I nod though she cannot see me. I understand now. I don’t like it, but I get it. If tonight goes wrong, she needs to leave behind a champion who will fight for her. I grip the phone, anxiety makes my hand shake.
“Or you can let me go with you and fight next to you.”
“Beau…” Her voice sounds sad, tired, and frustrated.
“I know. I know. You have to do this. Promise me you’ll be careful. Please tell me you have a plan.”
“I do.” I can’t see her, but I imagine she’s nodding right now.
Mel knocks on my door. Then tiptoes in with a package. I nod at her and wait until she’s gone again.
“Looks like I just got the package.”
I rip it open to see what’s inside.
“Good. Good,” she repeats.
I don’t want our phone conversation to end, but I know she’s preparing to leave.
“Can we talk a little longer?”
“I can’t.” Her voice breaks, and I know she’s trying not to cry. I know how she feels. I want to cry.
“Please…”
“I have to get ready. Don’t give up on me, yet.”
“Never.”
Celeste
I sigh hardwhen I return the phone to the cradle. Trudy—Gertrude insisted I call her by her nickname—and Ernest are old school. I like having the landlines; it makes me feel young again. I wipe at the tears and fall back on the bed. All I want to do is curl up, pull the cover over my head, and stay there for a year. I cannot. I have a meeting with the Devil and his coven. The last thing I want is to face the Chesterfields, but I know this is my only way back to Beau. I have to sever this tie once and for all. Now that I have more motivation than ever, I must follow through with my plan. It’s necessary. I’ve been in hiding for almost five weeks, but my life has changed dramatically. I must slay the beast.
I’d taken a shower before I called Beau, and now, I’m allowing myself to air dry. It’s what I do when I’m being lazy, stalling for time, or am tired. In this case, I’m all of the above. I watch the ceiling fan rotate as I think about the conversation that prompted the immediate need to finish my divorce.
Last week, I woke from a terrible nightmare. In the nightmare, Wes had found me and was trying to choke me in bed. I couldn’t get him off. I couldn’t scream, and Ernest wasn’t around. I woke up a little sweaty and my mouth was dry—something that was starting to become the norm. I threw on the robe Trudy got me and prodded off to the kitchen. I was thirsty, scared, and hungry. It was a weird combination, but it’s what I had.
I’d glanced at the wall clock and realized that at one in the morning, it was still early enough for me to get back to bed after a snack and still get a decent night’s rest. I sidestepped Trudy and Ernest on the couch—they were night owls so I wasn’t surprised they were still awake—and kept my eyes on the prize, Trudy’s homemade apple pie. Man, I loved that woman and her cooking. I cut enough for two slices, and by the time I’d tossed it in the microwave and retrieved the ice cream and caramel sauce, Trudy and Ernest were at the table waiting for me.
I poured myself a huge glass of cashew milk because the only dairy I liked was cheese and ice cream and joined them at the table with my goods.
“You look mighty hungry, Celeste.”
The way Ernest said it had me checking my reflection in the stainless steel. Did I get an extra chin, are my arms saggy, do my thighs shake? If so, it’s Trudy’s fault. She’s a baking goddess. Deciding I look fine, I shrug and take a big bite of warm, apple pie.
“So good. So. So. Good.”
Trudy and Ernest stare at each other, then Ernest gives me his patented I’m-going-to-get-to-the-point look. I knew I was in for a conversation I didn’t want to have. I thought it was going to be of the-either-pay-the-grocery-bill-or-stop-eating-all-our-damn-food variety.
“That’s the fourth nightmare this week. Are you finally ready to tell us about it?”
I knew he didn’t believe me when we first met. I hold up a finger and take a satisfying gulp of my milk. If this would be my last meal at the Dewberry residence, I need to savor it.
“I knew you didn’t believe me.” I take another bite and moan my satisfaction before elaborating. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth. I just needed time and for the conversation not to be the official record.”
They nodded, kept their mouths closed, and waited for me to spill.
“What I will tell you is between us. No official capacity as a doctor or law enforcement. Just me and the people who feeds me the best food ever.”
