by La Jill Hunt
* * *
“So, no one has heard from him at all?” Bailey asked later that evening. We were both on treadmills at the gym. She was running, and I was walking.
“Nope, and I’ve been blowing his phone up like an ex who got a positive test for an STD,” I told her.
“Well, damn. That’s an analogy I ain’t heard before.” Bailey laughed. “Are you speaking from experience? Is there something you haven’t told me? Is that why you hit Var up the other day?”
“Hell no, and you’re trying to be funny. But trust me, I’ve called him a lot.”
“At least your boy didn’t act like a complete asshole and came and unlocked the house for you and the painter to get in. That’s a good thing.”
“Yeah, especially since Jose is insisting that this painter is like the best and acting like he’s the only one he wants to work with. I don’t understand because it’s just paint. But, yeah, Josh actually acted like he had some sense and was even pleasant for a while.”
“It’s always the good-looking ones who act like total asses.”
“How do you know he’s good-looking?” I asked. I had never mentioned anything to her about how Josh looked.
“How do you think? I googled him after you told me he used to play in the NBA.” Her pace slowed to a brisk walk, which excited me because it meant our time on the machine was almost over.
“Dang, Bailey, I ain’t even do that.” I shook my head. “Probably because he was such a jerk that I ain’t care who he was.”
“Well, I did it to make sure he really had money like that, since he said he didn’t have a budget. I wanted to make sure he had the loot to pay you,” she stated proudly.
“Good looking out, bestie. But it’s actually his mother who’s paying me, I believe, and her check didn’t bounce, so I think I’m good.”
“I wonder what his mom does,” she said with a questioning look on her face. “What’s his mom’s name again? Georgia?”
“Georgette.” I corrected her. “And don’t go googling her, please.”
* * *
We finished our workout and had just gotten into my car when Georgette called me. I answered on the car’s Bluetooth.
“Hello, darling. How are you? I’m so sorry I missed your call earlier. I’ve been in a seminar all day, and we’re just getting out,” she gushed. “How are things going?”
“Everything’s fine. I was actually calling because I needed to get into the house with the painter, but I was able to reach Josh, and he let us in.”
“Oh, really? He did?” She sounded just as surprised as I had been when he agreed to unlock the door for us.
“Yes, ma’am. So, no worries. Thanks for calling me back, though.”
“Ask her where she works,” Bailey whispered.
“Huh, what’s that, dear?” Georgette yelled. “I think your phone cut out.”
I shook my head at Bailey to shush her. “I just said thank you, and I’ll speak with you later.”
“Okay. Speak with you soon,” she said.
The call had just ended when my phone rang again, and I was surprised to see Josh’s name appear. I didn’t answer right away, because I was too busy wondering why he was calling me. It was Bailey who pressed the answer button and said hello, ignoring my threatening look.
“Hey, it’s Josh,” he said, giving no indication that he realized it wasn’t me who answered.
“Hey, Josh. What’s up?” I finally said.
“I was just calling to let you know that I found Caldwell.”
“Really? You talked to him?” I said. “Something better have happened to his phone, because he hasn’t returned any of my calls or texts.”
“No, something happened to him.”
“Oh my God, is he okay? What happened?” Bailey and I spoke at the same time.
“Huh, who is that?” Josh asked, confused.
“That’s my best friend, Bailey. She knows Caldwell too,” I explained. “You’re on speakerphone in my car.”
“Is Caldwell okay?” Bailey asked again.
“Yeah, but he’s in the hospital.”
“What? Why?” Again, we both spoke.
“Okay, I’m really gonna need for y’all to talk one at a time,” Josh told us, then added, “I don’t know the details. All I know is that he had emergency surgery, but he’s okay.”
“Wow. I knew something happened. How did you find out?” I asked.
“I knew you were worried, so I decided to make some calls. I figured I’d update you on what was going on.”
