4. Chiara
Chiara
I left Gabe at the house looking stupid as fuck.
If he didn’t have time for me, then I didn’t have time for his ass either.
I was pushing my luck, trying to leave without acknowledging him.
He didn’t play that shit at all. Even if he was pissed off at me, he always kissed me and told me he loved me before he left the house or went to sleep if we were at odds.
His reasoning is that prison gave him a completely different outlook on life.
Whatever. Fuck him and his outlook right now.
I was on the way to meet my sister, Chiquita, at our favorite lunch spot.
I wasn’t about to sit home and wait for Gabe to remember he had a wife.
I might even treat myself to a fresh set of nails and a pedicure while I was out.
When I pulled up, it was a little crowded, so I didn’t see Chiquita’s car.
Grabbing my purse and phone, I locked my car and headed inside.
When I got inside, Chiquita was sitting on the bench waiting for me.
“I thought you stood me up, trick.” She stood to give me a hug, and we both followed the hostess to our table. Once we got seated, I started spilling the beans to Chiquita.
“Wait. So, he flat out said ‘no’?” she asked.
“Pretty much,” I confirmed, sipping my pineapple mimosa. “He said now wasn’t a good time because he already had jobs lined up.”
“It’s just still him and Gary, right?”
“Yeah. For the most part. They have other drivers, but they only drive locally.”
“Does Shan complain about Gary being gone?”
“I guess she’s used to it. I don’t know.
All I know is that my husband told me to quit work and he’ll take care of me, and I never see him.
I’m home all day in that house alone, Quita.
We don’t even have a damn dog.” I know I may have sounded spoiled and selfish, but I missed my damn husband.
I understood he had to work, but he was part owner, so he should’ve been able to pull some strings.
“Sounds like you’re being a spoiled brat, Chi.
” She shrugged. “I get you want to spend time with your husband, but look at it this way. You know he’s working to secure y’all’s future, so give him a lil’ slack.
If you don’t see things turning around, then let his ass know that he didn’t marry that damn trucking company.
He married you, and needs to act like it.
” I heard her, but I was too busy coming up with my own plan.
“I’m going to go on this trip by myself. I deserve this shit. I’m not telling his ass, and you better not either. By the time I get back, maybe he’ll appreciate me more.” I nodded and sipped on my mimosa as I made a mental note of what I needed to pack for the trip.
“Wait a minute, Chi. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Don’t you think it’s a bit extreme?” she asked, but my mind was already made up. I was taking myself on a ‘mecation’ since my husband wouldn’t give me a ‘baecation’.
“It’s not extreme at all. It’s me doing something for me before I snap my husband’s neck.
I’m tired of being neglected, so if he won’t take me on a trip, I’ll take myself and he’ll see how it feels to miss me.
” My decision was final, and I was sticking to it.
I was taking myself on this trip and that was that.
We finished our food and Chiquita decided to tag along with me to get my nails and feet done. I was glad when my tech’s chair was empty. I didn’t make an appointment, so I knew I was taking a chance on coming and being able to be seen.
While we were getting our nails done, Gabe called, and I let his ass go straight to voicemail.
I wasn’t thinking about his ass right now.
It didn’t take long to get finished with our nails and I went to the mall to buy a few things for my trip.
Afterwards, we went our separate ways, and I ended up at my parent’s house.
When I pulled up, my father’s car was gone, so he was probably at work still.
I knocked on the door and waited for my mother to let me in.
“Well, well. What brought you by in the middle of the day?” she asked as she hugged my frame.
“I just came to check up on you. I haven’t seen you in a few days.”
“You know I’m doing fine. Nothing can keep this ol’ gal down.
” My mother found out that she had Polycystic Kidney Disease last year and it scared the hell out of me.
Since she caught it early, she was able to get a handle on it.
My father worked hard to make sure that he could provide her with the best care that there was.
I know it sounded hypocritical, but they’ve been married over thirty years and enjoyed their years together.
I wanted to experience that in my marriage, and nobody was going to make me feel like I was wrong for feeling this way.
“That’s good. Where’s Daddy? Work?”
“Yeah. He should be home shortly. Chi, what’s wrong?” she asked. My mother always had a way of knowing when something was wrong with either of us. I guess you could call it a mother’s intuition.
“Nothing. Well, not nothing. I asked Gabe to go on a trip and he said no,” I revealed.
“He just said no with no reasoning or explanation?” she asked.
“Well, no. He said he couldn’t go because he already had work lined up for the next few weeks.”
“So, why don’t you just wait until he has the time, Chiara. You’re sounding like a spoiled brat right now, and I blame your father.” She shook her head at me and went back to watching the TV.
“So, you’re saying I’m being selfish because I want or spend time with my husband?” I quizzed.
“I’m saying that you need to be a bit more understanding and compromise.
You didn’t have to quit working, but you didn’t hesitate when Gabe suggested you did.
You have to give the man credit, Chi. He works hard because of the promise he made to give you everything that your heart desires.
Be a little more patient with him,” she advised.
I hated everyone seemed to be on his side.
I wanted somebody to understand where I was coming from.
Not wanting to stay in my mother’s company any longer out of fear of what I would say, I kissed her cheek and left.
I needed to beat Gabe home anyway, because I was still going on my trip.
Once I made it back home, I was glad to see that Gabe hadn’t returned yet.
