Chapter 10
“He’s just getting old,Paul. He’s going to sleep a lot, more than usual. Diabetes doesn’t help. Because of diabetes, he’s developed cataracts. You know all this already.”
“Yeah, I know. He’s also been having accidents in the house. Is that part of it too?”
“It could be, but we will check him to be sure he doesn’t have a UTI. Incontinence is a huge sign of aging. He’s ten years old, which means he’s about seventy years old. Bigger dogs age a little faster than smaller ones, so he could possibly even be as old as seventy-eight.”
“We still exercise as you recommended. He gets tired a lot faster though, so I’ve been taking it easy on him.” He petted Russell then looked up at me. “You ready for tonight?”
“As ready as I’m gon’ get.”
“How’s the marriage going?”
“Besides her missing her babies, it’s going well. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Honestly, I didn’t think there was a woman alive that could be everything I wanted.”
He chuckled as I smiled. Giselle had been amazing. My only complaint so far was the limited amount of time we got to spend together. She would go to work, go spend time with the kids, then come home and cook for the next day, usually in a crock pot or slow cooker so she didn’t have to stay awake while it cooked. There would be just enough time for her to take a shower and fuck me before going to sleep.
I just wanted to be able to hold her and watch TV sometimes. She’d also been organizing her and the kids’ things. She was still as sweet as she was day one. After we’d left her parents’ house, instead of visiting my parents’ home with me, she went to see the kids again. We agreed to dinner at my family’s house this coming Sunday. As long as the kids were with Clayton, we wouldn’t be able to spend time with both sides on the same day.
I couldn’t wait until this shit was over so we could establish a sense of normalcy. Hopefully, tonight would be a step in the right direction. It would be interesting to see how Clayton behaved when Giselle wasn’t around.
My assistant took Russell to the back to check him for the UTI as Paul went back to the waiting area. He was the mutual friend Clayton and I had. I should have asked him more questions about Clayton, but that wasn’t my style. I didn’t want to put him in the middle of anything. He obviously knew the situation though. He met Clayton in high school, so they’d been friends a lot longer than him and me.
I had one more appointment for the day before I would be able to go home and get showered for tonight. Giselle would have the kids while we went out. Although I had complaints, I sympathized with her. She wasn’t resting well, so I didn’t know how she was functioning. Some nights, I would wake up and see her staring at the ceiling. I’d pull her in my arms and comfort her the best I could.
She was a strong woman, that was for sure. She was also independent and used to handling things on her own. Sometimes it felt like I was prying the words out of her. Almost immediately after she realized what she was doing, she would apologize and open up more to me, promising to do better about keeping me in the loop.
It was hard breaking yourself out of habits, especially when there were extenuating circumstances that put that to the test constantly. I knew I had to practice patience with her in that area. I was not a patient nigga, but I found myself being whatever I needed to be for her. Although I hadn’t fallen in love with her yet, I was telling her I loved her every day to ease her spirit.
“Doctor Fleming, your appointment is here.”
I nodded at my receptionist. “Thank you.”
I sanitized my hands and made my way to the next examination room to see it was a new client. I wanted to roll my eyes because I was just ready to go home. Normally, my new patients were booked for morning appointments. They took longer, and I didn’t like being bothered with full examinations too close to closing.
Someone would answer for this one if there wasn’t a logical excuse. When I walked in, the owner of the Yorkie named Sasha stared up at me. Her eyes had widened like she wasn’t expecting me to be the vet. “Good evening. I’m Doctor Fleming,” I said, extending my hand to hers.
She shook it and said, “Hi. I’m Shakira. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Is this just a new patient visit, or is there a specific issue that brings you in?” I asked as I petted Sasha.
She seemed friendly enough, so I picked her up, and she immediately licked my face. I smiled slightly. Most people thought it was disgusting to allow animals to lick your face. I was well aware of that, but it was disgusting to let human saliva touch you too. Now, I didn’t allow them to lick me in the mouth, because yes, that was just nasty.
“Wow. She doesn’t usually take to people so easily. Umm… We’re new to the area, and I wanted to get her established with a vet. I brought her records from her old veterinarian in New Orleans.”
“I thought I heard an accent. What brings you to Tallahassee?” I asked as I set Sasha on the examination table.
I could tell she was used to either going to the vet or being groomed, because she just sat there, stiff as a board. However, when I accidently knocked one of her bows from her head, she growled. I chuckled. “So I have a diva on my hands? I’m sorry, Miss Sasha. Let me put it back.”
