Chapter Twenty-Three

Present

Naomi had left her a few hours earlier, giving her all the space she needed to face her past and hopefully make peace with them. But how was she going to do that when she already had her mind muddled with so many dark thoughts. Feena wondered why her roommate sat nestled by the window so early in the morning. It didn’t look like she had had any rest, judging from the bags under her eyes. But she had seen those eyes before. They were the-leave-me-alone kind of eyes.

Already worked up with her own relationship drama, she wasn’t ready to take any more drama herself. She fixed up her breakfast snack and stepped out to grab some milk from Naomi’s diner since Keisha looked out of it. How she prayed she wouldn’t run into her! She opened the door and there was he, the nice dude who had his hand ready to knock. 

“Oh, um… Mitch,” she blushed. How did this girl get so lucky to land this guy, she thought. But if she knew who his mother was, perhaps she’d flee from him and tell him Keisha moved out the next time he shows up.

“Hi… Feena, right?” Oh he knew her name but duh, she’s the only one Keisha lives with. 

“Y-yes please,” she stammered.

“Is she in?”

“Who? Oh erm… yes… but she’s…” she paused to look at her absentminded friend.

“You might want to come at a better time cos she’s been dumb since, I don’t know,” a worried look drew on her face. 

“It’s alright. I can work with that,” he replied. This was where she fell hard. A man willing to sit through his woman’s moodiness. That heart was sure gold. 

“Erm… alright. Knock yourself out,” she opened the door wider. 

“I’ll be back later then,” she scurried out and he stepped in. Keisha hardly noticed his presence. He sat close enough to admire her silence and the beauty he noticed was palling out. What was she not saying? He prayed it’d not be too late for him to discover what was really going on with her. 

After a long while of flipping through the sealed pages of her past, she came to herself and finally saw Mitchel. He had his eyes stationed on her directly. It caused her to cringe a little bit. 

“You look like you’ve been saving a whole country,” he broke the gloomy silence. 

“What are you doing here?”

“Sitting, apparently”

She simpered weakly, her knees were pressed tightly to her chest.

“I’m beginning to think you enjoy it when I’m all around you,” she intoned. 

“But seriously, what is wrong? And don’t you think of going all gangster with me, yelling questions at me I barely know about,” he had to get that out there. 

“You really don’t have to care, hood boy”

“But I want to,” almost offended at her quickness to dismiss him. It seemed to her it’d take a lot more to drive him out. A lot more she didn’t have the energy for. They both sat in silence again until one of them decided to speak.

“My first heartbreak was in grace school… I was told I’d heal. Well, I’m still waiting,” she smiled at him briefly as if she’d been cornered to make a confession. 

“Oh… I’m sorry about that,” he replied, not sure if that was the best response to that. She shook her head at that.

“You shouldn’t, Hood boy. But I can tell you something to apologize for?” She curved her mouth. Mitch was clueless of what she meant by that.

“And that is?”

“Turning me down again and again cos that’s just as bad,” still with that wily smile all over her lips.

“Keisha, do you really think I approached you just to take you to bed?”

“Well, what else is there? I know I am not as beautiful as before but I’ve got a good figure? A little loose but I’m good for something I can only show you in bed,” she hissed. He didn’t get the joke like he’d normally do. And although this lady had a way of making his inside race in all directions, he knew that the day he falls for her advances, he would have proven her right. He had to be true to himself- she was his undoing.

“You are too valuable to be used for one night,” his voice broke. But that was going to be  misconstrued.

“Oh come on. I didn’t know you worried about this. I can give you many nights-

“Listen, Keisha,” he cut her.

“You may think this is what you’re good for but I’m telling you, that you’re much more than that.”

“Yeah right, says the excon who’s had a taste of every prozzie here but me.” Her words hit him hard. He had the choice to protect his pride and walk away or swallow it and stay. 

“And I knew my words won’t mean the slightest thing to you,” he said and walked away.

“Don’t come back,” she continued as he reached for the door. He hesitated, and saw himself out. 

How could a lady say such cold words. Never in his life has anyone said such a thing to him. People acted it alright but upon hearing this, he appreciated the unspoken message from the others. Perhaps it’d have hit differently if it came from church folks but who was he kidding, this girl was one even if she isn’t now. He took himself to the beach to see what he might find on the horizon. He figured he’d be better off getting on with his project than wasting his energy on a lady in a snit. 