It gave me time to pack and leave before he got here.
I wasn’t going to go far, only to Cannon Cove, so I could enjoy the water and get lost in my thoughts.
I was only an hour and a half away, so if he really wanted to be with me, he could still come.
I wasn’t going to leave my house in a mess, so I made sure everything was put away and in order before I decided to leave. By the time Gabe got home, I should almost be at my destination, if not already there.
“I’ll let his ass miss me for once,” I thought as I packed my stuff.
After I hurriedly packed, I took a quick shower and was out of the door in less than an hour.
Gabe was so predictable; I knew he would be leaving the office soon, and I wanted to be on the road by the time he got home and realized I was gone.
Maybe a night alone will give him a better perspective on how I feel.
Making sure my bags were secure in the trunk, I started my car and pulled away from my home. Twenty minutes into my ride, Chiquita called me. I started to ignore her, too, but I answered.
“Hello?” I answered.
“You sound like you’re in the car. Did you really leave to go on that trip alone, Chi?” she asked.
“I did. Hell, I deserve it.” I huffed.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be leaving town by yourself. Anything can happen.”
“You’re right, but it also can happen when I’m home alone, too. Look, Quita, I know you mean well, but I need to do this. Listen, do me a favor. If Gabe calls you, don’t tell him where I went. I know he’ll call you, eventually.”
“How can I tell him something that I do even know?” she replied, snidely.
“I’ll tell you when I get there.”
“Call me the minute you get there, Chi. I’m not playing, either,” she fussed like she was the big sister and not the other way around.
“Okay, mom,” I teased. “I’ll call you as soon as I get to my destination.
I promise.” After promising my sister I would call her, I hung up and got on the interstate to head to Cannon Cove.
The beach was just what I needed to clear my mind.
This time of year, it wasn’t too cold or too hot, so it was the perfect time if you asked me.
I sang along with Mr. Biggs and his dumb ass woman on ‘Contagious’.
She had to be the dumbest woman in the history of dumb women.
I may have been upset that Gabe seemed to never have time for me, but I wasn’t stupid enough to cheat.
My man was a reformed street dude. He threatened to kill any man that I cheated with and make me watch.
I believed his ass, too. That’s why I also knew I was playing with fire by up and leaving, but I wanted him to get a dose of his own medicine.
I didn’t even tell my parents or sister where I was headed because they would tell his ass and that would defeat the purpose.
Continuing my route, I sang along with the songs that came through the speakers.
I was so into Jazmine Sullivan telling that nigga to pick up his feelings that I didn’t notice the pickup truck barreling my way at top speed with the police chasing him.
“Oh, shit!” I shrieked, barely missing the truck. I must’ve steered the steering wheel too hard because now I had lost complete control of my car.
“Ahh!” I screamed, trying to gain control, but it was no use.
I lost all control and hit another car. That caused another vehicle to ram into me, knocking my car into the pole from the driver’s side.
The impact was so powerful that it banged my head on the steering wheel, knocking me out.
The last thing I heard was Siri announcing that ‘Husbae’ was calling before everything around me went quiet and black.
***
The beeping sounds were making my head hurt. I didn’t know where I was, but they needed to turn all that noise down. Slowly, I peeled my eyes open, and the bright lights caused me to close them back fast as hell. When I tried to open them again, I realized I was in the hospital.
“What am I doing in the hospital?” I asked out loud. No one was in here with me, so I was just asking in general. Moments later, a person who I assumed was the doctor walked in with two nurses.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hastings. How are you feeling?” I heard the doctor, but I didn’t know who he was talking to because my last name was Livingston, not Hastings.
“Uhm, I’m fine besides this headache, but I think you have the wrong room. My name is Chiara Livingston. Not Hastings,” I corrected. I saw them look at each other, then the doctor flipped through the chart he was holding.
“Mrs. Has-”
“Livingston,” I cut him off.
“Excuse me. Ms. Livingston. You were brought in because you were in a terrible car accident. It was a miracle you only came out with a sprained wrist and a headache. From what I’m observing now, I can see that you may also have amnesia as a result of the accident.”
Accident? Amnesia? What the hell was he talking about?
“I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t remember an accident and I can assure you I don’t have amnesia.”
“We’re going to run a few tests to rule that out. We also contacted your next of kin that was listed at the DMV and he’s on his way,” he informed.
He? Who the hell is he? Oh, my father.
“You called my father? How long did he say before he would get here?” I asked.
“The man I talked to was a Gabriel Hastings, and he was listed as your husband,” he said.
“My husband? That has to be a mistake. I’m not married. Call my parents! I don’t know any Gabriel Hastings!” I was panicking because if they said I was in an accident, what if it was the man that hit me or something? I couldn’t let him come in here and finish the job.
“Mrs. Hastings, calm down,” one of the nurses said.
“Stop calling me that! My name is Chiara Livingston, and I don’t know anybody named Gabriel!” My head was thumping. This was too much. I don’t know what the fuck was going on, yet they were in here telling me I was married to some man named Gabriel.
“Okay, Ms. Livingston. I’m going to give you something to calm you down and for your head.
The doctor will be back in shortly to talk to you.
” I watched as she injected something into my IV and soon after, my eyes were becoming heavy.
Before my eyes closed, I glanced down at my hand and noticed a wedding ring on my left hand.
“What the fuck?” was the last thing I said before I my dosed off.