“I'm going to call her, too,” Toya said. Then after a pause, “Luisa -”
“Don't worry, Toya,” Luisa interjected. “Caesar and I are going strong. We may argue every now and then but we are doing fine.”
“Okay,” Toya said with a sigh of relief. “I don't think I can handle another relationship imploding. It makes me question my profession.”
“Don't worry, Toya,” I said. “There are enough hopeless romantics to keep you in business.”
We spoke for a few more minutes before we said our goodbyes. Each of us promised to be there for Toni during this trying time. We had truly developed a sisterhood, one that had Naomi as an aside. A footnote at the bottom of the page, connected to one part of the main text but never really a part of the whole.
Hanging up, I looked in on Toni. At a glance, seeing her under the covers, blond hair draped across the pillow, one would think she was just sleeping. At a closer inspection, one would see the clenched fist, the tightened jaw. What was Toni dreaming about? I would never know and neither would she as her dreams would melt away in the morning sun like cobwebs exposed to the heat.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Mmm,” she came through the kitchen archway like a foal walking for the first time. “Something smells so good.”
I smiled from where I stood at the stove, closing an omelet onto itself. “Take a seat and I'll prepare a plate.”
“Tell me this is not what you have for breakfast every day,” Toni's eyes scanned the plate that I placed before her containing an omelet, sausages and toast.
“No,” I laughed, taking the seat across from her at my small dining table. “I normally have toast and a cup of coffee. Ooops, I forgot the coffee. Two sugar and a little bit of milk, right?”
Toni nodded, her mouth already full.
“I only do this when people stay over,” I said pouring out the coffee into two mugs. “So... what are your plans for today?”
“Well,” Toni swallowed. “I'm going to work from home, I already called in and arranged for someone to fill in for me.” Seeing my eyebrow raise, she added, “My home. Hopefully, between spreadsheets and reports, I'll be able to figure out what to do.”
“Well,” I gave her a cup and placed mine beside my plate. “If ever you need a place to crash, Casa Alexa is available.”
“Thanks,” Toni met my gaze. “But I'm not going to kick you out of your bed another night and I've got to face the situation instead of hiding from it. Aaron and I are going to have a long conversation.”
“Good for you,” I nodded. Looking at the clock by the doorway, I said. “Where did the time go? I better hustle or I'm going to be late for work.”
In record time, I ate breakfast and got ready. In the race to get ready, I heard the clang of plates and pans. When I was almost ready, I popped my head into the kitchen to see it clean.
“You didn't have to do that, Toni,” I called out.
“Yes, I did,” her voice came through the bedroom door. She had taken a shower and was getting dressed. Opening the door, she said, “It's the least I could have done.”
We parted ways on the street, Toni heading home and I heading to work. I told myself that she was going to be okay, that in the end, everything was going to work out. Still, I mused on how I didn't notice the problems in their marriage, what other marriages were not as perfect as I thought?
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Alexa,” my mother's voice still had bits of ice embedded in it. “Are you coming home for Thanksgiving?”
I wanted to say 'no'. I wanted to say I had made other plans, then make said plans. I didn't say these things, instead, I said, “Yes, but I won't be staying the weekend.”
“Good, your father's been wanting to see you,” she said. “I'm sure he would be happy with whatever he gets. Jada and her brood will be coming and I think Sherman. Will you and Naomi be driving down?”
“No.”
“Why not? You two have always driven down for the holidays. What happened?” It sounded more like, “What did you do?”
“Nothing major... we're just taking some time off.” As frustrating as my mother can be, I didn't want to burst the shiny bubbles that held the notions of Malachi and Naomi. Plus, I didn't want to dredge up the thought of them together.
“Um, Mom,” I watched as someone left the office outside of which I sat. “I'm about to enter a meeting, I'll talk to you later.”
“Fine,” my mother said before hanging up.
After speaking on the phone for a short time, Diane looked up at me and said, “You can go in.”
As I walked into Malachi's office, I couldn't believe how much had changed since three weeks ago, still, his office remained the same. The only changes in the room were the people in it.
Seeing me, Malachi took out a box from behind his desk, and standing up, he placed it on his desk. “Everything from the bedroom is in here.”
I came to a stop in front of his desk. The sadness in his eyes made me look away. Instead, I reached for the box and opened it.
Pulling out a small, white teddy bear, I said, “This isn't mine.”
“Yes, it is,” Malachi walked around the desk and stood beside me. “I won it for you a year ago at a fair.”
“It isn't mine,” I placed it on the desk and continued to go through the box. Content with the contents, I closed it and without looking at him, I said, “Goodbye Malachi.”
As I began to walk away with the box, Malachi gripped my upper arm, “This can't be the end.”
“How long?” I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. “How long have you been sleeping with her?” venom dripped from the three letter word and his grip slackened.
“I.. I didn't mean...” Malachi's hand fell away.
“You didn't mean to sleep with her? You didn't mean to keep sleeping with her? or You didn't mean for me to find out?”
“I didn't mean to hurt you,” he said, his voice brittle.
