Cookies and Strawberries: The Resolution

By L. Thomas Hill

With a continued passion for bringing a story to life, Cookies and Strawberries: The Rehab is a new story Hill offers readers that draws from his many experiences traveling across the United States and abroad, bringing a fresh approach to storytelling.

Courage and resolution are extremely important in this dynamic story where those two words are synonymous with family. Dedication of heart, mind, and soul are evident throughout the plot, and you will see that, sometimes, the spirits of courage and resolution are interchangeable. In the fortitude of the main characters, you shall see their resilience of spirit throughout a variety of dramatic events in their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638814269

Book preview

Acknowledgments

Cookies and Strawberries: The Resolution was made possible thanks to the dedication and professional assistance of a couple of my friends in the professional arena. They gave me needed advice and suggestions and kept me on the right track. There were times I wanted to give up, and I would hear this voice in my ear: Finish what you have started. That voice was the retired professor Vonnye Rice-Gardner. She made me angry sometimes, of course she did, but without her believing in my story, the characters in my heart and soul would not have come alive in print for you to enjoy.

I wish to dedicate this book to my family. They believed in me and helped me believe in myself.

1

7:00 a.m.

Los Angeles was unusually warm. Cars were honking at each other, trying to change lanes. No one wanted to be late for work. Even though the temperature was high, there was a nice breeze. I could see the trees shimmering like a person or animal trembling due to cold, excitement, or frustration. As a matter of fact, I was shivering with fear. The last time I had gone to rehab to be with Nikki, I was doing my best to show empathy and compassion. I was trying to prove to the love of my life that I had genuine love for her. She would always be special in my world, and I wanted her to understand that. I realized the reason she was in this condition was my fault; we must fight this disability together. It is a vital component to a healthy relationship. I had doubts about the longevity of this marriage when she became handicapped. In my heart, I had doubts if she would ever walk again.

But I could remember her first shaky steps before she had to get back in her wheelchair. I remember it well. Actually being able to walk on her own might be a distant and remote possibility—but I hope not. Nikki did have persistence and a strong mental drive, but this situation could be different.

I never believed in the so-called God, but I was praying he would take the love of my life and put her back on her feet.

Yes, I kept remembering Nikki’s brave first couple of steps, but nothing major at this point in the last several months. I was so worried. I was worried and deeply concerned. No feeling! No steps! No nothing! Almost no feeling in her legs at all. We were not even sure how she had made those first few steps.

This may sound funny to some people, but I know that without her, there is no me! If you have ever been in love, or thought you were in love, there is nothing like the feeling in your heart when that special person is around you. It’s that feeling you had when you were a child and saw that first animal you wanted. You picked up that dog or cat, and it licked your face. I am not comparing Nikki to an animal, but I’m saying it’s just a loving feeling that one has.

My thoughts were running away with me. I needed to concentrate on the idea that Nikki was upset and angry with me. Maybe she should be! I didn’t have the nerve to say it was my fault. Anything could happen in this business. I tried to keep her away from the drama and danger. I knew to expect the unexpected because there are always incidents in this business I have chosen.

I needed to clear my mind and let go all the negative thoughts. I must think positively about Nikki’s future and her ability to have a full life and to walk on her own. It seemed to be impossible at this point.

I turned on to Hundred Thirty-Eighth Street; traffic seemed to have come to a stop. The feeling of pity was wearing heavily on my mind.

At this point, I saw the rehab facility. In a few more minutes, I would be entering the parking lot. I pulled into a parking space and just sat there with both hands on the steering wheel. Luther was on the radio singing, A House Is Not a Home. I was staring out the window at the rehab entrance. All of a sudden, I did not hear the music or anything.

It was like watching a movie in slow motion as other loved ones were going into the facility to be with their family members. Suddenly, I was no longer sitting in my vehicle… I was standing in the apartment speaking with Lieutenant, whom we called Sandy. We were just shooting bullshit when two armed men appeared at the door, and suddenly, our lives changed forever. The next thing I heard were two gunshots, and I saw myself struggling with the gunmen. At that moment, things changed. I saw Nikki on the ground. Her blouse was white, and now it is totally stained with her blood. It was starting to get very foggy at this point. I heard someone in the crowd saying, Get her out of here! The police were coming… Damn…

I felt a sharp pain between my fingers. The cigarette I was smoking burned my hand, and that made me snap back to reality.

