Destination D (36 page)

New Route

(2 ½ months later)

G
ood evening, Miss Madison. Here are the last of the testimonies from Tenson Enterprises.”

“Thanks, Grace. Listen, it's 6:00. Why don't you take off? I can handle it from here.”

Grace had been a paralegal at Richmond and Lieberman for a little over five years. Pam had only been at the firm for a couple months, but found Grace's knowledge of cases impeccable for someone who had led such a tumultuous life as a victim of spousal abuse.

“Are you sure? I don't mind, you know.”

“You can go home, Grace. I'm sure your boys will be glad to see you.”

Grace smiled. “All right, if you say so. I'll see you first thing in the morning.”

Pam thought about how her life and her personality had changed since she'd left Atlanta and fallen in love with Marc. With his support, she was no longer inclined to resort to intimidation tactics. The new Pam Madison had empathy for Grace's situation as a single mother with two sons. She looked at the clock on the wall and decided it was time to put an end to her workday. Anything else that was left for her to do could wait until tomorrow. After all, she also had someone waiting on her at home now.

As Pam prepared to leave, her cell phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, but decided to answer it anyway.

“This is Pam.”

“Hi, it's me.”

Pam recognized the voice right away, and for the first time in a long time she didn't know what to say. She paused for what seemed liked several minutes.

“Pam? Are you there?”

“Hi Amanda! How are you?”

“I'm doing wonderful! I must say, Melvin and I were stunned when we received your wedding gift, and quite frankly I still don't know how to react! But, I do appreciate it.”

Pam smiled and felt a tinge of relief go through her body. “Well, you deserve it. I realize that it won't make up for the countless hours you put up with me for the last three years.”

“Yeah, but twenty-five thousand dollars is a good start, Pam. Thank you!” Amanda laughed. “But, how did you know I was getting married?”

“You know I'm not at liberty to divulge my sources,” Pam snickered.

“Well, it smells like someone by the name of Carol Ann is behind this.”

“My lips are sealed, sorry.”

“So, how are things going with your new job and new paralegal?”

“Well, I must say that both are awesome, but you are the best and will always be. I just wish I had realized that a lot sooner than later.”

“It's all good, girl. If you and Dee ever do get together and start up that law firm, I'll be glad to put my resume in for the paralegal position.”

Pam chuckled. It was good to make amends with Amanda. “Well, I doubt very seriously that will be happening anytime soon. With me in New York and Dee, Lord knows where, it would take a long while to make that happen. Besides, if my memory serves me correctly, the last I heard was that a person still has to pass the bar,” she chuckled again. “And we both know that Dee is nowhere near close to making that happen. But, please send me your resume anyway so I can at least have it on file. You never know, I could end up back in the ATL.”

“Will do. Have you spoken to Dee since you've moved to New York?”

“No, we kind of parted on shaky ground. What about you?”

“No, I was kind of hoping that she'd make an appearance at the wedding, but she sent Tracey and me a text saying the she couldn't get a flight out down here. I think everything was overbooked.”

“Where's down here?”

“Oh, we're in Nassau.”

“Nassau? Dee should have known to have bought a ticket instead of relying on her flight benefits. She knows those flights are always booked solid! That woman I tell you…listen, here I go. I just want to say congratulations to you. Nassau is a beautiful place to have a wedding.”

“It is and we love it. Well, you take care. Thank you again for the thoughtful wedding gift.”

“You are welcome and best wishes to you and Melvin.”

Connecting Flight

(almost 3 months later…)

D
ee sat straight up, swung her head back and looked Dr. Johnson right between his eyes. He was in his mid-fifties, distinguished-looking, but not nearly as handsome as Grimaldi. Dr. Grimaldi was right. He was an excellent doctor and he'd picked right up where Grimaldi left off. She took a deep breath as she stared out the window one last time. The once snow-capped mountains were now brown and the sun rested soothingly on top of them.

Dr. Johnson took off his horn-rimmed glasses and placed the stem in his mouth. “So, have you heard from Sedrick?”

“No, as a matter of fact, I wrote him several weeks ago, and I haven't gotten a response. I told him how wrong I had been and I would understand if he never forgave me. I took the money out of my savings to pay Sedrick back since he had given me a week to do it. I even went to my father and told him what I did, and he is loaning me the money I used to pay Sedrick back if I keep my promise. My dad's even been helping me with the rent until I find a place I can afford.”

