Drama Queen (22 page)

“Kayla, Terrell's here to see you.” Roni knocked and stuck her head in the door of Kayla's bedroom. “It's cool. He can come on back.” Kayla sat up in the bed and clicked her television off.

“Hey. You okay?” Terrell looked at her sympathetically. She couldn't do anything but nod. It had been six days since Craig had been shot. He was still in a coma. Kayla hadn't had the strength mentally or physically to go and see him. She just lay in her bed, occasionally watching television. Her parents had come and taken Day back with them for a few days, and Roni had been staying at her house and looking after her. Although she had tried, Kayla still could not get herself together.

“How's he doing? I mean, have you heard anything?”

“He's still in ICU. He's stable but he still hasn't woken up,” she told him. “How are you doing? You look terrible.”

“Man, I just been having issues of my own. You know what I mean?” He sat on the side of Kayla's bed.

“Terrell Sims with issues? I don't believe it. This I gotta hear. What's going on?” she asked him curiously.

“I was told I'm about to be a father.”

“What? Nicole's pregnant! Congratulations. What's the problem?”

“She's not the only one.” He looked down at the comforter and shook his head sadly.

“What do you mean? I don't understand.” Kayla was confused.

“I have two children on the way by two different women, one of whom is
not
my girlfriend.”

“And who is the other?” Kayla knew Terrell was serious about Nicole. He'd assured her of that when she asked him Christmas Day. He even admitted to being in love with her.

“Darla.”

“STD Darla? I know you're playing.” Kayla remembered seeing her hugged up with Toby the night Craig was shot, and what Toby had explained to Ms. Ernestine about the situation.

“I wish I was. And she ain't trying to get rid of it, either. I don't know what I'm gonna do. I love Nicole. I want her to have my baby. Hell, I love her and want to
marry
her.” He looked at Kayla.

“No you don't. Don't even sit there and lie. If you loved her you wouldn't have been fucking Darla.” Kayla was pissed at what Terrell was saying.

“It's not like that, Kayla. I do love Nicole.”

“So you accidentally fell into Darla's twat? Is that what happened?”

“No. I mean, with her it was an ego thing. You see, before Christmas Nicole didn't have time for a brother like I needed. That ‘me-time' that I gotta have. With Darla, I could go out to the club and then swing by her crib and she would have a sandwich and some chips ready on the table for me. She'd be waiting for a nigga to hit the door and she would slob me down from the jump. I had my own special Kool-Aid in her fridge, sweetened to my liking. She knew how to treat a brother like a man. Nicole never did stuff like that.”

“What does Darla do again?”

“She does hair I think. Oh, and she work somewhere else, too. I forget where.”

“So you went to her because Nicole was working full-time at the hospital, going to school part-time, and didn't allow you to disrespect her by staying out all night and coming to her crib to eat and sleep whenever you felt like it. Is that what you're saying?”

“No, not like that. I just—I don't—man, my life is so messed up right now.”

“You damn right. You blew a perfectly good relationship with an educated, hard-working, respectable woman so you could have ‘me-time' with a part-time hairdresser that your brother used to screw. Not only is that pathetic, Terrell, it's nasty. And now she's about to have your baby. And you think my life is drama-filled?” Kayla was disappointed in her friend. He was supposed to be smarter than that. “And if you know you ain't care about that girl, why didn't you wrap it up?”

“I did. At least I thought I did. I don't know, Kayla.”

“So you don't even know if it's your baby.”

“She says it is.”

She looked at Terrell and remembered how he had been there for her over the past few months with all she had been going through. She could not believe she was treating him the same way she didn't want to be treated when she found herself pregnant. She had no right to judge him.

“I don't know what to tell you. I do know that if Nicole forgives you, she's a good one and you better spend the rest of your life making it up to her.”

“If she forgives me, you'd better believe I'm gonna marry her.”

“You'll be okay, Terrell. I'm here for you. You're my dawg!” She took his hand.

“Thanks, Kayla.” He smiled at her.

The phone rang and Roni answered it before Kayla could read the caller ID. She was still trying to help Terrell make heads or tails of his predicament when Roni came into the room.

“Kayla, it's Darrell. Craig has regained consciousness.”