Now I knew I needed to quit smoking!

As I was walking toward the entrance to the rehab building, I had no idea how I was going to start the conversation with Nikki. I continued down the hall to Nikki’s room and heard the emergency doctors saying that Nikki would probably never walk again. I remembered those first three shaky steps. She could not go any further! I did not think she would ever truly walk again. Those steps must have just been a fluke!

I remembered asking the doctor, What the hell does that mean?

He said, She has no feeling in her lower body. I remembered those words as if I had just heard them today, and it had been well over six months. The doctor said she had no feeling from the waist down, especially in her legs. I am to blame!

I remembered asking the doctor, How could she be a paraplegic if she was shot in the side? That should not have affected her spinal cord, because I know to be paralyzed, you usually have to have a spinal cord injury! I repeated it to the doctor: Doc, she was shot in the side! He told me what had happened and showed me the X-rays. I saw that the bullet had obviously shattered part of her pelvis, and that was how the spinal cord was damaged. The bullet had fragmented. He said that with rehabilitation and a lot of determination, she might walk again since we have already seen her attempt to walk. The issue was that the nerves in her lower body were badly damaged from lack of blood circulation. Without the blood carrying oxygen to the lower extremities, the tissues tend to die, as does a flower that does not get sunlight. I asked if she knew this, and the doc said, No. He did not want to give her any false hope. I asked, What the fuck is false hope? Doc said, Mercedes, in a forceful voice. I am saying this again. It is a fifty-fifty chance of her ever walking in a normal manner again.

It was a short walk to Nikki’s room, maybe twenty feet. We got closer to the door. The door seemed to get farther and farther away from me—but, yes, it was only twenty feet. I finally reached the door. The doctor said, I will let you have some private time with your wife, and he walked away.

I pushed the door open and looked inside. Nikki was not in the bed. I assumed she was in the bathroom. The nurse came in, and I asked her where my wife was. She said that Nikki was doing her rehab and offered to take me to her. Nikki had been moved to a new location for her rehabilitation.

When we arrived at the rehab facility, Nikki was strapped to a gurney—or a stretcher; I did not know the difference. There was a male physical therapist massaging her legs, which were completely numb. But I knew she was strong-willed. She looked at me and smiled. I had not seen a smile on her face in eight months. She was just as fine as ever. Like any other husband, I did not like seeing another man rubbing my wife’s legs! I asked him, What are you doing? He told me he was massaging her legs because it was very important to try and keep the blood circulation going since she was paralyzed from the waist down; when someone is paralyzed below the waist, the blood flow decreases in the lower body. At some point, she tried to move her legs, but she had no feeling in them. How strange.

Nikki looked at me with that girlish smile on her face, something she had not done since she had been in the hospital. I’d had that feeling that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with me. After seeing that smile, I felt the tension leave my body. Now, I could concentrate on other things.

Before I saw her smile, I thought it was really over. I could not wait to call Pete and Leggy Peggy and tell them that Nikki and I were going to be all right!

I called Pete the minute I got out of Nikki’s sight. I was so elated, I was yelling on the phone. I said, Pete, she is talking! She even smiled at me! She had not smiled or even looked at me in months, until now! She was looking at me and not through me. She looked in my eyes, man! I guess it is like what they say—nothing really happens until it is supposed to happen. I told Pete that I really needed to get with him and tell him some of the things that we had spoken about. We all knew that Nikki was sick and was having some mental difficulties. I realized now that when you are capable of doing things for yourself—such as movement, going to the bathroom, or just turning over—we take these things for granted. Pete and I decided to meet at his apartment at 7:30 p.m. I would stop and pick up a bottle of Walker Red. I knew Pete was going to need a drink when I told him what Nikki said.

I arrived about 8:00 p.m. and rang the doorbell. Pete buzzed me in. We greeted each other with the hood shake and hug as usual. We went into his den, and as we sat down, Pete asked, How the fuck is she getting better?

Did you tell you about us, asshole? I said to Pete. You are not normal!

And Peter said, All right, motherfucker!

We sat on the balcony, and Pete asked how Nikki was doing. That is what I want to talk to you about. I dropped my head, put my hands on my temples and my elbows on my knees, and in a sarcastic tone, Pete said, Is it that serious? I didn’t say a word at first, just looking out into space. Pete snapped his fingers and said, Come on back, man! I felt like I was in a trance.

