Dream Girl Awakened (33 page)

“Babe, I was so worried about you. Is everything okay?” To the waiter she said, “Please give us a few more minutes.”

Aruba noticed Winston for the first time since his arrival. She grabbed a napkin from the table to wipe his forehead. He must have swung by the house before coming to Spago, but he didn't
dress in a signature dapper suit as he'd done for past dinners. He was dressed down in a simple white cotton dress shirt, khakis, and shiny loafers. She recalled when he was married to Victoria, she called his current attire the get-ready-for-a-big-announcement outfit. She took in a few breaths and interrupted his announcement.

“Babe, I got a little something for you today. You've been putting in long hours at Cedars and as much as Jeremiah and I miss you, this token is just my way of saying how much we honor what you do. I love you.”

Aruba slid the box toward Winston. He tinkered with the wrapping paper and opened it, hoping it wasn't another expensive trinket like the ones she'd been purchasing for him lately. He appreciated her devotion to him, her desire to please him, but he wanted her, not expensive toys.

“You shouldn't have done this, sweets. You're too good to me as it is.”

Winston sighed when he opened the box and saw the Cartier fountain pen. “Can't be too stylish writing prescriptions?”

“Never.”

“Baby, we have to talk. I was hit with news today that I have to share immediately. I'd rather this discussion be in our home.”

“Winston, how serious we talking? My mouth is all ready for the steamed red snapper, Hong Kong style.”

“I'll make it up to you. I promise.”

As they left the restaurant, Aruba stymied the déjà vu feeling coursing through her veins. Winston was always loving and complimentary. Tonight he didn't notice the care she'd taken to dress in his favorite outfit. Nor did he say how beautiful she was, how his day was incomplete without her presence.

“Sweets, will you drive? I'm not up to it right now.”

“Yes. Babe, you sure this has to wait 'til we get home? You're scaring me.”

“Could you just do as I asked?” Winston snapped, snatching his arm from Aruba's embrace and quickening his pace to the valet. She tried keeping step with him, but she was no match for his swift footfalls. He handed the valet his ticket and looked away from Aruba. Once they entered the car, Aruba drove home quietly. Something had gone down at Cedars. How would she support him? What would she say? The last thing she wanted to do was react in a way characteristic of Victoria. She meant it when she told him she would be with him through thick and thin.

“Baby, I'm sorry I yelled at you. I'm not myself right now.”

“Winston, it's okay. I knew it would be an adjustment relocating, getting used to your new job. I knew what I was signing up for when I married you. I'm with you always, Winston. I love you.”

Winston had heard those words from Victoria years ago. When things were fresh and new in their marriage, Victoria made a point of massaging his feet each night with a homeopathic balm mixed with lavender, vanilla, and tea tree oil. She said it was whipped with love because she knew how hectic his long days and nights were. He remembered the early years, before Nicolette's arrival, when Victoria would wait up and quiz him about the day's events. She listened with wide-eyed intensity as he talked about his patients, his hopes, and his fears. Those and many memories from the good old days prompted him to share the news with Victoria first. She had been his rock and he felt stupid for allowing his ego to ignore the changes he caused in her. Her quiet support during the times he doubted himself meant everything to him. He had called her earlier in the day as soon as the double whammy hit him. He waited for her to release curses and say good riddance.
Instead, she had wept. She'd told him she would always love him and still wanted the best for him in spite of everything that had happened. Those words made him feel worse than he'd felt since the divorce.
Why didn't I try harder to make my marriage work?
After Nicolette's revelation in the cabin, Victoria refused to talk to him and filed for divorce immediately. The few times they'd spoken after the divorce were about Nicolette, Victoria's relocation, and the pending sale of their home. Only now did he realize he'd given up too soon.

“Are you still waiting until we get home to talk?” asked Aruba, bringing Winston back to the quiet ride home.

“Huh?”

“You look worn-out. Like you've seen a ghost.”

Winston clenched and unclenched his fist. “Aruba, please. Let's get home first.”

