Dr. Pointer nodded in agreement. “We’ll be in touch after this case is resolved. Until then, please leave this hospital, Dr. Worthy.” She stood and then he stood.
I stood. “Yes. I understand completely. Thanks.” I headed back to my office and then left the hospital.
I sat at home hours later, drunk with thoughts. Okay.
So here I am. I’m at home.
I’m in my large house all alone. I have absolutely nothing to do. Work is my life. Life is my work.
But, I cannot do what I love to do. I dare not call anyone. Especially a woman. Not now.
And not anytime soon.
I need to figure this out.
Figure out how I can get my life back.
Less the drama.
My voice mailbox was full.
Makkai, this is Mary Jane. I just heard. I’m here if you need me. Please call me. Everything will be fine. Pray on it, and believe that the truth will set you free. Take care, Makkai. Goodbye.
Hey Makkai, it’s Lois Taylor. I just want you to know how difficult that was for me this afternoon to chastise you and suspend you like that. I had to do what I had to do. But, I hope you know that I do believe in you. I will see you later. I’ll check on you again.
Hey, son. I see you’re not picking up the phone. I made dinner if you want to come over. It’s that Vodka Pasta you love so much. This isn’t the end of the world, Makkai. God is faithful, so release your faith. If it’s in God’s plan, then His will shall be done through this. Always know that we love you. Goodbye. Call me.
Makkai, this is Attorney Cross. Call me as soon as possible. Let’s meet first thing tomorrow. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
Chapter 41
“Defense, please call your first witness.”
A judge, bailiff, stenographer, attorney, plaintiff, defendant, a few unknown faces were sprinkled here and there … all of the usual suspects inside of the average looking superior courtroom in downtown Los Angeles. I’d asked Mom not to come, but she came anyway, sitting right behind me.
There I sat, next to my attorney while wearing my fifteen-hundred dollar Versace suit, looking like a million dollars but not worth anything more than the opinion of this judge.
“We call Mr. Carlos Jenkins.”
Attorney Cross had told me what the deal was with Carlos. Carlos stepped up and pledged to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He looked over and stared at Salina. She cut her eyes. He looked at me and nodded. I was not allowed to reply back in any way, so I nodded with my eyes. He nodded back with his.
“Mr. Jenkins, please tell us what happened the afternoon in question.”
“I talked to her that afternoon.”
“Her who?”
“Her.” He pointed at Salina who sat all alone on the other side in the front row. She was without her parents, without her husband, and without a friend.
My sharp and sophisticated attorney spoke. “Let the record show that the witness has pointed to the plaintiff, Mrs. Salina Alonzo Woodard.”
“Mr. Jenkins, please tell us what Mrs. Woodard said to you over the phone that day.”
“She said she was going to get him back that night.”
“Get who back?”
Carlos looked at me. “The defendant. Makkai Worthy.”
“And did she indicate how she was going to do that?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She was going to tell him that since Mr. Worthy and I, along with other men, have done her so wrong, that she was going to threaten to end it all and then make these allegations.”
“Allegations of what?”
“Of rape.”
Attorney Cross put his hand to his chin and regrouped. “What did you understand her to mean by the term rape?”
“That was her word. Not mine.”
“No more questions, Your Honor,” he told the judge.
The judge spoke to the D.A. “Ms. Chen. Your witness.”
She stood with confidence. “Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Jenkins, are you trying to get her back for rejecting your offer of a committed relationship? You wanted her to be your girlfriend, didn’t you?”
“I did suggest that, but she didn’t want it.”
“Then what did she want?”
“All that was on her mind was getting back at Makkai. As long as she could have him on a regular basis, she was fine, but once he no longer made time for her and got someone pregnant, she constantly talked about the fact that when her husband had gone after Makkai, he denied her. She said she wanted to get him back for acting like he didn’t know her.”
The young, short skirt-wearing Asian lawyer looked perplexed. “Why would she tell you all of this, Mr. Jenkins?”
