Dream Girl Awakened (15 page)

“What do you need, Aruba? Tell me and I'll do it.”

“Where are you?”

“I'm about twenty minutes from the hotel. What happened?”

“I'd rather talk about it here. My eye is swollen from the punch James gave me.”

“Punched you? Do you want me to take you to the ER? Is Jeremiah safe? Do I need to bring anything to the room?”

“No, I'm too tired to go to the hospital. I ordered room service. Jeremiah is asleep. He slept through the entire incident.”

“That's good to hear. Aruba, everything will be all right. I give you my word.”

“Thank you, Winston. I'm in room eight seventy-one.”

Aruba hung up her phone and strolled to the bathroom. She placed a bag of ice on her eye, returned to the bed, plopped down. James had hit her in the past, but there was something different about his rage tonight. He'd never gone through her things, never been that silent. She'd tried so hard in the past to reach out to him emotionally, to accommodate his needs. She was certain of two things: she didn't deserve to be beaten and she could no longer make excuses for his issues. Her desire to help him work through those issues had disappeared years ago. She still loved James, but she was no longer
in love
with him. Her head was spinning at the prospect of getting a divorce. There was the cost of filing, mediation, counseling if a judge felt it necessary; the list went on and on. One good thing about the time they'd been together was the fact they'd accomplished little. There would be no division of assets, no lengthy back and forth about furniture and other items couples who worked together enjoyed. They would simply share custody of Jeremiah.
Damn, I won't even get child support
. A knock on the door reminded her that James's money or presence didn't matter anyway. Aruba opened the door for Winston, then fell into his arms. Her light sobs were met with the tightest hug she'd felt in a long time.

“Hey, hey, come on over here,” said Winston, leading Aruba to the bed.

He motioned for her to sit. He joined her, careful not to wake Jeremiah. Tonight would be the night the slightest sound would awaken him.

“Let me look at your eye, Aruba.”

Winston kept an array of medical supplies in his vehicle for times like this. He'd brought ice packs and meds to help her through the night.

“Did you call in to work?”

“I plan on calling Bria around seven or so to let her know I'm under the weather and won't be in for a few days. I have a new employee to train, but she doesn't report to work until Monday.”

“Do I need to take Jeremiah to daycare in the morning? I plan to nurse you back to health today. I don't think you need to go out. James gave you a huge black eye.”

“Actually, you can. You and Victoria are listed as relatives or friends who can pick Jeremiah up or drop him off.”

“Do you plan to press charges against James?”

“I'm still thinking. Winston, I don't know what to do.”

“Your room is paid for, for two weeks.”

“Winston, you didn't have to—”

“Shhh . . . I'm not finished.”

“Victoria told me the house is in your name only. I can pay off the mortgage and quit-claim deed it to James. You don't have to answer now. Just think about it.”

“Winston, I don't know what to say.”

“You never answered my previous question. What do you need? Tell me and I'll do it.”

Aruba looked at Winston and could only think of one thing. “Hold me. Lie next to me in bed and hold me 'til day breaks. It's been a long time since I've been held.”

J
ames threw the covers from the bed, unable to sleep for the third night in a row. He stared at the alarm clock. Nine a.m. He wondered where Aruba was and why she wouldn't answer his calls. In the past, he'd cruise by Bria's, Renee's or Victoria's houses and find her there. They'd go back and forth; she'd pack her things, Jeremiah, and come home. He camped out at all three houses the past few nights, but saw no sign of Aruba. He rode past her job with no luck. He didn't know what to do because every move she'd made lately deviated from her old ways. Perhaps she meant it this time when she said she couldn't take it anymore, that she wanted to start a new life without him. For the first time in their ten-year marriage, he thought of what life would be like without her. The thought sickened him.

Three days had passed since the scuffle and being without her had caused an unfamiliar mix of emotions to well inside of him. There were so many things she did he took for granted. As much as he loved to cook, he was startled to open the deep freezer and find she'd prepared and frozen his and Jeremiah's favorite things. Among the labeled Tupperware bowls were black-eyed pea casserole, champagne salad, braised beef short ribs with rice, and his all-time favorite dessert, sweet potato cheesecake.

The last time he'd ventured out to find her, he'd slipped on some jeans and a hoodie. He had fished through his pocket and pulled
out a note from Aruba that read:
No matter what happens, I'll always believe in you.
Through all their ups and downs, she never stopped encouraging him.

“What have I been doing? What have I been thinking?” James asked to no one in particular.

The phone rang, bringing James back to reality.

James snatched the cordless phone from the wall. “Aruba, baby, where are you?”

“Mr. Dixon? Is this Mr. James Dixon?”

James composed himself. “This is James Dixon. Who's speaking?”

“This is Sloan Marks. I'm calling from Franzen Industrial Staffing. You put in an application sometime ago and I was calling because we have some available positions. Are you still interested in employment with us?”

“Absolutely! What do I need to do?”

“I'll be sending some people out two weeks from today on assignment to various sites. Give me a call back next Friday and I'll have a specific location for you.”

“Thank you, Miss Marks.”

“You're quite welcome, Mr. Dixon.”

James hung up the phone, elation and sadness covering him in equal measure. He'd been out of work for months and the moment he found something promising, Aruba wasn't around to rejoice in the good news. He decided to try her once more to let her know what was going on. He dialed her phone, disappointed that it went straight to voicemail again.

“Aruba, I miss you and Jeremiah. I just wanted you to know I found a job. Not sure where I'm going yet, but I promise I'll work and make good on it this time. I'm about to lose my mind without you and Jeremiah. I love you, baby. Please come home to me. I know we can work this out.”

