Moments later, I heard him pounding on David’s bedroom door, so I rushed up after him. “What are you doing!” I exclaimed. “He’s just told us he’s getting some rest. Whatever it is, it can wait, yeah?”
“Stuff takin’ a kip,” Daniel replied. “I need answers, and I need them now.”
I rolled my eyes in response. “Let it rest for now, will ya’?”
Daniel turned the door knob on the outside at the same time as David turned it from the inside and pulled the door inwards. “You should listen to her,” he stated in annoyance. “Whatever it is, it can wait.”
“No,” Daniel replied. “I’ve had a lifetime of waiting to hear the truth. This ends now.”
David sighed heavily, red-eyed and clearly exhausted from the night before and his shift at the hospital which had ended not long ago. “Mate. Whatever it is, it can wait. I’m knackered – what with my shift today at the General, and babysittin’ you last night…”
Daniel ignored his comment and pushed through into the bedroom. “You can sleep later. I need answers now.”
“Daniel!” I exclaimed, as David stood aside and Daniel pushed his way into the room. He cast me a dirty look before starting off on a tirade.
“How dare you ask me to wait longer for something you have known for most of your life? I need to know who I am and where I come from. You can’t choose on whim when you’ll tell me what. The lies end now, and the truth begins from here on out.”
“Okay, I’m really needing to get some sleep here, so if you don’t leave me alone right now, I’ll job you,” David threatened.
Daniel paused and shook his head in response. “Speak English mate.”
David turned to me in annoyance. “Will you please tell him to leave me be? I’m completely shattered - I need to sleep.”
“Daniel, let him rest,” I requested.
Daniel paused for a moment, his anger somewhat dissipated. “Alright. Before I leave you be, answer one question for me please.”
“Shoot,” David said.
“Why did Jolène take me and leave you?” he asked.
“Why don’t you ask her?” David snapped.
“So, you know the answer to my question, you’re just refusing to answer, right?”
“It’s nothing like that mate,” David replied.
“What is it like then?”
“It’s like this. You want to know why Jolène did what she did to us, you ask her,” David said firmly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some sleep.”
“Okay,” Daniel stated, not satisfied with his response. “One more question. What do you know about our father?”
“As much as you do. Nothing,” David quickly replied.
Daniel didn’t believe him. “Oh, I’m pretty sure you know more about him than I do.”
I could tell David’s patience was wearing thin.
“Daniel, there’s still tomorrow,” I reminded him.
He scoffed at the suggestion. “Tomorrow? I needed to know this like yesterday.” Turning to David, he added, “If you can’t help me, I’ll find out on my own.”
“Fine,” David replied, flopping on to the bed, closing his eyes. “Now, will you let me sleep?”
“For now,” Daniel replied, heading out the door.
10
BROKEN
The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes wafted through to me as I lay in bed.
I heard his song. His tender voice amidst clanging of dishes in the kitchen. My heart soared at the beauty of his song. I tiptoed down the stairs, and stood by the door, not wanting him to break from singing. “Hallelujah, hallelujah…” He turned to face me, suddenly aware that I was there. Motioning for me to sit, he continued singing.
“You sing?”
“Not professionally, no. It’s just something I enjoy doing. Makes me feel alive.”
“Made me feel alive,” I replied.
He flashed me a smile, then gestured for me to sit down.
“I’ve overstayed my welcome here,” he stated. “It was silly of me to think I could come here and make things work with him. He’s family, but he clearly does not want me around.”
“He doesn’t own Texas, you shouldn’t have to leave on his account.”
“I shouldn’t have to, yes. But this is bigger than me. There’s your happiness I need to consider too. Right now I’m just being a thorn in your side.”
“More like a thorn in his side,” I corrected him. “You’ve been nothing but good to me.”
“Glad you think so,” he said, somewhat relieved at my statement. “I try. Can’t do anything less.”
“So, you’ll stick around a while longer? You’ve only just got here,” I added.
“I’ve been around longer than you think,” he replied.
“Stalker!” I joked.
He poked me in response. “Okay, I’ll stick around for a while longer. Only for you,” he stated, as Daniel walked in.
“Howdy,” Daniel said, curtly. “Only for you, what?” he asked.
“Never mind,” David replied.
“I thought I asked you to step off and lay off making moves on my woman?” Daniel questioned.
“He’s not making moves on me, Daniel,” I replied.
“Coulda fooled me,” he stated.
Daniel flaunted a notebook at David. “Thought you might be missing this here little black book of yours,” he taunted.
“Give that back to me,” David commanded. “You shouldn’t be going through my stuff.”
“I’ll do whatever I please, in my house. My rules here,” Daniel postured.
“Don’t worry mate, I’ll be out of here in no time,” David said in response. “Give it back to me,” he repeated, motioning towards the notebook.
“Nice drawings, nice poems…” Daniel said, flipping through the book. “But sorry to break it to you - she’ll never be yours,” he promised.
“Give that back to me,” David insisted.
