Piece Keeper

by Antwan Floyd Sr.

  That still didn’t stop him from blaming himself; for not helping Teresa. What could he have done? It was useless. He was useless, just as he was as a boy. I’m still a boy, he thought. He remembered it like it was yesterday; standing idle as he watched his step-father molest his sister. He was 13 years old. He should have done something then and he should have done something for Teresa. He curled into a ball, bible still wrapped in his arms, and cried. His sister had forgiven him years ago. She’d told him that they were both children so how could she blame him. Still he had never forgiven himself. The right thing needed to be done; he just didn’t know what that was yet. But no matter what he did in life he was determined to do whatever it took to make things right for Teresa; whatever it took to make things right for himself.

  ***

  Early the next morning Teresa awoke suddenly from her sleep. She was having a nightmare about being attacked yet in the dream her rapists were all faceless. The sound in the room was muted except for the faint sound of air being sucked in and quickly exhaled. The sound emanated from a silhouette in the back of the room. She could feel him watching her. Just as a sense of familiarity set in and she thinks she knows who the voyeur is, her eyes popped open and darted around her hospital room. She could feel the cold sweat consuming her body. Startled, she grabbed her chest surprised to find Black sitting in the chair across from her watching her sleep.

  “What the hell man?” she blurted out annoyed.

  “Sorry I startled you. You looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to wake you.”

  She sighed. “It’s alright. What time is it? How long have you been here?”

  “It’s almost 9 A.M. I’ve been here since 7:00.”

  “I forgot you were an early riser.”

  “You hungry? Can I get you anything?”

  “I really could go for some of your famous fried fish.”

  Black laughed. “At nine in the morning?”

  “Well, you asked.”

  “I did. Whatever you want, you’ll have.” Standing and walking over to her bed, he placed her hand in his. Looking down at her hand he saw that she was still wearing the engagement ring that he’d given her a year ago.

  She quickly pulled her hand from his and tucked both of her hands underneath the sheets to hide her hands. He thought she had thrown it away. He saw the embarrassment in her eyes. There was an awkward silence and she turned her glance from his.

  He cleared his throat to speak but she spoke first. “Can I have some time to get dressed please?”

  Black nodded silently then turned and left the room closing the door behind him. He stopped the approaching doctor before he entered Teresa’s room. “You mind if I have a word with you doctor? I’m Black Love, Assistant District Attorney working on this case.”

  Black flashed his badge to the doctor.

  The doctor, a gray haired Pakistani man with a salt and pepper beard, spoke with a lisp. “Yes’th. Of course’th. There isn’t much to say. Like I told the detectives working the case, there was tearing of her vaginal walls and anus but that could also be conducive to rough sex’th.”

  “Are you saying she made this up?”

  “I’m not saying anything but what it appears to be.”

  “What about fluids or hairs?”

  “When she came in she didn’t remember when this had happened. True she was found in an alley over a week ago but someone went through a lot of extremities to clean her up. Any evidence that may have been there is long gone.”

  “Is that all you can tell me?”

  “I’m afraid so.” The doctor turned and knocked on Teresa’s door then entered without further discussion.

  Black stood in the hall. He had yet to meet with the officer in charge of the investigation. He figured he’d get Teresa home and settled then drive over to the station and have a face to face.

  Chapter Four

  James pulled into the parking space reserved for doctors at Carle Foundation. He figured he’d be in and out and since he was driving the squad car it shouldn’t be a problem. Turning the engine off and grabbing the take-out bag from the passenger’s seat, he climbed out of the car and closed the door. He figured he would surprise Teresa by picking her up from the hospital and taking her home. He had stopped by Leon’s over on Bowman Avenue and got her something to eat before heading to the hospital. As he approached the entrance the automatic doors slid open and Teresa was pushed out in a wheelchair by Black. Feet frozen, James stared down at Teresa like a deer caught in headlights. He squeezed the bag so tightly the juices from the food began to run through his fingers and down his wrist. The three stood in silence for several seconds although it felt like hours to James. He didn’t know whether to blow up on Black for being there or Teresa for leaving with the man so he just stood there.

