Lies and Alibis

by Warren, Tiffany L.

  I love Lenora. Lawd knows I do. But there is no way I’m spending one night in the clink because of this. Prison time does not equal reaping season.

  After I spill my guts for two hours, Detectives Franco and Burkes let me know that they might come back and ask me more questions. They might even want me to help with a setup.

  Bryan lets them out of the house, and bids them good evening, like they’re our friends. I don’t know what is wrong with him! Those two men just threatened to take his wife to prison.

  He walks back to the table and sits. For the first time in two hours, his smile fades.

  “I need you to pack a bag and get out Camille. Go to your sister’s house, because I swear if you don’t get out of my sight I’m going to wring your stupid neck.”

  His tone worries me. He sounds serious.

  “I haven’t done anything wrong, Bryan.”

  “You bought three houses without telling me, Camille. I could’ve been implicated in this. What would that have done to my ministry?”

  “Do you think I knew there was something illegal happening, Bryan? You’re not the only one with a good name to protect.”

  Bryan shakes his head. “Camille, for the love of everything holy. Get. Out.”

  “Well, Dionne probably needs my help anyway what with the miscarriage scare and everything. I’ll just stay over there until you calm down, because obviously you have some anger to work out.”

  “Stay over there until I decide if I still want to be married to your wretched self.”

  Now this stings. After everything I’ve put up with from him. His infidelities and baby mama scares. Now, I do one little thing and he’s ready to walk.

  Silently, I rise from the table and go to pack my bag. I gather enough clothes for a couple of weeks, because from the look on Bryan’s face, I just might be there for awhile.

  ~22~

  Sydney

  I’m so glad to go over Dionne’s house tonight because my grandmothers are in town, and I can’t wait to have a comfort food frenzy. Especially since I found out about Lucas and his treachery. I’m going to eat enough calories to gain ten pounds, and I won’t care. If I can’t have a man, at least I can be full.

  When I pull into the drive, I see that Camille has beaten me over here. I thought she’d stay at home since she’s still angry at us. I guess none of us can resist our grandmothers’ cooking.

  I walk in the front door using my key, and follow the food smells into the kitchen. Everyone is in here, including Dionne who should probably still be in bed. But she’s eating, so I won’t fuss.

  “Hey everybody,” I say.

  Mama’s jaw drops when she looks at me. “Sydney, what are you wearing?”

  Dionne bursts into laughter. “It’s your turn Syd. She’s already had her time with me and Cami.”

  I look down at my clothes. I’m wearing my hospital t-shirt, a pair of scrub bottoms and my favorite flip flops.

  “What’s wrong with what I have on? I’m not going out on the town!”

  Mama closes her eyes and shudders. “Your hair is uncombed and tangled, your lips are chapped and your fingernails are in need of a French manicure. This is the reason you don’t have a husband.”

  “She doesn’t have a husband because she keeps turning Lucas down,” Camille says.

  “Oh hush,” Dionne snaps. “Your husband just put you out.”

  “Bryan kicked you out?” I ask. “Why?”

  Camille shakes her head in frustration. “It’s just temporary. He was angry about the houses I bought with my money. He just needs a time out to get his head together.”

  I wash my hands in the kitchen sink and then sit down at the table. Grandma Baker sets a bowl in front of me and kisses my forehead.

  “I think you look just fine, baby.” Grandma says. “Maybe a little skinny, but you’re a doctor, what do they expect?”

  “I expect her to have a husband,” Grandmere Batiste says.

  One bite and I block out all of the voices! Grandma’s chicken and dumplings is pure heaven.

  “Syd, your phone is buzzing,” Dionne says.

  I open my eyes, look down at my phone and frown. It’s the hospital. I just worked a double, so they better not be calling me to come in.

  “Hello,” I mumble with a mouthful.

  “Dr. Baker? This is Connie. Dr. Jeffries told me to call you. Your brother-in-law is in the ER. He’s been shot.”

  “What? Which one?” I ask as I hastily swallow the food.

  “I-I’m not sure. I don’t think he’s checked in yet. The ambulance just got here.”

  “Okay. We’re on our way.”

