Permanent Resident at the Purse Table (15 page)

The colorful, vibrant flowers Toni held in a glass vase immediately lifted Ava's spirit when she returned to her room.

“Thank you, Toni. They're beautiful.”

“You're very welcome. Everything okay? When I came in you were gone. Rene filled me in on what happened.”

Ava pushed herself up into the pillows. “Just a scare. The doctor says some bleeding is normal, but with the accident they'll have to watch me closely.”

Toni placed the vase on the windowsill. “Well, I called your parents and they're on their way.”

Ava jeered. She wished Toni hadn't done that. Sitting with Rene and Toni alone would prove to be the best medicine. “Mmh. Thanks.”

Rene slid the drapes back. “We need some light in here. It's too dreary. The sun and flowers will brighten up the room.”

“That is better.” Ava reached out for Toni to help her sit up all the way.

After this maneuver, the trio caught up on each other's happenings at the job, in their families, and what was the new gossip at church. Everything seemed like old times. Ava relished the conversation. If you had asked her a week ago if this would ever happen again, her answer would have been a no to the tenth power. But here all three ladies sat in the room sharing pleasantries. Ava didn't care how it came to be that Rene was talking to her again. She only knew that she would do her best to make things right and stay that way.

Dr. Griffin opened the door. “Hello, ladies.”

Ava grinned. “Hey, Doctor.”

“You have some visitors, Miss Alexander. But only if you're up for it. The detectives handling your case are in the waiting room.”

“I'm okay. I'm ready to get this part over with.” Ava grabbed Rene's hand. She valued her being there. Rene would never know how much. “Can my girls stay with me?”

“That's up to the detectives. I'll let them know they can come on in.” Dr. Griffin looked over the blood pressure monitor. “If you start getting worked up, they'll need to leave.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

Ava, not sure what the detectives would ask that she would know the answer to, rubbed her forehead. However, the support of both her friends in this confusing and difficult time was appreciated.

A woman with a stocky build and a tall gentleman with chiseled facial features entered the room.

“Hello, Ava.” The woman nodded. “I'm Officer Roberts and this is Detective Jones. We want to ask you some questions. Dr. Griffin told us your memory is a little cloudy. Just do the best that you can. No pressure, okay?”

“Okay.” Ava ran her fingers across the cast on her arm.

Detective Jones opened his notepad. “First off, do you know of anyone who'd want to bring harm to you?”

“No, not like this.” Ava glanced at Rene. Glad she was there, but telling of Ishmael's visit to her apartment earlier that day made Ava uneasy. She wasn't sure if Rene would be repulsed and hurt even more than she already was, or take up for him. “I don't think.”

“Okay, tell me what you remember.”

“Well, I was almost home. A car came up behind me and rode my bumper close. I slowed down to let them pass, but the driver stayed on my behind.” She took a sip from her paper cup. “I sped up and went on. Then a few seconds later, they hit me and my car jerked forward. I remember trying to find my phone. After that, I was hit again from behind and lost control of the wheel. The last thing I remember, a huge tree was in my direct path.” Ava paused. “Sorry, that's all I can recall.”

Detective Jones wrote notes at Ava's every word. Officer Roberts moved closer to Ava's bedside. “No, you are doing fine. Now, Detective Jones has details he'd like to share with you.”

The detective looked up from his pad. “Yes, I have some information from the scene I'm hoping you can help us with.” He opened a manila folder and pulled out some papers.

“I'll try.” Ava locked her eyes on Rene.

“Let's see. There was one witness coming out of your apartment complex and he told the police he saw a dark-colored car leaving the scene. And your vehicle was marked with navy paint on the bumper.” Detective Jones thumbed through the paperwork. “Also, the two sets of tire marks found at the scene were very distinct. One set, of course, were the tires from your Chevy Cavalier, and the other type of marks found were P235 black-wall tires, which are usually found on GM cars, and specifically Buicks. Do you know anyone who owns a Buick?”

“All cars basically look the same to me. I couldn't be sure.” She wasn't much help.

Hopefully, they could solve the case without her testimony. Uncertain, foggy, and cloudy were just a few words to describe the details in her head.

He closed the pad. “The witness says he thinks it was a Buick Regal.”

Rene's body heat rose. She rubbed her chin and stood, throwing her purse over her shoulder. “I need to go see about something.”

Ava's worried expression saddened Rene's heart. “Are you sure, Rene? You can stay. I enjoy having the extra support.”

“I'll be back before you know it.” Rene rustled in her purse and found her keys. Ishmael's mom's car was a Buick, but Rene wasn't sure what model.
Could Ishmael have gone that far?
A sick feeling in her stomach guided her out of the hospital, to her car, and all the way to Ms. Carter's house.

Rene parked her car in front of Ms. Carter's house. There was no vehicle in the driveway, but she needed to make sure no one was home. She wasn't sure what she would do if Ishmael answered the door, but at this point, she didn't care. She wanted the truth.

Ms. Carter opened the door before Rene could get to the threshold. “Hello, Rene. This is a nice surprise.”

“Ms. Carter, I'm not here for a social visit.”

“What's the matter?” Ms. Carter pushed the screen door and invited her inside.

“A lot.” Rene stepped in, arms folded. “Where's Ishmael?”

“He's out with somebody. Mike, I think.”

“Is he in your car?”

“No, my car is at the repair shop. What's this about, Rene?” Concern read in Ms. Carter's eyes.

“My friend, Ava, the one Ishmael got pregnant, has been in an accident. She's in the hospital. Last night, she was run off the road and hit a tree.” Rene squeezed the side of her neck. “A witness told police it was a dark blue car. The driver fled the scene.”

“Oh no. I'm sorry to hear that.” Ms. Carter covered her mouth.

