The Improbable (6 page)

           
“What happened, brother? Did you sneak away with a tramp, a queer, what?” Timmy
questioned with his fast jersey accent.

           
My eyes doubled in size and Chris burst out with laughter in the backseat. I
couldn’t help but laugh as well. “Fuck you, brother.”

           
Timmy chuckled. “It’s alright, this
ain’t
nothin’ we
can’t discuss over a few drinks.”

           
There in the heart of the city, we turned into a tree-lined drive that led us
to the city club. Men in polo shirts and slacks were strolling up and down the
fairways, in no rush to get to the next hole but enjoying the day’s weather.
The rolling hills gave the illusion that we weren’t in the middle of the city
at all. A wooden sign with green lettering welcomed us to Chicago’s Prestigious
City Club. We pulled into a circular driveway in front of a massive clubhouse.
Timmy tossed the keys to the valet. Once inside, the three of us headed
straight to the bar to order our drinks before taking our seats at a table. It
took them no more than a few seconds to start hounding me with questions.

           
“So what really happened?” Chris wondered.

           
“Did you sleep with her?” Timmy asked me with devious eyes.

           
“How come you didn’t come back?” Chris asked.

           
“What was the tramp’s name?” Timmy squinted at me.

           
I shook my head. “I didn’t sleep with anyone.”

           
Timmy appeared as if he’d been let down big time.

           
“I saved her.” I said. Both Chris and Timmy’s interest began to show on their
faces.

           
Timmy put his hands up. “Hold the fucking phone,
you
are the one who
rescued Eva-Marie?”

           
I nodded and sipped my drink.

           
“Well goddamn it would you look at that, our chief’s a hero!” Chris hollered.

           
“They arrested me the next morning.” I tensed, reliving the day I was
outrageously disrespected and treated like a criminal.

           
“I’m not surprised. Eva’s dad has his eye on her at all times like a hawk in
the sky. It’s no wonder he had you arrested.” Timmy chuckled.

           
“How do you know that?” I wondered.

           
“She’s Kathryn’s best friend.” Timmy shrugged.

           
“What’d the keeper have to say about you getting’ arrested?” Chris asked about
my father.

           
I rolled my eyes, taking some more of my scotch. “Wasn’t happy.”

           
“You still got a shot as chief?” Timmy inquired.

           
“Of course,” I nodded. “I feel like such an asshole, taking the spot from
people who’ve been there for so long, but what else is new.” I snorted, the
word ‘asshole’ probably came up most of the time when people described me.

           
Timmy nodded. “But you’ve
gotta
do what you’ve
gotta
do, brother.”

           
I shrugged, “Anyways, it’s a guaranteed spot if I crack the case Pop just
handed me.”

           
“Uh-oh, our brother is
doin
’ big things!” Timmy
clapped his hands excitedly.

           
I chuckled at him and shook my head.

           
“What do you have to do?” Chris asked.

           
“Trying to take down Chicago’s Trioxytin producer,” I shrugged. “I’ll be
undercover so from now on I’m not David O’Neil…I’m David Finley. And I’m not a
cop and my father isn’t the chief.” It was imperative that I let them know in
case anyone asked them about me.

           
“So what do you do…?” Chris eyed me.

           
“Can we tell whoever asks that you’re a male prostitute?” Timmy asked, looking
at me expectantly.

           
It went silent as Chris and I stared him down with questioning looks followed
by our laughter. It was a great feeling taking a break away from the
seriousness of the station. “Just say I’m a law student,” I shrugged.

           
“David Finley, attorney at law!” Chris said in a voice that made me sound like
a superhero.

           
“He said law student you goof,” Timmy shook his head.

           
“It’s the same thing you idiot.” Chris argued.

           
“Do you not hear yourself?” Timmy looked at Chris and rolled his eyes.

           
While they bickered back and forth, a couple eating on the porch outside caught
my eye. How long had they been out there? The female was partially facing me; I
could only see her lower profile with her sun hat covering the rest. At least
seven shopping bags surrounded her feet and a black man who I had recognized
from the party sat across from her – Ray. Instantly, I knew it was Eva-Marie. I
wanted to see her; I actually felt…
bad
for being so rude to her.

After
she had blown up on me in the elevator, I was mad at myself for being such a
big prick to gorgeous woman. She had looked stressed as it was and it was clear
that I had only made it worse that day. Everything she had said to me made sense,
she’d set me straight like no one ever had. It was…a bit of a
turn on
.
Something inside of me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on just desperately
wanted apologize to her. I had no plan of action and I didn’t even think she’d
listen to me after the way I acted towards her.

