Skeletons

by McFadden, Shimeka

  Tabitha laughed I felt her foot on my lap inching its way between my thighs where she used her toes to toy with my pussy. Closing my eyes I smiled, I was transported back to reality when my phone began to ring. It was Mike, if it weren’t for the fact that I wanted to make sure the kids were okay I would not have answered.

  “Hello?” I answered with annoyance.

  “Did you get my text?” he sounded frantic

  “Did you get mine from today and yesterday?”

  “I don’t have time for this Santana; where are you there has been an accident.”

  My heart sat in my throat, “An accident, are the kids okay?”

  “Yes the kids are fine, but Jovanna has been shot.”

  “Shot what do you mean shot?” My hand trembled as I tried to keep a tight grip on the phone.

  “I don’t know what happened, but I just got the call from Asteria she said that she tried to call you but you wouldn’t answer her calls either.”

  After our argument the other day I’d been avoiding Asteria’s calls.

  “What hospital did they take her to?”

  “Right now she is at DePaul in the trauma center, but Justin said that they were going to rush her to St. Johns so he is telling everyone to meet there.”

  “Oh my God Mike, I am on my way.” I cried.

  Tabitha looked uncomfortable by my crying, “What is going on?”

  “My best friend has been shot.” I beckoned for the waiter to bring me the check.

  “Is she going to be alright?”

  “I don’t know.” I looked through my wallet for my credit card. “Can you get the car from valet while I pay for dinner please?”

  “Here, give me your credit card, I’ll pay for dinner and you get the car from valet.” She snatched the company credit card from my hand, but I was too upset and hurried to even care.

  “Are you going to take me home before you go to the hospital?” she asked with annoyance.

  “No I don’t have time, besides I really need you right now.”

  I didn’t see Tabitha roll her eyes as she looked out of my car window.

  I drove like a bat out of hell down the highway towards the hospital; Tabitha didn’t say a word during the drive. When we got to St. Johns hospital we were told to wait in the emergency trauma center where I saw Mike who was holding a crying Asteria. Mike’s eyes went from me to Tabitha then back to me again.

  “How is she?” I asked.

  Asteria wiped her tears with the back of her hand which smeared makeup across her face and on her hand. “We are not sure yet. Justin just went back to see her before surgery.”

  I sat down next to my friend and hugged her, “Let’s pray that she will be alright.”

  “That is what we’ve been doing.” Asteria said, “Why wouldn’t you answer your phone?”

  Ashamed by my behavior I looked down at my clenched hands then over to Tabitha who sat next to my husband. “I was still upset.”

  “I don’t give a damn about you being upset Santana we have been friends since high school and have fallen out countless numbers of times that is still no excuse for you to treat me like this.”

  “I apologize, but I didn’t know that Jovanna was hurt.”

  Asteria looked at Tabitha, “Why are you here?”

  “Excuse me?” Tabitha snapped.

  “You heard me why are you here?” Asteria’s voice got louder, “Don’t think I don’t know who you are and what you are about! You may have Santana in your back pocket, but I’m cut from a different type of cloth.” My friend fussed with one finger pointed into Tabitha’s face.

  “Hey let’s calm down for a moment.” Mike quieted Asteria, “Our friend is hurt so instead of allowing negative energy fuel this moment let’s get past our feelings and seek God for help and forgiveness.”

  Asteria cut her eyes at Tabitha, “Yeah you are right Mike lets pray before I lose my religion.”

  We bowed our heads and held hands in prayer; I felt comfort in Mike’s words and holding his strong hand made me feel even more secure. I knew that Mike loved me, but I didn’t know if I wanted to continue to pretend that I loved him the same.

  An hour passed before Justin walked out of the back looking tired and distraught. I embraced him tightly as he cried into my arms.

  “How is she Justin?”

  “I don’t know yet, she is still in surgery.” He cried, “I couldn’t sit back there any longer.”

  “I am sorry Justin.” I said.

  Looking at me with tear-filled blue eyes and he said, “I thought that she was with you.”

  “I hadn’t heard from Jovanna since the other day.”

  “I knew that she’d been lying to me all of this time. First it was the late night phone calls, then she started becoming distant, she lost her engagement ring and now this.”

  I looked at Tabitha who was cleaning her nails while flirting on her cell phone; I see that I was not the only one who was keeping secrets.

  “Had Jovanna confessed anything to you guys about what was going on with her?” he asked.

  “No, as far as I knew she was just pre-occupied with your wedding.” Asteria said.

  “That is what I thought then she told me that she lost her ring when she fell while running which I know is a lie. Jovanna never takes her ring off so why would she take it off just to run? It just doesn’t add up.”

  “It kills me to think that she was living a double life.” Justin sighed.

  “I know how you must feel; in a marriage there should be no secrets.” Mike said while looking directly at me.

  Justin sighed, “I wanted to come back here to let you know how she was doing. You are free to go home and I will call you with any updates.”

  “I am staying right here until I know that Jovanna is going to be okay.” Asteria said.

  “Me too.” I said looking over at Tabitha who was sure to have a fit once I told her about my plans.

