The Sweet Road Back

by Jacki Kelly

  “Melissa, I can’t. Not tonight. I’ve got an appearance to make.”

  Her face clouded, and for one brief moment, he thought she was going to cry. Seeing her unhappy made his chest tighten. She spun towards the door. “Before my shoes?”

  “I’m afraid so. We’ll have to go shopping for them another day. Maybe tomorrow.” He wanted his tone to soften her disappointment. But hoping she’d see he would rather be with her than hanging out for publicity was like trying to fill a bucket of water with a thimble.

  “Sure, Darius.” Icicles dripped from her voice. “I’ve got a million of your promises just waiting to be fulfilled.

  Chapter Three

  The limousine slowed in front of the private club. From the darkened interior of the car, Darius saw women who all looked the same, standing in line to get inside. Pretty women all eager and excited to dance, or drink, or meet one of the new and upcoming musicians. From the other side of the street, camera bulbs flashed like twinkling lights.

  With a deep breath, he stepped out and flashed the megawatt smile he had perfected for his fans. Hearing the roar of his name never got old. A shot of adrenaline raced through him like a strike of lightening, giving him the juice he needed to get through the night.

  “You’re late,” Dan said as they walked into the dark club. Without waiting for a reply, Dan shoved a pen in his hand.

  “I think you forget I have a life. One I used to really enjoy. I thought I was going to spend an evening with my wife before you interrupted my plans. I also have a release I’m trying to finish in two weeks.” Darius signed the palm of a young woman who looked like she should be at home finishing her homework.

  “You can complain when you have the contract for the movie deal.”

  Darius scribbled his initials on papers and cocktail napkins shoved in front of him as they made their way to the second tier. Before taking a seat in the circular leather booth, a server popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and handed him a glass.

  “I hope Melissa understands about tonight.” Dan surveyed the room. “As you can see, tonight all eyes are on you. If she had showed up, then everyone would be focusing on that young rapper who still needs his mama to wipe his nose.” Dan used his chin to point across the room where an entourage of young men sat in a similar booth and surveyed the dance floor below.

  Darius gulped the sparkling wine and refilled the glass before replying. “She’s made it quite clear she won’t play my girlfriend any longer. She wants all or nothing, and the way I’ve been pushing her lately, she’s closer to taking the nothing route.”

  “Talk to her so she’ll understand how small of a sacrifice this isto make for your passion. We need to make sure you stay relevant. Having your name and pictures in social media or on the print pages just means more dollars in the bank.”

  “We talk plenty and thank you for staying out of my personal life. I don’t need your help with my marriage.”

  Dan grinned, flashing his chemically whitened teeth. “Yeah, okay. Anyway, about getting you in the papers…” He tapped the base of his glass. “Are you having an affair I can leak to the press, or how about a DUI?”

  Darius turned away. The same conversation came up every time they got together. The only thing Dan found interesting was how much money he could put in his account.

  From across the room, a petite woman with warm brown coloring and long, platinum-blonde hair winked at him. She ran her tongue over her glossy lips without breaking eye contact. She could have been a cover model, a stripper, or even a lioness, from the distance it was hard to tell.

  Darius returned his attention to Dan. “What’s the plan for this evening? I’m not staying long.”

  “You just got here; you can’t leave yet. I’m expecting some studio brass to show up later this evening. Smile at the ladies, make them feel special. You know the routine.”

  “Do I need to be here for such a trivial discussion? Isn’t that why I pay you a commission?” He drained his glass.

  “They like to see what they’re buying.” Dan grinned.

  “I didn’t know we were selling me.”

  Without commenting, Dan slid out of the booth and disappeared in the crowd. Darius examined the room. At thirty-three, he had to be one of the oldest men in the club. This should have been fun, but without Melissa seated beside him, it was about as fun as a blizzard in July.

  A yawn gathered in the back of his throat. As he worked to suppress it, the leggy feline with the unnatural hair color slinked across the room and dropped into the seat next to him.

