I had been in and out of Monai’s house, trying to handle things that were transpiring without her knowledge. I had some more upsetting news to share with her, but before I did, I wanted us to have a wonderful evening together. As she was in the bedroom watching TV, I sat close to her. I blew on her ear to get her attention and placed my hand over hers.
“Say, beautiful. Why don’t you go get two glasses of wine, turn off the TV and put on some soft music so we can hold each other and dance.”
She smiled and immediately turned off the TV. “I see someone is in a romantic mood tonight. After I go get the wine, what are we going to toast to?”
“Go get it and you shall see.”
Monai got off the bed, and with a silk pajama top on, she went to the kitchen to get our wine and glasses. I regretted what I had to tell her, but it was time. She needed to know the truth, but first, I wanted to enjoy my evening with her. I didn’t know how she was going to handle the news; a huge part of me was afraid to tell her.
Minutes later, she returned to the bedroom with two flute wineglasses in her hand. She poured some bubbly champagne for me and her glass was filled with milk. Obviously, she still had hopes that our baby would somehow survive. She placed one glass on the nightstand and held the other one in her hand. Once I told her I was sitting on the edge of the bed, she kneeled between my legs and held the glass in front of her.
“Now,” she said. “What shall we drink to?”
“To us, Mrs. Reynolds,” I said. “When it comes to love, we defined what it means to have eternal love. I have enjoyed every moment with you, and since I’ve been on the outside looking in, you have exemplified everything I’ve ever wanted my wife to be. At first, I thought you held on to this relationship out of pity. Now, I know that you really and truly loved me and that you continue to love me. And even though I was jealous when I saw you get all hot and bothered over another man, I still know where your heart is.”
With a glassy film covering her eyes, Monai responded. “Yes, my dear. Eternal love for sure. I’m enjoying myself too, and I feel our marriage getting stronger and stronger each day. We’re going to handle this situation with the baby together and deal with it. I’m counting on you to continue to be here for me, no matter what happens. More than anything, I’m glad that you now know how much I truly love you. And even though Harris was one handsome devil, I would never ever trade you for him. So, yes, we can drink to us. Forever and ever, it’s just you and me.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked as she sipped milk from the glass. “Are you really ready for this to be about just you and me? I mean, I think you should call Harris again and set up another date. I’m telling you he’s a good person and he will take good care of you. Probably even better than I would’ve been able to do, but the choice is ultimately yours. I don’t want you to continue this, just to have love by any means necessary. So many people go that route and wound up hurting themselves. Do you really feel in your heart that this is the route you want to continue to go?”
She placed the glass on the nightstand and looked where she envisioned my face was. “I’ve made my choice. I choose you and nothing else needs to be said. Now get up and dance with me. I’m going to put on some Maxwell, and I want you to show out for me tonight.”
“I show out for you every night, don’t I?”
We both laughed. She dimmed the lights, cranked up the music and removed her clothes. While standing naked, I stood in front of her. Our bodies were as close as they could get and as we crooned the lyrics while moving from side-to-side, I loved every bit of this.
“You smell delicious, Mrs. Reynolds. Rep your name, baby, and add a little dip to your movements.”
She giggled and dipped down low while swaying her hips from side-to-side. I asked her to spin around, and as she spun in two circles, she then moved closer to me again.
“I never knew you were such a good dancer,” she said. “And that’s a plus because you smell extremely good. What might you be wearing, Mr. Reynolds?”
“Probably something my wife purchased for me for Christmas. I can’t remember what the name of it was, but you remember, don’t you?”
“The only reason you don’t remember is because you never wore it. The full bottle was still in your apartment the day you di—” she paused again, unable to say it.
“Go ahead and say it. Why are you so afraid to say the “D” word?”
“Because I don’t want to. I’ll never say it. In my head you’re not.”
I didn’t say another word—didn’t want to disturb the mood. We danced through three songs, and once we were finished, we returned to the bed to make love. This time was so special. I did my best to make Monai feel me even more, and after her second orgasm, she was overly pleased. The back of her head was flat on the pillow as she gazed at the ceiling. My hand was on her stomach while her chest heaved in and out.
“Now that,” she said. “Was the best. You’ve been practicing somewhere, haven’t you? I still think you’ve been somewhere cheating on me.”
“Nope. Never. I didn’t do it then and I’m not doing it now. I’ve just been taking care of a few things; things I think you should know about soon.”
Monai turned her head in my direction. “Things like what?”
“Things that concern Demetrious. I hate tell you this right now, baby, but he is now a free man. His case was dismissed. He is on his way out of jail.”
Monai slowly sat up in bed. Her mouth was wide open and a sheen of sweat had started to build on her forehead.
“I don’t believe it. In no way is he a free man. How could this happen and how do you know he is no longer in jail?”
“I was there earlier. In the courtroom when his case got dismissed. I told you he was going to walk. I did my best to warn you, but you didn’t want to listen.”
Monai tightened her fist and pounded it on the bed. “No, no way. I still don’t believe it. If he was a white man, I can see how he would get off. In this case, I can’t. Something is wrong. Very, very wrong!”
“If you don’t believe me, turn on the TV and watch the news. They’re talking about his release right now.”
Monai quickly reached for the remote and turned on the TV. There Demetrious was, plain as day with his lawyers. The news had replayed a recorded video, after the announcement had come. Demetrious was at the podium speaking with a wide smile on his face.
