Evening Gentleman (16 page)

NATHAN (interrupting the doctor)

Doctor before you go any further I need to see you outside.

             
We both turned to Leslie.

DOCTOR

Can I give her the results of her test?

NATHAN
No sir. This is important.

LESLIE
Baby what’s wrong?

NATHAN
I will explain later.

             
The doctor and I walked out of the door.

NATHAN
Doctor I have been married to my wife for some years now and I haven’t always been faithful. I know that she has been to me, but if anything, I am the one who passed it to her.

DOCTOR
Well that is great Mr. Edwards. Umm at least we know that you are fertile.

NATHAN
Excuse me?

DOCTOR

Your wife is pregnant.

             
Can you say exhaling? I felt my knees get weak.

DOCTOR

Now can I ask you something?

NATHAN
Anything Doc.

DOCTOR

When you were having the affairs on your wife did you use protection?

             
I was hesitant to answer his question. I wanted to be honest and I wanted to lie at the same time.

NATHAN
No doctor I wasn’t.

DOCTOR

Go to the nurse’s station and give the nurse this note (scribbling on a notepad). When you are done tell her to show you to my office. I will explain to your wife that you went to get something.

             
The doctor walked back into the room. I tried to read the note that he scribed. It was hard reading a doctor’s handwriting. I did as I was instructed. The nurse took me to a room on the tenth floor. She pulled out several syringes and a long q-tip. I knew beyond a shadow of doubt what type of test this was.

             
I rolled up my sleeves so that she could spot a vein. We didn’t speak a word to one another. I don’t think that she even looked at me. I most definitely paid attention to her and everything that she was doing.

             
After drawing my blood and swabbing my mouth she took me to an office in a corner. I waited patiently on the doctor. Thirty minutes passed by that felt like an eternity. When I heard the door squeak open I noticed it was the doctor.

             
He pulled a chair from under the corner and sat directly in front of me.

DOCTOR

Mr. Edwards I spoke with your wife about the pregnancy.

NATHAN
How is she?

DOCTOR

Great. She will be able to go home tomorrow. But you on the other hand. I had my nurse to give you and HIV/AIDS test and we ran test for other STDs.

NATHAN
I figured that.

DOCTOR
Everything looks good. You tests were non-reactive.

NATHAN
So I am negative right?

DOCTOR

Right. But I want you to come back in three months. Sometimes things can lay dormant for a while.

NATHAN
Okay. I will.

             
He passed me a card and I put it in my wallet. I made my way back to Leslie’s room. She was sitting up eating some ice cream.

NATHAN (smiling)

Hey mom.

LESLIE
The doctor told you?

NATHAN
Yes he did.

LESLIE

We have a short time to get things ready. The baby will be here in July.

NATHAN
That’s only four months away.

LESLIE

I know. I didn’t know that I was pregnant. I am not showing or anything.

             
I placed my ear on her stomach. I could not tell her of the test that I took with the nurse. I wanted to be for sure after the next test results.

NATHAN
Do you want me to run to the store to get some toiletries?

LESLIE
Yes. Just the essentials. I am going home tomorrow.

NATHAN
I will be back shortly.

             
I walked out of the room and bumped right into Rachel. She was dressed in a nurse’s uniform.

NATHAN
What the hell are you doing here?

RACHEL
I come to check on my patient. Now excuse me but I have to make my rounds.

             
I pulled Rachel by her arm to a corner where no one could see.

NATHAN
You know damn well you are not a nurse.

RACHEL (holding the badge in my face)

Read the badge hun-ty. Now let me go.

NATHAN
I don’t want you checking on Leslie.

RACHEL

She is on my list. I have to. Isn’t it funny how fate works.

             
I raced to the nurse’s station and asked for the head nurse. An attractive young assistant explain that the head nurse was away. I yelled at her telling her I needed to speak with someone quick.

             
I rushed back to Leslie’s room. When I opened the door she was looking out of the window.

LESLIE
Why are you bursting in here like that? I thought that you were gone to the store.

NATHAN
Has a nurse been in here?

LESLIE

Yes but she got a page. She told me that she would be back later.

NATHAN 

What did she look like?

             
Leslie described Rachel. There was no way that I was going to leave Leslie side. I told her that I would call someone to bring me whatever she needed.

No Words

              Leslie and I were out shopping for baby furniture. She was in awe by some many things. I was glad that I put a budget of this before we left the house. We went from store to store. The last store that we entered I saw a book of baby names.

