“If I need you, I’ll call. I’ve got a couple of more errands to run. Take care.”
“You don’t like what I’m saying, Mimi, but I’m concerned. I’m only a phone call away.” A pause. “Why don’t you meet me for lunch after you finish your errands?”
“Thanks, John. I’d better not. I feel guilty taking up all of your time.”
“Let me be the judge.”
“Besides, I told Afrika I couldn’t come see her cheer today because I had so much to do.”
“Excuses. Call me when you finish your errands; you make the decision as to where we’re going to eat.”
“You make it hard to say no, John Carroll.”
“I wish I was as on top of things years ago.”
“Well, it’s a little too late. I’ll call you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Mimi smiled as she put her BlackBerry in her purse. She was happy John had turned up in her life at a moment she could use a good friend.
Mimi turned on the ignition and sped away from the gun shop. Was she only getting the gun for protection or did she really want to see Victor dead? The gun was not in her possession at the moment. Yet, it was in Victor’s best interest to be on his best behavior because she hated him, and nothing at this moment would keep her from blowing that imbecile away if it came to that.
29
Brenda put food in Beyonce’s bowl. Beyonce was Persian—the outline of her face a dusty brown color that matched the color of her tail, while the rest of her body was white. She stood in full cat stance with her fluffy tail waving in the air, waiting for Brenda to move away so she could take advantage of the food and milk that had been set out for her. Brenda stooped down and rubbed Beyonce’s back. The friendly purr came on cue.
“What’s up, Mom?” Trevor asked, dashing into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and took out a carton of juice. He got a tumbler and poured juice until the glass was filled.
“What’s up with you, Trevor? Looks like you’re in a hurry.”
“Yeah, I’m going to Central’s game. Going to watch Asia and Nikki cheer.”
“You mean Afrika?”
“Nikki, Afrika, all the same person.”
The mention of Nikki’s name made Mimi’s reveal rush back to her. She wasn’t sure how she felt now that she knew that Nikki… Afrika, was Victor’s child as well as that of her best friend. She wanted to accept the situation as Mimi presented it, but the reality of it all made it a bitter pill to swallow. She jumped when the phone rang.
Brenda snatched the phone off the hook before Trevor was able to get it. She looked at the phone as if it was a foreign object and brought it slowly to her ear, sure it was Victor on the other end getting to offer up a string of lies as to why he didn’t come home. She sighed and then answered.
“Hello.”
“Mrs. Bailey?” said the gentleman on the other end.
“Yes, it is. May I ask who’s calling?”
“Yes, this is Sgt. Lewis from the Durham Police Department. We’ve apprehended a suspect in your hit and run…a twenty-year-old man without a driver’s license. We have witnesses that put him at the scene, and he’s confessed. I know that you are recovering, and we’ll drop by sometime this week and give you all the particulars for filing your insurance claim. We’re glad to have him off of the street.”
“Thank you for the good news,” Brenda said. “Thank you again for calling.”
“You’re welcome,” Sgt. Lewis said and hung up the phone.
Brenda put the phone down and stared off into space.
“Earth to Mother,” Trevor hollered.
“I was far away. Good news, though. They found the person in my hit-and-run accident.”
“That’s good news, Mom. Where is Dad?”
“I don’t know,” Brenda said matter-of-factly. “He didn’t come home last night.”
Trevor frowned. “He’s still up to his same old stuff.”
“What are you talking about, Trevor?”
“Mom, I’m not blind. Please. Everyone knows that your husband ain’t a saint.”
“Enough. He’s also your father.”
“Whatever. Don’t take up for him, Ma. He’s a snake in the grass. I didn’t ask to be his son, but I am. I hear what people say about him, and for sure, I see how he treats you when he doesn’t think anyone is looking. Please. I thought you would’ve dumped his ass a long time ago.”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Mom, you’ve got to stop covering for him. It’s his dirt; let him climb out of the