Love To Luv (20 page)

ARETHA

Yeah. I went out to a concert last night that was great. Then I went dancing with a gentleman that I met at the concert. On my way home is when I received the phone call. They knew every move that I had made.

JACOB

Did you report it?

ARETHA

To who?

JACOB

The police.

ARETHA

No.

JACOB

Ok well be careful while you are there. We had some excitement on yesterday too. Someone burst the windows out of Teddy’s car while he was at school. We don’t know who or have any idea why.

ARETHA

Probably just some stupid behind kids acting foolish.

JACOB

Yeah but I am getting them replaced this week. He was upset.

ARETHA

I know he
was.
. .hang on my phone beeped.

(
clicking
over)

Hello.

DENNIS

Mrs. Matthews, I have some great news. Your house sold.

ARETHA

Wonderful, did they pay the asking price?

DENNIS

Yes ma’am.
A total of $264,300.
They want to sign before Friday. Will you be available?

ARETHA

Of course honey. I am in New Orleans now. I will leave tonight. If they want to we can sign in the morning.

DENNIS

Ok. I will get my guys on the inspections and get the papers ready. I will cut you a check for $237,870. My fee will be ten percent which will come to $26,430.

ARETHA

Ok that is fine. I will see you in the morning.

(
clicking
back over to me
)

Are you there?

JACOB

Yes.

ARETHA

That was Dennis. He told me that the house sold. We are going to close tomorrow.

JACOB

That’s good. Well Auntie I will talk to you later. Monique and Teddy just came out of the room.

ARETHA

Ok well you all be careful.

JACOB

You too.

             
After leaving the doctor’s office Teddy decided that he would cook lunch for us. Monique said that she had the taste for some f
ried
catf
ish
, m
ashed
p
otatoes
, g
reen
b
eans
, m
acaroni and
c
heese
with banana p
udding
. Teddy wasn’t surprised by the request. He wasn’t a hen-pecked man but he wanted to keep her happy.

             
Driving to the house my phone began to ring again. It was the security company telling me the alarm was going off. I directed them to dispatch the police and that I would be home in less than twenty minutes.

             
My mind began to race about who may be in my house. I sped down the highway towards home.

TEDDY

What’s wrong?

JACOB

Someone has broken into the house.

MONIQUE

What is really going on?

JACOB

I wish I knew.

I didn’t tell them about the conversation that Aunt Aretha and I had. I didn’t want to upset Monique.

             
Upon arriving at the house, there were three police cars. I parked on the side of the street. We all raced out of the car towards the house. An officer stopped us and asked for identification. I told him that we lived here as I showed him my ID.

             
He escorted us into the house. The glass door on the patio had been broken out. As we walked around we noticed that they turned the couch over, broke the dishes, the bedrooms had been ram-shacked. Monique fell to the floor and started to cry. I told Teddy to take her outside.

             
I spoke with the police officer about fingerprints. The officer instructed me to make a list of the things that were missing.

             
I could not fathom why these things were happening. Who is behind this?

             
I called Dennis to explain to him what just happened. He said that he was on his way back from Waynesboro and that he would stop by.

             
After the police left Teddy and Monique came back into the house. Monique just looked around confused. She went to her room to see if anything of the baby was taken. Luckily all was there.

             
I looked around and saw that nothing was missing. Everything was just destroyed.

TEDDY

Pop are you ok?

JACOB

Yeah I am good. I am glad that my family was not touched. Material things can be replaced. But the funny thing is they didn’t take anything.

TEDDY

Then why would someone do this.

JACOB

Your guess is as good as mine. I think that I am going to have some security cameras installed.

TEDDY

That’s a good idea.

JACOB

Walk with me. Let’s look around the house for anything.

As we were looking for anything that was out of the ordinary we heard Monique scream. We both ran to the house to see what was wrong. Monique found two snakes in the bed. Teddy grabbed them both behind the head and carried them outside. I asked her what happened.

MONIQUE

I was
laying
down on the bed and I felt something moving. I looked and didn’t see anything so I pulled the covers back. There they were. Pop who is this?

JACOB (grabbing her and holding her)

Baby I don’t know.

TEDDY

I killed them. When I find out
who
is causing all of this I am going to kill them.

JACOB

Don’t talk like that.