  “We’re not keeping you awake, are we?” She pursed her lips and reached for his champagne. After swallowing the contents, leaving her lipstick imprinted on the crystal, she set the glass down in front of him with a thump.

  “No. It’s just been a long night. I’m working a lot of hours, so I’m a little drained.” He eased the wine flute away from him to the middle of the table.

  “Yes, I know. I can’t wait for your new album to come out. My name is Bambi, by the way.” She purred like a kitten and leaned closer to him. Her dewy, smooth cleavage nearly spilled out of her top. The intoxicating sexuality she transmitted was nauseating. She was trying too hard. By the time she reached thirty, she’d have nothing left.

  “You’re kidding me, right? Were you named after a strip star or are you getting on the pole tonight?” He looked over her head for Dan. Whether Dan came back or not, in less than five minutes, he planned to leave.

  Bambi slid closer and placed her hand on top of his while her other hand slid to his crotch. While pressing her breasts against his arm, flash bulbs popped, blinding him for several seconds.

  “Shit.” He drew away from Bambi.

  Bambi slid out of the booth and was half-way across the room before he fished some bills out of his wallet and dropped them on the table. Several patrons had turned their attention to the commotion and were taking pictures with their cell phones. Heat started at the base of his spine and migrated up his back, igniting every hair on his body before settling around his neck. He released the button on his collar and glared around the packed club.

  “Hey, where are you going?” Dan rushed him.

  “You set me up, didn’t you?”

  “What? It’s just a few pictures.”

  He grabbed Dan by the sleeve of his expensive jacket. “I told you I’m not doing this kind of childish shit anymore. You’re fucking with my marriage, and I won’t allow anyone to mess within my personal business. Either get with the program or I’ll find someone who will.” Flashbulbs continued to pop.

  “Calm down, Darius. I did it for you,” Dan said, before sitting. “Besides, we’ve got a contract. Ironclad.”

  Darius stood five inches taller than Dan. He stepped around the table and bent so close to Dan, he could see the pores around his nose. With his finger pointed, he said, “I don’t give a rat’s ass about a contract. I’ve broken bad ones before and I’ll do it again. You don’t want to mess with me, Dan,” he said through clenched teeth. “I might be new to the music industry, but don’t think I’m a chump. It won’t end pretty. You can bank on my words.”

  ****

  Melissa switched off the television and stared at the black screen. If her sisters could see her now, they’d shake their heads in disbelief. The fierce-talking, get-to-the-point Melissa was mired in mud and couldn’t fight her way out. Giving direct advice was a lot easier than taking it.

  She swung her legs off the couch and padded into the kitchen. The clock on the microwave read 11:00 p.m. Too early to go to bed and too late to go out for dinner. She surveyed the mess, which only seemed to get worse. Cooking was out of the question; there wasn’t a clean dish left in the cabinet. After calling her favorite pizza joint, she dialed Pam’s cell phone number.

  “Tell me you’re out having a good time,” she said to her best friend.

  “I wish. I’ve got my pajamas on and I’m reading a book. Ain’t that a helluva way to spend Saturda
y night?”

  “I was watching a dating reality show. I think we’re tied for pathetic.”

  “Where’s Darius?”

  “He went to some event. Again, I wasn’t invited. I should start a club for abandoned wives of famous people.” The silly joke only made her feel worse.

  “Sorry about your situation, sweetie.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I won’t be doing this much longer. Anyway, what’s this about you moving to Philly? Are you going to leave me, too?”

  “I’ll leave my heart in San Francisco, but I’m taking my butt to the east coast. I need a change. Maybe I’ll pull myself out of this blue funk when I’m away from all the memories Steve and I made together here. At least I can hope a change of scenery will help.”

  The doorbell rang. “My pizza is here. I better go. When you move, get a place big enough for me to have a room. I might be joining you pretty soon.”

  “Not if you know what I know. Find a way to make it work. Darius has a good heart and you still love him.”