“I see,” Dr. Johnson nodded. He paused and smiled reflectively while he put his glasses back on.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“I'm very proud of you, Dee. I must say that you've surprised me.”

Dee blushed. “Really? How's that?”

“When you first started coming to see Dr. Grimaldi, you and your father had a very strained relationship. Now, it appears that you have been able to overcome that.”

“Well, I told you I had to make him a promise first.”

“Yes, I know. We'll get to that. I like how you have taken charge of your responsibilities. Writing a letter to Sedrick and acknowledging your faults was a huge step. And then taking the ownership of paying him back his money—that's incredible. Look at you, you feel very confident. It shows in your mannerisms. You no longer have to stare at the floor to talk to me. And best of all, I can tell the lies have stopped.”

“Yes, well, I have no one else to lie to,” Dee joked. “Pam, Sedrick, Steve, and Chris. Poof! They're gone,” she said, throwing her hands in the air. “I don't want to experience that type of loss again.”

The doctor only nodded. “So what are your plans for Pam?”

Dee was silent. “Well, I sent Pam a letter at the same time I sent Sedrick's and I haven't heard from her either.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“I think they just need time. I've made some really bad choices and I've hurt them. I know that I have no one to blame but me.”

“Very thoughtful answer, Dee.” He paused then said, “Well, it appears that all that is left now is for you to take the bar that you've been studying so diligently for all of these months.”

Dee looked up at him like a doe caught in a headlight. Dr. Johnson looked concerned by Dee's reaction. “Did I say something to offend you?'

Dee was quiet and only shook her head. “I was going to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” “It's about the bar.”

“You do still plan on taking it, don't you?”

“Yes, that was the promise I made to myself and to my father. I took it a couple of weeks ago.”

“And you didn't breathe a word?”

“I was going to wait until I got my results back.”

The doctor stood up and grabbed both of her hands. “This is remarkable, Dee. Truly remarkable. Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement!”

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“So, that's it. You've set out to do what you've always wanted to do. You realize that you can lead a life being happy with who you are, and best of all, you are on your way to doing something that will be fulfilling and that can make you proud.”

Dee looked at the clock on the wall just as it was about to strike 5:00. She stood up and said, “Well, I see our session is over, Dr. Johnson.”

“My, that is a switch. I usually tell the patient when the session is over.”

“Well, I guess I'm no longer a patient, now am I?”

“No, I guess you're not, Dee.” He smiled proudly. “You certainly are not.”

Dee returned home to pack up the boxes in her sparsely furnished apartment. She was moving in a few days to something smaller and more affordable until she figured out how she would transition from flight attendant to lawyer. She unloaded the mail on the one table that was still left in the apartment and sorted through it. Tucked away inside one of the many magazines was an envelope stamped Return to Sender. It was the letter she wrote Pam a few weeks ago. She took her phone out of her purse and looked at Pam's contact information to verify the address. To her surprise, she'd inverted the last two numbers of the firm's address. She couldn't send it to Pam's home because she didn't know where she was living.

She threw the letter across the table in frustration and looked down at the next piece of mail. It was from the Georgia Bar Exam. Just as she was about to tear open the envelope she heard a loud knock at the door. Her heart stopped as she tightly clutched the letter. Maybe this was a sign that she shouldn't open it now. She opened the door and got another surprise.

“Hey!” she said, stunned.

Sedrick smiled and nodded. He was dressed in a pair of Levis and a white t-shirt. He looked so handsome and at ease since his practice opened. She'd never thought she would miss the ribbon cutting ceremony. But Sedrick had made it perfectly clear that he didn't want anything else to do with her the last time they saw each other, even after she paid him back his money.

“Can I come in?” Dee nodded and held the door open wider for him to step inside. “I got your letter a while back. I didn't know how to react at first. But I find myself reading it over and over again.”

Dee was still silent. His voice was so soothing. She thought about how much she had missed hearing it.

“I guess what I'm trying to say is…and I should have said this years ago, then maybe all of this would have been avoided. I love you, Dee. I always have, and if what you said in your letter is really true then I'm willing to give us a try. But I can't go back to the lies. Is it true, about Dr. Johnson? You said in your letter that he felt confident that you would be able to stop therapy soon.”

Dee couldn't believe what she was hearing. After all of this time, it was true. The one person that cared for her unconditionally was not in Miami or New York, but right at her back door.

