Destination D (32 page)

Pam walked into the condo and saw that all the lights were turned off. She went back to Dee's room and saw her suitcase and uniform laid neatly across her bed. Good, at least she made it home. Pam walked back to her room and heard the key turn in the door. She headed toward the living room.

“Hey, it is you!” She was relieved to see that Dee was okay.

“Yes, it's me,” Dee said, trying to smile. She could not bring herself to look at Pam.

“I saw on my cell phone that you called me tonight, and when you didn't show up at the restaurant I became worried and decided to cut the evening short.”

Dee stared at her key chain, fumbling aimlessly with her three keys. “Yeah, you're right. My battery went dead. I tried to call you and tell you that I wouldn't be able to make it. Sorry.” The key chain slipped out of her hand and onto the floor. Pam looked at her warily as Dee quickly picked it up and darted toward the hallway.

“That's okay. Is everything all right?”

“Just fine. My flight was delayed and it thoroughly threw my life off as usual.” She felt the nausea creeping up again. She couldn't fake it anymore. How could she tell Pam? “Hey, listen, I'm beat. I'm going to turn in early tonight,” Dee mumbled.

“All right. Get some rest. I'll talk with you tomorrow. By the way, I stopped by Amanda's today, but I'll tell you about that tomorrow.”

Dee scurried to her room and slammed the door.

Flying High Above the Clouds

W
ell, Counselor Madison, your credentials are impeccable,” Adam Parks said with a satisfied look on his face.

“Your experience is extremely impressive,” Mark Ward and John Lieberman, two of the firm's senior partners, chimed in. “I'm sure that Sterling, Mathis, and Silverman is shaking right about now, wouldn't you say, Adam?”

“I'm sure.” Adam nodded with the same twinkle in his eye that he'd had at the beginning of Pam's interview.

Adam Parks was a shrewd man. He was in his late forties, impeccably dressed, and was anal about keeping rising attorneys on his radar. He would read about them and research their background. He kept tabs on all of their big winning cases and nabbed them before their current law firm knew what hit them. Except in this case, Pam was nabbing them. She had done all of her research and knew that they were one of the highest-ranking firms in the Northeast.

“Well, your firm has a lot of positives for me, Mr. Parks.”

Adam nodded. “We'd like to hear what they are.”

“For one, I like the fact that your firm is not the largest.”

“We hope that will change very shortly,” Adam chuckled.

“I know. But for now, it's a good size firm.”

John nodded in agreement.

Mark sat across from her, almost unable to contain his excitement that Pam was almost a “shoe-in.”

“I especially like that your clients are so diverse,” Pam laughed. “You guys range from corporate scandals, right down to major divorces. In fact, I read that most of the New York celebrities are represented by Richmond and Lieberman.”

“My! You are up on the stats, aren't you?” Adam laughed.

“I do my best. By the way, congratulations on your big win!”

“Now, that was a big coup for us,” Adam said proudly. “Sadly though, the whole family was devastated by that automobile manufacture's negligence.”

“Yes, it was extremely unfortunate.” Pam paused and looked at the three men evenly. “Gentlemen, I'm impressed with your firm and appreciate you allowing me the opportunity to come up from Atlanta and meet with you.”

“We are impressed with you as well,” Adam said pulling a white envelope from his jacket pocket. “Here, take a look at this, Miss Madison, and see if it meets your satisfaction.”

Pam nodded as she coolly opened the flap of the envelope. Trying to keep her composure, she stared in awe at the seven figures including housing and relocation expenses. She placed the letter back in its envelope and smiled contently.

“Let me think about it, Mr. Ward, Mr. Parks, and Mr. Lieberman,” she said as she stood to shake each of their hands before making her exit. Mark winked at Adam, suggesting they had won her over. The two of them escorted her out of the double mahogany doors and into the brass-coated elevator.

“It has been a pleasure, Miss Madison. We look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Pam made her way down to the lobby where a black stretch limousine was waiting for her. She stepped in feeling like she was newly confirmed royalty.

A girl could get used to this,
she thought as she stroked the rich leather seats that encompassed her body. She poured herself a glass of Perrier from the mini-bar and imagined herself transforming from a Southern girl to a New York woman.

Emergency Exit

I
t was 2:00 a.m. when Sed's cell phone started buzzing.

“I thought you weren't on call tonight,” Miranda said, groggily.

“I'm not. Go back to sleep,” he said as he grabbed his cell phone from the nightstand. Dee had sent him a text that read: I NO ITS LATE, BUT I NEED 2 TALK 2 U. R U UP? D.