  “We’ll talk.” Melissa disconnected the call and fished twenty dollars from her purse to pay for her meal. When she settled at the kitchen island and opened the box, the rich aroma of melted cheese and Canadian bacon filled her nostrils as she pulled out a slice.

  Before she could take a bite, the dog began scratching at his crate.

  “Did the smell wake you up?” She slid off the stool and glared into the dog’s big, brown eyes. “Why don’t you come out?” She released the latch. He ran out and licked her cheek.

  “We aren’t friends, but you can keep me company tonight. Just don’t think about peeing in the house.”

  She returned to her seat and sniffed the slice of pizza before taking a bite. The hot cheese felt good in her mouth, but it tasted bland. She took another bite. This was her favorite indulgence and her favorite toppings. It should have tasted better and made her happy. Her shoulders slumped as she closed the lid on the box.

  “Since I can’t eat my dinner, I might as well drink my dinner. What do you think?” she asked the dog, before pulling a bottle of Merlot from the wine refrigerator and popping the cork.

  She rolled the wine glass between her palms. Maybe drinking could fill all the empty hours stretching in front of her. Mim would say, ‘you can’t find happiness in the bottom of a bottle’. But Mim didn’t know everything. She couldn’t, she only graduated from high school. Melissa had her beat by six additional years of college and grad school. Plus, Mim never had such good wine. The closest Mim came to libations was a hot toddy to fend off a cold.

  Melissa’s intention was not to wait up for Darius. But the more she drank, the more the anger piled on. It had nothing to do with the shoes. His attitude sucked. Stardom must have crowded out his common sense, or maybe he didn’t want a small-town girl anymore. His universe catered to him. Like a fading star, she no longer held the coveted position as his prize anymore.

  She pulled a tissue from the pocket of the robe and dabbed the tears. She shoved it back with a promise. Enough feeling sorry for herself, it was time to do something different.

  The slamming front door jarred her back to reality. The dog scrambled to his feet, ran to the entrance, and started to bark. From her position in the kitchen, she heard Darius greet the puppy. The dog’s claws clicked on the tiled kitchen floor as he strolled back released a rousing yawn, and then sat at her feet.

  “Some watch-dog you’re going to make. I don’t think there’s much need for barking after the person is in the house,” she said.

  Darius was home early. The action in the club must not have met his expectations or he’d still be there cheesing for the cameras.

  Darius entered the kitchen and stopped. His eyes registered surprise when they landed on her. In his black leather blazer, gray houndstooth vest and white shirt, he was mouth-watering gorgeous. “What are you doing up?”

  “Since when have I had to report to you?” She took another sip and held the liquid in her mouth several moments before swallowing. Now, she sounded bitter. She set the glass down and shook her head to change her attitude. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “How much have you had to drink?” He placed her wine glass in the kitchen sink. “What’s going on?”

  She reached around him for the glass and swallowed the last of the wine. “What are you now, my father?”

  He flopped into the chair.

  “Why are you home so early? Wasn’t the club exciting?” she asked.

  “I don’t feel like fighting with you tonight.” She detected exhaustion in his voice.

  “Then there is something we both agree on.” She took the chair opposite him. “So, you didn’t answer me. Why are you back so early?”

  “Dan pulled another one of his stunts.” He opened a bottle of energy drink and took a swallow.

  “What was it this time? Did he prop you behind a table to sign autographs all night?” She giggled. Maybe he was right about her being drunk.

  He ran his palm over his face. “There may be pictures tomorrow or pictures in the next addition of the gossip rags.”

  One of her fluffy slippers tumbled from her foot and dropped to the floor. There wasn’t much fuzz left on the tip. Time to buy new ones. Her relationship with her shoes was better than the relationship with her husband. The thought should have made her sad, instead, it only numbed the anger rolling in her stomach since he’d dropped her off like a sack of laundry.

  “Okay, Darius. I know I’m going to be sorry I asked this question, but what pictures?” She drew a deep breath, hoping he’d say something that wouldn’t cut her right down the middle.

  He sighed. “In the club, Dan set it up. Some stripper chick and me.”