Kayla was quiet the entire ride to the hospital. After the last time she was there, she didn't know what to expect. Darrell did call her, so she hoped that was a key indicator that Avis would not be there. She held her breath as she entered Craig's room. His parents and Darrell were all standing over him as she walked in. He was still hooked up to tubes and machines, but his eyes were open.

“He . . . hey, b . . . be . . . beautiful,” he stuttered. Kayla smiled at him.

“Hey yourself. You scared the hell out of me.”

“I know. I scared the hell out of myself,” he said and closed his eyes. Kayla wanted to confront him about the entire incident, but she knew this was not the time. The nurse came in and told them that he needed his rest.

“Kiss my beautiful Day for me,” he managed to say.

“I will.” Kayla squeezed his hand. They left him and met with Dr. Win in the hallway.

“Well, he's out of the woods. He has a lot of healing to do, but that will happen in time. There was no permanent damage done,” the doctor assured them. “He will remain in here another ten days, but we'll move him to another room. He's a lucky young man.”

“Thank you, Doctor Win. Thank you for all you've done,” Diane said.

“We really do,” Darrell added.

“You all take care and I'll check on him later.” The doctor left them standing in the hall.

“How you holding up, Kayla?” Eddie asked her.

“I'm fine. I guess I can go back to work next week,” she told them.

“I am sorry for all that has happened, including my ignorant daughter-in-law.” He rubbed her shoulders.

“It's not your fault nor your place to apologize. I know how to handle trolls like her.”

“I second
that
. Lord knows you handled her in the parking lot last week.” Darrell laughed. “You tore her fat ass up!”

They all told Kayla about the damage she had done to Avis. She ripped her weave job out and broke her nose. Diane said she
still
had a black eye.

“I'm sorry. But you do know that she tried to jump me. I don't fight unless I am pushed.”

“Don't worry about it. Darrell told us what happened. She just got what she been deserving for a while now. I just hope you watch your back. That Avis is a snake and this won't be the end.”

“I will. I'll be back tomorrow to check on Craig.” Kayla hugged all of them.

“Thank you, Kayla.” Diane nodded. “I know this entire situation has not been a very good one, but you have handled it like a lady and that says a lot about you and your character. One more thing.”

“Yes, ma'am?”

“When do we get to meet our granddaughter?” she asked Kayla. Kayla didn't know what to say. “We know.”

“I, who . . .” Kayla began.

“It doesn't matter. When do we get to see her? We hear she's beautiful.”

“Whenever you want,” Kayla told them. She felt the weight she had been carrying around for days lifted off her shoulders.
Maybe things are gonna be okay after all,
she thought.

Kayla was getting dressed for her first day back at work when the phone rang. She checked the caller ID and it was an unavailable number. She knew that when Ms. Diane or Darrell called from the hospital that was how the number came up, so she answered it.

“Hello,” she said, but there was no answer. She held the receiver a few moments longer but still heard nothing. She hung up the phone. The same thing happened three additional times and Kayla was getting pissed. When the phone rang once more, she snatched it up and yelled.

“Why the hell are you playing on my phone?”

“Whoa! Kayla, it's me. What is going on? Are you okay?” Geno asked. Kayla was relieved. She was almost in a panic. She knew it was Avis, but she had no idea how she could have gotten her telephone number.

“I'm okay, G. Somebody keeps calling here playing on my phone.”

“I thought this was your new number. I had to beg Roni to give it to me.”

“It is. I was gonna call you and give it to you myself, but everything has been so hectic around here.”

“I know. I heard what happened. How are you holding up?”

“I'm okay.”

“Thank God you and Roni weren't hurt. Your mom still has Day?”

“Yeah. She's gonna be there another week and then I'm going to get her. You still out of town?”

“Yeah, I'll be back next week. I still want to talk to you. I need to explain a few things.”

“Look, Geno. I keep telling you that you don't owe me an explanation.” Kayla saw that she only had half an hour to get to work. “I gotta get outta here. I have to be at work by twelve-thirty. I'll call you later.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” She hung up the phone and finished getting dressed.

“Well, look who finally decided to join the realms of the working class.” Terrell grinned when she made it to her desk.

