Ex-Terminator Life After Marriage (29 page)

S
ylvia was drained. She couldn’t think straight. She couldn’t sleep. She had harbored a murderer. The papers sensationalized the story because of how William died. Arsenic?

The detectives questioned the group for five hours. The answers were the same. Everyone was together for lunch on Friday, and Ashley showed up. Ashley was supposed to get married, but decided she wasn’t going to do it.

Claudette told the detectives about William throwing her in the car and kicking her off the premises. He was nuts but didn’t deserve to be killed. Everyone agreed that Ashley was advised to leave William, but not once did anyone say she should kill him. Ashley had the best lawyers money could buy, and if anyone could get her off, Ashley’s dad had the power and influence in Atlanta to make it happen.

Sylvia let her thoughts move to Denise. Her surgery was in the morning. Sylvia couldn’t imagine having a breast removed or having cancer for that matter. She would pray extra long this evening for Denise’s miracle.

Brrng, brrng, brrng.

“Sylvia speaking.”

“Hey, this is Rachel. Do you want me to pick you up after work to go to the hospital?”

“Sure, why not.”

“Bad day?”

“Bad week.”

“You’ve got that right. I still can’t get over Ashley killing William. Can you believe she poisoned him with arsenic in his oatmeal? I never would have believed she had it in her.”

“You’re innocent until proven guilty.”

“She’s guilty, and she didn’t even try to hide it.”

“If we had only known what she was going to do so we could have talked her out of it.”

“She would have been married to the bully.”

“Yeah, but she wouldn’t be sitting in jail because she killed the bully, Rachel.”

“I know. Maybe her father’s money will get her off.”

“It’ll help, but I don’t know how much. Pick me up. I’ll be outside in ten minutes.”

“How does that hefty rock feel on your finger?”

“Rachel, I don’t want to get into any discussion with you about me and Kenny.”

“I mean well, Sylvia. I’ve come to peace with my issues with Kenny. He seems changed. It’s about time to let that twenty-year-old grudge go.”

“It’s time. As for my finger, it feels so good because everything is so right. I look at this ring every day. It makes me smile because of the love Kenny and I have for each other. I think back to that chance meeting in the grocery store that changed my whole life. Adonis who?”

Rachel laughed. “You’re crazy, girl, but I love you. Maybe one day Marvin will ask me to marry him.”

“Rachel, it’s not a race to the finish, but how you run the race. Marvin is still learning and discovering you. When the time comes, and it will come, you better be ready.”

“But look at you and Kenny. You’ve only been in each other’s lives for three short months as well.”

“Kenny and I have a long history, although we’ve created some new history. Let’s stop talking about this, please.”

“Okay. I just want to be happy.”

“Hey…will you be one of my bridesmaids? I’m going to ask Maya to be my matron of honor—after I tell her I’m getting married.”

“You haven’t told your daughter yet? What are you waiting on? She’s going to give you plenty of lip.”

“I’m going to plan a nice little dinner party and invite Maya and Carlos. Kenny will be there, of course, and I’ll tell them then. I believe Maya expects it anyway.”

“Well, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

T
he hospital was fairly quiet. Sylvia and Rachel anxiously went to see Mona. She had been flown to Houston, but Mona had insisted that she be moved to Atlanta. Her records were there, and she knew she would get the best care.

A host of people was in the room when the pair arrived. Michael was in deep conversation with Tyrone. The room was filled with flowers and cards. Claudette stood off to the side so that the other well-wishers could kiss and love up on Mona. She was fortunate to be alive.

“Sylvia, Rachel,” Mona called, her voice scratchy. “I want you to meet my sisters and brothers and their families.”

Sylvia and Rachel shook each person’s hand as Mona rattled off their names.

“Sylvia and Rachel have helped me so much,” Mona told her family. “We’re part of a support group for divorced people. They helped me to get back my self-esteem.”

Sylvia patted Mona’s arm. “Girl, we were praying for you and Michael. We didn’t take our eyes from the television until we saw you rescued from atop of that house.”

Mona squeezed Sylvia’s hand. “My mommy and papa died. Michael and I tried to get them to leave but they wouldn’t. Mommy and I had the best talk. We got everything off our chests and were starting over. Papa really liked Michael. Michael helped him to board the house up. I can’t believe they are gone. I just can’t believe it.”

