Insatiable Revenge

by Cynthia Freeman Gibbs

  “Girl, you know that’s what we do,” JaLeesa reassured. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore. I drove in the same direction the officer went. She had your stalker in handcuffs on the side of the street.”

  “What?” Savvy exclaimed. “She caught him?”

  “Yup. I drove by real slow to make sure he didn’t miss me passing by.” JaLeesa laughed. “He was mad as a bee caught up in a wig.”

  “You are too funny.” Savvy laughed.

  “I figured you’d want that piece of information. Now, you should sleep better tonight. Be careful heading home. We’ll talk later.”

  “Alright. Thanks for the info.” Savvy breathed with the liberation of knowing he’d probably go to jail. Again.

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Olivia

  The fourteen days Olivia had to wait for an appointment with the doctor tortured her. She’d barely slept and worried each night about being pregnant, having a disease, or both.

  Perched on the edge of the examination table brought about tattered nerves as she waited for the gynecologist to return. The soft fabric of the mauve gown provided by the nurse, fit Olivia as if designed for her. She appreciated the nice change from the uncomfortable paper gowns used in other doctor offices. The length of time to get her test results back, made her fret.

  Not one to bite her nails, Olivia found herself gnawing on the tips. She tucked both hands underneath her legs. The thin paper on the table bunched up from rocking. Her teeth chattered despite the warm temperature in the room.

  Olivia slid from the table and landed on the floor in her socks. She always wore something on her feet when she had examinations in the ob-gyn stirrups. Although they put covers on the end of each metal piece, she didn’t trust they ever washed or changed them in between patients.

  After putting on her clothes in the changing room, Olivia settled into the chair to continue to wait. The time seemed to stretch longer with every peek at her watch.

  As if on cue, Olivia heard a knock and the door swung open. “Okay, Olivia. I have some news for you.” Dr. Vajajay wore a tailored lab coat with Kente cloth on the collar and wristbands. She always made a fashion statement with her clothes on or off the job. After settling her petite body frame on a round backless stool, she scooted on the wheels toward Olivia. She ruffled through a set of papers and didn’t give any hints with her facial expression.

  Olivia stared at her in anticipation. “Well, don’t keep me waiting. What news?” Olivia hoped she didn’t come off as being too snappish. Dr. Vajajay has been her doctor for the last thirteen years. She delivered both of her children and they had a great relationship. Olivia knew she wouldn’t beat around the bush.

  “Okay. Settle down.” The doctor patted Olivia on the arm. “First of all, you are not pregnant. Rest easy in knowing you’re not with child."

  Olivia didn’t realize she held her breath until she released a huge gasp of air. “Thank you, Jesus.” She held her hands to heaven for a quick praise. “Alright. I’m ready for the next part. I think.”

  “I’m going to tell you. I’m also going to lecture to you,” Dr. Vajajay warned.

  “Why are you making me wait? Give me the results, Merilyn,” Olivia pleaded and wrung her hands. The anticipation made her head hurt. “Please?”

  “Olivia. You have tested negative for all sexually transmitted diseases. You are free and clear.”

  Olivia dropped from the chair to her knees. She didn’t notice the pain of the hard tile floor. A flood of tears released from her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  Merilyn handed her a couple of tissues and helped her to the chair. “Okay. Enough with the drama. We need to talk.” Merilyn’s voice took on a serious note, which sobered Olivia’s crying spree.

  “Oh boy. You’re about to go off on me.” Shame washed through her. Either way, she didn’t have an STD and she wasn’t pregnant. She could handle anything from Merilyn.

  "Olivia. What the hell were you thinking?” Merilyn’s eyes blazed and latched onto Olivia’s face. She switched from the role as a doctor to the get-in-your-face friend role. “You arrived here afraid of what you were going to find out. Do you know why? Hmmm?”

  For some reason, Olivia’s mind floated to herself at age sixteen when she kissed a boy and got caught by her parents. “Umm. Yeah.”

