“Whatever.” I snatched the blanket off and walked them into the small area we had the washer and dryer in.
“I’m sorry about all of this Kat.” That was the nickname my mom gave me as a kid.
“It’s fine.”
“No it’s not. Raul had no business kicking in the door.” Putting the soap powder in the washer, I listened to her say how he was sending someone over to fix it and that it won’t happen again, as long as she answered his calls when she’s here. They were both on some bullshit and I was over it.
Walking into the living room, two men were standing there with a brand new door along with tools, a small work bench and saw.
“How the hell did he get them here so fast and where did they get a door from?” Sariah shrugged her shoulders and went to sit on the couch.
As the men fixed the door, all I could think about was the Cairo guy and how rude he was. His words were harsh yet he told no lies about my appearance. He didn’t have to say a word but it was what it was. It had me feeling some kind of way and from now on I will keep myself up even if I am at home because you never knew who would come over.
“All done ladies.” The two men spoke after about an hour. I thanked them and handed each one a ten dollar bill.
“Thanks but the cost was more than ten dollars.” Sariah jumped off the couch and walked over to where we were.
“We thought Raul paid.”
“No. Senor said, the ladies will pay and don’t accept any money from the one with braids.” Right then we both knew Raul was being smart.
Sariah had micro braids put in last week because we were going to the Cayman Islands in two weeks. She didn’t want to get them right before we left because it hurt and she didn’t want to have headaches the entire time. We were going to celebrate me becoming a phlebotomist and lab technician which were two different positions.
The phlebotomist takes the blood and prepares the samples for the lab. The technician actually performs the analysis on blood and other bodily fluids. My goal was to become a manager at the lab I’m currently working at and eventually open a free clinic for patients who can’t afford health care. Blood work is expensive and people won’t get it done due to not having insurance which could be fatal. Opening a clinic would help and the tests could be done there too.
“How much for the door?” Instead of arguing or waiting for Sariah to ask Raul why he didn’t pay, I grabbed the credit card out my purse. I barely used cards due to the interest rate but it was an emergency. Once I paid the $500, not only was I pissed but ready to call it a night. The price was steep because it was last minute, a hard-core door of some sort, the labor, and I had to pay for the doorknobs.
“I’m sorry Kat. I sent the money to your phone.” Sariah started grabbing her things to leave.
“What’s wrong and why did you send me the money? You know I’m not mad at you.” Sariah had a way of being upset and not saying a word. She’d just leave and call the next day like nothing happened. It was how she coped with things and I’ve never said a word.
“It’s not that. I’m just pissed that I fell in love with an asshole. I mean he broke the door but I’m paying for it. The same way I’m paying for my tires having to be fixed after the bitch flattened my tires that night at the bar. Or the fact I have to find a way not to black out over a man who doesn’t want to call me his woman butmade threats on my life if I mess with anyone else.” Sariah was now crying harder and it made me angry. I wasn’t going to add my two cents tonight about how I felt but I would tomorrow.
I told Sariah to go lay down in my room, and I’d be in shortly. My mom would be home and the house was a mess. After straightening up, ordering us some dinner and making my bed, me and Sariah ate and watched a few movies before dosing off. I’m hoping for a better outcome tomorrow.
CHAPTER 5
Sariah Bland
After Kat went to sleep,I managed to maneuver out the bed. She had a king size with one of those mattresses that don’t alert the other person when you get up. It was comfortable as hell and I hated getting up at three in the morning to do a stakeout at my so called man’s house. Well, I can’t get too close due to the extensive amount of security that monitors his place but I could drive by the condo. It’s where we used to spend time at until he allowed me into his house which by the way was fucking humongous.
Anyway, I quietly went into the bathroom to shower and get myself together. There was no need to drive around in pajamas or a bonnet knowing I had to be at work by six. I may as well get ready while I’m in the process of catching Raul with another woman or even the alleged wife. What could I really say if he were with someone else? He was refusing to call me his woman in public so did I have the right. Chicks probably had no clue we were even messing around and it’s my fault because I never put my foot down and demanded respect.
I met Raul at my receptionist job at the hospital emergency room. I hated the place and only stayed to pay my bills. My parents passed away when I was a kid and my granny took care of me until she couldn’t anymore. Now I’m working my ass off to make ends meet and take care of my granny. She was only sixty two but working in a warehouse for years took a toll on her body and now she has a lot of ailments that limited her movement. Besides needing a walker here and there when we go out, she could walk but only for short periods at a time. We weren’t broke but living paycheck to paycheck was rough.
The day Raul came in the hospital five months ago; it wasn’t for him or a family member. He was there for a friend of his that fell off a motorcycle while they were joy riding. The guy was messed up really bad and from what the doctors said, he wasn’t going to make it.
Raul called in some specialist and somehow the guy not only survived but went on with his life as if it never happened. The doctors said it was a miracle where I knew money made the world go around and the more you had, the better service you get. It’s sad that we live in a world where your health was placed in order by your health care provider.
My granny always said,Just because certain doctors only took the good insurances doesn’t mean they were A+ students. They could be doctors with a D grading but you’d never know.Ever since then, I would stare at doctors and watch how they interacted with patients and gave them my own grades.
Long story short, the nurses were running around like whores trying to get his attention whenever he came out the room to use the phone. They would walk by switching, asked if he needed anything, one asked if she could have an orgy with him and his friends. I had never seen anything like it and found it to be disappointing that women were throwing themselves at a man who was there to make sure his friend was ok. It justshowed how some women would cross any like to get what they wanted.
That night I got off from working a double and Raul was still there but with a bunch of other guys. The parking lot was damn near packed from them and he called me over.
“What’s up?” Looking directly at him as he spoke, I had to exhale by how damn fine he was. Inside I wasn’t able to see him up close because of all the work I had to do.
“Hey.” Waving him off, I hurried to my car. It was too many men for me and it always made me uncomfortable. Men don’t take rejection well and I don’t need none of the getting mad because of me not wanting them.
