Page 10 of Smoke N' Stroke

The officer looked at me carefully before nodding.Yeah, brotha man. You know what I’m talking about.

“Okay, let’s step over here to go over a few details. We’ll file the initial report. A detective will be in touch after that with more questions.”

I nodded and saw Zaire pulling out his cell phone ready to place a call.

“I’m going to call Dr. Patton while you speak with the officer. I’ll be right over there if you need me.”

He brushed my hand a moment and stepped away… The gentle reassuring touch did just enough to calm my nerves in preparation for answering questions. It was then that I realized what his patients saw in him. It wasn’t the handsome man I had seen from day one though I’m sure that might have been the initial allure. Zaire was kind, gentle, and patient. He was a healer and that’s what he wanted me to see about him. I had been unfair and judgemental.

“Dr. Patton… I need to fill you in on what’s happening.”

“Ma’am, please let me take your statement so you can get out of here.”

The young officer directed me near his police cruiser and took my statement.

The next half hour seemed like something out of a movie. I was able to pick up on the officer’s radio that they’d located Terry but there was a standoff over near Hamilton and Brushton Avenue. I prayed so hard for them to apprehend him and leave his life whole and after what seemed like an insurmountable time, the radio chirped from the officer’s car radio that Terry was taken into custody. Zaire who’d been back at my side after talking to Dr. Patton who was already halfway to The Poconos with her husband for the weekend.

7

ZAIRE

We were silent when we went into the building for me to properly lock up. In my rush to get to her, there were a few doors I didn’t secure. We were back in the quiet garage a few minutes later and walking towards her burgundy Honda CR-V. She reached into her purse and when she came out with her keys it was obvious she was scared. Her hand shook as she walked over to her door.

“Let me drive you home, Nala.”

I don’t know why I expected a fight from her, maybe because that’s the only way she ever approached me, but I was surprised this time because she nodded and allowed me to drive her to her house in Penn Hillsabout ten minutes away. I pulled into the gravelly driveway that lit up with her flood lights. I turned the car off and turned to see what she wanted me to do. Her eyes saying something I didn’t know her well enough to read. I only knew how to read her passion, her lust, and even her anger. This was different.

“I don’t want to put you out, but would you come in with me… just to look around?”

“Yeah,” I say without thought.

I had wanted to make sure she was going to be okay, but I knew better than to press upon her at a time like now and I didn’t know enough about her family dynamics to know if she had a father, or brothers to call to look in on her. Didn’t matter because she had me.

“Let me help you in. Don’t you dare touch the door,” I added when she reached for the handle. She was still in a state of dissociation. Barely engaging. So much so that she only nodded and let me help her out of her car and into her house using the key she handed me.

Inside I found her house to be inviting. The taupe couch and loveseat looked comfortable and inviting. Her multicolor area rugs looked expensive, along with the vases with pretty flowers in them. It was anopen plan so you could see the living and dining rooms from the doorway.

She placed her black leather bag on the sofa table behind her couch and looked at me in awkward silence. Maybe she was unsure about having me here now that she was home.

“You want anything to drink?”

“Maybe water. You should get some too.”

“I will. I’m just now thinking about whether I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”

I knew the shock was wearing off and her body was starting to think about its needs now.

“Not really but if you want to eat, we can eat.”

She nodded slowly and walked into her kitchen. I followed her before leaning back against the wall and watching her.

“You okay?” Her back expanded from her deep breath.

She turned to me and I saw the tears standing like jewels in her pretty eyes force me from my spot and pull her against my chest.

“I was so stupid. I could have gotten myself killed. You too.” Her voice was muffled against my shirt.

“Shhhhhhhh. This is not going to do you any good right now. No one got hurt.”

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