  “James, I—” She attempted to get her words out and break the awkward silence but before she could finish he dropped the bag in her lap and stormed off.

  “What the hell is your problem, Jack!?” Black yelled out letting go of the chair and heading for James.

  Teresa began rolling after him with her arms flailing. Black stopped mid-stride, doubled back, and grabbed the chair.

  With one hand on her chest and the other on Black’s arm she pleaded with him. “Black, don’t…”

  “Are you sure you two aren’t messing around?” he asked.

  “It’s complicated, but no.”

  “Don’t you think that jackass needs to know that too?”

  Teresa pushed the soggy bag onto the ground. “You ready to go, Black?”

  He stood watching as James whipped the squad car out of the lot with the siren blaring.

  “Go after him,” she said. “I’ll find a way home.”

  He didn’t respond. He simply pushed her towards his rental, opened the passenger door for her, closed it after she was in, walked around to the driver’s side, climbed in, and pulled off. There was no need for him to go after James. He knew they’d cross paths again and it wouldn’t be pretty.

  ***

  The black SUV Black rented coasted along the freshly laid asphalt. The neighborhood was quiet and serene. It was a big change from the fast paced busy streets of Chicago. It might have been nice had it not been for the circumstances surrounding his visit. It was awkward riding with her. It seemed every time he tried to dialogue with her it turned into an argument. They had yet to discuss what happened between the two of them let alone talk about what happened to her. He’d dealt with rape victims before so he knew before he even arrived in Danville what type of victim she would be. It was one of the reasons he loved and hated her at the same time. She never let go or allowed herself to open up and show her emotions. He knew she was hurting and she had yet to show him any pain.

  They rode in silence. He felt like a shy school boy on a date for the first time with a girl. She stared blankly out the window. Eyes still on the road, he eyed her from his peripheral. Even in sweats with her hair pulled back in a ponytail she looked beautiful to him. The bone structure of her face and her bronze skin tone put him in the mind of the actress Nicole Beharie. Where had he gone wrong? If he had he been able to keep her happy, they would have been married and he could have kept her safe. He was so caught up in beating himself up that he almost passed by the house he was renting.

  As he pressed the button on the garage door opener clipped to the sun visor above his head the garage door opened and he pulled in. Teresa unfastened her seatbelt and opened her door. Turning the engine off and getting out of the truck Black moved quickly to open the door leading into the house. After they were both inside he closed and locked the door. Teresa took her time walking down the hall towards the living room. Her sneakers squeaked with each step she made against the freshly waxed hardwood floors. She took in the aroma of lemon pledge. Her eyes darted back and forward trying to take in as much as she could. The walls were lined with different art pieces from fauvism and impressionism to abstract and realism. From the quick glances s
he stole she could barely decide which she liked better. Stepping into the living room her feet sank into the plush white carpet. Instinctively she raised her head staring up at the high ceilings. Glass stretched across the room. She sighed at the beautiful view of the clouds which painted the home a beautiful white and blue.

  “Take a look around if you like. This will be home….for a while anyway,” Black said matter-of-factly.

  With her right eyebrow raised she sat on the stool in front of the island in the kitchen.

  “Home? I’m not staying here.”

  “The hell you aren’t. You’re not going home. I won’t allow it.”

  “Allow it? You’re not my daddy. Look here, Black, I know what you’re trying to do.”

  “And that would be what?”

  “What we had was a long time ago.”

  Black opened the refrigerator and removed a bottle of apple juice. Shaking the bottle he hit the bottom with his palm then twisted the cap until he heard a pop. “A year is a long time ago?” he asked eyeing her.

  “A year can be a lifetime.”

  He removed the cap and took a swig. “Hmmm.”

  Teresa scrunched her face annoyingly. “Hmm? That’s all you have to say?”

  “Hmm.”

  She threw her hands in the air.

  He continued. “Are you done with what you think I’m trying to do?”

