One Love (38 page)

Nothing filled her these days. Working
long hours had not been enough. The whirl of social invitations she
accepted only put off the inevitable. All too soon she was alone
with her thoughts. That old voice was back whispering seductively.
One drink would dull the ache in her soul. A few more and it would
be gone. For what must have been the millionth time in the last few
years, Lanessa argued with it. The start of a band playing a
soothing blues tune could only help. She hoped it would be enough
to get her through another night. Going back to an empty house was
something she could not face just yet.

Chapter 19

“
Drinking by yourself isn’t
healthy.” A short man the color of copper spoke just at her
shoulder.

“
Thanks, but when I want a
medical opinion, I’ll see my doctor.” Lanessa glanced at him. He
wore an affable smile that was not affected by her
rebuff.

“
Just wanted a little
friendly conversation is all. Sorry to intrude.” He lifted his
glass to her then sipped from it.

Lanessa regretted her rudeness. The
guy was probably just lonely. Something she knew about all too well
these days. “Don’t mind me. I’m having a bad day.”

“
No problem. I know how it
is to get dumped on from every which way. Don’t worry about it.”
The man held out a hand. “I’m Marty Brown.”

“
Lanessa Thomas.” She shook
it.

“
Glad to meet ya. Let me buy
you a drink.” Marty offered her a Marlborough cigarette.

“
Sure. Ginger ale is fine.”
Lanessa shook her head and grimaced at the name on the pack. “Geez,
how can you stand those things?”

“
Hey, I’ll get what you want
from the machine. Let’s see, a classy lady like you... Benson and
Hedges Menthol. Right?”

“
Yes, but--” Lanessa started
to say she’d quit. But suddenly the craving came on strong. “Why
not,” she said softly.

Marty came back looking like a boy
scout doing a good deed. “Here you go, ma’am.” He opened the pack
and handed it to her.

“
Thanks.”

Lanessa gazed at the long, slender
cylinder of tobacco. It was so elegantly wrapped in white paper
with one dark green border at the filter tip. When she placed it
between her lips, it was as though she hadn’t quit a year ago.
Marty lit it for her. She inhaled but not too deeply.

“
Say, you’ve been off these
things for a while. I can tell.” Marty chuckled.

“
What is it about
cigarettes? They make you unwind with just one puff.” Lanessa
inhaled again and let out a stream of smoke.

“
They’re like a good drink.
Smoothes out all the rough edges. Sure I can’t get you one?” Marty
held up his glass of bourbon.

Lanessa did not look at it. “No. My
edges aren’t that rough just yet.” She took a hard swallow of
ginger ale.

“
Slow down. Remember you’re
driving.” Marty grinned at her. “Don’t want the police smelling
sugar on your breath.”

Lanessa glanced at him sideways. He
had the round face of a mischievous elf. Oddly he looked like every
class clown she’d known in school. He seemed to be her age, about
thirty-two. Not handsome, yet he was not ugly. Marty was plain, the
kind of guy you’d have trouble remembering. Maybe that’s why he had
a sense of humor, so people would take notice. Lanessa felt an
affinity for him. Lanessa wanted to get into someone else’s life. A
stranger was the perfect person.

“
So, Marty. What is it you
do?” Lanessa turned sideways to face him.

“
Insurance.” He beamed at
her.

“
Uh-oh.” Lanessa rolled her
eyes. “I should have known these came at a price.” She tapped the
pack of cigarettes on the bar.

“
Relax, I’m off the clock.”
Marty leaned toward her just a bit. “To tell you the truth, I get
sick of talking about it all day long. Then there are the evening
appointments. Man!” He shook his head.

“
So why don’t you get
another career?” Lanessa was amused.

“
Yeah, well... It’s not so
simple.” Marty wore a long face. “Fifteen years I got in this
company. I’ve got obligations, a pension.” He shrugged.

“
Nothing is simple, eh?”
Lanessa’s throat felt dry. She signaled the bartender for another
ginger ale. “You know the expression ‘Seemed like a good idea at
the time’?”

