Chapter 87
Nikki's cell phone rang and she saw the call was from her husband. She sent it to voice mail. She was not going to talk to him. Instead, she finished washing the breakfast dishes. The phone rang again ten minutes later.
She pressed the button and again, the call went to voice mail.
The phone immediately rang again. Nikki sighed in annoyance. She knew William would keep calling until she talked to him. She grabbed the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, it's me,” William said.
“I know who this is.”
“So are you going to talk to me now?”
“For what?” she said, sticking her hand into the warm soapy water to pull out the stopper and let the sink drain.
“So we can reconcile,” William said, as if the answer should have been obvious.
“Oh, now you want to reconcile?” Nikki needled. “So, you're tired of Olivia's bed already?”
“I told you, nothing is going on between us.”
“So why are you staying at her house?”
“Because I needed a place to crash.”
“What, you didn't have a home? You didn't have a wife? William, I don't want to hear this mess. Leave me alone. Good bye.”
Again, she hung up on him.
“Why is she being so difficult?” William fumed in frustration, letting the phone clatter onto the desk.
“William, we've got to get a move on. You have to give a speech in forty minutes,” Winston said. “Let's get out of here.”
“You didn't come home last night,” Olivia accused, walking to his desk. She had been on the phone when he arrived at the office thirty minutes ago.
“I was at home. My home,” William said coolly.
Olivia's eyebrows shot up and a vein pounded in her forehead. “You went back home?”
William looked at her sharply. “Yes, is that a problem?”
“Oh. Oh, no,” she said, but he could tell she was agitated. “I just didn't know. You didn't tell me.”
“Olivia, you're not my keeper,” William chided. She was starting to get on his nerves.
“I'm not trying to be,” Olivia shot back. “I'm just trying to be a friend.”
“Well, just chill. I have a lot going on, as you well know.”
“So, are you moving back into your house then?”
William opened his mouth, then shut it. He had no idea. If his wife wasn't there, what was the point?
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“I need a job,” Nikki said flatly. She stood in Joe Smiles's office; on the wall in front of her was a line of dramatic photos, even the accident photo she had taken more than a month ago. “Joe, you've got to hire me.”
Joe chewed his bottom lip and slowly shook his head, his ruddy cheeks flushed. “Nikki, I've told you before, I would if I could,” he said. “But I can't. The newspaper is really concerned about liability.”
“But the charges have been dropped against my husband and those against me have been downgraded to misdemeanors, and I'm paying restitution.” She paused, frustration creeping into her voice. “Well, I would be paying restitution if I had a job.”
Joe continued to shake his head. “I wish there was something I could do. I really do.”
Nikki stood in front of him, despair written across her face. She leaned over his desk. “Joe, come on,” she pleaded. “We go way back. How many times have I freelanced something for you? How many times have I gotten you out of binds with a photo here or a photo there? You know my work.”
“Nikki, it's not about your work,” Joe said in a regretful tone. “You are one of the most talented photographers I've seen in my whole career. That's not the issue. The issue is that legal thing. If it was up to me, I'd hire you in a sec. But it's not up to me.”
“Joe, isn't there something you can do?” Nikki searched his face. “I have a daughter to support. She needs thingsâfood, clothes. I really need this job, Joe.”
But Joe shook his head. “I'm sorry, Nikki. I can't help you.”
Disappointed, Nikki walked with leaden steps out of Joe's office, climbed into her vehicle, and let her head fall to the steering wheel. What would she do? She had to get a job. She had to be able to provide for her child.
Bitterness crowded into her consciousness as she thought back just a few short months. She had been docile and sitting by while her husband practically forbade her to get a job, even declining a photography position at a magazine. And now here she was, almost begging to work and couldn't get anywhere.
I don't know what made me trust my whole future to a man, she thought in anger. I'll never do that again. I don't care how in love I feel. I'll always be able to take care of myself. Thank God. At least I have Danielle.
Chapter 88
Danielle wrapped up her last session and ushered two patients back to their rooms. As she turned to leave them, Nurse Smart materialized at her side. “Hi,” Danielle said, surprise registering on her face.
“I've been trying to catch up with you all week,” Nurse Smart said, with a bright smile. “If you're not doing anything after work, maybe we can grab dinner somewhere.”
Danielle searched her mind for an excuse, but knew she had run out a long time ago. She nodded and patted the woman's arm. “That sounds great. Where do you want to go?”
Danielle sat across the table from Nurse Smart, nodding as the woman chatted in animated fashion about her last relationship. The woman's voice seemed to drone on, and every now and then, Danielle would mutter encouragingly as she let her eyes roam around the room. It never failed, no matter where she was, people would be watching her.
Look at them, checking me out. They don't think I notice, but I do
, she observed, lightly touching her hair and straightening up in her chair.
Moments later, they had their plates. Nurse Smart dominated the conversation, but Danielle did not mind. She didn't have much to say. All she wanted was to get through the meal and return home so she could take a long, hot shower and relax. She was constantly on edge these days and knew she needed to find a way to calm down.
When they parted after dinner, Nurse Smart smiled. “It was really nice spending time with you,” she said. “Maybe we can get together again soon.”
“Sure,” Danielle said and quickly ducked into her Lexus. She waved at Nurse Smart and drove off.
Nikki sat in the middle of the floor at Danielle's, a plastic cup of sweet tea at her side and the newspaper classifieds spread in front of her. Ink stained the tips of her fingers as she scoured the ads, searching for jobs. She picked up the telephone, eyeing the number of a listed vacancy.
“Do you still have the opening for the receptionist?”
“No, I'm sorry, we just hired someone.”
Shoot! “Okay. Thank you.”
She scratched that off the list and called the next. “Is the position for a cashier still open?”
