Sharp Curves Ahead

by Allison Hobbs

  When the tears finally stopped falling, she made up her mind to take the first step toward changing her life. Gastric bypass surgery was a drastic measure, but she felt she had no choice.

  Also, there would be no more cyberstalking Sadeeq and Radiance. Watching their lives online was detrimental to her emotional well-being. It was finally time to do something positive for herself. Going under the knife seemed like the best course of action.

  Chapter 18

  Binge-eating and binge-watching TV series was getting old, but Bailee was stuck in an emotional rut. It was the thirteenth day of the St. Croix trip and she was glad to have a ringside seat in the living room where she’d be able to hear Trent trying his key in the lock when he returned tomorrow. He was going to need a court order and a police escort to get inside the condo.

  And even a police escort might not be able to save him from an unexpected knife wound or sudden bullet to the groin.

  Permanently maiming Trent was worth five years of jail time. With good behavior she’d get out in two or three, and she’d only be in her mid-thirties. Of course, as a violent criminal, she’d be unemployable. After her meltdown at First Mutual, she was already unemployable in the banking industry, so what did she care about future job prospects?

  Once she was eligible to receive her inheritance, she could live off the money for the rest of her life as long as she was frugal…or if she invested wisely. Unfortunately, she didn’t know anything about investing.

  But Giselle did.

  Remembering that Giselle was her worst enemy in the world, she realized she couldn’t turn to her for financial advice.

  She had no one to turn to.

  Except Jayla.

  Sadly, Bailee hadn’t been much of a friend lately, refusing to respond to Jayla’s texts or phone calls. She simply didn’t have the strength to talk to Jayla or anyone else.

  It was difficult enough having to interact with the locksmith, and he was the quiet type. He probably would have been more talkative and friendly if his nostrils hadn’t been assaulted by the smell of rotting food that emanated from the kitchen.

  The trash bin overflowed with garbage in used plastic containers that Bailee hadn’t felt like carrying down the hall to the trash chute. Taking out the trash had been Trent’s job and she’d be damned if she was going to trudge through the building laden down with trash bags while he relaxed and soaked up island sunshine.

  If the neighbors decided to launch a complaint about the stench coming from her condo, then so be it. Bailee was at the point where she hated everyone and saw no reason to be considerate of a single soul.

  No one has been considerate of me, she thought, sticking her hand into a bowl of buttery popcorn.

  Too depressed and listless to continue venturing out into the cruel, cruel world to pick up gourmet meals, she’d resorted to having groceries delivered. Groceries that consisted of lots of snack food and easy-to-prepare sandwiches and frozen dinners.

  A rank odor wafted up to her nose and she shot a look of disgust toward the kitchen. She’d have to call a cleaning service because she was much too lethargic to do anything about the trash or the dirty dishes that were piling up.

  Escaping the funk from the kitchen, she cut off the TV in the living room, grabbed the popcorn, and moved to her bedroom. She turned on the bedroom TV, and after situating herself in a comfortable position on the bed, she cushioned the bowl of popcorn between her thighs. She frowned when she noticed that the unpleasant smell from the kitchen had worked its way into the bedroom and was conspicuously close.

  She sniffed under her armpits and grimaced at the musty smell. She swiped a finger along the crevice between her thigh and groin and took a whiff, and then nearly hurled from the overpowering stench.

  Wrinkling her brows, she pondered when she had last bathed, and concluded it was on that disastrous last day at work.

  Her lack of hygiene sent her running to the bathroom to take a long shower. Afterward, as if suddenly aware of her recent eating habits, she stepped on the scale and let out a yelp. She’d picked up fifteen extra pounds and was surprised that it was possible to gain so much in such a short time span.

  It was clearly time to stop sulking and take charge of her life. She had to either accept her big-girl status and love the body she was in or do something about it. She knew for certain that she was inviting diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and certain forms of cancer into her life if she continued to eat unhealthily and pack on more pounds.