  “Yeah? What kind of answer is that?” Merilyn clapped her hands together once to make a point. “You are a grown woman who knows better than to have unprotected sex with not one, but two men in one week. I know Malcolm is still your husband. Don’t forget, he’s laying up with another woman who he found on a website and who knows who else. On top of that, you have no idea who she has been with. Do you see how diseases spread between people?”

  Olivia dropped her eyes and stammered. “I…I know.” Olivia hesitated. “Um. May I speak?”

  “No. Not yet,” Merilyn snapped. “You got drunk and woke up with some strange man in your bed. Are you kidding me?”

  Olivia warmed from embarrassment. She shook her head.

  “You have enough problems going on right now. The last thing you need is this kind of drama. You are in your forties, and it’s time for you to grow up. I don’t ever want you coming in for something this juvenile again. Do you understand me?”

  Olivia raised her eyes to determine if she could respond. The hand on the hip and look on Merilyn’s face indicated she waited for an answer. “Yes. I understand. I’m sorry to come in here like this. I know I’ve disappointed you and myself.” Olivia sniffed. “Lighten up on a sister. Please?”

  Merilyn laughed and softened her facial expression. “Girl. You know I must keep it real with you. STDs and babies are serious. I see too much in this office with women in the same situation as you at your age. Unfortunately, many of them are not as lucky as you are. I want you to go home and think about what you risked with your reckless behavior.”

  “Alright, already. I got it. I know you’re doing your job. I hear you loud and clear,” Olivia groaned.

  “Okay. Give me a hug. You may breathe again.” Merilyn reached out to her.

  Olivia embraced her as if her life depended on it. In a lot of ways, it did.

  THIRTY-NINE

  Olivia

  Once Olivia entered her car to return home, she checked the phone and saw text messages from Simone: Mom. Come over. Please.

  Puzzled and alarmed by the simple message from Simone, she speed-dialed her daughter’s number. Thoughts about her cutting herself again dominated Olivia’s thoughts. She wheeled onto the highway to high-tail it to Malcolm’s place as she waited for her to answer the phone.

  “Simone. What’s wrong? Honey are you okay?” Olivia rushed through her questions.

  “Yes, Mom. I’m fine. It’s Dad.” Simone responded with concern in her voice. “He’s crying.”

  Olivia snapped upright with shock from Simone’s words. “Your dad is crying? About what?”

  “I don’t know. Can you hurry up and get here?” Simone sounded frantic.

  “Yes, baby. I’m about five minutes away,” Olivia said. “Oh, and make sure you put those dogs outside.”

  “You don’t have to worry about them, Mom. Hurry up.” Simone clicked off the phone.

  Olivia’s tires squealed as she turned into the apartment complex parking lot. She bolted from the car and sprinted to their door. After pounding on the wood, she listened for the dogs. A sigh of relief slipped from her lips upon not hearing any barking.

  The door swung open and Simone greeted her with her face drawn in concern. Olivia grabbed her by the shoulders and bent to inspect her expression. “Where is your dad?”

  “He’s in the bedroom,” Simone said. “Christian is in there with him.”

  “Okay. Take me to him,” Olivia instructed. She followed Simone through the hall. As they approached the door, the sounds of a grown man whimpering emerged from the room. It reminded Olivia of being at a memorial service where people
wept and attempted to keep full-out wailing from occurring.

  “Dad,” Simone took one timid step into the room, “Mom’s here.”

  Christian jumped from the side of the bed and bolted toward Olivia. “Mom. Dad won’t stop crying. Make him stop,” he pleaded.

  Malcolm laid curled into a fetal position on the bed. He scrunched a grungy blanket in his hands and had a pillow between his knees. A constant flow of tears wet his cheeks. He seemed oblivious to Olivia’s presence in the room. She couldn’t recall a time she’d ever seen him reach this level of pitiful. Unprepared for this scene, she didn’t know how to approach him.

  “Um. Malcolm? It’s me. Olivia.” She sat on the edge of the bed and laid a hand on his back. “What’s going on? What happened?”

  Her questions brought about a loud wail that didn’t fit with Malcolm's persona. He kept his eyes closed and continued to cry. The baby boy in him emerged in an instant.

  “Okay. Kids, go out of the room and close the door. I need to speak to your dad in private,” she requested. The kids didn’t hesitate to exit the room.