“No, we're not hiring at the moment.”
“But the ad in the newspaperâ”
“Ma'am, we're not hiring.”
Nikki sighed as she pressed the END button on the phone. She had tried getting a photographer's job at the newspaper, had even called the small weekly newspaper to see if they were hiring, but both turned her down.
I don't know how to do anything
, she thought sadly.
Who wants to hire some housewife whose only skills are changing diapers and fixing dinner?
Despondent, broke and near tears, she sighed. She refused to let the tears fall, though. That, she would not do. “I will beat this thing.”
She looked at Psalm, who was sucking a grape Popsicle. “Don't get that on Auntie Dee Dee's carpet,” she told the child.
“I want to see my daddy,” Psalm said.
Nikki stifled a sigh. Of course the child missed William. Nikki touched Psalm's arm. “Okay. We'll call him in a minute, all right?”
“No, I want to call him now,” Psalm insisted.
“Psalm, Mommy's busy right now,” Nikki said. “I'm trying to make some phone calls.”
“I want to call my daddy!” Psalm stomped.
“Psalm, stop that whining,” Nikki said. “We will call your daddy in a moment. For now, finish up your Popsicle and then go on back over there and finish coloring. And please, be quiet. I'm trying to make some important phone calls so I can get a job and get us a new place to live,” Nikki said, wiping a purple droplet from her daughter's chin.
Psalm poked her lip out but did as she was told.
Nikki turned her attention back to the classifieds. She picked up the phone but it rang before she could dial out. “Hello?”
“Hello? I'm looking for . . . is this the Danielle Esperanza residence?” the male voice asked with hesitation.
“Oh, yeah,” Nikki said. “Yes, this is the right number. I'm just a houseguest. I'm her best friend.”
The voice on the other end instantly warmed. “Oh. Nikki,” concern dripped from his voice.
“Do I know you?” Nikki asked, intrigued that he knew her name.
“No, you probably don't,” he said. “I'm sorry. I'm being rude. I'm Raymond. I work with Danielle.”
“Oh, well, nice to meet you,” Nikki said. It felt good to know her best friend had apparently spoken so well of her, if the warmth in the man's voice was any indication. “Hey, I know this is a really bad time for you, but I just want to let you know I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your daughter,” Raymond said.
Nikki almost dropped the phone. “The passing of my daughter?”
“Yes, Danielle told me she died a few weeks ago, from a birth defect, I believe? I know it's been hard on you. Danielle has taken it hard too. We've all been pitching in at work to help her out. Between your child's loss and the murder of her fiancé, she's been through so much.”
Raymond's words clanged around Nikki's head. She managed to mutter a few words to Raymond and tell him that she would let Danielle know he called.
What was going on? Why did Danielle lie about Psalm? A chill ran through Nikki.
Chapter 89
William high-fived Winston and a volunteer rushed to hug him. Olivia eased next to him and planted a kiss on his right cheek. “Congratulations,” she said softly.
“Thanks,” he said and turned to face the room. “This is the break we needed,” he told his staff, with a Tiger Woods fist-pump in the air. “This is excellent news. Thanks to each and every one of you for your hard work and for sticking by me with so much going on.”
The most recent poll results were the first significant pieces of good news for the campaign. His numbers had shot up, he was getting good name recognition and positive identification.
The election was only days away. As chatter erupted around him, William eased down into his seat, and reached for the phone. He had to share his good news with his wife.
“What are you doing?” Olivia asked, staying his hand. “You've just gotten the best news of the season and you're just sitting there? Come on, let's get out of here and go celebrate!”
He put the phone back down.
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Danielle stepped into her condo. “Hey, girl,” she greeted Nikki, dropping her keys to the counter.
Nikki slowly stood from where she sat on the floor, pushing aside newspapers. Danielle cast a sidelong glance. “You all right?”
“Danielle, we need to talk.” Nikki's tone was grim.
“Okay, what?”
“I've seen some really weird things going on lately, and I need to know what's up.”
Danielle grabbed a diet soda from the refrigerator, then turned to face Nikki. “Well, stop acting so secretive. What are you talking about?”
“Someone named Raymond called here for you.”
“Oh, Raymond,” Danielle said, smiling. “He's so cute. He works with me. I'd maybe even be into him, but he is just too nice. What did he want?”
“Well, he asked me how I was doing.”
“So?”
“Wanted to express his condolences for the death of my daughter.”
Danielle stood perfectly still for a beat. “What was he talking about?”
“That's what I want to know. Why would he think my child died?”
Danielle shrugged and turned up her soda, taking a long, slow swig. “He must have gotten you mixed up with somebody else.”
“No, he seemed pretty certain he meant me,” Nikki said, closing the gap between them. “And then I know you were lying about meeting Reverend Chance.”
Danielle's eyes flashed and she slammed the soda down on the counter, spilling a drop. “What are you accusing me of? You trying to call me a liar?”
“Danny, I don't know what's going on.” Nikki reached to touch her friend's arm. “I'm just trying to figure it out. Is there something here you're not telling me?”
Danielle jerked away. “I can't believe this! I've opened my home to you and you come in here snooping around and accusing me of being a liar! I don't have to take this.”
“I feel like there is so much going on, so many questions,” Nikki said. “You seem so . . . different. You're lying. You're being evasive.”
“Don't try to flip this around on me! I'm not the one who is tripping,” Danielle said. “That's you! All I've tried to do is be your friend.”
Nikki held up a hand. “You know what? We're both getting out of control. Let's just take a step back and calm down.”
“No, you calm down!” Danielle said, stalking to her bedroom. “I'm going to bed. I don't need this stress.”
She slammed the door so hard the pictures on the wall shook.