Sed chuckled.

“Where are the earplugs?” Miranda demanded. “That noise is too loud.” She placed a pillow over her head while he handed her his earplugs. When Miranda was asleep, she didn't like to be disturbed at all. Sedrick found it amazing that she could sleep through a tornado, but when she was on call, she was a totally different person.

Sed texted Dee back so she could understand it. YES. U CAN STOP BY, S.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming or if Dee had been standing in the lobby sending him messages. The knock continued as he stumbled to grab his briefs off the floor. He looked over and saw Miranda's naked body draped loosely under the sheets. He tiptoed out of the room and closed the bedroom door behind him.

The knock continued. “Hold on a second,” he said, still trying to get his bearings as he scrambled to find his sweatpants. He opened the door and Dee raced into his trendy loft still clad in her flight attendant uniform.

“Are you just getting back or are you on your way out?”

“I've been back in town for a few hours and I've been driving around. Somehow, my car led me here.”

“What kind of car is that you drive?” Sedrick said rubbing his eyes.

Dee laughed. “I know that sounds crazy. Hey, I'm sorry to bother you so late.” She paused. “But I've got to talk with someone. I just can't go home until I do.” Dee glanced around at Sed's classic decor and saw a woman's blouse draped across a black leather chair. “Sed, I'm really sorry. Why didn't you tell me you had company?”

“Hey, don't worry about it,” he said groggily. “So, what's happening that can't wait until day break?”

“Pam and I have not been speaking to each other.”

“Oh? I thought it was the other way around.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I thought you were the one not speaking to her.”

“Is that what she told you?”

“Hey, I ain't trying to get into the middle of you two, but I saw it for myself. You were trippin' and struttin' around like you had something stuck up your behind.”

Dee was silent. She felt like she was encased in a block of ice and she needed to come in from the cold to let it soften. She took off her blazer and laid it on Sedrick's desk chair on top of Miranda's blouse.

“Hey, listen. Let me make you a cup of herbal tea. ”

“Oh, Sedrick, you are so good to me,” she said, making herself comfortable on the supple black leather sofa.

“Not a problem. Not a problem,” he said making his way to the kitchen where he brewed the tea. He handed her the cup. “Careful. That heat will take the skin right off your tongue,” he joked.

“Thanks. I will.” She blew gingerly into the coffee cup and set it down on the small end table next to her.

Unbeknownst to Sedrick, Miranda had turned to cuddle up to him and felt a cold set of empty sheets next to her instead of Sedrick's warm body. She took out her earplugs and heard voices coming from the living room. She tiptoed to the door and gently cracked it open.

“Now, what's got you so worked up that you have to pop over here this time of morning?”

Dee sipped on her tea and her eyes widened. “I've been going through a lot lately.”

“Like what?”

Dee was silent and shook her head reluctantly. How could she tell him what had been going on with her without him thinking less of her?

“C'mon, Dee. It's old Sed, here. You can tell me anything. I won't judge you,” he said tenderly, as if he already knew what she was thinking.

Dee smiled. “You always know what to say, don't you?”

Sedrick yawned. “Ah…ha.”

“I'm so sorry to come over here like this…”

“Dee, stop apologizing, would you?”

“I know, but you've got company,” she whispered loudly. “And…”

“I already said it's okay. She sleeps like a log, anyway,” he said jokingly. “Just tell me what's going on so both of us can get some sleep.” He popped her lightly on the shoulder with his fingers.

Dee smiled again. “You're right. That's my problem. I'm always dragging someone else into my problems.”

“What problems?”

“Problems that I've been having for some time, Sedrick. I thought I could handle it all on my own, ya' know?” She stood up and paced the room as Sedrick watched her without saying a word.

“But things just started spinning out of control—my insecurities, questioning my self-worth—all of this was becoming too much for me to handle myself. Do you understand what I'm saying?”

Sedrick nodded as she slowed down to take a sip of her tea, then sat down on the couch next to him.

“Okay, I guess I'm babbling, huh?” she said. “Well, I'm saying all of this because I'm still in shock. Okay, I know what you're thinking, just get to the point, right?”

Sedrick was still silent. The subtle smile on his lips let her know that he just wanted her to tell him when she was ready to talk. He took her hands and started rubbing them.

“All right, here goes.” She exhaled. “I've been seeing a psychiatrist for a few months now.” Dee looked at him and waited for his reaction. To her surprise, all he did was look at her and nod for her to continue. “And now…now I don't even know how to say this,” she said, feeling Sedrick's hands hold hers firmly, she started to relax. Dee paused. “Pam is dating my psychiatrist.”

