Drama Queen (21 page)

Roni sped through the streets and pulled up behind Toby's Lexus truck. They hopped out and walked to the front door, ringing the doorbell. They waited a few minutes but there was still no answer. “I know he's here because he has to be at the club by eight. What time is it?”

“Six forty,” Kayla answered. “I thought you had a key anyway.”

“Not yet. ‘Yet' being the operative word. He must be 'sleep.” Roni laid on the doorbell, ringing it five or six times in a row. They finally heard footsteps coming toward them. “About time.”

“Wha . . . Hey, what are y'all doing here?” Toby opened the door slightly, wearing some sweats and no shirt. Kayla tried not to stare at his muscular, chocolate body, but it was hard.

“Hey, sweetie. We came by because we need to talk to you. It's an emergency.” She reached to open the door but Toby stopped her.

“I . . . I was uh, about to jump in the shower. Why don't y'all meet me at the club?” he quickly suggested.

“I told you it's an emergency. And why aren't you answering your home phone? I tried to call on my way over here.”

“I was asleep. Look, I need to go get dressed. I'll check y'all at the club.” He stood behind the slightly cracked door. A movement in the background caused Kayla to frown, but she didn't know what it was. She was gonna find out, though. She looked again and realized it was a foot, without a shoe, dangling off the sofa.

“That's cool. Come on, Ron. You know I gotta pick Day up in a little while. We'll check you later, Toby.” She pulled at her girlfriend's jacket and gave her the look. Roni didn't know what was up and was about to go off on Toby, but she followed Kayla's lead.

“A'ight, Kay. I'll see you later, Ron. I love you.” He watched them get into Roni's car and shut the door.

“What the hell was that? And why are you rushing me? You know Day is with Tia. She could stay there a month and she and Theo wouldn't care.”

“Somebody's in there, Ron. Pull behind that car over there and we're gonna walk back and see who it is. Come on!”

Roni did as she was told and they crept back up to Toby's house. Sure enough, as they peered through the front bay window, they could see Toby hugging that fat nasty Darla on the sofa. Kayla could not believe Toby. He was just as bad as the rest of the trifling, lying men. She turned to see her friend's reaction and saw that Roni was not by her side. She quickly looked around and spotted her in the driveway next door, picking up a skateboard. Before she could react, Roni had tossed the board through the bay window, scaring Toby and Darla. They both screamed and ducked, not knowing what was happening. But Roni didn't stop there. She found a brick and headed for Toby's truck.

“Roni!” Kayla screamed. But the tears that were streaming down her face blinded Roni. She could see more hurt than anger in Roni's eyes and Kayla knew that made her more dangerous. Roni had vowed never to be hurt by any man.

“Veronica! Stop right now. I mean it. Don't make me stop you!” Toby ran after Roni but didn't make it to her in time. The brick seemed to be floating in slow motion as it crashed through his rear window. Kayla grabbed Roni's arm and dragged her to the car, rushing to get away from the now livid Toby. Kayla jumped behind the wheel and tried to think of where to go. They drove around in silence. Roni's eyes glazed over with sadness. Kayla knew the only place to hide. She pulled behind the back of Jett Black. They knocked on the back door and Ms. Ernestine opened it, letting them in.

“Y'all must have really gotten into trouble. Coming through the back door.” She smiled at them, then policed Roni's forlorn face. “What happened, baby? What's wrong?”

Kayla followed mother and daughter into Ms. Ernestine's decked out office and explained what had just transpired between Roni and Toby. Kayla thought Ms. Ernestine would be mad enough to kill Toby, but she just laughed.

“My baby is finally in love. I never thought I'd see the day.”

“I am not in love with him,” Roni told her mother defiantly.

“Yes, you are. If you weren't, then you would've cussed him out rather than vandalize his property. It's nothing wrong with being in love, Roni. That's not a bad thing.”

“I got played. I can't believe I got played.” Roni began to cry again.

A knock at the door surprised them all.

“Ms. Ernestine, it's a man named Toby out here to see you and he is fine,” the shampoo girl, Tameka, came and announced. Roni looked at her mother with a panicked look on her face. Ms. Ernestine touched her daughter's arm and let her know it would be okay.

“He doesn't know you're here. I am not gonna let anything happen to you, you understand?”

