Hidden Intentions 2 Read online

  “Call me Jill, please. Your parents raised you right, but I prefer Jill.”

  I laughed. “Okay, I will.”

  “If those sixteen hours shifts are getting too much for you, let me know. A change of pace isn’t a bad alternative.”

  I stood to shake her hand. “Thanks.” I walked out of her office feeling good that someone cared.

  After examining my patients this morning, I had worked up quite an appetite.

  “So what dish are we having today?” I asked Evita after entering the nurses’ lounge. I was starving, and the lingering smell of her food down the hallway wasn’t making it better.

  Evita was from Puerto Rico and loved cooking us different dishes from there. She, Karen, Donna, and I got together every other month to learn and experience a new entrée. And I’d started looking forward to spending time with them. To be honest, I loved coming to work. It got me out of the house and motivated me to keep life going.

  “It’s a chicken dish,” Karen answered, setting the table.

  Karen and I had been working together for two years. Right now, she was going through a bitter divorce with her husband, Cole.

  Seven months ago, one day after she’d had back surgery and was laid up in the hospital, he decided to end the marriage. What a jerk! After all of that, she still wanted him. Karen was too nice for her own good.

  During the course of their six-year marriage, Cole did a lot of soul-searching to supposedly find himself. What he needed to do was find a job. He rarely worked and used going to school as an excuse to quit his job at Barnes and Noble. I truly think some people want to make going to school a lifetime career, instead of facing everyday realities such as the mortgage, light bill, and car insurance. Periodically, I reminded her that mean girls finish first.

  Thankfully, they didn’t have any children together. And since she made way more money than he ever would, Cole was under the delusion that he would get to keep the house and she’d have to continue to make the entire mortgage payments.

  “Yes, ladies, it’s chicken with red and green bell peppers and rice and beans cooked in olive oil. I used Goya Sofrito and Adobo seasoning on the chicken, dropped in diced garlic and onions in the beans, and put in a little bit of seasoned salt in the rice for added flavor. When the chicken was fully cooked, I added the peppers and oregano. Then, I let it simmer for fifteen minutes, and listo! Let’s dig in.”

  “Sorry I was late. My patient almost broke her hip trying to get to the bathroom by herself. Mrs. Epstill refuses to use a bed pan.” Donna shook her head after cracking open a can of Seagram’s ginger ale.

  Ever since graduating nursing school, she and I had been partners in crime. Donna was a hard worker and dedicated to her patients. Not to mention, she had a pretty good lucky streak. Within the past three years, she and her husband had won many radio contests and sweepstakes, which included free airfare, lavish hotels, and spending money. Having VIP status and rubbing elbows with Vivica Fox, Alicia Keys, and Kanye West at the BET Awards was one of her unforgettable trips as well as backstage access to the Grammy Awards. Donna was given the opportunity to meet Maroon 5, whose lead singer, Adam Levine, is a real cutie. She also met singer John Mayer, who was nothing but a gentleman to her.

  I bit into the chicken. “This is good, Evita.”

  “Thank you.” She nodded. “I buy most of my poultry and seasonings from Montego’s. They sell everything fresh and organic, which makes the meal even better.”

  Donna said, “Nya, I appreciate you taking my shift last week. The kids had a ball at Disney World. It was hard to get them to leave the Magic Kingdom and try other parks.”

  “You’re welcome.” I smiled.

  “Hey, ladies. Hello, Karen,” David Smith greeted us.

  “Hi,” we replied in unison.

  David was a pediatrician and was not only loved by the children, but the women as well. He was a male whore who loved them and left them. He loved to mix business with pleasure and continued to make the mistake of using the hospital for picking out his victims. In fact, a few nurses refused to work with him because of the way he treated them.

  “Karen, call me later. Bye, ladies,” he stated and walked away.

  We all turned to look at Karen’s blushing face.

  “What?” she asked, her hands up.

  “Nothing.” I giggled and continued eating.

  “I slept with him about a week ago,” Karen declared. “It was good. Plus, it took him no time finding my G-spot. Since then, I haven’t bothered to call him. He’s used to women drooling over him. For the first time, I took it for what it was–sex.”