Shakira giggled. “She loves her bows. I moved here after getting my master’s degree in graphic design. I got on with a company out here. I was looking to move for a change of scenery.”
I nodded as I did a routine exam on Sasha. Once I finished, I looked at her records to see she was up to date on all her shots. “Well, Miss Sasha, you seem to be the picture of health.”
She looked up at me and smiled while wagging her tail. I chuckled. “I swear she has to be human,” I said to Shakira.
She laughed. “I believe she thinks she is. Thank you for taking us in. The receptionist said you didn’t normally do new patients in the evenings, but you made an exception for us. So thank you.”
Oh!I was hotter than a spoon in a crack house. One thing I couldn’t stand was being lied on. My eyebrows lifted slightly, and Shakira noticed. “Uh oh. I didn’t mean to get anyone in trouble.”
“It’s okay. Do you have any questions for me?”
She glanced down at Sasha and smiled then said, “No, sir. Thanks again.”
“Thank you for choosing my clinic. Have a nice day,” I said as I petted Sasha.
When I got to the receptionist’s desk to give her my notes and future appointments, she smiled. After noticing my facial expression, her smile faded. Yeah, she knew she fucked up. “I’m sorry. She’s a friend of my cousin, so I took the appointment.”
“We’ll talk later.”
I refused to go over this with her while clients were in the office. She knew I was more professional than that. My phone vibrated as I walked to my office. When I saw the message from Elle, I smiled. Hey, baby. I hope you had a great day. I just got to Clayton’s house. Call me when you get off.
I responded immediately. Hey, baby. My day has gotten better just that quickly. I hope you had an amazing day as well. I’ll call you in an hour or so. Love you.
Love you too, Flem.
I smiled slightly. “That must be wifey.”
I looked up to see Paul heading back to an examination room. I smirked and joined him. “It was. It’s that obvious?”
“Hell yeah,” he said then laughed.
I grabbed Russell’s chart and looked it over to see he did indeed have a UTI. “Okay. I’ll get some antibiotics for him because he does have a UTI. I’ll give you some pain meds, too, for if he becomes irritable. He seems to be resting well now though.”
“Yeah, he has his moments.”
“Okay. Good thing you brought him in. It must be the beginning stages. I’ll also give you dietary modifications for him that will alter the acidity he consumes.”
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate how well you take care of Russell. You’re giving him long life.”
“I can only do so much though. You’re doing your part as well.” I shook his hand after making notes in Russell’s chart. “See you tonight.”
“A’ight.”
Going to the desk, I gave her my notes so she could give him the medication then made my way to my office. Checking the time, I noticed it was nearly six. Our last hour was the busiest because people would make appointments for when they got off work. Since that was the last patient, they would lock up once he left.
I gathered my things and was getting inside my car by five forty-five. I called my wife immediately. “Hello?”
“Hey, Elle. How’s it going?”
“Hey. Good, baby.”
“Oooooh! Who are you calling baby, Mommy?”
I chuckled. “I swear she is always in my business,” Giselle said. “Girl, go play with your brother and get out of my conversation.” There was a pause, then she said, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I can’t wait to get to know them.”
“I can’t wait either. I hate that I haven’t been able to spend as much time with you,” she said softly.
“I hate it too, but I understand completely. It won’t be like this always. You got off early?”
“Yeah. I got off at four. I worked through my lunch so I could get here earlier and be here when Kizzie got here from school. I also got to pick up Dakota from day care.”
“That’s good, baby. How’s your spirit?”
“It’s okay. My mama and Jorie are going to come over once Clayton leaves, to offer words of encouragement and advice. I really hope y’all have a great time tonight.”
“Me too. Paul came in today, but I didn’t ask him about anything. He definitely knows about us though.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. I love you, Flem. Thank you for being so patient with this,” she said softly.
“I love you too, girl. You’re worth the wait.”
“Hopefully, tonight will go well to where my kids can move in soon. I’m so anxious about it.”
“Well, try not to think about it. Take a deep breath and think about how I’m gonna handle you tonight when I get home.”
“Mm. That shit got me calm already.”
I chuckled. “I’m almost home, baby. I’ll call you when I’m on my way to Warhorse Whiskey Bar.”
“Okay. Bye.”
She ended the call as I turned in my driveway. Her nerves were on one and so were mine. I wanted everything to go well also. That meant my wife would be at peace. I was always on guard for bullshit, but I would go in with a positive state of mind.
