Chapter Twenty-Seven

After a journey that seemed to never end, they finally arrived at their destination. It looked like their retro truck drew quite an attention with all the noise that came with it.

“Seriously where did you get this clunker from, Todd?” Mitch hurled their suitcases out from the back. 

“Careful, she’s sensitive,” Todd patted it gently.

“You got that right,” Keisha muttered under her breath. 

“She has a name, guys. She’s called Shirley,” he added with glee.

“Oh great. It has a gender and a human name,” Mitch shook his head at his friend’s caper. 

“How did you get this though?”

“Glad you asked. The former owner of Wordscapes church gave it to me as a parting gift. He said he was done farming and didn’t want to be around anything that has to do with it,” Todd jumped off the wheels.

“The former pastor was a farmer and that generous?” Mitch thought for a moment.

“Not a pastor but apart from that you got everything right. I didn’t start life with that Buick, you know.”

“And to clear all other questions, Wordscapes church is a converted garage. That space was a production zone for lettuce and carrots. Pretty much like the Looney tunes food supply unit, if you ask me.” Todd jested.

Keisha gave up at the mention of Looney Tunes. She swung her bag on her shoulder and took off first to meet Laureen before the others. 

“But why didn’t you take the Buick? We would have had a better ride.” 

The reply to that was in the laughter Todd gave after that. Why would he bring his little lassie to such rocky grounds?

“While I have a good reason for not bringing Chelsea along, are you sure this isn’t your best ride experience so far?” He gave him a coy smile. Mitch averted his eyes not wanting to be caught with his flushed face. 

“I’ll check if I’ve left nothing in there,” he went behind the truck to see what he might find.

“You can look all you want bro, but I know what you’re really looking forward to, man.  I’m just looking to see,” he quipped. 

“That doesn’t even flow, Todd.”

“But you understood it,” he chuckled.

****

Dave remained indoors in the room he was given, telling Laureen he didn’t feel too well. She agreed to let him stay the night but he had to think of another excuse for tomorrow. 

Keisha strutted in as her usual gait was and made her way to the main reception desk. It was hard to not notice the surreptitious stares all around her but she wasn’t going to pay them any mind. She tapped on the counter bell and waited. One of the guys who was already there approached her with quite some confidence she found disturbing.

“And what would a pretty damsel be doing on this side of town unaccompanied?” he slowly ran his finger along her arm and grabbed her hand, planting a soft kiss on it. She jerked a little and slipped her hand from his, not saying a word. 

“Excuse me?” he asked with a raised brow. Keisha gave him a scoffing smile and turned away, tapping the bell again. She felt the steam from his nostrils but she wasn’t going to be bothered with that. The guy looked her up all the way down, rewarding his eyes with the amazing figure this young lady had, not to speak of the perfect thin lips which lined her face. From the corner of her eye she saw how he moistened his lips with saliva and smirked at what he was possibly thinking. Judging from his scent, he must have had some whiskey. Why wasn’t she surprised? Most of the men she met all had that same friend which drove them to insanity all the time.

Where was Laureen, for goodness’ sake? Or even that annoying boss of hers. Did she have to be stuck with this silly billy  as her welcome? And why were the guys not in yet? Though she would not admit that she needed their help she really hoped they could just come and chase this drunk guy away from her.

“Aren’t you going to speak to me, hussy? I know all about you from Southern Street,” he leaned closer to her and she felt eyes stare at her from the distance, waiting to see what she’d do.

“One of Night Mare’s little doves,” he gibed. 

“Only you are not white at all,” he continued with his mockery. 

“Your breath stinks,” she hissed as she backed away from him. That caught him off guard and it didn’t look like he took it well. He  was about to take another step closer to her when the doors opened.

“Keisha? Do you have a problem?” Mitch left the suitcase at the entrance and walked over to where they stood.

“I’m alright,” she muttered. He cussed at her quietly, displeased at how intrepid she was. A little vulnerability here could go a long way to making a brother look good, he thought.

She on the other hand didn’t want to feel like the damsel in distress. She’d die before she asks for help. She took several steps behind so Mitch could face the guy fully.

“Any problem, sir?” He looked him straight in the face, ready for combat. Keisha took a seat on one of the bar stools ready for a show. 

Standing squarely with chest out and hands in pocket with an attitude, Todd knew it’d be best to put out the fire building between the two men. He had already spotted a few other men making eye contacts. If they were all to be on the same side, it’d be a tragedy.

“Erm… Mitch, I think there must be a little misunderstanding so you let’s stop this now and get back to booking our rooms, ok?” Reluctantly, he let it go and took a seat by Keisha while Todd sent the other man away. She noticed the darting eyes he shot at her as Todd took him out of her sight. She paid him a cloying smile and waved him.

