by Zuri Day
“Well, well. Looks like somebody’s woman is getting attention from another man and that somebody doesn’t like it. Who is he?”
“Gerald McPherson, a doctor Faye worked with over in Africa.”
“Oh, so they go way back.” The daggers Dexter shot Donovan could have drawn blood. “I’m messing with you, little brother. But seriously, you need to readjust that armor of indifference toward the doctor that you’ve tried to wear. The coat is slipping.”
“I’m not worried, Don. Baby girl isn’t going anywhere.”
“Funny, it looks like she’s headed toward the hallway with her African alum.”
Dexter’s turn was slower this time but still timely enough to see Faye and Gerald disappear around the corner.
“I’m out of here, brother,” he said, holding up his fist to Donovan for a pound. “I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you want to leave?”
“Positive.”
Dexter walked out the door without looking back, reached his Maserati GranCabrio and slid inside. Cranking Tupac’s “California Love,” he floored the gas and weaved in and out of traffic as he headed toward the highway. His eyes were narrowed, his countenance grim. He took the ramp to Interstate 5, headed north. Two miles down the road and already he was rolling at a smooth eighty-five. He figured at this speed he could be in L.A. in just over an hour. Faye Buckner wasn’t the only woman in the world. Hell, women will knock each other over to get to me! And then Papa Dee’s voice floated into his ear. You always want to pick somebody who can stoke your fire, son, someone who’ll get your willy working, make you want to run a mile...in bare feet!
Dexter sighed, eased off the gas and took the next exit on his way back to San Diego. Many women wanted him, but right now there was only one woman he wanted. And when she arrived home later tonight, he’d be there to greet her—and anybody else who dared darken her door.
Chapter 29
“Vickie, have you seen Dexter?” It was 8 p.m. and the last of the grand opening guests were finally leaving. All Faye could think of doing was taking off her rarely worn heels and soaking in a tub.
“He left a while ago,” she replied.
“Oh, did he leave with his family?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. I saw him talking to a couple who I believe are part of the Drake family. The next time I noticed they were here but he was gone.”
“Okay. Thanks, Vickie. You’ve been a tremendous help today. We’ll clean all of this up tomorrow. Go on home. I’ll lock up.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Faye looked up as Gerald came around the corner. “Is that everyone?”
Gerald nodded. “We’re the last three standing.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Dr. McPherson,” Vickie said. “Dr. Buckner, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Gerald and Faye watched Vickie walk out. Before she reached the sidewalk, Gerald had slipped behind Faye and began massaging her shoulders. “It’s time for you to relax, Doctor,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “You’re as tight as a drum.”
Faye reached back and patted his hand before moving away. “You’re absolutely right, Gerald. A long, hot bath is calling my name.” She turned to face him. “Where are you staying?”
He gave her the name of the hotel.
“How long are you here?”
“I leave Monday morning.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I’d love to spend time with you. We have so much catching up to do. But tonight I’m beat.”
“Sure you don’t have enough energy for one glass of champagne? A celebratory toast to your great achievement?”
“A glass of champagne would have me asleep at the bar. I’ll be much better after a good night’s rest. Can I treat you to breakfast tomorrow?”
“Sure, and then we can spend the day together.”
“You’ve got it.” She stepped toward him. They hugged. “Thanks again for coming, Gerald. It was so great to have you here.”
“I’m not sure your boyfriend liked it.”
Faye knew that Gerald was fishing, but this girl who knew a thing or two about the sport didn’t take the bait. “Did you rent a car or take a taxi here?”
“I took a taxi.”
“Let’s get locked up and I’ll drop you back to your hotel.”
“That’s okay, Faye. I can take a cab.”
“Nonsense. It’s not that far. Let’s go.”
* * *
Faye turned the corner onto her quiet block and thought that what she saw was surely a figment of her imagination. That was not a black Maserati in front of her condo building. She’d thought about Dexter all the way home, had wondered where he went and whether or not to call him, and she’d definitely salivated at the thought of getting one of his massages. Had she hoped so hard that she was now hallucinating? She pulled up to the parking lot gate and watched her hallucination get out of the car and walk toward her. So she was not just seeing things. The Maserati was real. And so was the man. “Hey, you,” she said once he’d opened the passenger door.
“It’s about time you got home.”
“I would have come home sooner had I known you were waiting for me. Why’d you leave, and why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were busy. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Do you want to park your car inside the gate?”
“I’ve got a great security system. It will be fine.”
They reached Faye’s condo. Barely inside the door and she was pulling off her shoes. “I’m very grateful that the center is open, but I am so glad that open house is over.”
“Looks like everyone had a good time. Especially your doctor friend.”
Faye had been taking off her earrings. She stopped in mid-motion. “Gerald?”
“You know he’s digging on you, right?”
