“I’m here to escort you to the meeting.” She laughed.
“This isn’t funny.” She gave Natalie a worried look. “I told you I’m not going to that meeting. I don’t want to be anywhere he is.”
“Lorraine Eafford, do not give your power to another human being. Don’t let him scare you. You’ve worked hard on this project and deserve to come to the last meeting before the competition. You brought energy and creativity to the team. We need you, girl.”
“Oh, Nat. Only for you would I change my mind.”
The two ladies spoke quietly as they entered the conference room. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see Wendell in the meeting. The team facilitator passed out the agenda and information regarding their assignment for the actual competition, which would be held next weekend on Galveston’s East Beach.
“Get there early so we can set up the tent. Some of you have been assigned to transport the materials, the carving tools, our team T-shirts; others will bring the ice chest, the food, and plenty of beer. See you next weekend. We start carving at ten sharp.”
“Hey, girl. Thanks for convincing me to regain my power.” Lorraine laughed as they left the meeting. “I would have been hidden away in my office for nothing. Knowing Wendell, he’s not even thinking about me. He hasn’t called. No text. No nothing.”
“Sounds like you’re still feeling this guy,” Natalie replied.
“Love is complicated,” Lorraine admitted. “Like my mother likes to say, ‘You can cook a man’s breakfast with electricity, but you can also cook the man.’ And at this point I can choke him with the same hands I’d use to hold him in my arms. It’s frustrating.”
Natalie felt her phone vibrate. She looked at the caller ID. “And family is frustrating, too. Damn. Something’s come up and I need to get home, but my car is in the shop and the person who I carpooled with is at an off-site meeting.”
“Hey, you need me to drive you home?” Lorraine asked. “I’ll put in for emergency vacation time. I don’t feel like being at the office anymore. Let me run to the ladies’ room and I’ll meet you downstairs in the parking lot.”
“Oh wow, I don’t want you to go out of your way for me.”
“It’s my pleasure. You’ve been there for me . . .” she said softly and couldn’t finish her sentence because of the knot that swelled up in her throat. “See you in a bit.”
Lorraine rushed to the ladies’ room and was happy that the first stall was available.
She sat on the toilet and told herself to e-mail her boss about leaving early as soon as she got back to her office.
Just when she was about to flush, she heard voices.
“Shhh.” A female voice giggled. “I don’t want anyone to hear us.”
“Then that means I probably won’t do a good job.”
“Daither, you’re a nut.”
“I’m about to nut all over you.”
Lorraine froze. She couldn’t believe Tim Daither was inside the women’s restroom. Anyone could just walk in there. Why would a man be so foolish and take such a dangerous risk?
I guess big-mouth Lance was finally right about a rumor.
She heard a stall door open and close. The sound of the lock twisted. More giggles. Moans and sighs.
Lorraine wanted to leave. But she couldn’t. Her ears were wide open. Listening to the sounds of betrayal.
“Mmm, mmm, that feels so good.”
“Hop on me,” Daither gasped.
Lorraine could imagine his pasty white face turning red. She held her hand against her mouth as she tried to figure out which co-worker was stupid enough to have sex with the married boss.
“Faye. Oh shit. Keep going. Don’t stop.”
“Yes, big Daddy. You like it like this? Ohhhh. Tim baby. Who? Who? Who’s the baddest bitch in the game? Say my name.”
“Apparently, Daither’s messing around on his wife even though Faye isn’t exactly an EDC employee. I hate when gossipers can’t even get the gossip totally right.”
“Girl, this is so twisted. Do you think Wendell knows?” Natalie asked. They were headed to her apartment and she was trying to get over the shock of the news about Daither.
“Who cares?” Lorraine snapped. “That’s what Wendell gets. I don’t feel sorry for him.”
“But you’ve got to tell him.”
“Ha! I’ll let Lance have the honors, for what it’s worth. He’s the one who knows everybody’s business.”
“Yeah, but it would seem since you still care for Wendell that you could give him that heads-up.”
“Why should I protect him? He didn’t protect me! He made a fool out of me.” She thought long and hard. With every passing second her heart grew harder. “Men like Wendell reap everything they’ve sown. Why be greedy? Why not just pick one of us instead of stringing me along and making me think he’s so into me?”
“Because sometimes it’s hard to pick just one, Lorraine.” Natalie gave her co-worker a knowing look and turned her attention back to the road.
As they neared Natalie’s community, she told Lorraine which streets to turn down. The farther out they drove, the more the environment changed. Old abandoned houses with missing bricks lined the boulevard. Big brown Dumpsters lay on their sides with garbage spilling out to meet the street. Women so skinny they barely weighed eighty pounds walked up and down the street carrying nothing but a dazed look on their face. They wore tight blouses and short skirts but no purses were in their hands.
“This is your neighborhood?”
“Yeah. Unbelievable, huh?”
Natalie instructed Lorraine to make a left turn into a huge apartment complex with a guard house stationed at the entrance gate, but no guard was there. They drove through the open gate past units that had windows boarded up with plywood.
“Do people actually live here?”