“Well, thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it. I am definitely gonna keep him in prayer and hope he gets better.” I sighed.
“If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know,” Josh told me.
“Thanks again, really,” I said.
“No problem,” he replied and ended the call.
“Well, at least we know where he is, and he’s safe,” Bailey said.
“Yeah, I guess, but what does that mean about the house we’re working on? And my job.” Maybe it sounded a little selfish, but it was a genuine concern for me.
“You should’ve asked Josh. That’s really up to him, isn’t it?”
I turned and looked at her. “If that’s the case, then I’m fired and back to square one.”
Chapter Eighteen
I couldn’t believe that as quickly as things had started looking up in my life, they fell down, and I was right back where I started. When we got home, I took a shower, changed into a pair of sweats, told Bailey I would be back later, and then I headed to the one place I knew would always make me feel better: Baskin Robbins. I ordered double scoop of mint chocolate chip in a waffle cone with whipped cream and nuts, sat a table in the back, and wiped my falling tears between bites. Maybe Var was right, I thought. Maybe my dreams of becoming an interior designer were stupid and I needed to be realistic. I was thirty years old and living in my best friend’s guest bedroom. I couldn’t even consider myself a roommate because I damn sure didn’t pay half the rent, and without the contract with Georgette, I didn’t know when I’d be able to. I finished eating all my ice cream and stared at the waffle cone, feeling as empty as it looked.
“Where the heck did you go?” Bailey asked when I walked in the door an hour later. “I’ve been calling and texting you, girl.”
“My bad. I left my phone in the room. It’s on the charger,” I told her.
“Are those doughnuts?” she asked, looking at the Krispy Kreme box I was holding.
I nodded guiltily.
“Really, Zen? Why?”
I was too embarrassed to tell her that I had stopped there on the way home after binging on ice cream. I also didn’t mention that there were two doughnuts missing from the box because I had already eaten them.
“Because the hot sign was on,” I answered as if it were no big deal.
“I can’t believe you. You know we’re in training,” she said. “I’m throwing these out.”
“Don’t play, Bailey,” I said in a threatening tone.
“I ain’t playing. I don’t need this temptation, and neither do you.”
“Don’t tell me what I need,” I snapped at her.
“Zen, calm down and listen to—”
“Stop telling me what to do. I know your life is perfect, Bailey, but in case you haven’t noticed, mine isn’t. I have a part-time gig that barely pays my bills, the car I’m driving belongs to my asshole of an ex, and I’m freeloading off my best friend. I’m a mess, my life is a mess, and yeah, despite your attempts to make my body as perfect as yours, that’s a hot, fat mess too. And right now, I really don’t need a fucking lecture from you. So, can you just let me have my doughnuts and leave me the hell alone?”
Bailey took a step back and folded her arms. “Are you done?”
“Yep,” I said with as much attitude as she had given me.
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
“Good, now put that fucking box down and let’s
go.”
“Go where?” I frowned. If she was about to suggest anything involving any kind of exercise, I was going to have to cuss her out again.
“Well, that’s what I was trying to tell you before you threw your little temper tantrum over your doughnuts. Caldwell called. He’s at the hospital and wants to see us. He tried to reach you, and when he couldn’t, he called me.”
“Didn’t he have surgery?”
“He had an appendectomy, and he says he’s fine. I told him we’d come up and see him for a few minutes, but we weren’t staying long. So, come on,” she said, glancing down at the Krispy Kreme box. “Unless you’d rather stay here and continue having your pity party. And you already know if that’s the case, you’ll be having it by yourself.”
I put the box of doughnuts in the middle of the kitchen table and walked past her. “Let me get my phone.”
“I’ll wait for you in the car,” I heard her yell right before the front door closed.
I went into my room and grabbed my phone from the nightstand, where it was charging. It took a few minutes to power up and then began buzzing with notifications of three missed calls: all from Caldwell, and a text to both Bailey and me:
Hola, mamis. Don’t worry, your boy is alive and kicking. Come and see for yourself at Mercy General room 354. Bring snacks.
