Dr. Feelgood (18 page)

“Sounds like you just made a terrorist threat to me. All you need to do is get home so you don’t miss the delivery of the divorce papers. And here … this is my address. Feel free to come by anytime. I’m not scared of you, shorty. But, you might want to use this address when you send all of Tom’s things to his new home.”

I took the card without even realizing it. “Where’s this, in the alley where you prostitute?” I dropped it at her claws.

She barked. “Very funny. We used to screw at my apartment while you thought you were the slick one, out there screwing that doctor. And we’ve talked on the phone every night since his arrest for hours, just laughing about your pathetic ass. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and make arrangements for my man’s, oh, I’m sorry, my future husband’s, release.” She started to walk away on all fours. “Oh, and by the way, you know what I heard? I heard that you’re a hoe who wishes she were black. I heard that this has happened to you before because of your love of big black dick. But, this time, spicy lady, you really fucked up. And you even had the nerve to arrive with the very man whom Tom was trying to defend your honor from. I saw you two when he parked his Porsche. I’m
willing to bet he doesn’t want you full-time either. The way I see it, Tom can’t go anywhere but up from here.” She managed to muzzle herself for one quick second and then just had to get in one more jab. “And the reason Tom knew you were at that hotel that night, was because we were both just leaving ourselves when he saw your tired-ass Maxima. Small world, huh?”

That Nigga-ass white man. “You can both go to hell.
Cállese,”
I said with flushed cheeks, pressing my index finger to my lips for her to cease her chatter. I turned away with a forceful pivot, walking outside, exhaling into the fresh air, looking back at the courthouse where my husband was. “Dammit, Tom. You were slicker than me,” I said to the wind.

“Are you okay?” Makkai asked as if he really could give a damn, walking at breakneck speed.

“No. I can’t believe you agreed to that deal.” I stayed one step behind him.

“You should be happy.”

“You punked out. And slow down,” I demanded while putting on my amber shades.

He fooled with his Sidekick. “No, you keep up. And calm down. Let me get you back to your car before you snap and end up locked up yourself. You need to take some time and think about your life, Salina.”

“Not that you’d possibly care enough to play a role in where my life is going?”

“Salina, this is what it is. I’m not interested in settling down. We got in some mess, and we should be happy that it turned out as well as it did.” He dangled his keys as he walked.

“Well, it looks to me like you need to work on your life, too. Don’t come at me like I’m the one who’s fucked up. You’re so caught up in the sexuality of women that you seem to forget that we have feelings, and a heart, and that we bond. What happened to you in your lifetime to make you such a damn Casanova, Makkai?”

“Good question, Salina. Good question.” He got in the car, snatched on his DG sunglasses, and started the car without even opening my door. As soon as I sat in the passenger seat, he took off, burning rubber.

“B
aby, what is going on out there?” my mama asked while I lay alone in a bed made for two, feeling as though depression is setting in. “Tom called today saying you wouldn’t bail him out of jail and he’s staying somewhere else. Are you okay?”

My voice moved slowly. “Mama, Tom is staying with his mistress. Did he tell you that?”

“When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell us, baby?”

“Because I started all of this, or at least I thought I started all of this, and now my marriage is over.”

“Salina, what happened? I thought maybe it was over disagreements about wanting kids, but Tom said he went after some doctor who you were seeing. You didn’t do that, did you? You weren’t seeing someone else, right?”

“He’s one to talk. And did you ask him why he’s out there going after people, inflicting bodily harm on strangers?”

“Salina, I asked him a lot of questions. In particular, your dad asked him. Here. Hold on.” They did their usual handoff routine.

“Bambina? Que pasa?
Have you two lost your minds out there? Did Tom lay a hand on you?”

I lay flat on my back, looking straight up. “No, Papa.”

“Then what happened? Why do you sound like that? Were you sleeping?”

“Papa, we’re just having marital problems. The way it looks, it’s over.”

