“So what are you suggesting?”
“No dating the same guy,” she met my gaze. “You can date all manner of men but if you see a guy more than three times, you lose.”
“Seven times,” I countered.
“Five times.”
“Deal, so how much are we wagering?” I twirled the contents of my glass.
“One hundred dollars.” When I raised my eyebrow, Toya explained, “If I made it less, you wouldn't take the bet seriously. What's a twenty dollar to you? But a hundred, that's something else.”
“Fine,” I threw up my hands. “I don't know, this might be what I need.”
Toya smiled, “Now enough about you, I've got my own set of problems.”
Toya's problems were more comical than traumatic. And the rest of the evening was spent laughing and watching my friend flirt with our waitress. It was no surprise that the redhead slipped her number in with our bill.
“Are you going to call her?” I asked as we shared a taxi home.
“Yeah, unlike you I like to date different people,” Toya answered. “It's interesting discovering someone new and more times than not, I learn something about myself.”
Looking out of the window, I wondered what I was going to learn over the next few months. Was I going to like what I was about to find out?
Chapter Seven
As time passed, I forgot about the bet. It became part of crazy talk during a boozy night out, now lost in the painful extraction of a man from my life.
It was a chirping, something like an insect in the high grass that chose to interrupt the silence of a sultry night with its rendition. It wasn't an insect, it was my phone, it was the ringtone I assigned to Malachi.
I could have turned over and ignored it until it went to voice mail, but the insect's high pitch chirp was doing nothing for my headache. Lurching across, I snatched the phone from the bedside table and with a heavy tongue said, “What?”
A pause, then, “Have you been drinking?”
“Have you?” I countered, pulling the covers over my head, not wanting to face the light even though it was dimmed thanks to the pulled drapes.
With a sigh I knew too well, Malachi asked, “When are we going to get our stuff from each other's place?”
“Oh, um,” I hadn't really thought it through. More like I didn't think of those practical issues. “Well, you can pick up your stuff while I'm away. Just leave the keys when you leave and I'll pick up my stuff during the week.”
“While I'm out?” he said with a huff.
“It's for the best,” I really wasn't up for this conversation, especially when I had to yank myself out of bed, pop a few aspirins and survive work. Thank God, it's Friday and I had a lazy weekend ahead.
“You're afraid I will change your mind?” he was still hopeful.
“I'm afraid we would be wasting each other's time,” I pulled down the covers and sat up. “We had our good times but what we have, what we had was not going to last.”
“You sound so sure, but I think we have something that is worth taking to the next level,” Malachi really believed what he was saying but my belief of the opposite was as strong.
“I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning and coming back Monday evening,” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and willed myself to stand up. “You have the whole weekend to pick up your stuff.”
“Alexa,” there was so much he wanted to say and I would imagine every one of them, but in the end, my ex said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Malachi,” I took tentative steps towards the bathroom. “But I can't love you the way you want me to.” Before he could reply, I added, “I've got to start getting ready for work. I'll pick up my stuff next week. Goodbye, Malachi.”
“Bye, Alexa.”
I was grateful I wasn't in the same room with Malachi. I'm not sure I could handle the sadness in his eyes. He would have reached out to me, held my hand, wrapped his arms around my waist while whispering about the life we would have had. It would have pained me to break the connection, to be the one who was bringing our relationship to an end.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I looked at my reflection The woman looking back didn't look like a cruel woman, she looked quite worn out, tired and a little hungover. Most important, the woman looked like she was responsible for her life, not letting others determine the direction her life went. I liked this woman and this woman had to hustle or she was going to be late for work.
Chapter Eight
“So your phone does work,” the brunt of her anger had dissipated, but there was still a sharpness in my mother's words.
“Hi Mom,” I handed Jennifer a document I needed to be sent off and watched her disappear through the door.
“You know it was a mistake?” she launched in.
“Yes,” I replied. “I shouldn't have said yes in the first place.”
“Malachi is a good man,” my mother barreled on. “He proposed, that is a powerful step in itself. Some women get locked into relationships and never get a ring.”
“Are you saying that because I got a proposal, the only answer to give was yes?”
“Yes,” her exasperation came through the phone clearly, “Don't you want to get married, Alexa? Have kids?”
“You make it sound like marriage is the important thing, not the man I would be marrying.”
The silence on the other side was more than telling. This was new to my mother, my challenging her guidance. I would always go along with whatever she said, always the good daughter. How would she approach this new paradigm?
“Mom, I've got to get back to work,” I said at last.
“So it's over?”
“Yes.” I let the word, the idea, settle into the deep crevices of her mind before saying, “I've really got to go. Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, Alexa,” this was not the end of a conversation, it was more a comma than a period. I could only hope that she would accept my deciding on this new future, but I knew my mother.
I lied. I didn't have any pressing matter to deal with. In fact, I had cleared off my desk, sent off what had to be sent off and now I had time to spare. I just didn't want to spend that time arguing with my mother, instead, I went over my preparations for the weekend.
