Misty (32 page)

“We're in Mexico, remember, hon? I don't think we'll find those dishes on the lunch menu here.” Jacob clasped his wife's hands and kissed her on the cheek.

“What kind of treatment are they using on me? I honestly feel like I could get out of this bed and run a marathon.” Elaine laughed heartily.

Jacob glanced at Misty and mouthed the words,
Thank you!

 

A
nya's father's worldly goods included a battered wallet that contained his Pennsylvania identification and appointment cards for the city health clinic. But he'd left behind a gift that she'd cherish for the rest of her life—a small photo album with pictures of her parents and her, depicting happy times together. Some pictures brought back wonderful memories and others were taken too far back for her to recall. But seeing her parents together, smiling and happy, gave her a warm feeling inside. They were together now in the afterlife, and one day she'd join them. Until then, at least she had some proof that she'd once been the cherished child of loving parents.

•  •  •

Brick wanted to come clean with Thomasina and tell her about Misty's miraculous healing capabilities and her ability to walk, but Thomasina had so much animosity toward her daughter, he doubted if she'd be happy about the turn of events. If she found out that Misty was earning millions of tax-free dollars, she was liable to alert the IRS, and so Brick refrained from bringing up Misty's name.

After returning from Mexico, he was suffering from jet lag and was running a little late to pick up Little Baron for nursery school.
When he arrived, he was dismayed to find his son dressed preppy-style in a button-down shirt, a vest, Dockers, and even a bow tie. “Why you got him looking like he's on his way to Oxford University or somewhere?” he asked Thomasina.

“He's going to that fancy school, and I figured he should look the part,” she responded.

“The other kids don't wear designer clothes. They dress in regular play clothes.”

“My son is not any regular kid. He's taking leadership classes with a bunch of white kids and I want him to stand out. He's gonna have to learn to work twice as hard and to dress to impress.”

“You got my little man looking crazy. He's gonna stand out like a sore thumb, looking like he's ready to play polo or a game of croquet,” Brick said sarcastically, and then removed the bow tie and tossed it on the coffee table. “We're running late and there's no time for him to change, but in the future, dress him in clothes that he can rough-house in. Dressing him like a little scholar will make him a target for bullies. Is that what you want?”

“No, but I think he looks suave and handsome,” Thomasina said stubbornly.

Brick groaned and said, “Come on, Baron. Let's go to school, man.” He told himself that from now on, he'd have to keep an emergency change of clothing in the car for his son.

After getting Little Baron strapped in the back seat, he noticed a late-model, light-blue car pull up across the street. The car moved shortly after he pulled off and proceeded to tail him to the expressway. Though the driver stayed three or four car lengths behind, Brick was certain he was being followed.

He wondered if he was being followed by someone working for Jacob Mendelsohn. Had the man's wife taken a turn for the worse, causing him to want to seek revenge on Misty? Fucking around
with Misty always brought chaos into Brick's life. He bitterly recalled how his face had gotten carved up by a ruthless drug dealer back when he and Misty were teens. Misty had screwed the drug dealer over, going on shopping sprees with his money, but Brick had been the one to pay the cost. Having his face disfigured had turned him into a monster that people pointed at, and his reckless behavior had been a reflection of shame and self-loathing.

Thomasina had given him back his confidence; for that, he'd always have love for her.

Glancing in his rearview mirror, he could no longer see the blue car. Maybe he'd overreacted. With all the supernatural occurrences he'd witnessed with his own eyes, there wasn't any wonder that he was edgy and somewhat paranoid.

The only drawback to his son attending school in Society Hill was the horrendous parking situation in that area. Forced to park several blocks away from the school, he cursed when he realized he didn't have any change for the parking meter. Running super late, he had no choice but to lift Little Baron in his arms and speed walk to their destination. When they neared the school, he lowered his son to the ground and held his hand as they entered the building. The moment they arrived in his classroom, Little Baron let go of his father's hand and scampered off with his classmates.

It was a joy to see his boy fitting in and enjoying the new environment. With all her faults and flaws, Misty made a good call when she suggested enrolling Little Baron in an exclusive nursery school.

With less than fifteen minutes to drive to work in the crawling, downtown traffic, Brick hustled back to his car. He was braced to see a ticket plastered across his windshield, but was totally unprepared for a sight that was so glorious and so surprising, he let out a shocked gasp.

The mysterious blue car was parked behind his, and standing outside the car was Anya, and her whole face lit up when she saw Brick. Fearing that his eyes were deceiving him, Brick rushed forward, arms extended, his groping hands anxious to touch and hold her. It was a dream come true when seconds later, Anya was in his arms.

“Baby, baby, baby! It's so good to see you. I thought you were in Trinidad,” Brick said in a rush of words as he squeezed her tight.

“There wasn't anything for me in Trinidad, and so I went back to Indiana, but that's a long story. I know you told me to stay away, but I was in Philly, and I needed to see you before I left town.”

“Did you find your pops?”

