Chapter 35
Sade
“I thought I was checking on my boss. Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like that.”
Imade it to the Ritz in twenty minutes at ten in the evening. I valet-parked my car, then went to the front desk. I lied and told them I was his wife, smiling and speaking softly, and they gave me a key. I found the elevator, my heart racing a bit, hoping I didn’t see anything devastating.
I found his room and quickly found out he was a resident. This man was richer than I thought. I found his room at the end of the hall. I took a deep breath before going inside. When I went in, the room was so dark and reeked of smoke.
I didn’t even think you could smoke in hotels, but a nigga like Vaughn could probably do anything they want. I used my light on my phone to find him.
I looked around and found him in a chair by the window, towel around his waist, eyes closed, with a trash can beside him.
I walked over to him. “Oh my God, Vaughn. Are you okay?”
He didn’t say anything at first, just opened his eyes and reached out and touched my leg gently, then said, “What you doin’ here? You not supposed to see me like this.” He looked up at me.
I bent down in front of him. “What’s wrong? What happened?” I asked softly.
“My father is dying.” He was lethargic, and his voice was low and raspy.
My heart immediately broke.
“I’m so sorry,” I told him.
“I don’t know what I’ma do without him. I never thought about him dying.”
“I said the same thing when my mother died, so I know it hurts. I’m sorry for coming here, but I was worried.”
He dropped his head. “You wasn’t worried about me. Nobody is.”
“That’s not true. I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t.”
“How you even know I was here?” he asked, sounding confused.
“I heard Vanessa and came as soon as I could.”
“Well, I’m sick, and I don’t want you here seeing me like this, so leave.”
“Nope. I’m not going anywhere. Let’s get you in the shower and get you moving around.”
“It’s not that easy. The way I feel is deeper than you think.”
I started making him stand up. “Well, I’m going to do what I can. Turn the water on warm and use soap.”
He chuckled dryly. “You sayin’ I stank?”
I giggled. “No.”
He didn’t smell. I was just going off what I heard Vanessa say.
I walked him to the bathroom, damn near pushing him. I turned on the bathroom light, and he groaned.
“You’ll be alright with the light on. Turn on the water.”
“You gon’ stand here and watch me?” he said, sounding annoyed.
“I will if you don’t do what I say.” I folded my arms over my chest.
“Fuck it. You just wanna see me naked, it’s cool.”
I laughed. “Still wanna be funny.”
“Only for you.” He turned on the water. When he dropped the towel, I tried not to look, but he caught me.
“Like what you see?”
I laughed. “Absolutely not. Now get in.”
He wasn’t in there for five minutes before he started dry heaving and coughing.
I felt so sad for him. It was obvious he was grieving and depressed.
I’d been in his shoes many years ago. After my mother died, I was never the same.
I drank too much, smoked too much, partied too much until I isolated, but I went to therapy.
I got better and moved on with my life, and I was hoping he would, too.
“Can you go down to the hotel restaurant and get me some more 7 Up?” He gagged. “Please.”
“Yes,” I replied quickly and left out.
I went down, got 7 Up and some chicken soup they had on the menu, and fresh bread.
Fifteen minutes later, I was back in the room.
I set everything down and turned on the lights.
The suite was a mess. Water bottles, untouched takeout, soda cans, liquor bottles, Backwood guts, and ashes.
I didn’t judge, only got the urge to clean.
But first, I went to check on him in the bathroom.
The door was still open. He was standing at the sink, staring at himself in the half-fogged-up mirror, tube of Dior lotion in his hand.
I walked in, took the lotion from him, and put some in my hand.
Without saying a word, I started rubbing it on his back.
He was so tense. I massaged his shoulders and watched him close his eyes.
I rubbed his full back and chest, and he slowly eased up.
“You don’t know me like that to be here doing this for me.” His voice was still raspy.
“I know you enough to be here and help you. Now stop resisting me.” I continued to rub lotion on him.
He rested his hands on the counter and sighed. “Okay.”
When I was done, I walked him to the room. He put on some sweats and then sat at the island. I opened the soda for him.
“Small sips, eat some of that bread and soup if you can.”
He nodded.
I started cleaning the suite for him. Nothing major, just throwing away stuff and spraying Febreze he had on the counter.
I wiped stuff down, washed some dishes, and made the bed.
He watched my every move. I paid him no mind.
I was used to him watching me the way he was.
He probably thought I didn’t notice, but he kept his eyes on me when we worked.
“You don’t have to do that. I can call the maid,” he said.
“I know, but I’m doing it. Now eat and sip, so your stomach can settle.”
“My stomach not gon’ settle until I stop smoking weed.”
I looked at him with a hand on my hip. “Well, you won’t be smoking weed.”
“You don’t get to make those kind of decisions, woman.”
I smirked. “I do, as long as I’m here.”
He glared at me. “Go home, Sade.”
I matched his stare. “No… you’re stuck with me till you’re better.”
“You have work to do at Crown Heights,” he challenged.
“We’re ahead of the curve. Laila and Denise are in place. I’m focused on getting the boss better.”
He chuckled. “Sounds like you’re the boss.”
I laughed. “And is. I have Zofran in my bag. You will be taking that too.”
After that, he gave me no more lip and let me take care of him…