  “No wonder you have that huge smile on your face,” Donna commented.

  “Wow!” It surprised me to hear Karen talking like this.

  “Will you see him again?” Evita asked.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Everyone started laughing.

  “How is Tory doing these days? Is he getting any better?” Donna inquired, changing the subject.

  “Ever since his father passed away, he’s become depressed and has been drinking heavily. He won’t get help, and I don’t know what to do at this point,” I explained, tears in my eyes.

  “When I wake up, I cry. Before I go to sleep, I cry. Whenever I look at him or think about him, I want to cry because I feel so helpless.”

  “Give it time, Nya.” Evita gave me a tissue. “He’s going through a hard time right now.”

  “Donna and Evita, you two are older than me and been married longer than me. I just figured the older you get, the less problems you have,” I said, shrugging my shoulders, fidgeting with a piece of red pepper. I’d suddenly lost my appetite.

  “Do you want to leave him?” Karen asked.

  “No, I don’t, but I can’t live like this forever. Besides arranging a nice candlelit dinner for me like a month ago, Tory treats me as if I don’t exist. Alcohol and home movies of his father is what he cares about. Last week, he was up in the attic drunk, of course. He didn’t bother to turn on the light and tripped over a box, almost breaking his nose.”

  “You will have problems till the day you die,” Evita commented. “You and Tory need to work through them. It’s the key to a good marriage.”

  “Don’t leave him,” Karen advised. “Maybe you can have a psychiatrist come to your home.”

  “Yeah,” Donna added. “It’s a good idea, since he doesn’t want to leave the house.”

  “I will try it. I’m open to any new ideas. Thanks for listening to me.”

  “No problem.” Karen squeezed my hand. “I’m always here for you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Donna added.

  “I speak for everyone at this table. We all want to see you happy, Nya.”

  “Thank you, Evita.” I nodded, feeling comforted, as I dried my tears.

  Chapter 14

  “Nya, is that you?” Tory asked after I dragged myself in the house after yet another long shift.

  “Yes,” I answered.

  “Come here,” he barked from the living room.

  “Baby, what will it be tonight?” I asked sarcastically. “Some Captain Morgan, Johnny Walker, or Jose Cuervo? I bet they can all suck your dick better than I can!” I screeched, stampeding into the kitchen.

  “I want to talk, and not about my drinking, please. I’m so tired of hearing your mouth.” Tory came running after me.

  “Talk about what?”

  “Well, I’ve been going to Pop’s gravesite a few times a week.”

  “Is it before or after you go the ABC store to pick up alcohol?”

  “Right now, I don’t need your lip. Will you just listen to me please?”

  “My listening ears are on,” I snapped, folding my arms.

  “When I was at the gravesite, I received a revelation. I want us to have a baby.”

  “Is that the revelation?”

  “Yes.”

  “We’re not ready for a baby. No, what I meant to say is, you’re not ready
for a baby,” I replied, shaking my head.

  “I will change. I want to be a father. I waited for you to finish school and start your own career. It’s time to start our family.”

  “No, I won’t have a baby with you!” I shouted.

  “Why?”

  “Because I have a drunk for a husband! You can’t even take the trash out or go get groceries, even though you’re home all damn day. Last week, I asked you to put air in my tires. What did you tell me? You were too tired and you were going to take a nap. You couldn’t even do that for me, but you want to have a baby? A child is a huge responsibility and you don’t get nap breaks. You also can’t just pick up and go when you want and be gone for as long as you desire, like you do now. Having a baby is a lifelong commitment. Tory, are you truly willing to give up the bottle to have a baby with me? That’s what you’d have to do. You look me in the face and tell me you’re going to stop your drinking. If so, we can get started and make a baby right now. I love you, but this marriage is spiraling out of control.” I started crying, my head on his shoulders.

  “I can’t promise you I’ll stop drinking. Besides, it’s not that bad.”

  “So stop then, if it’s not that bad.”