“You did, Malachi. Then again, I suppose it was a good thing I had called off the engagement. It would have really hurt to find out that my fiancé or my husband was sleeping with my friend. At least now I avoided that drama.”
“Alexa,” he pleaded. “I love you, not her.”
“Then that is her problem, not mine,” I began to walk towards the door. Opening it, I said, “Goodbye Malachi, I hope you two can find happiness.”
I closed the door behind me with a definite click. It was the closing of a chapter, one I would not return to, one I would never read again. I inhaled and exhaled, the air outside was sweeter and fresher than the air inside the office.
“I didn't know,” I heard Diane say. “I didn't know that the two of them were...”
I tried to smile, “Don't worry, I didn't either.”
I made my way to the elevator, leaving Malachi's office of for the last time. Malachi and I weren't made for each other, it was a good thing our relationship came to an end. Now I can focus on my new beginnings.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Papers were everywhere. Covering my desk, on side tables, on chairs, on every flat surface, papers from a current case. It was supposed to be an easy, straightforward case, that is until the opposition brought up evidence that made it complicated.
“Found it,” Jennifer extracted my vibrating phone like she found a hidden treasure. Tapping the screen, she answered the call before the person on the other end was sent to voice mail.
“Hello, Alexa Marsh speaking,” I said, bringing the phone to my ear.
“Why hello, Alexa Marsh,” his voice was buttery and a myriad of emotions ran through me, the strongest being guilt. “For a minute there, I thought you forgot about me. Then I began to wonder if you found someone else.”
“I'm sorry, Julian,” I picked up a file from my chair and plopped it on my desk. “I've just been caught up with work,”
Catching my eye, Jennifer indicated that she was going outside. Thankful, I nodded, knowing this was just a repriev
e from the work that would be taking me late into the night.
“It was that, and one of my friends might be facing a divorce,” I continued to explain. I didn't see it as lying. I just chose to answer his concerns with facts, I did have a lot of work and Toni might be facing divorce. I didn't think it was the time to say there was someone else, but what was the right time?
“So when can I see you?”
That was a good question, I thought, looking at the paperwork. “Honestly, I don't know,” I sighed. “Maybe Saturday, more like next week.”
“How about tonight?” Julian offered.
I laughed, “I don't think I'll be going home tonight.”
“Then I'll come to you,” Julian said.
There was a rap at my door before it swung open and in entered Mr. Weiss. The sight of him, made me sit up, I half listened to Julian as my boss walked to my desk and picked up a file.
“So what do you think?” Julian's question was followed by a pause that brought me back to the call.
“Uh,” I missed everything he said, “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“You work at Jones, Weiss & Fairchild, right?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, giving him the address. “I'm sorry, Julian, I have to get back to work.”
“Yeah, yeah, no problem. Later then.”
“Later,” I said before disconnecting the phone and standing up.
“A personal call?” he didn't look up.
“Yes.” Why try to deny it?
“How is the Masterson case coming along?” Weiss had made his point and now he had moved on to the case of one of his close friends. A case he also thought was pretty much done before it even started.
“It is still being reviewed from the beginning. I'm looking at all the evidence, the depositions,” I pointed to the various piles of paperwork. “I'm trying to look at it with the new development in mind.”
“And?” he closed the file and looked up at me.
Shaking my head, I said, “I'm still looking, I don't want to say one thing or another. The last time I did, I was proven wrong.”
“So what can I tell Pete?”
“Tell him to come in, let us go over the case,” I answered. “Maybe he might... remember something he might not have shared with his attorney.”
My point was made and Weiss didn't attempt to defend his friend. He knew the case as well as I did and it was obvious his friend was not forthcoming. “Keep me abreast of your developments,” my boss said, at last.
I nodded, “I will.”
“Good,” Weiss said turning and making his way to the door. He was most likely meeting up with Peter Masterson, hopefully, he would be able to convince my client to tell us everything before the opposition does so.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Ms. Marsh.” The male voice coming through the speaker of my office phone broke into my concentration. “There is a Julian Cole down here, should I send him up?”
It was in that instant, I realized what Julian was saying earlier on. Walking over to my desk, I stared at my phone. I was halfway through the documents and I was nowhere with the case. I could say no and delve back into the paperwork but I said, “Yes, send him up. Thanks, James.”
A break is what I needed, I told myself as I walked to the lobby of the firm. Maybe I would go out with Julian to put some space between me and the case, and I could think clearly. I was thinking of possible restaurants nearby when the elevator dinged.
When he stepped out, Julian saw me through the office's glass door and held up two plastic bags.
“I brought dinner,” he said when I opened the doors and let him in.
The scent emanating from the bags was heavenly, “You didn't,” I said, taking the bag he was offering. Peeking in I saw the logo of Missy Lou's. “You did,” I leaned in and kissed Julian on the cheek.
As I started to walk back to my office, Julian called out, “Is that all I'm going to get for bringing that from all the way across the city?”