  I disconnect the call and look from Dionne to Camille and then back to Dionne. “We need to get to the hospital. Either Rod or Bryan has been shot. I’m not sure which one.”

  Camille howls at the top of her lungs. “Oh, Lord Jesus you can’t take my husband when he’s not even speaking to me.”

  “Let’s go,” Dionne says.

  “Is it safe for Dionne to go?” Mama asks.

  I grimace. “I’ll be with her the whole time. How could she not go?”

  I want to tell Dionne to stay here and protect my future niece or nephew. Rod didn’t care enough to show up when she was in the hospital. But I know my sister. Nothing can keep her from Rod’s side.

  “Sydney are you driving?” Dionne asks. “Let’s go.”

  ~23~

  Dionne

  I didn’t even need to see Rod lying in the hospital bed with wires coming from his mouth and nose to know that he was the one shot. Where does Bryan go, but to work and church? Rod is the one who lives the dangerous life.

  Lucas gently hugs me before giving his report. “I think he’s going to pull through. He was shot in the head. The bullet went in behind his ear and came out over his eye. Luckily, no major blood vessels were harmed, and his eye and ear drum are surprisingly intact.”

  “He’s going to be okay?”

  “It’ll be touch and go for the next couple of nights. We’ve got him in a medically induced coma, so that his body can heal.”

  I’m shocked at the wave of relief that comes over me. He’s leaving me. Seems like I shouldn’t care if he lives or dies.

  “So doctor is Rod gonna live?”

  I snap my head around at the familiar voice. What is Peach doing here? Oh, silly me. They were probably together when he got shot.

  Lucas says, “I’m sorry, I can only share his condition with his immediate family.”

  “I am his immediate family. My daughter is about to be his next of kin.”

  Mama places herself between me and Peach, as the stripper starts to advance. “Honey, you are severely outnumbered. I suggest you go have a seat.”

  “Have several,” Sydney says. “As a matter of fact, where’s hospital security? Ain’t nobody got time for this gutter rat.”

  Peach balls her fists and cracks her knuckles. I smile. She might be a mistress and a baby mama. She might even be Rod’s next wife. But right now, I am Mrs. Rod Knight, and I’m calling the shots on his care. He better hope nobody asks me to pull the plug on his trifling tail.

  Peach storms out of the hospital, but I don’t believe this is the last we’ll be seeing of her tonight or in the coming days. I think I can deal as long as my family has my back.

  Camille, who looks relieved, asks, “Do you think she’s going to bring reinforcements?”

  “What are they going to do gouge our eyes out with their stripper heels?” Sydney asks. “Let her bring it.”

  Suddenly, I feel tired and take a few steps toward the chair next to Rod’s bed. “Are you going to move him? It seems so out in the open in the ER.”

  “Yes,” Lucas says. “As soon as he’s stable.”

  “Can we get him a double room? Dionne is supposed to be on bed rest,” Grandma Baker asks.

  “Yes, I think so,” Lucas says. “Can I get any of you something to eat or drink?”

  I see Sydney roll her eyes at
Lucas’s gentlemanly gesture. Has she given up on him again? Already?

  “You’re so kind,” Grandmere Batiste says. “Are you single?”

  “Grandmere!” Sydney fusses.

  Lucas smiles and kisses Grandmere’s hand. She swoons. Sydney’s furious reaction almost makes me giggle. It’s a welcome distraction from the fact that Rod is clinging for life.

  “I am very single. I’ve been trying, unsuccessfully, to woo Sydney. I’ve loved her since medical school.”

  Sydney growls. “You’ve crossed the line Lucas. Don’t make me go there.”

  “Sorry, Syd. I’m just telling your family the truth.”

  “You don’t tell the truth! Or maybe you’ll start telling the truth when you get to the Mayo Clinic!”

  Sydney storms out and crashes into the little divider separating one ER triage room from the next. It is crowded in this space with everyone trying to stand near me or Rod’s bed. When she untangles herself, Sydney stomps out of the ER and down a long hallway.

  “Well?” Mama, Grandmere and Camille all say in unison to Lucas.

  “Well what?” he asks.

