Knowing Is Not Enough (20 page)

“Believe me, it—”

“Don’t misunderstand—I can’t think of why you wouldn’t, but I have to believe whatever you and Sanford were talking about it must have been important enough for you not to betray him, and choose to be disloyal to me.”

“I made a mistake. I should have told you what we were talking about when you asked, but if you want—I’m willing to tell you now.”

“Nope, you said it didn’t matter—”

“
Probably
didn’t matter.”

“Either way, I don’t want to know, but if there is a next time—which I pray there isn’t you better say something.” I reached out for Linda’s hand. “We’re sisters—I would’ve told you in a heartbeat.”

Linda wiped away a tear. “You know what—hindsight is twenty-twenty. I stuck my nose somewhere I shouldn’t have. Then saw something I wished I hadn’t.” Linda pulled me in for a hug. “I couldn’t tell you one secret without telling you the other. And, one of them I thought wasn’t my place to tell—the other my responsibility to tell.”

We released our embrace and faced one another. “I get it now, but next time—choose me, silly rabbit.”

“I will—I promise. Are you sure there isn’t more to the Taylor story you’re not telling me.” We stood up to gather our things.

I took a deep breath. “No, there’s nothing more. Well, I got the ticket for D.C. Still not changing your mind?”

“No, you need to go. Talk to Sanford—finish out this chapter of your life.”

I locked the outer door. “Sanford and me—the final chapter in the longest novel in history.”

Linda walked toward the door. “You know . . . there’s no reason why you should still keep protecting Jake. I sense something more happened. Don’t know what, but more.”

“Let’s just say it was the same game out of a different playbook,” I sighed. “When I actually sat down and figured out all the time I spent trying to hold on to Jake versus living my own life.” I stood up and walked over to Linda. “I couldn’t change Jake and make him into the man
I needed him to be, and the more I tried to
fix
him, the harder he fought to keep things the way they were. I had to let him go, and that was a hard place—emotionally to get to. Unfortunately for me, in true Jake fashion, he helped to provide a visual aide to push me along.”

“You’re right.” She smiled. “I don’t need to know anymore than I do now. I’m glad you’re moving on. This trip will be good for you.”

“I’m hoping so.”

I arrived at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at approximately two o’clock where Sanford was waiting for me.

A week filled with lows, then highs, and then lows managed to bottom out on a high. I hadn’t talked with Linda much after our heart-to-heart, but we were good again. I’d never disagreed with Linda, even though I’d packed a lunch for the long haul. It was good for it to be over. Not speaking to Sanford was one thing, but my sister—I’m going to be in a position where I’m not talking to my sister.

I texted Sanford as soon as the plane landed and told him to meet me in baggage claim. No sooner had I grabbed the handle of my luggage than I caught a glimpse of Sanford standing behind me. In this short time his locks were gone and he was sporting a medium-length Afro. The mustache, beard, and black horn-rimmed glasses were still there, but trimmed up, and he’d lost a little more weight.

He grabbed me, lifting me off the floor. “I missed
you!”

“I missed you, too! Look at me, I can’t stop smiling. You look so good!” I ran my fingers through his curls.

“You always look good.” He put me down. “You are so short without those heels.”

We continued to stare as if we never saw each other before. Finally I said, “Okay, okay. Grab this bag for me.”

Sanford and I headed out of the baggage claim area toward a black truck. I didn’t expect someone to be with him, but in the passenger seat was a woman. I fell back behind Sanford to trail him. “We’re right over here,” he said. I already figured that part out once the woman got out of the truck to greet me. I immediately tensed up. This girl, whoever she was to him, was strikingly gorgeous. I was praying to God she was just a friend or a sister I didn’t know about. Everything is running through my head.
Oh my goodness, this woman cannot be with him
.

“Alex, this is Simone.” Sanford was beaming. I couldn’t tell if he was happy about me meeting her or her meeting me. Sanford is six-five, this girl had to be six feet tall herself. Her skin looked like a dark chocolate Hershey bar.
I’m so confused. I don’t know if I want to smack her or lick her
. That heart-shaped face with the deepest dimples I’d ever seen. You could put a couple of cherries in her face and they would hold. Her waist was tiny—she had to be a size four, with the most perfectly shaped boobs. And I know this because I could see them through her shear top.
Are you kidding me!
I could see very clearly she’s cold—perhaps a jacket is in order.
I really don’t like this girl
. I looked her up and down again.
Yes, I really, really, really don’t like this girl!

“Nice to meet you.” I repeated in my head,
smile . . . don’t forget to smile
.

“Hello?”

Oh, for real. She’s English! Why am I here?

Simone was still standing there just smiling. I was quite sure—or at least I thought I was sure—English was the language in Great Britain.
Why is she staring at me? I’m so short standing here next to them, maybe she finds me fascinating. Either way her staring is starting to creep me out. I thought the look of annoyance was universal—maybe she’s a little slow
.

Sanford put the bags in the back, came around on the passenger side, and opened Simone’s door and mine. We both hopped in, her in the front with me in the back. Simone was still periodically turning around and smiling. I was looking back at her nodding my head each time.
It sure would be nice to know who this girl is. But since it’s only the first five minutes and Sanford has just got back in the car I think I’m being a little anxious
.

Sanford pulled away toward the expressway and his house. When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the exterior of the house was. He had a couple of roommates if I remembered right. It turned out it was his friend and sister. They must be doing pretty well . . . it’s a two-story house near the park. And everyone knows how much I love the park.

“This is nice, Sanford,” I acknowledged.