“Ha ha.” She stuck her tongue at him.

“Naw, Dawg. I don't even wanna go there with you. I should've known that was your car in the parking lot. Who else would have ‘Kay&Day' on their tag? You got personalized plates. Bad idea.”

“Why? You got 'em.” Kayla looked at him smugly.

“I ain't got the kinda drama you got, either,” he answered.

“No, but you got drama of your own though.” She winked at him.

“Don't go there.”

“I didn't, you did.” She smirked as he rolled his eyes at her. She sat at her desk and looked at him innocently and he could not help but laugh.

Kayla's first week back was a light one. Her supervisor told her to take it easy and she did. She would leave work every day and go visit Craig, although it was way past visiting hours. He seemed to enjoy her visits and they would laugh and talk like they were at her house instead of the hospital.

“Have they told you when you can leave yet?” she asked him Friday evening.

“No, not yet. I think the doctor is juicing me for my insurance money.” He smiled.

“You'd better be glad you have insurance,” Kayla told him. She wondered who he got it through,
the Dealers' Union?
She figured that now was as good a time as any to ask him what she wanted to know. She had waited long enough. “Craig, are you selling drugs?”

“What? How am I gonna be dealing from a hospital bed, huh? Yeah, after everybody leaves I go and stand on the corner and sell anesthesia.” He tried to make her laugh.

“Before you got shot, were you dealing?” She was not gonna break. She needed to know the truth.

“I was dabbling. I wouldn't call the little bit of business I was doing dealing.”

“Why, Craig?”

“I mean, after Day was born and I left Avis, things got real tight. I had not only one daycare bill. I had two. Avis was always crying about money for her and Nigel. And then you were so cool that I really wanted to do right by you. I wanted to make you and Day happy.” He looked at her and reached for her hand.

“Don't put this on me, Craig. I did not tell you to start selling drugs. I would never tell you to do that. You could've gotten a second job at McDonald's if it was that bad, and I would have been fine with that. Please don't try to make me feel like you did this for me. You can't make no money for me and Day from a coffin or from jail, which is where you're gonna end up if you don't stop.”

“Kayla, believe me. I just wanted us to be a family. I love you and Day, Kayla. I am so sorry that I messed up this bad. Please forgive me.”

Kayla looked at his beautiful eyes and they were pleading along with his mouth. She did not know what to do or say.

“You gotta promise to stop, Craig. I don't do hustlers. I don't care how much money they have. I don't do jails and I don't do funerals. Now, the choice is yours.”

“I'll quit, Kayla. I promise.”

The word “promise” reminded her that she had promised to meet Geno at the Deck. He had finally convinced her that she needed to see him so they could talk.

“I'll be back tomorrow.” She bent over him and kissed him gently.

“What time?” he asked.

“Around ten.”

“I'll see you then, Beautiful. I love you.”

“I love you too, Craig,” she said as she left. She thought about him as she drove to the restaurant. If he was willing to give up that lifestyle then she was willing to give him another chance. As she pulled into the crowded parking lot, her cell phone rang. She didn't recognize the number.

“Hello.”

“Kayla, where are you?”

“Geno, I'm at the Deck. Where are you?” She looked at the clock to make sure she wasn't late. The numbers read ten-forty. They were scheduled to meet at ten forty-five.

“I'm gonna have to meet you a little later. Uh, I left my phone and I gotta swing back and get it. Is that okay?” he asked her. She could hear someone laughing in the background.

“Look, Geno, I don't have time for your games, okay? You go and handle your business and I'll check you some other time.”

“Kayla, wait. I gotta talk to you.”

“Good-bye, Geno.” She clicked her phone off and drove home. Pulling into her driveway, she realized that she had left her purse in Craig's hospital room.
I'll just leave it until in the morning,
she thought, but then decided to go and get it.

She quietly got off the elevator and sneaked past the nurses' station. Luckily, there was no one there. She proceeded down the hall and when she got to his door, she heard him talking to someone.

