The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
LIES FEARS & LOVE
BY TROG |
CHAPTER
33 |
chapter 33
THE PALACE BAR
RJ Gannon sipped his scotch with little pleasure. He seemed to be drifting. Most men his age had a real life that included a wife, or partner, and children and here he was plotting petty revenge plots against Todd Manning and Tea Delgado with a woman he didn’t trust, a woman this far from insanity. Leaning back in the comfort of his booth he contemplated the sheer emptiness of his life as he took another swallow of whiskey.
Looking up he noticed a striking woman walking into the bar, an African-American woman he did not recognize. She was tall and willowy, wearing a sleeveless, green dress with her hair pulled back in neat corn-rows with braids hanging down her back, like his.
She walked with pride and grace as she took a stool at the bar. It had been a long time since he had picked up a woman at a bar, but it had been a long time since his body awakened to the site of a woman like it just
had. And besides he could use a little company.
RJ picked up his scotch and walked over to her.
“I don’t usually approach perfect strangers at hotel bars, but seeing you and I are the only off-color individuals, I thought I could buy you a drink...besides...I noticed we share similar taste in hairstyles.”
The young woman looked over it this handsome stranger with his long, braided hair and cinnamon skin, and smiled. Ordinarily, she would have told him to get lost, but tonight, she needed to be distracted.
“I’d very much like that, thank you,” she said, smiling up at him.
“I’m RJ Gannon,” he said, extending his hand.
“Naomi Parker.”
“Well, Naomi Parker, what’s a lovely sister like you, doing in a place like this.”
She laughed, looking around at her elitist surroundings.
“Well, I had an exceptionally hard day at work today and I was told they made a mean Manhattan here.”
RJ smiled and caught the eye of the bartender.
“A Manhattan for the lady,” he said taking the stool beside her.
“You know, Ms. Parker, sometimes it helps to confide in a total stranger.”
“Please, call me Nomi, that’s what everyone calls me. And I think I’d rather not talk about my day--I’d rather forget about it if you don’t mind,”
“So, Nomi, what do you do?”
“I’m a doctor. I’m in obstetrics. I had this illusion that bringing new life into the world was noble vocation and would give profound meaning to my life.”
“And has it?” asked RJ.
Nomi looked toward him, with her beautiful, golden brown eyes and smiled at him.
“Sometimes. But sadly, in my profession, one also gets to meet the not so innocent parents of these unfortunate children. ”
RJ Laughed.
“How come I’ve haven’t seen you around before? I would have noticed. Beautiful brown ladies are rare in Llanview.”
“Does that mean you only date white women, Mr. Gannon?”
RJ looked at her and smiled, admiring her boldness and her direct gaze .
“Well, I don’t have much choice. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there isn’t a hell of a lot of ethnic diversity in Llanview, PA.”
Nomi laughed as she was served her Manhattan and took a sip.
“Yes, I had noticed that,” she said laughing.
Her laugh was lovely, a rich, purring sound at the back of her throat. It made RJ smile.
“And what do you do, Mr. Gannon?”
“Please, call me RJ. I own a club here in town. Maybe you can come by sometime--I make a mean Manhattan.”
Nomi smiled and took another sip of her drink. RJ Gannon was gorgeous. His silky voice sent shivers through her body and it had been a long time since she felt this kind of attraction for a perfect stranger. Since coming to Llanview 6 months ago she hadn’t socialized much at all. She had left her home in Harlem and she felt so homesick, and so lonely.
“Where are you from, I know you’re not a native,” asked RJ?
“Would you believe Harlem--born and bred. I know Harlem has a rather dubious reputation outside New York,, but I loved it. My mom is a choreographer and my dad is a civil rights lawyer, and through them I got the best education, and the happiest childhood. I miss it--the food, the music, the culture, the rhythm of the place. It’s so alive there. So, what the hell I’m I doing in small-minded Llanview, PA?”
“Hey! Llanview has a certain charm! You just have to hang with the right people.”
Nomi took another sip of her drink and watched him. He had a dark and dangerous charm and her proper instincts told her to stay away from him, but she was intrigued and more than a little aroused.
“I’m pretty swamped at the hospital. I don’t have much time for a social life.”
“Well, perhaps you’d let me take you to dinner some time, Dr. Parker. I could show you the sights.”
Nomi Parker finished her drink and stood up. She removed a business card from her purse and handed it to RJ.
“I think I’d enjoy that. Please...call me,” she said, handing him the card and walking away.
RJ watched her disappear through the bar entrance.
“Wow!” he said looking down at the card.
DORIAN’S MANSION, MORNING
Blair fussed with her pretty, floral maternity dress and touched her hair in the long mirror of the foyer. Last night had been a wonderful family evening. Todd had been so attentive to both her and Starr, though he seemed a bit preoccupied, almost sad. It must have been his breakup with Tea. She was certain that Tea hadn’t told him about her little visit, though, because he would have mentioned it otherwise. Todd had slept in his own room much to her disappointment, but that would change.