           
Without thinking about it for too much longer, I rose from my seat and made my
way outside. My palms broke out in a cold sweat and I had no clue what I was
going to say. Not even a hint at what I was going to say. It felt like my
throat had gone dry but at that point it was do or die since I was already
standing at their table, behind Ray.

           
“Eva?” I wasn’t sure if I had meant to say her name as a question or statement.
I wanted to go back inside. What was I doing? Usually I had no soft spot for
anyone in my heart.

           
She slowly set down her iced tea. The brim of her sun hat covered one eye but
her dark eye was still as intense as if both were uncovered. My God, those
eyes! Her brown skin looked radiant against the navy blue and floral print of
her thin, short-sleeved dress. Not a curl was out of place and her lips were
colored perfectly red once again. She was every bit as stunning as I
remembered.

           
“Yes, that’s me.” She said. Eva lifted her head and her dark eyes focused on
me. She raised her eyebrows, probably wondering what I could possibly have to
say to her.

           
The man she was with rose from his seat and turned to see me. “That’s Eva-Marie
to you, do you know her?”

           
“I’m David. David Finley.” I answered and offered him my hand to shake.

Ray shook
my hand while he stared at me with squinted eyes. I didn’t like him already
with the way he was staring. “Do you know her, Mr. Finley?”

“I do,
actually. We met–” I began but Eva cut me off.

           
“Ray, honey, this is the man that saved me from drowning the night of the
party.” She stood. “Now I never got to thank you Mr. Finley,” Eva-Marie took a
step closer to me with her arms crossed across her chest, staring at the ground.
“As we’ve discussed before.” Her eyes bore into mine and by that I knew she was
referring to the elevator incident. “And judging by your attitude in the
previous times we’ve ran into each other, I don’t see why I should.” She looked
at me expectantly with Ray behind her appearing as if he was ready to jump
between us at any moment.

I
was in a tough place because I had come to apologize and Eva-Marie didn’t seem
like she was willing to accept anything I had to say. Well if she didn’t want
it she was going to get it and that was going to be the end of it. I didn’t
need her annoying attitude. “Well if you must know that’s why I came out here.
Not for a ‘thank you’ but I, myself, wanted to apologize to you. In the
incidents that occurred between us, I was out of line. I had no right to yell
at you in such a way and for that, I’m sorry. But it seems like you’re not
willing to let it go so I’ll just leave it at that then.” I heard her gasp as I
turned to walk away. I tried to do something nice and she didn’t want to accept
it, I knew I never should’ve walked out there in the first place!

“Hey!”
Ray called. He caught up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

I
turned around immediately and swiped it away forcefully. “You get your goddamn
hands off of me.” My anger began to boil.

“What
in God’s name possessed you to come out here and speak to my woman like that?”
He demanded.

“Maybe
if you could control your bitch and her attitude I wouldn’t be talking crazy to
her!” I hissed, getting in his face. Eva-Marie’s attitude had lit the fuse and
he was going to make me explode. At that point, I was ready to take him out.

“Okay
fellas, okay, c’mon break it up!” Timmy’s voice came from behind me and Chris
appeared in front of me, pushing me back away from Ray.

Ray
chuckled haughtily. “You keep that dog on a leash.”

“Whatever
he says doesn’t matter, man.” Chris said trying to get me to make eye contact
with him.

“As
long as you keep yours on one,” I spat and reluctantly followed Chris and Timmy
back inside.

“What’re
you
doin
’ man? And disrespecting Eva-Marie like that?
She’s like family to us!” Chris exclaimed with his hands up.

“Yeah,
you should’ve seen her face. It looked like you really hurt her.” Timmy shook
his head.

Oh
now I was the bad guy! “Oh please I went out there to apologize and she didn’t
want to accept it.” I defended myself.

“So
she didn’t accept your apology, so what? That gives you the excuse to act out
and hurt her feelings? She’s a female!” Chris explained.

There
was silence between the three of us for a few moments before Timmy spoke up. “I
get you’ve always had a hot temper, buddy. But you’ve
gotta
take control over that thing. Especially here, I don’t need to be kicked out of
this place. We all know my father wouldn’t approve.”

