Over. (This. Is. Not. Over. #2)

by Dianne, Shannon

Danielle

  10:45 p.m.

  “Danielle.”

  Shit! I drop my phone before I’m able to press send. My back is to Malcolm as he bends down to pick up the pieces of my cell.

  “Sorry.” He says as he hands it back to me. As I take it from his hands, I feel a wave of energy pass through us. Energy. I know what Jasmine has said but she doesn’t know how I feel when I’m with this man. I feel alive with this man. Sometimes it’s dangerous, but I still feel alive. I know that relationships aren’t always about feelings, sometimes it’s about safety and duty and compatibility. But this shock of energy that I feel with him, I’ve never felt with another man before.

  “That’s okay.” I whisper as I put the pieces back together.

  “I won’t lie, I need some air after that meet and greet.” I hear the laughter in his voice.

  “I know, me too.” I smile. “You wanted to talk?” Though my back is to him, I can tell that he’s moved closer to me because I’m now engulfed in his scent. That Malcolm scent. Orient Kings.

  “The last time we were together and it was this cold, you were sitting next to me in Belgium and you didn’t have a clue.” Billy Goat Gruff and the chatty kid; I smile at the memory. Wait, Malcolm and I have a memory. But Cocoa Lady was there too. Laura. I drop my smile. “And the last time we were on a pier together like this, you never turned around to look me.” He says as he begins to loom in back of me. Another memory. “It was a night like this.” He points up the moon. I look at it and notice that it’s full. He’s right, the last time we were on a pier the moon was full and it was reflecting on the water just beyond us. “I always regretted that I didn’t make you turn around.” And then I feel him resting his coat over my shoulders. Goodness … déjà vu. I will never forget that night on the pier. What Jasmine doesn’t realize is that Malcolm and I do have history and it goes back a year before I even met Jon. “I would tell myself over the years that if I could do it all over again,” he whispers in my ear, “whether you wanted to or not, I’d make you turn around. Tonight feels like that night on the pier. You have your back turned to me and I’m right behind you hoping you’ll turn around and look at me. But now I see that if I could do it again, I still wouldn’t have asked you to turn around.” And then he moves from behind me and eases in front of me. I look up at him and see that Roman nose, square jaw and those chocolate eyes that I missed out on for twelve years. “I see now that if I could’ve done it all over again, I would have let you sit there on that pier, just as you were and I would have been the one to get up to stand in front of you.”

  “I’m in trouble here.” I whisper to him. “That fire …” I swallow hard to stop the sob that’s stinging my throat. “I’ve been trying to push it all out of mind, I’ve been trying to turn my fear into anger but the truth is that I’m scared. I have a feeling that something … the law, Laura, Lola … something’s coming for me.”

  “You’re scared?” He says the word like he’s never heard it before. “I’m standing here in front of you and you’re scared?” He’s looking at me like I’ve just done the impossible.

  “What do I do about Laura?”

  “Nothing.” He says slowly. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.” At that moment I hear the pier door open. I turn to see Jacob and Winnie walking out; they close the door and stop right by it.

  “You look scared.” Malcom says to me like he’s trying out a new word that he’s just learned.

  “What’s going on?” I ask him.

  “I need you to come with us.”

  “Where are we about to go?”

  “We’re about to go and get you out of this.” And then he smiles.

  Tuesday

  Laura

  12:15 a.m.

  “Help!” I try to cough out and fight back, but it’s no use. Winnie has a gloved hand around my throat and a hand over my mouth. She’s holding me down with the pure strength of her arm. She’s too strong, no one’s going to hear me. I can’t get her arms off of my throat! I can’t breathe!

  “Shut the fuck up and calm the fuck down before I break your fucking neck.” Winnie says with the composure of a seasoned assassin.

  Winnie with her signature dark, wavy bob and cranberry red lips. Winnie, the army brat.

  And that’s when I see them.

  Malcolm and Jacob. They’re gloved as well while they open my luggage and dump everything out, yank the drawers out of dressers, and lift up the mattress with me still on top of it.