  “Thanks guys, Jovanna always said that if she didn’t have anyone she knew that she would have you.” Justin smiled then walked out of the waiting room.

  Walking over to Tabitha, who quickly ended her phone call. “So what are we doing?” she asked with irritation in her voice.

  “What do you mean?” I asked also irritated by her behavior.

  “Are you ready to go home and finish our date.”

  “No, I’m going to stay here until she comes out of surgery.” I said.

  “Why would we sit here while she is in surgery when it could take hours? There are plenty of other things that we could be doing besides can’t they just call you if anything changes?”

  I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing, “Look Tabitha, if you don’t want to stay then feel free to go.” I fussed in a whisper.

  “It is not that I don’t want to stay but I just don’t see the point. We could just come back after she wakes up from surgery.” She pouted.

  “And what if she doesn’t wake up?”

  Tabitha just sighed folding her arms in front of her chest in a huff; I could see Mike eyeing us from across the room.

  The time passed slowly without any word from Justin, Tabitha was back on her cell phone and Asteria had fallen asleep.

  “Hey I’m going down to the cafeteria to get something to snack on; do you want anything?” Mike asked.

  I looked at Tabitha who just rolled her eyes then decided to join him.

  “Is that Tabitha?” he asked.

  “Yes, she is my assistant.”

  He hit the down button to the elevator, “Is that all that she is?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean you have been spending a lot of time with your assistant lately so I’m wondering if that is all she is to you or is she also a friend.”

  “I guess that you could consider her to be my friend Mike.”

  “I am suprised that a girl like that actually works for a living.” He added, “She looks as if she is accustomed to being kept.”r />
  “Looks can be deceiving. Tabitha is actually a great assistant.”

  We rode down to the cafeteria in an uncomfortable silence. Mike smelled like Irish Spring soap, I chuckled because that is the only soap his mother and father would use no matter how badly it dried their skin. I remembered our first date all that I could smell was Irish Spring.

  “What is so funny?” he asked once we stepped off of the elevator.

  “Nothing. How are the kids?”

  “They are fine; I told them that you needed some space so we had to stay at my parents’ house for a few days. You know that was not good enough answer for Mya, she questioned me for an hour before she was satisfied. Malik was cool because he has his eye on this little girl across the street.” Mike explained with a smile. Mike may have sucked as a passionate husband, but I couldn’t deny the fact that he was a great father.

  “Wow this place brings back so many memories.” Mike said as he grabbed a tray. “I remember coming down here to shovel food down my mouth while you were in labor with Mya.”

  “That girl caused me so much grief.” I smiled.

  “You were in labor for two days only for her to just pop out after two pushes.”

  “When the doctors said that she was a girl, the look on your face was priceless.”

  “I can’t believe you and my mother played me like that. You both knew the sex of the baby all along, but you wouldn’t tell me.”

  “I’m sorry, but I knew how badly you wanted a girl and I didn’t want to ruin the surprise for you.”

  “I almost fainted.”

  “I know!”

  We shared a laugh off of our memories.

  “What happened to us Santana?” he asked looking deep into my eyes.

  I thought about his question for a moment and answered, “We just got bored.”

  “I was never bored.”

  “You’d rather watch T.V. than make love to me.”

  “Is that what this all is about?”

  “I don’t know what this is all about Mike.” I sighed then I got a text from Tabitha saying that she was leaving in a cab.

  “Is it another man?” he asked.

  “No, it’s us.” I answered as I looked through my purse trying to find my credit card, but remembered that I’d given it to Tabitha to pay for dinner.

  Mike handed the cashier his card instead, “I got this by the looks of your Visa bill you can’t afford to treat me to a snack.”

  I rolled my eyes, “I already took care of the bill Mike. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Okay, I can’t and I will not live with uncertainty Santana. I can’t live with the fact that I don’t know how you feel about our marriage and that you are hiding something from me.”

  “And I can’t live with the fact that you can’t trust me. I can’t live with the fact that you ignore me as if I’m not even there!” I huffed, “Mike this is neither the time nor the place.”

  “When is it ever the time Santana? You spend so much time running away from our issues that we never get anything resolved.”

  “I run away because I don’t want to face the fact that you are no longer in love with me.”

  “I never fell out of love with you; you pushed me away.”

  “Why did you allow yourself to be pushed?” I asked looking my husband in his beautiful eyes. “Why won’t you fight for me?”

  “Why should I have to fight for someone who suppose to love me in the first place?”

  Just then my phone rang it was Asteria telling me that our friend was out of surgery.

  36

  Asteria

  Eric surprised me by showing up at the hospital when he heard about what happened to Jovanna; needless to say Keith would have never shown that kind of concern.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked as we embraced.

  “I am holding up just fine, thanks for coming.”

  “Does anyone know exactly what happened?”

  I shook my head, “The police just said that she was shot in the parking lot of Harrah’s and they would have to wait until she wakes up for questioning.”

  “Is there anything that I can do?”

  “Just be here.” I answered hugging him tighter.

  “Don’t worry I will always be here for you.”