“There are more details about the car. Isn't your car a Buick?”

“Yes, why?”

“What model?” Rene's lips tightened.

“Well, it's . . . it's a Regal.” Ms. Carter stepped back. “But you think my Ishmael did this?”

“Did he have your car last night?”

“Yes. He was with friends at some club. He said someone hit him in the parking lot. And he'd take care of the damage. He took my car in just this morning.”

“Mmh.” Rene shook her head. Ishmael lied to everybody. That was probably the only way he was like God. He was no respecter of persons.

“I know he was upset and wanted to make things right between you two, but Rene, you can't believe he would do such a thing.”

“I not only believe it, but I plan to tell the police what I know.”

“Rene, you can't believe he did this. You just can't. Ishmael wouldn't do that to me. Or to Ava. I know my son.” Ms. Carter opened the front door. “You can leave now.”

“Gladly. You may be in denial but I'm not. He did this and you know it. You need to get him some professional help.” Rene trudged through the doorway then turned her head back around to Ms. Carter. “And a lawyer.”

She stomped to her car in front of the house as Ishmael pulled into the driveway.

He jumped out the car and hustled in her direction. “Rene, I can't believe you came to see me. I've missed you so much.” He reached out to her.

Rene slapped his hand.
He must be crazy.
“Don't touch me. I know exactly what've you done.”

“What are you talking about?” His brow wrinkled.

“Nice try. But you can save the act for the judge. I will urge Ava to press charges and represent her as well. You will get everything coming to you. I can promise you that.”

On her drive back to the hospital, she phoned the police station and asked Detective Jones to meet her there. Ishmael had transformed into a monster before her eyes. This was what she was rushing down the aisle to marry? A man who could bring harm to another human being without even a thought about the consequences, physically or spiritually?

She sent up a prayer of healing for Ava and the baby she carried. Then Rene expressed her gratitude to God for keeping her from making such a colossal mistake. Being joined in holy matrimony with an individual who harbored such demons as Ishmael would have proved to be a detrimental move on her part. A decision she would have surely regretted.

Rene, determined to seek justice, would flag Ava's case as her top priority. And she'd do everything in her power to put Ishmael behind bars.

 

 

Ava listened while Rene filled Detective Jones in on everything she knew about the awful accident that put her in a hospital bed. She couldn't believe Ishmael would actually go that far. What did he think was going to happen? He'd remove Ava and the child inside of her and Rene would automatically run into his arms?

As Rene and the detective put all the evidence together of times, damaged vehicles, motive, and Ishmael's threats, Ava feared what he might do next. She kept quiet while the conversation came to a close with the exchanging of contact information.

Rene closed the door behind Detective Jones and turned to Ava. “Why didn't you say anything to the detective the first time about Ishmael threatening you?”

“I don't know.” Ava knew. She knew she didn't want to speculate without knowing exactly how Rene felt about the situation.

“Well, of course, I'll represent you. I'll lobby for your case at the state prosecutor's office. Someone owes me a favor.” Rene sat down next to the bed. “I'll go down to the station tomorrow and get copies of the case files and formally press charges against Ishmael on your behalf since you're in the hospital. He will get everything he deserves.”

Ava yanked the sheet over her midsection. “Do you think that's a good idea?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don't want to make matters worse.” Ava had done enough the past few months. “I'm concerned with the health of the baby and restoring our friendship.”

“Ava, we cannot let Ishmael get away with this. People can't go around handling situations however they see fit. Why do you think I became a lawyer?”

“I know. But I don't want to shed any more light on what I did to you.” Sadly enough, her sins were smack dab in the middle of the situation. Whatever God wrote down in His book on this one, Ava didn't want to highlight His words any longer. “I want it to go away as quickly as possible.”

“Do you think Ishmael will go away? Look at what he's done already. He has no regard for you or that baby.” Rene's fingers combed through her hair and settled her curls behind her ears. “What's done is done. Things between you and me may never be how they were, but I can forgive you and try to forget. But justice must be served. Not to mention we'll have a daily reminder when the baby gets here. We'll have to work through this somehow.”

Ava took a deep breath, tapping her fingers on the bed. “I plan to give the baby up for adoption.”

“You do?”

“I think that's best. There are plenty of good families who will love on this baby and take care of him or her better than I ever could. Plus, like you said the baby will be a daily reminder of how wrong I did my best friend.”

“Just because you give the child away doesn't mean the situation goes away.” Rene cupped her hands over the sides of her face.

“Well, I have a great deal to think about.” Ava shrugged her shoulders. “Let me think and pray about it. We can pick up this conversation tomorrow.”

“What conversation?” Ava's mother entered the room right in stride.

“Nothing, Momma.”
Shoot.

“Oh, hi, Rene.” Ava's mother welcomed Rene into an embrace. “Looks like you two are talking again. That's wonderful.”

“Hello, Momma Alexander.”

“What conversation? I hope it's about what you plan to do to clean up this mess you've made.”

Rene stood and picked up her purse from the chair next to her. “I'm going to let you two talk.”

Ava sat up. “Rene, please don't go.”

“I'll come back in the morning and we'll get a fresh start on everything.” She smiled. “Take care of yourself.”

“I will. Thanks for being here.” Ava waved.

Ava's mother stared at her. Ava didn't feel like discussing any details of anything. The case, the baby, or her thoughts about giving the baby up for adoption. She closed her eyes and wished the doctor would miraculously give her
I Dream of Jeannie
powers to blink herself out of the room. Or at least come in with the hospital release papers at that very moment. If Ava had been healthy enough, she'd have hopped out of the bed, rolled out with Rene, and left her mother sitting in the room alone with her judgmental comments that were sure to come.