Smoke (15 page)

“Heavens no; Amira’s dad is a highly respected person in the community. Our marriage didn’t work but we remain friends. I’m only forewarning you about younger women, Jonathan; not trying to taint Gabrielle’s image.”

“You wouldn’t be able to do that no matter what you say about her. But, you’re a columnist and write factual accounts. I wouldn’t think you would guess on a person’s character without having any facts.”

She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I think I hit a sore spot and I’m sorry I misspoke about your girlfriend.”

He shook his head. “You did hit an issue I have with people making

assumptions. I’m sure if you found out you were being talked about, and not in a positive way, you wouldn’t be happy about it.”

Sandra watched his eyes change and backed off. “I better let you get on your way. Thank you for coming and being Amira’s guest today.”

“No problem,” Jonathan said giving a slight nod of his head. Getting inside his truck he drove off without looking back. Sandra folded her arms across her chest. “You think this is over Jonathan? This is only the beginning my friend. I will not be upstaged by some prissy ass therapist.”

*****

Pam shifted her eyes to her friend. “Please do because I have to know what is causing the glow and big grin on your face.”

“I’m not glowing and the smile is because I’m happy. It’s a beautiful day and the birds are singing and we are alive to enjoy it.”

“I’m all for your testimony but it ain’t the weather that got you smiling from ear to ear. Somehow, I believe that smile is from a certain fireman named Jonathan.”

Gabrielle could not bring the smile down. Salting her fries, she ate a few not releasing any details to Pam who was staring her down. “The fries are fresh today; the grease must have been changed.”

“I’m sure your arteries are happy to hear that. But stop stuffing your face and talk!”

“Alright!” she said pushing the food away. “Pam, I have a new boyfriend and he’s a handsome, strong fireman.”

“I knew it! When did this all happen?”

“Two days ago. He left my house this morning and is coming over tonight.”

“Wow, you’re practically living together. Wait, that big fire was two days ago.

Weren’t you working?”

“I ran into him checking on a member of his team that was hurt. I opened myself to him, Pam. At first he resisted and then he came around.”

“You told him about Dr. Hawke?”

“I told him everything. It felt good to get it off my chest and it feels good to go to bed with a real man holding me. A man that doesn’t want to wear my perfume or care where I buy my clothes,” she chuckled.

“That’s great, Gabby, but don’t move too fast. Find what his faults are before you go falling all gaga over him and get hurt again.”

She frowned. “Hold on a second! You told me to pursue him and now you want me to slow it down? Pam?”

Pam held her hands. “No, no, no, sweets. I’m saying don’t jump in will all your eggs in the basket; leave a little wiggle room.”

Gabrielle’s shoulders slouched. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

Pam rolled her eyes. “Jonathan has faults because no man is perfect. Find out what they are before you get too tangled into him.”

“I do notice he is a little short tempered and seems to pout if he doesn’t get his way.”

“See, you have two traits. You need to know at least five to make sure you want to be with him, and if out of those five, three of them are bad; girl, send him packing.”

“That is good advice but every person has more than one or two bad traits. Can’t we up the trait count to eight?”

“Fine do eight, but the good traits should outnumber the bad; he might be a stallion in bed but you can’t live off sex alone.”

Sticking another fry in her mouth she winked. “Pam, if only you knew; if only you knew.”

Pam raised her eyebrow. “It’s that good huh?”

“The sex is freaking amazing but it goes beyond that. When I met Jonathan the first time, I knew he was different. I thought he was going to be silly and annoying, but he dared me to take him on. He knew once he got me to spend time with him, I would be addicted.”

“Gabby, are you addicted to him already?”

She nodded her head slowly. “Yes. All I do is think about him. I’m like a kid in a store full of toys and candy when it comes to him. Pam, what am I going to do if things don’t work? If I let a cross-dressing anesthesiologist drive me into hiding, Jonathan’s deception will probably turn me into a nun.”

“Traits; it all boils down to his traits. Watch him around other women and how he treats you in an atmosphere full of them. If he doesn’t pay them any attention, then you know he is into you.”

