“I don’t doubt his expertise.”
“He’s fine Olivia. Stop being mean to him.”
“I’m not being mean. I sent him a text to set up a time for him to show me the home camera security system. I considered getting them after someone left another crazy note on my door about being a psycho mom again. I forgot to tell you.”
“Olivia. I can’t believe you didn’t let me know,” Savvy exclaimed. “You have to tell the police. What if something happens to you?”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. I don’t want to draw extra attention to myself,” Olivia whined. “I wish my life would get back to normal.”
“Well, see what Durbin will do for you. Cameras will help you identify the culprit.”
“I might cancel my appointment with him. I don’t think I want Durbin knowing where I live.”
“Girl. You are trippin’. You talk about me watching crime shows. See how you’re acting? The man is promoting his business. You’ll feel safer having the cameras. Besides, Zoriyah said he did a great job for them. Don’t cancel on him.”
“Okay. Fine. He better not hit on me though,” Olivia warned.
“If he does, sic big ole’ Malcolm on his behind.” Savvy slapped hands with Olivia in a high-five before getting in their cars to leave.
Olivia lowered her window. “Savvy, thanks for listening to my craziness today.”
“Any time. That’s what best friends do for each other. Now, stop being on ‘Team Ratchet’ and get on ‘Team Righteous’. I’ll see you later.”
TWENTY-TWO
Olivia
Despite Olivia’s determination to not think about Malcolm, she spent two restless nights tossing and turning in bed. Replays of their lovemaking saturated her dreams from which she woke in a sweat.
To clear her head, she decided to go for a run on the trails at Eisenhower Park and climb the hill to the Observation Tower. The morning sun hinted at rising above the scenic park. A handful of solo runners and a group of bikers made their way to explore their chosen pathways.
She inserted her earbuds and selected a running playlist on a portable music player. Beyoncé’s song, Run the World, jolted her into punching around like boxing legend, Sugar Ray Leonard. After putting on sunglasses, she ran to the base of a hill to shake thoughts of the past weekend’s adventure.
She hadn’t talked to Malcolm since Sunday morning. Olivia fought the urge to call and figured it would be best to wait for him to make the next move.
The constant rhythm of her feet as they pounded along the trail, provided much-needed comfort. Questions about whether she still loved Malcolm swirled in her head and consumed every thought. She analyzed if she could trust him enough to become a family again.
Olivia raised her hand to wave at a group of women wearing pink Black Girls Run! headbands and running gear.
She knew in her heart, finding forgiveness for Malcolm would be a journey for life. She pondered whether he’d become a changed man or remained the cheating, lying, unreliable person he proved himself to be a year ago.
A deeper question Olivia considered had to do with whether her transformation and transparency with herself resulted in being a better person. The possibility that her insecurities may have driven Malcolm into the arms of other women, plagued her mind.
Olivia rounded through the trail and leaned forward to work her way along the incline. The physical strength of her legs from climbing challenging peaks assured her of her mental ability to overcome daily obstacles. At least she accomplished something this morning to stay motivated.
Once she made it to the top of the hill and climbed the Observation Tower, Olivia stood to catch her breath and watch the completion of the sunrise. She whispered a prayer in awe of the majestic beauty she viewed.
Olivia wiped the sweat from her brow with the tail of her shirt before beginning a fast trot to return to the bottom of the hill. Based on the information in her smartwatch, her speed showed an improvement since her last run.
Out of breath, Olivia stretched and cooled down before getting into the car. A missed call from Durbin showed on the cellphone. She huffed and contemplated if she wanted to have a conversation with him this early in the morning.
Olivia tapped her screen to return his call.
Durbin answered after one ring. “Hello, Olivia?”
“Hi, Durbin. Yes, it’s me. I had a missed call from you.”
“Yeah. Um. Sorry to call this early. I know we weren’t scheduled until later in the week for me to stop by with the security cameras. I have time today if you’re available,” Durbin offered.
Olivia paused before responding. She tossed around in her head the idea of canceling the appointment. “Today is fine. I’m finished with my run and heading to the house to shower. Why don’t you come by around ten?”
Durbin responded with surprise. “Oh. Good. Ten works for me, too.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll text you my address once I get to the house,” Olivia said.
“Alright. I’ll see you soon. Thanks, Olivia.” Durbin ended the call.
Olivia arrived at her home and drove into the garage. She hoped Durbin wouldn’t be a nuisance. The last thing she needed was more drama in her life.
TWENTY-THREE
Olivia
Olivia held her nose after peeling her sweaty clothes off and dropping them into the bathroom’s hamper. After texting Durbin her address, she rushed to shower to be ready for his visit.
Olivia stuck her head and arms through the openings of a purple shirt before tugging on a pair of jeans. Fluffing her hair gave it a styled appearance. She slid on a comfortable pair of sneakers. A couple of light sprays of her favorite perfume finished her preparation.
She sauntered through the hall from the bedroom to the kitchen. A variety of organic fruits and vegetables from the refrigerator were perfect for blending into a smoothie.
Positioning