After two or three minutes, I said, It’s Nikki…

Before I could say anything more, Pete said, It’s not your fault, Mercedes. I just looked away. Pete put his right hand on my left shoulder. Have a drink. Let’s talk. That is what you came here for, isn’t it?

Pete, Nikki opened up to me today.

What’d she say, man?

It had only been one or two minutes. But it seemed like an hour.

Take a drink, fill me in—you will feel better. I don’t like seeing you like this, man, said Pete.

Nikki finally opened up to me, I replied. She told me how afraid she was when she realized she could not move her legs. She said that I had been so distant. She felt I did not want to be tied down to a cripple.

Pete just stared at me and then asked, Well, do you?

Well, do I what, Pete?

Don’t fuck with me, man! Think about it, Pete said, do you really want to be tied down to a woman in a wheelchair?

I stood up and looked Pete in the eyes. Never say anything like that again as far as Nikki is concerned.

Pete said, I never will. I just had to make sure that you had your head on right, motherfucker! We stood and hugged each other. Pete said, Let’s get pissy-ass drunk! Then Pete said, I’m with you, Mercedes. As fine as that bitch is, I could not give a damn, even if I had to carry her everywhere.

You are a sick motherfucker, Pete, I said.

That’s why you love me, Mercedes. And they laughed. Pete said, Mercedes, tell me about the rehab visit.

Pete, you may not want to hear this shit, but I was massaging Nikki’s legs, and they were so soft and smooth, and the thought that she could not walk made me want to crawl into the bed and do the wild thing with her. Tell me, Pete, does that make me inconsiderate?

Pete asked, Do you love her?

You know I love this woman more than life itself.

Pete said, Well, I suggest that you just crawl in on the bed. Pete started to laugh.

I asked, What’s so funny?

Pete said, You know you got to hold those legs. You know she cannot lift them. I smiled at Pete, and we both started to laugh. You know that I say fucked-up things sometimes. But I am your boy, Mercedes.

Pete, Nikki was telling me how she felt that she was never going to walk again. I was listening to her explain that there would never be a chance for her to run up and down the steps or walk the dog, if we even had one. I was looking into her eyes, Pete. And they started to water. I moved from her legs and put my arm around her neck. She put her left hand on my right hand, and she sort of jerked my hand and said, ‘I will never be able to chase my children across the room.’ Then she started crying. I, too, felt like crying, Pete. There may not have been tears in my eyes, but my heart was bawling like a three-year-old that had just had his hand slammed in the door! There was nothing I could say or do. I was hurting too. I had deprived Nikki of the possibility of motherhood. Damn! I want a baby with this woman so bad!

Mercedes, you and Nikki can still have a child.

I know, Pete. But it would not be fair or the same for Nikki, because she could never push the child safely in a swing. Nikki said when she woke up, she could not move her legs, and I felt it was my entire fault. I was chasing easy money, and now I realize that if it was that easy, someone was not working with a responsible attitude. I am that someone, Pete! Man, I took my wife to the wrong place at the wrong time.

There was a long pause, then Pete said, Speak up, man. You are not spending the night. And then Pete punched me in the shoulder. Finish the story! My curiosity is running wild!

I’m sorry, Pete. There is so much going on in my brain, I can hardly think. What Nikki said to me made tears well up in my eyes. Pete, she said she was looking down at her arms, but she could not see her legs. They were wrapped in some kind of bandages, and there were braces on her arms. She remembered finally seeing her legs and toes, and they were extremely black due to poor blood circulation. Nikki said she had problems and could not move her legs, and it was frustrating her. She could not move anything below her waist, and that made her mad. She said she tried to lift her legs, and it seemed like they weighed three hundred pounds. That made her even more mad.

Pete said, That is extremely hard for me to hear.

Nikki said that although she was paralyzed from the waist down, her body functions were normal. Still, she felt so helpless—like a child—when she had to go to the bathroom. Here she was, a grown woman, with no control over her bodily functions. She had to wait on someone to help her. She began to cry again. I, too, started to cry, Pete.

Pete said, You know I love you both, man! This is a very depressing feeling that I have in my heart now, but I will give you all the support that you need.

