CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Life Goes On Simone . . .
This past year has been one for the books. I am still having trouble digesting the fact that Dr. Binet stabbed Terianne to death. I went to visit her six months ago, and it made me sick to my stomach. Just thinking about it now gives me chills all over again.
As soon as the front door opened, my stomach rattled. After entering, I was prompted to sign in and to deposit my coat in a bag to be placed in a locked room. As I followed the herd of visitors shuffling down the hall, my nerves switched into overdrive. What kind of place is this? I wondered. I nervously eyeballed my surroundings. The place had the look and vibe of one of those haunted insane asylums that you’d see in an old scary movie. Possibly worse. It was depressing in there.
After I entered the visiting area, I looked around in search of Dr. Binet. A smile played on her face when she spotted me. Unsure of what to do when I reached her, I let an awkward hello slip from my lips. She, in turn, greeted me with a kiss to my forehead. Then we both took a seat. The woman before me did not look like Dr. Binet or the Brianne that I once knew. She appeared to be heavily medicated, with vacant eyes. Her hair was greasy, and she looked as if she’d been wearing the same black dress for days. There were stains everywhere.
“Sienna, you’re growing up to be such a beautiful woman. Thank you for visiting Mommy at work,” she half mumbled.
“I’m Simone, Dr. Binet.”
“I know you’re upset with me for leaving you in the car. You don’t have to pretend anymore. I will make it up to you.” A lone tear rolled down her face. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Sienna. I need you to forgive me.”
With matching tears now streaming down my face, I played along, “I forgive you.”
“That’s my girl. Mommy loves you.”
I forced myself to smile.
“I have patients coming soon. We can have lunch, and then you’ll have to be on your way, princess. This is going to be another all-nighter. They’re shorthanded.”
Trying to knit together a conversation from the tangled comments that emerged from my lost and confused doctor friend, I did the best I could to pretend all this was normal.
Next to spending the night in a cell, and having my youth stripped from me, that visit is by far one of the scariest moments of my life. I pray for Dr. Binet every day. I wouldn’t wish what she’s going through on my worst enemy. No one can pass judgment. None of us can say what we would have done or how we would have handled losing a child. Especially when the child’s death is a result of our own negligence. I personally wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I harmed Sage.
Today we’re helping Judith move back home. That whole situation with her entailed another nerve-racking day. It just so happened to be the morning I was released from the holding cell. After picking up Sage from Candice’s, we went to brunch, and while eating and celebrating Candice and Alonzo’s engagement, like clockwork Ms. J received a frantic call from Judith. Of course, since we were in a celebratory moment, Ms. J answered on the speakerphone. It wasn’t too loud that it disturbed the other patrons. But it was loud enough for us to hear.
“Hold on a second. It’s Judith. Hey, Judith. You’re missing the celebration. Where are you? Yesterday was another one for the books. Despite it all, it turned out fantastic. I’m still struggling with holding back my tears,” Ms. Jasmine said.
“Sorry I couldn’t make it to the opening. I was in the emergency room with Chandler.”
“Oh no. Is he all right? What happened to him?”
“I—I walked into the bathroom and—”
“Where are you? We’re on our way,” Mr. Dee said, cutting her off.
“I’m at the house. No one’s here, so I phoned,” Judith added.
Cutting our brunch short, Dale paid the check as we scurried, the kids in tow, and made our way to the cars.
Upon reaching the house the three of us once shared in record time, everyone took a deep breath. Then we all entered.
“Where’s my grandbaby? Is he all right? What happened?” Ms. J called, her voice shaking.
“I’ll take the kids to the playroom,” Dale volunteered.
“I will give you hand,” Alonzo and Jenna volunteered in harmony.
Judith appeared. “He’s fine. He’s in the playroom. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I was giving Chandler a bath, and he began fussing about his water gun, so I left for five minutes tops. When I returned, Elliot was leaving the bathroom, zipping his pants. I freaked out and rushed straight to the ER with my baby.”
“Jesus, no!” I covered my mouth to prevent myself from screaming.
“Thank God he didn’t touch him. He was just using the restroom. I panicked,” Judith went on. “How could I have been so dumb and have moved my son in with a man I don’t even know and clearly don’t trust? I am so sorry for fighting all of you when you were trying to make me see the truth.”
“No need to apologize. We are just relieved nothing happened to you or Chandler,” Candice responded and hugged her.
“Is it safe to say the honeymoon is over and you’re moving back home?” I jested, observing all her bags on the living-room floor.
“Yes, Mrs. OCD. And guess what? I put some of my bags in your room, for old times’ sake.”
“I have missed your sloppy butt so much,” I told her and we embraced.
So our prodigal sister is returning home, and she has decided to undergo extensive therapy. She and Elliott have agreed to take things slower. He refuses to give up on her. They’re attending couple therapy sessions as well. Not only are Judith’s love life and emotional state in a better place, but her desire to reconnect with her family has also been fulfilled.
Judith and her siblings were separated from their mom when she was younger. Her mother, Cindy, was a single mom of three who balanced a job and school in an attempt to make a better life for her children. Because of an outstanding car loan payment, her car was repossessed. A year or so later, her paycheck was garnished $383.00 biweekly. As a result, she lost her home. Unable to move or even afford a new place, Cindy was forced to separate her family. The two younger kids were able to stay with her. Judith was sent to live with her grandmother on her father’s side. Long story short, Judith’s stepbrother Eddie raped her and impregnated her. No one believed her rape story, and in turn, Judith’s grandmother shipped her straight to Hope House.
