Destination D (9 page)

Close Connection

D
ee opened her eyes with care, looking and remembering her night. She stretched her arms, pulling the blanket and causing Chris to stir. His long eyelashes fluttered against the nape of her neck. One of his legs was draped across hers while his large, hardened penis rested insistently on the back of her buttocks as she lay on her side.

“Good morning,” Dee whispered into Chris's ear. Her stomach rumbled faintly.

“You hungry for more, baby?” Chris teased, poking her with his erection.

Dee turned to face him, firmly grabbing his cock as she nibbled on his ear lobe. “Actually, I'm
still
hungry for that French food you were supposed to order us last night.”

He thrust his growing organ into her hand and moved back and forth. “All right, now, don't start something you can't finish.” Dee's stomach growled louder as she laughed at him. “I can't believe you're waking up this early—hungry—especially since I filled you up with enough lovin' that should have tied you over at least until breakfast!”

“Oh, you've filled me up, all right,” she mused. “But I'd feel a lot better if I could order up some eggs and sausage with a side of pancakes.”

“Aight, aight, a brotha can take a hint. I'll call room service.” Chris turned to pick up the phone. “Oh, hell, naw!” Please don't tell me…” he groaned as he glanced at the clock on top of the nightstand.

“What's wrong?”

“Where's my watch?” Chris asked brusquely.

“Over there, on the dresser, but…” She watched Chris run in panic to the dresser and glance at the clock.

“Shit! It's 10:00!” Chris yelled.

“It's 10:00!” Dee dashed out of bed and grabbed her robe. Her crew pick-up was in thirty minutes, and she had to get this man out of her room, put on her flight attendant uniform, and get her behind in that lobby so she could catch her flight. How was she going to do all of that without blowing her cover?

“How in the world did this happen?”

“It's called not setting your alarm clock
before
you get your sex on,” Chris scoffed as he hastily buttoned his shirt and zipped his pants. “Now where are my socks and shoes?”

“You didn't wear socks, and your loafers are over there by the fireplace,” Dee said rushing over to retrieve them and tossing them to him while he hurried to fastened his belt and put his shoes on.

“Thanks, baby. Listen, I hate to run out like this, but I've got a meeting with my coach at eleven, and he will have my ass if I'm late again!”

She grabbed his hand and rushed him to the door. “Hey, don't worry about it. I've got to get out of here myself.”

He looked at her apologetically. “When will you be back in Miami?”

“In two weeks. For The National Conference of Black Lawyer's,” she responded, knowing that her schedule would bring her back to Miami at least four times that month.

“I'll see you in two weeks, then.” Chris pulled her into his arms and gave her a quick thrust of his tongue.

Yes, you most definitely will!

Chris grabbed his keys from the fireplace mantel and ran out the door as Dee scrambled to get ready for her flight. Fifteen minutes had passed when Dee's cell phone rang.

“Auntie Dee? It's me, Tracey!”

“Hey, darlin'! How are you?” Dee said, detecting a little anxiety in Tracey's voice.

“I'm cool. Did you get my text last night?”

“Ah…no. I've had my cell phone off. Is everything all right? ”

“I really nee—”

“Tracey,” Dee interrupted. “Hold on a sec, I've got another call coming in.” It was Chris. She hoped he didn't forget something. Dee seemed to be doing a bizarre dance as she tried to dress and juggle calls.

“Desiree, sorry to bother you, baby, I know you're probably on your way out. But I forgot to ask you something. I need a favor.”

“I'm getting ready to walk out now. I hope you didn't forget something.”

“No, I didn't. I'm not calling for me; it's for one of my team members. He needs a lawyer.”

Dee almost dropped the phone. “What does he need a lawyer for?”

“I think one of his one-night stands is trying to pin him on a paternity suit.”

“Oh, I see. Yes, he would need an attorney but…”

“Desiree, can you just talk to him? I didn't make him any promises, but I told him about you.”

“Ah…yeah…okay. I'll talk with him.” She suddenly felt the need to take the phone and hit herself upside the head with it.

