at the studio, I parked in my designated space in the underground garage. It was only nine thirty, so I decided to chill out and listen to one more track off the
Soul Catcher
CD. I pushed the selector to track three, “Sistah Why?” I reclined my seat and closed my eyes while I sang along to Olu’s poetic lyrics.
“
Sistah why do people fall in love so mad-ly
And then leave each other standin’ all alone. …”
The symphonic violin interlude echoed through the tiers of concrete like in a concert hall. “Maxwell better watch his back,” I said to myself. Just about halfway through the song I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I ignored it until I felt it a second time. When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t believe who was leaning over me.
“Olivia, what the hell are you doin’ here?” I turned the volume down, then stepped out of the car.
“I just wanted to give you this.” She handed me a small box. It was covered with red Christmas wrapping paper. “It’s my way of apologizing for the way I acted last week.”
“You flew all the way from Chicago to give me this?”
“Who said I ever left Houston?”
Her hair was all over her head like it hadn’t been combed in days and she was wearing a long trench coat, which was odd considering it was seventy-six degrees outside. I played it cool, but deep down inside I was scared. I didn’t know what she was capable of.
“Olivia, I have to go to work. My show starts in twenty minutes.”
“Don’t you think I know what time your show starts? I’ve been listening to you every night.”
“Then you should know I don’t have time for this drama.”
“I didn’t come here to bring drama, I just wanted to give you this before I left for Chicago tomorrow.”
“What is it?”
“Open it and find out.”
I figured the best thing to do was open the box and get it over with. I peeled the paper off and lifted the top. Inside was a small royal blue pillow covered with packing paper. There was a long rope attached that I assumed was used to hang it on a hook or doorknob. On the front were embroidered white letters that read
The Princess Is Sleeping.
“When we first met, you called your daughter Princess,” Olivia said. “I thought she might like it.”
“Thank you, Olivia. Now I have to go. I’m running late.” I put up the convertible top on my rental car and locked the doors.
“Can’t you take a couple of minutes out of your busy schedule to talk to an old friend? I’ve been waiting around this dump for hours just to see you.”
“Well, now you’ve seen me. Good-bye!” I started walking away.
“Wait, baby, look at what I brought you.” She untied the belt on her trench coat and slid it off her shoulders.
When it fell to the ground I damn near lost my breath. She was naked. From twenty feet away I could see her erect nipples.
“Olivia, put on your coat before somebody sees you!” I ran over and put the coat over her shoulders. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I just miss you, Julian. Don’t you miss me?”
“Go home, Olivia, you’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Fuck these country-ass people!” she shouted. “I came here to see
my man
!”
“Your man?” I laughed nervously. “Woman, you don’t even know me. Now go back to your hotel and sleep off whatever you’ve been drinkin’ or smokin’!”
“Will you come over later and tuck me in?” She put her arms around my neck and tried to kiss me.
“No, Olivia, now get off me!” I pulled away and began walking toward the elevators.
“If you change your mind I’m at the Wyndham Hotel, 2205, remember?”
I didn’t say a word, I just kept walking. When I got to the elevator I pushed the button frantically, hoping to escape before she snapped. While I waited, I stuffed the pillow into the garbage can that was nearby. There was no way in hell I was giving my daughter a present from that crazy bitch. Just as I shut the lid, Olivia came walking around the
Soul Catcher
CD. I pushed the selector to track three, “Sistah Why?” I reclined my seat and closed my eyes while I sang along to Olu’s poetic lyrics.
“
Sistah why do people fall in love so mad-ly
And then leave each other standin’ all alone. …”
The symphonic violin interlude echoed through the tiers of concrete like in a concert hall. “Maxwell better watch his back,” I said to myself. Just about halfway through the song I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I ignored it until I felt it a second time. When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t believe who was leaning over me.
“Olivia, what the hell are you doin’ here?” I turned the volume down, then stepped out of the car.
“I just wanted to give you this.” She handed me a small box. It was covered with red Christmas wrapping paper. “It’s my way of apologizing for the way I acted last week.”
“You flew all the way from Chicago to give me this?”
“Who said I ever left Houston?”
Her hair was all over her head like it hadn’t been combed in days and she was wearing a long trench coat, which was odd considering it was seventy-six degrees outside. I played it cool, but deep down inside I was scared. I didn’t know what she was capable of.
“Olivia, I have to go to work. My show starts in twenty minutes.”
“Don’t you think I know what time your show starts? I’ve been listening to you every night.”
“Then you should know I don’t have time for this drama.”
“I didn’t come here to bring drama, I just wanted to give you this before I left for Chicago tomorrow.”
“What is it?”
“Open it and find out.”
I figured the best thing to do was open the box and get it over with. I peeled the paper off and lifted the top. Inside was a small royal blue pillow covered with packing paper. There was a long rope attached that I assumed was used to hang it on a hook or doorknob. On the front were embroidered white letters that read
The Princess Is Sleeping.
“When we first met, you called your daughter Princess,” Olivia said. “I thought she might like it.”
“Thank you, Olivia. Now I have to go. I’m running late.” I put up the convertible top on my rental car and locked the doors.
“Can’t you take a couple of minutes out of your busy schedule to talk to an old friend? I’ve been waiting around this dump for hours just to see you.”
“Well, now you’ve seen me. Good-bye!” I started walking away.
“Wait, baby, look at what I brought you.” She untied the belt on her trench coat and slid it off her shoulders.
When it fell to the ground I damn near lost my breath. She was naked. From twenty feet away I could see her erect nipples.
“Olivia, put on your coat before somebody sees you!” I ran over and put the coat over her shoulders. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I just miss you, Julian. Don’t you miss me?”
“Go home, Olivia, you’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Fuck these country-ass people!” she shouted. “I came here to see
my man
!”
“Your man?” I laughed nervously. “Woman, you don’t even know me. Now go back to your hotel and sleep off whatever you’ve been drinkin’ or smokin’!”
“Will you come over later and tuck me in?” She put her arms around my neck and tried to kiss me.
“No, Olivia, now get off me!” I pulled away and began walking toward the elevators.
“If you change your mind I’m at the Wyndham Hotel, 2205, remember?”
I didn’t say a word, I just kept walking. When I got to the elevator I pushed the button frantically, hoping to escape before she snapped. While I waited, I stuffed the pillow into the garbage can that was nearby. There was no way in hell I was giving my daughter a present from that crazy bitch. Just as I shut the lid, Olivia came walking around the
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