"What keeps coming back to my head, Pete, is when she woke up and could not move her legs. Nikki was totally dependent on someone else, and it made her extremely angry. Pete, that made me angry. I wanted to get up and walk away to keep from letting her see me cry. After we both got a little crying out of our system, Nikki said, ‘Honey, you know I have always been independent, and everyone here is doing their best to help me, but understand me, please. I want to address the situation on my own terms.’

"I can identify with that, Pete. I cannot imagine how she must have felt when she had to wait for others to come and do things for her. Can you imagine, man, what it would be like not to be able to attend to your own bodily functions? She said she would not wish that on anyone. I also felt worried that this had happened to Nikki, Pete, but I had never felt so remorseful until I started going to the rehab facility. It was like the shit you see on TV, or in movies. And the staff on Nikki’s case have been so attentive and accommodating. Some of them Pete, are even very sympathetic toward Nikki.

They gave me the insurance I needed to move Nikki from this facility. I think I am going to ask Peggy to come and visit Nikki. Nikki needs to believe that she is not forgotten, although she is in isolation 65 percent of the time. The first few months, only family could see her. What made that even more difficult was that I had to make sure I did not bump into Nicole.

Pete said, Mercedes, listen—this is some very serious information I am about to share with you. A lot of things want to make you change, and some things make you stay the same. Mercedes, look around you. There is good and bad all around you. I never said anything before, but that was a .40-caliber gun she was shot with. And do you know what saved her?

Yes, I know what saved her, said Mercedes.

"No, you don’t! Let me tell you what saved Nikki. You know how I think, Mercedes, so sit down and listen to what I have to say. What do you have to say, Pete? Look in my eyes, and you will know I am telling the truth! It was God, man!"

Hold it, Pete! Don’t go fucking religious on me, man! Next thing you will be doing is trying to get me in church, and you know that is not going to happen.

Pete said, I know, man. I am just talking shit—trying to make you smile! How are things going at the job, Mercedes?

They gave me a year’s leave so I could take care of Nikki. And due to the fact that I am the vice president, Morgan, the president of the company, and I were in college together. When he opened his business, I came along with him and have been with him ever since—going on twenty-two years. He asked me how Nikki is doing and informed me that the company is not going anywhere, my office will always be there, and I can take as much time as I need. I have been receiving cards in the mail from well-wishers, and, Pete, so far no one has asked why Nikki and I were at that property at the time of the shooting.

What are you going to tell them?

I don’t know, Pete. What you would say?

I would say, ‘Pass me the Walker Red, motherfucker!’ Then, Pete said, I would just tell the truth the American way! After the laughter died down, I told Pete I had stopped by to see my niece, Sandy, and a good thing that I did, because if we hadn’t been there, anything could have happened to my brother’s child. Unfortunately, my wife was hurt, but she would be okay.

Tomorrow was Friday. I had to meet with Lieutenant Sandy to go over the details of the shooting and make sure she and I were on the same page. We kept Frank and Connor out of the incident; however, that was not a problem. Before the police had arrived, the short robber’s body had been moved, and the tall robber’s body was on the floor near the door, faceup. The pistol was lying on the floor by his torso. We had moved the shorter man to a vehicle in the rear of the building and put him in the trunk along with the drugs. Connor drove the body and the drugs to safety. Frank, Sandy, and I rehearsed our story until I started to believe it.

Frank said, Are you really going to say we were selling drugs?

Yeah! Weed, Sandy said.

Man, you sure you got this, Mercedes? Before I could answer, Frank asked Sandy, Where’s your head? Has he not had us the last four years? No one has been to jail more than six hours, and we were paid as if we were at the spot.

I know, guys. I’m just a little nervous.

Don’t be agitated. We will get through this just fine.

I know, said Sandy.

Frank said, Listen! The best thing is we are family. It is not our fault that some clown came to the wrong apartment and tried to rob it. And he got himself offed. We all laughed. Sandy, smiling at me, asked how Nikki was holding up. I told her she was a strong woman, but the rehab was taking its toll on her, and she was still overly concerned if she would ever walk again, and so was I.

Sandy stepped closer to me, put her arm around my neck, and kissed me on my cheek, looking into my eyes. "I see you are hurting. Be strong for yourself, like you are for us."

I will, and I am.

Frank said, Do you think we will have to do any time for dealing with any type of drug, and if so, how much time, Mercedes?