  “Go after her, baby,” Grandma Baker says as she gives him a little push.

  Lucas grabs one of the interns. “Don’t take your eyes off this patient. Page me at the first sign of anything.”

  “Okay, but where are you going?” the intern asks.

  “To fix something I broke a long time ago.”

  I watch Lucas as he chases after Sydney. Everyone can see the love in his eyes when he looks at her.

  Rod would never come after me. He’s always felt as if he was the prize. I glance at him on the hospital bed, and I don’t feel like a winner. I feel scared. What if I go from future ex-wife to widow?

  Grandma Baker stands at the foot of Rod’s bed and touches his legs, then his arms and torso. Grandmere Batiste does the same. Then, they start mumbling prayers. I hear snatches of the words. Heal his body Lord. Touch him in a mighty way. By your stripes we are healed.

  My grandmothers’ hands have power. I’ve seen it before. I’m trying to pray too, but, I’m not sure Rod deserves it. Instead, I just wait to see what God is going to do.

  ~24~

  Sydney

  I hear Lucas behind me, at my heels, calling my name, trying to get me to slow down so he can catch up. I run faster. How could he stand there in front of my mother, sisters and grandmothers and lie through his perfect teeth? His lies infuriate me, but I’m tired of sprinting.

  I stop, turn and yell down the hall. “Stop chasing me Lucas!”

  “No, not until you let me explain.” He clutches the wall and breathes deeply.

  “Explain what? How you lied to me and said you loved me just so you could get another roll in the hay?”

  “Is that what you think? You think I was just running game?”

  “That’s what you do best.”

  Lucas shakes his head. “I was going to tell you about Mayo Clinic.”

  “When? Before or after you got me into your bed? Were you going to tell me that Ming Nah is trying to follow you there?”

  Lucas closes his eyes and draws his lips into a line. “It’s over with Ming Nah, Sydney.”

  “She doesn’t seem to know that, but since she knew about your job offer and I didn’t I can see why she would think you all are still a thing.”

  “We’re not a thing!” Lucas yells.

  “Oh, now you’re mad?” I laugh out loud. “You do all the lying and all the scheming, and then you get mad. Un-freaking-believable.”

  Lucas grabs me by both arms and pulls me close. “Sydney. I turned it down.”

  “What?”

  “I turned down the offer from Mayo Clinic.”

  I snatch my arms away. “Why would you do that? This is all you’ve ever wanted!”

  “That was before I met you Sydney. Now, you’re all I want. I didn’t think you’d want to leave Atlanta.”

  I swallow hard. “You turned down Mayo Clinic for me?”

  Lucas nods and then looks at the floor. “Yes. I only have one regret, and that’s making you cry. I want to make it up to you, if it takes the rest of my life. I want to put a permanent smile on your face.”

  I step closer to Lucas, so close that our bodies seem connected. I turn his face toward mine.

  “You are now cordially invited...”

  Lucas smiles and immediately RSVPs with a kiss that makes my knees buckle and my toes curl. I could stay in this moment forever.

  I hear footsteps in the hallway next to us and I open my eyes. Nurse Connie grins at us and winks at me.

  “Don’t you two have some lives to save?” she asks.

  Lucas and I both laugh as Nurse Connie rushes down the hall. Oh well...the hospital staff will know about this in thirty seconds or less. And this time, I don’t care one bit. Maybe, I’ll even help her spread the news.

  ~25~

  Dionne

  I sit posted next to Rod’s bed just like a dutiful wife. He looks so peaceful. It reminds me of when we first started dating as teenagers, before he was the Rod Knight. Back when he was just Rod.

  There’s a quiet knock on the door. “Come in,” I say.

  Lucas strides into the room with a few nurses and some equipment. “We’re going to wake him now, Dionne. It’s been two days, so it’s time to see what damage has been done.”

  “What do you think?”

  “He may have some hearing loss, but his vision should be intact. His vitals are good, so I’m very optimistic that he’s going to come out of this okay.”

  I nod. “Okay, then. Wake him up.”

  Lucas points to one of the nurses. “Make sure we have that morphine drip ready. He’s still going to be in some pain. I want to check his vitals before we medicate him, though.”