“Today is a good day. The judicial system worked and thanks to my lawyers, who knew all along I was innocent, I’m now free. I’m delighted that I’ll be able to go home to my wife and kids tomorrow. My family needs me, and I need them too. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard on my behalf, and I truly hope that all of the young men who murdered Nate Reynolds will one day have their day in court.”
“Mr. Simmons,” a reporter said. “What now? Are you and the woman who caused this going to get back together? What are your thoughts about her? Are you still angry at her for lying on you to the police?”
“Very angry,” he said. “She betrayed me and she knew all along that I didn’t do it. She knew who the killers were, and I hope that the police will investigate her. She and I will never get back together again. I was wrong for getting involved with her, and I didn’t know how cruel she really was. Nonetheless, I’ve apologized to my fiancée for all of the headaches I’ve caused her. We’ve been through a lot, but baby, I’m coming home.”
“Lastly,” another reporter asked. “Is there anything you would like to say to Nate Reynolds’ family? They’ve been through a lot and his mother is highly disturbed by your release. Is there anything you want to say to her?”
He cleared his throat and looked at the camera, as if he could actually see us watching him. “I would say I’m sorry to his mother, but I’m not. I didn’t do it, and I plan to put forth every effort that I can to find out the people who murdered Nate. Somebody knows who these people are, other than my ex-girlfriend. She’s not snitching, and I think that’s a shame. Not only did they kill Nate, but they are responsible for me being locked up and away from my loved ones as well.” Demetrious had the audacity to get choked up. He wiped a few tears, before continuing. “As I was saying, they messed up my life too. I went through hell in that place, and I thank God that I’m out.” He paused as his lawyer rubbed his back. We couldn’t believe the show Demetrious was putting on. Did people really believe him? “Let me just say this, before I go. People on the streets talk. I will find out soon who those fools were. It will get back to me, and as soon as I find out anything, I’m going to the police to have them all arrested.”
The people applauded and he winked at the camera. Monai picked up the wineglass and pitched it at the TV. She was very emotional, and as she got off the bed and paced the floor, she kept asking how something like this could happen.
“It makes no sense,” she screamed and squeezed her forehead. “I did everything, Nate! I tried to do everything to make sure he got convicted. You know I did, don’t you?”
“I know, but you weren’t in a position to do anything to stop this.”
“How come I wasn’t? I went to the police station, told them everything, and my story never changed. They know what happened, and they have those stupid letters where he confessed. They know he deserved to go down for this, and they damn near promised me he would.” She halted her steps and looked in the direction of the bed. “I’m so sorry about this, Nate. You must feel horrible. But, baby, I tried. I tried so hard, that’s why I can’t believe this has happened.”
“You could only do so much. I’m not upset because I know what the ultimate outcome will be.”
“If you know, tell me then. Tell me something because I’m feeling real shitty right about now. I just want to go kill him. And to be honest, that’s exactly what I might go do.”
She rolled her eyes and turned to avoid looking in my direction.
“Stop talking like that. Besides, you can’t go kill him.”
She spun around and narrowed her eyes.
“Who are you to tell me what I can’t do. I can and I will,” she snapped.
“No you won’t.”
“Oh, yes, I will.”
I paused, before breaking the news to her. “You can’t kill him, Monai, because he already killed you.”
She stood motionless with her mouth hanging open. Her hand slowly rose to her chest and she began to touch herself in other places.
“What do you mean by he already killed me? I’m still here. I’m standing right here and I can touch myself.”
“Not for long, baby, I’m sorry. The night Demetrious killed me, he shot you multiple times too. You’ve been in a coma ever since then. Fighting for your life and dreaming about how things would be if you survived and I didn’t. Your fight is almost over. Demetrious was able to get off, because you’ve been in a coma and you couldn’t testify. He paid someone to come to the hospital and pull the plug on you, but the person he paid didn’t have to do it because the courts let Demetrious walk.”
Monai didn’t move. Her eyes were without a blink. She opened her mouth, but no words escaped. That was until I saw her take a few steps forward and fall flat on the bed.
“So, what you’re saying is he killed me too? Is that how I’m able to . . . to talk to you?”
“Yes, because you’ve been in a coma and you can hear me. We’re very close to each other, and even though you’ve been fighting to stay alive, you’re slipping, baby. I’m sorry, you’re slipping fast.”
She grabbed her stomach, holding it tight. “What about our baby? Please tell me the baby survived.”
“Unfortunately, she didn’t. You were pregnant when Demetrious shot you, and our baby died during the times you were thinking about those doctor’s visits.”
Monai cried out in agony. It was my time to comfort her in her last moments, and almost in a flash, we were finally able to see each other again. As she lay across my lap, I held her in my arms. She blinked to focus her eyes so she could see me clearly. Her hand touched the side of my face and she rubbed it.
“Am I really here?” she asked. “Is it really you or am I still in a coma?”
“You’ve fully transitioned. And even though you may be afraid right now, don’t be. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Monai couldn’t stop staring at me. I appeared just as she had remembered. Not like the day I was killed, but before that day. She, too, was still beautiful.
“What are we going to do now?” she asked in a frightful, yet calm tone. “And what’s going to happen to Demetrious? He has to somehow pay for what he did, doesn’t he?”
“What we’re going to do, Mrs. Reynolds, is live happily ever after. As for Demetrious, his destiny is not in our hands. All we can do is watch what will happen to him. His demise may take years or it might happen right away. Who knows?”
It pleased my heart to see Monai smile. She threw her arms around my neck, and the feel of her lips were the best thing ever.