Choose Wisely (21 page)

             
Sandy entered the room and sat by my side. She looked like she had lost her best friend.

             
“I’m so happy you’re awake. You were in a coma for a week. Squeeze my hand to let me know you understand,” I did as I was directed and listened to her carefully.

             
“Someone attacked you last week. Do you have any idea who did this to you, if you know who did this squeeze my hand,” I didn’t move.

I attempted to talk but of course I was unsuccessful.

              “Don’t try to speak. It’s okay the truth will come out eventually. Do you have any memory of what you were doing before you were attacked? Once again I didn’t move. I was overwhelmed. Who would want to hurt me? I was interrupted in mid thought, when I felt one of her tears touch my face. I felt helpless, like I was less than a man. My woman was hurting and there was nothing I could do about it.

             
She stood wiping the tears from her eyes.

             
“You look tired. The doctor told me not to wear you out,”

I grabbed her wrist shaking my head no. I prayed to God to make her understand I didn’t want her to go. I needed to know what was wrong with me. I knew her to well she was tryi
ng to shield me from something. I stared into her beautiful brown eyes. Praying that she would detect what I wanted from her.

             
After wiping the tear from my eye, she sat back down and explained to me what was going on. She told me the doctor said that sometimes after having a serious head trauma, the patient may have trouble speaking and walking. She told me not to worrying she was going to be with me every step of the way.

             
This was crazy. I knew what I wanted to say, it just wouldn’t come out. Wow was this how babies felt. We would listen to them trying to speak but never really understanding. I was going to have to learn to walk and talk all over again. How could this be? God why me?

             
Sandy excused herself and exited the room. I closed my eyes hoping I would fall asleep. Maybe after I woke, I would realize that this was all a bad dream. Of course I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

             
I heard the door as it cracked open. Sandy entered the room with Melissa behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers. She sat the flowers on the table, and then turned to face me. She quickly bent down and kissed my forehead.

             
“Hey brother, I guess I can call you brother since you and Sandy will be getting married soon. I’m going to be praying for you. Her voice was cracking. She was getting emotional.

             
“Listen I’m not going to stay long. I know you need your rest. You get better soon because you have to walk down the aisle and make my sister an honest woman,” she smiled.

I grabbed her hand squeezing it tightly. I wanted her to know I understood every word. I was going to walk down the aisle and say the words; I do.

             
I decided to take Sandy out to eat. She had been by Dontae’s side since the attack. She needed to get out the hospital at least for a few hours. I pulled up to
Red Lobster,
which was located on Route 22 in Harrisburg. We went inside and we’re seated right away. I was glad because normally there would be a long wait.

             
We ordered our food and drinks all at once. Sandy didn’t want to leave Dontae alone to long.

             
“So how are you?” I asked.

             
“I’m just tired,” she stated looking around the restaurant.

             
“Where is the waitress with our drinks? He just woke up a few hours ago. I shouldn’t even be here,”

I noticed the situation was taking a toll on her. I reached across the table and held her hand.

              “We don’t have to stay. We’ll just tell the waitress we changed our minds. We want to take our food to go,”

She took a deep breath and let it out.

              “Thank you. This is a lot for me to deal with. So I can only imagine how he feels,”

I
spoke to the waitress and explained our situation. She said as soon as the food was done she would box it up, and bring it to our table.

             
“Are you okay? This is a lot to deal with,” I said.

             
“I know. But he needs me. This is the man I plan to marry. I’m going to be by his side through better or worse,”

I admired the love they had for one another. I hoped Tyrone and I would get to that place one day. I still hadn’t told my family he moved in. It was so much going on. I decided that my news could wait.

              I parked my car in the hospital parking lot. I turned to my sister, who looked like she was in deep thought.

             
“Do you want me go back inside with you?”

She placed her hand on the passenger’s side door latch.

              “No I’m fine. I’m going to eat this food in the cafeteria and then head back upstairs. Thank you for coming!”

I leaned across my console and gave her a big hug.

              “Call me if you need me, I’m going to go home and straighten up before I have to pick up David,”

             
“Okay love you!”

             
“I love you too,” I said.

I sat in the parking lot, until she w
ent back inside. I sped off, wanting to make it home before Tyrone did. The apartment was a mess and I didn’t want to hear his mouth. He was such a neat freak.

             
“Hey, baby.” Lexi came into my room wearing a tight- fitting dress and, a pair of black high heel boots. Since I wasn’t able to speak I didn’t’ bother trying.

             
“I’m glad to see you’re awake. I spoke with your doctor. He told me that you loss some of your memory,” she strolled up to my bed grabbing my hand. “I know you’re not speaking at the moment. But you do understand right?”

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure why she was here. I just wanted her gone before Sandy came back.

              “You do understand right?” She yelled.

I squeezed her hand. Letting her know I understood.
The last thing I needed was her crazy behind making a scene.

