Chapter 69
Danielle chose not to attend Troy's funeral that weekend, but Nikki still knew her friend's mind would be on the service. She dropped Psalm off at Keedra's and took a bag of groceries to Danielle's.
“I thought I'd fix us something to eat and we could hang out and watch movies or something,” Nikki said.
“I'm not really in the mood.”
“Well, that's okay,” Nikki said. “I know you're probably preoccupied. You can go lie down if you want and I'll just be in the kitchen. I just wanted to be with you today. Because . . . well, just because of everything.”
Danielle peeked into the bag. “Did you bring any ice cream?”
“No, you want ice cream?”
“Yeah, I'd love pralines and cream,” Danielle said, taking a bite of a slice of pizza she pulled from a plate in the refrigerator.
“Okay. Well, I'll just run back to the store.”
Danielle smiled. “Thanks. Get some potato chips too.”
Nikki had thought the food she brought would be enough, but she didn't want to upset Danielle anymore than she already was. So she grabbed her keys and left to get ice cream and potato chips for her friend. Her mind raced as she drove to the grocery store. So much was going on that it was hard to keep it all straight. She was really worried about Danielle, especially because her friend didn't talk much about what was truly bothering her. Losing Troy had to have been a tough blow.
That thought reminded Nikki about losing her own manâmaybe not to death, but it hurt just as much. And that thought prompted another one: If Spencer wasn't behind the leak to the press about the credit card scam, then who was?
Nikki fixed a lunch of smothered chicken, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. She also prepared bananas Foster, one of Danielle's favorite desserts. As she washed the dishes following their meal, Nikki could see her friend's mood seemed to have lifted.
“So, how is work going?” Nikki struck up conversation.
“Girl, don't even ask,” Danielle replied. “I have this lesbian nurse hot on my tail, and I'm trying to keep her at bay.”
“Is she harassing you? Why don't you report her?”
“No, it's nothing like that,” Danielle said. “She's not harassing me. She just keeps dropping hints that she wants to go out.”
“What, are you giving off gay signals now?” Nikki laughed.
Danielle grinned. “Maybe. I'll do whatever I have to, to get what I want. And if that means skinning and grinning in some lonely woman's face, then I will.”
“Danielle, you've got to stop playing with people's emotions.”
“Well, you just have to know what people want. Then you tell them what they want to hear. If I happen to make a comment here and there about how pretty she is and she gets confused and thinks I like her, is that really my fault?”
“Well, just be careful. I'm just glad we're friends because I know you could be one dangerous sista,” Nikki said.
“You got that right.”
Chapter 70
Danielle lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling while Nikki vacuumed. It was such a shame about Troy. Danielle shook her head. She recalled his visit following that blowup at his place. He had barged into her condo, and after they satisfied their lust, he told her he knew she was the one who had his car towed. He had gone outside ready to drive to work the next morning, only to find an empty parking space. He had cursed at first, sure thugs had stolen his SUV. But a few phone calls to some questionable associates had revealed the car wasn't stolen, but was at a scrap metal lot. He paid big bucks to recover it.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” Danielle had feigned innocence.
“Right,” he said, “and I'm Santa Claus.”
“I'm serious,” she had insisted, but he shook his head.
“You are one slick woman,” he said, running his hand along her thigh, “but I'll let that slide, 'cause you know how to hook a brother up.”
She licked her lips and the conversation was forgotten.
And now he was dead, shot to death and burned. Somebody must have been pretty upset with him about something.
Poor Troy.
Chapter 71
The October primary election was just as Olivia and Nikki had predicted. William collected enough votes to keep him in the race for the big election in November. He didn't even take time to celebrate, because that smaller election felt just like a dress rehearsalâhe hoped the general election would produce the win he wanted. Now the contest was between Lo Dark and him.
He had to commend Olivia. In just a short time, she had helped raise his visibility and had given him the edge among the mostly unknown lot running against Dark. Reverend Hick's church had turned out in huge support, as had the members of several other congregations. Now the campaigning kicked into a higher gear as William closed in on Election Day.
Winston kept William busy with back-to-back appointments. William thought if he had to eat one more rubbery piece of chicken and dry potatoes at some civic club luncheon, he would assault the next person who came bearing the offending meal.
But this was all part of the process. And now that the charges had been dropped and he was the lone challenger to Dark, he was working furiously to get people to forget about their earlier suspicions. Now, as he sat at his desk and read over polling data, he shifted in his chair and rubbed his neck. Pain radiated up and down the right side, into his shoulder. He couldn't even turn to his right, without feeling as if something were pressing into him. He sighed, and stretched.
Olivia looked up from her work. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said. “My neck is just tight after sleeping on that cot again.”
William had been tempted to return home at the prospect of spending yet another night on the narrow cot in the corner of his office. But he pushed the thought from his mind.
“It's no wonder,” Olivia said. “You've been sleeping on this ridiculous cot for what, two weeks now? You're coming to my house, and I'm not going to take no for an answer.”
He held up his hand and shook his head. “No, it's okay. I'm fine sleeping out here.”
“No, you're not. Now, when I leave tonight, you're coming with me.”
Chapter 72
Nikki was in no hurry to return to the home that seemed so quiet without her husband, but she knew it was time. She gathered the movies and her purse.
“So, are you sure you're going to be all right?” she asked Danielle.