I smiled and said, No way! Fuck, it was only half an ounce of weed! And it was not for sale. It was for personal use.

Sandy looked at Mercedes with a puzzled look on her face. That DA is going to be coming after us! And he is going to say we had a gunfight in a drug house.

Yes, that’s his job!

Ye of little faith! Be strong! Don’t be fearful! We have the best legal team in Los Angeles. Our legal team is just that good. As a matter of fact, after we win, the judge may ask the DA to pay the fine! The whole group laughed. "Okay, people. I got to go back to my office. I will speak to you tonight. If not, I will see you in the courthouse. I will be sitting in the back. Just keep cool. Sandy, remember this, the DA will be coming at you extremely hard. Stay cool! Don’t let him intimidate you! Don’t elaborate on anything. Just answer the questions he asks you, and you are going to be okay. Don’t misunderstand me, honey, this cheap-suit-wearing bastard is going to be threatening. And remember, honey, think about the answer you are going to give. The DA is going to be forthcoming, so just relax. You, too, Frank. Remember this. He is the enemy, especially since the last four years that we have been winners, and we still are.

The trial starts Friday at 10:00 a.m. Be professional—no braids, little jewelry, maybe a watch and a ring for you, Frank, and make sure you wear a suit. You are not going to a club. Nothing fucking flashy. Make sure you wear a tie.

Frank said, A tie!

Yeah, I am counting on you, Frank. You and Sandy don’t smoke no weed tonight. Get up early in the morning and have a good breakfast, and the two of you meet me at the lawyer’s office at 8:15 a.m. Fred Harris is your attorney’s name. He ain’t nothing nice! I went to college with him. He’s good! I smiled at them and said, He is better than good! Whatever he asks you might sound ridiculous, but he will have a good reason.

Frank and Sandy arrived at exactly 8:15 a.m. at the attorney’s office. We were immediately ushered into Fred Harris’s office. He stood up, introduced himself, and told the couple, I will be representing you in court. He allegedly committed a felony. Frank looked at Sandy, and before he could say anything, Attorney Harris said, Not to worry, son. This will go away fast. First of all, the police arrested you on the spot, and that was only because the officers thought they had a probable case—they may or may not. We will prove at the hearing that the shooting was an act of self-defense. There were no witnesses, except the two of you. They turned it over to the DA’s office saying that you were selling drugs. However, they found twenty-six dollars and half a fucking ounce of marijuana. Neighbors have been interviewed, and no one remembers any heavy traffic.

Sandy asked, Are we good?

Attorney Harris laughed and said, Good as gold!

Frank asked, What is the first move, Mr. Harris?

We will file a motion to dismiss by attacking the elements of the case, and if successful, and we will be, that will end the marijuana sales charge.

The office door opened; I stepped in, clapping my hands, and asked Sandy, What you think? Did I call it?

Sandy said, You make it sound so easy.

It is not about being easy—it is about being right.

The hearing lasted most of the day. The lawyers went back and forth, using words and language that Sandy and I did not understand. I did not remember every word, but I remember this word: affirmative defense. At the end of the day, the weed charges were dropped. Attorney Harris asked if he and the DA could retire in his chambers. They were in there about twenty-six to thirty minutes. They came back to the courtroom. The judge sat on the bench along with the DA, and our attorney went to his side of the courtroom. The judge said, Will the defendants please stand. Sandy and Frank looked at each other. They had that bewildered look. They were afraid. The judge said, All charges are being dropped, and the defendants may leave.

Frank remembered when we got outside the courtroom, I was standing on the sidewalk laughing. Sandy ran down the steps, jumped into my arms, and gave me a big, wet kiss. I saw Frank running down the steps. I held my right hand out, smiling, and said, I will take a handshake from you.

Frank asked, You want to go somewhere and have a drink? Then he thought for a minute and dropped his head. Fuck! I can’t have a drink! I need to get home. My girl needs to see me and know I’m all right. Maybe we can meet later tonight.

Sandy said, Why don’t you call?

Frank said, Calling is not an option. She needs to see me, and I need to see her.

I said, Sandy, he’s got a point. Maybe we can meet later tonight.

I gave Sandy car fare, and Fred said to her, Why don’t you and I have dinner and a drink?

Sandy said, Really, you mean that?

Fred said, I asked!

Hell yeah! I would love to have dinner with you.