“You should be careful around here,’

“Please, no need to sound all manly by telling me what to do,’ she cleared her throat in a rather mocking way. He paused his breath for a moment and exhaled. If he hadn’t, he would have had to wash his mouth after what he said.

“I’m just saying. This is outside town so there are a lot of crazy dudes out here,”

“And who cares about what should happen to me?” she raved.

“I do,” he said it before he realized he shouldn’t. He swore under his breath and turned away from her. He had just sparked something inside his body he wasn’t ready to entertain. The dauntless lady felt it too as she knuckled off the sweat that formed on her temple.

“But then again if it’s your aim to make a toast out of your life then be my guest,” he added.

“Why is Laureen not here yet,” she intoned, turning totally away from him and peering around to see. He found it strange. Ideally, she should be running her mouth off with the stay-away-from-me, leave-me-alone snide remarks but none of those dismissal notes came. Maybe his judgment about this girl was right, after all. He plastered a half smile on his face.

Moments later, Laureen walked in from the staff quarters with a hand on her belly. She was totally spent and looked it. 

“Keisha!” she said rather weakly when she wished to scream her lungs out.

“Laureen? What’s wrong with you?”

“Sorry Keisha… I had wanted to welcome you better. Have you been here long?” she straightened a bit.

“A little but it’s fine. What’s wrong with you?”

“I think it’s something I ate and perhaps a 42-hour rest…” she said with pained expression.

“But I thought you had workers now? Where is the other person?” She craned her head to see if she could find him.

“He’s down with a fever. Possibly in a worse state than me,” she took some water and bent to grab some towels and blankets for her. Todd and Mitch ambled over to their side and introduced themselves.

“Oh these must be your friends,” she welcomed them warmly with a handshake. 

“Sorry I wasn’t here sooner. Needed to take care of some business,” she chuckled. Todd told her not to worry and she in turn, handed them towels and blankets.

“So as I said earlier, we’re out of rooms but my colleague and I will be pleased to host you in our staff rooms if you don’t mind,” she mentioned, still refusing to address herself as the boss in charge or boss lady as they call it.

She took Keisha to her room and took the guys to Dave’s. They both shared the same hallway but positioned at either ends of the floor.

“Dave, our guests are here,” she announced in their hallway, making a stop at his door. The door opened a crack and the door chain was unhooked granting access. Laureen ushered for them to enter.

“Hey, are you better?” She entered and checked his temperature. He was all wrapped in a blanket ready for bed.

“I’m fine. Seriously, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m good,” Dave told her but she wasn’t convinced. 

“Let me fix you some tea, ok?” 

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to go through all that,” he added.

“But I don’t mind going through all that for you,” Laureen intoned but was still audible for all to hear. Mitch and Todd looked between them and figured if they should excuse them but to where? The hallway? When they were exhausted? They decided to feign ignorance and unpack as they still went on with their lovey dovey talks.

“Please let me, Dave,” she touched him lightly to which he nodded but awkwardly. She smiled and left the gents there.

He had to admit that he was touched by her kind gesture but if she was really falling for him, then that would be a whole different situation. 

When Dave’s attention finally shifted to his roommates,  he couldn’t help thinking about Keisha. He didn’t want to run into her in any way and with these two friends of hers with him, would he be able to stay away like he planned? Maybe he was finally becoming a man but he definitely didn’t have the guts to face his cousin just yet.

“Hello man, I’m Todd.” And he was always the one to break the silence. Dave took his hand with a smile.

“You must be very sick. Seeing how you even have a private nurse to your side,” he shoved him lightly on the shoulder. 

“The job here is crazy,” he coughed a bit. “And the weather has not been stable. We only have to rely on ourselves”. He tried to change where the conversation was going.

“It’s alright. I know a few tricks up my sleeve which can get you fired up in no time,” Todd winked at him and he in turn gave a nervous smile. He didn’t want any tricks up anywhere in any sleeves. Left to him, he would dash that sleeve to pieces. 

“Thanks but that’s alright. I was given two full days off so I should be fine in no time,” Dave countered.

“Two days? In here? Alone?” Todd paused and was mystified at the thought of it. For him two days cooped up in a small room was torture and would think of it the same way for others too.

“No, man. Once we’re here, we are going to let you have a real blast.  The fever might want to find a place to hide cos we’re going to ride Shirley and she’s going to rock the sickness out of you,” Mitch stared at his friend in a way that looked more dismaying than exciting. He took pity on the poor fella who was forced into a conversation with him.

“Ride Shirley?” Dave harrumphed.

“Oh sorry that came out wrong. Shirley is a truck I own. It’s a real beaut. You should see it,” Todd added.

“Right and a rocker too. You should add that,” Mitch chuckled.