“Yes.” Roni nodded at her mother. She sat behind the large desk and looked at Toby in the surveillance camera her mother had, displaying the center of the shop. Ernestine Jett kept watch over her shop even when she wasn't seen.

“How you doing, Toby?” Her mother walked up and gave the handsome young man a hug. “What brings you all the way over here? And on a Friday night, too? Aren't you supposed to be spinning records at Dominic's?”

“Yes, ma'am. I came to see if you've seen or heard from Roni,” he asked her wearily.

“No, I'm sorry. I can't say that I have. Something wrong?” she asked.

Toby looked around at the crowd of women and then mumbled, “Is there somewhere else we can talk? Somewhere private?”

“We can go in my office. Just give me a minute to clear some stuff up,” she said. “Be right back. And Meka, you can look but you'd better not touch.”

“What are you doing, Mama?” Roni hissed as her mother re-entered the office.

“Go in the bathroom and wait, both of you. Don't make a sound,” she told them. Kayla and Roni went into the small bathroom adjoining the office and held their breath.

“I hope your mama knows what she's doing,” Kayla whispered.

“Lord, help her to calm him down so he won't call the cops,” Roni prayed aloud.

They listened as Ms. Ernestine and Toby came back into the office.

“Now, what's going on, Toby? And why is my daughter missing all of a sudden?”

“She showed up at my house unexpectedly this evening and I was trying to help a friend of mine out. A female.”

“A friend?”

“Yes, ma'am. This friend of mine has some heavy issues going on right now and I was helping her deal with them. I told Roni I was kind of busy and thought she had left, but the next thing I know she busts my window with a skateboard and bricks my truck.” He dropped his head toward the floor.

“Are you sure it was just a friend? Roni has never been the jealous type. Did something else go on that you aren't telling me?”

“No, I mean I will admit that the female and I do have some history, but I swear to you, Ms. Ernestine, I would never do anything to hurt or disrespect Roni. I love her with all my heart, and believe it or not, I have never been faithful to anyone until I met her. I know that she is my soul mate and I am not gonna risk losing her for nothing and nobody. I want to marry her. That is, if I have your blessing. But I have to apologize to her for earlier and get her to forgive me.”

“Let me get this straight. You were comforting a friend at your house and Roni got mad and broke your house window
and
your car window and you want to apologize and propose to
her
?”

“Yes, ma'am.” He looked at her like he was confused.

“Toby, are you sure nothing else happened?”

“I swear. The girl was upset because she found out she was pregnant and the father wants nothing to do with her. I was just being a shoulder for her to cry on.”

“And it's not your baby?”

“Absolutely not. I haven't been with anyone since I met Roni and we got together in July. I just need her to forgive me for not explaining and trying to be hush-hush about the whole situation.”

“I think she'll understand. I will do what I can to find her for you. I believe that you love her, Toby, and as crazy as both of y'all are, I think you're made for each other. She tears up
your
stuff and
you
want to apologize. I have heard it all.”

“Thanks, Ms. Ernestine. I appreciate it.” Toby hugged her and left out.

“Girl, if you don't get your behind out here and call that man. Lord, I finally got a wedding to plan!” She hugged Roni and Kayla. Both were still in shock from what Toby had just said.

“And Terrell calls me Drama Queen.” Kayla shook her head at her friend.

“Where have you been and where is my child?” Craig demanded as Kayla pulled up to her house.

“She's at Tia's. What is your problem?” Kayla flared at him.

“God damn Avis has been blowing up my pager and cell phone. She says you got her fired. What the hell is your problem? I told you to stay away from her.”

“First of all, I didn't go looking for her, she came looking for me. She called
my
house harassing me and threatening me and Day.”

“Day? How the hell did she find out about Day?”

“I told her.”

“You did what? I know you didn't. Don't tell me that, Kayla. You told her? So basically what you did was give her a valid reason to take my ass to court for child support and alimony. I told you not to talk to her dumb ass.”

“Look, you two need to take that into the house. You don't want your neighbors to call the cops,” Roni encouraged.

Kayla had forgotten that they were standing in her driveway like common folk. She quickly unlocked the door and went inside with Craig on her heels.

“I didn't give her anything. I am not gonna walk around here like my child is some deep, dark secret to be denied. And her stupid behind would still have a job if she would've left me alone like I asked,” she yelled at him. His pager went off and he pulled it out and looked at it.