“Okay, I'll bring him to meet you in the next couple of weeks.”

“Okay, see you then—gotta run! Bye, Chris!” Dee hurriedly clicked back over to Tracey.

“Tracey, are you still there?”

“Yes, I'm here. Is this a good time? You sound a little rushed.”

Dee looked at the clock as she closed her suitcase and gave herself a once over in the mirror. She knew she needed to rush to the lobby, but Tracey sounded like she really needed to talk.

“I'm going to put you on speaker, okay? I don't have my earpiece, and I still need to brush my hair and teeth. But, I'm listening. Go ahead.”

“This is kind of personal, Aunt Dee. Is anyone in the room with you where they can hear me?”

“Nope, just me,” Dee answered as she took a comb to her hair and then grabbed a toothbrush. While they were still on the phone, Dee gathered her suitcase and room key, then scurried out of the door while still trying to maneuver the phone to her ear. “Tracey, I'm about to get on an elevator, so I may loo…Tracey, hello?” she said while stepping into the elevator. The doors opened before she could dial Tracey back.

“Hey Dee, we're headed to the van,” Birdie announced with a wave.

“Okay, I'll be right there,” Dee waved back as she walked over to the checkout desk to turn in her key. Her phone rang.

“Hi Tracey, I'm sorry about that. I figured we would get cut off as soon as that elevator door closed.”

Tracey laughed. “Can you talk now?”

“I feel terrible about this because I can tell by your tone that this is a conversation that we need to have in private.”

Tracey sighed deeply. “And you can't talk now, either, right?”

Dee shook her head and looked at her watch. She could see the crew loading their bags on the van as she neared the glass doorway. “I'm so sorry darlin', but I'm headed to the crew van and I won't be able to talk now.”

“When will you be back in Atlanta?”

“I'm actually on my way back now and I'll call you when I get there.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Stand By

S
urprised to find Tracey at his front door, he said, “Hey, what are you doing here?” “I
had
to see you.”

“Does your mama know you're out this late?” He knew Tracey's answer immediately when he saw her staring at the floorboards. “C'mon, Tracey, you know better than to be out this late at night. Your mama will be worried sick about you.”

“Please, just a few minutes. I just had to see you.”

“No, Tracey, you've got to go home,” he said, escorting her to the door.

“Please? You said on the phone you had something you wanted to show me.”

“I know, but I didn't mean tonight! Besides, it can wait. I'll show you some other ti—”

“No! I don't want to wait!”

“Tracey, I'm not going to stand here and argue with you. You can get into a lot of trouble for sneaking out like this. Shoot! We both can! How'd you get here, anyway?”

“A friend of mine dropped me off.”

“Who?”

Tracey shook her head, and her eyes pleaded with him not to make her tell. “Listen, I'm going to get this for you and then I want you to go back home. Or I'll take you myself.” He quickly went in the bedroom and returned with a beautifully wrapped green and gold box.

“Oh, this is wrapped so pretty! How did you know my school colors?”

He smiled at her enthusiasm. “A green and yellow bird told me. Go ahead and open it.”

Tracey carefully unwrapped the gift then took out the black velvet box inside and caressed it. She finally opened it. She gasped.

“You like it?”

“I don't know what to say,” she whispered. “It's gorgeous, such a beautiful necklace.”

“Now, that's your birthstone in the middle,” he said, pointing to the large stone. “Your mama's is on the right, and mine is on the left. Now you can keep the two of us close to you when you go away to college.”

Tracey's eyes began to fill with tears. “Here, put it on me,” she said, pulling up her hair.

“Tracey, I just can't tell you enough how proud I am of you—I know your mama is too,” he said, working his hands to fasten the gold chain around her neck.

Tracey was silent for a moment as she twirled the precious stones in her hands. She hated that she had to sneak out like this. But that was how it had to be for now.

“Hey, there. Earth to Tracey,” he whispered in her ear. His gentle voice made her smile.

“I'm sorry. I just was a million miles from here.”