“Hi, I’m Mitch. My friend doesn’t mean to scare you. If this helps- he’s a pastor so you’re safe.”

Now that made a difference. He smiled at the company he had for the two days ahead of him.

“Did you have to give him my whole cv?” Todd remarked.

“I just said you were a pastor,” Mitch unpacked their suitcase while Todd was hunched over the single chair by the dresser.

“No no no. You don’t get it. Immediately you tell someone you’re a pastor, it changes everything. They see you as a pastor and that alone. Even when you eat, you’re a pastor, if you go for a stroll, you’re a pastor, if you play b-ball, you’re a pastor. Everything you do, you’re a pastor. It’s just the one word that blinds everyone from seeing who you really are,” he ranted. Mitch and Dave had their eyes on him the whole time while he spoke incessantly. Dave pulled his blanket tighter and looked really worried how his quiet nights were going to be now.

Keisha was stuck on the floor retching. She hadn’t taken her drug in the longest time and now she was paying for it. Dr. Keller would be aghast the next time she shows up for an appointment after he has interrogated her on why she’s still not been admitted. She thought of it as a waste if she was going to die anyway but any good doctor might want to die trying and that was Dr. Keller’s mission statement. 

Laureen wondered what took her so long as she arranged their room to make it look more spacious. The past week had been a crazy ride and she left her room alone to organize itself. Now she saw what a bad idea it was. She picked up her little purse and heard something clink on the floor. “Gummybears!” She cried with delight. How long it’s been since she got some! She had mostly thought of rewarding her kids with these jellies supposing she had some. 

Opening it up, she was met with a rather officinal odor. What was that? She brought it closer and inhaled deeper.

“Laureen?”

She stifled a bit and turned to her with the Gummybear jar still in her hand. 

“Why are you touching my stuff?”

“I’m sorry. I was only tidying up and your little drug slipped out,” every word heavy on a tongue. With a towel wrapped around her she snatched it from her hand.  Laureen didn’t know if it was safe to continue the conversation. Not wanting to sound like she’s already assumed too much, she asked about the drugs rather than her.

“What do those drugs cure?” She asked, hoping to get her assumptions erased. 

“Disease,” Keisha retorted with a smirk.

“Are you sick, Miss Keisha?” Laureen’s voice sounded like she was going to cry.

“What do you think?” She smiled trying not to wound her sensitive friend with her usual snide words.

****

Working at the kids section with Grandma Morrey wasn’t as bad as she anticipated. She thought she’d always be scolding the children or giving them a good whooping every now and then. But she proved rather sweet and personable. The kids always looked forward to her coming the next day. No wonder she ran late picking up her grandkids from the neighbors most of the time. 

“I see you’re brightening up lately,” Grandma took a calculated seat on her chair. Old age continually took from her strength as the days passed. 

“The kids are lovely. They’re making me excited about meeting this little one soon,” she gently rub her stomach. Grandma was pleased to see that expression on her face. A few weeks ago, she was scared to death that this young mother might actually abort the child. But seeing that glint of hope build in her eyes, she thought she could rest assured that it wouldn’t happen. 

“And how is your husband? Have you told him yet?” She leaned against her knuckles on the table. Marissa wished she didn’t have to talk about that. She had been plagued enough just thinking about it and was finally grateful she could take a break from that by being with these kids but, it didn’t look like she could escape from Grandma asking. 

“I’ll tell him when I’m ready,” she puffed out a gust of air.

“And when will that be? Because he has to start taking responsibility for it now. You have tons of hospital appointments to do.” Grandma stated matter-of-factly. Marissa knew she was looking out for her but she still wished to do things by her own accord and convictions. Even as a wife, she’s never enjoyed much of that role by feeling entitled to certain things in her marriage. Money was one of them. Although, for Darren she may have depended on her husband given that circumstance, this time, she was going to do her best to not repeat it- not when he had his hands full with his first love. 

“I’ll take care of what I can, Ms. Morrey.” She pecked her on the cheek as she got ready to leave herself.

“Leaving already? Did I overstep again?” Morrey asked with creased brows.

“Not at all, Ms. Morrey. Darren must be back from school. So do your grandkids,” she chuckled softly.

“Oh dear. Always forgetting about those two,” she sighed heavily. She picked up her bag and walked closely together, chatting about the kids from that day all the way home. 

“See you tomorrow, Grandma Morrey” 

“You take care of yourself too,” she nudged her with her index finger and got into her apartment. Albie was already doing the dishes from the pre-supper they had. With the living room smelling like vanilla, she knew her granddaughter had done a good job there as well. Oftentimes, she wondered how this goodness  skipped a generation. If her own daughter was half this good, she might have paraded at church as Mother of the year but this daughter of hers had a mind of her own. A pity it only took a few years to know she had actually lost her mind to drugs. 

