At first, I decided not to let him in. With my car gone, he might assume I wasn’t home. “Gazelle, I know you’re home. Open the door. Don’t make me kick it in.” I opened it, glared at him and went back to sit down.
”What rock did you crawl out from under?”
“Don’t get all evil with me. I came over to grovel and beg forgiveness.”
“Go to hell. You came over looking to get laid as usual. Well, here’s something I know you’ve heard before. I’m not in the mood. I’ve got a headache. It’s that time of the month. I’m just not interested. Now go home.” I got up to open the door and he slammed his hand against it.
“I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.” I refused to answer him. “It’s too quiet in here. Where’s Sam?” At the mention of her name, I crumbled and started crying.
“Gazelle, you’re scaring me. Where’s Sam?”
“What difference does it make? You wanted me to kill a child, maybe I started with Sam. Shouldn’t really make any difference which child you kill, right?” He stared at me like I had lost my mind. I just kept looking at him. He looked away first. I walked past him to sit down.
“Point taken.” I just continued to glare at him. My phone rang but I refused to answer it.
“Are you going to get that?”
“No, it’s probably just Phil since I’m sure she sent you over here.”
“She called and said you sounded funny then asked me to check on you. Why do you need checking on?”
“Like you don’t know. I know Phil couldn’t wait to give you the rundown. Why don’t you tell me what you know so I can avoid repeating myself?“
“Phil said you had a bad day. She mentioned your car not working, an argument with your dad, her giving you a ride home and that I should see how you were doing.”
“I swear that woman needs a life. “
“She’s just concerned about you. Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Everything and nothing. I miss Sam so much. She always makes me laugh.”
“Where is she?”
“At the parent’s house. They decided to keep her overnight after agreeing to bring her home. I’m being punished for getting pregnant again. No car, no kid and the cold shoulder. Just what I needed today. Nothing like people telling you what to do to make you really crazy. Were you aware that my unborn child is a curse? Sent by the devil just because I’m sleeping with someone else’s husband. In case no one informed you, I’m a whore and whore’s children are cursed. I’ve got you telling me to flush this child down the drain. Phil telling me another child is a mistake and now the parents keeping my child from me just because they can. The only person who’s been the least bit kind to me today was Nancy. I’m so sick and tired of people in my business, messing with my head and hurting my heart. Now, is that enough information for you so you can tell Phil you did your duty to check on me?” Fletcher stared at me for a couple of seconds then came across the floor, pulled me up and hugged me.
“I’m not helping you at all, am I?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry. I was being selfish. It didn’t occur to me what another child would mean for you. Everyone looking down on you, ridiculing you and being judgmental. Did your father really say all of that?” I shook my head yes. “I really should have come and given you a ride to work. He’s a real piece of work but who am I to talk. Look, if you want this baby then have her. Why are you so sure it’s a girl?
“I dreamt about her. I’m naming her Tiffany.”