I found a phone booth and called to tell Peggy we had won. We beat the case, baby. I asked her if she had any plans. I would like to meet up with you tonight. As a matter of fact, right now. We are not out of the woods yet!

What are you talking about? Peggy said.

I asked her, Have you forgotten about Connor driving around with that body and drugs in the damn trunk.

Peggy said, Oh, shit! Man, I forgot. With everything that was going on, I’d totally forgotten about Connor. It had totally slipped my mind.

I thought for a minute and told Peggy over the phone, I’m going to resolve this situation with Connor myself.

I drove to the shack where Connor was babysitting the drugs and a dead man. I was driving down this dirt road. I looked in the rearview mirror, and all I could see was a spray of dust behind me. It had not rained in weeks. It looked like a small tornado behind me. Connor must have heard the vehicle approaching. I finally reached an asphalt road. Connor was standing on the porch. Before I got out of the vehicle, he was walking toward me with a worried look on his face. His first question: How did it go in court? I told him we had a W in the column. He jumped down the porch and, laughing, lit a cigarette. Then he asked, Now that’s all over, what the fuck are we going to do with the body?

Well, I got some tools in the trunk. We will just have to bury him.

Connor said, I’ll be fucked if I dig a six-foot hole!

I started laughing. So you got jokes, Connor!

Connor lit another cigarette and asked, How many feet do we have to dig?

I told him about three feet. I have some lye, so the body doesn’t smell. Get the tools out of the truck, and let’s do this before some asshole comes up here hiking! We dug the hole, limed the body, and, on our way back to the city, dropped the shovels off along the side of the road. Someone would find them and take them home thinking, Damn, this is a nice tomahawk long handle. He would probably think how nice it was to find a nice shovel. I laughed. Ha! Ha! Ha!

I think after I drop you off, I will go see Nikki for about two or three hours.

You really love that lady, don’t you? said Connor.

I sure do!

Connor said, You know, when we first met and came aboard, I needed money. Since I really knew nothing about you, I thought you were one of those get-rich-quick people. But, hell, you are a very nice person. If that is the right terminology.

I said, "Listen to you, Connor, using a big word like terminology! Now that you have used it, what the hell does it mean?"

Connor said, Just because I live in the ghetto does not mean that I didn’t study! It is a term using a particular technical application. How you like this, Mercedes?

Okay, okay, okay! You did study, and I guess you have knowledge. Why are you doing this shit, Connor?

Laughing out loud, he asked, Why are you doing it?

I told him, I am not, and don’t play word games with me! We smiled at each other. I asked Connor, Tell me, man, are Frank and Sandy also educated?

Connor said, Yeah! They both have some kind of fucking degree!

I asked Connor, Do you?

Yep!

I asked, What kind?

Connor turned his back to me, laughing, and said, I have a degree in criminal law! I went to LACC. It’s only an associate degree.

I laughed. Had I forgotten or lost my sight? All I saw was that Connor was drug dealer! Now I knew what the man meant when he said, I am talking to the man in the mirror.

Connor, I said, thanks!

For what?

You just opened my eyes. No, man! My eyes have been open all the time! I just wasn’t seeing anything except what I wanted to see. I hate to admit it, but with how you were talking to me like this, I misjudged a lot of people wrongfully! I wonder if I am making the same mistakes at the office. That was a good conversation we just had, Connor! I am glad we had it. It was totally beneficial. Somewhere in my mind, I thought there was a certain group of people beneath me, and they are—as you, Frank, and Sandy—just as intelligent, or more intelligent, than I am, and I think I am damn brilliant!

Connor said, Lesson learned. Do not judge people by their appearance, because what you see is not always what it is.

I asked Connor where he wanted to be dropped off. Take me to the jungle!

I said ‘jungle’? Why do you call it the ‘jungle’? Are you messing with my head?

No, Mercedes! They call it the jungle because of the dense vegetation. It was actually and still is a good place to live in LA.

I said, Thanks, Connor! Talking to you has taught me a lesson I’ll never forget.

Connor held out his hand, grabbed my hand, and pulled himself toward me. He said, Tell me one thing, Mercedes. Are we going back into business? I did not answer. We were nearing the street Connor wanted to be dropped off on. He got out. I pulled away, and as I was driving down the street, Connor’s question raced around in my head.