“Oh, I'm super,” Danielle said.
Nikki hesitated, but knew she had to ask. “Danny, would you mind if I ask you a question?”
Danielle peered at her. “Sure. What?”
“I spoke with Spencer the other day.”
“You talked to Spencer?” Danielle sat up on the couch. “For what?”
“I asked him if he spilled it about the credit card. He said he didn't.”
“Well, what did you expect him to say?” Danielle snapped.
Nikki shook her head. “I don't know,” she said. “But I think he's telling the truth. Which brings me to my question. Are you sure nobody else knew about what we were doing?”
“What, do you think I had something to do with the leak?” Danielle looked hurt.
“No, no,” Nikki quickly backtracked. “I meanâ”
Danielle let out a disgusted grunt and lay back down. “I can't believe you're questioning me like this,” she said. “There is no way I would have done that to you. I didn't go and blab to the newspaper. Besides, why would I do that? I'd get in trouble too.”
“I'm really sorry,” Nikki said. “I was out of line to even question you like that.”
“Yeah, you were,” Danielle said. “After all this time, you're acting like you don't trust me.”
What Danielle had done all those years ago to make Nikki doubt her trustworthiness was in the past, Nikki reminded herself. “Forget I said anything.” She leaned down to hug her friend. Nikki turned to leave, then stopped. “You know, I've been wondering something.”
“Yeah, what?”
“Is anything that Reverend Chance told you back then helping you cope now, with this new tragedy in your life and all? Is that why you're so relatively calm?”
“Reverend Chance?”
“Yeah, you know, from your counseling sessions.”
“Oh. Yeah. He gave me a lot of really good information. I'm so glad we bumped into each other that day at the mall.”
“At the . . .” but Nikki bit off her words. Instead, she hugged her friend. “If you need anything, just call me.”
Driving home, Nikki's eyes narrowed. She had suspected Danielle was lying about her acquaintance with Reverend Chance, but now she knew for certain because Danielle must have forgotten she had told Nikki she met the pastor at the grocery store. The second time, she said it was the mall.
And what about the credit card leak? Surely Danielle wouldn't go to the newspaper about that behind Nikki's back. But Nikki had to admit, Danielle had betrayed her before. Nikki tried to push from her mind how she felt when she found out Danielle had slept with Nikki's boyfriend while Nikki was home on semester break visiting her family. They had been young and immature then. They had been through a lot and Nikki had forgiven Danielle.
But nagging doubts remained. Her best friend was lying about something. But what was it? And why was she lying?
Chapter 73
William pulled up to the house. He was surprised at the twinge of disappointment he felt at seeing Nikki wasn't home. He let himself in and walked to the bedroom. The house was neat. The cream-colored bedspread covered the bed, with pillows crowning the top. He pulled open a drawer and grabbed more clothes.
He shoved the clothes into his bag and zipped it. He slung it over his shoulder and turned to walk to the door when he almost bumped into his wife.
“Oh. Hi,” she said. “I saw the car outside and was wondering what was up.”
“Yeah,” he said, shrugging the bag on his shoulder. “I needed some more clothes.”
The hopeful smile Nikki had disappeared at his words as she spotted the bag on his shoulder. “Oh. You were just getting some more of your things?”
“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat at the awkward moment. “I needed some more underwear and shirts.”
“So where are you staying?”
William's eyes shifted just over her head then back to her. He cleared his throat. “Oh, you know, here and there.”
“You're not still sleeping at the headquarters, are you?” Nikki frowned. “That won't do your back any good.”
“I'm fine.” He didn't want to discuss where he was sleeping.
“Well, if you're not there, I know you must be at your mama's house.” Nikki tried not to roll her eyes. “I'm sure that's all she needs. She's probably badmouthing me every day, telling you to run to get your divorce.”
William let the conversation die, and silence hung between them. Looking at her standing there, looking as pretty as the day they met, he wanted to take her in his arms.
But he didn't.
They stood for a moment, both wanting to say so many words, but neither knowing exactly what to say.
“Well, don't let me hold you up,” Nikki said. He knew she thought she was sounding cheery, but the sound was shrill. “I know you were on your way out when I walked in.”
“Oh. Yeah,” William said. “Well, I'll see you around.”
Chapter 74
Nikki sat down hard on the bed in the room William had just so casually left. How could he look her in the face and act as if she were a stranger? She had tried to be nonchalant with William, though her heart felt as if it would split with every syllable he uttered as he said, “Well, I'll see you around.”
Like I'm a freaking dog he saw on the street
, she thought despondently.
She reached for the cell phone. The distance was too much to take. Nikki couldn't stand being separated. She would just apologize again, even beg at his feet, if necessary. She just wanted her husband back. Nikki felt as if she could not live without him.
“Hello?” William's quick hello startled her.
“Hi,” she said.
“Yes?”
“I . . . was. . . .” She cast about for the words. How could she let him know that she would simply die if he didn't come back to her? Didn't he already know she couldn't survive that?
“Spit it out, if you have something to say,” William said.
“Will . . .”
“Look, Nikki, I'm on the phone with Olivia. What do you want?”
“Oh. Well, I'll let you get back to your call.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
Nikki felt her mouth go dry and a lump lodge in her throat. She could feel the distance between them growing. Would William ever love her again?