Evening Gentleman (14 page)

             
When I finished I went directly to bed. I look at the bed and stopped. My sheets were messed up. Did Alton do this to leave me a sign? I started to remake the bed before I lay down for the night. Something was missing. I could not put my finger on it but my bedding was strange. I decided to turn each layer back piece by piece.

             
In the mist of my playing detective there was a beating on my door. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it back around my waist. With my chest exposed I opened the door. I was looking in the faces of many people. They burst through my door and went straight into my bedroom. While I was following them two gorilla built men took me down to the floor.

NATHAN
What the hell are you doing?

             
They didn’t say much as they place handcuffs on me. Finally they lift me to my feet and flung me on the couch. One oversized man came out of the bedroom and began to ask me questions about the evening. I was lost as to what he was talking about. He took me by my arm and led me into the bedroom. We walked out on the balcony and I found my sheet that was missing. One end was tired to the rails and Alton hung from the other end. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what happened or how it happened. I staggered back into my room.

POLICE
What can you tell me about this?

NATHAN
Nothing. I don’t know what happened.

POLICE
Do you know him?

NATHAN
Yes. He is…was a friend of mine.

             
I explained everything to the police that happened that evening. I left out about me and Alton being in a relationship.

NATHAN
I am leaving going back to Birmingham in the morning.

POLICE
I don’t think that you will be leaving for a while.

No Place
like Home

             
What was supposed to be a week’s trip turned into three weeks. I walked into the house and Leslie came running up to me. She threw her arms around my neck and held me tight. I could not help but cry on her shoulder. She rubbed the back of my neck.

NATHAN
I am so sorry. So many times I have hurt you. I am so sorry.

LESLIE
We will worry about that later. Right now we need to think of how we will get passed this.

NATHAN
Baby I know you are mad. Please hit me or do something.

LESLIE
Nathan – I don’t want you to think about me right now. Put yourself first…like you have always done. I am here with you for now but when it is over I am walking out. I am just letting you know now so that it won’t be any surprises later.

             
I lift my head and looked into her eyes. She took her hand and wiped away my tears.

NATHAN
Do you still love me?

             
She didn’t respond. She released me and walked into the kitchen.

LESLIE
Do you care for a drink?

NATHAN
I guess. Leslie I need you to understand the demons that I have dealt with.

LESLIE
To be honest with you I don’t want to hear about your demons. I have put up with a demon for years being married to you. I knew that you were sleeping around on me. I knew this. But I kept telling myself that you would come around. I knew one day that you would change. But you want to know what really hurt me Nathan – when I found out that you were sleeping with a good friend of mine. And a man at that.

NATHAN
I don’t know what to tell you.

LESLIE

There is nothing that you can say.

             
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I didn’t recognize the number that showed on the caller ID.

NATHAN

Hello?

VOICE
If you value everything that you own and love you will meet me at Oak Mountain State Park in thirty minutes.

             
Suddenly there was no sound on the other end. I didn’t know who it was and was not about to take a chance of anything else happening to someone that I love.

             
I walked toward the red trial as I was instructed to on the phone. Every rustle of leaves and crackle of twigs frightened me. I made sure that I packed my pistol just in case anything went wrong. I heard a few bikes coming towards me. I stepped out of the way so that I would not get hit. As I continued to walk someone came behind me and poked me in my sides. I jumped and turned. It was the woman from the flight to Chicago.

NATHAN
What are you doing here?

RACHEL

I live in Birmingham.

NATHAN
Where is Lil Nathan?

RACHEL

He is still in Chicago with my brother. I needed him to stay there while I got some things figured out here.

NATHAN
Okay okay. Is everything okay?

RACHEL

You really don’t remember me do you?

NATHAN
The lady from the plane.

             
She laughed

RACHEL

No I am Rachel. We went to high school together.

NATHAN
I can’t place you.

RACHEL

Drama club, student council, the show choir.

NATHAN
It was five hundred and some odd people that graduated with me. I can’t place you.

RACHEL

Okay how about six month before you got married to Leslie. You told me that you were going to marry me.

             
I looked at her up and down. Suddenly it hit me.

NATHAN
Rachel!

RACHEL

Right…Rachel.

NATHAN
I thought that you left the city.

RACHEL
I did when I found out that I was pregnant.