Marty nodded with vigor. “Exactly. You
make choices when you’re just a kid. Then one day you wake up and
boom! Twenty years have passed. And...” He shrugged
again.

“
And those choices have you
locked in to a life you don’t like very much.” Lanessa looked away
from her reflection in the huge mirror facing the bar.

“
Hey, let’s downtrodden
working folks unite. Right now we’re going to blow off bosses, day
planners, and endless meetings.” Marty clinked his glass against
hers on the bar.

Lanessa laughed at him. “Sure. But my
boss is a real pain. I’m self-employed.”

“
Good for you.” Marty took a
sip as though in salute of her. “Nobody breathing down your neck.
But you’ve got to do it all yourself.”

“
You got that right.”
Lanessa nodded and took a drink of ginger ale.

“
What is it you do?” Marty
leaned an elbow on the bar.

“
Research, mostly
demographics. But I get into some specialized areas. Companies use
the information; I’ve done work for law firms.” Lanessa wondered
how much longer she’d be in business.

“
Say, I’ll bet you use the
internet. Right?” Marty nodded and went on before she could answer.
“Now there’s an innovative business. I mean, we’re living in the
information age. Right?”

“
Right.” Lanessa smiled at
his enthusiasm. “Nothing exciting like the insurance biz of
course.”

Marty laughed heartily at her joke.
They went on to talk about politics, the economy, the state of
black America, and more. Lanessa let the wreaths of cigarette smoke
and the anonymity of talking to someone whose last name she did not
know block out her troubles. She was able to dodge thoughts of
losing her business, her friend and the man she loved. The mid-week
crowd grew. As the band played, they improvised their own Karaoke
night without the microphone. When the opening strains of Midnight
Train to Georgia sounded, Marty started them off. Soon everyone was
singing. Lanessa felt lulled by the camaraderie. She felt more and
more relaxed as the evening went on. It seemed old friends
surrounded her. Lanessa was now at the center of a group of people,
some she knew slightly. They all shared war stories about the
working world in between singing and telling jokes.

“
Let me get you another cool
drink, Lanessa. Singing and having a good time is thirsty work.”
Marty grinned at her.

Lanessa handed him the glass. “You’re
a good man Marty Brown.”

Marty held up the glass in salute,
then went through the archway that led back to the bar area.
Lanessa waved to him gaily. A thumping, hip-hop version of an old
standard drew her attention. Shebang the words to Killing Me Softly
with gusto.

Marty moved to the pay phones in a dim
hallway of the bar near a door leading to restrooms. He took the
compact cell phone that was clipped to his belt and tapped the
number pads. “Say, man. I followed her to a bar. Decided to strike
up a conversation. Uh-huh.”

He broke off when a crowd of three
women appeared. They chattered on taking no notice of him as they
went to the ladies room. Marty waited until they went in and the
door swung closed behind them.

“
Yeah, yeah, I’m still here.
Nah, man she’s not drinking. Look, I tried. All right? She won’t
touch liquor. But I’ve got another idea.”

Marty listened for several minutes as
the male voice talked. He gave an occasional grunt in assent. A
stream of people walked by causing him to move further into a dark
corner. Then Marty gave an ugly laugh at a comment from the person
at the other end of the phone. The easy-going expression was gone
from his face. He now looked like an evil elf.

“
Don’t worry. I have a
back-up plan. ” He took a small bottle of clear liquid from his
pants pocket. “Right. Bye.”

With a jaunty whistle, he strolled
back into the bar to get Lanessa a refill.

***

Alex arrived at his ex-wife’s house a
little after six. The sun was bright and the temperature still in
the eighties. Tia and Nia were in the yard batting a badminton bird
back and forth. They raced to him when he got out of the
car.

“
Mmm, you two are sweeter
than honey.” Alex took turns kissing them. He covered the soft,
smooth brown skin on their faces while tickling them.