“We are so sorry for your loss,” Rachel said to everyone. “Your family is in our prayers.”

“When they are able to get back into the city, my sisters and brothers will be going back to New Orleans to bury my parents. I can’t go back there, not now. I’m glad I went because it might have been too late if I had waited. I know everyone thought I was crazy, especially Ashley, since I knew Hurricane Katrina might come that way. By the way, how is Ashley?”

Sylvia and Rachel looked at each other.

“They arrested her a few days ago.”

Mona tried to sit up. “Arrested Ashley? For what?”

“She poisoned her husband. Killed him,” Rachel said.

“Shut up! She must have just done it before meeting us for lunch. She was acting strange. Oh, my God.”

“Surprised us all,” Sylvia said. “Everyone was at my house watching the news to see if there was word about any more survivors when the detectives arrived. She was a scared chickadee.”

“I can’t go away for a minute without some drama.”

“Well, Denise is going into surgery tomorrow. We’ll all be here with her.”

“I might as well tell you both now. I’m going to have a baby.”

“Congratulations,” Rachel said, trying to hide the fact she already knew.

“Congratulations,” Sylvia sang. “I’m excited for you.”

“This is my chance to be a mother again. Thank God for my miracle. Michael wasn’t excited at first, but I think he’s adjusted to the idea.”

Michael walked over to Mona’s bedside and gave her a kiss. He thanked Sylvia and Rachel for coming. “I’m going to take your family back to your house now,” he said to Mona.

“See you, Jacqueline,” everyone said.

“Bye, everybody. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They waved and were gone.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Tyrone said to Claudette. “I’m going to get some air.” He followed the others out of the room.

“What’s up, Claudette?” Mona asked. “You look like you’ve been carrying some baggage. Smell her fingers to see if she’s been smoking again.”

“Yuck,” Rachel and Sylvia said in unison.

“I was just thinking about all this little group has been through in the past three months. But if I didn’t have you all, my world would be different. I got my husband back, and Tyrone has been so helpful and loving. He’s helping with the kids, and he’s making sure that my new shop is put together right. I’m blessed.”

“Speaking of blessings, I’m engaged, Mona. Kenny asked me to marry him last Friday. It was so beautiful how he asked me. The main thing is, I’m truly happy.”

“That’s wonderful, Sylvia, and I’m happy for you. I’d jump up and down if the doctor hadn’t ordered me to rest. And what about you, Rachel? Marvin pop the question yet?”

“No, but he will. I know he will. I’m sure he will.”

Everyone laughed.

“Marvin loves me, and I love him. We have a lot of getting to know each other yet, but we’ll get there. We’ve got to see Denise through her recovery until she’s back on her feet. This one thing I can say, Mona, is that I trust Marvin. He loved Denise, but he loves me now. I’ll be with him in whatever way he needs me for Denise because while she may try to hit on Marvin, he’s all mine.”

“Dang, girl, you’ve grown since I saw you last. I thought you were going to beat Denise’s tail at that meeting. I know I would have and—wouldn’t have thought nothing of it. But you handled yourself with dignity because you would have been looking bad when Denise pulled that wig off her head.”

“Yes, Mona, I have grown. We all have grown. A new man and a baby on the way. Blessings.”

“Excuse me, ladies,” the nurse said as she breezed into the room. “The doctor will be here in a few minutes to examine Ms. Baptiste. You can stand outside.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Claudette said.

“We all will,” Sylvia chimed in. “We are so glad to have you back with us. We love you. Get some rest.”

“I love you all, too.”

Mona dozed off as soon as Sylvia let go of the doorknob. The attending nurse walked in followed by the doctor, surprised that her patient was already fast asleep. She lightly shook Mona not wanting to startle her, but it was time to make sure she and baby were all right after such a traumatic ordeal.

The doctor moved close to the bed and held Mona’s wrist, checking for a pulse. He put down Mona’s hand and stared at her for several minutes before shaking her again.

She began to stir and moaned lightly. Seconds later she brushed her forehead with her hand. Sensing someone at her bedside, she willed her eyes open.

Shock then recognition registered on Mona’s face. She might have been dreaming, but the dark handsome face spoke to her before she had time to blink.

