Tameka exited the bathroom, still moving slowly. With every fiber of her being she wanted to say yes to whatever Chad wanted, lie down across that big, comfortable-looking bed and sleep for hours, but she couldn’t, not yet and not here. She couldn’t afford to relax her guard, or she’d weaken and her body would make the choice for her. Relationship decisions based on physical lust were never sound. She had a long list of former clients who could attest to that fact.
Chad took her by the elbow and escorted her to the truck.
Once there, he lifted her into the cab and made sure she was settled before closing the door. She appreciated his assistance even as she resented the tingle of arousal his touch stirred to life.
Instead of walking around the truck as she expected, she watched in the side view mirror as he walked over to the cruiser and popped the trunk. What was he…? Oh, yeah. She’d forgotten about her tires. It felt like weeks ago instead of just this morning that he’d changed one tire and brought the other to town with him to be fixed.
He really is a good man and a great catch, if I do say so myself. You could do a lot worse, but I doubt you’ll find better.
Tameka shot straight up in her seat and looked around.
Great, now she was hearing voices, one that sounded suspiciously like Momma E. If things kept going the way they were, she’d be the one needing therapy.
The voice laughed. You’re not crazy, child, just mule-stubborn like your daddy.
“And you,” Tameka muttered, then slapped a hand over her mouth. I’m having hallucinations brought on by extreme tiredness and stress, she diagnosed. Obviously this thing with Chad had her more on edge than she’d previously believed.
You’re not hallucinating, Meka. I’m here.
Tameka closed her eyes and stated calmly and clearly,
“There are no such things as ghosts and werewolves. Once you die, that’s it. Werewolves and ghosts are simply stories created by imaginative people to entertain the masses. They are not real.” She nodded her head once emphatically to punctuate her words, then opened her eyes, having reaffirmed her beliefs.
The voice laughed heartily and the sounds of slapping could be heard, like the way Momma E used to smack her leg when she had a good chuckle. Oh my precious child, there are more things in heaven and earth than what can be explained by your five senses and intellect. Soon enough you’ll believe.
Chad opened the door and got in. Reaching for the ignition, he suddenly paused and sniffed the air, looking around.
“Everything alright?”
Tameka let his odd behavior pass. She just didn’t have the energy to deal with anything else. “Fine. I’m just tired.”
“We can stay here and rest,” he offered.
“No, thank you. I want to go home.” At the look on his face, she found herself rushing to explain. “I need space, time to think.
I can’t do that with you around.”
He seemed to consider her words. Finally, he nodded.
“You’re right. I’ve been pushing too hard these last few days. I got carried away and neglected to give you space. I’ll do better.” Tameka had no doubt that he would. He appeared to be making a mental checklist of the things she needed to make a relationship work. She was sure if she could see into his mind, under her name would be a bullet point that read: needs space.
He started the truck and left her to her thoughts as requested. She huddled in the corner and kept her eyes closed, mind racing while Chad stopped to get her a new tire before taking her home.
She’d always believed psychosis to be a gradual thing. Day by day, incident-by-incident, little warning signs that were missed until one day, sanity was but a fond memory. Who knew it could come in a flash? Maybe all the indications were there and like so many of her previous patients, she’d ignored them.
‘Cause really, what sane woman walks away from a lucrative practice to do hair? She’d rationalized by saying that she was simplifying her life, but what if—as her family supposed—it was more?
Hmmm, so this is what a mental breakdown feels like.
As soon as the vehicle stopped, she got out and headed for the house. Peace, quiet, and most of all sanity, were just a few steps away. She craved them so desperately she was on the verge of running.
“Meka.” Chad’s arm came around her waist, halting her as his body molded to hers from behind. He leaned down and murmured into her ear. “Please, don’t push me away. Give us a chance.” He licked one of the passion marks on her neck and her entire body trembled violently as desire fired to life. With a whimper, she collapsed against him.
Chad must have taken that as a sign of surrender. Who knows? Maybe it was. She didn’t complain when he swung her up into his arms, carried her into the house, and deposited her on her feet by the bed. He quickly divested them both of their clothing. Tameka stood as docile as an asylum patient on strong meds while he pulled back the covers.
When he finished, he scooped her up, laid her in the middle of the bed and climbed in beside her. He pulled her into his arms and arranged her body so that her head lay pillowed on his chest, tugging on her leg until it lay tangled with his own. “Sleep, baby.
Things will make more sense after you’ve rested.” He stroked her back in soothing motions.
She yawned—a big, jaw cracking one. Even wolf-man knows I’ve lost it. She closed her eyes and let Morpheus take her away.
When she woke later that night, Chad was gone. Tameka immediately missed him and wished he’d stayed, but she’d asked for space and he was giving it to her. She wouldn’t complain.
She
was grateful—darn
it!—that he
was being
so
accommodating. Really, she was.
Grumbling at her own lack of conviction, she showered, threw on a multi-colored caftan, and went to the kitchen for something to eat. She was craving red meat all of a sudden. Must be because she’d missed lunch.
She thawed two seven-ounce T-bones in the microwave, seasoned them, and stuck them under the broiler. While they were cooking, she searched the refrigerator for something to eat with them. Maybe a salad…
She cut up various vegetables into a bowl, paused to flip the meat over, and then wrapped the bowl in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. Once she smelled it cooking, she decided all she really wanted was meat. Too hungry to wait, she pulled the steaks from the oven much earlier than normal.
After forking them onto her waiting plate, she sat at the table with a tall glass of sweet tea and dug in. When she came up for air, all that remained were the bones sitting in a puddle of pink-tinged juice. Tameka rubbed her stomach contentedly. Why had she always insisted that her steaks be well done? Medium-rare was delicious.
She cleaned her mess and was debating on a movie to watch when she heard a car drive up in front of the house. Wonder who that is? Didn’t sound like Chad, and no one else came visiting.
Occasionally, people used her driveway to turn around, but this car was too close to the house, which sat a good ways back from the road.
She went to the kitchen window and peeked out. A woman living alone out in the boonies couldn’t be too careful, especially when the nearest neighbor was a quarter mile away. Tameka relaxed and went to the door when she saw Lulu’s familiar form exiting a light blue Lincoln Continental. When she opened the door, Lulu paused on the first step leading to the porch.
“Lulu,” she greeted cautiously.
“Well, at least you’re still speaking to me. After earlier, I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome,” Lulu told her with a smile.