“She thought Makkai Worthy and I were enemies. And, she thought I’d do anything for her. Because I told her I would.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to end my old ways and be with her. But, obviously I picked the wrong girl.”
Sarcasm owned her words. “Sorry about that, Mr. Jenkins. But, what do you think set her off? What could have possibly set her off to make up something as serious as this?”
“Me telling her that Makkai Worthy got some woman pregnant.”
“No more questions for this witness, Your Honor.” She shook her head like she was getting nowhere, or like this was just plain old ridiculous.
The prosecution called the two police officers who were at the scene. And then they called Salina herself.
She stood up and adjusted her classic black blazer. Her knee-length skirt was feminine and frilly. Her pearls were large and bright white. Her hair was pulled back into a curly ponytail. Her cheeks were rosy. Her lips were red. She looked credible, and she looked ready. She took slow steps and smiled at everyone along the way. She put her hand up and swore to not lie. She swore to not lie. She took her seat after she swore not to lie.
Ms. Chen started off. “Mrs. Alonzo Woodard, what happened the night in question that prompted you to call the police?”
Salina’s voice actually had a slight Spanish accent today. “Makkai Worthy came to my home to try and get back with me. He was jealous about me dating his best friend. He’d ended that friendship because Carlos was seeing me. And then he came by my home, uninvited, and forced himself on me.”
“What did he do?”
She simulated a motion of pulling on her own arm. “He grabbed me and scratched my arms, tore my clothes, jerked me around by my hair, and slapped me in the face. And then, when I lay still, about to pass out, he entered me and started yelling for me to come back to him.”
“Did anyone hear this happening?”
She clicked her tongue. “I don’t know.”
“Mrs. Alonzo Woodard, did you try to get back at him for the incident regarding your husband at the hospital?”
“No. I was over that. I even started dating him again.”
“So you did not want to have sex with him that night?”
“No.”
“Did you tell him no?”
“Yes. Over and over again.”
I leaned in toward my attorney, but he put his hand on my forearm. I sat back.
“So you didn’t want to have sex?”
“No. I was seeing Carlos Jenkins.”
“No more questions.” Ms. Chen took her seat, giving me a look I can’t explain.
“Your witness, Mr. Cross.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. Mrs. Woodard, so you’re saying you only sleep with one person at a time.”
Ms. Chen spoke up. “Objection.”
“Sustained. The defense’s comment will be stricken from the record. Mr. Cross, you are being warned that opinionated questions like that will not be tolerated.”
“Yes, Your Honor. Mrs. Woodard, were you trying to get even?”
“No.”
“Were you setting up Mr. Worthy because he got another woman pregnant?”
“No.”
“I see. L
et me ask you this. Do you have a prescription for any drugs used in the treatment of psychotic hallucinations?”
“No.” Salina looked at her attorney with question-marked eyes.
Ms. Chen jumped to her feet and spoke. “Do not answer any further, Mrs. Alonzo Woodard. Objection, Your Honor.”
My attorney continued, “Your Honor, I have a notarized letter here from Mrs. Woodard’s own husband stating that she receives regular medications from Mexico. Packages that contain Haldol and Zypreza. And he attached a letter from a Dr. Barber in Century City. He’s a psychiatrist. He diagnosed Mrs. Woodard with chronic schizophrenia nearly ten years ago. His diagnosis indicated that Mrs. Woodard has disordered thinking, similar to a split personality.”
“I do not.”
The judge spoke firmly. “Mrs. Woodard, you will remain silent until you are asked to respond to a question.”
Ms. Chen used her hands as she spoke. “Your Honor, this evidence was not disclosed. And besides, just because someone might have a mental illness does not mean they cannot be raped. No means no.”