Putting it on the table, Daniel said, “Here.” David quickly grabbed it.
“She’ll never be yours,” he stated again.
“Never say never,” David replied.
“Whatever.”
Intervening, I stated, “Will you two just chill? Can’t you just get along? You’re brothers for goodness sakes.”
“I’m heading out for a bit,” David stated. “For a few days actually.”
“Leaving so soon?” Daniel asked sarcastically.
“I’ll be back Sunday,” he mentioned. “Give you two a bit of privacy.”
“Don’t be silly David, you’re not in the way,” I assured him.
“Teme, if the man wants to leave, let him leave,” Daniel suggested.
David winked at me. “Told you I’d overstayed my welcome.”
“Daniel, be reasonable,” I begged.
Daniel wasn’t listening. “You were on your way out?” he queried, motioning towards the door.
“Uh hm,” David replied, winking at me once again, despite knowing it would infuriate Daniel. “You know where to find me if you do need me.” Though he was smiling, the hurt in his eyes was quite apparent. There was nothing else left to say. Turning to Daniel, he promised, “I’ll stop pursuing her. The moment that you start treating her with more respect than you have been, I’ll respect your wishes, I’ll stop pursuing her, and I’ll leave her alone.”
Daniel was livid. “Are you cruisin’ for a bruisin’?” he questioned, clenching his left fist and standing akimbo. “First last night with you walking around half nakid, then this morning with you swooning over her and trying to woo her with your singing and cooking, then that notebook of yours and now this. You don’t know the first thing about respect, David,” he argued. “You can’t respect the fact that she’s mine, you can’t respect the fact that this is my territory and I will tell you how this will go down.”
“Oh man, you are so full of it,” David replied, half laughing. “Me walking from the shower to the room with a to
wel around my waist is me walkin’ around half naked? Me singing while I prepare breakfast for us all is me wooing her? Me using my journal to reflect on my life, and my comic strips… this isn’t a big conspiracy to snatch her away from you, you know. She’s not an object to behold. She should be free to be wherever she wants to be, and with whoever she wishes to be. You can’t control every aspect of her life, including the friendships she makes.”
“Friendships? Are you kidding? Friendship is not what you’re after, she’ll give you an inch, you’ll take a mile,” Daniel assumed.
“You got it wrong. Friendship is what I’m after,” David replied. “It’s the only thing she will give me – she has eyes for you only. Pity you can’t see that.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, mate,” he said, putting on an Australian accent. “I see the way you look at her. I read what you wrote about in that there book of yours. Nothing good will come of you being in her life. Matter of fact, nothing good will come from you being in mine – it’s inextricably linked to hers.”
“You done yet bro? You done using big words, throwing your weight around? Nothing good will come out of you being a control freak,” David replied somewhat patronizingly. “You want me gone, say the word, no need to be nasty about it.” Turning to go, he stated “For what it’s worth, I’ve loved her longer than you have.”
Daniel had been trying his level best to keep calm, but David’s last comment threw him over the edge. “You know what? Fuck you, man. You’re not welcome here any longer.”
“I wasn’t planning on staying here much longer,” David stated. “And it’s not as though you welcomed me here with open arms in the first place. But yeah, thanks for telling me what I already know.”
“Daniel!” I exclaimed, annoyed that once again he was letting his insecurities dictate the way things would play out. “I have a say in this too. This is our house. David, you’re welcome to stay for as long as you need to.”
“Thanks Teme, but I know better than to stay where I’m not wanted. I’ll respect your husband’s wishes and be gone,” he assured me. “I’m out for now,” he said, checking his pocket for keys and wallet before casting me a furtive glance which Daniel did not catch, and sauntering out the door.
I followed after him. “David…”
“I’ll see you around,” he replied. “I’ve got your number.”
“Where are you going?”
“Need to find me somewhere to crash the night, and then I’ll be heading downtown.”
“Downtown?”
“Yep,” he said absently before singing the Petula Clarke song, Downtown.
Daniel was right behind us. “Will you just git now?” he said to David who winced as though he were in pain, then frowned in response.
“No need to get nasty,” he replied, before saluting me and walking off to his truck that was parked down the road.
In that moment, I hated Daniel.
I played matchmaker for David in an effort to get him to lose interest in me. A few days went by, and I didn’t hear from him. I assumed it was because he was otherwise engaged. I was partly disappointed, partly happy that he had finally moved on.
Then I heard from Shania. He was in love with someone else apparently.
“How do you know that?” I asked, surprised.
“He told me,” she said.
I was livid. Livid that I had introduced my friend to him only for it to go nowhere. Livid that he was probably up to his antics of being with more than one woman at a time, and didn’t have the decency to let Shania know that he was not interested.
I called David up and we agreed to meet for coffee that morning.
The café within the courthouse was relatively empty for the time of day. Callover, I thought.
My matter wasn’t on until later on that morning.
David was already there when I walked in. He wore a navy blue polo shirt, khaki trousers and chinos. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. “Been a while,” he said. “Missed you. Was your phone broke?”