“Gentry,this is my boy Felix, and this is his brother, Derrick.”
I shook their hands as I joined them at the table they were seated at. I was a few minutes late, because I had Giselle on the phone stroking her pussy. She’d gone to the bathroom while her mom was there, and we had phone sex. I wanted her so fucking bad. That shit had me running ten minutes late.
Once we were all seated, the waitress came and took my drink order. I also ordered some wings. The bullshit started as soon as I did, just like I suspected it would. “Giselle didn’t cook for you, man?”
I glanced at him, and he lifted his hands in surrender like he didn’t mean any harm. He failed to remember that just like he didn’t know me, I didn’t know his ass either. “She cooked. She always cooks. I didn’t have time to sit and eat though. My mind was only on one thing when I got off. I had to call her immediately. You feel me?” I asked.
He was gon’ learn real quick that I always won in these types of contests. My petty was undefeated. He cleared his throat and nodded. Fuck with me if you want to, my nigga. Sensing the tension, his boy Felix asked, “So Paul said you’re Russell’s vet. That gotta be tough. Russell’s like a grouchy old man.”
He laughed, and I chuckled. “He is definitely that, but I believe he’s gotten used to me. He doesn’t give me much trouble these days.”
“Yeah. He’s up there in age. Paul won’t take it too well when he dies.”
I nodded. Paul loved that dog like it was his kid. I could understand that totally. I got attached to the animals that came through the clinic as well, and they weren’t even mine. Right on cue, Paul joined us at the table. “My bad I’m late. My mama needed me to go to the store at the last minute.”
He shook my hand first and said, “You made it here fast.”
“He just got here a few minutes before you,” Clayton interjected.
He was a hater. That was what it was. While he didn’t seem to want Giselle romantically, it was like he was jealous that she was in a relationship. Now he seemed to be in his feminine feelings because Paul was speaking to me before he spoke to him. Paul glanced at him then looked back at me. “Yeah, about ten minutes ago, if that,” I said.
Paul nodded then greeted the others. He sat between Clayton and me. That was probably for the best. The waitress appeared with my beer and wings and took Paul’s drink order. Once she walked away, Paul said, “Russell got rowdy when we got home, but I gave him that medicine and he was out for the count when I left.”
He chuckled, and I did too. “He probably hasn’t been sleeping well.”
He nodded. We all made random conversation about the weather and sports. As we stated our predictions, tension got high again. “You telling me you from Florida but you predicting Boston to win it all?” Clayton asked.
“Well, based on their current standings, it’s a valid prediction. I didn’t say I was a fan. I’m a realist, and I go by statistics.”
“Hmph. So you don’t go with your gut? Good to know.”
I frowned as everyone stared at him. “There’s no point in involving my gut with something that doesn’t concern me. I don’t give a fuck who win. Ain’t none of them putting money in my pockets. Do I have a favorite team? Yeah, but the Heat ain’t doing shit right now and ain’t really done shit since twenty fourteen, the year after they won the championship. They have as many losses as wins these days.”
“So there’s no loyalty when there’s a losing season, man?”
I stared at Clayton as Paul said to him, “Come on, man. What’chu doing?”
“What’s this really about, Clayton? Like I said, those muthafuckas ain’t putting shit in my pocket. When it comes to things that are important to me or my wife, I’m all in. I feel like you tryna fuck with me right now. I peep shit real easy, and I had a feeling this was gonna be some bullshit. My gut proved to be right.”
I took a fifty-dollar bill from my pocket and threw it on the table. “I don’t stay where I ain’t wanted. My gut is intact on that front.”
I stood from my seat and said, “Use my change for the tip or put it in your pocket. Whatever you see fit to do with it.”
I walked off, and the minute I got in my car, I felt like shit. I knew he would tell Giselle that all this shit was my fault. After cranking my engine and driving off, I called her. She didn’t even say hello. “Oh God. Why are you calling me already?”
“It was all bullshit. Even his boys were looking at him like he was crazy… charging me up about a basketball team. I know it was more about you and the kids though.”
“What the fuck, man?”
“Right. I’m sorry, baby. I left so I wouldn’t get too disrespectful. The old me would have sat right there and continued to go back and forth with his ass. I don’t stay where I ain’t wanted.”
“Okay. I’ll see you when I get home.”
“Okay.”
I ended the call, feeling worse than I felt before I called. I could hear the disappointment in her tone. That irritated me. Hopefully, this shit would blow over, because I was more than sure his boys would get at him, especially Paul.