Chapter 14
The next morning Diana eased out of bed, being careful not to wake up Jeffrey. She took a long hot shower, dressed in Jeffrey’s oversized red, North Carolina State T-shirt, a pair of black khaki pants, and the new Nike sneakers she’d bought a week before. She gently rubbed Oil of Olay moisturizing lotion on her face. She jumped when an image appeared behind her in her mirror. Diana held her hand over her chest; her knees felt weak.
“Jeffrey, you startled me,” she said loudly.
Jeffrey chuckled. “I’m sorry, honey.” Jeffrey put his arms around Diana’s waist. “It’s only six thirty, and you’re fully dressed. You must be anxious to get to your job.”
Diana rested her head on Jeffrey’s chest. “I’m anxious to get it over with. The sooner I get there, the sooner I can leave.”
“I don’t have rounds at the hospital this morning, and my first appointment isn’t before eleven.” Jeffrey gently massaged Diana’s shoulders. “Why don’t you call Kendra and tell her you’ll be in at nine instead of eight. It’s not as though your hours are mandatory, as long as you’re there for six hours, right?”
Diana’s shoulders relaxed and she succumbed to the tingling sensation she felt from Jeffrey’s fingertips moving across her body. “Kendra set my hours for eight until two. She said Ms. Mable will be expecting me at that time,” she said in a husky voice.
“Can’t you call her and tell her something unexpected came up and you’ll be in later?” Jeffrey pulled Diana toward the bed. “It’s been awhile. I need you.”
“I need you too, Jeffrey,” Diana said passionately. Jeffrey unzipped her pants and pulled her closer to him. Diana moaned softly. “I was beginning to think that you weren’t interested in me anymore. It’s crossed my mind several times that you’re having an affair.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Diana, I don’t have time for such foolishness.” Jeffrey covered Diana’s petite body with his large frame. He couldn’t admit that he was partially responsible for Diana’s drinking problem. If he hadn’t neglected her when she needed him most, she probably could have dealt with her issues in a more constructive way. Although he felt guilty for contributing to her problems, he had not ruled out the pending thoughts of ending their marriage if things didn’t change.
Kendra dialed Diana’s cell phone number. It immediately went to voice mail. Frustrated, Kendra asked Ms. Mable, “Where in the world is she? Have you heard from her?” Mable shook her head. Kendra flipped through the list of numbers in her day planner. She dialed Diana’s home phone. It rang three times before Diana answered groggily. “Diana, why are you still at home? Did you forget you were supposed to be here at eight?”
Diana bolted up in bed and looked at the clock. It was five after nine. “Kendra, didn’t you get my message?”
“No,” Kendra answered curtly.
“I left a message for you on your home phone. When you didn’t call me back, I assumed you were okay with me coming in later.”
“I leave home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at seven o’clock and come to the church’s office to make sure Ms. Mable has everything she needs before I go to work. What time did you call?”
“I called at 6:40.” Diana covered the phone with her hand while she yawned.
“I was probably in my dressing room at that time and didn’t hear the phone ring. What was your message?”
“I wanted to let you know that something came up, and I’d be there at nine.”
Kendra exhaled loudly into the phone. “It’s after nine now, Diana,” she said flatly.
“I’m sorry, Kendra. I’ll be in as soon as I get dressed. It won’t happen again.” Diana slid out of bed and walked swiftly to the bathroom.
“I hope not. You need to take responsibility for your actions. I can’t record your time with the court system, if you don’t bother to show up. This isn’t a game. If you don’t do your community service, your sentence can be revoked, and you’ll have to do your time in jail.”
“I hear you, Kendra. I’m on my way. Give me an hour and I’ll be there, okay?”
“All right, one hour, Diana. Ms. Mable needs your help, so don’t procrastinate any longer. Kendra clicked the phone off in Diana’s ear.
Diana scurried back into the bedroom and threw the cordless phone on the bed. “I hate the way Kendra talks down to me,” she complained. “I can’t wait until my time in that dreadful place is over.” She bustled back to the bathroom.
Jeffrey followed Diana into the bathroom. “Look on the bright side, honey, it could have been worse. You could be sitting in jail now, doing time for DWI. Kendra is looking out for you as her friend. I don’t think she talked down to you; you’re overreacting again. She stuck her neck out for you, and you need to be grateful.”
“I am grateful, Jeffrey, I just don’t want to work with those awful, smelly, people.” She turned her nose up, and then shook her head in disgust.
“Your punishment could have been a lot worse. God showed you mercy and favor. You should try praising Him and stop complaining so much.”
Diana stepped into the shower. “Jeffrey, I don’t want to hear any preaching from you this morning. I have enough problems as it is.”
“Without God, your problems are only going to get worse.”
Diana scowled at Jeffery and turned the water on. “How much worse could things get?”