Nappily Faithful

by Trisha R. Thomas

  “Oh …. right. Coffee.”

  As they were walking shoulder to shoulder out of the building, Delma saw Judge Lewis smiling and coming toward them. He waved to get her to stop then took his time getting up the steps.

  “How you doing?” she said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

  “I’m having a special dinner next week. I want you to come. In fact, you’re required to come,” he said, as if he were speaking in code.

  Delma reached out and grabbed his arms to steady herself. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “I’ll have the invitation delivered this afternoon.” He winked before heading off.

  Delma did her best not to jump up and down like a giddy child. “Hudson, did you hear that …. a special dinner. Did you hear that or was I hearing things?”

  He leaned in close so she’d have no misunderstanding of his code word, “Coffee.”

  “Right,” she said, still unable to contain her joy. She was going to the show.

  Delma and Hudson talked the small walking distance to the deli on the corner. He opened the door for her and she stepped inside, lively and full of energy.

  “It’s finally going to happen. I’m going to be free.”

  “I think you should hold off on your joy and celebration until we get to the bottom of this.”

  “Why are you so busy trying to talk me into being a coward? Just ’cause I let you kiss these lips doesn’t mean you have a right to start telling me what to do.”

  He checked his watch as if she were boring him.

  “Got a date?”

  “As a matter of fact we do …. fifteen minutes, court.”

  Delma gathered her purse and coffee that she’d barely tasted. There was a line of customers blocking the door. Hudson led the way like a seeing-eye dog. Delma gave his shoulder a shake, then pointed up to the television.

  “Could you turn that up?” Delma strained to listen over the revving of the blender and pushy lawyer types.

  It wasn’t front-page news, nor was it anything unusual. The wild-haired woman being manhandled by the police. The little girl being rescued while sprays of glass littered the street. The little girl and the mother being reunited, hugging. The bittersweet embrace was captured perfectly like a picture for the front-page war story.

  As a matter of fact, any other time Delma wouldn’t have taken notice at all, not even a second glance. Nothing new about the black faces on the news. Nothing new about the police setting up arsenals in the middle of the day. Sadly to say, Delma was completely desensitized to the constant barrage of violence.

  It was the close-up of the silky-lashed little girl frightened by the camera that stopped Delma cold. The child was the picture of innocence caught in the middle of a battlefield. Those wide and gleaming doe eyes were filled with confusion. The clip played again showing the car roll at a slow crawl. A cop trotting alongside of the moving vehicle and reaching inside to grab the precious child before the driverless car crashed into the side of a police car.

  Funny how a second in time can change everything, destroy the best intentions. Was it asking too much for people to do what they were supposed to do? A simple plan. She would do her part. All they had to do was stay the course, act civil.

  The cashier took a minute to reach for the remote and turned up the volume.

  “. …her husband inside the building while SWAT planned its strategy. The wife suddenly decided to rescue her husband herself. Her child was in the car, unrestrained, while she tried to drive past the officers. Needless to say, this woman will face charges of vehicle recklessness not to mention endangerment of the child. The gunman was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital with critical wounds. The good news, the woman’s husband was rescued and unharmed. Back to you, Lucy.”

  This was bad, very bad. Delma shook her head. She’d had every intention of doing the right thing by that girl. People would be watching, paying attention to her every move, her every judgment. She couldn’t very well award custody to Venus Johnston now. It wouldn’t look good on her record.

  When they made it outside the deli, lightning bolted in the sky. Delma looked up to witness the gray clouds closing ranks. She closed her eyes and let the water land in heavy clumps on her face. She smiled, then fell into a healthy round of laughter. She wasn’t going to let anything or anyone rain on her parade.

  32

  Venus

  Georgina Michaels, normally cool under fire, paced back and forth. “Of all the possible things that could go wrong, and you do this?” She was furious and downright indignant. “How am I supposed to fix this? How in the world am I supposed to spin this broken wheel? We’re finished, this is the final nail. It’s out of my hands.”