  “I can’t,” he shouted rubbing his temples together with his fingers, making me feel as if the mere sound of my voice was giving him an excruciating headache.

  “Then I can’t have a child with you. I refuse to have a baby and watch you pick up an alcohol bottle for yourself instead of a baby bottle for your child.”

  “I’m sorry.” He tried to hold me close.

  “Don’t touch me. Until you get your ass together, I don’t want to hear any more of your revelations. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a drunk and you’re selfish, which is a deadly combination.” I pushed him away and stomped up the stairs.

  Chapter 15

  After taking a hot shower, I dozed off to sleep. When I awoke, I looked out the window to see if Tory’s truck was in the driveway. Last night, he didn’t bother coming home till three in the morning. The bars allowed him to drink in peace. I was wondering if tonight was going to be another repeat. The house phone rang.

  “Hello?” I answered, groggy and hungry.

  “She’s driving me crazy,” Yvette said.

  “What did Grace do today?”

  “Grace, the worst mother-in-law has turned my whole family against me. She’s taking over my house. Even Smoky will go to her first, instead of me. I’ve had that cat since we were fifteen years old.”

  “I know.” I nodded.

  “If I suggest cooking anything for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Jarvis has to ask his momma if it’s all right with her.”

  “What? I know she’s diabetic, but you can always fix her something separate. Or Grace can cook something herself.”

  “That’s right. Grace uses her diabetes as a way to control the kitchen. Last week, Jarvis and I went to dinner. My parents watched the kids. She got upset that it was just the two of us going and got on Jarvis about how she’s tired of having to limit what she can eat. Then she went on and on about how she wished she could go to a restaurant and eat anything she wanted. She pulled such a guilt trip on him, Jarvis decided to stay home with her. It’s hard for him to see through her schemes. He’s such a momma’s boy, it’s ridiculous!” She exclaimed into the phone.

  “Did you talk to him about it?”

  “Yes. He said that’s his mother, and I make him feel as if he has to choose between her and me. Grace is miserable that her husband left her, but I can’t blame him. She nags the hell out of me and she questions my every move. ‘Where are you going? What are you doing? What time will you be back?’ And she tries to control everything, like it’s her house. I put out clothes for the kids to wear, and she will go right behind my back and put out clothes she wants them to wear. It’s the little annoying things that are adding up.”

  “I don’t think you’re trying to make him choose. You just want a balance between the time he spends with his mother and you.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Why can’t she move out into her own place?”

  “She’s stubborn. Jarvis’ father offered her the house, which is already paid for, but she refused. She would rather control my house. On Sunday, she cooked dinner even though I had already cooked pork chops. Jarvis got mad with me because I wanted our family to eat what I made for dinner. He’s starting to nitpick and point out everything I don’t do that his mother does. What he needs to be looking at is everything I do for him and our family instead.

  “No one is perfect.”

  “Something is going to have to give. I can’t live like this any longer.”

  “Do you think she’s jealous of you?”

  “Well, Grace has mentioned a few times she regretted getting married too early and not going to college.”

  “That could very well be the reason why she’s resentful toward you. You went to college, have a wonderful career, and established a beautiful family. She never worked a day in her life and didn’t have many options but to be a stay-at-home mom. Most of all, you married her son. You know how mothers are when it comes to their baby boys.”

  “What should I do?”

  “Stop talking to Jarvis, because it’s a dead end. If I were you, I would make her life a living hell to the point where she wants to leave. That is your house, husband, and kids; remember that.”

  “You’re right. Thanks, girl. I’m about finished folding clothes and will be heading to bed. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  The next morning I found the truck sprawled over the lawn and Tory lying next to it. Again. I was amazed that he could make it all the way home but couldn’t make it into the house. I parked the truck in the driveway and left him right where he was.

  At seven thirty on the dot, I turned on the sprinklers. I laughed so hard seeing him run in the house cold and wet.

  Chapter 16

  Walking into my parents’ house, I smelled chili simmering on the stove. Leah was supposed to be joining us as well. I was hoping she’d bring her three hundred and fifty dollar payment for this month instead of making me drive over to her house tomorrow.