2

I went to the phone booth and called Leggy Peggy to have lunch. Unfortunately, she did not answer her phone. I had nothing to do, so I tried to call her again. This time, she did answer.

Do you want to have lunch?

Peggy said, It’s about time. She knew that I had been under a lot of stress. She asked how the employees were taking my absence.

I will talk to you about that when I pick you up.

I arrived at Peggy’s about twenty minutes later. She was sitting the way she used to sit when she was waiting on me to hit the street—long legs crossed, skirt up to her thighs. When I pulled up to the curve, she uncrossed those long legs and strolled to the car looking fine as ever. Peggy opened the door, got in, leaned over, and kissed me on the cheek. She grabbed me under my chin with her left hand, smiling, and asked, Have you missed me, baby?

I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She stared at me with a wary look on her face; she did not say anything. I told her, I was not trying to be improper with you.

She said, I know you were not. It was just surprising. I told her I was sorry, and she said, Don’t be sorry. On the drive to the restaurant, she asked, How is Nikki these days? I said Nikki was getting better and better every day. Peggy said, I was wondering why you had not called. We were ace boon coons.

Peggy, I am going to share some personal information with you that I have only told Pete, and this has to stay between us.

It will. I have never spoken a word of what you talk to me about.

I know. We both smiled.

Peggy said, Before you tell me your information, I want to ask you something.

What?

Have you heard anything from the police about the shooting?

I know you have, because Nicole is under no circumstances going to let this pass.

Peggy said, Oh, no, not her. She calls Nikki her little sister, and the truth is we have not really been talking. She and I never talked that much. Not that I did not want to talk to Nicole, but I bumped into her at the rehab facility, and she did not say much to me. I guess it is her natural attitude, being a police officer. I really did not know what to say. My woman’s intuition tells me she is looking into the shooting of Nikki.

I am not sure, Peggy, if she can investigate family incidents due to the closeness and possibilities of prejudice.

Peggy said, You got that right, man. When you say prejudice, one thing I know is that I would not want that bitch after me. We both laughed! I told Peggy that Sandy and Frank had been cleaned of both charges as far as the judicial system could go. Peggy said, May that be as it is. We are not talking about the system right now. We are talking about Nicole. She is very… I am looking for a word…

Judgmental, I said.

Peggy said, That’s the word!

You know what’s funny, Peggy? Of all the years you and I have been working the hood, it has been a very profitable few years, besides what happened to Nikki. There have been only three police raids, and we all recovered well from that shit. Look at you, owning what—five properties, money in the bank, no one looking into your businesses, paying taxes.

Peggy said, When you look at it that way, I am doing okay for a woman with just a high school education.

I said, You certainly are, and Peggy said, I owe it all to you.

I said, Stop that shit, woman. You owe me nothing. You did all of this on your own. I only showed you the road.

Peggy laughed and said, You put it like that, I guess I made the right turn. Peggy leaned over, kissed me on the lips, and said, I made the right turn because you would not let me go left. We both started laughing.

Peggy, are you still dating that dude you met a couple of years ago?

She said, Man, hell no!

Why you say it like that?

For one thing, we are jealous of my relationship with you. I asked why. Peggy said, Because I told him you and I used to be what he could not handle. I asked how we were, honey. Peggy hit me in the arm, and after a moment of quiet, we laughed again.

Just thinking, Mercedes, said Peggy, I like Nikki very much. If I had a sister, I would want her to be just like Nikki.

Stop, Peggy. I feel the same way about you.

I am sure if there was no Nikki, without a doubt, it would be you and me, Mercedes.

I am just glad to hear you say that. I have always felt that way. I know we could never act on it. We should not even be talking like this to each other. We are just speaking our minds.

Tell me something, Mercedes. When I got in the car, you were about to tell me something about Nikki being in rehab.

"Oh! Yeah! Nikki was telling me how she felt being paralyzed. She had no control over her whole body. She told me that there were days when she just cried hours and hours at a time. It was very frustrating. All she could do was cry. Peggy, some of this is going to be touching. She said the first day, she was angry. All she wanted was to come home. She said all they could do for her at that point was to make her as comfortable at possible as the doctors and nurses went on about their daily routine and jobs. Things got even worse for Nikki when she could not sleep sometimes. She would get so mad that she did not want to see or talk to anyone. She would be so lonely. It was so bad that, at times, she