  “Dena!” I try to yell out but my voice just comes out like I have laryngitis. It’s no use. Winnie’s looking at me, but she’s really looking through me. She has a detached look to her, almost bored.

  Like she’s done this before.

  Malcolm and Jacob continue to turn the suite’s room upside down and then as flashes of white light are twinkling in front of my eyes, I see that Malcolm’s found it.

  Malcolm’s found my diary.

  “Got it.” He says as he holds it up and some pictures fall out of it. He bends down, picks them up and looks through them. And, when he comes across one of them in particular, his eyes grow mischievous. He gives the most wicked smirk, I’ve ever seen on a human being and then he holds it up to Jacob. It’s the picture.

  “Thought so.” Jacob says with a nod. He then places a hand on Winnie’s back, leans over, kisses her on the forehead and nods for her to let go of me. Winnie calmly releases my throat and mouth and eases her way back. I gasp for air, as the twinkling lights are starting to turn into black spots. Before I have a chance to regain my senses, Jacob is holding me down and Malcolm is standing over me, a syringe in his hand.

  “I’ve already taken my Lithium!” I yell out, struggling under the weight of Jacob’s body. But Malcolm says nothing as he places a hand over my mouth and injects me with more of my medicine, while Jacob holds my arm … and then, with his hand over my mouth, Malcolm waits.

  He’s waiting.

  Looking at me.

  His face blank.

  I struggle but Jacob has nailed my arms and legs down with his own arms and legs. I can’t move.

  I can’t even get a full thought out.

  My mind just can’t connect.

  I can’t connect …

  I struggle …

  I try …

  I can’t understand …

  I try …

  and … then … I … fall …

  asleep …

  Thank you for rushing here … we asked the hotel staff to let us in … she’s suicidal … she just set her home on fire in Boston … she’s acting a bit schizophrenic … she has this wig … she destroyed this room … we had to restrain her … Wow, I can’t believe she overdosed … she may need a seventy-two hour observation … her father is Senator Rossi … he was just given power of attorney by a judge in Massachusetts … he’s arranged for her transfer back to Boston … Thank you again … I just really want to see her better … Yes, I’m the one who found her ... Well, it’s like I say, we woman have to stick together … Yes, I’m Danielle Rouge …

  Malcolm

  1:30 a.m.

  “I’ve got to end this Jakie.” Winnie says.

  And I think I just saw the wind get knocked out of him. He swallows hard but says nothing. His eyes are saying it all though, they’re asking her to stay. They’re asking her to talk this over. They’re asking her to accept his ‘I’m sorry’. They’re asking her to see that beneath the picture and the cocky stance is a man who does really love her. But he’s not saying anything; he’s just standing outside of this hotel, holding their son, looking at her.

  The fire department is gone, as is everyone else who rushed here after Red called them. After Jacob, Winnie and I were done with Laura, I told Red to notify everyone of Laura’s suicide attempt. And, while everyone else was beyond shocked at the news, Lola wasn’t dazed at all:

  “Eh, I saw the suicide coming. It’s been in the works for years.”

  Now, Dena and Nat are on their w
ay back to Boston with Laura, my parents, Lola and Cadence are already back at the house. (Cadence was so distraught he damn near had to be carried away on a stretcher.) And Winnie is standing out here, in front of this hotel, staring at Jacob, asking him questions and she wants answers.

  How come you never told me that you were seeing her?

  Why were you still seeing her while we were engaged?

  How could you sleep with her the month before our wedding?

  Why did you hold on to that picture for all of these years?

  Where did Laura find it?

  When did you realize she stole it?

  Earlier this month in your office? How did she find it?

  Why was it sitting on your desk?

  Were you looking at it?

  Do you look at it all the time?

  God, Jacob! Do you still love this girl?

  Why won’t you stop looking at that picture now?

  Don’t you know that I’d lay down my life for you?

  Do you love her?

  What do you mean you don’t know?

  Has there been other women?

  So for two days, you’ve been nervous that Laura had that picture?

  Why won’t you stop looking at that picture?!