__________________

             
Later that night, Dennis showed up at the house. I explain to him again everything that was going on. I told him about Aunt Aretha’s experience in New Orleans.

DENNIS

I spoke with her earlier today. She didn’t mention anything about it.

JACOB

Maybe she didn’t want you to worry.

DENNIS

Yeah maybe so.
She will be back in the morning. We got the house sold.

JACOB

Good. Good. That will be one less thing to worry about.

DENNIS

Are you going to be ok tonight? You know you are more than welcome to stay at my place.

JACOB

I think we will be ok.

DENNIS

Well I don’t. Pack you a bag.

I looked at him at how he was taking control of things. I told Teddy and Monique to get a few things – we were staying at Dennis’ tonight.

             
Settling in at Dennis house was very interesting. He told Monique and Teddy to sleep in the guest room upstairs across from his room. I was to take the bedroom downstairs. We were ok with the arrangements. I sat on the bed to gather my thoughts about what would I do tomorrow.

             
As I was thinking, Dennis came in the room and set beside me. He handed me a cocktail of Cognac and coke.

DENNIS

I felt you might need this.

JACOB

Thanks.

I downed it in three gulps.

DENNIS

Damn. Do you want another one?

JACOB

Well if you don’t mind.

DENNIS

You are going to sleep well tonight.

JACOB

I plan on it.

Dennis told me to come with him to fix my refresher. He explained to me where everything in the house was. I made it a point to tell him that we would only be staying one night. He said that it was ok. He just wanted us to get a good night’s rest from the day’s event.

MONIQUE

Pop I am hungry.

JACOB

Damn we didn’t eat. With all that has happened today I forgot.

DENNIS

I will run out to get something. What do you want?

MONIQUE

It doesn’t matter.
Just something.

DENNIS

Jacob, anything special you want?

JACOB

Anything is fine.

Dennis grabbed his keys and walked out of the door. I looked across to Monique. All I could think about was the baby. I didn’t want anything to stress her out right now.

MONIQUE

Pop why are you staring at me?

JACOB

I was just thinking about when I used to hold you as a baby. Ellis and I would take you to the park. You would have so much fun. You used to give him the blues, yet he loved it.

MONIQUE

I feel that I loved him too. I have only one memory of me and Dad. That was at the zoo. We were looking at the gorillas. I think there were two in the cage. He went over to make faces at me. One of the gorillas came up behind him and hit that glass so hard that Dad screamed – loud. I can still remember that. It was some man with us too.

JACOB

A man?
Do you remember what he looked like?

MONIQUE

Not really. I remember him being tall, light-skin, slim guy.

JACOB

XAVIER?

MONIQUE

I don’t remember his name.

JACOB
I don’t know.

As we were talking, Teddy came downstairs from his shower. Monique said that she was about to take hers. She gave me a kiss on the jaw and then Teddy.

TEDDY (watching Monique go up the stairs)

I love that girl. She is one of the best things that
has
ever happened to me. Now she is giving me a new gift.

JACOB

I know that feeling of becoming a new dad. Look, if anything ever happen to me I want you to take care of her.

TEDDY

Pop don’t talk like that.

JACOB

I am serious.

My phone starts to vibrate on the counter.

JACOB

Hello.

VOICE ON THE PHONE

You can run but you can’t hide. You sent your boy to go get something to eat. He might not make it back.

Then there was silence on the phone. I ease the phone down.

TEDDY

Who was that?

JACOB

Someone is really playing games. They know that we are here. Whatever you do – don’t tell Monique this call came through. I got to call Dennis.

As I was about to hit Dennis picture he came walking into the house. I was so happy to see him.

JACOB

Dude, thank God you are safe. I got another phone call.

DENNIS

And?

JACOB

They know we are here. They knew you went to get something to eat and said that you might not come back.

DENNIS

Are you serious?

JACOB

Yes.

It wasn’t long before Monique came out of the shower. I quickly changed the subject.

             
Early the next morning Dennis and Aretha was at his law office. His secretary brought in some coffee and lady fingers. Aretha looked over the final paper work on the house.

             
Aretha pulled out her phone to call Mattie to see if she would be available later that afternoon. Mattie did not answer her phone. She left a voicemail telling her to call her back.