“I see that,” he said as he touched the side of her cheek.

She placed her hand on top of his and held it. “It's just hard to believe I'm sitting here with you and we are finally together.”

He looked at Tracey, lifted her hand and clasped it in his. “I already told you that it hasn't been because I didn't want to be with you. Or even try for that matter.”

“And you can't explain all of the returned letters?”

“I already told you. I never got them. Now, sweetheart, you've got to get back home before your mama finds out you're gone. That's if she hasn't already.”

Tracey had so many questions. Now was just not the time to ask. She squeezed his hand, and then placed it close to her heart.

In less than two hours she would be celebrating the end of her high school era. Now she was starting a new one. Going away to college, and getting to know her father.

Excess Baggage

G
reg buttoned his leather trench coat and checked the time on his cell phone for the second time in ten minutes. He was early as usual. Here he was, sitting on a park bench while a crisp and cool September breeze blew through his hair. If Pam came, she would show up on time…as usual. He looked at his watch again and it was 8:00 a.m. on the nose.

Pam's heart pounded double-time the closer she got to him. Her instincts told her to run in the opposite direction.

“Hey, there. Thanks for showing up,” he said as he stood up.

Pam nodded and gave him a brief smile.

“It's a little nippy today for this time of year.” Greg raised his coat collar. “You want to walk or sit?”

Pam shrugged her shoulders and tightened the belt around her all-weather coat.

“Okay, let's walk then,” he said.

Pam kept her distance between them. She looked like a miniature doll next to his 6'4” frame. His fair skin looked a little pale, considering. And he still kept his dark brown curls cut close enough that she could hardly tell that he had them.

His dreamy light gray eyes pierced through her, invoking an uncomfortable familiarity. She felt herself purposefully ignoring his gaze.

“It's
really
good to see you,” he said, trying to make eye contact. Pam gave a weak smile as she continued walking.

“Man, nature is so beautiful, you know? Wow! Look at those deer over there running!” He pointed and inhaled deeply as if it was the first time he had smelled fresh air.

“Everything just looks so different to me, now,” he said as he looked at her sadly. Pam nodded and her heart softened for a moment as they stood in silence and watched the deer.

“I never thought I'd see this again. Or you for that matter.” Greg turned to her, touching her hair, then stammered, “I messed up.”

Pam thought she could handle meeting with him, but she suddenly felt weak in the knees. She walked toward the duck pond and sat on the bench. Greg followed her and sat down next to her.

“When I was locked up, all I could do was think about you and what happened,” he said, barely able to look Pam in the eyes.

Pam took deep breaths, praying her tears would not come. She tried to refocus by shaking her head slowly and massaging her temples.

“Hey, I know that look. You're in that zone again, aren't you? Do you still keep that home office of yours like a temple to meditate in, like you did when we were back in Chicago?”

Pam found it sobering that he even remembered her idiosyncrasy. Nevertheless, she was not here to talk to him about Atlanta vs. Chicago. She tried to speak as calmly as she could. “Greg, what do you want? Why in the hell did you call me?”

“Baby…”

Pam raised her hand to Greg's face and her voice became louder. “Please…don't call me that. I never want to hear that word come from you again. Do you hear me?”

“Pam, I'm so sorry.”

“Yes,
you
are and so am I! I don't know what on earth I was thinking about agreeing to meet with you! I can't take this—I just can't!” Tears formed and she could no longer stand it; she got up abruptly and walked away.

Greg jumped up. “Please, Pammy, don't go,” he said pulling her hand.

Pam wiped her eyes with her other hand. A small smile formed on her lips because Greg was the only person who called her Pammy.

“Good, I can still make you smile. I always said you look tough on the outside, but on the inside you are just as soft and sweet like jam. And since I can't call you Jammy, I'll always call you Pammy,” he whispered in her ear.

She followed him reluctantly back over to the park bench.

“Thank you for coming to hear me out,” Greg said. “I couldn't think of anything but you and what happened to our—”

“You can't even say it! Our baby!”