  But she didn’t know how to change her compulsive overeating. Food had always been a Band-Aid for duress and anxiety. With all the stress in her life, she needed the comfort of food more now than ever. In fact, the guilt over the numbers on the scale triggered an urge to fill up a bowl with large scoops of ice cream.

  Something sweet to complement the salty popcorn would make her feel a lot better.

  At the rate that she was shoveling down tons of food, she was going to end up having to use a walker to drag her hefty body around.

  With her future looking bleak on all fronts, Bailee decided she had no choice but to fight back. If she expected to save herself, she had to accept that she couldn’t do it on her on. She needed help.

  Feeling more empowered than she had in a long time, she opened her laptop and searched online for a weight loss retreat. No matter what the cost of the program or the amount of time required, she was up to the challenge of taking control of her life.

  * * *

  It was settled. Travel arrangements had been made. Luggage was packed with toiletries, workout wear, swimwear, and casual clothes for dining. A huge amount of money had been withdrawn from her bank account to pay the fee to a posh fitness resort in Florida that guaranteed weight loss.

  Bailee was ready for the healthy getaway, and excited about the mind, body, and spirit transformation that the resort promised. She’d ticked everything off the list of necessities except water shoes for the beach, which she’d have to pick up from the mall.

  Filled with hope that there might be a rainbow at the end of the storm she’d been through, she felt optimistic enough to finally return Jayla’s numerous calls.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” she asked when Jayla picked up.

  “Hello, stranger. It’s about damn time you called me back,” Jayla replied sarcastically. “Where have you been? I was starting to think that maybe Trent had smoked your ass, dismembered your body, and stuffed it in a plastic container.”

  “My goodness! You watch too much of the ID Channel, girl,” Bailee said with nervous laughter.

  “I’m glad you called. I tried to contact you at work, and when I found out you were no longer employed there, I almost passed out, girl. What the hell is going on, Bailee?”

  “I’ve done a lot of soul-searching.”

  “Okay. And?”

  “And I’ve decided it’s time to make some positive changes.” Bailee chose not to disclose the intimate details of how horribly her life had exploded since she’d last spoken to Jayla. She couldn’t bring herself to reveal the treacherous deeds of Trent and Giselle, nor could she bear to talk about her embarrassing exit from her job.

  “Are you saying that leaving your job is a positive change?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I realize you’re not hurting for money, but I thought you loved having such a high-power position at the bank.”

  “The job was stressful, and I’ve discovered that I love myself more than any job. With a pending divorce and the strain of my position at the bank, my eating has gotten out of control.”

  “Girl, tell me about it. After all that shit that went down with Sadeeq, I’ve gained so much, I’m afraid to get on the scale.”

  “Well, I did get on the scale, and the numbers were horrifying,” Bailee confessed. “I believe I have an eating disorder, and I can’t fix it on my own. So, I’m leaving on Monday—”

  “Leaving to go where?” Jayla blurted.

  “An exclusive fitness r
etreat in Florida. And that’s why I called you. I have to pick up some water shoes at the mall, and I’d like to have a last rendezvous with some good food. Can you meet me at the King of Prussia Mall around four, and then join me for dinner? My treat, of course,” Bailee added, aware that Jayla was always broke.

  “Sure, I can meet you there. By the way, I have some news to share, too.”

  “Oh, yeah. What’s up?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it when I see you at the mall,” Jayla said mysteriously.

  “Cool. See you at four.”

  With a few hours to kill before meeting Jayla, Bailee composed an e-mail to Trent.

  Trent, No need to stop by to pick up your things when you get back from St. Croix. I’ve changed the locks. I’ve arranged for a moving company to transport your personal effects to my mother’s house where I assume you’ll be taking up residence and enjoying the life of a kept man. Contained in your belongings will be your stupid reclining chair. As per our prenuptial agreement, all the contents of the home, including wedding gifts, will remain in my possession.

  Good Luck & Good Riddance, Bailee

  She could have omitted the cutting remarks and the petty insults, but she was bitter, and rightfully so. Therefore, she saw no reason to act like a mature adult or to pretend that their breakup was amicable.