  “And what were the two of you doing? Kissing, making out?”

  “Neither. And I’ll handle it.” His chair scraped against the floor as he stood.

  She squeezed her eyes tight to block out the vision. His nonchalance was as abrasive as what might greet her on the front page of the paper. Where did you get the backbone to ignore your husband kissing someone else?

  Instead of letting him walk away, anger pushed her to pick a fight with him. Tonight, he couldn’t stroll in, drop ugly news on her, and then saunter away as if it meant nothing.

  “And what do you suggest I do in the meantime, hide out in the basement? Pretend it never happened? Should I look the other way, hoping anyone who knows me doesn’t see those photos? You’ve made me a laughing stock again.”

  “I said I’ll handle it, Melissa, and I will.”

  “You said the same thing when he pushed me aside last year at the awards ceremony so you’d get photographed alone. And the time before that when you were convinced showing up at the festival with me on your arm wasn’t a good idea.”

  “I get it, Melissa. Do you think I don’t know what’s going on here?” His voice was tight, like he was trying to control his emotions.

  She couldn’t stop now. Mim always preached ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything’. But tonight, he needed to see her pain. No more pretending she could handle this life. “I don’t think you do. If you did, Dan would be gone by now.”

  His eyes narrowed, riveting her to the stool. “I said I can take care of it and I will. I’m going to bed.” He peeled off his jacket and walked out of the room.

  Moments later, the sound of his record player drifted into the kitchen. Listening to oldies meant he was trying to unwind. The old Jeffrey Osborne love song mellowed her mood too. Even though she didn’t want to, her body swayed to the melody.

  Chapter Four

  Melissa woke up feeling sluggish. She extracted the handheld mirror from the nightstand drawer to stare at the puffy, dark circles under her eyes. The ugly truth stared back at her. She pressed the pad of her index finger against the thin skin. Today would require a heavy slathering of cover-up. Just another indicator she wasn’t doing a good job of managing her situation.

  She wanted to claim her life, he
r emotions, her marriage, so she could feel normal again. It was time to break free from the cocoon restricting her.

  Darius was happy to be married to his music sheets and the hundreds of drooling female fans who multiplied every night. She brushed the soggy tissues from the bed into the wicker wastebasket before pulling the sheet and comforter up to her chin.

  No matter what her heart wanted, she refused to live this sham another day. Tossing and turning every night couldn’t be good for her and did nothing to improve her emotional state either. But the finality of ending their marriage was too painful. There weren’t any words from Mim to comfort her through this.

  She threw back the covering and crawled out of bed. Today was just as good as any to make a change. Getting in the shower, she adjusted the water temperature to cool the shock of the hot spray.

  The perfect dress to see a lawyer would never be found on the cover of Vogue or Lucky magazine, so the royal blue, simple sheath was as good as any. She slipped on her favorite pair of black pumps and made her way downstairs without taking the time to put on makeup or even checking her reflection in the mirror. It was enough to be fully dressed.

  Darius had left the house at eight, just as the temperature began to creep up. From the bedroom, she’d heard him talking on the phone and playing with his puppy. Since their run-in two weeks ago, they had exchanged a total of twenty words. She’d kept count.

  The kitchen remained the same. At least something in the house was consistent. Even the smell was the same. Instead of eating at home, anything from the corner deli sounded better.

  She released the dog from his cage and rubbed his chin. He placed his paw on her shoe. The warmth from his soulful eyes calmed her. But getting attached to him would only make leaving San Francisco harder. She scratched his head. “At least you like me, don’t you?”

  She picked up the phone and dialed Asa’s number. Talking to her sister was like taking a Valium.

  “Hey, Melissa,” Asa responded to her greeting.

  “Do you remember how Mom used to tell us to partner well, our lives depended on it? The three of us would roll our eyes every time she recited that mantra. But now I get it. I had no idea the man I married would impact my health, my wealth, my lineage, or my location. Just thinking about it all is so exhausting.” She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until she panted.