“I know, boo. I'm sorry that happened, really I am. I know she had no right and I'ma check her on it. Look, I'm just tryin' to do and say whatever so she won't take me for child support. You know we don't need that shit right now. Let me handle Kayla. I know what to do. As a matter of fact, baby, I already got her thinking I'm quitting the game. Hell no, you know I got too much invested in the streets to do that shit. But if she think I ain't hustling, she ain't gon' be having her hand out for no money. I'm gonna do everything outside of killing her ass to keep her from taking me to court. Trust me. Yeah, I told you I got this. Avis, baby, I know. I do love you. You're my wife and nobody can take that from you. You the mother of my firstborn son. You're my queen. I just want us to be a family again. I just want to make you and Nigel happy. I love you, too.” She heard him hang up the phone and turned, accidentally bumping into a nurse.

“Can I help you?” she asked, startled.

“I, I left my purse in his room and I need it. Can you get it for me?” Kayla asked, still stunned.

“Sure. Be right back,” she smiled and said.

“Don't tell him I'm out here. I don't want to go in.”

“No problem,” she said. The nurse returned with the purse in hand and gave it to Kayla.

“Thank you,” she said and rushed out the hospital. She sat behind the wheel of her car and could not move. She didn't know what to do. She picked her cell phone up and dialed Geno's number.

“Hello.” A female answered.

“I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number. I was trying to reach Geno.”

“You dialed the right number. He accidentally left his phone on my bed a little while ago. I'll let him know you called,” she said and hung up in Kayla's face. Again, Kayla was dumbfounded. She felt as if her life were falling into pieces. She quickly dialed another set of numbers into the phone.

“Hey.”

“I need to talk to you,” she told Terrell.

“What's wrong, yo?” he asked. “You a'ight?”

“Can you please meet me at my house, Terrell?”

“I'm in the middle of something right now. Can I call you back?”

“Yeah, that's cool,” she said.

“You sure you a'ight?” he asked her again.

“Yeah, I'm cool. I'll talk to you later.” She quickly hung up the phone and her bottom lip began to quiver. She started to cry. She had no one to talk to. She knew that her girlfriends were probably tired of her and all of her problems, and she definitely could not call her mother. Kayla called the only other person she knew could help her. She closed her eyes and prayed to God.

“Lord, please help me. I am at my wits' end and don't know what to do. I am tired of putting my trust into these men and they are dogging me every time. I have no one else to turn to. Please help me.”

She wiped her face and drove herself home. She took a quick shower and got into the bed.

As she began to dream, she felt a spirit of peace come over her as God told her, “That's your problem. You are trusting man when you should be trusting Me.”

“Thank you, God,” she said and entered into a deep slumber. She thought she was dreaming when she heard the sound of glass breaking from outside her house. She sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes. There was another loud crash and she rushed to the front of her dark house, peeking out the front window. At first she could not find the source of the commotion and then her attention was drawn to her car. She knew she was dreaming when she saw it. She ran to the front door and flung it open.

“No!” she yelled as she looked at the vandalized mess. Her windshield and all of her windows had been broken. Her lights were smashed and the hood was dented in, her tires flattened. She scurried into the house to call the police, but when she picked up the phone there was no dial tone. She reached for the light switch but when she flicked it, it was still dark. She could make out a shadow going into the nursery. She crept into the kitchen and unexpectedly felt someone behind her.

“Avis!” She turned and screamed.

“Guess again, bitch!” the figure said, lunging at her. She grabbed the attacker's arms as they reached for her and flung them away. She tried to run toward the bedroom but felt hands around her neck. They were strong and forceful. Kayla knew that this was not the same person she had fought with a week ago. She struggled to get out of the grip, but couldn't. She reached for the knife set that she kept on the counter, but her assailant flung her the other way. “Trust me.” God's words rang in her head. Thinking quickly, Kayla kneed her perpetrator in the groin. The attacker bent over in pain and Kayla grabbed the butcher knife. Her enemy grabbed another weapon and they charged at each other. Kayla felt the piercing heat of the blade as it penetrated her chest. But she was not to be outdone. She forced the knife into the attacker's body as hard as she could. They screamed simultaneously and Kayla began kicking and stabbing at the same time. As her knee connected with the body, she realized that it was a woman. She fought with everything she had until the shadow fell before her. As she realized who had attempted to take her life, Kayla passed out on the floor.