Love's Call

by Jala Summers

  After a day with her father, Liana had been completely drained. She’d asked Kyle to take her back to her home that night, right after the visit. Kyle felt she needed some time alone and some space, so he’d returned to his own place.

  When the laptop had powered up, Kyle clicked to access his work e-mail. He didn’t see any new messages, and minimized the window. And since the laptop was open and powered up, he went to check his personal e-mail as well.

  Kyle opened the window and noticed that he’d received a new message. But when he saw the name Shaila in the sender field, he cringed. Kyle moved his mouse over, tempted to just hit delete. There really wasn’t anything that Shaila could need to tell him that was of any significance to him. But curiosity got the best of him and he opened the message.

  It read, Kyle, I’ve been trying to reach you, but it seems you’re ignoring me. Please answer my call. I need to talk to you.

  He wondered, What the hell could she have to tell me that’s so important? His mind ran through all of the possibilities and now he had to admit that a part of his interest had been piqued.

  What could she possibly want after being gone for nearly a year? Their divorce had just been finalized only months ago, and up until now she hadn’t tried to contact him at all. In fact, in the early stages of their separation, she’d avoided all of his calls.

  He then clicked on the Trash button, selecting to delete the email. He didn’t want to crowd his mind with thoughts of Shaila and whatever selfish thing it was that she wanted. Now, he was concerned about Liana and her mental state after visiting her dying father. He reached over to grab the phone that lay on the counter next to his laptop and dialed Liana’s number.

  Her voice was weak when she answered. “Hello?”

  “Lia, hey, how are you feeling?”

  “I’m just wiped out.” He believed her, because he could hear it in her voice--the way she spoke so slowly and sounded so distant. “I don’t think I have the energy to talk right now, though Kyle.”

  He understood that she didn’t feel like speaking to anyone, not even him, right now. “Okay, Lia, you get some rest. Try to relax.”

  “Okay, ‘night.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Shaila sat outside of Kyle’s condo in a sedan that she’d rented from a rental car company at the airport.

  It was the day after she’d sent an email asking him to return her call, and she’d yet to hear anything from him. She’d already booked a ticket out to Houston to see him the week before, and didn’t want to cancel now, even if he was avoiding her at every turn. She would just have to take a chance, she figured, and surprise him.

  She looked at the glowing green numbers on the car’s dashboard. It was six o’clock. She’d been sitting outside of his place for at last an hour now, and the longer she waited, the more nervous she became.

  She didn’t know if he would even be willing to listen to anything she had to say, and her palms grew sweaty thinking about it.

  Nearly a year ago, Kyle had found out that she’d been having an affair with his best friend, Craig and had kicked her out of the home that Kyle and Shaila shared together. And even though she had been the person in the wrong, she had been angry over how he’d humiliated her and forced her to leave their home.

  She moved into a place of her own with money she had stashed away in a secret savings account, and soon after, she had been able to convince Craig to leave his wife and move out of their home as well.

  Things had gone well for Craig and Shaila in the beginning, and the first month after kicking her out, when Kyle had tried to call her, she wanted him to suffer and be humiliated the way she had been. She never answered or returned any of his calls. She couldn’t help but think now that she was getting her payback, as she sat outside in her car, waiting for Kyle to get home.

  ***

  Though life seemed perfect for her and Craig in the early days of their new relationship, after they’d left their marriages, things quickly went downhill. Craig had become hostile, and they seemed to argue and fight all of the time. Craig was resentful of her not working, something that she later realized, Kyle had never complained about. And he accused her of spending way too much of his money. Again, that was never the way Kyle had made her feel about the money in their joint account. Never, in her entire marriage to Kyle, had he called it his money.

  It wasn’t long before the newness of Shaila and Craig’s relationship had worn off. And he no longer even looked at her the way he used to. She began to feel like an old toy that a child had grown weary of, and tossed aside in search of a new, shinier toy. Whatever it was about her that had fascinated Craig during their affair seemed to have faded now.

  Craig had begun arriving home late. At first, he gave excuses, “I was out at dinner with coworkers,” or “I had to finish up some contracts,” or “A client requested a late showing.”

  But it wasn’t long before he didn’t even take the time to give an excuse anymore. He’d just walk into the house, right past her and toward the kitchen, looking for something to eat.

  When she’d confront him about it, he’d deflect and change the subject. He’d tell her it was his business, and she needed to stop nagging him about where he’d been. Or he’d turn it around on her and play the victim, complaining that he’d worked all day, and she’d done nothing, yet she still couldn’t have a meal prepared for him when he came home.

  And the final fight that had prompted her to give Kyle a call for the first time last week had ended in Craig moving out of their place.