My attorney replied, “While that might be true …”
Salina suddenly lost her accent and spewed words, pointing as she spoke. “While that might be true, Ms. Chen is the only one who gets this. I’ve been dealing with the fact that I can’t have children and he simply runs off and shoots his juice in someone else. And I heard she’s an old broad. See, all men are the fucking same. That foolish Dr. Barber, my tattletale, violent husband, this not-so-good doctor, Makkai, that sorry-ass attorney, and you, too, chauvinistic Mr. Judge. Olvídese todo usted.”
Ms. Chen pleaded, “Mrs. Woodard, please stop talking.”
The judge banged his gavel. “Mrs. Woodard, I will hold you in contempt of court.”
“I don’t care. I’ve already gotten him just like I warned him I would.” She squeezed her eyes at me as voices in the courtroom geared up.
The judge hit the gavel repeatedly. “Order in the court. Bailiff, please place Mrs. Woodard into custody.” He turned back to Salina. “I have asked you to remain quiet and you insist on disobeying my order. I’m holding you in contempt. Take her into custody now.”
Salina frowned intently and stood up. “Carlos, are you going to let them do this to me? I thought you were different and yet you still come in here telling them everything I told you. Screw you too, Carlos. I was falling in love with you.”
The defense and prosecution attorneys approached the bench as Salina, now totally speaking in Spanish, was led out.
Ms. Chen spoke up. “Your Honor. Obviously she is stressed from the incident in question, but we think her accusations of battery did occur. We’re willing to settle for a misdemeanor charge of battery and will drop the forcible rape charges if the defense agrees.”
“Ms. Chen. Are you deaf? Did you just hear Mrs. Woodard admit to setting this man up? The order of the court after his preliminary hearing is that there was not enough evidence to hold this case over for trial. I’m making note that these charges be dismissed. Both charges, Ms. Chen.” He looked over at me. “Have a nice day. Mr. Worthy, you are free to go.” I stood and nodded. “And Mrs. Woodard will remain in custody on contempt charges as well as being charged with filing a false police report.” He hit his gavel while shaking his head and exited the courtroom as everyone stood up.
Mr. Cross approached me with a handshake. “Mr. Worthy, you know you can fire back and sue her for slander and negative infliction of emotional distress.” We headed through the swinging doors toward the first row.
“Mr. Cross, I’m just glad to know she broke down at just the right time. You kept those letters to yourself, huh?”
“I should have entered them as evidence and made a full disclosure, but hey sometimes you take a risk in situations like this. Instability in witnesses is an attorney’s dream. I’m just surprised they called her to the stand.”
“Surprised and happy,” I said as my mom approached.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. “Hello, and thanks, Mr. Jenkins.” He and Carlos shook hands.
“Hey there. No problem,” Carlos replied as the attorney walked away.
Carlos touched my back as I hugged my mom. “Hey man. Hey Mrs. Cotton.”
“Hello, Carlos. Thanks so much, honey.” Mom hugged him and rocked him back and forth.
“Yes, thanks.” I shook his hand, too … the brotha handshake with a shoulder tap.
“No thanks required. The truth is what it is. And, through all the years, you’ve been my boy. I couldn’t let you go out like that.”
“I see that. I appreciate it.”
“Though it looks like you didn’t even need me with a sharp attorney like that.”
“No, we did. It all helped.”
“Good. Well, I’ll talk to you later, partner. Gotta get to work.”
“For sure.”
I hugged my mom again, feeling the weight lifted from my shoulders. “As soon as Mr. Cross tells us I can go, let’s get out of here. I’ve got to return some calls.”
That night, I sat back on my lounger, sipping on cognac, with “Family Affair,” by Sly and the Family Stone, dancing through the surround sound stereo speakers. I had made a point of scheduling the security company to come by to fix my driveway gate so that an access code would once again be needed to get in. I’d even changed the code again just for peace of mind.
Through my sliding glass door I had a full view of my side yard. Everywhere I looked I saw greenery and shrubbery and flowers and bushes and orange trees, and in between each of those, blue skies and cottony white clouds were threaded here and there.