“Please,” Faye said, walking into the bedroom and removing her clothes. “The only thing Gerald is digging for is information on the center.”
“Why is he so interested?” Dexter leaned against the doorjamb.
“He’s a very good doctor, one with whom I’ve discussed my vision for the center, that’s why. Where are all these questions coming from?”
Dexter shrugged. “I just don’t like him.”
“Wait. Are you jealous?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Upset?”
“Do I have anything to be upset about?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Good. Now that that’s settled, what do I have to do for a tub scrub and massage?”
Dexter sorta smiled, sorta pouted. “Nothing except get naked.”
“Ha! Deal.”
Chapter 30
Because they’d planned to spend the day together, Faye and Gerald had decided to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant. She handed her keys to the valet and rushed into the restaurant. Thirty minutes late.
“I’m so sorry,” she said when she reached Gerald, who was sitting at the table reading a USA TODAY. He stood and they exchanged a light hug. “I overslept.”
She sat down. Gerald eyed her intently. “Looks like you didn’t sleep enough.”
Is it that obvious? Probably was. It seemed that from the moment he found out that she was meeting Gerald for breakfast Dexter made it his mission to treat her like his last meal. The man had been insatiable, even waking her at 4 a.m. for another round! But given the way he woke her up, Faye had decided, she’d miss a little sleep. “I guess I was a little wound up when I got home,” she offered, studying the menu. “And then, because she’d asked me to do so no matter how late, I called my best friend,
Adeline, who lives in Haiti.”
“Tell me about Haiti.”
And with that, the moment of discomfort ended and Gerald and Faye fell into the comfortable banter honed over years of friendship. The waiter came and took their orders. She talked about Dr. Ian and the Haitian Heartbeats program, and the endless hope and resiliency of the people. He shared his experiences working in a large, public hospital; the bureaucratic frustrations, the budget limitations and why he was seriously considering a career change—namely, her offer. “I ran the idea by my ex,” he finished, “told her I might be moving.”
“How was that news received?”
“About the way I’d imagined—less concern about my whereabouts and more about child support payments.”
“Wouldn’t it bother you to be away from your daughter?”
Gerald nodded. “My girl is my heart and my biggest consideration. But if I am going to be away from her, now’s the time. She’s young enough that my absence wouldn’t be felt as much. As she enters her preteen and teen years...that’s when I definitely want to be around.”
“I bet you’re a good father, Gerald.”
“I try.” He reached for his coffee. “What about you? I know how dedicated you are to your career, but you never thought about marriage and motherhood?”
“I did once,” Faye answered, picking up her orange juice and taking a drink. “I had a huge crush on you.”
Gerald almost spewed hot coffee. “What?”
“That’s right,” Faye said, laughing. “When you arrived in Africa, I thought you were the man!”
“You’re kidding.” Faye shook her head. “I never would have known.”
“I was too scared to tell you.”
“Why?”
She reminded him about her experiences with Jesse and Phillip. “Guess you could say I was twice bitten, and when it came to expressing my feelings, very shy. Besides, it was obvious that you looked at me like a sister. Considering what happened, everything probably worked out the way it was supposed to.”
“Or maybe that’s what’s happening now.” Faye’s look was questioning. “I did a little research before I came here. I’m very impressed with what you were doing in Haiti. I’d heard of the Haitian Heartbeats organization. In fact, I almost volunteered right after the quake myself.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“That country wasn’t the only thing falling apart. The first of many cracks began appearing in my marriage around that same time.”
“I’m sorry the marriage didn’t work out.”
“So am I. But it is what it is.” Their meals arrived and they began eating. “So you used to have a crush on me, huh?”
Faye nodded. “Big-time.”
“I actually liked you, too.”
“No way!”
“I did.” Gerald admitted with a nod. “But I didn’t think you were interested. But that was then. This is now. And right now I’m both available and I’m interested.”
Faye was floored. But she hid her surprise and confusion under a playful veneer. “Careful, Doctor. I’m not sure I’ll allow fraternizing at my center.”
“Well, in that case, I just might not take the job.”
Faye sat back and eyed Gerald closely. “I’m sure you figured out that I’m dating Dexter, the man you met.”
“I spent all evening trying to figure that out.”
“When we started seeing each other, no one was more surprised than me. But don’t judge a book by its cover. There’s more to him than designer duds.”
“He’s not right for you.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“I don’t have to; I can look and tell.” Faye remained quiet. Gerald continued. “Does he support your work at the center?”
“Yes.”
“Understands and is okay with the dedication our profession demands, the time you’re going to have to put into this job?”
“I think so.”
“Make sure that he does. Because I can tell you from experience, if they don’t understand, there is no way the relationship will survive.”
