CHAPTER 58
Mona
December 2010
Her heart was filled with secrets. Some she’d cherish. Others she’d buried.
They’d made their way to the football game. Lincoln was so excited one would’ve thought he’d bought the tickets.
“You’re sure you’re okay with this crowd?” she asked, worrying about him embarrassing her. They should’ve watched the game at home on television.
“Baby, I feel great!” he said, sitting in his seat. “I’ve never been to a professional football game.”
Perhaps she should relax. Some of the things she’d taken for granted were big deals for Lincoln.
The announcer said, “Please rise for the national anthem.”
Lincoln stood tall, proudly faced the flag, placed his right hand over his heart. She clamped her hands behind her back, faced the field. She hadn’t given much thought to the words she’d listened to innumerable times.
The crowd belted, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
“Land of the free,” she thought. Really? “And the home of the brave.” Seriously? Yeah, Lincoln was brave to serve his country, but what had his country done for him? The military was one step above free labor. That was what “the free” meant to her. What would happen if all servicemen protested, demanding higher wages?
She was glad to pay for his treatments. Accompanying Lincoln to his first therapy session two days ago made her consider getting help for the murders she’d witnessed. Her mind wasn’t right either. Her coping mechanism was to escape her reality by suppressing images of what happened. It was almost like she’d never met Davis. Like her time with him was all a dream. If she stayed far from Steven, maybe no one would associate her with his killings. If she could push the horrible memories all the way to the back of her mind, maybe they’d stay there.
“Mona Lisa, will you marry me?”
The shocking words he spoke lingered beneath the cheering crowd. It was two minutes until the end of the second quarter. The fans created a wave—one section at a time. They stood, tossed their arms in the air, then sat in their seats. Her could-be-fiancé pointed to the heavens. The banner flying behind the airplane above the field was printed with the same proposal.
The chill bumps on her body traveled from her head to her toes as the crowd gave them another rolling wave. The stadium was packed, the Seahawks were down, and at that very moment the sky grew darker. Rain would be welcomed right now.
Her answer should’ve been obvious. But it wasn’t. He didn’t know.
Mona’s head hung. Facing her lap, she whispered, “I’m not the marrying kind,” as she stared at the pink polish on her fingernails. The troll genie was in her purse. Was the crowd waving again? The roaring sounds of excitement, the standing ovation in her peripheral vision, gave her relief. Sounded like the home team had tied the game. She prayed the cheers weren’t for her.
Genie, please make his proposal go away.
Make the extra point good, she thought, hoping to keep the attention off of her. Why was love so damn unpredictable? How long had he planned his proposal? How much did he spend on the ring he was holding in front of her face? When did he have time to buy a ring? The plane flying the banner must have cost more than he could afford. Where did the money come from? How could she say no?
Rain was always expected from the Seattle clouds, and misery was what she’d grown to expect from marriage. From childhood to adulthood, the unknown lurked in her shadow. One step forward, two steps back. That was the waltz she’d danced all her life until she’d reunited with the man sitting next to her.
If she said yes, would this be the one time she could take a step forward and not get pushed back or knocked down? Mona picked a popcorn crumb from her thigh, then twirled it between her fingers.
Lincoln tilted her chin upward, then kissed her lips. Gazing into her eyes, he said, “I know I’ve had it hard, baby. Thank you for being here for me. Say you’ll be my wife and I promise to love and protect you, always.”
She knew he could keep her safe, but she wasn’t the person he’d have to protect if he slid his ring over her knuckle and left it there. Her life was more than complicated, it was cursed.
Mona glanced at the banner waving in the air and prayed the bounty hunter she’d left in Bakersfield wasn’t watching the game. Then she prayed Steven wasn’t in the stadium. No matter how far she traveled to get away from Steven, she always felt he’d eventually find her.
Looking over her left, then right shoulder, Mona said, “Baby, we need to go. I promise I’ll give you an answer when we get home.”
The man she loved sat beside her holding a diamond ring in front of her awaiting a response. The plane circled the stadium again with the banner whipping the wind.
Why hadn’t he taken her up in a hot air balloon, decorated it with her favorite colors—pink and purple? He could’ve had a chilled bottle of champagne, got on one knee, and no one would’ve known except the two of them and God. That’s the only witnesses she wanted.
The ring. Surely she couldn’t miss the sparkling solitaire in his hand or the fading gleam in his eyes.
He asked again. “Mona Lisa Ellington, will you marry me?”
Mona’s silence lingered until halftime was over. Most of the fans resumed watching the game. The ones closest to them mumbled, “If it don’t fit, don’t force it, dude.” “What’s wrong with her?” “See, that’s why I’m proposing before spending my money on all that other shit like buying a ring.”
Softly she said, “I heard you the first time, Lincoln. Give me a moment.”
To do what? Let him down easy. Maybe she should tell him about Steven and let Lincoln decide if marrying her was a chance he wanted to take. Things between them weren’t perfect, but they were good. She enjoyed using her money to help him recover from his trauma.
Mona Lisa married the wrong man. Her only way out of their marriage was death. That’s why she hadn’t bothered filing for a divorce. If she said yes to the man she wanted to share the rest of her life with, she knew her husband would kill him too.