“You don’t end a marriage, Salina. We told you years ago that unless a man is abusive to you or has some financial dealings, you work it out. And even then sometimes you stay together because of your vows. You work through it. It takes work, but you live up to your marriage. Now, I want you to call him and you two get some counseling, or some type of therapy. Together.”

“Papa, you also told me that if infidelity was involved, that you don’t negotiate through that.”

“I told you not to fool around. That’s what I said. But, if it happens, and it does sometimes when a couple is together for years and years, you try your best to stay together. Sounds to me like you two haven’t even talked about it.”

“He doesn’t want to talk.”

“Why do you think he called here then? Men are complicated, Salina. He wants us to talk some sense into you, I’m sure. It’s not over.”

“Papa, don’t let him fool you. Tom is living with a young woman who has no class whatsoever. He’s right where he needs to be.”

“Don’t be so sure. You call that man on his new cell number he gave us and talk about it.”

“I don’t want to. I’ve met someone else just like he has.”

“And who is that?”

“He’s a doctor.”

“Not the one Tom went after.”

“Yes, Papa.”

“Salina, any man who would fool around with a married woman is not husband material, I’m telling you. He has no respect for the sanctity of marriage.”

“You don’t even know him, Papa.”

“You are right about that. But, you need to really think about this one and figure out what need you’re trying to fulfill by straying from your marriage. Because from what Tom tells me, that’s exactly what happened.”

“Papa, Tom was straying right along with me.”

“How do you know?”

“His new girlfriend showed up in the courtroom to claim him. She called me at my own home and gave me the gory details, play-by-play, not leaving me much to guess about.”

I heard him sigh. “Salina, a woman like that will say anything to hurt you. I mean think about it, she’s out there dating a married man without any regard for his family. And I still can’t believe you didn’t tell us what you were going through. We would have taken the first flight out from Daytona Beach, and been there right beside you. Were Tom’s parents there in the courtroom?”

“No.”

“See, you’re both letting the embarrassment
weigh more than the strength that family can bring. When was the court date?”

“It just happened yesterday.”

“Then how can you say it’s over already?”

“Because, I honestly feel nothing for him any longer.”

“I don’t believe you. I know my baby girl. I can hear it in your voice. You can’t fool me. If you’re married and in love, you don’t fall out of love that fast.”

I rolled over on my side and pulled the covers over my shoulders. “Well, I have. You act like I’m not thinking clearly. The point is, I want to be with someone else. Or maybe I just want to be single. But, the way his skank, excuse me, new woman treated me at that courtroom, and the way he refused to even look at me, I never want to see him again in my life.”

“Like your mother said, you are angry, but the heat of all that will cool down soon enough. Here, talk to your mother and I’ll check on you later. And, baby girl, think about what I said.”

“Yes, Papa. Goodbye.” The muffle of the handoff was obvious.

“Baby, your dad is right. Fight for your marriage. Fight for your husband. He still loves you. This much I know.”

“Mom, I’m done.”

“Think about it, Salina. Just take some time.”

“Mama, I want Makkai. I want to be single so I can see him on a more regular basis.”

“Whoever he is, it may look like that’s where you want to be, but close one door first before opening another, Salina. What’s the rush?”

“I have closed it. I’m done with Tom. Can’t you see that? She can have him.”

“Salina, what are you going to do about money? Tom was the sole breadwinner.”

“Mama, I’m not worried about that. And just so you know, I have some money saved up. I’ll probably go back to finding a clerk job at the courts one day. I’m fine.”

“You don’t want to look up and your money runs out.”

“I think he’ll be giving up the cash soon enough once I get through with him.”

“Salina, don’t. Please. Look, I’m going to let you go but I’ll check on you later. You take care of yourself now. I’m worried about you. And maybe you should think about going to see a doctor if this all gets too heavy to handle. We love you.”

She doesn’t friggin’ believe me. I’m fine without Tom.