I was reviewing the weather conditions for the weekend when there was a rap on the door. Looking up, I saw Mr. Weiss enter, followed by a man in a tailored suit.
“Alexa, I hope we're not interrupting,” my mentor began as though that would have stopped him from coming and going as he pleased in his own law firm.
“Not at all, Mr. Weiss,” I answered. “Most of my work is wrapped up for the week and I've lined up the work for next week. A little interruption is actually welcomed,” I said, getting to my feet.
With a nod, Mr. Weiss motioned towards the man with him, “I'm giving Clark Sullivan, here, a tour of the office and introducing him to some of the lawyers.”
I smiled and walked around my desk, knowing that by some of the lawyers, Weiss meant the lawyers who didn't leave work early on a Friday afternoon. Extending my hand, I said, “It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sullivan. I hope you like what you've seen so far.”
Taking my hand, he said, “The more I see, the more impressed I am.” He held my hand a little longer than expected.
“Well, I'm sure, Mr. Weiss has informed you that we are one of the best law firms in the city, if not the best,” I began my spiel as I regarded the prospective client.
At first glance, he would be perceived as another suit, white male in an immaculate suit who was accustomed to being pandered to, but there was something different about Mr. Sullivan. Perhaps it was the sharpness of his gray eyes, the curve of his lips, thin at the top and full at the bottom. Perhaps it was the fact that his hair refused to conform to the way he combed it or the fact that his hands were not manicured and he gave a solid handshake. Or perhaps, it was the way he was looking at me, hanging on my every word.
“But enough abou
t us, tell me about your business,” I motioned towards one of the chairs in front of my desk. I saw the minute smile on Mr. Weiss's face, I had added onto what he had taught me and he was impressed.
“If you will excuse me, Sullivan,” he said as I walked back to my seat. “I've got a matter to see to, I'm going to leave you in Alexa's capable hands for a moment.”
“Take your time, Weiss,” the younger man turned to my boss. “I'm sure, Mrs. Marsh will take very good care of me.”
“Miss,” I said as Mr. Weiss made his exit, I ignored the way he licked his lips and asked, “So, what gets you out of bed in the morning, Mr. Sullivan? What is your line of business?”
“Businesses,” he said and sat back in his chair as he detailed his business interests that varied from a manufacturing operation to real estate. “I started out early,” he said as an explanation. “While others were going off to college, I was starting up businesses, some failed and some prospered, some were sold and some I built on.”
“And what brings you to Jones, Weiss & Fairchild?”
“Well, for one, Weiss talks a good game, and two, I'm not happy with my legal representation.”
I was tempted to ask who he was with, but chose to ask, “What type of services are you looking for?”
The list he gave all fell under the services we offered and I said as much. Although our conversation was predominately about business, there was a definite undercurrent of-
“Well, everything is squared away,” Mr. Weiss entered the office after an abrupt rap. “I hope Ms. Marsh was able to convince you to come over to Jones, Weiss & Fairchild,” he came to a stop beside Sullivan.
We both stood as Sullivan said, “Yes, she did.” He glanced across at me and added, “I look forward to working closely with... the firm.”
“Good to hear,” Weiss boomed. Ushering Sullivan out, he explained that a contract would be drafted and Sullivan would be called in to sign it.
Stopping at the door, our newest prospect turned back to me and said, “It was nice meeting you and look forward to working with you, Ms. Marsh.”
“The same, Mr. Sullivan, have a great weekend.”
After Sullivan disappeared behind the door, Weiss looked back in and said, “Good job, Alexa, have a good weekend and be prepared for the full week ahead.”
Sinking into my chair, I knew what my mentor meant by his parting statement. I was going to be working with Sullivan. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, what I was certain about was there was something between us, I just hope it doesn't affect our professional relationship.
Chapter Nine
Navigating the minivan around a slowing moving sedan, I tried to control the inner road rager who wanted to curse the other driver. This was a highway after all and who would have thought Sunday drivers drove on other days of the week.
“Would you ever live out here in the country?” Toni asked.
I glanced across at her as she sat in the passenger seat. The farther we drove out of the city, the more serene she looked.
“Out here,” disgust dripped from Naomi's words. “No way, between the bugs, the wildlife and having nothing to do, you would never catch me living out here.”
I looked in the rear view mirror and, as usual, she was staring at her phone. As much in the virtual world as she was in the minivan with Toni and I as we drove to our mountain getaway. There were times when I wondered why I invited her. I often got the feeling that everyone put up with her because she was my friend, but calling her a friend was now stretching it.
“What about you, Alexa?” Toni asked as if she didn't even hear Naomi's answer.
Looking ahead at the long stretch of asphalt with pine trees on the sides, I realized I never really considered the idea. “I do like coming out here, but I've never considered living out here,” I replied. “I like my life in the city.”
“Even though you've broken up with Malachi?” It was an unexpected question, but the emotion attached to it made me look up in the rearview mirror.
Naomi met my gaze, her eyes searching mine.
“You don't have to answer that,” Toni rested her hand on my shoulder.