  “Hi, Daddy.” I greeted him with a kiss on his left cheek. He was sitting on the couch watching the evening news on NBC.

  “Hi, baby. How are things going with you and Tory?” he asked with a look of concern.

  “I’m all right and working hard. My husband is still having a hard time with losing his father,” I explained, twiddling my thumbs. Talking to Daddy about what was going on at home always made me nervous.

  “Yes, indeed, it’s a terrible thing to lose your father. I count my blessings every day that your granddaddy can still see another day. I know Tory’s been hitting the bottle hard.”

  I was surprised Daddy knew Tory’s dirty little secret. “How do you know?”

  “Well, I saw him at the liquor store a couple of weeks back.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yep. He was pretty loaded up.”

  “Wow!”

  “Let me say this. I’m only going to say it one time. If Tory puts his hands on you, one of us is going to die that night. Leah and you are all grown up, moved out, and got good jobs and all, but I’m still your daddy and y’all still my babies. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir, I understand. Just so you know, he hasn’t put his hands on me. He’s not crazy or stupid. You see, Daddy, I believe a bowl of hot and steamy cream of wheat being thrown in his face should teach him a lesson if he ever puts his hands on me. That, along with a cast iron frying pan to the back of the head.”

  “I’m glad we understand each other.” He chuckled and gave me a handshake.

  “It’s time to eat,” Mommy interrupted.

  “Hey, Mommy.” I greeted her in the kitchen with a hug while Leah placed an envelope of money in my jacket. I didn’t notice when she walked in the house. “Good girl.” I nodded my head.

  “You’re welcome,�
� she replied, rolling her eyes.

  Not wasting any time, I fixed a bowl of chili piled with chopped sweet onions, extra cheddar cheese, a few drops of hot sauce, and a dollop of sour cream. On the side, Mommy made corn and raspberry muffins with fresh lemonade. She’d made the lemonade not too sweet, just the way I like it.

  “So how’s work at the hospital?” Mommy asked while I dried the last dish.

  “Delivering babies is in my blood. I love it.” I giggled.

  “How’s my son-in-law doing?”

  “He’s been drinking a lot, hasn’t gone back to work, and is still in a rut. I don’t know what to do.” I placed the dish in the cabinet. “At times, I feel as if he can’t stand the sight of me. Deep down, it hurts bad.”

  “Tory is hurting too.” Mommy started rubbing my back.

  “It’s hard, Mom.”

  “Nya, you married him for better or worse. I know you’ve been struggling for a while now. Honey, just be a little more patient with him. Soon, he will stop living with the dead and come back to life. You can’t relate to how he must feel to have lost his father. You and your sister are blessed to still have your father and I. You don’t know how you will react when either of us passes on.”

  “You’re right about that, Mommy.” I began to think that, at times, I’d been a little insensitive, especially with my comments.

  Seeing my parents lifted my spirits. It’s funny. In my teens, I always thought they were a constant nag and roadblock to what I wanted. Now that I’d grown up, I realized they were the friends I never knew I had in my corner.

  Chapter 17

  Four pizzas and a bucket of hot and mild crispy chicken wings from Cal’z Pizza Place awaited me at the front door.

  “Hi,” the delivery guy stated after I opened the door. “The total is forty-seven dollars and twenty-three cents.”

  I handed him a fifty-dollar bill. “Keep the change. Thanks.” I smiled as he gave me the food.

  Two weeks ago, a drunk Tory walked into the sliding glass door and broke his nose. I thought seeing his friends would cheer him up. He was a little excited about Alex, an old college buddy, and his best friend Kevin coming over to watch the basketball playoffs with him. Even though I’d bought soda, Tory wasted no time bringing out the tequila, whisky, and Coronas from one of his many hiding places. Not to mention, Kevin pitched in and bought a bottle of Bacardi rum. Unfortunately, Neither Alex or Kevin was aware of Tory’s recent drinking problem. I prayed that he wouldn’t drink too much tonight, since I knew not drinking at all wasn’t an option for him.