****

“Where is the cute guy?” Feena asked her friend who was now fixing herself a cereal. She looked somewhat better, now that she had propped herself up.

“Not here,” she grabbed a box of milk and poured into her bowl. 

“You drove him out, didn’t ya?” 

“Tsk tsk tsk. A prisoner of your own soul as always,” she set out a few supplies she managed to scrape away from Naomi’s diner. She was so grateful to not have run into her so early in the morning. Her staff workers mentioned she had an urgent need at one of the cell women’s homes. Not that she cared about any of that but just for her to be certain they wouldn’t be within the same space. 

“What do you mean by that?” Keisha asked, clearly not amused. 

“Oh cut it, Keisha. Ever since we’ve lived together you’ve been nothing but a shadow. I see you but you’re just…” trying to find the word.

“Hollow,” she finally got it.

“I don’t know what you’ve been through but we’ve all had our piece of junk, girl! Life sucks, I get it but there are good people out there too. I think it’s about time to get out of your mind and find these good people who really genuinely mean well. The fact that there’s night, merely proves that there’s day as well. That’s how God brings the balance,” she picked a bun and yogurt and left for her room denying her a chance to give her her comeback, that’s if she planned to. It was obvious Feena had had her fill of her awkward silences and understood her frustration. Truth was, even she wouldn’t want to live with herself how much more someone else. She would save up some money if she can and get herself a new apartment later. Or perhaps, wait for the death note.

It was going to be her day off so she figured it’d be a good idea to visit the beach today. Going to Night’s Mare would only get her hoping to see Mitch- a part of her she was going to kill now. After such an arduous ride down memory lane that night, she decided to finally do something which was long overdue. 

****

Days, even weeks  passed and no one had a word about him. Where he was, who he was with or even how he survived. The last time anyone checked, he was just cooped up in his room, unbothered by what went on around him. The last shred of courage he had was when he decided to face his past, but that only pushed him further down in the pit he had dug for himself. 

He was a whole lot of mess and was tired.  The color had paled out of him as if he was never one of the most admired guys from school. Now he only had his current ensemble to show for the beauteous life he’d lived before. 

“Sir, do you care for a cup of coffee?” He cared for a whole lot more than just coffee and he wished Laureen didn’t get involved with that, seeing how she had just saved him from what would have been a terrible accident. 

Laureen couldn’t help but be bothered with this guy who wanted to end it all. If she had not followed her instincts on approaching him when she saw how he stood by the road from their motel, death would have been recorded right in front of  her. She rushed out to him and yanked him off the road seconds before the truck got there. Judging from his demeanor, she thought it wise to bring him over to their motel across the street. 

“Sir, are you alright?” Studying his features. His shirt was dappled with all kinds of dirt, his feet were covered with grunge and were swelled up. 

“Let’s get you cleaned up first,” she supplied him with one of the male workers’ uniforms and offered her room for him to clean up. 

Thankfully, their rooms had no bathtubs so she didn’t have to worry about him drowning himself. He was all freshened up after a short while and he stepped out donned in the workers uniform. Now he looked a lot more sober than how he did before. But she’d have to worry about how to explain to her boss how they got a new employee. 

He said nothing to her question. She left to fix a cup of coffee for him anyway and added a few slices of bread. 

“There you go, sir,” still trying to make conversation with him. When the efforts proved fruitless, she gave up and resumed her work for the day. It looked like he’d be the only one she’d serve that day and even with that, she’d have to take it out of her paycheque.

Hours passed and Jefferson was still not in. She hoped she’d come clean as soon as possible so she could get him settled in, if Jefferson decides to be gracious enough to keep him. Jamie still remained where he sat but Laureen knew he was elsewhere. What would drive such a fine man to the end of a cliff? As if she didn’t have nuff problems of her own. But she had resolved to put others before herself, this time. It was one area she failed at which robbed her of everything she’d lost now. It was the main reason why she put up with Jefferson’s surliness. The other reason would be the fact that she has no means of support. However, she was determined to make a family out of him and replace bitterness with endurance, resentment with consideration and things had gotten better for her emotionally since then. 