  She’s asking questions and he’s mumbling answers.

  Damn, say something in your defense Jake. There’s a cab waiting right on the curb for your wife. Say something. Tell her you’ll change, tell her you’ll never do that shit again. Hell, lie even. Tell her that there aren’t any other women, just her. Tell her that you forgot you even had the picture. Tell her that you want her. Tell her that you just didn’t want to be forced into marriage. Tell her that you’ve discovered that she’s the woman you’ve always wanted, even if you didn’t know that when you married her. Tell her something …

  “Maybe I can find a condo in our building, you know, so you can still be near Ralphie.” Winnie says and then waits. She’s waiting for Jacob to stop her from leaving in that cab. Stop her Jake. I watch his eyes scan her before he closes them … and nods.

  And Winnie puts a hand to her mouth. She’s shocked. He’s going to let her leave. Red and I are standing outside, a few feet away from them, just as shocked.

  At Italiano’s we told Red exactly what was going on. We told her that we needed her to help Dena and Evan out of the suite, take them to the lobby and then call Nat. Then, she was to immediately come back upstairs and wait until we finished with Laura.

  After we left the pier and snuck back to my truck, Jacob told everyone the story behind the missing picture he was sure Laura now had. I told everyone that I was sorry for my part in it and that I was just as much to blame. It was an oversight on my part that led to Laura finding that picture. It was pretty silent in the truck as Red and Winnie listened to the story and then whispered between each other. I had no idea, I heard Red say. Don’t blame me Winnie, I swear I had no idea. I watched Winnie shake her head in understanding before whispering something inaudible to Red. Jacob and I waited for about an hour in the truck while Red and Winnie went for a walk to talk in private. All he kept saying was: I love her Mac. I just do. I love Jasmine and I can’t make that shit go away. I had no words of comfort for him so all I could say was: Jacob, there was a reason why you started seeing Winnie. Try to remember why. Why did you go to Winnie if you were so happy with Jasmine? He couldn’t answer. I don’t remember, he said. As soon as Red and Winnie returned we went to Laura’s hotel, stopped by the front desk and showed the receptionist a picture of Laura. She had seen the news. Red told her that Laura was in trouble and was suicidal and that Dena March was missing. She was last seen with Laura. We were scared, we told her. (Funny … scared.) We were given the key to the suite but the receptionist notified us that she’d have to contact the police and fire department. All that meant to us was that we had to hurry. We tried to enter the room but it was locked with a chain. Jacob and I had to knock it down. Good, that added to the story of Laura needing immediate help. Red grabbed Evan and Dena, who couldn’t make it out of the suite without assistance. (Thanks to Cadence’s dumbass.) Winnie, Jacob and I headed for the bedroom. The fact that Laura slept through the door breaking down let me know that she had taken her meds. I kept that in mind when I gave her an extra dose of Lithium. It only took a moment for me to find the diary and picture. Mission accomplished. Red’s a hero. But now Jacob’s in trouble.

  I know both Red and I want to scream for Jacob to ask his wife to stay. To beg her to forgive him. I look at Red and she has that look of anticipation; she’s ready to say something to Jacob. I reach out and pull her closer to me. She looks up at me and I give her ‘the eye. Let this work itself out. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.

  “Then I guess I should go.” Winnie says as she eases Ralphie out of Jacob’s arms. Red looks up at me again. Leave it alone, Red. You can’t tell Jacob to do something, he won’t do it. She rolls her eyes at me a second time. Damn Jacob, say something! Why let your wife leave over some misty ass feelings you have for Jasmine. Come on! I don’t have a problem with Jasmine, she and I used to be cool. But, let’s face it, Jasmine doesn’t have the patience, tolerance or mindset to be Jacob’s wife. There’s nothing wrong with that, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that Winnie is the woman who was made for a man like Jacob and Jasmine is the woman who was made for a man like Marlon. Sometimes opposites attract but still, birds of a feather flock together. Attract: To be appealing enough to draw someone’s attention and make them visit. Flock: Those of the same kind who travel, live and eat together. There’s a difference Jake. Damn, there’s a goddamn difference.