Elliott has a private investigation firm, and as a birthday present, he reunited Judith with her family. Talk about weeping. When her family showed up at the house, we cried so hard that each and every one of us had trouble breathing. Candice, the angel from God that she is, purchased Cindy a house here in Connecticut, and they’re moving into it today. It has been converted into a mother-daughter home. Judith’s siblings are married and have children, and they are here for a couple weeks.
As for Tracy and me, after everything that transpired with Jenna, Dr. Binet, and me spending a night in prison, we were in desperate need of a vacation. Neither of us had ever been to the Big Apple, and we thought it’d be the perfect place to go. We were anxious to get out of Connecticut. Without question, we fell in love on our first visit. The museums alone were everything. There are a dozen different museums there. The best one for me was the American Museum of Natural History. Tracy and I are natural history fanatics; the dinosaur skeletons on display were everything to us. Let’s not forget Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and, oh my God, Times Square. Our hotel was in Times Square. We can now say that we understand why New York City is considered one of the most sought-after vacation destinations. And Times Square has everything from cafés and eateries to theaters and shops within walking distance.
On the third week of our vacation, Mr. Dee and Ms. J came into the city, because we had raved so much about the place. They took part in the daytime activities, and for the first time in our lives, Tracy and I took advantage of the nightlife. That was how we met Ethan and Evan. They’re handsome, chocolate single fathers. Sadly, seven years ago their wives had a girls’ night out and never made it back home. Both of the women lost their lives in a horrific accident.
Ironically, the four of us were out vacationing in New York to escape our everyday lives and hadn’t been out in God knows how long. Well, for me and Tracy, it was a first. The last time Ethan and Evan enjoyed New York City’s nightlife was before they lost their wives seven years ago. After meeting them, Tracy and I ended up extending our vacation, which resulted in us now having a live-in nanny. Candice hired one for herself and thought it’d be a great present for us while we were on vacation. Tabitha, our nanny, accompanied us on our long New York vacation. We trusted that she was a perfect match, given the screenings and standards that Candice and her team adhered to.
Who would have thought that a year later, Tracy and I would move to New York? With the help of our new best friends, we purchased houses in Roosevelt, Long Island, a block away from each other. We can talk and see one another from our backyards. We’d been here for only a month before we had to fly back to Connecticut to help Judith move. It had been hard leaving Connecticut and the only family that we’ve known; however, it was long past time for us to grow up and move on. Not to mention, Ethan and Evan now live in New York as well. They had houses in New Jersey. In hopes of climbing out of the slump they’ve been since losing their wives, they decided to relocate. The evening we met them, they were celebrating the closings on their new homes.
Although the four of us have been friends for only a year, we’ve grown very fond of one another. We are taking things slow, and our kids have had several playdates with their girls, Ella and Bethany. Our boys love them. I just hope Ms. J and everyone else takes to them the same way that Tracy and I have. They’re all here in Connecticut now. We invited them for dinner to meet our family. Ms. J has a dinner party planned for everyone to attend tonight. It is going to be a full house. Thank God the weather is nice. I don’t think all of us would be able to fit inside the house. Her yard is enormous. Actually, the perfect fit for our family reunion and meet and greet.
* * *
Ms. J has been taking cooking classes and has decided to go French for this dinner party. When I walk outside minutes before the guests are supposed to arrive, I peek at the food on the long table. Everything looks great. I just want to know, Where’s the chicken or maybe some macaroni and cheese? In any event, it looks so pretty out here.
“Um, Ms. J?” I say when I walk back into the kitchen.
“Yes, baby?”
“I just wanted to know, Is there any American food? Better yet, any soul food? I came home looking forward to a belly-aching home-cooked meal. You have winter salad in the spring and veal, Ms. J. What happened? What did Mr. Dee do? Why do we have to suffer?”
“If you don’t carry yourself outside . . .” She cracks up. “There are two themes and menus. It wouldn’t hurt you not one bit to try something new.”
“I only saw one theme and menu.”
“Keep looking. Better yet, go and answer the door. I believe your friends are here.”
“Tracy? They’re here,” I yell. Then I turn to Ms. J. “How do I look?” I ask her.
“Why in God’s name are you hollering?” Tracy says from the far corner of the kitchen. “I am right behind you.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“That’s because your blind behind was in here complaining, knowing Ms. J would not have a dinner party without her famous fried chicken.”
“Thank God for that.”
“I believe you two were waiting for these handsome men,” Jenna says as she leads Ethan and Evan into the dining area.
“Ye-yes, we were,” I stutter as I step from the kitchen into the dining area.
“A year later and I am still taking your breath away,” Ethan teases.
“No.”
“Yes.” He kisses me on the cheek.
Grabbing him by the hand, I introduce him. “Ethan and Evan, this is my Ms. J. Ms. J, this is Ethan and Evan.”
“Nice to meet you two. I’ve heard so much about both of you. But something is missing,” Ms. J remarks as she walks up to the two men.
“What’s that? I swear I bathed,” Evan tells her, clowning.
“I see why these girls are head over heels for you two. But where are your little ones? I was looking forward to finally meeting them.”
“They’re with our mom. We wanted to have some alone time with the girls, without the kids, on this trip,” Ethan explains.
Without question, everyone is quite fond of Evan and Ethan, almost as fond as Tracy and I are. Other than playdates, we haven’t been on any actual dates. They wanted to surprise us this weekend and take us out on our first date.