“I
love you, baby. Please come home to me. I know we can work this out.”
After reluctantly checking her voicemails, Aruba placed her BlackBerry in its case, repulsed by the sound of James's voice. His desperation was enough reason to get on with the business of divorcing him. Hearing his voice didn't garner the emotions she'd felt in years past. This, her first day back at work, would be the start of something new. She was enthused about training Lasheera, seeing Winston later that night at the Conrad, and browsing the web for a new apartment. Aruba didn't allow people in her personal business, so she couldn't risk Jeremiah seeing Winston and blabbing to James. Not yet anyway. She'd shared with Bria the night of the assault, pleading with her to watch Jeremiah until she felt the coast was clear. Bria never imagined James being so cruel, although she'd had her suspicions over the years about him as a husband and a father. Bria's husband respected and loved her, so she felt the least she could do for a friend in need was provide childcare, secrecy, and a shoulder to cry on. She cloaked for Aruba the three days she was absent, picked up Jeremiah from Angels in Halos, and assured her that things would be okay.

Aruba had Lasheera sit in conference room A to study the first set of training materials Bria prepared. Bria had been a godsend. Aruba made a mental note to do something special for her once the drama died down and her new life with Winston began.

“Aruba, line one,” said Doris.

“Thanks, Doris.”

Aruba picked up the phone with a smile on her face. Winston had called her every hour on the hour to inquire about her well-being. He'd sent more roses to the hotel room, visited each night, ran her bath, massaged and oiled her body, made her feel like a queen. His upfront admission that he couldn't make love to her raised the stakes and strengthened her resolve to get closer. He'd reasoned he was wrong and didn't want to further complicate the situation with intimacy. The emotional affair they were having was new territory for him. He'd fallen under her sway with her grace and charm as weapons; he feared what making love to her would do.

“Hi, beautiful. Were you ready to go back to work today or was that your attempt to stay away from me?”

“Both. I need to get back to business as usual. I told you I have a new employee to train.”

“I've been thinking about you all day, Aruba.”

“It's just nine in the morning.”

“You're on my mind twenty-four/seven. What do I need to do to convince you of that?”

“Speaking of convincing, what did you tell Victoria about your absence the last four days?”

“Sadly, if it isn't about shopping or something that concerns her, she doesn't care. After my page, I told her I had to fly out to Phoenix to examine a patient who may need open heart surgery. She didn't bat an eyelash.”

Time spent with Winston had been everything Aruba desired. He was thoughtful, loving, and attended to her needs in a way she couldn't have imagined. As she and Winston spooned at the Conrad, listening to Victoria on speakerphone that second night, Aruba thought it odd that Victoria asked for a fur coat, a pair of
Jimmy Choos, and reservations for the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. She never told Winston she loved him, nor did she ask about his well-being. Aruba held him tighter then because she realized Victoria was handing him over on a silver platter.

“That speakerphone conversation blew my mind. Please let me say something as a friend. You're a wonderful man and a great father. Someone I'd treat like a king if I had the opportunity.”

Winston ignored the ego stroke because it felt too good to hear from someone other than his wife. “I'm on my way to the hospital. Do you need me to do anything for you today?”

“Just dinner later tonight. We can eat in the room.”

“I miss you, Aruba.”

“Same here.”

Aruba hung up the phone, then headed to the conference room for Lasheera.

“Psst,” said Bria, sticking her head out of her office.

“What now, girl?”

“Going to get your groupie?”

Aruba stepped into Bria's office and closed the door. “What are you talking about? Why are you so caustic?”

“I don't know. I guess I'm a little jealous, since no one worships me.”

“Maybe I shouldn't get sick anymore, since your imagination runs wild while I'm away.”

“Make fun of me all you like, but you made quite an impression on Lasheera. She called several times while you were away. She asked whether she really had the job, about the dress code, if she'd be working directly with you. Sounds like she wants to make a good impression on you.”

“Don't make fun of her. I think I'd be nervous reentering the workforce after a long time.”

“What happened?”

“You know I can't divulge her personal business.”

“You take confidentiality to extreme measures! Come on, Aruba, why has she been out of work so long?”

“How would you feel if I let it slip to folks around the office you're a nurse afraid of blood?”

“Ouch! Point well taken. I have to give it to you, you can keep a secret. What will you take to your grave?”

“Wouldn't you like to know? I'll see your nosy butt for lunch.”

“If you don't eat with Lasheera.”

“Jealousy doesn't suit you, Bria.”

Aruba exited Bria's office. She headed to the conference room and attempted to stop the smile creeping across her face. She liked the fact Winston wanted to honor his vows, but she also wanted to make love to him. How much longer would the lie about him being out of town hold up, anyway? She had ignored Victoria's calls the past few days. After Victoria's last message about being concerned where she was since she wasn't home, she'd sent a quick text message and told her she was working late since auditors were in town. Aruba knew Victoria would back off, since she was allergic to work. She would do lunch with Victoria to impede any suspicion. Victoria and Nicolette would miss their good thing soon enough. Now wasn't the time for any slipups. Aruba stepped into the conference room as Lasheera perused training materials.

“I hope you're not overwhelmed by all the information. If it's any consolation, it took me several months to catch on.”

“I'm up for the challenge, Mrs. Dixon.”

“Lasheera, we're gonna be working closely together. Please call me ‘Aruba.' ”

“May I call you Mrs. D. until I get more comfortable?”

“Sure, if that's better for you.”

Lasheera shifted in her seat, flipped through more pages in the binder. Earlier, Bria had given her a Post-it pad for notes, and she made sure to insert the neon squares where she needed most help or felt confused. The materials overwhelmed her; how on earth would she ever learn all she needed to be successful at the job?

“Are you nervous?” asked Aruba.

“A little. It's been a while since I worked.”

“You'll get the hang of everything in no time. You'll be working with me today. The materials are for you to take home and study. Today's training will be showing you how to do my scheduling.”