  Fortunately, her pain seemed to be subsiding, somewhat. The fact that she was willing to get out of the condo and socialize with Jayla was proof that she was on the road to recovery.

  * * *

  Leaving the shoe department at Nordstrom, Bailee met up with Jayla in the women’s department. Jayla was so engrossed in browsing through the sleek and stylish garments, she didn’t notice Bailee approaching.

  “I think you’re in the wrong department, Miss. Plus-sizes are downstairs.” Bailee teasingly mimicked the crisp tone of a sales associate.

  Jayla looked up at Bailee and laughed. “I am not in the wrong department, honey,” she informed.

  “Oh, really? Then, who are you shopping for? Do you have a new, skinny, best friend?”

  “Nope. I’m shopping for myself,” Jayla declared with a hand on her hip. “I’m getting clothes for the new, skinny body I’m gonna be rocking shortly. I’ve already started filling my closet with tiny clothes, and I want to add more.”

  Bailee raised a brow.

  “I had a consultation for weight loss surgery, and I was approved,” Jayla announced, beaming as she spoke. “That’s the news I wanted to share. Girl, my whole life is about to change, and I’m so excited.”

  “When is the surgery?”

  “In two weeks and I can’t wait. My insurance is paying for everything, and I’ve been approved to take time off from work. My mother is going to use her vacation time, so she can stay with me and help during my recovery period. Isn’t that thoughtful of her? There’s nothing like a mother’s love.”

  The shadow that fell over Bailee’s face at the mention of a mother’s love didn’t go unnoticed by Jayla.

  “What’s wrong?” Jayla asked.

  “Nothing.” Bailee cut her gaze away from Jayla.

  “Something’s wrong. I know you, Bailee, and you look like you’re about to cry. What did I say that upset you?” Jayla persisted.

  “It’s nothing. Seriously.” Bailee wished she could confide in Jayla about Trent and Giselle, but it was too soon to talk about it without breaking down and getting hysterical in the mall. Maybe she’d be able to have the conversation when she returned from the retreat.

  “How much weight do you think you’ll lose with the surgery?” Bailee asked, changing the subject.

  “I’m not sure about the approximate number of pounds, but from what I’ve read, I’ll probably drop down quite a few dress sizes. Can you picture me wearing a size ten—or smaller?” Jayla picked up a short black dress and held it in front of her.

  “Really? I haven’t worn a ten since elementary school.”

  “Me, either, chile. But that’s the goal. I’ve friended a bunch of chicks on Instagram who had the surgery and their before and after pictures are amazing. They got so thin after the surgery, they look like totally different people now.”

  “But surgery is so drastic, Jayla. Are you sure going under the knife is something you want to do?”

  “I’m positive.”

  “When I get back from the resort, I’ll have to keep up the program at home, and we could join a gym together and maybe hike on weekends.”

  “No, thanks, Bailee. We’ve been talking about working out for years, and I’m still paying off a gym membership that I rarely use,” Jayla retorted. “In order for me to work out, I’d need a drill-sergeant type of personal trainer coming to my place to force me to work out.”

  “How about Weight Watchers then? I’ll join with you when I get back.”

  “I tried that already, and I’m not dealing with those points and their frozen meals again. It doesn’t work for me. This time, I’m taking the shortcut around all that mess and getting the surgery done.”

  “I can’t believe you’re so hell-bent on surgery? Aren’t you scared? Suppose something happens while you’re under anesthesia? Surgery seems like an excessive way to achieve the same results you can get on your own with a little willpower and self-love.”

  “Wow, you already sound like a cult member and you haven’t even started getting brainwashed by the leaders of the fat farm, yet.”

  “It’s not a fat farm. It’s a healthy lifestyle retreat.”

  “Whatever. You lose weight your way and I’ll do it my way. You can fight food urges all you want, but I’m going to let the surgeon cut my stomach down by eighty percent. After the surgery, I won’t be hungry and thinking about food all the time.”

  “So, you’re not going to eat any good food, ever again?”