  Jake kept his head down. But of course it was me who’d done the damage. Jake reached out and took my hand. He gave it a squeeze telling me he would’ve done the same thing.

  “I panicked. I just panicked. I stopped before I got anywhere near the building and no one got hurt.”

  “You risked your daughter’s life. This is the final blow.”

  “Stop it,” Jake said coming to the rescue. “That’s enough.” He gave Georgina a hard glare.

  “I apologize.” Georgina spoke directly to me, but her tone was still full of anger. “Maybe there’s hope,” she said with fake optimism. Georgina gathered her bags that she never seemed to open. “Jake, can you see me out?”

  Their private conversations were becoming a mainstay. I went to check on Mya. I relished the afternoon quiet when she took her nap. I peeked in on her. The sunlight filled her room. Calmness and peace blanketed her soft cheeks.

  When I came back downstairs, Jake was still gone. I peeked out the front window and saw he and Georgina at her car. She paced the same way she had inside only this time she went short distances from one end of the bumper to the other. Jake was back in shame mode with his head down. I slipped on my shoes and was going straight out there to tell her enough. We get it. I get it. Next subject.

  I opened the door with all intentions of stating my case one last time then realized I could hear their every word. I pushed the door back to a slight opening and listened.

  “Sometimes you can’t leave it up to one man’s opinion, or in this case one woman’s.”

  “You just said to stay out of trouble,” Jake questioned.

  “I’ll handle it,” Georgina said. “And yes, I mean it. Stay out of trouble. Obviously you two are like moths to a flame. I suggest you hole yourselves up in this house till this thing is over.” She opened her car door and got inside. Jake waited until she was gone before heading back to the house.

  I ran to the couch, took my position, and pretended I wasn’t worried about the conversation I’d just overheard.

  Whatever Georgina was planning couldn’t be legal or ethical. I sensed danger and desperation. Maybe it was time to throw in the towel before something bad happened. Either way, I knew it was all up to me to fix everything that was broken.

  33

  Trevelle

  Her head hurt. Throbbing, pulsing pain rushed to the front of her face when she tried to sit up.

  “Look who’s awake.” The uplifting voice belonged to Nita, her long-time housekeeper. She was busy at the edge of the bed straightening her sheets and covers. “You thirsty? Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Thank you.” She was finally able to speak, but her throat was parched. Nita had worked for Trevelle for several years and they never became friends as the definition would require, but Trevelle knew she was trustworthy and that’s all that mattered.

  The door to her room creaked open slowly. Airic peeked his head inside before fully entering. A soft smile crept on his lips. “You’re awake.”

  “Her throat’s a little raw. Don’t ask her any big questions that need big answers. I’m going to run and get her some juice. Be right back.”

  Airic wasted no time getting to her side and placing a kiss on her forehead. He squeezed her hand. �
��The young lady is still here. She’s waiting downstairs. Do you want to see her? Otherwise I’ll have a car drive her to her hotel.”

  “No. I want to see her.” Trevelle grabbed his arm and pulled herself up higher on the pillows and waited a moment for her head to stop spinning. Her head had hit the corner of the podium when she’d collapsed. The doctor said she’d been lucky there was no concussion, though the vertigo would take its own sweet time going away. She took a few calming breaths and closed her eyes. Still the spinning.

  Moments later the door opened and the woman she’d held on to for dear life was at her side once again.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said.

  Trevelle patted the edge of the king-size bed. The sprawling bedroom was the size of an entire apartment but Trevelle wanted her close. “Sit.”

  “I feel responsible ….” She paused, sitting gently on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know what happened, but for some reason I feel like I caused it.”

