Constable
Davidson with a chuckle.
“Yes sir. The thing is he has a bit of a mean
streak.” Nedra bit her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t have let him get on
my nerves. I sort of insulted him.”
“I’m sure he deserved it.”
“He did, but I may have given him even more
incentive to go on a smear campaign. I just wanted you to know.”
Nedra let out a long sigh, relieved at getting it off her
chest.
Her boss shook his head and grew serious.
“You didn’t need to give Dwayne any encouragement to look for ways
to hit below the belt, trust me. He was planning to come after me
long before you told him off; not to mention his boss and I haven’t
gotten along in years.” Constable Davidson smiled again. “So, enjoy
the memory of giving the jerk a verbal smackdown. I just hate that
I wasn’t close enough to see it.”
“Yes sir.” Nedra laughed with him.
“I can swing with the best of ‘em, so Dwayne
can bring it. If they want to go negative in the campaign, I’ll be
happy to hit back; not directly though. I know how to keep my hands
clean even when the mud is slinging.” Constable Davidson wore a
determined expression as though anticipating the fight ahead.
“Okay then,” Nedra replied and cleared her
throat. She thought of Carlos and his mother’s close ties to the
mayor for the rest of the day.
***
Two days later, Nedra met Carlos for dinner
at a seafood restaurant in Mid-City. The dining room was crowded
for a Wednesday. The gray, rainy December weather hadn’t seemed to
dampen the good mood of the young professionals. Christmas garlands
and lights added to the merry atmosphere.
Nedra arrived first and found a table away
from the entrance to avoid the chilly air each time the door
opened. She ordered a pot of hot tea and enjoyed the scenery
outside the restaurant windows. Town Centre, an upscale shopping
complex, had beautiful lights strung along its busy boulevard.
Gigantic green, gold, red and deep purple gift boxes were
positioned around the large trees that graced the intersections
leading into the stores.
Carlos arrived twenty minutes past their
agreed upon time of six thirty. Night had fallen and the headlights
from passing cars lit up the street. Nedra watched him stride in
wearing a khaki rain jacket over a handsome chocolate-brown
pullover sweater and matching slacks. Brushing a few rain drops
from his sleeves, he scanned the room until he found her.
“Sorry you had to wait, baby,” said Carlos.
“Things are a little bit hectic at the shops. I swear, everybody in
town must be trying to get their cars dressed up for the holidays.
We’re selling rims and accessories like they’re going out of
style.” He kissed Nedra’s cheek and sat down.
“No problem. My day got kind of crazy as
well. I’m winding down with some of this delicious tea. Want a
cup?” Nedra signaled to the waiter.
“I’m a manly man. I need coffee,” Carlos
replied with a grin.
“Oh, please.” Nedra rolled her eyes and
giggled.
They ordered and the waiter hurried off to
take care of the other customers.
“Dang, I thought this wouldn’t be such a busy
night.” Carlos glanced around at the throng of people eating,
ordering, leaving and arriving.
“People are shopping, honey.” Nedra nodded to
the diners sat at several tables nearby. Large shopping bags sat on
the floor at their feet. “I’ve only just about finished. I’m
waiting for toys to be delivered from Toy Central for my nephews
and nieces.”
“Cutting it close, huh? Christmas is a week
away.” Carlos sat back as the waiter placed a cup of steaming
coffee in front of him, before racing off again.
“Yeah, I’ve been so busy with work and
everything. The customer service rep at Toy Central assured me that
I would get the delivery this week; Friday at the latest. I’m
hoping my neighbor has them for me when I get home,” said Nedra,
holding up crossed fingers. “Last year, I foolishly waited too late
to order and ended up at the
Davidson with a chuckle.
“Yes sir. The thing is he has a bit of a mean
streak.” Nedra bit her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t have let him get on
my nerves. I sort of insulted him.”
“I’m sure he deserved it.”
“He did, but I may have given him even more
incentive to go on a smear campaign. I just wanted you to know.”
Nedra let out a long sigh, relieved at getting it off her
chest.
Her boss shook his head and grew serious.
“You didn’t need to give Dwayne any encouragement to look for ways
to hit below the belt, trust me. He was planning to come after me
long before you told him off; not to mention his boss and I haven’t
gotten along in years.” Constable Davidson smiled again. “So, enjoy
the memory of giving the jerk a verbal smackdown. I just hate that
I wasn’t close enough to see it.”
“Yes sir.” Nedra laughed with him.
“I can swing with the best of ‘em, so Dwayne
can bring it. If they want to go negative in the campaign, I’ll be
happy to hit back; not directly though. I know how to keep my hands
clean even when the mud is slinging.” Constable Davidson wore a
determined expression as though anticipating the fight ahead.
“Okay then,” Nedra replied and cleared her
throat. She thought of Carlos and his mother’s close ties to the
mayor for the rest of the day.
***
Two days later, Nedra met Carlos for dinner
at a seafood restaurant in Mid-City. The dining room was crowded
for a Wednesday. The gray, rainy December weather hadn’t seemed to
dampen the good mood of the young professionals. Christmas garlands
and lights added to the merry atmosphere.
Nedra arrived first and found a table away
from the entrance to avoid the chilly air each time the door
opened. She ordered a pot of hot tea and enjoyed the scenery
outside the restaurant windows. Town Centre, an upscale shopping
complex, had beautiful lights strung along its busy boulevard.
Gigantic green, gold, red and deep purple gift boxes were
positioned around the large trees that graced the intersections
leading into the stores.
Carlos arrived twenty minutes past their
agreed upon time of six thirty. Night had fallen and the headlights
from passing cars lit up the street. Nedra watched him stride in
wearing a khaki rain jacket over a handsome chocolate-brown
pullover sweater and matching slacks. Brushing a few rain drops
from his sleeves, he scanned the room until he found her.
“Sorry you had to wait, baby,” said Carlos.
“Things are a little bit hectic at the shops. I swear, everybody in
town must be trying to get their cars dressed up for the holidays.
We’re selling rims and accessories like they’re going out of
style.” He kissed Nedra’s cheek and sat down.
“No problem. My day got kind of crazy as
well. I’m winding down with some of this delicious tea. Want a
cup?” Nedra signaled to the waiter.
“I’m a manly man. I need coffee,” Carlos
replied with a grin.
“Oh, please.” Nedra rolled her eyes and
giggled.
They ordered and the waiter hurried off to
take care of the other customers.
“Dang, I thought this wouldn’t be such a busy
night.” Carlos glanced around at the throng of people eating,
ordering, leaving and arriving.
“People are shopping, honey.” Nedra nodded to
the diners sat at several tables nearby. Large shopping bags sat on
the floor at their feet. “I’ve only just about finished. I’m
waiting for toys to be delivered from Toy Central for my nephews
and nieces.”
“Cutting it close, huh? Christmas is a week
away.” Carlos sat back as the waiter placed a cup of steaming
coffee in front of him, before racing off again.
“Yeah, I’ve been so busy with work and
everything. The customer service rep at Toy Central assured me that
I would get the delivery this week; Friday at the latest. I’m
hoping my neighbor has them for me when I get home,” said Nedra,
holding up crossed fingers. “Last year, I foolishly waited too late
to order and ended up at the
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