“What if he’s not interested in the other woman, but she is persistent?”

“Then you defend your territory. Let Jonathan see you won’t take any crap—“

“Who am I not taking any crap from, Pam?” Jonathan said approaching the table.

Gabrielle twisted her neck to see Jonathan standing behind her. “What are you doing here?”

Bending his head down he placed a kiss her on the lips. “Mmm, French fries with ketchup.”

Pam gathered her puzzle book and purse and stood from the table. “That is my cue to go. But, before I depart you lovebirds, how about coming to my house for dinner Saturday night? I’m having a few friends over and would love to have you.”

Jonathan shrugged his shoulders. “I’m cool with it if Gabrielle doesn’t have anything planned for us.”

“I have nothing planned,” she said squeezing his hand.

“Great. Gabby, I’ll drop by the lab with the invitation—its’ casual by the way,”

Pam said leaving them alone.

Gabrielle folded her arms leaning on the table. “Have you visited Nick already?”

“No. His girlfriend was sitting with him and I don’t have the stamina to deal with her for more than five minutes.”

“I don’t know Nick at all. When he gets better we’ll have to hang out and get to know each other.”

He took her can of Coke and sipped it. “Trust me you don’t want to know this new and unimproved Nick. A few years ago I wouldn’t have a problem with us hanging out together.”

“Did you have a falling out with him?”

“Babe, Nick has been separating himself from me and Anthony for his own

reasons. I don’t agree why he’s doing it but he doesn’t pay my bills so if he chooses not to be friends any longer; oh well.”

“In other words he doesn’t approve of me being with you.”

“It’s not just you, but the one before you and now Anthony.”

“See, Jonathan. I’m already causing problems for some of your friends. I tend to say what is on my mind. He’d better hope I don’t hear him say anything bad or I will let him have it no holds bar.”

“Who am I to withhold your freedom of speech, but he won’t say anything to you; he keeps all his comments to voice to me.”

“Why are you putting up with that mess? People kill me believing we should all think alike.”

“I visit him because I’m not like him and can look past his denseness while he unconscious, but once he’s on his feet again, I’m out.”

“Are you sure you won’t be uncomfortable around Pam and her friends? I don’t know all her friends but I don’t want to put you on the spot.”

“Nope, I won’t. Gabrielle, I’m not going to cause you any embarrassment when around your friends or family; I’m myself all the time. I don’t pretend to be black because I’m around black people and I don’t expect you to pretend to be white when you’re around my family or friends. If anything, I will embarrass you because I act silly sometimes, but I’ll never pretend to be someone I’m not.”

She folded her slender hand around his, making them into a large fist. Caressing his hard knuckles Gabrielle moved in closer. “Jonathan, I don’t have a problem with any of that. I’m ready to embrace this new and exciting relationship I know we’re going to have. I miss the pampering on special days and I can’t wait to do the unexpected for the man in my life.”

“I’m gonna love being on the receiving end of being your man,” he grinned snidely.

“We’ll see who receives the most fun. I’m going to make you work for every inch of me,” she said tracing his chin with the tip of her finger.

Jonathan took her hand kissing the tip of each finger. “Babe, I’m gonna lay it on the table and let you decide how fast we move.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not going to get rich doing what I do for a living, Gabrielle. I work twenty-four on and the pay sucks but the benefits are good. On my days off I work with troubled kids. I have to add that a lot of relationships have failed because women have a hard time dealing with what we do.”

She nodded her head slowly. “Jonathan, I appreciate you want to prepare me.

We’ll be together when we have time and I’ve worked hard to get what I have. I’m not expecting you to take care of me or drench me with riches. Damn, I almost married a man that had no interest in women, so I’m not looking to rush into anything.”

“He should have seen you naked; that would have turned him straight,” he laughed.

“Well thank the holy heavens it didn’t get that far. Anyways, the invention of the telephone was made for people to communicate and keep in touch; we’ll have to learn to use it.”

“Don’t forget you can drop by the fire station and say hello thanks to the invention of the car.”