I was livid. I tried not to let it show, but he noticed straight away.
“Say it,” he urged. “You’ve got something to say, say it.”
“Shania.”
A look of surprise shot across his face, before he smiled nervously. “What about her?” he asked.
“You’re unbelievable,” I replied.
“You should know better than anyone else that I’m good for one thing, apparently.”
“And what’s that?” I replied, trying hard not to let my anger loose.
“Picking them up and laying them down,” he said, curtly. “Look, are we going to actually have coffee or did you bring me here to tell me off?”
I rolled my eyes at him. He gave me a slight smile, undeterred. The waitress walked by, and he flagged her with a wink. She turned back and came to our table right away. “Just a strong black for me, and a white hot chocolate for the lady.”
I waited for the waitress to leave before I ripped into him. “You know, you can’t just go around making assumptions about me. You can’t presume to know what I want before I want it.”
He smiled, clearly amused. “You did want a white hot chocolate, didn’t you?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Yes, I did. You also can’t just go around “picking them up and laying them down” as you put it. Shania is not just an object of your desire. She deserves better.”
“I know she does. That’s why I told her I was not long-term relationship material,” he replied in his defense.
“That isn’t what I heard.”
“Well, what did you hear?” he asked.
“She says you told her you were in love with someone else.”
“Hm. Look, I’m sorry I hurt your friend,” he said, and in that moment, he seemed sincere. “I can’t be something I’m not, and I can’t give her what she’s after.”
“I thought you were better than that David. You could have at least given me the heads up - were you lying when you said that you were wanting to settle down? I was trying to help out, trying to introduce you to someone special.”
“No, I wasn’t lying,” he replied.
“Then why…”
“As I told Shania, I’m in love with someone else. What I didn’t tell her, was that it looks like the lady I’m in love with will never be mine,” he said, in a somewhat somber tone. “You.”
My heart sunk. “David…”
“I know,” he said. “It’s a lost cause,” he acknowledged. “But I do love you with a passion. I’ve loved you ever since I laid eyes on you.”
The coffee and hot chocolate arrived.
“Daniel is the better man. He always will be,” he said, morosely. “If we were to ever be, I would probably only sabotage things eventually. I would end up hurting you,” he predicted.
“David, the experiences you had growing up have made you who you are but they do not and should not define you.”
He laughed, awkwardly. “You wanna bet?”
I sighed in response. An awkward silence ensued.
“Just let me love you, Teme. Just let me love you from a distance,” he urged. “In fact, I don’t need your permission. This is what I’ll do,” he confirmed.
“David, you know I’m committed to Daniel.”
“I know,” he said. “And I’m glad you are,” he stated, stirring two teaspoons of sugar into his coffee, and one into my chocolate. “I want you to be happy. I want you to be with someone who will cherish you with his all. I’m not perfect. He’s as close to perfect as they come. My brother is that man.”
We were breaking ground, I thought.
“But just in case he isn’t, I’ll always be there, waiting in the wings to swoop in,” he promised, making a wing sign with his hands.
I laughed in response. “You’re too much David.”
He smiled a beautiful smile that made my heart flutter unexpectedly. “So, can we shake on this?” he asked. “I promise to love you from a distance, and you
promise to stop hooking me up with other women?”
“I promise.” I offered my hand for a shake. I should have known better. His touch was electric. Instead of a shake, he brought my hand to his lips for a kiss.
I quickly pulled my hand back. Not quickly enough. Daniel stood there at the door of the café, likely there for a coffee and to prep before going into court. He’d been called in as an expert witness in a kidnapping trial.
“Sugar,” David said under his breath. “Looks like I have some explaining to do.”
Daniel stood there at a distance, turning away as though he hadn’t seen us when he had.
“I’ll talk to him,” David promised, getting up to meet Daniel at the door.
Daniel faced David, suit coat over his left arm, briefs in the other hand.
Daniel talked, while David listened and nodded in response. David wasn’t smiling when he walked back to the table. His face was flushed and he seemed somewhat flustered. “I’m heading off now,” he said abruptly. “Take care of yourself,” he said, avoiding eye contact and making a bi-line for the door. He left his phone on the table. Before I could call out after him, he was gone.
Daniel ordered a coffee to go, and motioned for me to join him at a different table closer to the front.
His tone was cool, aloof. “You really need to stop seeing him.”
“He’s your brother, he’s a friend.”
“I’m demanding that you stop seeing him,” Daniel insisted.
“Don’t be ridiculous Daniel.”
“You’ve been warned,” Daniel stated.
“Whatever that’s supposed to mean,” I replied.
“I’m not going to be nice about this anymore,” he replied. “I’ve gotten to the stage where I’ve had enough, and if neither of you will hear me out and allay my concerns, I’m making certain things known, and I won’t be apologizing for anything I do next to protect you.”
I wanted to argue with him, but chose not to. It was a battle I wouldn’t win.
My Dusk My Dawn Page 17