  “I’ll still grub on my favorite foods, but I’ll eat much smaller portions.”

  Bailee shook her head. “I’d rather adhere to a nutritionally sound diet and learn the root cause of my overeating than lie on an operating table and think someone is going to cut out the problem. Besides, what are you going to do if one of those staples pop?”

  Jayla sighed. “The gastric sleeve is going to make my stomach so small, I’ll get full faster, and I’ll vomit if I overeat.”

  Bailee grimaced. “That sounds unhealthy…and really wrong on so many levels.”

  “I think it’s great that we’ve both decided to make a change. I’m not criticizing your method, so how come you don’t have anything positive to say about mine? You sound like a hater, Bailee.”

  Bailee chewed on her lip thoughtfully. “You’re right, Jayla, and I’m sorry for being judgmental. It’s one of my fatal flaws and something I’m going to work on. I’m happy you want to make a change, but I’m a little concerned, that’s all. But, don’t worry, I’ll get over it.”

  “You’ll definitely get over it when you see me rocking my new, miniature clothes,” Jayla responded, swaying her hips sexily for emphasis.

  “Stop it, Jayla,” Bailee admonished as she quickly looked over her shoulder, hoping no one had spotted Jayla’s gyrations.

  “You stop, Bailee! You’re entirely too wound up, worrying about the people in this store. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me. Girl, don’t let me get to twerking in front of all these uppity Nordstrom shoppers,” Jayla threatened with a devilish smile while still swiveling her hips.

  “Oh, no, please don’t. It’s time to get out of here.” Laughing, Bailee tugged Jayla’s arm.

  “Noooo, let me go, I have to practice my skinny-girl twerk,” Jayla replied, enjoying the embarrassment she was causing Bailee.

  “Aren’t you hungry? I’m treating you to dinner at Morton’s,” Bailee blurted as a last-ditch effort to get Jayla to behave.

  Jayla straightened up. “Morton’s? Cool! I thought we were eating at the food court, but since we’re going to a high-end restaurant, I’ll save my twerking routine for another time.”

  “
Thank God,” Bailee said as she guided Jayla out of the department store.

  Chapter 19

  “He’s my godson, and I’m not going to turn my back on him when he needs me,” Lorraine Carpenter asserted as she scooped a heaping portion of potato salad next to the two large fried chicken breasts on Jayla’s plate.

  “But you haven’t seen Derek in years, Mom. He’s probably not the nice church boy you used to know; he’s a hardened criminal now.”

  “I doubt if Derek is a hardened criminal. We both know that he was falsely accused of robbing that man at gunpoint. That boy never touched a gun a day in his life.”

  “I know, Mom, but prison does bad things to people. It changes them, makes them corrupt.”

  “That’s nonsense.” Lorraine made a dismissive gesture and then loaded Jayla’s plate with green beans. Next, she piled three fluffy biscuits on a saucer next to the dinner plate. “Besides, who am I going to cook for after you have the surgery? You’re not going to eat my good food anymore.”

  “Don’t take it personal, and please don’t act like losing this weight is a bad thing. I have to do this, so I can feel good about myself.”

  “Aw, sweetie, there’s no reason not to feel good about yourself. You’re beautiful and perfect just the way you are.”

  “No, I’m not.” Jayla shook her head adamantly. “If I’m perfect, why does my boss constantly discriminate against me and only give me the shitty listings?”

  “Watch your mouth,” Lorraine cautioned. “You know we don’t use profanity in this house!”

  “Sorry, Mom,” Jayla mumbled. “But seriously…if I’m so perfect, why do men only want to get me in bed, but none of them want to wife me?”

  A look of pity crossed Lorraine’s face. “I thought you didn’t want to settle down.”

  “I’ve been fronting so you wouldn’t feel sorry for me. I’m just a piece of ass to every man I’ve ever cared about.”

  Lorraine’s features quickly formed into a stern expression. “I’m not your girlfriend; I’m your parent, Jayla, and I don’t want to hear another word about any fornicating that you’re involved in.”