“Yes,” Natalie said in a loud tone. “I can’t afford to rent a luxury apartment. Have you seen my paycheck lately? So I stay with my mom, my sister, and her two kids. Our place is nice, though, very clean and well-organized. More important, I’m surrounded by the love of my family. You can’t judge everything by how it appears on the outside.”
Lorraine drove her car into an empty parking space next to a rusted sedan that sat on bricks because it had no tires.
“Wow! Well, um, thanks, Natalie,” she said sincerely, giving her a tight hug. “I mean that. You’ve taught me so much . . . so much.”
Lorraine drove home and immediately went to her bedroom, removed her clothes, and slid underneath the covers. She lay in bed pondering the state of her life and why certain issues were such a struggle. Lorraine realized she may have questioned God, but she still needed Him.
“I’m a good woman. I’m a good friend. Good attracts good. Please send good to my life, dear Lord. And if there’s anything I’m doing wrong to block my blessings from coming to me, show me. Help me. I need help.”
Thankfully she drifted into a blissful sleep. But her two-hour nap got interrupted by the sound of her iPhone alerting her of a text.
I can admit I haven’t been honest. Although I was trying 2 build something w/u, it was premature. My mind was on someone else. My bad. Bad timing. Hope u understand. Hope u forgive me 2.”
Lorraine erased all of Wendell’s messages and removed his info from her address book.
“Good attracts good,” she whispered to herself and turned over to go back to sleep.
14
Change for the Better
The next Friday morning, an endless blue sky stretched across the sandy beaches of Galveston Island. Seagulls soared over miles and miles that made up the Gulf of Mexico. As far as Lorraine’s eyes could see, people of all colors, shapes, and ages gathered on every inch of East Beach. She smiled as she knelt on the blanket, hoping to keep from getting messy. It didn’t matter. Sand was everywhere. She wielded the carving knife, being careful to smooth out the rough edges of the sculpture created by EDC. Named “The Fountain of Youth,” the exhibit consiste
d of three children playing around a water fountain.
Competition was stiff. One firm built roller coaster tracks with cars; another designed a skyscraper with windows, a roof with a bar on top, and an outside elevator. Another firm laid out a beer-guzzling drunk who had passed out on the street clutching a huge container of the frothy liquid.
“This has been an unbelievable experience,” Natalie squealed. “My hands are filthy but I love it.”
“Humph. Everything I eat tastes like glass and dirt. Not loving it,” Lorraine teased. She felt good inside and looked great outside. She wore light makeup and sported a new medium-length layered hairstyle that she’d requested for the summer. She wore their firm’s bright orange T-shirt and a tight pair of denim shorts with decorative beading.
“Well, I think my work is done. I’m tired. I stink. I’m thirsty,” Lorraine complained.
“I’m game for getting a bite to eat.”
“I’m right behind ya.” They ventured a few yards over and stood under the shade provided by the company tent. The ladies picked up prepacked lunches and beers and sat down in some lawn seats so they could check out the happenings and take a break.
“Don’t look right now, but guess who just showed up?”
Lorraine stiffened. “Oh no.”
“Be cool. And yes, she’s with him wearing big old sun shades like she’s some type of movie star. I can’t stand people who put on airs.”
“Why is she with him? She’s on a competing firm.”
“Obviously not.”
“I’m sorry, but it is so rude and insensitive for Houston to bring that lady here. He knew I’d be here.”
“Girl, it just goes to show you that some guys only care about what they care about.”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Like hell you did.” Natalie glared at Wendell, who took a seat a few feet away from them. “This brisket sandwich is to die for. Take a bite. Now!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hello, ladies.” Wendell nodded. He came and stood next to them with a nervous smile on his face.
Natalie said hello. Lorraine kept eating.
“Wendell, we’ve almost finished the sculpture. Why did you even show up if you were going to be late?”
“I had some business to handle before driving down.” He coughed and cleared his throat.
“What’s up, bitches?” Faye smiled and stood next to Wendell.
“Did she say what I think she said?” Lorraine asked. She hated when people she barely knew acted familiar with her.
“She’s just kidding,” Wendell explained. “Faye is friendly like that.”
“So I’ve heard,” Lorraine murmured.
“Eww, I see some folks that I want to chat with,” Faye said excitedly. “Hook up with you later, love?” She gave Wendell a quick peck on the cheek and hobbled off toward a group of women.
Wendell gave a stunned look but quickly recovered when he caught Lorraine staring at him.
“You picked her,” Lorraine finally spoke. “And for what it’s worth, I hope you’re very happy together. I mean that.”
A couple hours later as the crowds dwindled, Lorraine was relaxing by the company tent when she noticed boisterous activity toward the end of the beach. She spotted Wendell rushing toward that direction and tapped Natalie. “Let’s see what’s going on.”
They edged closer to the scene and heard loud voices.
“Please tell me the truth. I already know everything anyway,” yelled Daither’s wife.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, lady,” Faye screamed back.
Daither’s wife reached out and tried to smack Faye across the cheek. But a tall, gorgeous brunette blocked her from hitting the bikini-clad Faye.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the woman said quietly. She placed her arm around Faye’s waist and comforted her. “I told you about spreading yourself thin like this, now you’re going to have to get yourself under control or else I’m out.”
