again.
“Hello,” said the voice at the other end.
“Ari, this is Angelica.”
“Hey, love. Something is going down at the condos. Police cars are lined up out front. Can only talk for a second.”
“Okay, well, I got a job!
“Great, Angelica!”
“Problem is I’m working the night shift.”
“The night shift? Where at?”
Angelica was in no mood to play twenty questions, and she owed Ari nothing but the rent she would pay him for her temporary shelter.
“Ari, my shift begins at six-thirty, and I need to go to the house and freshen up. Is it possible to get a key to your house?”
There was a moment of silence. “Sweetheart, I’m not in the habit of giving out my key. You seem like good people, but I’ve known you for less than a week.”
“So why did you invite me to your house? Look, I’ve been straight with you from the beginning. My time is temporary, but I will pay rent until I get on my feet. Right now, I need a means to access my things so I can freshen up.”
“All right. Come by your cousin’s condo and I’ll give you my spare key. You may not be able to get close to the condos because of the cops. If you have any trouble, call me on my cell and we’ll work it out. I’ve got to go.”
“Thanks, Ari. I owe you.”
The line was dead.
It was easier than she thought. Angelica waved down a cab and headed for the condos. It took less than five minutes to reach the street where Donna lived, but as the cab got near, she could see that up ahead the street was blocked off and there seemed to be a lot of commotion going on.
Angelica dialed Ari’s cell phone and asked him to meet her down the street. When he arrived, his face was ashen. Ari handed the key to Angelica and, without a word, he turned and walked away. Angelica looked in her hand and smiled. Ari was having a bad day, but she was on the road to recovery and possible success.
20
Malik sat in the restaurant parking lot, rehearsing what he would say to Jefferson. This was his frat, his boy, yet he felt like he was meeting a complete stranger. He should not have been surprised when he received the call from Jefferson, who asked why he was not at his welcome home party. Now he waited with dread in his heart all because he had fallen in love with his best friend’s wife.
The parking lot was filling up. “Avalon, Maxima, Honda, Camry, Altima, Saturn,” Malik said out loud, playing a childhood car game. “Mercedes, Margo’s Mercedes,” Malik said.
He sat up and watched as the driver of the Mercedes pulled into a parking space. A few moments passed before the door to the car opened. There he stood, all six feet of him. Then he noticed the walker. Malik had almost forgotten that Jefferson had been in a wheelchair. He had not visited Jefferson in the last six months. He couldn’t do it. Malik could not tell much about the way Jefferson looked from where he stood. This was the moment he regretted. He got out of the car and waited.
Jefferson walked slowly toward Malik until recognition set in.
“Malik, that you?” Jefferson asked.
Malik offered a half smile and offered his hand. “Hey man, you look good.” Jefferson looked malnourished and tired about the eyes.
“It feels like a million dollars.” Jefferson paused. “I wish I had listened to you back then, Malik, but the last five years have taught me more than I asked for, and I can say that with all honesty. I never want to see the inside of prison again.”
They dropped their hands, and Malik looked at Jefferson.
“I’m glad you’re home, buddy. Why don’t we go on in? We can catch up in there.”
“Lead the way,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson followed Malik into the restaurant, and the waitress seated them. Sadness was etched on Malik’s face as he watched his friend push the walker in front of him and then maneuver into his seat. Jefferson seemed in full control of his handicap, though, moving about as if he didn’t have one at all.
“What’s good on this menu?” Jefferson asked Malik.
“Almost everything,” Malik responded. They laughed.
“I was sorry to hear about Toni and the baby.” Malik tipped his head in acknowledgment. “I know it was tough on you. I hated I missed your wedding.”
“Toni was a beautiful woman. Our day was special; our life was special. It still hurts, man, but I’ve got to move on.”
“Well, what’s the good word? What’s been happening in Fayetteville since I’ve been gone?”
“Not a whole lot has changed. They’re bringing in about twenty thousand troops to Ft. Bragg. It has to do with all these base closures throughout the country.”
“This would have been a goldmine for me.”
“What are you going to do, Jefferson? Margo is doing well with the real estate, but your business…”
“My business is dissolved,” Jefferson began. “I probably will be unable to work in securities again. For sure, it will be hard to get bonded. While I sat in prison, Malik, I thought a lot about what I was going to do when I got out, but I’m not sure what that will be. I do know that I am going to enjoy my family.” Jefferson hung his head.
“You know Angelica is out of prison. She’s been out almost a month.”
Jefferson did not speak. “Humph. That’s a memory I’d like to forget. Is she in Fayetteville?”
“I’m not sure where she is. She volunteered to work for me, and after one day on the job, I had to let her go.”
“What happened? She came on to you, didn’t she?” Jefferson laughed.
“Man, that woman is something else. That’s exactly what she did. Started taking her clothes off right in my shop.”
“Get out of here, Malik! In your shop? You know she used to be a stripper.”
“Yeah, you told me.”
“So, are you seeing anyone?” Jefferson asked.
Malik looked at Jefferson with suspicion. He had not expected the question so soon. As he prepared to respond, a waitress approached their table. Grateful for the interruption, Malik quickly gave the waitress his order. Jefferson followed and then stared at Malik.
“So, you’re keeping the lady a secret?” Jefferson continued.
“Wha…wha…oh no. I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. It hasn’t been a year yet since Toni…died.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bring it up. My last memories of you were of Malik the ladies’ man. Always had a woman at your beck and call. I guess Angelica thought she had another chance. How is it that she ended up at your place of business?”
Malik recounted how Angelica showed up at the church and Margo offered Angelica’s services and said that they should forgive her.
“So Margo has forgiven Angelica,” Jefferson said matter-of-fact. “I don’t trust her.”
“I don’t either,” Malik agreed. “Angelica had the nerve to tell Margo that she did not have an affair with you.”
Jefferson looked at Malik and then turned away. He sighed and rubbed his chest, as if remembering another moment he cared to forget.
“Look, hopefully she’s gone forever,” Malik interjected. “Margo has tried unsuccessfully to call Angelica, so it’s evident to me that she doesn’t want to be bothered. We have not heard from her in over a week or so.”
“Thanks, man, for taking care of Margo in my absence.”