           
I didn’t answer. As I began to calm down, I went over the situation in my head
and felt like an atrocious monster. I hated losing my temper, but ever since my
mom passed it was as if anger was the only emotion that let me know I was still
alive.

           
“You’ve just
gotta
calm down, man.” Chris agreed in a
small voice.

           
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and looked out on the porch.
Ray paid no attention to her as he counted his money for their bill. Eva-Marie
was gathering her bags and hurriedly wiping her eyes before the tears ran down.
I sighed as a pang of shame poked at my heart. I wanted to kick myself! Oh what
had I done? What had I become?

B
irds
chirped, the wind was blowing lightly, and the sun was illuminating the city
from high up in the sky with not a cloud in sight. I was gazing up at the clear
skies with my head resting in my hand, secretly wishing it would rain or there
would be a thunderstorm. Sunny day after sunny day was growing monotonous to me
– somewhat like my life, constantly longing for a change. Most would assume I
was depressed what with desiring rainy days during the short one hundred days
of heat and sunshine; I would say they were depressed for wanting the same
scenery with no variety. The warehouse janitor, Gretchen, had been yapping the
whole time I was spaced out.

           
“You know what I mean, he just never notices when I’m dressed up. You should
teach me, you’re always dressed real nice and I reckon that’s what got you such
a nice man.” Gretchen’s voice broke into my daze.

           
Oh how I wanted to laugh because I had no clue what she was talking about.
“Excuse me, what?” I reached for my cola bottle and took a refreshing sip. We
were outside for our 30-minute lunch break in which Gretchen had spent most of
the time gabbing about…something, I’m not sure what. I definitely wasn’t sure
why she was asking me to help her with clothing – I was nineteen and she was
fifty.

           
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Do you not listen, girlie?” She laughed and
tapped me on the head with a newspaper. “Everyone knows about you two.”
Gretchen laid the newspaper out in front of me and pointed.

           
There in plain view was a photograph of Ray and
I
shopping downtown, the day my parents had forced me to spend the day with him.
I picked up the paper and read aloud: “The number one African-American attorney
in Chicago, Ray Jackson, whom is pictured above, takes Eva-Marie Hutchinson,
the daughter of Ace Cigars owner, out on the town. Could make for the most
powerful African-American couple in the Midwest.” I rolled my eyes and tossed
the paper aside, chuckling when thinking how much I disliked Ray. He was
everywhere
,
it was as if I couldn’t get away from him. My parents fawned over him, so much
to the point where my mother took him out for drinks – without me! I was doing
a good job at pretending for my parents but I was a complete jerk to Ray’s
face. He deserved it.

           
“Well what’d you do that for? That’s a fine young man that you better hold on
to.” Gretchen warned.

           
I scoffed. “Ray is thirty-two years old, he’s not young in any way Gretchen.”
Which was true, Ray was quite old fashion in his ways…just like my daddy.

           
“
Awh
, you don’t know any better dear.” Gretchen shook
her head.

           
I looked down to check my watch, Kate had called to let me know she would be
visiting for lunch however, I didn’t see that happening with only minutes left
in my break. But to my surprise, she pulled up as I was making my way back into
the building. I stood with my hands on my hips and eyes squinted in the sun as I
waited for her.

           
“Good afternoon darlin’!” She waved with a bright smile.

           
“Great timing Kate, I’ve got to go back now.” I whined.

           
She glanced at her watch. “Your daddy won’t mind if I sit with you at your desk
for a while, will he?”

           
I shrugged, “Come on in.”

           
Kate sat in front of my desk and removed her hat before laying down the same
newspaper article I had just gone over with Gretchen. She looked at me with
expectant eyes.

           
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve seen it already.”

           
“So when were you planning on telling me about Ray, Eva-Marie?” Kate asked
after I plopped down in front of her.

           
“
Gahh
! He’s no one important! I don’t even like him!”
I exclaimed with frustration.

           
“Well he sure does look like somebody! And honey this face doesn’t read an
ounce of dislike.” Kate pointed out.

           
“I was shopping, which girl wouldn’t be happy when she’s shopping.” I defended
myself. “Besides, my parents made me to go with Ray.”

           
Kate frowned. “Oh sweetie, why’d they
make
you go with him?”

           
I leaned forward, resting my head in my hands. “They think Ray will make out to
be a great guy for me.” I snorted at the idea and wearily shook my head; time
was ticking and Ray was beginning to look like my only ticket out of the life I
lived with my parents. It wasn’t as if I had men lined up at my door waiting to
be with me.