  “No, absolutely not. That was God’s work. We can never be selfish or vain enough to believe we have that kind of control. Only God has that kind of power.” Trevelle reached out and took her hand. “Tell me more about yourself.” Trevelle tried to sound light and without fear, though the shouting voice in her head screamed a warning, Let her go. Satan was tricky. But she had been to hell and back and learned the greatest armor was to face fear or confusion head on.

  She paused, brushing the straight bangs away from her eyes. “I’ve been blessed in so many ways. I really feel awful for saying the things I did. Ms. Doval, is there any way you can edit me out of your taping? I don’t want my mother to see, to hear me say those terrible things …. about feeling lost, alone. She’s been my hero, my whole life. I love her too much to ever want to hurt her …. talking about being adopted. It’s just something we never talk about.”

  “Oh …. yes, of course.” Trevelle couldn’t believe her own susceptibility to this young woman’s needs. Especially after the producer had whispered how amazing the show was as she was being carted out in an ambulance. “Amazing performance,” he’d said.

  Trevelle reached out and squeezed her hand. “I will make sure that tape never sees the light of day.”

  “Thank you, so much.”

  “There’s a connection between us. I would hate to let you leave and not make sure you were okay after what you shared with me. I want to be there for you, help you in any way I can,” Trevelle offered.

  Keisha squeezed Trevelle’s hand. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes. I’m fine.”

  Trevelle’s heart filled with warmth and compassion. Trevelle extended her arms. They hugged. This time she wasn’t afraid of the overwhelming emotion. The connection she didn’t need to understand, only accept what felt like a comfortable trusting place.

  “I promise you’ll never feel that emptiness again. God is the master of filling in the void. I’m going to help you get to know Him. He is the master of divine wholeness. He will fill your spirit and be your guide. Someone introduced me to God and my life changed. I’m going to do the same for you.”

  “Well, I live in Atlanta, so I guess we can call, e-mail.” She hunched her shoulders.

  “Just so happens I spend a lot of time in Atlanta.” Trevelle smiled warmly.

  Keisha pulled out her business card and scribbled her address along with her home number. “Everything else is on the front.”

  Trevelle flipped it over and read her name out loud. “Keisha Hawkins. Well, my sweet, you’ve got a new friend, Trevelle Doval. So wonderful to know you.”

  “When do you think you’ll be coming to Atlanta?” Keisha asked.

  “Actually in the next couple of days, God willing, if my head can stop spinning long enough. My husband and I are in the process of adopting, well, I’ll be adopting. The sweet child is his from a previous relationship. The case is taking place in Atlanta where the child currently lives with her mother, an unholy woman with no soul.”

  Airic entered the room just as Trevelle was about to elaborate. Good thing. She didn’t want to come off as callous after just offering to help the young woman find salvation. But even the slightest thought of Venus and her shallow shortsightedness fueled something close to rage.

  “You doing all right, sweetheart?”

  “We’re fine. Keisha lives in Atlanta. I told her we’d be spending time there during the court case.”

  Keisha interjected. “That’s so wonderful. My mom’s a family court judge there, Delma Hawkins. I’d be happy to put in a good word.”

  “Your mother,” Trevelle sputtered. “Is Hawkins? Your mother is Judge Delma Hawkins?” Trevelle swallowed the dry ball in her throat. How could that wretched woman have raised such a warm and loving daughter?

  Keisha nodded. “You already know of her?”

  Trevelle blinked. “Yes, well, yes, she’s the judge handling our case.”

  Nita arrived carrying a tray with two glasses and a pitcher of frosty juice on ice. All in the nick of time. “Here you go, nice cool glass of juice. Brought you one, too, sweetie.” She handed each of them a tall crystal goblet full of ice and sparkling liquid. Trevelle drank and drank, not stopping until hers was all gone.

  “Whew, you’re parched, Lady T.” Nita poured more from the decanter. “Plenty where that came from.”

  Trevelle fanned herself with the fabric of her silk pajamas. “Is it hot in here, or just me?”