“Now, I wasn't expecting to hear that. Damn. The guy she was with in Vegas?”

“Now do you understand why I'm acting like I'm crazy?”

“Yeah,” Sedrick paused. “I do, now. That's some heavy stuff to be trying to handle by yourself. Have you discussed it with your doctor?”

Dee shook her head. “I canceled my last appointment with him because I wasn't sure how to even bring it up.”

“I can understand that. But you've got to let Pam know what happened. She has no idea.”

“I can't, Sedrick…”

“Why not?”

“Because she doesn't even know that I'm seeing a shrink.”

“Dee, plenty of people see psychiatrists. It's no different than going to a doctor when you're not feeling well.”

“That's your philosophy.”

“Listen, psychiatrists help the mind, and medical doctors help the body. That's it. What? Do you think Pam will think you're crazy?”

“Sedrick, I just don't want her knowing that part of me. I mean, I've been involved in a lot of unsavory stuff, I'm ashamed to say.” Dee hesitated as she picked up her cup and sipped the rest of her tea.

“We all have, Dee. Pam has a dark side just like the rest of us. Listen, you act like Pam is above sin. And you and I both know for a fact, she isn't.”

Sedrick managed to make Dee smile as she reflected on the times when Pam didn't always make the best decisions either. Greg certainly was, by far her worst. “But I've discussed her with him.”

“So?”

“She would be angry and devastated if she knew the things that I've shared with him about her.”

“Was discussing her part of your therapy?'

“She would come up from time to time as I told him about myself. I guess he was trying to understand some things about me and why certain things have happened the way they have.”

“Things like what?”

“Like why she's a lawyer and I'm not.”

“Is that still what you want to be?”

“I do, Sedrick. I'm more sure now than ever before. I'm just scared of taking that bar exam.”

“I can understand that. I was afraid of taking a risk in opening my own practice, too. But, I'm doing it. We've had a few bumps here and there, but overall it's coming along pretty well. Anyway, how will Pam know any of this unless you tell her? He certainly can't tell her. Your sessions are confidential. He's bound by that doctor-patient confidentiality.”

Dee pondered what he was saying for a minute, slowly feeling relieved. “You're right; I don't know why I didn't think of that before. But now when the truth comes out about her being my roommate, he probably knows more than she would be willing to share about herself.”

Sedrick shrugged his shoulders. “Dee, I don't know what else to say to you. The two of them will have to work that out, baby. You just need to relax and let it go. Stop worrying. She and the good doctor will work it out. I promise.”

Even though her emotions were running high, his words were very soothing. She moved closer and leaned in to him. Sedrick hugged her, and his warm touch melted the sheet of ice she had built around herself. She leaned back and looked appreciatively into Sedrick's hazel eyes and noticed he was looking at her like he had seen her for the first time. Dee snuggled in closer to Sedrick's chest. “Thank you, Sedrick.” She paused. “You are the best friend a girl could have right now and I love you for it.” She moved her mouth toward his while Sedrick closed his eyes and met her halfway.

Miranda's heart sank as she watched him with Dee. She quietly closed the door and slid back into bed. She wondered why she never knew about Sedrick's feelings for Dee. Sure, she knew they were longtime friends, but now she could see that there was a lot more to their relationship then he had ever shared. Her mind played back to when she met Pam for the first time and how surprised she looked when she first saw her. That son-of-a-bitch! How did she not see this coming? And Dee was a nutcase on top of it!

Dee looked up at Sedrick again and then planted a kiss between the corner of his mouth and cheek.

Sedrick's eyes opened in wide disappointment.

“Thank you, again Sedrick.”

“Hey, that's what I'm here for.”

“Oh, my goodness, Sedrick,” she said glancing at the clock on the wall, “I had no idea of the time. What time do you have to be at work?”

He looked at the clock on the wall. It was 4:30 a.m. “Not until 8:00.”

“Oh Sedrick, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to keep you up like this.”

“It's okay, I'm used to it. I'll lie down for a little while and get back up and shower and head on out,” he said with a half-smile.

“All right then. I'll talk with you later. She got up from the sofa and grabbed her jacket from the chair. Thanks for the advice.”

“No problem, Dee.” He opened the door and watched her until she got on the elevator, then shut the door behind him, thinking about what she said and knowing that it was no problem at all, at least not to him.

As Sedrick got back into bed, he looked at Miranda sleeping and kissed her on the cheek. He then rolled over and went to sleep while Miranda remained still.