           
Kate reached out and rubbed my arm. “Oh my…I can only imagine.”

           
“Can we please not talk about it?” I held my hand up.

           
Kate nodded quickly, “Of course baby doll.” Her eyes danced around as she
thought of something else to talk about; her eyes widened and her face lit up
once she did. “Oh! So I heard you were at the city club and met Mr. Handsome!”
She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

           
I immediately knew who she was speaking of – David, the man with the aesthetics
of a Greek God and the attitude of a bitter peasant. In my head I replayed the scene
of the interaction with David at the city club numerous times. Overall, I felt
like he was a mess. He was always so angry and disrespectful! Though I had to
admit that I came off with an attitude first that day….I should’ve just taken
the apology so we could move on from the silent war we had going on. Would
there always be unrest between the two of us? It was going to be difficult
because we had the same group of friends. Thinking about it gave me a headache.

           
“Yeah, David Finley? Don’t give him any praise, his attitude is complete
garbage. He’s bad news.” I shook my head.

           
“Oh please Eva, you know that man is
suh-mokin
’
!”
Kate gushed. “I can see it on your face!”

           
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not reading anything on my face Kate. Yes, I do agree
with you he is attractive but he has a terrible temper.”

           
“So I’ve heard.” She sighed.

           
“How do you know?” I questioned.

           
“He’s Timmy’s best friend.”

           
“Oh, so I take it he told you about what happened at the city club yesterday?”

           
“No, I can’t say he did. What happened?” She asked.

           
“I was eating lunch with Ray and David appeared.” I answered.

           
Kate snorted. “And that’s a bad thing, honey?”

           
“No. Every time I happened to bump into him after the party, he would be just
fuming and angry! So I asked him why he thinks he deserves a ‘thank you’ from
me and he blew up.” I explained.

           
“Blew up?” Kate furrowed her eyebrows.

           
“Yes,” I nodded. “Blew up to the point where he called me out of my name and
nearly ended up in an altercation with Ray.”

           
“Oh my Lord,” Kate dramatically put her hand over her heart in disbelief. “This
man has really got a short fuse.”

           
“Now you see why I said don’t give him any praise.” I told her.

           
Kate sighed. “Well as sorry as I am that your knight in
shinin
’
armor turned out to be a frog…he
is
Chris and Timmy’s best friend.”

           
A confused expression crossed my face. “What does that have to do with me,
Kate?”

           
“As you know we hang out with them all the time. Not to mention the field
get-together we have this weekend.” She mentioned.

           
I rolled my eyes. “Is he going to be there? If so, then I’m not going. Every
time I run into that man he just up and ruins my day.”

           
“Oh stop it Eva-Marie! You’re
comin
’ to the field
this weekend and that’s that. I won’t take no for an answer.” Kathryn crossed
her arms across her chest and turned her nose up at me.

           
Every month, our group of friends would make our way out to an open field in
the middle of the woods. There, we would drink and some would smoke and as it
got dark outside we’d lay and watch the stars. As we would watch the stars we’d
talk about any and everything. It was a great break from our busy little lives.
I wanted it to be relaxing…not a hostile war zone if David was in attendance.

           
I sighed. “I’ll see Kate, I may not even get off work in time.”

           
“Oh c’mon Eva, you’ve never missed one!” Kate whined.

           
“We’ve only had four, Kate.” I rolled my eyes and laughed lightly.

           
Kate hopped out of her seat. “That is beside the point, my dear. The point is
you’re
comin
’ and you’re
gonna
to get over this thing between you and David. Have I made myself clear?” She
spoke in a voice full of authority, making it clear she really wasn’t taking
‘no’ for an answer.

           
“We’re clear.” I agreed reluctantly.

           
A smile grew on Kate’s face. She squealed excitedly and came around my desk to
hug me. “Oh I’d knew you wanna come! Well I’ve
gotta
meet Timmy now, we’re
goin
’ to search for our New
Members’ Ball attire.”

           
“Isn’t that next month?” I asked.

           
“Yes but it’s never too early to have a dress baby doll.” She said.

           
“I know, I know. Well go and have fun, my love.” I blew her a kiss.

           
“That I will!” She began walking out. “Don’t be so tense about this weekend,
it’ll be fun!”

           
“I’ll try not to be!” I called after her.

           
“You never know what’s
gonna
happen!” She called over
her shoulder.

           
Maybe she had a point.