“Yeah, I could do that, but the dorm is not private and dropping by the station to say hello or wave as I drive by won’t be the same as…you know.”

He teased her by touching the tip of her nose, “Your mind is going places I didn’t imagine you went.”

“Oh, baby, you don’t know half of where my imagination can go. Anyhow, I have to get to work. What are your plans for the rest of the day?” She asked sliding from the booth.

Standing with her, he said, “I’ll probably meet with Anthony to play a little ball then go home and wait for you get off work.”

“Have fun and I will see you later.”

Seated at table out of view of the new couple, Sandra lowered the newspaper to witness the kiss between Jonathan and Gabrielle. Her hands crumpled the ends of the newspaper frowning. “You bitch! Jonathan DeMinico will be mine and you will not ruin it,” she hissed watching Gabrielle and Jonathan exit the cafeteria holding hands.

Jonathan took a long swig of water from the bottle and wiped dripping sweat from his face. “Damn, I’m getting too old for this shit,” he said out of breath.

Anthony threw the towel over his face stretching his long legs. “Those young boys kicked our asses. We looked a hot mess out there.”

“I hate to admit it but we need Nick; at least he could keep up with these kids.”

Snatching the towel from his face Anthony threw him a look. “Man, we’re letting junior high school boys take us to school in basketball. We can’t go out like this; we’re fireman.”

“We could challenge them in putting out a fire to even the score.”

“Hell, if I had to climb a flight of stairs right now, they would beat me in that too.”

Jonathan laughed. “This is fucking sad, man. I got a date tonight; I can’t go all broke down and sore.”

“Yeah, who is she?”

“Gabrielle. We decided to give it a shot.”

“You da man! You said you would be with her and dammit you did it. So what’s up for tonight?”

“She’s cooking dinner for me or, shall I say she’s cooking dinner for me again.”

“Go on with your bad self, playa. Melanie and I are together again. It ain’t no fighting it anymore; we belong together.”

“I had the pleasure of hearing that from Sandra Rhodes.”

“Why would she call you about that?”

“She didn’t call me. She came to the school after career day this morning. It’s something about her I don’t trust, Anthony.”

“I agree with you on that. She cursed my ass out the other day. Never tell a black woman you choose another woman over her.”

“She gotta get over it. She wasn’t happy when I turned down her dinner

invitation for tonight. When I told her I was with Gabrielle, she got this look on her face that scared the shit out of me.”

“Amira is who I’m worried about. Jon, I think that little girl might be abused.”

Jon turned his neck to stare at Anthony. “What?”

“I’m serious. I think she is being mentally abused by Sandra.”

“That’s bullshit, Anthony. I’ve talked to Amira and she doesn’t seem like a child that isn’t cared for. She’s clean, healthy and gets good grades in school.”

“Man, you can be mentally abused and not show it on the outside. My father beat me down mentally every damn day of my life, but I carried on like nothing was wrong when I was around my friends.”

“Get out! You never said anything and we hung out every day after school.”

“See what I’m saying! Jon, my dad never through I would amount to anything.

Even though I got good grades and made every sport I tried out for, none of that was good enough for him. He would berate me every chance he got. Going to the fire academy with you was my only escape other than joining the service.”

“Your old man was always nice to me. I was pissed at you for not showing more grief at his funeral.”

“That’s kind of hard to do when you’re not feeling the grief. I’m telling you, Amira is being mentally abused by Sandra. I wanted to stick it out for her, but I had to make a choice between Sandra and Melanie.”

“What do we do? Without proof we can’t go to any agency and ask they

investigate. Plus, Sandra works for a major newspaper as one of their star columnist; if no abuse is found, her reputation will be ruined.”

“Jon, I don’t know what to do. Somehow we gotta get Amira to tell us what is going on behind closed doors; without her, there won’t be anything we can do.”

Jonathan shook his head. “Has Amira mentioned her father to you?”

“Nope and Sandra never talked about him either. I don’t believe he’s in Amira’s life.”

“Why did you drop this in my lap, man? Now I have to find a way to help her.”