  “I’ll let you get some rest.” Keisha leaned forward and planted an unexpected kiss on Trevelle’s cheek. “My flight doesn’t leave until the morning. I’m going to head back to my hotel.”

  “No, are you sure? You’re welcome to stay here,” Trevelle sincerely offered.

  “It’s been such a long day. We both need to decompress. Thank you for the offer though.”

  “I’ll drive you.” Airic leaned toward Trevelle. “I have to leave anyway.” He noticed the perspiration spilling off her brow as if she’d just ran a ten-K race and decided to kiss her on the nose instead. “Are you going to be all right?”

  She fanned herself. “What do you mean? Where are you going?”

  “To Atlanta ….” He tried to sound nonchalant. “Remember, second Sunday of the month.”

  “Well, I would think you’d have a change of plans. I fainted, a blackout, for God’s sake. You’re rushing off to ….” She remembered her guest and changed her tone. “Please reconsider.”

  Airic blinked a questioning stare. “I’d have to wait two more weeks. How would it look if I don’t show up at all?”

  Trevelle suddenly felt another blast of heat shrouding her body. “Go then. Don’t let me stop you.”

  Airic stood back, not sure what to make of her public display. Normally she made sure to appear the good wife when others were around.

  “Changing of the guard. Menopause,” Nita clarified. “It’s okay.” She tried to comfort him.

  Trevelle wanted to make her own clarification and tell Nita to shut up and mind her business. Logically she shouldn’t be going through menopause, but she was indeed experiencing the same symptoms. Her uterus and both fallopian tubes had been removed when she was only thirty-two years old, a time when she should’ve been thinking about marriage and planning a family. Instead she’d suffered from fibroid tumors and a threat of cervical cancer, all because her body had been ravaged by sexually transmitted diseases at such a young age.

  She hadn’t told Airic about the constant need for hormonal medication, the siege of emotions and helplessness that sometimes brought her to her knees if she skipped just one dose. He was her husband, her helpmate, and the keeper of their castle. But one thing she knew about men, they didn’t want to know the dirty details. A wife had a duty to present herself in the best light, facing tribulation with class and dignity.

  “I’m fine, go, please. Keisha, I will be in touch.” She fluttered her synthetic lashes. When the door closed those same eyes darted sharply in Nita’s direction. “Do me a favo
r and don’t take it upon yourself to discuss my biology with my husband or anyone else for that matter.”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “Whatever.” Trevelle waved a dismissive hand before Nita ranted on with her apologies. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

  34

  Venus

  Round two, I was thinking when the doorbell rang. Airic was right on time.

  “Is she ready?”

  “Are you going to ask me that question every time you come here?” I shook my head and recharged. “Actually, she’s going to be a minute. She’s dressing her doll …. trying to make it presentable for Miss Trell,” I said with exaggerated niceness. “Would you like to come in and wait?”

  “No. I should wait in the car.” He turned to walk away. I searched ahead of him to see if Trevelle was waiting in the car. I had a feeling I’d seen the last of her for a while. I’d left a lasting impression after the ice-cream shop debacle.

  “Airic …. please. Come inside. It’s too hot out there.”

  He came inside. He was nervous. I still knew all of his facial expressions. Anxiety wasn’t a particularly good look on him. The crease lines in his forehead went straight across in threes like tribal markings. His dark eyeballs went into a wide spacey glare. He paused before taking a seat on the couch.

  “Jake isn’t here. My mom went back to California. It’s just us chickens,” I said to ease his mind. “Be right back.” I went to the kitchen and poured him a glass of southern hospitality. I’d asked Jake to leave so I could talk to Airic alone.

  “Here you go.”

  He took the glass but didn’t sip.

  “It’s okay. I swear.” I put up both hands. Still he only stared at the glass and placed it on the coffee table. I picked up the iced tea and took the first sip. “See, I’m still alive.” I handed it back to him. He put it on the glass table untouched.

  “Airic, we need to talk.”