“I will, Mamma. I love you both, too. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Again, I lay flay on my back, this time on top of the covers in my huge purple bed, wearing the sexy nightgown Tom bought me on Valentine’s Day last year. Looking down at my ankle I spied the two purple hearts I had tattooed when we first got engaged to represent us, together. Purple was our color. Around the room, Tom’s jazz artwork hung everywhere. I perused the walls that surrounded me, and portraits of us together, traveling and posing, seemed to bear witness to my every single move. I still had our smiling, framed wedding photo staring at me from across the
room. I jumped up, taking weighted steps, and slammed it flat against the dresser. I walked back to the bed, got back under the lilac woven sheets, and again picked up the phone.

“Makkai, can I meet you somewhere? I need to see you.”

“Salina, I can’t. Not tonight.”

“Why?”

His tone was so damn bland. “I have something to do.”

“How about tomorrow?”

“I’ll call you. They’re paging me, I’ve gotta go. Goodbye.”

I don’t think he even waited for me to respond before he clicked over. What was going on with him? As was the usual, sleep simply took me out of my misery.

“H
old on a second, Georgia.”

About four weeks or so after our last conversation, Makkai and I finally talked briefly. He kept leaving me on hold, clicking over to answer phone call after phone call.

“Okay, I’m back. Sorry. So what were you saying?”

About ten minutes into the conversation, I realized Makkai was definitely starting to see things my way. I wasn’t surprised because it was obvious he could only think with his lower head. Negro talked a lot of trash, acting like he was damn near gonna file a restraining order on me if I showed up at his house again. Please. Plus, he treated me like a fool when I told him I was pregnant. But, see, I knew this time he couldn’t resist. No man could resist this. No man in his right mind and no man who is one hundred percent straight, and even some gay men. This is every man’s fantasy.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said just before he hung up.

“I can’t wait.”

That night, I peeked out of the window just in time to see Stardust’s off-white PT Cruiser pull up. She pressed the button to her remote key lock.

I spoke into my cell. “I’m coming down to meet you. Don’t move.” I had giddy sprinkled all in between my speedy words. Disconnecting from Star’s call, I ran toward the open door of the Playa Del Rey hotel room in fifth gear, shutting it behind me, hurriedly making my way downstairs.

She grinned as I approached her.

Our hugged greeting lingered. I spoke into her ear. “Makkai is so excited, girl. This is all he’s been talking about since he got here about an hour ago.”

Stardust didn’t know that all I did was email him a photo of her while he and I were on the phone, and he was down for the count. Telling him she was a stripper didn’t hurt, either.

Holding hands, we headed toward the hotel room. As usual, I was dwarfed by Star’s five-ten frame as I led her to the elevator door. “Is that backpack all you have?”

“Yes,” Star said, lifting her gold pack over her shoulder.

“You’re spending the night, right?”

“Maybe,” she replied as she blushed. She looked at me like she suddenly had a case of the shys, glancing around as we exited the elevator and onto the outside walkway, looking down the hall toward the third-floor room.

“Girl, you look like an innocent schoolgirl. You need something to drink. What’s with the frigid face?”

Star continued down the hall next to me without saying a word. She seemed reserved about doing this, but she’d almost begged me at the last minute since I was giving her my wounded routine about how she needed to try this. Damn, now I’m starting to feel a little bad. Not.

She was surprisingly dressed like she was suddenly on her way to church, all-stylish in her snow-white stretch-knit pantsuit. Her pretty toes, two of them ringed out, looked like they’d been freshly painted with a loud red polish. She normally wore French. Star showed off her perfect feet in three-inch, copper sandals. Her toes wiggled as she walked, as well as her ample bottom.

I stood behind her for a second to check her out just before I slipped the key card to room number three sixty nine through the slot. If I’d had a dick, it would have been at full attention. I knew what was between her legs and I couldn’t wait to share it with him. Share it my way that is. Funny how it’s cool to share a man with a woman I choose, but I’ll be damn if he can run around hiding and hitting every girl just because.

The green light flashed, the lock clicked, and I turned the knob and pushed the door open for her to proceed.

I’d sprayed a little Red Door perfume in the room so it smelled luscious. And manly-luscious Makkai Worthy stood from the end of the huge bed, placed the remote on the green and gold comforter and greeted her with a handshake.