“I got a errand to run. I will deal with this shit later,” he mumbled.

“Before you go, let me ask you a question. What restaurant are you working at again?”

“What?”

“What is the name of the restaurant?” She looked him in his eye to see if he could lie to her face.

“I don't have time for this. I'll call you later.” He stormed out of her house. She looked at Roni and told her to come on.

“Where are we going?” Roni asked as they raced to the car.

“Follow him. I don't care what you have to do. Run red lights, stop signs, just stay behind him.”

Roni followed the SUV like a pro. She kept a safe distance and trailed Craig until he pulled in front of a row house on one of the side streets all the way across town.

“What up, Craig? You got that for me?” A tall, dark figure wearing a black jacket approached Craig as he got out.

“You paged me, Fred. If I ain't have it I wouldn't have come. Now, you got my money? And hurry up. I got other business to attend to,” Craig grumbled as he reached under the back seat and got a small bag out. Kayla watched in disbelief as the transaction took place.

“Here, man. Now where's my money?” Craig walked toward the shadowy figure.

“Right here, Player!” He reached into his jacket, but instead of pulling out money, he pulled out a nine millimeter and shots rang out. Kayla opened her mouth and thought the screams were coming from her mouth, but it was Roni's voice. The slim man looked around and ran off, stopping only to pick the package up from Craig's bleeding body.

Kayla rocked back and forth, cradling Craig's head in her arms. She began to pray and let him know he was going to be all right. She tried to look for a sign that he understood, but he never opened his eyes. She could hear the sirens in the distance coming closer, and the flashing lights were soon dancing across Craig's face, but she still rocked and prayed.

“Ma'am, we need to get to him. Are you okay?” the paramedic asked her. Kayla didn't answer. She continued to rock.

“Kayla, let them help him. Please.” She heard Roni's voice in the background. She felt someone gently lift him from her arms and she watched them check for life. It was like she was in a movie.

“Are you okay, ma'am?” again someone asked. “Were you struck anywhere?” Kayla didn't realize what they were talking about until she looked down and saw that she was covered in blood. She shook her head at the police officer.

“It's not my blood. It's his. Is he going to be okay?” She watched as they began performing CPR.

“They're gonna do everything they can to save him. We need to ask you and your friend a few questions.”

“Can we do it later? She needs to make sure he's taken care of first, as well as herself.” Roni put her arms around Kayla. The attendants placed Craig on a gurney and lifted him into the back of the ambulance.

“I need to ride with him.” Kayla pulled away from her girlfriend and ran toward the vehicle.

“It's okay. She can ride,” the officer assured Roni.

“I'll follow you in my car,” Roni yelled.

It seemed as if the ride to the hospital took an eternity. Kayla listened as they made comments in regards to Craig's condition. She tried to understand what everything meant, relying on her memory from watching episodes of ER. Most of it was still foreign, but one phrase was clear.

“He's crashing!”

They scrambled, poking Craig with needles and trying to stop the pouring blood from his chest. Kayla closed her eyes and prayed harder and harder. She could not believe that the father of her child was dying before her eyes. It was too much to take.

They rushed Craig into the operating room and told Kayla to wait. She didn't know what to do. The nurse came over and asked if she was Craig's wife. She thought for a moment and shook her head.

“I'll call his brother,” she said quietly.

“Okay.” The nurse smiled.

Kayla picked up the courtesy phone and dialed Darrell's house. She could hear the panic in his voice when she told him Craig had been shot and he needed to get there right away. He told her it would be okay and he was on his way. Kayla sat on the hard chair beside the phone and tried to think.

“How is he?” Roni asked her quietly.

“They haven't said yet. I don't know.”

“He'll be okay, Kayla.” Roni tried to comfort her friend and began to pray herself. This was why she didn't date thugs. She had been there when they told her mother that her father had been shot over a dime bag of weed. She was only seven years old. She decided right then that her mother deserved better and so did she.

A little while passed and Darrell came into the waiting room along with two people who he introduced as his parents.

“Where is he? What did they say?” Craig's mother asked.

“They haven't come out and said anything yet,” Kayla told her. “He was shot three times, and one of those was in his chest.”

“My God. Where did this happen? And who did it?” She cried, looking to Kayla for answers.