Simone beamed, apparently agreeing how nice the house was. I was truly curious as to who Simone was to Sanford. I couldn’t wait until we got in the house, so I texted Linda and asked her what was up with Simone. Linda took a minute to text me back. We were inside the house when I got it.

The outside of the house was nothing compared to the interior. Sanford gave me the tour while Simone, who seemed quite at home, stayed in the family room watching the biggest flat-screen television known to man.
I guess he’s into television now, and tech
. This house was definitely state of the art, with dark hardwood floors, beautiful cabinetry and glass backsplashes in the kitchen. The whole house looked like Pottery Barn came in and threw up. The bedrooms and bathrooms were gorgeous, too.

I really liked this house
.

“Where are your roommates?”

“Oh, they’ll be here later. They went to the grocery store to pick up something for dinner.”

“Whose house is this?”

We stopped in a bedroom that clearly looked like it was Sanford’s. He put my things down and we sat on the bed to talk for a minute. I was surprised my nutty professor’s room was actually clutter-free, except for his books, papers and computers. For Sanford this was clean.

“Mason and his sister Nikki.”

“The house is gorgeous.”
It was killing me
. “Who is Simone?”

“Oh, she’s been staying here off and on, she’s a model working in New York, so—oh, let me back up, she’s Nikki’s best friend. But yeah, she’s here for the weekend too.”

“Oh, okay, that’s cool.”

“Why? Who did you think she was?”

“Hey, I didn’t know. Kind of seemed like something may have been going on.”

He grinned. “Ah, you were jealous.”

“I was not jealous. I was curious.”

“No, you were jealous. You thought she had taken yo’ man away from you,” he moaned, grinning.

“You know what? I’m not going there with you. Anyway, where am I sleeping?”

“Right here.”

“What do you mean, right here? Right here, right here?”

“Is there any other meaning to right here?”

“Ah no—I guess there isn’t.”

“So, right here.”

Sanford was looking right into my eyes with a straight face. Then he started to laugh. “I’m joking. This is where you’re sleeping. It’s not where I’m sleeping.”

I breathed a sigh to release the confusion. “Oh, you had me going for a minute there. I thought you were—”

“I was what? Trying to push up on you? If I remember correctly, you made yourself clear before I left. There is no you and me . . . remember.”

What was I supposed to say to that
? “
I changed my mind . . . then changed it back” really didn’t seem appropriate. Luckily I didn’t have to say anything. Simone, perky boobs and all, appeared at the door informing us that Mason and Nikki had returned with groceries and take-out. Sanford stood up and followed her out of the bedroom downstairs.

I told Sanford I would be down in a minute, which gave me time to check my phone. I didn’t think I needed to anymore. Sanford told me she was Nikki’s best friend and I wanted to believe him, but I checked anyway. Linda texted back she didn’t know who she was. I put the phone down and looked around the room, dazed and mystified. I
texted Linda back and told her Sanford said Simone was Nikki’s best friend, but I has a feeling he’s not being completely truthful. I went to the bathroom—
amazing, by the way
—and read her response, “If he said so, then she
is
Nikki’s best friend.”

I texted Linda, “I don’t know. You’d think with all the training I received from Jake I could spot a lie.”

She hit back, “What are you saying Alex? Didn’t you tell him you wanted to put everything on hold?”

I texted, “Yes.”

She replied, “Well, I think he may having that in the literal sense of the word.” As I read Linda’s message I heard my name being called with an English accent. I was being summoned downstairs. I typed back to Linda, “Yup, I think you might be right. Just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.”

After we finished talking, eating and getting to know one another it was late. We all turned in. The plan for the next day was sightseeing—Union Station, and the Museum of American and Natural History. I love the Library of Congress, so Sanford made sure we spent some time there along with the other attractions.

At first I thought Simone was going to join us. I was glad to see she didn’t. I hadn’t talked to her much, but I already made up in my mind I didn’t want to. My rational mind knew that utterly dismissing her was wrong on so many levels. I really didn’t care. If I got to know her and discovered on top of all that European gorgeousness that she was a rocket scientist and a model . . . I’d have to kill her or worse.
Myself
.

For dinner, I wanted to go someplace nice. Sanford
told me about a steak place not far from where we were. I didn’t eat red meat, but he said they had seafood I would like. He hadn’t been there, so we made reservations and headed out for the evening in Georgetown. The hotel was absolutely amazing! Everything sparkled. After Sanford and I finished gobbling down our food, I decided that before dessert I would ask about Simone again. It was bothering me.

“I talked to Linda last night,” I said.

“Oh yeah, I haven’t talked to her in a while. How is she doing?”

“She’s good.”

“How about Mitch and the kids?”

“They’re good too. Everybody’s fine.”

He smiled. “What about Tobey, what she been up to?”

“Tobey’s still dating Hunter—we don’t see much of her anymore.”

“Good for them.”

“I know—we’re happy for them too. Switching subjects, how is work going?”

“Work is great. I’m considering staying here longer if U of M will approve it.”

“Oh, why would you do that?”

Sanford played with his beard. “Well, my project wouldn’t be completely wrapped up by the time my contract ends, because we got a late start. That will bump me into spring classes. I have committed to teach, so if I don’t get back I could jeopardize my job, which—obviously I don’t want to do.”

“Well, that’s a problem.”

“Yeah, but I’ll work it out. It will be all right.”

I took a deep breath. “Okay, so what’s up with you
and Simone?”

“What you mean?”

“You know what I mean,” I said.

The server came back to our table to take our dessert order. I decided to skip dessert, ordering a drink instead. Sanford did the same. We stopped talking to give the server a chance to clear away our dishes, then started back up where we’d left off.

“What you talking about, Alex? What you think is up?”

“I think she’s your girlfriend.”