“Pick up where? In Cherokee Springs?”
“No. In Atlanta.”
“What’s going on in Atlanta?”
“Zoe had an accident. I need to head up there and check on her.”
“Oh my God. Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I’m going to find out.”
“I’m sorry. Let her know she’s in my thoughts, and keep me posted on her status. What time will you be picking up the car?”
“First thing in the morning. I’d like an early reservation if you can get one. I’m thinking about six in the morning.”
“Are you flying in? Where are you landing? And when will you be returning the car?”
“Yeah, I’m flying into Peachtree. I’m not sure when I’ll be returning the car, but let’s reserve it for two days. If I need itany longer than that, I’ll let you know. But I’ll be returning it to Laramie Falls.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll send you the details shortly.”
“Thanks, Shaniece.”
“No problem. Have a safe flight, and Ash?”
“Yes?”
“I know this isn’t easy for you. I know that she hurt you, but I pray that she’s going to be okay. Be safe and keep me posted.”
“I will. On both accounts. Thanks, Shaniece.”
“You’re welcome, hon. Goodbye.” She rushed off the phone.
Both Shaniece and Amélie, along with Coach and my family, had seen how badly Zoe had treated me over the years, and all of them were opposed to any type of reconciliation between us. Whereas Amélie was like my big sister, Shaniece was like my little one. Both ladies were just as protective as my real sister, Corinna.
“You okay, baby?” Chanel asked, twirling one of my braids again.
“Yeah. Just ready to get up there, make sure she’ll be fine, and bring my black ass home.”
“I tell you what. How about we take a shower, let me give you a massage, and we can call it an early night since you’ve got to get up at the butt crack of dawn?”
“That sounds like a plan, but I need to pack first,” I replied, yawning.
“Come on. I’ll help you pack,” she declared and jumped up from the couch.
She took my hand and led me into my large walk-in closet. I glanced up at the ceiling and said a simple internal prayer of thanks and asked the Lord to please help me not screw this one up. Chanel was everything that I needed in a woman.
I didn’t pack much because I had no intention of staying more than one night, if that was necessary. But I did want to make sure that I checked in on Zoe. When I arrived, I saw the media out front. With all that we had gone through in the last month, it was no surprise that the media wanted to see if the celebrity four-time MVP champ would show up at his ex-wife’s side.
Because she had anticipated it, Amélie arranged for me to enter the hospital from a private entrance. I was signed in under an alternative name, Andrew Malone.
I had been sitting by her side for more than two hours as she slept. Thankfully, the car accident didn’t do major damage other than a broken leg and bruising to her ribs and chest. The person who beat her had taken a bat to her back, hip, and arms. She had covered her face and head and largely avoided damage there. The assailant initially hit her in the face with the bat. But when she had gone down, she immediately covered her face.
The police feared that she might have been killed after the attack, had it not been for a police car coming by at the time. The driver had taken off upon seeing the police cruiser.
When she had finally awakened, I had been escorted out of the room so that first the doctor and then the officers could speak with her. I was allowed in with the warning that I would only be able to stay for a short period.
“You came,” Zoe declared when I walked back into her room. There was some swelling to her face, and her words were slightly slurred, thanks to her swollen lips.
