The Eternal Engagement (19 page)

CHAPTER 48

Katherine

 

W
ould she regret having made the trip to see him?

She already had one dependent. Didn't need another. Katherine had a choice. She could get out of his hotel bed, get dressed, and leave a day early. Or she could stay by his side until tomorrow and pray he gave direct answers to her questions.

They lay pillow-to-pillow facing one another. His arm hugged her hip. Her hand caressed his shoulder. A craving to feel him on top of her, inside of her, made her twitch.

“That was nice. Good morning, beautiful,” he said. “You have no idea how many times I've dreamt of this moment. I want to make love to you too, Katherine.”

If he had protection, perhaps they'd make love before her departure. The urge to orgasm lingered between her thighs, tingled on the tip of her nipples. She kissed him. Twitched. Kissed him again. Yes, she definitely was still in love with Lincoln, but she had to address the more important matters with a clear mind. “We have a lot to discuss.”

“Yeah, I know.” The disappointment in his voice lingered.

The stiffness in his dick pressing against her thigh lessened. Sex was not the solution to their plethora of problems.

Yesterday, once the helicopters and planes stopped flying over the hotel causing him to push her to the floor several times, draw his gun, then peep out the window, she lay in bed beside him exhausted. Their time together had progressed with Lincoln describing one gruesome war story after another. The worst, he'd said, “I can't tell you.” She couldn't imagine it being worse than what he'd graphically described—decapitation, amputation, rape, murder. She wondered if he'd done any or all of those things and more. He'd described death so vividly, the stench of decomposing flesh was stuck in her nostrils.

“Have you smelled a dead rat?” he asked.

She had and it was horrible.

“Close your eyes and recall the odor. Now imagine it's not one rat but a thousand. They've been dead for a month. Someone takes a handful of the rotted flesh, stuffs all of it into your nostrils,” he said.

When he had said that last night, she almost threw up.

He concluded his description with, “Now inhale deeply and you're almost there. Imagine this malodorous stench is trapped inside of you for years.”

At that point she'd gotten up, ran to the bathroom, vomited until her insides ached. She'd rinsed her mouth and nose, trying to erase the picture he'd painted in her mind.

There had to be a way she could help him. A loan from Steven, or she could do another favor for him, earn a few more thousands of dollars that she wouldn't have to pay back. She was so indebted to her creditors, earning the money would be best. The sun had set and was now rising, shining through the curtains, beaming on Lincoln's chest. She envisioned kissing his nipples, then trailing her tongue down his abs to his navel and below his pubic hairs.

She'd dozed off several times, but each time she'd awoken, Lincoln's eyes were wide open. Sympathy sex wasn't what she wanted to give him. She felt bad for him. His parents didn't care about him? Why? He thought his grandparents didn't care either. Why had he felt that way? Without his giving a definitive response, she was closer to understanding why he hadn't contacted her.

“Maybe you're afraid to love anyone,” she said, gazing into his eyes. His pupils seemed hollow, like a dark tunnel she could journey down and never reach the end.

“More like afraid to be abandoned by someone I thought loved me. Especially my mom and dad. Katherine, if you'll have me back, please don't ever leave me. I survived the war. Kind of,” he said, then chuckled. “But my heart can't survive the ticking of a time bomb not knowing when or if it'll explode.”

He started weeping like an infant, buried his face in the pillow. “I'm sorry. I hate for you to see me like this.” He swallowed his pain and sorrow.

A man, strong, muscular, handsome, and possibly more vulnerable than her, lay beside her naked in countless ways. She was closer than ever to becoming Mrs. Lincoln. Her next dream could come true by Jeremiah's tenth birthday. But was she dreaming? Would a marriage to Lincoln survive his mental disorder? Would he be a good father or freak Jeremiah out?

“Don't you ever sleep?” she asked, touching his face. “You were up all night and kept me up too.”

“Only when I'm medicated. Otherwise, I'm afraid to sleep. My mind never sleeps. Soon as I close my eyes, the war is like a movie constantly replaying in my head. I don't want you to see that side of me. The way I wake up sweating, shouting, paranoid. It's like constantly living in the war zone. My body is here. But my mind is still in Iraq. No one can catch or save me.”

She had one more day to be with him before heading back to Selma. “I don't think anything can freak me out more than what happened yesterday.”