  The doctors said that the bullet missed her spinal cord by two inches and that Jovanna was lucky that she didn’t lose the ability to walk. They were able to retrieve the fragments inside of her body, but she would be out of commission for weeks as she recovered and that she may have a lifetime of pain. The doctor suggested that we come back tomorrow after she’d rested from the surgery. Mike and Santana left right after hearing that Jovanna would be alright. Eric and I left an hour later so that we could get some rest. I was hurt that Santana didn’t talk to me, but I figured that it had a lot to do with Tabitha.

  Eric and I got back to my house and relieved my neighbor from babysitting Latif.

  “Do you mind if I take a quick shower to wash this hospital smell off of my body?” I asked.

  “No go right ahead.” Eric yawned as he made himself comfortable on my bed.

  Stepping into the shower I let the hot water run down me, easing away the tension that was in my neck, arm and back muscles. It had been a long hard week and I just wanted to wash it all away and let it flow down the drain losing it all in the sewers of St. Louis.

  Eric stepped inside of the shower, wrapping his strong arms around me.

  “I have dirt that needs to be washed off too.” He whispered in my ear.

  I turned facing him staring into his eyes, trying to get lost in them. “Are you real?” I asked.

  Smiling Eric pressed his lips against my own; his kiss was filled with desire. “Does that seem real enough to you?”

  Eric took the vanilla scented soap pouring it into his right hand and rubbing it on my back and neck until it worked up a thick, rich lather. He then ran his and down my thighs one by one, massaging them intentionally taking his time on each and every inch; down to my toes.

  As the sounds of the hot water hitting my body took over my ears, the smell of the vanilla acquired my nose, the taste of Eric’s soft lips and moist tongue seized my tastes and the touch of his thick, pulsating dick as it rubbed against my back tempting my skin.

  “I want you Asteria, but I only want to take you if you promise me that this is more than just sex. I’m too old to involve myself in a relationship that is built around sex.”

  Giving him my thirsty tongue only to come up for air to say, “If that is all that I wanted I would have gotten that a long time ago.” I smiled.

  Eric aggressively pressed my bare breast against the warm, steam-covered glass shower door lifting one leg around the bend of his arm he entered me like a thirsty man drinking from a cup of cold water. I gasped at the force in which he took me, but it wasn’t disrespectful and hurried as it had been with Keith. Eric took his time with me, leading me to the bed and making love to every inch of my body; speaking to me softly, making love to every inch of my mind. And with each thrust he made me forget about the hurt, anguish and despair that kept me running back to Keith.

  Making love to Eric was the fantastic, but waking up in the morning seeing him still there felt even better. I felt as if we were a family as we made breakfast together while Latif sat at the table coloring. Eric wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the cheek while I scrambled the eggs and we talked about traveling together while we ate. He left for work and promised that he’d be back tonight; unlike Keith who never promised to return.

  “Someone must’ve gotten them some this morning.” Londyn joked when I walked into the salon smiling from ear to ear.

  “That would be none of your business.” I winked.

  Aaron came up and hugged me, “I am so happy that you finally got you some girl. I got tired of seeing you coming up in here looking like a sour puss.”

  “Speaking of sourpusses,” Londyn whispered, “I think that Keith is u
p to his usual ways.”

  I looked outside to see Pandia sitting on the patio smoking a cigarette; she looked as if she’d lost her best friend.

  “When will she learn?” Aaron said. “Keith is sexy, but damn he isn’t sexy enough to put up with all of that. Hell Pandia already looks homely, but give her a few more years she is going to be downright haggard!”

  “Let me go talk to her.” I sighed heavily.

  “How is Jovanna? We heard what happened.” Londyn asked with concern.

  “She is going to be in the hospital for awhile, but the doctors think that she will be fine.”

  “Have you talked to her?” Aaron asked.

  “No, she was still asleep when I called this morning. Eric and I are going to visit her tonight.” I answered as I walked outside to my sister.

  “Girl it is too cold to be sitting out here.” I fussed as I tightened the belt around my coat. “What is going on?”

  Pandia took a long drag from her cigarette, “How is Jovanna?” her eyes were swollen and bloodshot while her voice was light,distant and weak.

  “She is going to be fine, but my question is how are you?”

  She sucked her teeth, “I went through some of Keith’s check stubs so that we could refinance our house next month.”

  “Okay and…”

  “And apparently this mother fucker has another child that he has been paying child support for.” She held up the check stub for me to see what I already knew. “Four hundred and fifty dollars a month.”

  I swallowed hard, “That is crazy Pandia.”

  “That is why he has been working all of that overtime to compensate what his lousy ass has been paying child support for some bastard child of his!”

  It hurt me to hear her say that about my son, but I knew that it was the truth no matter how much I didn’t like it. “It isn’t the child’s fault Pandia. Stop blaming other people for what Keith does.”

  “Fuck that bastard kid.” She spit, “I hope that bitch that had the baby by him knows that he has herpes”

  Blinking hard was all that I could do to keep myself from going off, “Herpes?”

  “Yes herpes Asteria; Keith has it and he gave it to me some time ago. Why else do you think that I’ve been staying with him through all of the bullshit that he has put me through? Thanks to his lousy ass I have a lifetime disease so who is going to want me now?”