  She folded her arms across her chest and nodded.

  “What I’m trying to do is make sure you’re safe and that what happened to you doesn’t happen to someone else.”

  “I didn’t ask you to do any of those things.”

  “That’s what love is… doing what needs to be done without being asked.”

  “Don’t talk to me about love, Black. We aren’t that cool.”

  He took the final swig from his bottle and tossed it in the nearby trash. “Fair enough. You don’t have to decide now… just think about it. Take a look around the place and try to relax. I’m going to get started cooking.”

  Teresa half-heartedly smiled as she slid from the stool and went off to explore the house. Walking down the three steps from the kitchen into the living room she felt chill bumps prickle her neck as the central air kicked in. It must be set by a timer, she thought as she ran her hand across the back of her neck. Cocaine white suede was the color of the sectional that sat in the spacious living room. A 62 inch television was mounted to the wall. Looking around the living room she spotted surround sound speakers mounted in each corner of the room. Across the room were sliding glass doors. She slid the blinds to the side and looked out into the backyard. A gas grill sat near the pool. She also took note of the crotch rocket and basketball court. Making her way down the hall past the restroom and two rooms with closed doors, which she assumed were guest rooms, she came upon a flight of stairs.

  Going up the stairs she followed the path down the hall peeking her head into the first bedroom that she came upon. There she saw men’s clothes scattered on the floor, several shopping bags, and three boxes of shoes, two from foot locker and one from Macy’s which she assumed were dress shoes. This has to be Black’s room, she thought before continuing on down the hall. The door to the room directly next to Black’s was cracked. She slightly pushed it open and saw that the room was filled with pink and red roses as well as pink and red balloons. She smiled as she stepped further into the room. She plucked a single pink rose from one of the vases and inhaled the scent. She laughed as she walked over to the bed. There was twice the amount of shopping bags on her bed than she’d seen in Black’s room. Propped up against the bags was a box with a bow on it. She was hesitant about opening it because she didn’t know what his intentions were. She did not want to accept anything he offered because she didn’t want to lead him to believe that there was a chance of the two of them getting back together again. Lifting the top to the box she looked down inside and felt a shortness of breath as her eyes watered with tears. Picking it up and looking at it she smiled and rushed to the bathroom to change.

  After changing into the gift from Black her spirits were lifted a bit. She knew that eventually the topic of conversation would change to who raped her or worse what happened between the two of them. To be honest she couldn’t decide which subject was more painful to speak on. She followed her senses down the stairs, through the living room, and back into the kitchen. The smell of fresh fried catfish made her mouth water and stomach dance with anticipation. As she stepped into the kitchen he had his back to her. But as he turned to face her she noticed he had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and he donned an apron that said “Irish do it best”.

  He smiled when he saw her wearing the gift he got her. “I see you found your room.”

  She rolled her eyes and smiled. “You did too much.”

  “Teresa—”

  She cut him off midsentence. “But thank you… You remembered.” She looked down at her pink pajama set.

  “I remembered.”

  “Where did you find ‘em?”

  “I’m the man. I make things happen remember?”

  She pulled at the pajama top looking down at the cartoon character emblazoned across the front. “I can’t believe you found a vintage Rainbow Bright pajama set.” Although she was too young to have grown up on the popular cartoon from the 80’s she was introduced to the character by her mother whom she often watched the VHS with before she died leaving her as an orphan. Teresa cherished the memories.

  “You like it?”

  “I love it. Thank you.”

  He turned back to the stove and flipped over the catfish with a pair of tongs. The doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” she told him. “Keep cooking.”

  “Wait,” he said as he turned to face her.

  “Yes?”

  “So does this mean you’re staying?”

  “I’ll stay, but…”

  “But what?”

  “Don’t be expecting no booty.” The bell rang again and she walked off holding up a finger. “Hold that thought.”