“I know,” he said as he balled his fists. “I've been avoiding it. I just had to. It killed me not to be with you when it happened.”

Pam stared at the pond as if she could draw strength from it. She did not want to bring up the past. She placed her hand gently over Greg's mouth. “It's behind me now. I don't want to talk about her.”

“I know—but I do! I never heard from you again! Dee would come by, but…”

“Dee? What in the hell was Dee coming by to see
you
for? She
never
told me that!”

“Well, that doesn't surprise me at all. She was like a surrogate mother for you when you lost…I mean, she didn't want you to know,” Greg said as he dropped his head and peered down at his hands. “She felt like I needed to know the update on your progress because I was on suicide watch at the time. And she helped me
not
to kill myself !”

“I never knew…”

“I didn't want you to know. I had put you through so much already.”

“I can't believe Dee never told me this.”

“I begged Dee not to tell you. She was a good friend to me. Something I didn't have in anyone else after I lost you. You know, Pammy, it's been three long years and I needed to see how you've been doing.”

Pam batted her eyes to hold back the tears, then made eye contact with him. “It's been difficult for me—very difficult. I'm not the same woman that I used to be.”

“What do you mean?”

Pam was silent again. “What I mean is that I'm very bitter, Greg. I try not to be, but I am. I'm afraid to even get close again with another man. I still harbor so much bitterness and hate for what happened between us. It's hard to believe that's what drives me through the caseloads and the ungodly hours. Not to mention, I just lost one of my best friends that I've known for years because she says I've treated her so badly.”

“Who?”

“Amanda Shipman.”

“Amanda? Your girl from Spelman?”

“Yes, I helped her get into SMS on
one
condition—that she never take advantage of our friendship or ask for special treatment. And then she up and quit on me, just like that!” she said snapping her fingers.

“Well, unless she's changed dramatically, I can't imagine Amanda acting like that without good reason.”

“Oh, so what are you saying? I'm lying?” Pam lashed out and snatched her hand from his reach.

“No, I—”

“Listen, I'm not here to discuss that woman,” Pam said, seething at the thought that she was sharing anything personal with Greg.

Greg held up his hands and started playfully backing away. “Whoa, hey, I'm not here to judge you.” His tone was empathetic. “I didn't come to talk about Amanda, either. I just wanted to see you and tell you that I want you to be happy.”

Pam rolled her eyes at his ridiculous suggestion. He inched himself closer and reached out to touch her hand. “Pam, you deserve happiness. True love. Don't allow what happened to us ruin your life.”

“Greg, it already has,” she said removing her hand from his reach. “But you know what the irony in all of this is?”

“No,” he said twisting his hands together.

“This horrible experience has made me one of the most successful attorneys in our firm. All I have to do is think about June 16 and…”

“No, Pammy, don't…”

“When I waited in my wedding dress in a chapel filled with people!”

“Please don't do this—”

“And you never showed up!”

“I didn't mean for it to happen that way. You know I wanted to be there!”

“You never showed up because you were being handcuffed on our wedding day!”

Greg grabbed her and tried to hold her close. “Pammy, please, let's not…”

“Let's not what?” Pam yelled as she yanked away from him. “Discuss the fact that you were arrested for being a CPA who was on the take at his own accounting firm!”

Greg was quiet. Pam needed to let this out. He had served his time in federal prison and now it was his turn to face the moral prison sentence with her.

“All I can remember was feeling like it was my darkest nightmare coming to life as Dee drove me to the jail. She was in her bridesmaid dress, and I was still wearing my wedding gown—veil and all—hoping that this was some terrible mistake.” Pam laughed and tried to choke back her tears. “I actually thought that they had the wrong guy, and that I would just clear this minor error up and we would go on and get married! Ha! What a fool I was!”

Greg put his hand on her back to comfort her, but Pam was on a roll. She sharply pulled away from him. It was as if she was the defendant giving her testimony to a jury, as if he were still on trial. “My God, Greg, you lied to me! You lied to our family. Everybody!”

“I know, Pammy. I know,” Greg whispered.