Anya shook her head. “He's dead. All my searching was in vain; he passed away from cancer a few years ago.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and Brick held her closer, rubbing her back as he comforted her. She wiped her eyes, and attempting to lighten the mood, she said, “I saw you with your son. He's getting big; he's handsome, and looks exactly like you.”

“That's my little man,” Brick said proudly. He glanced down at his watch and realized he'd never make it to work on time.
Fuck it, I'm calling in sick today.

“I didn't know if you were locked up or not and I asked the private investigator who looked into my father's situation to get me an address for you. I'm sorry if I seem like a stalker lurking outside your house and following you to your son's school, but I was desperate to see you once more.”

“It's okay. My wife and I aren't together anymore.”

“You're not?”

“No, we're in the middle of a divorce. I have my own place. I stop by her crib in the morning to take my son to school.”

“What happened with Misty? Did she pull through?”

“Misty's doing fine. Came out of the coma. Her story is so incredible, you're not even gonna believe it.” Brick looked around as if suddenly noticing the passersby that were briskly walking up and down the sidewalk, and having to navigate around him and Anya. “I'm skipping work today, so let's get out of here. I'll tell you everything over coffee and breakfast. There's a place I like that's not too far from here.”

“Why don't we go back to your place? I'd love to cook you breakfast. For old time's sake,” she added with a bright smile.

•  •  •

Sitting on a kitchen stool, Brick couldn't take his eyes off Anya as she bustled around the kitchen. “This can't be real. I know my ass is dreaming, and I'm gonna be mad as fuck when the alarm clock wakes me up,” Brick said, grinning at her.

Anya returned the smile and then her expression went serious. “What's going on with Misty? Is she able to communicate? Is she in a rehab facility?”

Brick inhaled deeply. “Man, I don't even know where to start. Well, first of all, yes, she can communicate and, no, she's not in a facility.”

“Where is she?”

“She was living here for a hot minute.”

“You're kidding.”

“She had nurses taking care of her. But anyway, let me back up and tell you how it all went down. When she came out of the coma, I was so relieved that she was all right, my feelings got confused and the two of us sort of hooked up again.”

“Hooked up? In her condition?”

“It wasn't about a sexual relationship. I was prepared to commit to her unconditionally, you know. Then weird shit started happening.”

“Like what?”

“First of all, she developed the ability to read people soon after coming out of the coma.”

“I've heard of people emerging from comas with new abilities.”

“It freaked me out.”

“I can imagine.”

“The way it worked with Misty…well, if she touched someone's hand, she could see scenes from that person's past and future.”

“Wow,” Anya said incredulously.

“There was a big write-up about her in the newspaper and people started sending her donations. Long story short, a dude from a rich family paid for cosmetic surgery to fix her face. After her surgery, we moved in this place together. Shortly after that, she had dental surgery, and when she came out of anesthesia, she had another ability.”

Anya raised her brows in curiosity.

“She was able to lay hands on her paralyzed arms and legs and suddenly she could walk.”

“Brick, that sounds impossible. Do you think she was faking her paralysis the whole time?”

“No. She had a severe spinal cord injury. As strange as it sounds, it's true. Misty is making a killing healing rich folks. I work with her as her part-time bodyguard, and I've seen the miracles she can perform with my own eyes.”

“Okay,” Anya said doubtfully. “So, did you two end your relationship on good terms?”

“Kinda, sorta. We had some bumps in the road, but we see eye to eye now.”

With her back to Brick, Anya flipped pancakes and scrambled eggs in a frying pan. “I was in a relationship also. With a drug dealer. He got killed,” she said softly, leaving it at that. The pain was too raw for her to provide details, and Brick didn't push.

Brick walked up behind her and embraced her from behind. “I'm sorry to hear that, babe, but on the bright side, I'm happy to have you here with me.”

Anya turned around and faced him. “His name was Sergio Travares, and although I had strong feelings for him and despite the fact that I miss him so much, I have to admit, that I never stopped loving you, Brick.”

“I feel the same way, and I realize I was foolish to let you go. But I thought I was gonna get locked up, and I honestly believed that I was doing what was best for you.”

“Things worked out the way they were supposed to. If we were together when Misty woke up, what would have happened between us?”

“It's hard to say.”

“I think you know the answer, Brick, and that's why we had to go our separate ways.”

“But things are different now. Misty and I are over. Nothing more than business associates.”

“I believe you. I know you wouldn't lie about something like that.”

“You mentioned that you were only passing through Philly. Where are you going?”

Anya shrugged. “No idea. I'm gonna travel for a while, and maybe one day I'll find a place to settle down in—a place to call home.”

“Home is right here with me, baby. If you give me another chance, I swear, I'll never let you down again.”

Anya didn't respond, at least not with words. She lifted her chin, offering him her lips, and Brick delicately pressed his lips against
hers. The sexual chemistry between Anya and him had always been powerful, and he should have been prepared for the jolt of passion that shot through him, and the immediate hardening in his groin, but he wasn't.

Not wanting to appear that he was trying to rush her into something she wasn't ready for, he pulled away. “Is the grub ready, yet?”

“The food can wait, but I can't,” Anya said, turning off the burners and covering the pots and pans.