I shook my head and smiled, relieved that he was okay. On the way out the door, I grabbed the box of doughnuts, hoping he wouldn’t notice the missing ones.
We arrived at the hospital just before visiting hours were over. The lady at the front desk acted like we were breaking curfew and she was our momma. She almost didn’t give us a pass. When she finally relented, we hopped on the elevator and went to the third floor to Caldwell’s room. The door was open, and he was sitting up in bed, talking and laughing with two other women: one older, and another about our age. I hesitated before knocking on the door. The three of them turned and looked at us.
“I knew my mamis wouldn’t let me down. Get in here,” he told us happily.
“Hello.” I spoke to the two ladies, then said, “Caldwell, what in the world?”
“We were worried about you,” Bailey told him.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. You brought me Krispy Kreme? You do love me.” He reached for the box.
“No, Jose! You know you can’t eat that. The doctors have said soft foods only for two days,” the older woman scolded. Caldwell put his hand down and pretended to pout.
“What? He sent us a text asking us to bring him snacks,” Bailey told her.
“That doesn’t surprise me at all. How are you ladies? I’m Hazel, Jose’s mother, and this is his sister, Melody. Jose has told us all about you. Thank you for coming,” she told us.
“Nice to meet you,” I told her. “And I’m sorry about the doughnuts. I didn’t know he wasn’t supposed to have them.”
“I’ll take them,” Melody said. “I’m starving.”
“So, you’re just gonna eat doughnuts in front of me?” Caldwell protested. “That’s so wrong.”
“Sure am,” Melody said, opening the box.
“Melody, that’s not nice. Don’t do that,” Hazel scolded her. “Move over so the ladies can have somewhere to sit.”
Melody moved down so that Bailey and I could squeeze onto the small love seat with her. Hazel was seated in a chair beside the hospital bed.
“So, you’re feeling okay?” Bailey asked.
“Yeah, I had a rough night, but I’m much better now,” Caldwell answered.
“I was so afraid. He called me at, like, two in the morning in so much pain that he was screaming. He couldn’t even drive himself to the hospital,” Hazel said, reaching over and rubbing Caldwell’s hand. “My Jose was dying. That’s all I could think about.”
“He was not dying, Mommy. You treat him like such a baby.” Melody groaned.
“What happened?” I asked.
“My appendix, and she’s not exaggerating. I felt like I was dying,” Caldwell said. “They took it out, though, so I’m good.”
“How long will you be in the hospital?” I asked.
“Until tomorrow.”
“Then you come home so I can take care of you,” Hazel told him.
“I knew she was gonna say that.” Melody told us, “I told you she treats him like a baby.”
“He just had surgery. Who is going to take care of him while he’s recovering? You?” Hazel asked.
“Oh, no, Ma. You know that wouldn’t work,” Caldwell said.
“See, this is why I tell you you need a good woman, Jose. And since you don’t have one, you come home so you can get well.”
“I’ll be fine, Ma,” Caldwell said, then he looked at me. “I talked to Josh a little while ago.”
I swallowed hard, preparing myself to hear that the renovations had been stopped and I was out of a job.
“Yeah, he was the one who told us you were in the hospital,” I said, hoping he didn’t notice the fear I felt.
“I told him everything was still a go with the remodel and he would be in good hands while I’m out of commission.”
“What?” I said, making sure I’d heard him correctly. “How? I’m not a contractor.”
“You don’t have to be a contractor, Zen. The floors have been ordered, the painter has been scheduled, and you’re more than capable of overseeing that. The doctors have said I’ll only be out of work for two weeks,” Caldwell told me.
“Two weeks? Jose, you need much more time than that,” Hazel objected.
“Mommy, please.” Melody groaned again.
“You can handle this, Zen. You know what to do,” he said.
