, feeling Sedrick's eyes pierce right through her.

“Well, you've given me your budget and I can work within it, so let's get back together in a couple of days. I'll call you.” He gathered up his belongings and blew her an air kiss as he headed toward the door.

“Nice meeting you, Sedrick!” He eyed Sedrick just long enough to make him feel uncomfortable.

“Same here, Omar,” Sedrick said anxiously. He couldn't wait for him to leave so he could get to the bottom of Dee's sudden decorating escapade. He felt his blood pressure rising. “Dee, how'd you get the money to pay for all of this?” he asked as soon as he saw the door close behind Omar.

“Sedrick, are you hungry? I just made some killer nachos.”

“Dee, answer my question,” he said, evenly.

Dee looked up at him sheepishly. “My brother sent me some money.”

Sedrick looked at Dee suspiciously. His voice slowly started to escalate. “Your brother? Last time we spoke, you didn't want to ask your family for any money. Now you're telling me that your brother gave you money to help decorate?”

Dee walked over to him and tried to calm him down. She took his hands and held them. “Sedrick, let me explain,” she said as he yanked his hands out of her grasp and turned his back on her. “Please, Sedrick Let me talk to you,” she said, placing her hand on his shoulder to get him to turn around.

Sedrick clenched his fists and looked at her with such disdain that it frightened her. He wanted to hit something. A wall. Anything that would let him release the rage festering inside him. He looked around the room again. “You're lying to me! Why would you do that? Look at this place! You're spending like you're one of them damn Atlanta Housewives on that reality show, except you're on steroids with your spending! It's me, Dee. I'm not one of these brothas you can just jerk around. I didn't intend on you spending my hard-earned money like this, and I'm not payin' for this bullshit!”

“Sedrick!”

“Listen. I just got off the phone with Pam. She told me that she just gave you four thousand dollars before she left. Add my two grand and you got six grand, according to my calculations.”

“I can explain, please!”

“I don't need any explanation. What I need is my money. Save your story for Pam, because when I tell her what you've done with her money, you're going to need more than an explanation.”

“But, I didn't mean to…”

“You heard me! I'm outta here. You've got till the end of the week!” he yelled as he picked up his briefcase and walked to the door. “Looking at you is making me sick!” He slammed the door behind him.

“Sedrick! No! Wait! Oh, my God! What've I done?” She looked down and noticed the books on the floor. All were on different techniques on how to study for the bar. She opened the one on top and read his note. Her hands shook as she thumbed through the pages. She held the books against her chest and hugged them as she watched her dear friend walk out the door and possibly out of her life.

A Higher Altitude

P
am was growing accustomed to her frequent jaunts to New York. The firm was still in the process of moving her belongings to Marc's apartment, which was a New Yorker's dream. Lavishly furnished, it highlighted his rich Italian background with a large assortment of sculptures and paintings from his country.

The three-bedroom, four thousand square foot apartment overlooked Central Park. She sipped on her coffee as she sat in the bay window seat reflecting on how she finally felt like she had it all. If only her father was around to see this. He would be so proud of her.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Marco's voice hummed through the room as he joined her on the window seat and stroked her hair. He was wearing a golden silk fabric monogrammed robe with nothing underneath it. “It's a lovely view, isn't it?”

“Fabulous,” she said as she looked at him lovingly. “And so are you.”

“New job, new home, and a great boyfriend. What more could a girl ask for, Counselor?” Marc said with a grin.

Pam hugged him. “I've never been happier. Thank you.”

“Well, I'm glad you're happy.” He kissed her on the forehead and held her close to him. She felt something stick her in her ribs.

“Ow, what ya got there? Is there something in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” she said in a playful imitation of Mae West and grabbed his hardened penis.

He laughed. “I didn't think you were old enough to remember Mae West.”

Pam smiled. “My father used to watch her old movies. And I've seen the reruns of Janet Jackson imitating her on
The Jackson Show
from back in the ‘70's.”

“Well, you do a pretty good imitation yourself.”

“All right, all right, you're changing the subject,” she said, looking down. “What was it that just stuck me?”

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Marc looked at her, pretending to be innocent. She put her hands underneath his robe and started tickling him all over his body.

“All right, I give…I give…Uncle!”

She stopped and eyed him daringly. “Give it up, mister!”

He reached down in his pocket and pulled out a small crimson velvet box. Pam was speechless as he opened the box and displayed a two-carat emerald cut diamond ring set in platinum. He slid Pam over on the seat and bent down on one knee. Pam felt tears trickling down her face as she tried to catch her breath.

“Pamela Madison, I love you. I want you to be my wife if you will have me,” he said as he slipped the ring on her finger.

The diamond shimmered on her fourth finger. It was a perfect fit. Just like the two of them. Her tears were flowing down her face as Marco caught them with the back of his hand and wiped them dry. All she could do was nod over and over again. The words were stuck in her throat.

“Should I take that as a yes, Counselor Madison?”