Turning around, I saw the small smile on his face, his eyes were at half-mast as his head was leaned back. “Hmmm,” I walked over to where he still stood. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips against his full ones. Nipping at his lower lip, then darting my tongue until he opened his lips. Julian dropped his bag and brought his hands up, holding my head.
It was I who pulled away, “How about that?”
He met my gaze, “It will do.” A smile broke across his face. “Maybe I'll make it a habit of bringing you dinner at work,” Julian picked up the plastic bag at his feet.
“You would like that wouldn't you,” I laughed. “My office is back here,” I cocked my head in the direction in which I had started to walk.
“So this is the office of Jones, Weiss & Fairchild?” Julian followed me, looking around at the artwork and the various closed doors. “Yes,” I came to a stop at my door and opened it. “It's my home away from home.
When he walked into my office, I saw it through his eyes. “It's not normally so messy,” I began to clear a chair and sections of my desk.
“A big case?” Julian placed the bag on the surface I had cleared.
“I wouldn't call it big,” I dropped the papers on a side table, “More like unpredictable. I would say I wouldn't bore you with the details but I'm not supposed to share the details.”
“It's cool,” he began to empty his bag and then did the same with the bag I had taken. “I'm not au fait with legalese.”
“Legalese?” I raised my eyebrow, taking my seat behind the desk.
“Uh huh,” Julian popped open my container with flourish.
“Crawfish étouffée,” I exclaimed.
“Yeah,” a big grin on his face as he popped open his own container. “You nearly ate off mine when were out the other night.”
With a pout, I said, “No, I didn't. I just had a spoonful... or two.”
“Uh hun,” Julian sat down across from me. “Well, now you have the whole plateful.”
“Thank you, Julian,” I said in a sing-song, picking up a plastic fork and tucking in. “Oh, this is so good. What did you get?”
Showing his plate, he said, “Jambalaya.”
“Can I get a taste?” I leaned forward.
“A spoonful or two?”
“Oh, you got jokes,” I pretended to be offended.
“I've got my fair share of them,” he smirked. He scooped up some of his dinner and offered it across the desk.
I leaned in even further, closed my eyes and ate off the fork pulling away slowly. Sitting back, I opened my eyes, “That's delicious, too. I'm going to try that next time.”
Julian was slow to respond, his eyes on my lips, he licked his lips, then cleared his throat. “Yeah, yeah,” he dragged his eyes away, focusing on the food in front of him. “Next time.”
In an instant, the air changed from playful to intense and eating became a seductive act. A foreplay for something I knew couldn't happen as I had too much work. Plus, I would never do such a thing at work and the list went on, but...
“Alexa?”
I blinked, brought back to reality. “Huh?”
“You're phone's ringing,” he pointed to the vibrating phone on my desk.
Snatching up the phone, I answered it with, “Hey, Toya.”
“Hey you,” was her response.
“What's up?” I asked.
“Nothing much, I just spoke with Toni,” Toya began. “The divorce is a sure thing.”
“Oh no,” I got to my feet and walked over tho the window. “How did she sound?”
“I think she's accepted it,” Toya answered. “That's why I called. I want to have a girl’s night at my place. You know, me, you, Toni and Luisa.”
“That sounds like a good idea, when are you thinking of having it?”
“This weekend, I’m looking at Saturday. That is unless you have a date.”
“It’s more like work than my love life,” I admitted knowing good and well where Toya was going with her
comment.
“No plans with Julian or Clark?”
“Actually,” I turned to look at him. “Julian is here.”
Toya hesitated, then said, “Where is here?”
“Here is my office at work,” I explained, “I’ve got a lot of work and he offered to bring me dinner.”
“So, this is what? Date three?” Toya knew well and good what number I had reached with both men.
“Yes,” I muttered.
“You better be careful, you are getting real close to losing the bet,” there was genuine concern in her voice.
“I know,” I bit my lip. I was beginning to regret making the bet. I’m not saying I was looking for a long term relationship with either Julian or Clark, but five dates were so restrictive. There was so much I wanted to discover about both men. There were so many things I wanted to experience with them.
“Alexa?”
“Yeah,” I turned around and looked out at the dark city.
“I know this is hard, but it’s best you don’t get too involved.”
“What if…” I licked my lips. Maybe I was making this bigger that it really was.
“What if what?”
“Nothing,” I said with a sigh. “I've got to get back.”
“Say hi to Julian for me,” Toya said.
Turning around, I called out to Julian, “Toya says hi.”
“Hey, Toya,” he called out to my friend.
“Maybe…” It was Toya’s turn to be lost in her own thoughts.
“Maybe what?”
“Nothing, I’ll let you know the details of the unofficial divorce shower,” Toya said before hanging up.
Disconnecting the phone, I returned to the desk and my dinner. Toya’s call had changed everything. We were able to finish our meal in a pleasant fashion, but nothing was to come afterward.
I walked him to the door in the lobby and we kissed but it was different. He knew it, but I was so grateful he didn’t push to know why. If he had, I knew I would have told him everything, the bet, Clark, and I was not sure how he was going to react. I didn’t want to lose what I had with Julian.
I Do... NOT Page 8