“It's okay,” I returned my gaze to the road. “The truth is I like it more. Yes, there is some getting used to not having him around but I'm looking forward to this new chapter.”
“I don't know,” Naomi said. “I think you two were good for each other.”
My eyes flashed back up at the mirror and Toni looked back at Naomi who had returned to fiddling with her phone.
“I thought you didn't like Malachi,” Toni said what I was thinking.
With a shrug, “I don't have to like him to know that he and Alexa made a great couple.”
Toni turned around and we looked at each other. She began to speak but I held up my hand. This was not a conversation I wanted to have, so I veered back to the original topic.
“What about you, Toni? Would you live out here?” I settled into the seat as Toni talked, I knew it was a nice change for her to have an adult conversation without having to put out domestic fires caused by two energetic boys and an often busy husband. The conversation was mostly between the two of us and I liked it this way. I didn't have to wonder if what she said had an underlying meaning.
With miles ahead and miles behind us, our discourse flowed like a lazy river and I realized that I preferred not having Naomi as a part of it.
###
As we pulled up to the wooden cabin with a wrap around veranda and a beautifully tended garden, the front door opened and Toya and Luisa came out with glasses of wine in their hands.
“What?” Toni hopped out and walked up the steps, stealing the glass from Toya. “You, two, are starting without us?”
Placing her fists on her hips, Toya watched Toni sip her wine, “Well, it took you long enough to get here.”
“Uh, uh,” Toni swallowed and handed back the glass. “Don't get Alexa started. She was good this time, but don't have her listing all the jerks on the road.”
“I should be offended, but I'll take that as a compliment,” I held up my chin and rounded to the back to get out luggage.
“Didn't Naomi come up with you?” Luisa asked, perching on the railing.
I nodded and Toni slid open the side door of the minivan to reveal the fifth wheel tapping away at her phone.
“Naomi, Mija,” Luisa called out. “The idea of this weekend is to relax and disconnect,” she enunciated the last word.
Naomi put her phone to sleep and tossed it into her bag, “I am relaxing.” She slid out the van, “And I don't need to disconnect to relax.”
Luisa began to speak, but Toya chimed in, “Well, you all unload and put your stuff away so we can go to the store and stock the kitchen.”
“I thought they were going to stock the kitchen for us?” Naomi asked as she took her rolling suitcase and overnight bag from me.
“We already discussed this, Naomi,” I said. “We were going to go shopping ourselves to control the cost of the trip.”
Toni looked at me pointedly as she took her overnight bag. I mouthed, “This will be the last time, I promise.”
“It better,” she mouthed back, then followed Naomi. “Just show us the rooms and we won't be long,” Toni said.
“I think I'll pass on the shopping trip,” Naomi said, disappearing into the cabin.
“Suits me fine,” Toya mumbled as I walked up the steps. “I think we'll have a better time that way.”
###
“I don't know how you can take her,” Toya was browsing through a selection of local cheeses.
“She's not that bad,” I was aiming for diplomacy, but when I saw the look on my old roommate's face, I added, “She could be worst.”
“By not much,” Luisa tossed a loaf of bread into the shopping cart. “I know she's your friend from back in the day, but she's so esnobista.”
“Whatever Luisa said,” Toni placed two bottles of wine in the cart. “I'm in agreement. Was she always li
ke that?”
I thought back to when I first met Naomi when we were in grade school. I was everyone's friend and Naomi... well, Naomi was reserved. Her reserve eased into an aloofness that didn't garner much in the way of friends. Now that I thought about it, I was Naomi's main friend throughout High School, college and all of our adult life.
“Naomi was very... reserved,” I said at last.
“For as long as I've known her,” Toya said. “She's been like that. What I can't figure out is why you put up with her.”
I shrugged and took the handle of the cart, “Well, if it is any consolation, this is the last time we will be putting up with my dear friend on a getaway.”
I had made it halfway down the aisle when I realized I was on my own. Looking back, I saw two of my friends looking at me. Toya had a huge smile on her face, Toni's arms were crossed and there was a look of concern on her face, and Luisa was looking at something on a shelf.
“Let's just say I'm seeing her in a new light and I'm really questioning what role we play in each other's lives. Now let's hurry up before she starts suspecting we are talking about her.”
“We are talking about her,” Toya laughed.
###
Turning the light off and exiting the bathroom, I came to an abrupt stop when I heard the tinkle of laughter slipping through the crack of the door to the room I was sharing with Naomi.
“I miss you, too,” it was her voice, but it sounded different. My aloof friend sounded like a school girl talking to her crush. “No, I can't just up and leave, this weekend was planned a long time ago. I'm sure you can find something to keep you occupied,” Naomi cooed.
“Alexa,” Luisa called out. I jumped, instantly, I felt embarrassed that I was eavesdropping.
Quickly, I walked down the short hallway and entered the kitchen where Toya and Luisa were finishing dinner. It was their turn that night and the next night, Toni and I were in charge while everyone was on their own for breakfast and lunch.
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