Color of Deception (4 page)

Chapter 9

“Hey, what’s all this?” Carlisha asked Debra after opening up her front door for her. Debra had a huge yellow gift bag in her hand which looked heavy. When Debra called her twenty minutes ago and told her she was coming over, Carlisha didn’t expect her to be bringing gifts.

“This is my,
pamper pregnant friend package
,” Debra announced stepping into the small, modestly furnished apartment after Carlisha moved to the side to let her in.

“Really!?” Carlisha smiled brightly at her friend’s thoughtfulness.

“Yes. I’ve got everything for us to do facials, foot soaks, chick flicks and even a bottle of apple cider. We’re gonna have a girls day in!” Debra set the bag on the small kitchen counter and began pulling out all her items.

“Wow, thanks Debra! How did you know I needed this?”

“Honey, this is for you and me both. Besides we deserve a treat after all the work we put in this semester. I had all this stuff in my house anyway. My sister gave these to me for one of my birthdays and I’ve never had a chance to use the products. I figured we can test them out together and see if they work.”

“I thought you wanted to pamper me, not use me as a guinea pig,” Carlisha joked, walking over to Debra to inspect the items she was pulling out of the gift bag.

“Of course it’s to pamper you. But if our skin breaks out it’s my sister’s fault,” Debra laughed.

Carlisha joined her in the friendly laugh. “Ummm, on second thought, I’ll pass on the facial.”

“Aww come on, I was only kidding. All these items are name brand stuff.” Debra pulled the foot spa from the bottom of the bag then walked over to the sink to fill it up with water. “So, how are you feeling? Still having bouts with spitting?”

Carlisha walked into the living room and sat on the couch while holding a bottle of one of the products they’re going to use for their facials to read the ingredients. “Yeah, it comes and goes. It’s annoying, but I’m used to it now.”

Debra walked into the living room carrying the foot spa filled with water. “Well that’s good.” She sat the foot spa down in front of Carlisha. “Where can I plug this up?”

“There’s a socket right behind that chair.” Carlisha pointed to a red arm chair in the corner to the right of where she was sitting.

“Okay, come sit over here. You can do your foot soak first since you’re the lady of honor.”

              Carlisha obliged her and sat in the red chair. Debra plugged in the foot spa and waited for the warm water to start bubbling up. She also placed some sea salts in the water then instructed Carlisha to put her feet in.

“Oh my God! This is sooooooo nice,” Carlisha exclaimed moments after her feet were submerged in the soothing water. “Bless you Debra,” she grinned appreciatively. Carlisha leaned her head back against the chair taking in full relaxation mode.

Carlisha suddenly realized just how much she needed this. Both physically and emotionally. A chance to relax and the opportunity to have a true friend in her corner.
God, how I’ve needed this!
She mused, drawing deep soothing breaths as the heat and bubbling water worked magic on her feet.

Moments later Debra placed a champagne glass filled with apple cider into Carlisha’s right hand. She accepted it gratefully and took a sip after lifting her head from the chair. “Mmmm, nice and chilled.”

“Let’s toast.” Debra stood in front of her holding her own glass of cider.

“Toast to what?” Carlisha looked up at her quizzically.

Cheerfully Debra said, “To friendship, and to your pending motherhood!”

“I’ll drink to that!” They clinked their glasses then drank some of their cider.

Debra turned and took two steps to the couch next to Carlisha’s chair and sat down. The springs in the old couch squeaked a little as she sat. “So, what do you look forward to the most about being a mommy?” She set her champagne glass down on the small coffee table in front of her, then lifted her eyes to Carlisha. She noticed her growing bump a little more today since Carlisha had on a tight yellow tank top, instead of her usual dark loose tops. The tank she wore now really emphasized her growing midsection. Carlisha didn’t feel the needed to camouflage her pregnancy since she was in her own home and she had revealed her condition to Debra.

Carlisha pressed her head back against the chair still holding the champagne glass in her hand. “I can’t wait to see my son’s face. Count his fingers and toes; make sure they’re all there.” She closed her eyes, envisioning what her child would look like. “I can’t wait to love on him. I want to give him the best life possible. Everything I missed not having my parents alive.”

“Hmmmm. That’s wonderful Carlisha.” Debra fought back tears, sharing in her friend’s joy of pending motherhood. “Your son is going to be the luckiest kid ever to have a mommy like you!”