His self-restraint only fueled her anger more. “And not to mention the fact that I worked my ass off trying to defend you. Then I find out that all of the evidence the Feds had against you was overwhelming!” Pam's hands were trembling. “And that was the day I lost her.” The tears that Pam had been holding back now flooded her eyes. “I had to sell the $600,000 house we bought together! I had to get my name off of all our bills! Damn you, Greg! You made my life a fucking financial mess!”

Greg had more self-control than Pam could take. He had learned to be that way biding his time in prison. The quieter he got, the angrier she became. Her words spewed out of her mouth like a scorpion's venom.

“Here I am thinking that I was marrying someone who loved me for me, and you were running a scam on me just like the rest of these brothas out here on the take! I was four months pregnant and poof! Our baby girl was gone in an instant! Just like you! I hate you! I hate you!” Pam started pounding at his chest with her fists. He managed to pull her arms down and hold her as she sobbed against his chest.

“I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to be this way. I love you, Pam. I always have.”

Pam pulled back as he wiped the tears from her face. “Greg, I don't want to continue to feel this way. I have so much hate inside of me, and the thought that Dee stayed in contact with you…” She shook her head angrily as her words trailed off.

“Oh, Pam, please let me set the record straight with your girl, Dee. She was not sympathizing with me—no way. And not under any terms was I to contact you while I was still in prison. She wanted you to have a fresh start. Hell, I had even thought you might be married by now.”

“You're kidding, right? I can't go through that walking down the aisle thing again. You drove me out of town, Greg! The news hit the paper like an uncontrollable fire.
Successful Attorney and Wealthy CPA Wedding Ends up behind Bars,”
she said, pointing in the air to an imaginary headline. “I couldn't take the rumors.”

“So, that's why I kept getting a disconnected number when I tried to call you. You had already left Chicago and moved to Atlanta,” Greg said.

“If it hadn't been for Dee checking on me, flying in and out of Atlanta while I was in the hospital in Chicago, I don't think I would have survived. My mother had to be hospitalized for our entire trauma. My siblings blamed me for getting caught up with someone I didn't know—again. Nothing's been right since.”

Greg's words were stuck in his throat. He could only look at Pam with tear-filled eyes as he felt them run down his face.

Pam threw her hands up in the air with exasperation. “Well, you asked how I've been. And now you know.”

“Pam, I know nothing is going to change what happened between us. But I need to at least admit to myself and to you that I just got caught up in the life. It just seemed so easy to take a little bit here and there. I had seen other CPAs do it before without getting caught. And…”

“I know you thought
you
could get away with it. But at what cost? How could you think you could get away with stealing over half a million dollars?”

“I was stupid.”

“Yes,
you
were. And I was
stupid
for agreeing to marry you.”

“You didn't know…”

“You're right, I didn't know. And that was my fault. I got so caught up in your handsome looks, your wining and dining me, and I fell for you—all of you—and way too hard from the first day I met you. Now look at us,” she said as she hung her head down and felt an ache in the pit of her stomach. He took his hand and stroked her tear-stained cheek. The warmth of his touch made her tremble. She shoved his hand away. “Just leave me the
hell
alone!”

Greg ignored her remark and lifted her face with his other hand. He moved in closer and kissed her lips tenderly. His tongue felt so good inside her mouth.

“Greg, I gotta go,” Pam said, almost out of breath.

“Pam, I'm sorry,” he whispered. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“Forgive you?”

“Yes, I've changed Pam. I found the Lord.”

“You
found
the Lord in prison?” She managed to laugh. “I didn't know He was ever
lost!”

“Okay, you're being sarcastic, but I'm serious.”

“And what did the Lord tell you, Greg, when you found Him in prison, huh?” She paused still stunned about his newfound spirituality.
Where was his faith when he was stealing that money three years ago?

“He told me to—”

Pam held her hand up to stop him. “You know what? Don't even bother answering that.” Her voice started to quiver as she buttoned the top button of her coat. “Just save your testimony, Greg. Save
all
of it for your probation officer.”