Dee nodded slowly. “My last session was yesterday. I couldn't go back to the lying even if I wanted to.”

“Well, if that's true, then what do you think about what I said? But I want you to know that—”

Dee stopped him in mid sentence and pressed her lips up against his. He welcomed Dee's tongue in his mouth suppressing any doubts about a future with her. While still holding the envelope from the Georgia Bar Association, she placed her arms around his neck and held him close.

Final Destination

D
ee's flight landed at La Guardia Airport right on time. “245 Park Avenue, please,” she announced as she slid into the backseat of the cab. The driver took a glimpse of her through his rearview mirror and then did a double take.

“I've seen you get On the crew van a few times. You're a flight attendant, right?”

“Yes, I am. For a little while longer, anyway,” she remarked with a satisfied grin. The last time she was in New York she was visiting Steve. This was a new beginning. The bad luck she'd experienced with Steve couldn't possibly happen with Pam.

As she stared out at the immense buildings and long stretch of yellow cabs, she felt butterflies in her stomach. What would she do if Pam didn't want to see her? She pulled out the letter for Pam and the one from the bar association that had arrived yesterday and stared at them. If nothing else, she would leave them up front with the secretary for her to give to Pam. As the cab pulled in front of Pam's law firm, she pulled out her fare and handed it to the driver as she got out of the car.

“Thanks. Hope to see you next time you're in the Big Apple!”

Pam's building was located in one of the most prestigious areas of New York. Anything she could imagine was right outside her front door. A distinguished and portly doorman held open the door as Dee walked in and rode the elevator to the twenty-fourth floor. When she got off the elevator, she was immediately stopped by a wrinkled, gray-haired receptionist. Her voice was so irritating that it could peel paint.

“May I help you?” She looked up at Dee from her cat-eyed glasses. Her hair was piled high on her head in a beehive, reminding Dee of the lady from the old Outback Steakhouse Restaurant commercials.

“Hi, I'm Deidre Bridge. I'm here to see Pam Madison.”

“Is she expecting you?” The voice pierced through Dee's ears and zipped down her spine. How could someone with such an irritating voice be at the front desk?

“No, I don't have an appointment.”

“I see. Well, let me call back to her and see if she is available to speak with you.”

Okay, this was where the rubber met the road. It was totally up to Pam whether or not she wanted to see her. On the other hand, if she could somehow slip past Great Grandma, here, then she could just walk back there and not give Pam a chance to refuse. Dee wrung her hands while the receptionist picked up the phone and called Pam's office. She felt as if she was waiting in the lobby of a hospital for the test results of a life-threatening illness.

“She'll see you now,” the receptionist said.

“Excuse me? I mean, thank you.” The waiting was over.

A young, slender woman walked up to meet Dee. She was wearing a charcoal gray suit with a white silk blouse that rested neatly across the lapels of her blazer. She wore a simple strand of pearls, and her auburn hair was pulled back in a taut bun. “Good morning, I'm Angelica Ashbury, Ms. Madison's secretary,” she said, extending her hand to Dee.

“Hello, I'm Deirdre Bridge.”

“I'll take you back to Ms. Madison's office.”

Wow! Pam really hit pay dirt with this job. A gray haired watchdog, a personal secretary, and an office to die for! As Dee walked down the winding corridors, she couldn't help but picture herself sitting in one of the elaborate offices that seemed to ooze of sophistication. What a change of pace it would be from going from a job that lifted her into the air every day to one that kept her grounded all year long. As her mind began to wander, she heard Angelica's voice.

“Here's her office,” she said, knocking twice on the paneled door.

“Come in,” the familiar voice answered.

Angelica opened the door and poked her head in. “Miss Deirdre Bridge is here to see you.”

“Thanks, Angelica. Send her in.”

Dee felt like her feet were frozen to the floor. Angelica held open the door. “You can go on in.”

Pam was seated behind a desk that looked the size of her entire home office back in their old apartment. She rolled around in her leather burgundy tufted chair, stood up, and walked emotionlessly over to Dee. Her spiked four-inch heeled pumps still made her diminutive in comparison to Dee, who was statuesque even in the pair of flats she was wearing.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I know me coming here comes as quite a surprise,” Dee said wringing her hands together and focusing on the two padded mahogany chairs seated in front of Pam's desk. “Do you mind if I sit down?”

“Help yourself.” Pam pointed to one of the chairs nonchalantly.