“I'm sorry for being so impatient. I'm concerned about your well-being. I know our marriage is new, but I need you to believe I'm here for you.”

Hope you know what you're saying.
“I know, sweets.”

Aruba pulled into the garage, held Winston's hand, and waited for his cue.

“Inside or here, Winston?”

“I don't know if I can make it inside,” said Winston. He held Aruba's face in his hands. “Bad or worse news first?”

“Bad.”

“I've been hit with a malpractice suit. Lori Hunden's family is alleging I misdiagnosed her condition. She suffered a massive heart attack two months ago.”

“The seventeen-year-old?”

“Yes. She was a patient of mine since she was eight. We attended the funeral, remember?”

“I'm sure it's a mistake. We can fight this case and win.”

“Most malpractice suits don't make it to court. Families usually settle out of court. I pay a hefty price for malpractice insurance, but if they win, our finances will be hit.”

“Trust me, things will be fine. We'll come out swinging and get the victory.”

“What if you have to fight for me alone?”

“We're in this together, remember?”

“What if my Lou Gehrig's kicks in hard before the proceedings?”

Aruba thought she heard him say Lou Gehrig's, but he was mistaken. Prostate cancer, she could believe. Two of her uncles and a high school coach battled prostate cancer and won. But how could a man as vibrant and lively as Winston have been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's? Lately, she'd seen news stories of mostly men and some women affected by the disease, but she couldn't imagine the beautiful man before her being ravaged by ALS. The disclosure left her speechless.

“Aruba, talk to me.” Winston waited for Aruba to respond, but she continued to gaze in his eyes. “I was served with papers about the suit this morning. I wanted to call you once I received the news, but I had to let it sink in. Lori was like a member of the family. Victoria used to bake her cookies when she was younger. She even spent the night at our house a time or two. I decided to keep my doctor's appointment, and that's when I got the news.”

“You couldn't call me?”

“I didn't know how to tell you. We just started on this journey, and you've been hit with some tremendous blows. You deserve better than this.”

Aruba held his hands tighter. “What will this mean for us?”

“I'm so proud of the job you've done with the house. You stepped in and made the house spectacular. Sadly, we'll have to downsize.
I don't know that I'll need a significant amount of funds for the lawsuit, but we'll have to find a home that's handicap accessible for when my muscles weaken. Our current home is over ten-thousand square feet and that's a tad much.”

Aruba gulped. She'd just completed designing the home of her dreams, and now it was being snatched from her.

“I'm still paying the mortgage on the Carmel house until it's sold. Victoria didn't want it anymore and I'll probably have to reduce the selling price to get it off my hands.”

I didn't sign on for this.
Aruba tried, but she couldn't hold back the tears. The struggles she had with James paled in comparison to what she faced now. How could she have been so greedy, so hasty?

“Let me hold you, Mrs. Faulk. It's going to be fine. Just trust me.”

Aruba Aneece Faulk. In Winston's arms, the name had lost its luster.

1. What other avenues beyond infidelity should Aruba have explored to improve her marriage, or should she have sought a divorce?

2. Do you think Victoria made it easy for Aruba to pursue Winston?

3. Throughout the book, many characters expressed mistrust amongst other women. Why do you think this is the case?

4. Should Maxine have intervened at the cookout during her reading?

5. James was the husband women love to hate. Do you think Hinton and Conyers should have hired him given his sketchy work history? Do you think he would have crossed paths with Tawatha otherwise? What do you think about the turnaround he made?

6. Tawatha was all too happy to be with James at any cost. Could Lasheera and Jamilah have helped her, or was it impossible to talk any sense to her?