  I watch as Lucas injects the medication that will reverse Rod’s coma. My heart pounds in my chest. What if he doesn’t wake up? What if he wakes up deaf or blind? Why should I care? He’s leaving me!

  A few moments after Lucas finishes the injection, Rod stirs. Then, he moans.

  “He’s in pain!” I say.

  Lucas nods. “I know. I know. It should be manageable for just a few moments. Blood pressure is 130/70, very good. Oxygen at ninety-eight percent...”

  Lucas rattles off numbers to his crew, but I don’t know what they mean. Rod’s moans drown out every word.

  “D-Di...Di...Dionne!”

  Rod calls my name and I jump up from my seat. Lucas nods and points to where I can stand. I take Rod’s hand and squeeze.

  “I’m here, Rod. It’s okay. They’re about to give you some medicine.”

  Then Rod opens his eyes. A tear trickles down his face. I can’t help it! I burst into tears. Rod looks so helpless lying there.

  Then, the room door flies open and the stripper enters. And this time she has reinforcements. Daddy’s baby is with her.

  “Rodeisha, go hold your daddy’s hand!” she fusses to the little girl.

  It’s uncanny how much this child looks like Rod when he was a little boy. As much as it hurts to see this toddler sized version of my husband, the baby hasn’t done anything wrong. All she knows is that her daddy is on a table with wires coming from his body.

  I beckon for the child to come. Peach looks like she’s about to object, but then she steps back. She probably knows that I can have her removed from this room with one word.

  I lift Rodeisha up to the bed and she touches Rod’s hand. “Daddy, are you okay?”

  Rod narrows his eyes at the little girl and then looks at me. “We have a baby?”

  My jaw drops. Rod doesn’t remember her!

  Lucas says, “It’s okay. There might be some short term memory loss. It’s probably temporary.”

  Peach storms up to the foot of the bed. “No, Rod. We have a baby.”

  Rod’s eyes widen. “Who are you?”

  Peach bursts into tears and crumbles to the floor. I shake my head and squeeze Rod’s hand.
/>
  “Get her out of here,” I say. “She’s disturbing Rod.”

  “Give me my baby!” Peach yells.

  I put Rodeisha on the floor and she runs to her mother. One of the nurses escorts her to the door.

  “When he gets his memory back, he’s still leaving you Dionne. Watch.”

  “Well, I guess you can just go back to your pole and wait for that to happen. Goodbye.”

  Peach looks down at the nurse and snatches her arm away. “Get your hands off of me. My daughter has a right to be here.”

  “I’m sorry. His wife has requested that you leave. You can come back if the patient requests it.”

  I smile through my tears as Rod squeezes my hand back and succumbs to the morphine that Lucas administers intravenously.

  Let’s get one thing straight. I do not forgive Rod for his cheating ways, for Peach or for Rodeisha. But the Rod that I’m looking at right now is the man that I had before all of that happened. He is the man who promised me the world and a family.

  Even if this is only temporary, I’ve got my Rod back, and I’m going to stay by his side. I don’t know for sure, but maybe my grandmothers’ prayers had worked exactly the way they planned.

  Maybe this is a miracle.

  ~26~

  Camille

  “When are you going home?” Dionne asks as I fluff the pillow behind her head.

  Ever since Rod got out of the hospital, I’ve been taking care of both of them hand and foot. And this is the thanks I get?

  “You should hope I don’t go home before your baby is born,” I say. “Ungrateful heffa.”

  Dionne touches my hand. “Cami, you know I appreciate this, but what about you and Bryan?”

  “What about me and Bryan?”

  No one at church knows that we’re separated. Pastor would have a fit if he knew his Minister of Music had put his wife out. But Bryan hasn’t even called me. Not once in the entire month that I’ve been staying at Dionne’s. I’ve called. I’ve left messages. And no response.

  “Are you two trying to work things out at least?” Dionne asks.

  I roll my eyes. Now that her husband has amnesia, all of a sudden she’s the marriage whisperer. I do believe that it was God that made Rod forget he was a hoe, though. Too bad there’s a little girl out there whose father has no recollection of her.