Pam watched as Dee sat down and pulled two envelopes from her purse. “Listen, Pam, I know what you're thinking. Sedrick told me all about the conversation he had with you about the money. I know you were in Atlanta to attend his grand opening, too.”

Pam said nothing, but she raised an eyebrow. Her hands were folded tightly behind her back.

“Sedrick and I have mended our friendship. I'm not sure how much he's told you, but I've been working really hard and getting myself back on track.”

Pam still had nothing to say. Dee's words were meaningless. It sounded like a boring tune with unmoving lyrics.

Dee picked up on Pam's cool vibes instantly. If there was one thing she knew about Pam, it was that she better have some backup to go with the song she was playing. This one was falling off the charts quickly. She handed Pam the first letter, still in its original envelope.

Pam inspected the envelope carefully to make sure that she hadn't forged the words Return to Sender. It looked legit. She opened it and read it.

Dear Pam,
I don't know what to say, other than I have been really irrational in my thinking, lately. I'm not sure how much Dr. Grimaldi is allowed to tell you, but he recommended me to a new therapist and I have been working with him since you left and am making strong strides in getting rid of the demons of failure that have engulfed my dreams for so long. It's too bad that I had to lose everyone I cared about or loved before I decided to stop the lying. I've lied to you, Sedrick, and many other people in my life. But, worst of all, I've lied to myself.
Pam, I hope you will eventually find it in your heart to forgive me for not using your money for what it was intended. I am sorry, and I promise that I will pay it all back to you. I have allowed your successes to fuel my insecurities for many years, and that's no one's fault but my own. I am proud of your decision to leave SMS. You have a lot more courage than I ever would have in leaving something that seemed secure and then to turn around and venture out onto the unknown. Also, congratulations on your new career and your new relationship with an honest and good man. I really do wish you and Dr. Grimaldi the best, now and forever.
As for my plans for the future, I can honestly say that I have been studying for the bar exam. I am proud to say that I have scheduled to take it within the next couple of weeks. Pam, you are, and will always be, my best friend. I only hope that one day you'll let me be yours again.
Love Always,
Dee

Pam folded the letter and put it back in its envelope. Her reaction mirrored Dee's tearful one. Dee handed her the second envelope from the Georgia Bar Association and waited for Pam's reaction as she read the letter.

“I'm so proud of you! You passed!”

“And on the first try, too!”

“Man, check out these scores! They are off the charts,” she said as she grabbed her friend and hugged her as if she had been lost and found after several years. They both were crying.

“Thank you, Pam! I'm so glad you approve!”

“Approve? I'm elated!” She sat down and pulled a tissue from her desk and handed one to Dee. They both blew their noses at the same time and giggled like two high school seniors who were about to embark upon their first day as college freshmen. There was a silence that filled the air and suddenly they felt like a void was between them. Dee decided to break the silence.

“I heard that you and Amanda have finally squared away your differences.”

Pam nodded. “Let me guess who told you?”

Dee smiled and nodded. “Yes, it was Tracey. She emailed me this wedding picture and told me,” she said showing Pam her phone.

“Oh, they look so happy!” She handed back the phone. “It felt good talking to Amanda. I must admit, I'm glad that's behind us now, and we can move forward.”

“Yes, that would be a nice change.”

Dee immediately noticed the sparkling rock on Pam's finger. “Pam, that is so gorgeous!” She grabbed Pam's hand and pulled it toward her.

“Marc asked me to marry him!”

“Oh my God!” Dee screamed again. “First Amanda, now you! Congratulations!” She grabbed her neck and hugged her. “The three of us are going to have to get together and celebrate! So, when is the big day?”

Pam shrugged her shoulders and looked giddy. “We haven't decided yet. As soon as we both find a date on the calendar when we are both available,” she laughed.

“So, how is he doing?”

“Well, you already know that he's retired from his practice. Now, he's going to be taking some time off to write a book. Lately, he's been talking a lot about buying a home in Atlanta. He really loves it there.”

“So what does that mean for you?”

“Well, for now, that means I'll be commuting back and forth between Atlanta and New York. U-n-n-less…”Pam looked at her between giggles. “Dee, are you thinking what I'm thinking?”

“You've read my mind!” Dee squealed as they hugged each other again and screamed like two teenagers at an Usher concert.

Their long-awaited Atlanta law firm of Madison and Bridge was about to get underway, and they already had their paralegal position filled.