“Everything is going perfectly,” she said checking her make-up and smiling.
Todd stood at the top of the stairs and watched her quietly, watching the woman who was carrying his child. She looked all sweetness and light in her pretty maternity dress and it was hard to believe that a woman in her condition could be capable of such treachery. Once, he admired her duplicitous nature, her survival instincts, now...he detested them. It’s as if he was moving forward and she was standing still, still back in that same place where they had been many years ago. But he was ready to move on and nothing would stop him from being with Tea.
“Where’s Starr?” Todd asked coming down the stairs.
“Good morning! Starr’s already left for daycamp. Todd I just have to thank you for last night, Starr had such a wonderful time...and so did I,” she said walking over to him and planting a light kiss on his cheek.
Todd withstood it and let her have her way.
“Where are you going today, Todd?” she asked observing his casual clothing.
Todd looked down at his loose khakis and matching v-neck jersey.
“I’ve got some stuff to do outside the office...I’ve gotta go.”
“Will we see you for dinner, tonight?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you later,” he said forcing a little smile and walking out.
Blair smiled. Todd was still distant, but he was coming around--she could tell. She checked herself out in the mirror again, careful to avoid looking herself in the eye, and grabbing her purse, walked out the door.
As Blair drove her car down the long, gravel driveway and out the black, wrought-iron gate, her mind engaged with happy fantasies of her and Todd, she was unaware of the black Porsche that followed her at a safe distance.
Blair drove slowly and leisurely and he had a hard time keeping his distance.
“Woman drivers,” he groaned.
At first he didn’t know where she was headed, but eventually he began to recognize the location and wondered what she was doing there so early in the day.
Todd followed Blair to RJ’s club of all places. Parking around the corner, he made his way into the club, surprised to find the door open at this hour. When he peaked in from the doorway, he observed that the place was empty. He heard a door slam and followed the sound which lead him to a hallway with a door marked “Office.” Putting his ear to the door he could make out Blair and RJ’s voices, but he could not distinguish what was being said, only an occasional word when they raised them.
(INSIDE THE OFFICE)
“Are you out of your fucking mind, Blair?”
“I know that going to see Tea was a gamble but it paid off. She dumped Todd,” Blair said smiling.
“What if she tells him what you told her, Blair? I can’t find you a baby with Down’s syndrome!”
“RJ, I don’t want a baby with Down’s syndrome. Tea didn’t tell Todd, she’s too damned noble, besides he would have mentioned it to me last night if she had, and he didn‘t--he spent the evening with me and Starr. And in a few weeks we’ll be married and I can say that Tea was lying if he finds out, that’s all. Is he going to believe the mother of his children, or some slut who’s dumped twice!! Everything is going just like I planned.”
RJ got up and walked around his desk, his face registering anger.
“Don’t you ever pull another stunt like this without discussing it with me first! Do you understand me?” he asked, shoving his finger in her face.”
Blair backed away from him.
“Well, I had to do something, RJ...he was going to leave me!”
RJ shook his head.
“I think you’re becoming unglued, Blair.”
Blair glared at him.
“I’m not crazy, RJ! Don’t you ever accuse me of that!” she shouted.
RJ laughed.
“No, you’re not crazy, Blair! All sane women go around faking pregnancies and buying babies.”
Blair walked across the room and stood directly in front of him. She was shaking and her words sounded like a long hiss as she spoke.
“I am not crazy, do you hear me...I’m doing what I have to do for my family...and my baby!”
RJ stared at her.
“What baby? Blair, have you forgotten that you’re not actually pregnant? Are you flipping out on me here?”
Blair stared at him and then looked down at her stomach, touching it--suddenly remembering she wasn’t pregnant as a sad expression crossed her face.
“What I meant was my...soon to be adopted baby...I know I’m not pregnant, RJ...I’m not crazy,” she said, turning away from his accusing stare.
RJ just looked at her, shaking his head with grave uncertainty. Serious doubts about her sanity worried him and he was starting to have reservations about this whole scheme.
“If you don’t hold it together, Blair, I’m out of this.”
“I’m not crazy!” she shouted at him.
RJ sighed and sat back behind his desk.
“I need that hundred grand tomorrow for my lawyer friend. Can you get it?”
Blair nodded her head.
“Yeah. It’s all I’ve got, but you’ll have it tomorrow. And when Todd marries me, I’ll have plenty more.”
(OUTSIDE THE OFFICE)
Todd checked his watch. He heard the words “baby” and “crazy” but couldn’t make out anything else. Walking away from the door and looking around the empty club, he quickly made his way to the door and slipped out unnoticed.
to be continued...
2001 Copyright by Trog
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