“I, uh, but—” I stuttered.
“Yeah, she does,” Bailey agreed. “When my house was being built, she made sure everything was done. She was so damn bossy that some of the workers thought she worked for the builder. You got this, Zen.”
“I promised Mama G that the house would be finished by Ephraim’s birthday. She wants to have a get-together, a celebration, and I told her it would be ready. I’m not gonna let her down.”
“That house is very important to her.” Hazel sighed. “Ephraim was such a good boy.”
“Ephraim was a wild boy,” Melody said., “But he was cool. His death was a shock to so many people.”
I was tempted to ask how he had died, but instead, I said, “I don’t know. Josh is still against this. I mean, he unlocked the door for us today, but he still was negative about this entire process.”
“I don’t think he’s gonna be a problem. Trust me. I already talked to him. Ma, can you hand me my bag?” Caldwell pointed to the white paper bag, which held his personal belongings, that was sitting in the corner of the room.
Hazel stood and passed him the bag. He reached inside and took out a set of keys, then fumbled with them until he removed two and passed them to me.
“Here. Now you don’t need him to let you in. But I think he’s probably gonna be around a lot more, though.”
I took the keys and stared at them. As elated as I was to continue working on the house, I was a little hesitant. If I agreed to this, it meant that if anything went wrong, then it was all on me. And despite his being cooperative today, I wasn’t too thrilled at the thought of dealing with Joshua any more than I already had. His negativity regarding the house was just bad energy, and that was the last thing I needed.
Caldwell flinched slightly and closed his eyes.
Bailey stood up and announced, “Well, I think we should be going. Caldwell, I’ll check on you in the morning. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, pretty girl. Give me a hug.” He reached for her, and she grabbed his hand.
“Bye, Caldwell,” I said.
“Zen, you know I’m just a phone call away, or a text, or FaceTime. I’m gonna be checking in every day, and you know my guys got you,” he told me then closed his eyes again.
“It was nice meeting you both,” I said to Hazel and Melody.
&nb
sp; We said good-bye, and as soon as we stepped into the corridor, we heard Hazel and Melody talking.
“They’re so nice and pretty. So lovely.”
“Yes, I see why he likes her. She’s cool.”
I stopped in my tracks and whispered, “Bailey, Caldwell likes you.”
“They aren’t talking about me, fool,” Bailey hissed.
“They’re definitely not talking about me. It has to be you. You’re the one he asked for a hug, not me,” I pointed out.
“Zen, trust me, the topic of that discussion is not me, and they definitely ain’t talking about Caldwell either.”
I looked at Bailey, who was staring at me like she was waiting for me to offer an opinion, but I didn’t have one for her.
“Don’t play dumb with me. You know exactly who they’re talking about,” she said with a smirk on her face. “Looks like your life ain’t as messed up as you think it is. You still have a job, and possibly a new boo.”
Chapter Nineteen
To my surprise, the remodel continued to go smoothly, even in Caldwell’s absence. I knew it was mainly due to his amazing crew of guys and the power of technology that allowed him to check and make sure everything was up to his standards. One would think the minor imperfections would not be noticeable, especially on his cell phone screen, but he noticed each one and commented on them.
“Why isn’t there a tarp on that area over there?” he asked while we were FaceTiming one afternoon. The painters had completed two of the upstairs bedrooms and were about to start on the third, and I was showing him their work.
“Where?” I asked, looking around.
“Over there, near the closet door. They’re gonna end up getting paint on the floor,” he fussed.
“Tell him we got this.”
I turned around and shook my head at Josh, who had walked into the room. Turning the phone so that the camera was facing him, I said, “Can you please tell him he’s gotta stop sneaking up on me?”
“Josh, my man. What’s good?” Caldwell said.
“How you feeling, man?” Josh asked.
“I’m getting better. Almost back to a hundred percent. The doctor said I’ll be good as new by the end of next week.”