             
“I know you don’t love me and that’s okay,” she smiled

             
“I know you’re in love with Miss Goody-Goody. I don’t have the slightest idea why,” she said while rolling her eyes.

I closed my eyes wishing I could yell. What did she want? I prayed she’d just spit it out!

              “Do you remember our last time together? If you don’t remember nod your head,”

I shook my head letting her I didn’t remember.

              “Umm….. That’s all right. I’ll just refresh your memory,” I watched her reached down inside her purse, pulling out her cell phone.

She hit a button and put the phone to my ear. I heard my voice as well as hers. It sounded like we were having sex.

              She removed the phone from my ear.

             
“In case you didn’t know. That’s me and you having sex last week. You sounded like you were really enjoying yourself. I had stopped by your house last week. Do you remember the good news I had for you? It doesn’t matter. I’ll just tell you again. I’m pregnant Donate. And the baby is yours,”

             
I tried once again to speak. But I still wasn’t able to form a word. I didn’t remember sleeping with her. Or her telling me she had a baby on the way. I couldn’t let Sandy find out. She would leave me for sure. Lexi bent down whispering in my ear.

             
“Calm down baby. I only told your girl about the pregnancy. Her finding out we slept together is up to you. About a month ago you tried to write me off. Telling me that would be the last time I asked you for anything,” she laughed.

             
“Well you see now I’m not asking. I’m telling you. You’re going to give me whatever I want. If you don’t Miss Good-Goody to know that you’ve been a bad boy,”

She walked over to where my personal items were sitting.

              “Is this the keys to club and the safe?”

I shook my head yes.

How could I have been so stupid? Lexi was a gold-digger and I just got played.

             
“Don’t worry Papi. I don’t plan on breaking your pockets too bad. You see I tried to love you but you didn’t want that. Now it’s time to get mines for me and my kids,” she smiled rubbing her stomach.

             
As soon as I heard the door open I knew who it was.

             
“What are you doing here?” Sandy hissed.

             
“I was trying to have a conversation with my baby daddy,” Lexi boasted.

Sandy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She slowly walked over to Lexi and stood directly in front of her.

              “You need to go now! And as far as a baby is concerned talk to us once you have a blood test. Until then we’re not claiming nothing!” Lexi took a step back and smiled.

             
“Don’ worry I was just leaving. I got what I came for and as far as my baby is concerned. Dontae is the father. Trust me on that!”

We both watched as she marched out the door.
I knew Sandy was pissed. She didn’t say a word. She just took my hand and laid her head on my chest. I rubbed her head praying to God to help me out of this predicament.

             
It was several hours before I actually made it home. I had stopped to see my father and grabbed a few items from the grocery store. I had found out that one of Tyrone’s favorite foods was parmesan chicken. I was planning a romantic dinner he would never forget.

             
I pulled into my parking lot, and grabbed my bags out the back of my car. I was out of breath by the time I reached the last step leading to my apartment. I know my father wanted my sister and me never to rent a bottom floor apartment. But sometimes I felt like the first floor wouldn’t be so bad.

             
I was surprised when I unlocked my door and found Tyrone sitting on the couch.

             
“Hey baby what are you doing here?”

             
“Is there a problem with me being here?” He frowned.

             
“Of course not,” I said nervously.

I jumped as he took the grocery bags out of my hands. I didn’t know what was wrong with him. But I felt something deep down in my bones that something wasn’t right.

              “Why are you jumping? Did you do something you weren’t supposed to?”

I had no clue what he was talking about. All I wanted to do was come home and prepare a romantic dinner for him.
‘I ain’t got time for this.’
I thought.

             
I turned to walk away. He quickly grabbed my arm and tossed me on the living room floor. I tried to get up. But he pushed me back down. Before I knew it he was top of me with his legs straddled around my waist. I struggled to break free. He was just way to strong and heavy for that to happen. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a letter.

             
“Are you still fooling with this nigga?” He shoved the envelope in my face so hard; I could feel the paper cut forming on my forehead. I begged him to let me up. He ignored my pleas. I felt the tears as they rolled down my face.

             
“Answer me! Are you fooling with Darius?” He yelled.

             
“No I’m not fooling with him or anybody else,” I cried.

He sat up still not removing himself off of me.

              “Well let’s see what ya man got to say,”

I watched him open the letter. He began reading it aloud.

              “Dear, Melissa I’m sorry about our visit. I said a lot of things I didn’t mean. I just want you to know I love you and I’m sorry. I spoke with my lawyer today. He thinks he can get me acquitted. That means I’ll be home before you know it,”

He threw the letter on the floor.

              “Explain to me why he would be telling you he’s coming home?”

I gu
ess I didn’t answer fast enough because the next thing I felt was his hand smacking me across the face. He hit me so hard; I could taste the blood in my mouth.

             
“Answer me!” He demanded.

             
“I don’t know!”

             
“Stop lying bitch!”