  Winnie walks to the cab, Ralphie in her arms. She has resolve on her face; she’s absolutely refusing to cry. No, she won’t break down over Jacob, at least not right here. She’ll get in the cab, get on the plane, get all the way home, put Ralphie to bed, head to her bathroom, turn on the faucet water and let it all out. That’s Winnie. She’s a lot like Red in that way; if she even thinks of shedding tears, it’ll damn sure be alone.

  Jacob hurries ahead of Winnie to open the cab door for her. She has to head back to the house and grab her things. Winnie slides into the backseat and Jacob bumps the door closed with his arm and the cabbie puts his blinker on to drive away from the curb. Nah, I’ve gotta say something. Jacob’s like a brother, I can’t let him ruin his life.

  “Jacob–” I start to say.

  “Danielle.” He turns and says at the same time, his eyes heavy, his shoulders slumped.

  “Yeah.” Red says as she instantly starts to walk towards him.

  “Can you go with her … please?” And there you have it. He wants Winnie. This is Jacob’s decision now. His parents aren’t forcing him. His in-laws aren’t forcing him. Winnie’s not forcing him. I’m not forcing him. Red’s not forcing him. This is his decision.

  “Of course.” Red says as she begins rushing towards the cab.

  “Yo.” Jacob says as he knocks on the roof of the cab that’s just starting to drive away. It comes to an abrupt stop and I see Winnie turn around towards Jacob.

  “What do I say?” I hear Red ask Jacob.

  “I don’t know.” He says.

  “Okay.” Red says with a smile. “I’ve got you.”

  Jacob heads to the backdoor and opens it for Red who’s rushing towards it. He then looks at Winnie. “Danielle wants to talk to you.” He says. Winnie looks back towards Red, slides over a little and then reaches out a hand for Red to take. Red and Winnie lock hands as Red slips into the backseat. Jacob closes the door and then watches the cab drive away.

  10 Months Later

  Danielle

  October 25th

  Hello, stranger!

  That’s the song this ice cream shop is playing now and it’s what I’m currently snapping my fingers to. I’m doing this while cussing Malcolm and Nicky’s asses out.

  “Come on Red, live a little.” Malcolm says to me as he and Nicky watch a grinning ice cream man scoop pistachio gela
to into a waffle bowl. The ice cream shop is packed with moms and dads and their loud ass kids. Of course everyone in the ice cream line has all eyes on Malcolm and me, their lips creased in a smile. Can you believe Malcolm Blair and that new black girl he’s dating is here! I mean, Malcolm Blair! He’s about to be in the White House with Rossi pretty soon, let me take my cell phone out and take fifteen pictures, all in a row, and blind the both of them before it’s too late.

  “Two scoops Malcolm?” I say, my arms crossed. Flash! Enough with the damn pictures! “It’s eight-thirty, he’ll be wired all night.” Nicky looks at me, as Malcolm has him in his arms, and scrunches his eyebrows together. He’s telling me to live a little but knows damn well he better not say it. Malcolm taught Nicky how to give ‘the eye’. So Nicky’s starting to get his own little personality and it’s pissing me off. I raise my eyebrows at him and he snaps his head around and then rests it on Malcolm’s shoulder. Malcolm looks at me, narrows his eyes and gives me ‘the eye’. No one messes with Nicky. Oh please.

  “It’s Saturday, Red. Nicky and I had a tumultuous work week, this is how we unwind.” I roll my eyes and try to suppress a smile. Randy Caponi, our faithful ice cream scooper, stops before putting the second scoop on the waffle cone. He looks on with amusement between Malcolm and me. Who’s going to win this time?

  “Pistachio and Butter Pecan, Randy.” Malcolm says as he continues to look at me, humor in eyes, a smirk on his lips. “The biggest scoops you can muster.” He winks at me. I nod. Wait until tonight. I smirk. His smirk fades. Mine grows wider. Come on, he mouths to me, play fair. I chuckle and then sashay to a table, knowing his eyes are on me the entire time.