Here I was, not even forty yet, living the life, making a good amount of money, healthy and strong, with all that I could have imagined when I was young. The very field that greeted me back in the day every morning in Wildwood contained maybe three leafless, fruitless trees that took up barely one one-hundredth of the yard space. Dirt covered the earth and bits of broken rocks crunched beneath the soles of my young feet. I’d dreamed of owning land with lush green trees. I’d forgotten about that dream until today. Today I had dozens and dozens that surrounded my property. Something so simple suddenly meant so much.
How in the heck did I manage to scoot by that rape charge crap? That could have meant the end of my career. My mother always said that you can’t get changed until you draw near. And that you will never have a testimony without a test. That God will put you through certain situations so that you seek Him out and desire to get to know Him better. I’d hoped that my situations were done. He knew, and I knew, that I needed to slow down.
Speaking of slowing down, I needed a little escape, and some new scenery, so the upcoming reunion was right on time. For the moment, I wanted to listen to my Stevie CD next, but as I pressed the remote to change CDs the radio came on and Jesus Is My Help seeped from the speakers and absorbed my soul. I tell you where my help cometh. It cometh from the Lord.
I closed my eyes and tuned out the final ring of my home phone. I heard my own voice in the background.
Can’t answer the phone right now. Leave a message.
Makkai Worthy. It’s Lois Taylor. I got your message. Congratulations. See you at work when you get back from your weekend away. It hasn’t been the same without you. Glad everything worked out well. Okay. Goodbye.
And right there is where I rested all night long. A restful, uninterrupted eight hours of sleep. I could have sworn that for the first time in a while, I actually woke up with a smile on my face.
Chapter 42
Back to life. The day of my flight to Florida had arrived. I knew this was going to be interesting. First of all, there was a whole group of my dad’s offspring who wouldn’t come just because they’ve been brainwashed to hate him due to what their mothers have had to say about him, branding him a dog for life. And he is, but they’ll never get a chance to experience the other members of this family, their lineage and their blood, who are pretty cool. It seems as though my sister
and I were the only kids of his who actually got to live with him, if that can be considered a good thing. He married my mom, and then married a woman who couldn’t have kids, the one who took my virginity, or should I say the one my dad gave it to, Erskalene. I was off the plane and inside of my dad’s house in no time. An oldies radio station played “Back Down Memory Lane,” by Minnie Riperton.
“Come on in, Makkai. It’s good to see you. We have a room all ready for you, so just make yourself at home.” Erskalene pointed down the hall.
The small house seemed even smaller now. The wallpaper with the small palm trees Mom had in the living room was replaced by dark blue paint, and the beige furniture with the plastic slipcovers was now powder blue. The shag rugs were pulled up, exposing the run-down strips of hardwood, covered by small circular throw rugs here and there. Near the living room window where the cane and bamboo rocking chair was that my mother used to sit in while she’d wait for my dad to come home, now served as the spot for two recliners, each mixed with fifty shades of blue. Blue was Dad’s favorite color.
I said to myself, Make myself at home? This was my home. And that was my room. “No, I’m staying at the Marriott next door to where the reunion is. But, thanks.”
Dad spoke up, walking with his cane at a slow pace, coming from the bathroom. He now stood with an arched back. He had less hair on his head and fewer teeth in his mouth. And he looked a whole lot shorter than he used to.
“Son, now you know you can stay right here. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you have to blow it. This is precious time, having you here. You need to spend time with your old pops. I’m not getting any younger, you know. This could be the last time you see me.”
There he goes again. “Dad, you’re not going anywhere. You’re going to outlive us all.”
“That would be a lot of outliving,” Erskalene joked. “Did your dad tell you that his ten-year-old son is coming?” she asked me. Which I thought was strange being that she’d been living with my dad for over twenty years.
“He couldn’t make it after all,” Dad told her, almost sounding relieved.
Neither Erskalene nor I replied to his statement.
Dr. Feelgood Page 21