She continued nodding her head, then pulled him up and stood on the window seat so she could look into his eyes. She kissed him with all of the passion that had been buried in her heart for years. “Yes, Dr. Marco Grimaldi, I'll marry you.”

Dream Vacation

T
he white sugar beach and the sky-blue backdrop of the ocean looked like a tropical paradise. The breeze swayed lightly, giving Amanda's eggshell-colored gown an elegant flair as Melvin looked lovingly at her. He gently glided her veil away from her face. To him, she looked like an angel that had just been flown down from the heavens.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said as his white robe flapped lightly against the wind. “You may kiss your bride,” he said, then closed his Bible and watched the couple prepare for their first kiss as husband and wife.

Melvin bent down and held Amanda's face tenderly in his hands. The kiss was as warm and gentle as the sea breeze that was leisurely brushing past them. As they turned around to present themselves to their audience, Amanda's parents and Melvin's mother clapped as they walked toward the couple. Tracey and Rickey followed behind them as Rickey gave Amanda a congratulatory hug and Melvin a firm handshake.

“Thanks, man,” Melvin said.

“No problem. The wedding was beautiful.”

“No, I mean it. You didn't have to do this. Amanda and I really appreciate it.” Melvin said, referring to the fact that Rickey had flown everyone out to the Bahamas as a wedding present and a peace offering.

“Well, it's the least I could do.”

Melvin nodded as Tracey came over and hugged him. “Melvin, I'm so happy for you and Mama. This is the best place to get married,” Tracey said as she pulled the cell phone from her purse.

“Now, who could you possibly be calling during our wedding, Tracey?”

“Don't worry Mama. I'm going to take a picture of you and your new husband. Now smile,” she said, pressing the button. “And I'm sending this to Auntie Dee! Look at how nice you two look!” she said, showing them the photo.

“That's pretty good for a camera phone,” Melvin chimed in.

“I know,” Tracey smiled proudly while she soaked in the view of the beautiful scenery and breathed in the fresh tropical air. I think I want to do this too, when it's my time.”

“Your time?” Amanda said.

“That will be some time from now,” Rickey chimed in.

“A long, long, long, long, long, long, time!” Melvin yelled as everyone laughed and strolled down the beach to the wedding reception.

Flying Solo

T
he silence was deafening. Dee looked around the large condominium at all of the new furnishings within the last few days. New furniture, oil paintings, sculptures. You name it, she bought it. Her excuse was that she was trying to make it a place all her own. It had been Pam who bought most of the furniture when she was in Chicago. It was Pam's money, Pam's furniture, and everything in it had reminded her of Pam. Now it was her furniture and her taste. The only problem was that she'd squandered Sedrick's savings as well as the four months' rent that Pam had paid her. She knew she had taken advantage of them both and an intense feeling of remorsefulness came over her.

Dee picked herself up off the steps and walked to the phone, calling the only person she knew that could help her.

“Hi, Dr.Grimaldi?” Dee wiped her running nose with her sleeve. “Hello Deirdre, this is quite a surprise. I haven't heard from you in a while. How are you?”

Since Dee had broken all ties with him, she hadn't realized how much she missed the soothing sound of his accent. Dee swallowed the lump in her throat. “I've been trying to work things out on my own,” she said as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

“I see. How's that been going?”

“Not well. That's why I wanted to talk with you. I'd like to start my regular sessions again.”

There was a long pause and Dee wondered for a moment if they had been disconnected until she heard a troubled sigh at the other end of the phone.

“Dee, I'm sorry, I don't know quite how to tell you this, but I'm retiring. And besides, it's not in your best interest for you to continue seeing me as your psychiatrist.”

Dee felt like he'd pushed a knife inside her and twisted it.“ But why? I don't understand.”

The doctor sighed again. He could feel the strain that his words had on her.“ Dee, unfortunately, a boundary has been crossed, and as a psychiatrist I can't take the chance on losing my ability to stay objective. Ethically, I just can't continue because of this dual relationship I have with you and Pam. I have to stop seeing you as a patient.”

Dee's hands shook as she tried to hold the phone and herself together. How could he do this to her? She was at the end of her rope and he couldn't see her anymore?

“Dr.Grimaldi, you have to make an exception. Please, I'm begging you.”

“Dee, please. This is very difficult for both of us. But it wouldn't be right. I am confident, though, that I can recommend an excellent psychiatrist who has worked with clients with similar issues as yours.”

“I can't possibly start over again with another doctor. I have to see you!”

The doctor was silent. He felt caught in the middle. He was about to marry her best friend and knew it wasn't his place to tell her. “Dee, I'm sorry. But this is the way it has to be. Do you want me to give you a list of doctors or refer you to someone? You have grown a lot from our sessions, and I am confident that this next psychiatrist can help get you over the hump.”

“You are…leaving me…with no choice here, Doc,” she said crying between her words.

“Dee, I am giving you my only choice.”