“We were on Brighton Street. We followed him. He didn't know we were there,” Kayla tried to explain. “It was a guy . . .”

“Brighton Street. Why was he over there?” she interrupted.

“He was dropping something off to the guy and the guy pulled a gun.”

“Jesus, I knew he had started selling again.” Craig's father sat down and sighed.

“You don't know that, Eddie. He might have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She shook her head at her husband. She didn't want to think that Craig had gone back to dealing in the streets. He had stopped that a long time ago.

“Mister and Mrs. Coleman? I'm Doctor Win.” The young Korean doctor came into the room, his scrubs covered in blood.

“Yes. How's my boy?” Craig's father jumped up and asked.

“He's stable. The bullet barely missed his heart. We've stopped the bleeding, but these next twenty-four hours are critical,” he informed everyone.

“Can we see him?” Diane asked.

“You can, for a few moments. We are transporting him to intensive care. But you do need to know that he is in a coma.”

“No! How long will that last?” Eddie looked solemn.

“We can't tell you. He may regain consciousness tomorrow, he may never wake up. As I stated earlier, the next twenty-four hours are critical. I'll tell the nurse to come and get you when he's moved.” Dr. Win went back through the doors, leaving everyone to digest what he had just told them.

“He's gonna be fine,” Kayla said. “I prayed and asked the Lord to heal him. Now we just gotta have faith.”

“That's right.”

“Oh, God! Oh, God! Where is he? Craig, Craig!” Kayla heard someone yelling from the corridor.

“Ma'am, ma'am. You are going to have to wait in there with the rest of the family. The doctor will inform you of his condition,” the nurse said loudly over the wailing voice. The door opened and Avis nearly fell through the door, crying as if Craig were already dead.

“Oh, God! Diane, did they say how he was? Oh, Craig, please be okay,” she gushed and fell into Diane's arms.

“Avis! Get yourself together,” Eddie grabbed her by the arm and told her. Avis turned to him and wept even louder.

“Ma'am, you are going to have to calm yourself. There are other families in nearby waiting rooms and you are causing a disturbance,” the nurse warned.

“What the hell is she doing here? Did she shoot him?” Avis rolled her eyes at Kayla. “I thought this was a family waiting room. She ain't family! I am his wife! She is his whore!”

“Avis! That's enough. Now is not the time nor the place,” Eddie warned. Kayla stood up and looked at Roni.

“I think it's time for me to go.”

“You damn right. You shoulda been gone a long time ago, heifer! You know this bitch called and got me fired today, Diane? Now that I'm in her face, she wanna run off. Naw, be a real woman. Face me, you skank.”

“Get out, Avis! My son is clinging to his life and you want to come in here and embarrass him and his family by acting a loudmouth fool. I don't need that, and neither does my son. I am telling you to leave right now or I will have you escorted out.” Diane stood and looked Avis in the eye.

“So now you gon' defend her? I think you forgot who your daughter-in-law was. Better yet, the mother of your grandson,” Avis said in a threatening manner. For some reason, Diane seemed slightly intimidated. Whatever was about to go down, Kayla wanted no part of it.

“We're leaving. I'll call later to check on Craig,” She said to Eddie as she and Roni headed toward the door.

“I'll walk you all down,” Darrell said.

“So now you wanna leave? Before you even get to see him? Typical.” Avis spat the words at Kayla and it took all of her remaining restraint not to swing on the fat cow.

Kayla quickly walked out into the hallway and into the parking lot. Suddenly, she felt someone rushing toward her and she turned just in time to see Avis charging at her. She felt the punch Avis threw as it landed on her cheek. The pain jolted her but she recovered in time to dodge the next punch she threw. All of the anger that had been pent up came gushing out and she proceeded to whip her ass like she had been wanting to all day. Although the woman was bigger than Kayla by about eighty pounds, she was slower, too. After receiving a few blows of her own, Kayla sucker punched her and knocked her to the ground, then dove on top of her fat body, aiming strictly for her face. She showed no mercy.

“Kayla! Kayla!” She heard Roni screaming. The funny thing was that neither she nor Darrell tried to stop her initially. They let her get her hit on for a few minutes until someone yelled that security was on the way. At that point, Darrell lifted Kayla off Avis and carried her to Roni's car. They sped off before he could say a word.