  Olivia put on her psychologist's hat to get Malcolm to relax and speak. “Malcolm. I’m here for you. I want you to do your best to breathe in through your nose and let it out real slow from your mouth. You’re beginning to hyperventilate.” As much as she hated being in the same bed Mariah slept in, she slid closer to Malcolm until she could guide his head onto her lap.

  Malcolm groaned and his tears began to subside. He hiccupped a couple of times as he inhaled the deep breaths Olivia instructed him to take. His reddened face began to return to its normal caramel brown color. His swollen eyes fluttered open as if he finally comprehended Olivia’s presence.

  “Malcolm. Tell me what has you in this emotional state right now. What happened?”

  Malcolm wiped his face with the blanket. He managed to raise from Olivia’s lap and sit on the edge of the bed. After letting out a labored sigh, he gazed at his hands with a gloomy expression. “Mariah. Is-is g-gone,” he stammered.

  Olivia straightened up in shock. “Malcolm. What do you mean? Gone where?”

  “She left me and moved to Miami,” Malcolm whimpered.

  Olivia’s heart jumped in her chest. “Why did she go there without you and the kids?”

  “Mariah confessed to me; the baby isn’t mine. She told me she led me on to believe he was my child to me to make me marry her. When she found out about me being with you, she moved in with her cousin. She decided she didn’t want to be with me anymore. She packed her clothes, took the dogs, and left.”

  Confused, Olivia questioned, “Malcolm. I don’t understand. If the baby isn’t yours, why are you crying like this?”

  “She doesn’t want me. You don’t want me. I don’t have a baby on the way,” Malcolm sobbed. “I’m all alone. Nobody wants me.”

  Olivia's face warmed with anger. “Are you kidding me? You’re having a conniption because nobody wants you?”

  “Stop making light of this, Olivia. I’m hurting right now.”

  “Oh. My. Gosh. Really? You have the kids all worked up. They’re worried about their daddy who can’t stop crying.” Olivia slapped the side of his head. “You did this to yourself. I don’t feel sorry for you. Not one bit.”

  “Oww. Olivia. Can’t you see I’m in pain?” Malcolm cried.

  “Uh-uh. You’re not getting any sympathy from me. You should never have been involved with that woman. This serves you right,” Olivia snapped.

  Malcolm peered at Olivia with red-rimmed eyes. “You are cold-hearted and soulless. I wanted us to be a family again. Instead, you sexed me up and turned me down.”

  “Oh, no. You don’t get to blame me.” Olivia pointed her finger in his face and stood above him. “This is your mess, not mine.”

  Malcolm hung his head in his hands and groaned. “You don’t get it. Do you?”

  “What I do get is, now the kids won’t be moving away from me. I’m overjoyed,” she exclaimed.

  Malcolm raised his head and peered at Olivia as if she’d grown a second nose. His lips quivered with suppressed fury. “Are you celebrating in my demise? I can’t believe you’re acting like this is okay.”

  Olivia tried to keep a straight face. “Ha. Your demise?” She attempted to purse her lips together. A guffaw slipped from her mouth. She threw her head back in a bray of laughter until she doubled over, grabbing at her ribs from a stitch in her side. “Really?” She tried to speak in between chuckles. She swiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. “Malcolm, this is the best day of my life.”

  Malcolm glared at Olivia with his mouth gaping. His brows wrinkled in vexation.

  Olivia let out chuckled wheezes, which subsided to whimpers of mirth. “I gotta go. I can’t stop laughing.” Olivia leaned against the wall to catch her breath. She headed to the door and put her hand on the knob to leave the room. “Whew. I haven’t cracked up like this in years.”

  “Go on. Leave.” Malcolm’s veins in his neck stood out in livid ridges of anger. He jammed his finger toward the door.

  The hurt in Malcolm’s voice changed Olivia’s demeanor. She removed her hand from the doorknob and turned around. Although glad Mariah left, she cared about his state of mind. He needed to be mentally stable for the sake of the kids.

  “Malcolm. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh at you.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Malcolm snapped.