“Don't be so sure. You haven't witnessed my worst panic attack. I'm not sure I have either. Having PTSD scares me. I'm afraid of myself. That's why, even though I really want to be with you, I have to wait until I can afford better treatment.”

“Better treatment? What are you talking about?”

“The cost for a private doctor to properly diagnose and treat me could cost six figures. The VA has a long list of patients like me. No real help. Just meds and more meds to numb the pain. They're treating the symptoms, but until they address the cause, I'm a walking time bomb. I'm so afraid that one day I may not be able to pull back. One day, I may draw my gun, think I'm in Afghanistan, and pull the trigger. I fear who might be on the receiving end of the bullet.”

That comment helped Katherine decide what to do next. “Lincoln, come back home with me. I know enough people to get you professional help. My therapist can help you.”

He frowned. “I can't afford to take care of you and Jeremiah, let alone pay for a shrink. I refuse to let you help me. Soldiers are strong. We make a way out of no way.”

“But you don't have to be this strong. You can lean on me.”

“And what? Become another mouth to feed. I can't do that. I won't do that. When I'm better, I'll let you know. Besides, I'll be home for Christmas. I promised my grandmother. Can I see my son then?” he asked, looking sad.

“I almost forgot,” Katherine said, easing out of bed. She opened her suitcase, retrieved her DVD player and photo album. “I brought videos and pictures of Jeremiah to show you.”

Lincoln sat up. “Wow! Really? Okay, let me throw on something, run across the street, grab us something to eat and drink, and we can spend the rest of the day with you showing and telling me all about my son.”

“Can't we just order room service?”

“I'm out of my meds. Gotta self-medicate to minimize the anxiety. I need a little more than food, if you know what I mean. Oh, can you spare a few dollars?”

A puff of air shot from her nostrils. Her eyebrows grew closer. “What happened to all the money I sent you?”

“I used it for this room and a deposit on my apartment. I'll pay you back. I promise.”

“Please, don't make me any more promises.” She was glad she had helped him, so a few more dollars didn't matter. She opened her purse, gave him fifty dollars.

“Since you're already naked, take a shower. Get her ready for me. When I get back, we're celebrating. And I'm putting my ring back on your finger.” Opening the door, he looked back at her and said, “We are going to finally get married.”

Katherine had enough problems. She wasn't sexing or marrying him. “Hurry back. I'll set up the DVD player.”

CHAPTER 49

Mona

 

 

M
ona exited the elevator at the twelfth floor. “One, two, one, two, two,” she mumbled, checking the room numbers. Her heart thumped with anticipation. What did he look like? Had he gained weight? Was he still handsome? Taking a deep breath, she could hardly contain herself.

When she got to the corresponding room, she inhaled again, covered the peephole. She had her new 4G camera phone positioned to take his picture. Had to capture the surprised look on Lincoln's face when he saw hers. Sort of surprised look, because he knew she was coming but had no idea she'd arrived.

Smiling wide, soon as the door opened she released her finger from the camera image. “Surprise!” Mona stepped back.

“What did you for . . . get?” Katherine asked, opening the door.

“Aw, hell, no!” Mona said, staring.

For a few seconds, Katherine froze in the doorway. Her forearm covered both her breasts; her hand cupped her pubic hairs as she crisscrossed her knees.

The door started slowly moving closer to Mona, closer to shutting in her face.

The moment was worth capturing twice. Mona stuck her foot in the doorway, took another picture of Katherine from behind. Her ass was wider than Mona had remembered when they were in high school but tight and firm as it had appeared years ago underneath Katherine's form-fitting dresses.

Mona hadn't gained much weight, but seeing how perfect Katherine's body was, Mona wished she would've exercised instead of following Steven on his jobs. If she was going to stay in Seattle with Lincoln, Mona had to get in better shape and find a job. Maybe she could do forensic work for the police department or she could contract as a bounty hunter.

“What in the hell are
you
doing here?” Mona asked. “Where's Lincoln?” Not awaiting an invitation, she pushed open the door, entered the room, and slammed the door. She started to secure the latch but changed her mind. Didn't want to trap herself in a small room with Katherine.

“This is why you called me for his number? Get over him, trick-a-Mona-i-ous.” Entertaining herself, Katherine laughed softly, then sternly said, “He doesn't want you. He hasn't wanted you since tenth grade. You like drama. You enjoy ruining people's lives, don't you?”