7. Which character did you relate to most?

8. What do you think the fallout of Tawatha's actions will be for Aunjanue in the future?

9. Do you think Aruba got what she deserved in the end?

I
F YOU ENJOYED
“D
REAM
G
IRL
A
WAKENED
,'
PLEASE BE SURE TO LOOK FOR

Forgive Me

B
Y
S
TACY
C
AMPBELL
C
OMING
S
OON
FROM
S
TREBOR
B
OOKS

Today is a good day to be released from prison,
Tawatha thought. She gathered her duffle bag and wondered what was taking Royce so long to pick her up. She glanced backward at the Indiana Women's Prison, her home for the past five years. She would miss the few friends she'd made, the Wednesday evening Bible study sessions, and the exchanges amongst the others who were also confined because of bad love choices.

She still wasn't convinced about spirituality and all the things she'd learned behind bars, but she was sure of one thing: her girlfriend, Jamilah, pulled a ram out of a bush and set her free. Not only was she free, but she'd gained a certain measure of respect from the other prisoners. Even after killing three of her four children in a house fire.

“Tawatha,” a voice called out behind her.

Tawatha turned to see Faithia Perkins, a trustee and mother of
the group. She'd embraced Tawatha from the beginning of her stint and kept the wolves at bay after Tawatha's first beating by the other inmates.

“I almost missed you. CO Morris told me you were leaving. I hopped all the way from the infirmary just to say good-bye.”

“I was hoping I'd see you,” said Tawatha.

“I just wanted to give you a hug and tell you to keep your head up. I don't want to see you back in this place. You've got a second chance to get it right and I want you to make good on it.”

I will not cry, I will not cry.
Tawatha opened her arms and let Faithia's embrace soothe her. She would miss the earthy smell of Faithia's skin, the gentleness of her hands when she braided her hair, and all the long talks they'd had about Faithia's sentence. “I knew saying good-bye to you would be hard. That's why I snuck out.”

“No matter what happens, you have to move on. Don't look back; move forward, Tawatha.”

Before she could shed a tear, Royce's Mercedes appeared. He smiled when he saw her, then dimmed his wattage at the sight of Faithia. He pulled alongside the curb.

Faithia watched the handsome, salt-and-pepper-haired gentleman alight from the stylish car. Tawatha had mentioned her former boss would pick her up, but from the look in his eyes, Faithia picked up on more than an employee/employer vibe.

“Mr. Hinton, I'm so happy you're here,” said Tawatha. “This is Ms. Faithia Perkins, prison trustee and the only reason I survived in this place.”

Royce folded his arms, raised an eyebrow, and gave Tawatha a look.

“
Royce
, this is Ms. Faithia Perkins,” Tawatha corrected her formal introduction of Royce's name.

“That's better,” said Royce, extending his hand to Faithia.

“I trust you'll take good care of Tawatha. She's special to me. She's come to be like a second daughter.”

“I plan to take the very best care of her,” said Royce. He took Tawatha's bag, popped the trunk, and placed it among the surprises he'd planted for her. He opened the passenger door and Tawatha eased into the seat, unsure of where they were heading.

She waved to Faithia one last time and looked ahead as Royce drove away from the prison. There was no need to look back. Only forward.

“So where are we going?” asked Tawatha.

“Well, I figured you'd want to take a shower and perhaps go out to dinner. I remember you loved Olive Garden. I just want you to unwind tonight.”

“Did my mother return your calls?”

“She did.” Royce sighed. “She said she's not ready to welcome you into her home right now, and asked that you give her some time.”

Tawatha's countenance deflated. “So where am I supposed to go? She didn't write me in prison and the few times she came to see, me she just stared at me like I was a monster.”

“Calm down. I anticipated this before I picked you up.”

“What about Lasheera?”

“Ditto. Since Lasheera and Lake adopted Aunjanue, they feel your presence will disrupt her life. This is Aunjanue's senior year, and well . . .” Royce's voice trailed off.

Tawatha sat back in her seat, unable to hide her hurt. She almost wanted him to turn the car around and take her back to prison. What kind of life would she have if the people she loved treated her like she didn't exist? Jamilah was the only crew member who still communicated with her and had her back. To everyone
else, she was a child-murdering ogress who should have been given the death penalty.