“Thank you Debra! But I will be the lucky one.” Carlisha brushed away tears from her eyes with her free hand. So many times she’d prayed, wished, begged for her parents to resurrect from the dead and claim her from foster care – but of course that never happened. She’d missed out on family vacations, birthday celebrations, having family members at her kindergarten, middle school and high school graduations. Having someone in the crowd cheering her on as she played soccer. She longed for a family for as long as she could remember. Sure the social workers and other foster care children where there for her – but she knew that it was nothing like having a family of your own. When she met Moriah and her and Pete took her into their home, Carlisha finally felt like she had a family. But that all shattered to pieces after Moriah’s death. She didn’t want her son to ever experience the loneliness she felt growing up. To not have the unconditional love and support of family. She vowed to be all things to her son that she didn’t have as a child.

“Oh girl you’re making me cry,” Carlisha exclaimed. I thought you were here to help relax me not having me bawling my eyes out. Come put some of that facial cream on me.” Carlisha pointed to the tube Debra had in her hand.

“All right madam. Your esthetician is at your service.” Debra stood and walked toward Carlisha.

“Okay I’m ready. But if my face turns purple you’re no longer going to my son’s godmother.”

Debra halted. “What did you say? You want me to be godmother?” She searched Carlisha’s face for the answer.

“Yes. Debra, would you do me the honor of being my son’s godmother?”

“Absolutely!” Debra exclaimed. “I would be honored.” She bent over and hugged Carlisha then she knelt down in front of Carlisha and placed her hand on her small bump. “You hear that young man, I’m gonna be your godmother.”

“Thank you Debra. Your friendship means the world to me.”

“Backatcha!”

Chapter 10

“What are your plans for Memorial Day?” Damian asked Carlisha while he stood next to the counter with his backpack draped over his left shoulder. He was one of few employees left to leave for the evening. Rachel and Pete were still in the back office.

“Oh nothing special, pretty much low key.” Carlisha closed out her register for the day.

“You say that all the time. You’re too young to not have a life Carlisha. Me and my girl are driving to Virginia Beach tomorrow. Why don’t you and your dude tag along. What’s his name – Roger I think? My friend can hook y’all up with a room at the hotel we’re staying at.”

“No thank you! Roger and I are history. I’m surprised you even remember his name.”

“Well he was the only dude I ever heard you talk about. Anyway, enjoy your weekend. I’ll see you next Tuesday.” Damian turned and walked out the door toward a car that just pulled up in front of the building.

One of the incentives of working for Pete at the printing company was having every other weekend off plus all major holidays.

“Thanks! You too!” Carlisha called after him.

Carlisha pulled the cash register out of the drawer and carried it to the back. She tapped on the office door before walking in.

“Here is the money left over in the drawer, everything is tallied up.” Carlisha walked over to Rachel’s new desk where she sat finishing up some work in QuickBooks. Pete was at his desk as well.

“Bring it over here so I can make a deposit before the bank closes this evening,” Pete said after he looked up to see Carlisha standing in the office.

Carlisha walked over and placed the cash drawer on Pete’s desk. “I hope you all have a great weekend and holiday.” She walked back toward the door.

“You too Carlisha.” Rachel closed out of the computer program she was working in. “Some friends and I are driving to New York, do you want to come? We have room.”

Pete wanted to ask Carlisha how she knew Debra ever since he saw them walk into the grocery store together, but he decided against it since he had cut off all non-business communication between them. He listened irritably, as Rachel and Carlisha chit-chatted, he hoped that they would leave before he made them. He took the money out of the register and checked to make sure everything added up properly as Carlisha stated – although he trusted that it was.

Carlisha turned and stood in the door frame of the office. “No thank you. I just want to stay home and relax.”
Plus I’m pregnant and I don’t want to be running around exerting myself.

Suddenly Carlisha felt a hand cover her mouth with force. The look of terror on Rachel’s face immediately confirmed Carlisha’s fear of an attack. Pete looked up and sat frozen. There were two men, one black and one white  and a short stout white girl that had broken into the shop, all looked like young teenage thugs. The black guy and the white girl were pointing handguns at them as the white guy that was covering Carlisha’s mouth forcefully pushed her into the office.

“Just give us the cash and no one will get hurt!” The black guy demanded. “Peaches, go grab that money over there,” the black guy pointed with his handgun to the money on Pete’s desk.

Carlisha trembled with fear as she inhaled the foul scent of her attacker’s hand. She wanted to bite him, kick him, but was fearful of the repercussion. Rachel sat quietly as tears slowly rolled down her face. Her heart was pounding rapidly with fear.

As the white girl walked toward Pete’s desk she slipped the gun in the band of her jeans so she could grab the money with both hands.

Unsuspected, Pete slowly moved his hand under his desk and reached for his gun. He quickly released it from its hiding place, reached up, pointed, clicked and shot the black guy in his shoulder, he fell back. The white girl fumbled, trying to reach for her gun again but Pete had his squared on her, fright washed over her cream face now.