A lady clad in a silk mustard shirt with a pair of black plaid shorts walked in. That was a first in a long time. She quickly brushed off her apron and approached the lady at the main desk. The young lady darted her eyes about as if she was inspecting for filth seeing how she looked around with despite. Then she cast a side glance at her, looking her up and down.

“Any problem, ma’am?” Laureen tried to be as polite as possible. If anything at all she was used to those condescending stares.

“How can this be the only motel close enough to the Purple Place?” She snarled. Purple Place was a prestigious theater complex which was built in a nature reserve area. It was believed that only those who had money to throw away were the ones who could afford the cost of running a program there or attending one. Because of that, the place was hardly active but if it was, then that’d be prime time for anyone with a business close by. Laureen’s humble motel’s standards fell short of the luxury there exponentially but she still had the potential of making some money when that time comes. She had no point of reference to believe that since all these years she’s worked, there’s never been a situation like that but she was going to hope anyway.

The sassy miss still looked around until they spotted one comely looking man.

“Who is that guy?” Her eyes totally hooked on the absentminded young man on the table. 

“Erm…. My colleague, ma’am,”

“What’s his name?” Her interests totally piqued at this point. 

The question she still waited to have an answer to but she had to provide a name, at least for now. 

“Dave…” not sure if she should go with the full name David. 

“I see… get me the menu over there when I join him on that table, “ she ordered. Before she could tell her workers aren’t allowed to dine with customers she had already modeled her way to him. Laureen stood with arms akimbo, jealous and appalled at how some women could be so shameless. Puffing out a gust of air, she snatched the menu from beneath the desk and walked over to them. 

The lady engaged in a one man conversation until Laureen came with the menu and even that, she would not have realized if Laureen hadn’t harrumphed. 

“Your menu please,” she added. 

The silk lady in turn shot a glare at her before taking the menu. 

“I’d have the same thing he’s having,” she gave a cloying smile. Laureen felt she could really use a spittoon in that moment. She placed the menu back in its place and got to the kitchen to put a few things together, mumbling things to herself only she knew. 

Jefferson arrived shortly after and for a moment was elated to have seen two customers in his motel. Then a second later, he saw one of them in his work clothes. He didn’t recall hiring anyone the last time he checked. Besides, he would have cussed himself to death if he did, so the main question, what was going on? Only one person to find out. 

“Laaauuurreeen….” He called her in a crescendoed manner. Not too loud but not too quiet either. 

She slipped a little upon hearing her name, almost losing the bacons she’d just fried. 

Jefferson emerged from the kitchen doors and demanded an explanation of what a customer was doing in his highly prized uniform.

“And you deserve an explanation, Jefferson,” she swallowed hard. 

“Get on with it already,” he yelped. Instantly all the words she meant to use to convince him puffed out.

“He’s… my cousin,” she winced at the weight of her lie.

“He’s going through a lot and I had to help him. Jefferson please take him in. He has nowhere else to go, please” she clapped with pleading eyes.

“You can barely get what you eat and now you want to add another? Do you not have eyes? Can’t you count the number of people who come here everyday? Today I was happy because I thought we finally had the highest number, two, only for me to get a closer look and now listen to what you’re telling me,” Jefferson’s brows creased in anger.

“Young lady…” he continued, trying to calm himself down. Someone interrupted with a knock on the kitchen door. Laureen skittled out, grateful to whoever it was that knocked. To her amazement there were about a dozen people standing outside waiting to give their orders. Jefferson almost thought there was a ruckus on the street until he arrived at the reception and saw for himself that there were human beings in his motel. He quickly slid into his working gear and attended to some from the other side of the desk. 

Laureen dashed back inside to quickly get the silk lady’s nosh to her. She couldn’t risk getting a bad review on a day like this. Dave was already helping in his own special way by doing nothing, literally. Somehow she wished she didn’t have to put him through this given how his day had been but this might be exactly what he needs. 

“Dave, you mind if I steal you for a moment?” She said between her teeth. He looked at her in a rather questionable way but she didn’t have time to explain. She dragged him to a corner and spoke to him in a hush hush.