  He’d come home at three o’clock in the morning, and slipped into their bed. She was wide awake when he’d climbed next to her in bed. She hadn’t been able to sleep that night because she was too preoccupied with the fact that this was the third night that week that he came home well into the wee hours of the morning.

  She’d reached up to turn on the lamp next to her bed and he groaned. “Turn it off. I’m going to sleep.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re going to tell me whose house you were at and why you felt the need to stay there until three in the damn morning.”

  Craig rolled over onto his side, turning his back to her. “Go to sleep, Shaila.”

  She was incensed. He’s not blowing me off that easy, she thought. The blow to his head hit him with such great force, that he was jarred out of his drowsy state, and jumped in alarm. He turned to see Shaila’s angered expression. She dived toward him and continued to slap, punch and kick wildly. Eventually, he was able to grab both of her hands to confine her, but she didn’t stop flailing her legs around like an insane woman.

  He tossed her back onto the bed and hurried to his feet, to get away from her. He snatched his pants and shirt from the spot on the dresser where he’d thrown them when he’d arrived home. He moved out of the bedroom.

  “What you’re not going to do,” she said, as she followed him out of the room, “is ignore me, damnit.” Kyle slid into his pants and shirt and was pulling his shoes on.

  “You’re one crazy ass, woman, you know that? I don’t know how Kyle even put up with you as long as he did. He’s better than me, I can tell you that. Because I’m not doing it anymore.” He looked at her, “I’m gone.”

  “What...what are you talking about?”

  “I’m gone, like I said,” he went to grab his keys from the kitchen counter, and headed toward the front door. “You want to know who I was with? My wife.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, we’ve been trying to work on things, and to tell you the truth, I realize now that I fucked up when I got involved with you. And hey, she’s willing to give me another chance, so I’m taking it.” The door slammed shut behind him. Shaila collapsed onto the cold tile floor, still in shock over how quickly everything had changed.

  ***

  Shaila smiled when she saw Kyle pull up in his silver Toyota Camry. Still the same old Kyle, she thought, as she watched him pull his briefcase out of hi
s car, open the front door of his condo and disappear inside, shutting the door behind him. She hoped that he really was the same old Kyle that she’d known before, and that he’d be willing to hear her out and consider taking her back.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The doorbell rang only minutes after Kyle had arrived home. He wondered if it was Liana stopping by to surprise him after work. He was beginning to enjoy her surprises, and grinned at the thought of her recent surprise in her lacy white chemise.

  But when he peeked out of the curtains next to the front door and saw Shaila standing there, he felt his breath catch in his throat. What the hell? That was one surprise he’d never expected to see in a million years.

  He considered ignoring her and just letting her stand out there. That would teach her a lesson to not just show up at people’s houses, unexpected and uninvited.

  But then he thought better, and figured, if he gave her a minute to say whatever it was she needed to say once and for all, she would finally leave him alone. As much as he knew she deserved to be ignored, she’d come a long way from Atlanta, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it, despite what she’d done to him in the past.

  He opened the door. “Well hello, Kyle,” she said, her eyes shining as she smiled up at him.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I just needed to talk to you. And since it seems no other mode of communication is working, I figured that this may be the only way to get to you.”

  He stepped to the side, allowing her to enter his home.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “How did you find out where I live?”

  She pretended to be coy with him. “Well, you know I have my ways, Kyle. I always find a way to get what I want.”

  “What is it that you could possibly have to say that would bring you across states, all the way here to Houston, to tell me?”

  Shaila moved closer to him and reached out to touch his chest. She let her finger run down from his chest to his waist. But he pushed her hand away as she tried to inch it down further, past his belt. “Don’t play, Shaila. Craig’s done with you, isn’t he?”

  Her expression grew stony and she turned her back to Kyle so he couldn’t see the pain on her face. She spoke quietly. “No,” she lied. She straightened her face, and plastered on a fake smile before turning back around to look at Kyle. “But I’m done with him.”

  He sat on the couch in the living area, shaking his head. “I don’t believe you. I know Craig, and he grows bored quickly. Not to mention, he’s quite the ladies’ man. But I’m sure you know that by now.”

  His words stung and she blinked rapidly, trying to gain composure. He was throwing her off with his words, and this wasn’t going as she’d planned it in her head. He seemed so detached now. He was nothing like the Kyle she used to know. His demeanor, the way he spoke to her. Almost like he just didn’t care anymore.

  She tried again, and moved to sit next to him on the couch. She sat close enough that her leg brushed against his. Kyle rose from the couch and walked to the other side of the room. She sighed. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for all I did to you. I was caught up in the lies and the excitement and I wasn’t in my right mind.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” he replied.