Marissa returned to find Darren at the hall on the floor doing his homework. Then that’d mean Aiden was doing his too, she thought. After one time his grandmother scolded him for playing before working, the boy resolved to eat the  difficult frogs before the others. 

She saw her husband reclining in his couch napping. Judging from his appearance, he probably just returned from work. It didn’t look like he had eaten, seeing how untouched the food in the storage bowls looked. 

“Why bother with my food when he has a waitress,” she meant that for a joke but the truth in it got her feeling the sting in her heart. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t get over the heartache it brought her. She had lived too many years in deceit and now she desperately wished she didn’t know her husband’s secret. What has it done but steal a piece of what’s remaining of her daily? Hadn’t Rich broken her enough? But no matter how much she wished to fault Keisha, she couldn’t. She only thought of how difficult life must have been for her in that house filled with self-absorbed people. She recalled the time Rich invited her over to their home for dinner and his family looked like they were on set for a show with Oprah. 

His elder sister was sophisticated and condescending. Cookie cared less about her presence on the table and their aunt Bertha was the nosy one. Previously she thought she only asked questions because she genuinely liked her but it looked like after every reply she gave, she continued with a comparison of some sort. And oh his mother looked and sounded like a dean rather than a parent.

Simply put, the people in that house were crazy and she couldn’t imagine how Keisha survived through that. But if she knew the other ordeals her rival had to suffer, perhaps she’d be a little more compassionate to her.

“I hear you’re a transfer student,” Sally sat prim and proper cutting a slice of bacon on her china plate. Marissa sat still not even touching the food before her for fear of showing her anxiety. She thought it best to remain as she was, who knows, perhaps they’d be grading her on table etiquette.

“Yes please,” she stuttered a bit.

“Were you not a good student? What was your last grade and if it was that bad then what business do you have with my son?” She rattled without a flinch in her face. Marissa looked at her absolutely terrified.

“Mom, can we just eat? I didn’t bring my girlfriend over to be interviewed,” Rich interrupted the tensioned conversation. Marissa would ever be grateful for that rescue.

“Besides, she’s on scholarship. That should answer your question,” he added. 

“Please, son. By now you should know scholarships are for impecunious people,” she stashed in some salad. 

“Or smart people,” Rich dropped his cutlery in exasperation. Marissa gently tapped his knee underneath the table to calm him. 

“So which one is hers?” Sally went on not relenting to what her son was trying to let her do.

“I earned it by merit, ma’am,” Marissa finally replied. 

“I see…” and that was all for the conversation. Nothing more was said except for the clinking clunky sound from their cutleries and plates. On that day she knew she’d never be accepted into that family and she saw it for herself when she shared one night of passion with Rich only to be abandoned when she took seed. Good graces she was a few months from completing her senior year else she would have had to drop out of school. 

She helped Darren finish up his work and prepped him for bed, just that he wasn’t ready to sleep. She read him a story from the Bible and tucked him to bed.

“Mom, are you alright?” Darren asked. He noticed the change in his mother’s usual demeanour and knew something was up between her and his father. Marissa managed a smile and nodded, planting a soft kiss on his forehead. 

“I am, baby. And don’t you go thinking about that. Mommy loves you too much to cause you to worry, ok?” She turned to leave.

“Mom? Is aunt Keisha really daddy’s sister?” And that question bit into her. She wished that was the case herself but knew that would only be a wish on a star. She needed to choose the right words to not stir any trouble. It was her duty as a wife to cover her husband even if he was misbehaving.

“Darren dear, it’s important to know that if you have Jesus in your heart and I do too, we are all brothers and sisters. It doesn’t matter even if I’m your mother. Now to the relationship between your father and Keisha, it’s pretty much like that too so don’t get worked up about it, ok?” She kissed her one more time and hurried away from the room before another question came. 

She stood outside the door and sighed with relief, thankful for the wisdom to handle that. Even if it wasn’t good enough, she can rest easy for the next couple of weeks before she’d have to face something like that again. 

She headed to the kitchen to put back the food she hoped they’d eat and to her surprise, they had been warmed and he was eating. He paused when he saw her. 

“Darren said he had eaten and I was too tired to do anything,” he said quietly in his defense.

“That’s very fine by me. I’m just happy you ate something,” she smiled softly. Jamal diverted his attention back to the tv, making her look awkward. Somehow she hoped they’d have a casual chat from there. 

“I’ll… take the lead first to the room,” she hesitated.

“I’ll take the couch tonight,” he replied. His gaze unshifted. She smiled and walked away. 

He calmed his mind down. Clearly, it hadn’t been easy for him to sound careless but now he was determined to draw the lines between himself and those he thought should be on the other side. As it stands now, Keisha was the only one allowed to be close enough.