“Hello, Mona.”

Mona didn’t speak—couldn’t speak. She kept staring at the face of her ex-husband, Timothy.

“I’m here to check and make sure you and your baby are all right. I’m going to listen to the baby’s heartbeat.”

“Where’s my doctor?” Mona demanded.

“Your internist will be along shortly. Since I’m ob-gyn, I will be monitoring the baby while you’re here.”

Timothy took his stethoscope and leaned over to listen to the baby’s heartbeat.

“Don’t,” Mona said, raising her hand for effect.

“I must check the baby’s heartbeat. You’ve been through a traumatic experience.”

“I didn’t get a chance to carry our baby to term—”

“Nurse Brewer, would you give us some privacy, please? The patient is my ex-wife.”

Nurse Brewer looked at Mona and then at the doctor, and walked out of the room.

“Timothy, I saw Sadie right before Katrina hit New Orleans. She seemed to be very sad. She told me you were in Atlanta, but I never expected that I would see you so soon after that discovery. You’ve been here for three years.”

“Mona, you and I were a long time ago.”

“But I loved you, Timothy. I left my family for you. They didn’t want me to be with you, but I went anyway, against my parents’ wishes. I didn’t have a relationship for almost all those years I’ve been gone, and the moment that I go home to make amends, a lousy hurricane takes them away from me.”

“Surely you can’t blame your relationship with your parents on me. You were the one who made the decision.”

“Still a pompous ass. If I had listened to my parents, I would not be hurting so much inside. I’m glad our baby died because I would not have wanted it to know what kind of lousy person you are.”

“I can recommend another doctor for you,” Timothy said, sighing in exasperation.

“Did you ever love me, Timothy? Look at me. Did you love me? Or were you merely entrapping an innocent young lady who could help you become an American citizen? You don’t have to answer the question. I already know the answer.”

Timothy sighed, again. Suddenly, Timothy reached for his pager that vibrated in his coat pocket. “I’ll be right down,” he said in the pager. “I must go to the nurses’ station,” he said to Mona.

“Saved by the bell. I don’t need you or your services ever again.”

Timothy turned to leave the room. Before he opened the door, someone else walked in. Timothy couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Hello, cousin.”

“Michael? What brings you here? We can talk outside. I’m finished with this patient.”

“Do you know who this patient is?”

“Yes, her name is Mona Baptiste.”

“It’s Jacqueline Monique Baptiste.”

“So you know Mona. I’m sure she’s tried to trip you into her net.”

“Trip me? No, cousin Timothy. I pursued her like a hunter. She was hard to catch and just as hard to tame.” Michael winked at Mona, who was not amused.

“Well, I wish you well. You have a handful.”

“I sacrificed my family for you and I lost my baby because of you. Don’t go and get high and mighty. Everyone knows all about you. Michael knows how you cheated on Sadie with me. Michael knows you used me to try and get your green card. Michael knows that you threw Sadie away after she sacrificed for you to go to medical school. And when you had turned all of that into success, you dropped her like a bad dream. I don’t care if an ‘MD’ is after your name, I don’t want you to ever touch me again,” Mona shouted.

“You heard the lady…cousin,” Michael said.

“I’ll get Ms. Baptiste another doctor.” And Timothy left the room.

“Mona, don’t cry. Everything is going to be all right. We survived Katrina,” Michael soothed.

“But Mommy and Papa didn’t. I can’t forgive myself for not making them leave the house.”

“They made their choice, Mona. They would have stayed no matter what. Good news. Everyone in my family is accounted for although they lost everything. I’ll have to help them for awhile, which may mean bringing some of them to Atlanta.”

Mona said nothing. She was going to miss her parents more than she knew.

“I need to go to their funeral, Michael. I need to say my proper good-bye.”

“You did, Mona, the last night we were with them. You are not able to travel right now, and your siblings aren’t sure when they’ll be able to get back to New Orleans since the city officials aren’t letting anyone come into the city. I’m sure your mother and father are satisfied that they got to see their little girl before they left this earth.”

“Think so?”

“I know so. Now get some rest. Everything is going to be fine, and I’m not going to ever leave you.”

“Those were the words I needed to hear.”