“
Eee! Stop, Daddy,” Tia said
yet held on tighter to his neck.

“
I’m gonna get you back!”
Nia squealed. She tried to grab his hand. “No!” She wiggled as he
shook her.

“
Grrr, I’m the Tickle
Monster.” Alex made a growling sound. After a few minutes he let
them go.

“
Really, Daddy. That game is
for babies.” Nia became fluffed her long dark hair.

“
You’ll always be my little
girls.” Alex winked at her.

Tia hung on his arm still. “Daddy,
Mama got me a new paint set. I’m going to paint a picture for your
office. Last year my teacher said I had promise.” She flashed her
signature smile that melted hearts.

“
Wonderful. I needed a new
masterpiece for a space on my wall.”

“
Oh please.” Nia looked at
her sister with scorn. “Miss Sweetie Pie is just trying to get a
bigger allowance.” She puckered her lips and made loud kissing
sounds.

“
Well at least I don’t get
grounded every two seconds like some people.” Tia stuck out her
tongue at Nia.

“
Alright, that’s enough you
two. I’m going inside to talk to mom,” Alex said.

Alex waved at them as two kids from
the neighborhood arrived on the bikes.

He was not looking forward to this
conversation. Still he liked the alternative even less. Shauntelle
had to know. Besides, she was a levelheaded, sensible woman. Hadn’t
he always said so? When she walked toward him smiling, his
confidence slipped down another notch.

“
Hi there? You okay? Look at
this hot new outfit.” Shauntelle made a complete turn. She wore a
powder blue tank top and matching leggings that hugged her
curves.

“
Very attractive.” Alex gave
a whistle.

“
I’ve got new attitude,
babe. No more shrinking violet.” Shauntelle did a sassy
strut.

“
I’m glad you’re in a good
mood.” Alex followed her around the house and through the patio
doors. “I wanted to—“

“
Sure,” Shauntelle broke in.
“I’m steppin’ out of the old routine. My new social life has opened
up a whole new world.”

“
Great. Just don’t move to
fast.” Alex sat across from her in the sunroom.

“
Hey, life’s too short.
Lanessa is right to be bold.” Shauntelle stopped smiling when she
glanced at him. “Sorry, I didn’t think first. I heard about you
guys from your mother.”

“
Naturally.” Alex gave a
grunt of irritation. “She’s got her hopes up I’ll marry whoever she
picks out for me now.”

“
Listen, maybe things will
work out for you and Lanessa. I know how it is when you find the
right one.”

“
Yes, well...” Alex’s frown
deepened. Although his name had not come up, it was obvious
Shauntelle was thinking of Charles Metoyer. “Shauntelle,
I—“

“
Oh, come on. Don’t be like
that.” Shauntelle gave his knee a pat. “Even if you can’t get back
together, you can find happiness. Maybe it wasn’t meant to
be.”

“
I’m glad to hear you say
that.” Alex leaned toward her, his hands clasped together.
“Shauntelle, the best way for me to tell you this is just straight
out.”

“
Tell me what, dear. Wait, I
made my special lemonade with raspberry flavoring. You love it.”
She darted from the room into the kitchen before he could
react.

Alex sat tapping his fingers while she
was gone. “Just tell her. The dude is a dog.” He shook his head.
“No, no. You can’t tell her like that, dummy!”

Shauntelle came back in with two tea
glasses. “Talking to yourself in an empty room. Tsk, tsk. We’ll
have to get you a new social life soon,” she quipped. She handed
him a glass and sat down again.

“
Ha, ha.” Alex tried to
force a smile. His face felt stiff.

“
Alright, Alex.” Shauntelle
took a coaster from an end table and set her glass down. “I can
tell when something is eating at you. Talk to me.”

“
Okay. There’s no easy way
to say this. Charles Metoyer is seeing another woman behind your
back. Her name is— Well that’s not important. The point is he’s
been lying to you.” Alex sat back with a deep breath. It was a
relief to finally have said it. He exhaled and drank from his
glass. “Whew!”