             
I paused.

NATHAN
Wait a minute…

RACHEL
Right Lil Nathan is your son.

NATHAN
This can’t be.

RACHEL

Oh brother man but it is. You know you took my life from me. You proposed to me and then married another woman. I followed you for sooo many years.

NATHAN
Why didn’t you just come and talk to me?

RACHEL

I couldn’t. I watched you sleep around on your wife. Men…women…men…it didn’t matter as long as you got your dick wet.

             
I tried to speak but she cut me off.

RACHEL
And then watch you get up in church and minister. I made it my business to destroy you. The truck in your office.

NATHAN
You killed my secretary.

RACHEL
Oh…I am sorry I didn’t mean to. You hadn’t slept with her had you? I don’t remember her being on my list.

NATHAN
You are sick.

RACHEL

You haven’t seen sick yet.

             
I tried to run but as I turned I heard a gun fire. I wasn’t sure if I had been shot but I immediately stopped. I turned and looked at her. She walked over to me and rubbed the hot barrel against my face.

RACHEL
Leslie and that Aiden are the only two left before I have you to myself.

NATHAN
I am going to the police with this.

RACHEL

And if you do Leslie leaves sooner than I planned. Now I want you to go home and play nice for a while. I will be by to visit really soon.

             
I walked into my house and easily pushed the door open. I didn’t know what I could be walking into. As I walked through the house I peeked around every corner. When I reached my bedroom Leslie was laying on the bed. I eased my way to her. I gently touched her forehead. She jumped.

LESLIE
Why are you touching me?

NATHAN
Just checking on you.

             
She tilted her head when she saw my face.

LESLIE
What happened to you?

NATHAN
I fell when I was walking in the park.

LESLIE
That’s a burn. What happened?

NATHAN
I told you I fell and slid in the park.

             
I went into the master bath and ran some water to wash my face.

Communicate

             
I was strolling at the fair eating some cotton candy. I was trying to process everything. Why didn’t I remember Rachel on the plane? How was I going to get rid of her and save Aiden and Leslie? For the life of me I could not tell Leslie everything that was happening. She knew enough and she decided to stick with me until it was all over. I needed to talk to someone. I needed Aiden. He could help me. But I knew that he didn’t want to hear from me. He was starting a new life with Demarcus. Maybe if I explain to him everything that was going on he would have some compassion for me.

             
I caused all of this. Being greedy. Never filling fulfilled. But I needed to end this and end it soon.

             
As I was eating the last of the cotton candy I saw Rachel looking towards me. I wanted to turn and walk the other way but there was no telling what she might do. I can remember someone telling me years ago, “You never know a person is crazy until they started acting crazy.” I knew Rachel was a lunatic. As she walked towards me I felt my heart thumping in my chest.

RACHEL
Well hello.

NATHAN
Hey.

RACHEL
Awwww…is that all I get is a “hey”.

NATHAN
Are you following me?

RACHEL (bluntly)

Yes.

NATHAN
You need help.

             
I walked in the opposite direction and she stopped me.

RACHEL
Look…how about we have our picture drawn together.

NATHAN
I am not interested.

RACHEL

Either you are interested or I will scream right here.

NATHAN (grabbing her by the arm)

Look I need you to get the hell out of my life.

RACHEL
Picture first and then I will think about it.

             
We walked over to the artist and I paid for him to draw the picture. I pushed her down in the chair and I stood behind her. I figured this way I could make a run for it.

ARTIST

Excuse me sir but why don’t you sit down and she sit on your lap.

RACHEL

I love it.

             
She hopped up and helped me sit down. She sat on my leg and made sure that her leg was touching my manhood.

NATHAN
Your leg is on my dick.

RACHEL
I know and the way it feels you must like it. I can feel it getting teased.

             
I tried to make it unnoticeable to push her leg off.

ARTIST

Hold that pose. Be sure to smile.

             
Rachel continued to wiggle in my lap. I closed my eyes and tried to think about other things but my body was betraying me.

RACHEL (whispering to me)

Someone is getting excited. Maybe we will have to take care of that.

NATHAN (standing up and nearly pushing Rachel to the ground)

Is it done yet?

             
The artist continued to draw as we looked at the photo.

ARTIST
Are you guys married?