NATHAN
Sweet heart, come here.

LESLIE

What is this? (Flipping the book around) No. No way. I have a name picked out.

NATHAN
What?

LESLIE

If it is a girl I was thinking Riley Olivia Edwards.

NATHAN
Ok I like that.

LESLIE

I figured you would since Riley is your middle name and Olivia is mine.

NATHAN
And for the boy?

LESLIE

William Oliver Edwards.

NATHAN
Hell no. His initials will be W.O.E. No. Can’t do it.

LESLIE
Why not?

NATHAN
For kids to make fun of my son and call him WOE. Hey Woe. Come here Woe.

LESLIE

You are crazy. Then what do you think?

NATHAN
Something strong. Something that will let everyone know that he is king. Alhaji Aliko Edwards.

LESLIE

Now where did you get that name?

NATHAN
Look him up. A strong business …

             
When I looked down the aisle I saw Rachel. She looked me square in my face. Leslie turned to see what I was looking at.

LESLIE
That’s the nurse from the hospital.

RACHEL (standing in front of us)

Well hello.

LESLIE

Hello. How are you?

RACHEL
I’m great and how are you mommy to be?

LESLIE (rubbing her stomach)

We are doing good.

RACHEL

Do you know what you are having?

LESLIE
We don’t want to know until it gets here.

RACHEL
I understand the ole fashion way. Nathan – how are you?

NATHAN
I am good. Um baby are you ready to go eat?

LESLIE
Don’t be so rude. You have to excuse my husband.

RACHEL
Yes. Nathan has always been a some-time-man.

             
Rachel snatched her head around.

LESLIE

What do you mean? Do you know my husband?

RACHEL
Yes. We go way back.

             
Rachel looked at me with hate.

LESLIE (whispering)

Is this someone you cheated on me with?

             
Before I could speak Rachel butted in.

RACHEL

Well yes and no. You see we went to high school together.

LESLIE
I see. But what is the “yes”.

RACHEL

Well my son is going to have a little brother or sister. I have a son by Nathan that’s three years old.

LESLIE
Excuse me!

RACHEL
Oh my. He didn’t tell you.

LESLIE
So this is what you were trying to tell me a few months ago. How could you? I want you out of my house.

             
Leslie stormed off before I could say anything.

NATHAN
I am going to kill you.

RACHEL

Oh really. Leave her Nathan. You are to be with me. If you try to make-up with her, she and the newborn dies.

NATHAN
Go to hell you sick bitch.

RACHEL
I have been there twice already.

Rescue Me

              I rushed home to find Leslie throwing my clothes and things out of the house. When I opened to the door she flung a vase at me. I knew that she would not do anything to hurt me or so I thought. I was suddenly hit in the stomach with a bat. I immediately went down to the floor. I was in so much pain.

NATHAN
Leslie please don’t do this.

LESLIE

You lying piece of shit. I want you out of my house.

NATHAN
I need to you to stop before you hurt the baby.

LESLIE

Don’t you worry about this baby. You will never see this baby.

NATHAN
You are upset.

LESLIE

How Nathan? How could you do this to me? I was willing to forgive you.

NATHAN
I wanted to tell you.

LESLIE

Tell me what…more lies. I am sick of your shit. I want you to get the hell out. NOW!

             
I took a few steps back. I looked at Leslie with sleepy eyes. She continued to throw things around the room while she screamed to the top of her lungs. There was nothing I could do. Nothing I could say.

             
Suddenly I was hit in the head by something.

RACHEL (walking into the room)

I am glad that you are putting him out.

LESLIE
Why are you here?

RACHEL

The invite.

LESLIE

What damn invite?

RACHEL

The one that you gave me. Let me see if I remember everything that you said, “Rachel I am sick of him. I need to see you again. I want you to come over.” Did I get it right or did I leave something out.

LESLIE

That was months ago.

RACHEL
But your words and feelings still exist.

LESLIE

I don’t love you.

RACHEL

Oh bitch please. You didn’t tell me that you didn’t love me when “we” made love.

LESLIE
That was the past.

RACHEL

You are mine and so is this baby. We will raise our two boys together. They are brothers anyway.

LESLIE
How do you know what I am having?

RACHEL
Come on now. I work at the hospital. There is this thing called files. Now we need to stick to our plan. We will kill Nathan and begin a new life together. Just you, me and the kids.