“I’m sorry I gave you a name behind your back. For now, you’re Dave. My cousin from Southern street…” she continued to get the story through to him and told him he only has to go into the details when Jefferson asks.

“Hey lady! Aren’t you going to serve us?” One paunchy man yelled.

“A moment, sir” she replied. Jefferson was too overwhelmed with glee to shoot her his usual pensive glares. 

“And also, this has never happened before. So many people in our motel! Please, earn yourself a good mark in Jefferson’s books by at least trying to help out around here. Remember, your name is Dave” she hurried to her station and continued with the others. 

Dave went by table after table with a notepad in hand, taking other folks’ orders. The ladies among them stole glances at him and tried to engage him a little more when he asked for their preferences.

“Where do you live?”

“What’s your name?”

“Are you single and available?” 

He replied to all of those with just a smile. None of the questions got a single answer from him, mainly because they weren’t part of the story template Laureen had just shared with him. 

Laureen hardly felt her fingers as she punched in order after order, reservation after reservation. She never thought she’d consider this- that they’d really need more hands on this job. She had to play receptionist, cook and waiter all at once and good graces that Dave was on hand but she couldn’t stop herself from worrying about how he’s holding up. In a matter of moments, some men started hurling expletives at her for taking so long but there was little she could do. She got very jittery whenever she was under pressure. The yells got so bad Jefferson had to step in to try to calm them but it wasn’t helping either. He ended up turning against Laureen himself and it got the poor girl totally flustered. Dave saw the panic in her eyes and how she tried to be as fast as possible but she was just at her limit. Before they rained another set of insults at her, he set the notebook down in anger and stomped off to stand between the desk on which Laureen sat and the angry men. 

“Now everyone listen up! If your eyes work you’d realize that we’re understaffed here. So as the only motel on this side of town, we ask that you be patient, if not, you can drive four hours ahead to find yourselves another one, you decide. But we’re not going to put up with this careless conduct,” his voice hitting hard and strong. At that the place fell dead silent. The men took their seats reluctantly, the ladies were totally won over and Laureen’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out. Jefferson had to admit that he was impressed except the part where he felt the rap on his skin too. As the boss, that’s a feeling he wouldn’t want to have. He felt he was the one who had to be in charge all the time. Anyway, he’d deal with that bit when they’re having a “staff meeting”. He laughed at the thought of it but Dave might just be the one person they need. He attracted the ladies and he calmed the men. Such a superpower. Perhaps he could design a billboard with his face on it just to get the ladies driving in. Who knows? Perhaps, he might find himself a wife from one of these young ladies. 

Laureen mouthed a “thank you” as Dave turned to get back to his duty. He hadn’t felt this great in years, thinking he had lost it. A few ladies scuttered over to have him take their orders in hopes to get close to him but he politely maneuvered his way through them and slipped behind the desk, just before the kitchen doors. Laureen saw a good enough opportunity to establish her territory and asked the ladies to return to their seats.

They both went indoors. 

“It’s a madhouse out there,” he puffed out some air in exasperation. And to think he was going to end it all some hours ago. Now here he was, being the lucky card for a dying motel business. 

Jefferson stepped in a few minutes later with a wide grin drawn on his face. 

“How many room reservations do we have today?” He smiled.

“Fifteen max,” Laureen replied, gulping down a full bottle of water.

“Ha. Seems to me you made the best choice after all. I just heard from a few men outside that there’s going to be a show around here in a few weeks. Looks like the best days are here,” he continued, still smiling from ear to ear. Laureen looked at him with surprise. What did he mean? 

“From hence, your little cousin over here would assist you in running the motel in my absence. You’re in charge now. You can thank me by working hard,” he announced with glee. Lifting and hugging her like she was a little girl. Laureen was stunned at the sound of that. What had come over her usually surly boss? She barely made a sound before Jefferson stepped out to attend to a few guests himself. 

“Congratulations…. Boss?” Dave smiled, snapping her out of her mind. 

“Please. Laureen is really fine. But I never asked your name. What is it?”

“It’s … Jamie…” as if the name tasted bitter on his tongue.

“But I prefer, Dave…” he quickly added with a sigh.

“Why?”

“Because, it’s a new beginning for me,” he pursed his lips.