Wendell’s quick footsteps slowed down until he was standing still. He watched the tall woman kiss Faye on the lips. “What the hell is going on?” he asked.
Lorraine sighed and asked Natalie to excuse her. She went and faced Wendell. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m here to listen. No judging, just supporting.”
“I feel like such a fool.”
“You can’t help that you were attracted to her. And you had the right to find out if she’s the best woman for you.”
“Now that I know she’s not, I feel like I let a good one get away.”
“Wendell—”
“No, Lorraine. You really are the best woman I’ve known. I can’t blame you for getting sick of my shit.”
“Well, thanks for admitting it, although I am doing fine right now. It’s no biggie.”
“You’re the best, Lorraine,” he said with regret. “And another thing. I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but you were right: Men are complicated. We are. Half the time, we don’t really know what we want. And our egos lead us the other half of the time. If I were a woman I’d be confused, too.”
“If you were a woman you’d probably have a better chance of hooking up with your girl,” she said and pointed at Faye and her girlfriend, who were walking away together.
“Oh, that’s cold. I never thought . . .”
“You can’t always judge people by how they appear on the outside.”
Lorraine smiled at Wendell and decided to keep her mouth closed about Faye’s other sluttish ways with Tim Daither.
Let him find out on his own.
“Ms. Eafford, if it’s okay, I want to make things up to you.”
“You really don’t have to do that.”
“No, I have to do something to prove to you I’m not the asshole you thought I was. I’m a decent guy who temporarily lost his good judgment. It happens. There’s no good excuse but I owe you.”
“But I don’t want anything from you, Wendell.”
“Can I have one small thing, though? Can we just start all over . . . ?”
“As friends,” they both said at the same time. They laughed and hugged.
Two months later
Lorraine couldn’t believe her eyes. She and Wendell had just finished having dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s in the Houston Pavilions. She’d thoroughly enjoyed their conversation and couldn’t get enough of her delicious entrée of Oysters Rockefeller. As they were about to leave, Lorraine knew she’d drunk way too much wine. She could no longer hold it in and needed to relieve herself. Just when she was about to enter the small corridor leading to the restrooms, she saw a man with short-cut hair wearing a pin-striped suit.
She sucked in her breath when she heard his voice.
Posse?
“Hey, Lorraine Eafford. How you doing?”
She took in all of Posse; the way his jaw was free of facial hair, she could see his entire set of teeth: the gold teeth were gone. He looked almost normal.
“I’m shocked to see you here in Houston. You haven’t moved here, have you?”
“Nope,” he laughed. “We drove down here just to eat at this spot. My girl, she loves some steak and I wanted to make her feel special.” Posse looked longingly at Lorraine. She resisted the familiar longing tug that used to make her weak. Part of her was happy that he seemed to be doing well. The other part of her was a bit jealous that he’d take the woman he now loved to a nice restaurant all the way in Houston.
“This woman you took out, she must really be something special.”
“She is,” he responded with a grin. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Now Posse,” Lorraine responded, unable to help herself. “You mean to tell me you were faking it when we were together ?”
“Oh, you got jokes.” They laughed. It felt good. She felt at peace. Lorraine knew it was okay to finally let go. Her past had been healed. Her ex had moved on and seemed to have matured and more important, he had s
topped begging her to be in his life. He no longer dominated her thoughts. If she really loved him like she thought she did, she had to be willing to wish the best for him and not interfere with childish envy.
“Well, it was good seeing you, Posse. I mean that,” she said. She grabbed her belly and rubbed it. She really needed to get going before something embarrassing happened.
Just then a short, bony woman exited from the ladies’ room and pushed past her.
“Before you go, this here is the best woman who ever happened to me. Mama, I’m sure you remember Lorraine?”
He kissed Lorraine’s hand and let it go. She was shocked. He really had changed for the better. That realization caused her to feel conflicted inside. Maybe if she’d been patient, she would have been around to benefit from his eventual transformation.
“Hi, Lorraine. Son, isn’t this the same woman you were just talking about like a dog while we ate?”
Lorraine frowned. Posse glanced at the floor then at her.
“Well, isn’t she?”
“No, Mama. That was Loretta, not Lorraine.”
Lorraine made a move toward the ladies’ room.
“Say what?” he said loudly, drawing unwanted attention. “You think you all dat? You just gone walk away from me without saying good-bye, dawg?”
She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around.
“I knew it was too good to be true, Posse. You haven’t changed at all. You’re such a loser and I wish I’d never met you.”
“What the fuck? You trying to clown on me, bitch?”
“Posse, I’m not your bitch. I’m his,” she said as Wendell walked in the corridor and came and stood next to her, placing his arm around her.
“And another thing,” she said. “Remember when you came over to my apartment and brushed your teeth with that nice blue toothbrush I got you? Well, I scrubbed the toilet seat with it the day before. So now you’re literally full of shit.”
“W-what?” He looked sick and spat on the carpet.
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