  He laughed to himself as he removed the last piece of fish from the skillet. He heard her as she approached the kitchen. With his back still turned he laughed. “Don’t even go there, Girl. I ain’t messing with you like that.” He turned to face her, smiling from ear to ear, but suddenly felt his stomach do a somersault as the smile vanished and anxiety instantly kicked in. He stood face to face with Teresa who was standing next to his fiancé, Morena.

  “Mess with her like what, Cariño?” That’s what she called him. It meant love or passion in Spanish.

  He cleared his throat. “Morena, what are you doing here?”

  “What am I doing here?”

  “Yes. You know I have to work this case and—”

  “And here I am getting in the way of you working.” She eyed Teresa from head to toe then turned back to Black. “This case, huh?”

  “It ain’t even like that, Baby Love.”

  Teresa felt her heart crack as she stared at Black venomously. That was the pet name he’d given her and he now was calling another woman, his future wife, the same name? What an ass he was. She looked at Morena and thought, not only has she replaced me as his fiancée but she’s being called the same name… something I thought was special between the two of us. She remained silent waiting to see what his response would be. While her eyes were still trained on Black she could feel Morena burning a hole in the side of her face. She had no idea what was going through the woman’s mind. Teresa wondered if she would get buck and swing on her or not. Although Teresa had no intentions of sleeping with Black she doubted that Morena would believe her. Here she was in a house alone with him wearing pajamas while he cooked a meal for the two of them to share. It certainly seemed like a romantic setting and she would have thought the same.

  “It’s not what you think,” Black stated.

  “I think you’re trying to fuck your ex!” Morena exclaimed.

  “See that’s what I meant.”

&
nbsp; “What is all this, Black?”

  “Morena I—”

  Teresa chuckled and threw her hands in the air before turning to leave.

  “Teresa, wait!” Black shouted as he moved towards her.

  Morena stepped in front of him blocking his path. “No you ain’t about to chase her with me standing here.”

  “She needs me. I can’t—”

  “I’ll be damned if you can’t. That bitch is not sleeping under the same roof with my man.”

  Black heard the front door open and close. He wanted desperately to chase after her but he knew she’d never come back; not tonight anyway. He stared into Morena’s smooth brown face. The hurt in her eyes softened his heart. Her long, curly hair sat perfectly on her shoulders. Her big brown eyes stared back at him begging for an answer to make this alright with her, to make it all go away. But he had no answer. He loved her but he felt an obligation to Teresa. The two stared at one another silently. His eyes roamed from her lips, painted a beautiful rouge, down to her long luxurious neck. A perfect set of breasts sat snuggly in the tight fitting black dress with a split up the middle by her legs. Six inch black heels with the toes out added to her six foot height and accentuated her long legs even more. She towered over Black as she fell into his arms like a love sick teenager.

  ***

  More than two hours had gone by and Teresa and Black still hadn’t shown up. After storming off James had felt like such a fool for the way he’d behaved. After calming down he dropped off the squad car and drove his personal vehicle over to Teresa’s where he waited. He’d knocked on the door and no one answered. He wanted to call but after his foul actions he was afraid she wouldn’t answer. He had to admit to himself that if he received one more rejection from her he didn’t know what he would do. He needed to see her face to face so that she could see the sincerity in his eyes. At least that was his plan anyway. But the longer he waited the angrier he became. Here he was going the extra mile to make things right between the two of them and she didn’t even have the decency to come home. He couldn’t take it any longer. He removed his cell phone from his hip and scrolled the phone book for her name. Staring at the phone he ran through different things he would say if she answered. His palms became sweaty as a drop of blood dripped from his nose. He dropped the phone on the passenger seat, got out of the car, and slammed the door closed. Taking fast paced steps to her apartment building, he walked in and strolled down the hall to her unit. Stopping in front of her door he paused. Leaning forward he pressed his ear against the door to see if he could hear anything. Once he was certain no one was inside he removed the spare key she’d given him for emergencies and let himself in. Cautiously walking in, so as not to disturb anything, he quietly closed the door behind himself and locked it. He knew it was wrong to be here but he somehow felt closer to her by being in her apartment around her things.