“Give me your gun!” Pete demanded from her as he stood. The white guy that had his hand over Carlisha’s mouth released her and ran from the scene leaving both of his friends: one bleeding and crying on the floor for help, and the other about to wet her pants because of the hot gun that was now in her face.

Rachel got up quickly and grabbed the gun from the floor that was knocked out of the black guy’s hand when he was shot. Carlisha temporarily relieved to breathe some fresh air, darted to Rachel’s desk and picked up the phone to call the police as the white girl slowly handed her gun to Pete that towered over her. Pete held her gun in his hand, while his gun was still pointed at her. He moved back slowly and placed the gun on his desk.

“How old are you?” Pete demanded from his female attacker.

“Seventeen,” she answered, now crying.

The black guy on the floor bleeding profusely screamed several cuss words as the pain of his gunshot wound overtook his body. Carlisha and Rachel both wanted to throw-up from the sight of blood that drained from his body.

Pete wished he could finish him off, put the black guy out of his misery.
Rid the world of one less bad apple. How dare he come in my establishment and try to rob me? And how the hell did these white fools get caught up in all this?
Pete thought as he stared at the seventeen-year-old young thug in front of him begging for his mercy.

Within minutes they heard the sound of sirens. Carlisha and Rachel raced to the front of the store to escort the authorities into the office.

Chapter 11

After hours of questioning from the authorities and the fear of the attack that occurred just hours ago still affecting her nerves, Carlisha sat quietly in her car. She didn’t want to be alone at home. The guns, sound of gunshot, blood and the foul scent of the hand that was over her mouth possessed her thoughts. And the pain of not having someone to run to, someone to comfort her, someone to tell her that everything would be okay really irritated her. She had grown accustomed to her life alone, but moments like this really made her
hate
it!

Carlisha wiped the tears from her face as she stared at the house she was parked in front of. She was unsure of whether she should get out or not. But she had nowhere else to go.

She waited nervously on the front step after ringing the doorbell. It was ten-thirty at night and her pregnant body was exhausted. She desperately wanted to take a warm shower and go straight to sleep.

Pete looked toward the front door, alarmed at the fact that someone would be at his house that time of night. He rested his beer bottle on the coffee table and got up off the couch and walked toward the front door.
This better not be Rachel
. Pete looked through the peephole surprised to see Carlisha standing there, timid as a mouse.
Why the hell did she come here?
He ran his hand through his hair.
I don’t have time to pretend to be daddy to her anymore. That ship sank when that bastard killed my wife.
But as he looked through the peephole again the sadness in her eyes suddenly tugged on his heart. Pete unlocked the door and opened it.

“Good night Pete…ah Mr. Holmes,” Carlisha greeted timidly. No longer did she call him Pete in his presence.
God please don’t let him send me away.
“I’m sorry I came over late, but…” Carlisha looked down at her feet in red flats pleading that Pete would have some sympathy for her. “Please, can I stay here tonight? I don’t want to be home – alone, after what happened.”

Pete stood silently as he listened to Carlisha. There was a time when she used to come over whenever she wanted. She and Moriah were always in the kitchen cooking up some new recipe they found from one of those cooking shows. Moriah really took a liking to Carlisha, she even started to refer to her as her daughter, especially since they weren’t able to have any children of their own. Pete enjoyed playing a father figure in Carlisha’s life too. But now that was history.

“Fine, but only tonight.” Pete opened the door wider and stepped aside so Carlisha could step in. She carried a small duffle bag with her, clothes she quickly retrieved from her place on her way over. “You know where the room is.” Pete closed then locked the door before he walked back to the living room to sit on the couch to finish his beer. Because of the incident tonight he figured he shouldn’t be too harsh by sending her away. Plus the guilt he’d been feeling over his desire for Debra made him feel that helping Carlisha tonight would make Moriah forgive him. Though he knew wanting forgiveness from his dead wife was foolish.
But when you’ve been committed to one woman for so long, suddenly having desire for another felt so wrong.

“Thank you!” Carlisha said. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the house briefly from the foyer. Everything pretty much looked the same as she remembered. It sure felt as if Moriah would walk out of the kitchen in a few seconds to greet her. Carlisha had many wonderful memories in this house. It was the first house that felt like home to her. Now again she was a stranger in it. Carlisha turned to walk toward the steps.

“I’m sorry about what you’ve been through tonight,” Pete called out to her sincerely, after taking a sip of beer.
Though I wished I had killed that lowlife.

“Me too!” Carlisha answered softly as she made her way up the stairs.