Chapter 31
Before the clinic opened, Faye had thought she was busy. But now, less than a month after the Hearts of Health and Healing Center opened its doors, “not enough hours in the day” took on a whole new meaning. Sixteen-hour days were common. She was back to four or five hours of sleep. There were sick children, concerned mothers and need everywhere. Faye was exhausted but delirious with happiness. She was back in her element. This was her dream!
There was just one problem. Dexter. They’d only been together twice since the clinic’s grand opening. The last time he’d come down she’d been too exhausted to do anything but sleep. He said he understood, but his actions told a different story. For the past week her calls had gone to voicemail. For all she knew, he’d given up and moved on. He was probably whizzing Erin Bridges around in that college fund he called a car or dancing the night away with any one of the women he’d charmed at Papa Dee’s party. And all of that would have been fine except for the fact that he had her heart in his pocket.
How did this happen? Even after that night following the grand opening and the talk that finally gave the term relationship to what they shared, Faye had vowed that she would not get caught up. She didn’t have any problem with monogamy—heck, she could barely keep one randy man satisfied—but it still felt as if she was trying to please two lovers. One, Dexter. The other, the Hearts of Health and Healing Center.
Faye’s intercom beeped. “Dr. Buckner, it’s Adeline on one.”
“Thanks, Vickie.” Faye smiled, happy to hear from her friend. Dexter’s no-show at the benefit had left Adeline totally unimpressed and underwhelmed, but the check and construction work he’d had donated had returned him to the “possible” category. Maybe Adeline could help figure out how to juggle these two demanding areas of her life. Faye walked over and closed her office door, then took the call off hold. “How did you know that I needed a pow-wow with my sister-friend?”
“You know we Haitians are spiritual,” Adeline replied. “We know things.”
“Okay, Ms. Spiritual. Since I assume you have a direct line to the All-Seeing, All-Knowing, please tell me what I’m supposed to do with this spoiled, stubborn man!”
“Hmm, a little trouble in your Southern California paradise with that fine brother?” After not meeting him when she visited California, she’d put his name in a search engine and found a picture online. But this was only after he returned to her proverbial good graces.
“You could say that.” Faye gave Adeline an update, ending with the fact that she hadn’t talked to Dexter in a week. “A part of me wants to just let him go so I can focus on the clinic.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“But the other part really misses him, dang it. I don’t want to miss him, Addie. I don’t have time for screwy emotions like this!”
“Well, you’d better make time, Faye, because those screwy emotions are part of what we call life! I’m honestly happy to hear that you’re feeling this way, girl. It means you’re in love.”
“No, I’m not.” Adeline laughed but said nothing. “Yes, I’ll admit that I enjoy our sex life. Quite a lot. Okay, almost as much as I love breathing.”
“Ha!”
“But I already feel I made a mistake calling what we share a relationship. It demands too much of what I don’t have.”
“Such as?”
“Time! He wants to be with me, and I have to be at the clinic.”
“You have to, or you think you have to because you think you’re the only one who can take a temperature or wipe a brow? You told me about all the students who wanted to volunteer at your clinic, and about the retired nurses who are willing to come in for reduced pay.”
Faye rolled her eyes and mumbled, “Obviously I’ve talked too much.”
“In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve never mentioned a man. From everything you’ve told me about Dexter, he is pretty special. You know, before I met my husband, I was a lot like you, career-driven, believing that my professional accomplishments were enough. But my mother would always chide me—‘Addie, those achievements aren’t going to keep you warm at night. They’re not going to comfort you when you’re sick, and they won’t cry for you when you die.’ Take a step back, Faye, look at your life. Really look at it. What truly makes you happy, and what type of happiness does it bring? There are different kinds, you know.” Faye remained silent. “I watched you pour your entire life into Haitian Heartbeats. That’s well and good—if there are no other areas that need in attention in your life. There weren’t any then, but there’s someone now. So maybe it’s time to reprioritize just a little bit. Faye?”
“I’m listening.”
“Taking time for yourself doesn’t take anything away from your commitment to helping others. Everyone who knows you knows how much you care. Maybe it’s time to show that man of yours how much you care about him.”
After a sigh, Faye responded. “Sometimes you get on my last nerve, Adeline Marceaux. And sometimes you’re the lone voice of reason when I need it most. And all the time...you’re my best friend. Thank you, sis.”
“Thank me by getting off this phone and calling Dexter. And don’t forget to let me know how it all works out.”
Faye ended the call with Adeline, and before she could lose her nerve or change her mind, she dialed Dexter. Going over the message she’d leave in her mind, she was taken off guard when he answered.
“Dexter?”
“Isn’t that the number you called?”
“I was expecting to leave a message.”
“You want me to hang up so you can call back and do that?”
“Look, if you’re going to act like an ass, then I can hang up and don’t need to call back at all!”
“Whoa. I was just messing with you, baby. Sounds like somebody has some pent-up frustrations that need to be released.”