  She continued. “I know I messed up bad with you and I just want to ask you to give me another chance. I still love you, and I think that maybe deep down you still love me too.”

  He shook his head vehemently. “Actually, no Shaila, you’re wrong. There is nothing left, not on the surface, or even deep down. I can promise you that. I’m done. I’ve been done for a long time now.”

  Her shoulders slumped as he spoke, and each of his words felt like bricks of reality being thrown at her.

  “You know, you did me a favor by ignoring me, and not answering my calls when we first separated. I’d hate to think what would have happened if you’d entertained me, in the state of mind that I was in back then. I would probably be with you, right now, miserable, in a life of hell with you. No thank you, Shaila. I don’t want any of that. Life is good for me now. Better than it ever was when I was with you.”

  Shaila was quiet a moment, and then rose to her feet. She walked toward the front door. “Well, then I guess there is nothing else left for me to say,” she said, as she stood in front of him. But she didn’t believe he was completely over her. Not yet, not with how madly in love with her he was before in their marriage. She pushed her body against his and lifted her head, planting a deep kiss on his lips. Kyle squirmed out of her grip and pushed her away. He wiped at his mouth, “What the hell?! You need to leave, now!”

  She was insulted by his disgust, and she pushed her shoulders back, proud and indignant. “Fine, Kyle. If that’s how you want to do this, then fine.” She moved to the door and opened it, letting herself out.”

  Kyle closed and locked the door behind her and hoped that was enough to ensure she’d leave him alone for good.

  ***

  Liana had pulled up into the parking lot of Kyle’s condo next to his silver Camry. Good, he’s home, she thought. She had felt awful for how she’d pushed him away the night before when he was only trying to be helpful after her visit with her father. She’d decided to stop by his place to thank him for his support and spend a little time with him that evening.

  When she got out of her car and walked up the sidewalk that led to Kyle’s condo, she noticed Kyle’s door slam closed behind a strange woman. The woman pushed past her, her face screwed up in an angry expression.

  Liana continued to walk toward Kyle’s front door and noticed the woman looking at her from behind the wheel of her car in the parking lot. The woman started the car and drove off, and Liana watched the rental car until it drove out of her sight. She rang Kyle’s doorbell. He pulled the door open quickly, his face also upset. “What do you…” he started, but then stopped when he saw Liana standing there.

  He reached down to hug her, “Oh, baby, I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.” He pulled her inside the condo and stole a glance out at the parking lot. He didn’t see any sign of Shaila anywhere.

  “Who was that?” Liana asked when he closed the door.

  “Who?”

  “The woman who just left your place? I saw her practically running to her car, upset.”

  “That was Shaila.”

  “You mean your ex-wife, Shaila?”

  “Yeah, that’s the one.”

  “Why was she here? Doesn’t she live in Atlanta?”

  “Yeah, she does. I’d been ignoring her calls, and she took it upon herself to invite herself over to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “About how much she messed up. I guess she wanted to see if she could weasel her way back in. I’m sure Craig was tired of her, and since she didn’t have another man waiting in the wings, she decided to come this way.” He shrugged, not interested in discussing Shaila anymore. He bent down to kiss her lips. “But why are you here, Miss Lia?”

  “I…I wanted to apologize for how I acted last night. I know I was a little short with you, and…”

  He wrapped his arms around her in an embrace, and kissed her forehead. “No, don’t apologize. I wasn’t offended. I know what you’re going through.”

  She sank into his arms. But she couldn’t shake the questions that invaded her mind now about Kyle and Shaila.

  ***

  Later that night, Liana clicked through the pages of the document that she had pulled up on Kyle’s laptop. She’d asked to borrow his laptop in order to access contracts for a client who was in the process of selling his home.

  Liana was scrolling through the paperwork for one last check to make sure that everything looked correct, when she noticed a chat window open up and pop up, covering the lower right half of the page she was reading. She minimized the window, without looking at it, and continued to read over the document. Seconds later, the window popped up again, with a new message. But this time she could s
ee an image in the dialog box. When she saw the familiar face, she couldn’t ignore it anymore. She scrolled down to see Shaila, posed in a chair, in a sexy manner, completely naked. She quickly minimized the chat box.

  Liana couldn’t breathe, and stared blankly ahead at the document on the laptop screen. Then she heard the chime of Kyle’s phone and looked over to see him move to the end of his seat on the couch to pick up his phone from the coffee table and look at the display.

  His eyes grew huge, and then she noticed him press the button on the side of his phone, lowering the volume. Putting it on vibrate, she assumed. She closed her documents, and stood to her feet. “Hey, I gotta go, Kyle.” She walked quickly toward his front door.