Malik sat in the restaurant parking lot, rehearsing what he would say to Jefferson. This was his frat, his boy, yet he felt like he was meeting a complete stranger. He should not have been surprised when he received the call from Jefferson, who asked why he was not at his welcome home party. Now he waited with dread in his heart all because he had fallen in love with his best friend’s wife.
The parking lot was filling up. “Avalon, Maxima, Honda, Camry, Altima, Saturn,” Malik said out loud, playing a childhood car game. “Mercedes, Margo’s Mercedes,” Malik said.
He sat up and watched as the driver of the Mercedes pulled into a parking space. A few moments passed before the door to the car opened. There he stood, all six feet of him. Then he noticed the walker. Malik had almost forgotten that Jefferson had been in a wheelchair. He had not visited Jefferson in the last six months. He couldn’t do it. Malik could not tell much about the way Jefferson looked from where he stood. This was the moment he regretted. He got out of the car and waited.
Jefferson walked slowly toward Malik until recognition set in.
“Malik, that you?” Jefferson asked.
Malik offered a half smile and offered his hand. “Hey man, you look good.” Jefferson looked malnourished and tired about the eyes. Prison food is supposed to be good, Malik thought.
“It feels like a million dollars.” Jefferson paused. “I wish I had listened to you back then, Malik, but the last five years have taught me more than I asked for, and I can say that with all honesty. I never want to see the inside of prison again.”
They dropped their hands, and Malik looked at Jefferson.
“I’m glad you’re home, buddy. Why don’t we go on in? We can catch up in there.”
“Lead the way,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson followed Malik into the restaurant, and the waitress seated them. Sadness was etched on Malik’s face as he watched his friend push the walker in front of him and then maneuver into his seat. Jefferson seemed in full control of his handicap, though, moving about as if he didn’t have one at all.
“What’s good on this menu?” Jefferson asked Malik.
“Almost everything,” Malik responded. They laughed.
“I was sorry to hear about Toni and the baby.” Malik tipped his head in acknowledgment. “I know it was tough on you. I hated I missed your wedding.”
“Toni was a beautiful woman. Our day was special; our life was special. It still hurts, man, but I’ve got to move on.”
“Well, what’s the good word? What’s been happening in Fayetteville since I’ve been gone?”
“Not a whole lot has changed. They’re bringing in about twenty thousand troops to Ft. Bragg. It has to do with all these base closures throughout the country.”
“This would have been a goldmine for me.”
“What are you going to do, Jefferson? Margo is doing well with the real estate, but your business…”
“My business is dissolved,” Jefferson began. “I probably will be unable to work in securities again. For sure, it will be hard to get bonded. While I sat in prison, Malik, I thought a lot about what I was going to do when I got out, but I’m not sure what that will be. I do know that I am going to enjoy my family.” Jefferson hung his head.
“You know Angelica is out of prison. She’s been out almost a month.”
Jefferson did not speak. “Humph. That’s a memory I’d like to forget. Is she in Fayetteville?”
“I’m not sure where she is. She volunteered to work for me, and after one day on the job, I had to let her go.”
“What happened? She came on to you, didn’t she?” Jefferson laughed.
“Man, that woman is something else. That’s exactly what she did. Started taking her clothes off right in my shop.”
“Get out of here, Malik! In your shop? You know she used to be a stripper.”
“Yeah, you told me.”
“So, are you seeing anyone?” Jefferson asked.
Malik looked at Jefferson with suspicion. He had not expected the question so soon. As he prepared to respond, a waitress approached their table. Grateful for the interruption, Malik quickly gave the waitress his order. Jefferson followed and then stared at Malik.
“So, you’re keeping the lady a secret?” Jefferson continued.
“Wha…wha…oh no. I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. It hasn’t been a year yet since Toni…died.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bring it up. My last memories of you were of Malik the ladies’ man. Always had a woman at your beck and call. I guess Angelica thought she had another chance. How is it that she ended up at your place of business?”
Malik recounted how Angelica showed up at the church and Margo offered Angelica’s services and said that they should forgive her.
“So Margo has forgiven Angelica,” Jefferson said matter-of-fact. “I don’t trust her.”
“I don’t either,” Malik agreed. “Angelica had the nerve to tell Margo that she did not have an affair with you.”
Jefferson looked at Malik and then turned away. He sighed and rubbed his chest, as if remembering another moment he cared to forget.
“Look, hopefully she’s gone forever,” Malik interjected. “Margo has tried unsuccessfully to call Angelica, so it’s evident to me that she doesn’t want to be bothered. We have not heard from her in over a week or so.”
“Thanks, man, for taking care of Margo in my absence.”
Malik flinched. “It was nothing. We’re best friends, frats. Brothers always take care of family.”
“Well, I want you to know that I appreciate it, and I’m sure Margo felt secure, knowing there was someone around she could trust.”
“No problem, man.”
“It’s going to take some time before Margo and I become romantic.”
“What do you mean?”
“Frat, she seemed happy to have me home, but also somewhat distant. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it’s as if she has something on her mind. She turned away from me in bed.”
“I’m sorry, Jefferson. It’s not necessary to share the intimate part of your life, if you don’t want to.”
Jefferson wrapped Malik’s fingers with the back of his hand. “You’re like a brother to me, and I feel I can share anything with you. I’ll need you to get through this.”
“I’m here for you, but maybe you need to talk with Margo about how you’re feeling. She’s the one who needs to know.”
“Has she been seeing anyone?” Jefferson asked.
Malik’s eyes widened. “Frat, what would make you ask that question? A few Sundays ago in church, she talked about your possible release. She seemed happy.”
“Just a feeling, Malik. Just a feeling.”
“You may be reading Margo all wrong. Give her some time. I’m sure that, with you now at home, some of the memories of the trial and even your affair with Linda may have come rushing back. She’ll be fine. Excuse me a minute; I’m going to the men’s room.”
Malik found the men’s room and fell against the wall. He walked from one end to the other, peeping to see if anyone else was in there. When Malik realized he was alone, he raised his hands in the air and let out a mini scream to release the pent-up anxiety. All of Jefferson’s questions about a new person in his life were getting next to him. Sleep had eluded him, and it had been a while since he had had a decent meal. Malik resisted the urge to admit to him that there was someone else in his life.
Jefferson’s sudden confession about his and Margo’s sexual relationship made Malik wonder. Malik knew in his heart that Margo felt something for him. It was the way she looked at him when they had been together. They had a carefree friendship before…before the day Ivy called and spoke to Margo. Yes, that was it-the day that Ivy called. But what did Jefferson’s confession mean? He had to find out. Malik hit the stall with his fist. He was in love with Margo…smitten, for lack of a better word. There was no way he could turn down the heat in his heart or slow the palpitations that were coming a mile a minute. He had to do something about it, even if it meant being guilty of the same crime Jefferson had committed. Malik shook his head. Somehow, adultery wasn’t so dirty when it concerned him.