  “No. I was wrong.” Olivia took a deep breath. “Look. We’ve been through some tough situations. I know you were excited about having a baby with Mariah. As much as I don’t like her, I’m sorry you had to go through something like this.”

  Malcolm’s face appeared baffled as he regarded Olivia’s apology. “Thank you. At least I found out now instead of after raising him for eighteen years.”

  “Having something or someone ripped away from you, doesn’t feel good.” Olivia paused. “Believe me. I know.”

  “I’m sorry I put you through everything throughout the years.”

  “I’m sorry too. I am responsible for some things that weren’t right in our marriage.” Olivia waggled a finger at him. “Don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t’ justify you cheating on me. I loved you hard with everything I had. That may have been part of the problem.”

  Malcolm nodded. “We both could have handled our relationship differently.”

  “Look. We need to be civil with each other and find a way to co-exist for Simone and Christian. I’m willing to do better if you are. Our divorce doesn’t have to make us enemies.”

  Malcolm nodded. “Agreed.”

  Olivia opened the door. “Okay. Are you well enough to come out of the room? We should tell the kids they are staying in San Antonio.”

  Malcolm stood from the bed and appeared exhausted. He straightened his rumpled clothes. “I’m good.”

  Olivia examined the man she once loved. Her heart tugged from seeing him in pain. She drew Malcolm into her arms to comfort him with a hug. The tension in his body released in the embrace.

  They leaned back and Olivia searched his face. “Come on. Let’s go share the news with the kids.”

  FORTY

  Olivia

  Olivia yawned and switched off the lamp on the nightstand. The buttery-soft sheets caressed her skin as she settled into the stacked feather pillows.

  A smile spread across her lips as she recalled the joy on the children’s faces once they learned they were staying in San Antonio. Seeing her kids beam with happiness warmed her soul. She could rest with peace tonight knowing her family would be fine.

  She and Savvy had spent an hour on the phone, bending each other’s ears about everything they had both experienced. Thankful for her friend’s safety after the scary encounter with Kolby, she could rest well for the night.

  Durbin’s name showed on Olivia’s phone screen. She yawned again and decided not to answer. Her body begged for sleep. She’d call him tomorrow to f
ind out what he wanted.

  As she dozed off, a sudden noise in the quiet home jolted her awake.

  Olivia shot upward from the pillows to a sitting position. Each breath shallowed as she strained to listen to the noise coming from the other side of the house.

  She heard someone’s footsteps moving as if they were walking slow. She clamped a hand to her mouth in fear.

  Olivia extended her right hand out to the nightstand. She struggled to glide the oversized drawer open without making any noise. Darkness enveloped the room, yet her fingers punched out a five-digit code on the mini gun-safe to pop open the door. The loaded Glock fit perfectly in her hand. She wrapped her fingers around the handle and held it close to her chest.

  Olivia’s heart fluttered with anxiety. She slid from the side of the bed and attempted to be quiet in placing her feet on the floor.

  With eyes glued to the entrance of the room, she tiptoed into the walk-in closet and began to close the door. After a second thought, she left it open to have a view of the intruder if he entered the bedroom. She crouched behind a cluster of dresses.

  Olivia’s eyes strained in the darkness to peek through the clothes. Her trembling body pressed toward the wall of the closet in hopes of blending in. Fear gripped her nerves, causing perspiration to drip down her back and dampen her lavender pajamas.

  The creak of the loose board in front of Olivia’s bedroom alerted her to the location of the intruder. Olivia heard the person’s movement in the hallway. She chewed her lip and tried to remain still.

  What appeared to be the body shape of a tall man dressed in black emerged through Olivia’s bedroom door and stood at the footboard. The moonlight illuminated the room enough for her to make out a ski mask covering the face.

  Olivia held her breath and watched the intruder stare at the bed as if looking for her. He sprang forward and yanked back the comforter only to discover she wasn’t there.

  A gasp slipped from her lips, which drew the attention of the trespasser. He turned toward the closet and paused. In a matter of seconds, he began taking slow steps in her direction. Olivia’s heart struggled to bust from within her chest once she realized the elevation of imminent danger.