“If he didn't want me,” Mona said, digging in the purse, “he wouldn't have given me this engagement ring.” She held the ring in front of Katherine's face.

Katherine walked away, opened her purse, held up the same-style plain band except hers was gold. “That's probably the ring your husband gave you. Lincoln gave me this engagement ring.”

Mona tried to one up Katherine when she said, “He gave me my ring on—”

Katherine interjected, and proudly said at the same time as Mona, “Graduation day.”

What in the world is going on here?
After all these years Lincoln was trying to play both of them? If he was messing with Mona's intelligence, the play Mona would run on him would rank at the top of every player's playbook.

Tired of staring at Katherine's erect nipples, Mona said, “This is too much. You need to put some clothes on. Where's Lincoln? How long have you been here? Don't answer that. I don't care. Get out. Lincoln invited me to come see him and you're trying to trump me. Get your ass out. Now!” Mona wondered but wouldn't dare ask,
Did you fuck him?

She discretely sniffed the air. It didn't smell like sex.

“I don't know what he's ever seen in you. You're wild and out of control.”

“You'll never see what any man sees in me, because I don't do females. You don't need to know,” Mona said, wishing she had one of her guns. She'd never killed anyone and she wouldn't shoot Katherine, but she'd scare her ass for sure.

Katherine countered, “And you don't need to know what he sees in me. You're one sinful woman. You need Jesus. You want them both? You've got a husband. Why don't you go back to Bakersfield and be with Steven,” Katherine said, stepping into her underwear.

Mona walked to Katherine's suitcase, rummaged through her belongings. “You've got to go before Lincoln gets back,” she said, tossing Katherine a black dress and a pair of slip-on, two-inch heels. “Put that shit on and get out while you can.”

Picking up the photo album that was spread across the bed, Mona flipped through it. “Cute illegitimate kid. Can't wait for the paternity test.” She tossed the album in Katherine's suitcase along with the DVD player and the laptop.

“That's . . .” Katherine began, then shook her head.

“That's what? Shut up and keep it moving,” Mona said, then went into the bathroom, gathered Katherine's toiletries, packed those too.

“Hurry up, bitch. You've got to get out of here.”

“I'm not going any—”

Mona gripped Katherine's neck with one hand, stared her in the face. Katherine couldn't breathe. Her face turned beet red.

“Woman to woman, Lincoln is mine. I'm asking you politely. I'm not going to ask you again.” After shoving Katherine onto the bed, she threw Katherine's clothes on top of her. “Put that on.” She zipped, then dragged Katherine's bag to the door. Tossed it into the hallway.

“You've got two minutes to get dressed in here or you can get dressed out there.”

“You'll get yours,” Katherine said, quickly pulling her dress over her head. “You can take care of his broke butt. And while you're at it, give him the two thousand and fifty dollars I loaned him so he can pay me back.”

“Not a problem.” Mona opened her purse, wrote Katherine a check for the full amount. She shoved Katherine into the hallway and flung the check in Katherine's face. It floated to the floor. “Here, bitch. If this is all it takes to buy your uppity ass, bank on the fact that you won't get Lincoln back. And if he tells me you're lying about the money you claim he owes you, I'll stop payment on this check before you can cash it.”

Katherine looked at the check, hesitated, then picked it up, put it in her purse. “I don't want him anymore. I hate him and I hate you! This drama is so unladylike. He's all yours,” she said, throwing her hands in the air, repeated, “All yours.”

“Um-hum. Thought so. You ain't gave me shit. I took him from you,” Mona said.

“Just like I'm going to take Steven away from you,” Katherine said, rolling her suitcase down the same carpet Mona had traveled fifteen minutes ago.

“Why don't you tell our story on national news,” Mona yelled, slamming the door.

Hopefully this was the last she'd see of or hear from Katherine. She needed to go home and take care of her kid instead of chasing a man across country.

Now that Katherine knew where Mona and Lincoln were, Mona was more concerned with Katherine telling Steven. How much did she know? Steven was definitely jealous enough to show up in Seattle. Katherine might not be bluffing. And he was crazy to make good on his threat, “I'll kill the next one too, if I have to.”

Mona would kill Steven before she'd let him harm Lincoln.