Double Dippin': Misty Part 28

Although she couldn't get along with her daughter while she was alive, Thomasina became a concerned and doting parent after Misty died. "I don't want you to spare any expense in preparing my child's body for the grave. Make sure she looks beautiful," she instructed the mortician.

Dressed in a satin and lace white gown, Misty was laid to rest in an all-white coffin; she looked like a sleeping angel.

The choir sang "Heaven" by Beyonce and both Thomasina and Brick shed bitter tears.

After the burial, church members and friends gathered at Thomasina's house, offering condolences as they filled their plates high with fried chicken, greens, and potato salad.

"I still can't understand why that crazy nurse would kill the patient she was supposed to be caring for," Thomasina said to Brick, sniffling and wiping her eyes. "The way she stabbed my child repeatedly was unforgiveable."

Brick grunted and nodded.

"I can't thank you enough for being there. If you hadn't called nine-one-one, the police wouldn't have caught her red-handed, holding the weapon. That nurse needs to be underneath the jail; I pray to G.o.d she never gets out. It's shameful the way that hussy is trying to play crazy, claiming that she killed your friend, Anya and not Misty. What a crock. Anya is alive and well while Misty is dead in her grave." Thomasina shook her head disgustedly. "Why didn't Anya come to the service?"

"She wasn't comfortable with that. She's my girl, now, and uh, we're planning a future together."

Thomasina looked surprised. "I thought she was only a friend from your past. How did you move so fast from being with Misty to starting a relationship with Anya?"

"It's a long story, Thomasina, but the short version is: Misty didn't want me anymore-not after she got her looks back and was able to get out of that wheelchair. I turned to Anya during my time of heartbreak and one thing led to another." It wasn't the full truth, but it sounded believable.

"Oh, so you got with her on the rebound. The same way you and I hooked up," Thomasina observed with a sad smile. "You were always weak for Misty. What was it? Her looks? It had to be her beauty because we both know she wasn't a very nice person."

"Her looks attracted me when we were kids, but after a while, it was her feistiness...the way she believed she could do anything. Misty had some good traits, Thomasina, but you had to dig deep to find them. I was an expert at overlooking her flaws."

Thomasina gently patted Brick on the arm and then squinted in bewilderment. "I still don't understand how it was medically possible for Misty to be walking around."

"There isn't any medical explanation. According to Misty, she developed healing powers from the coma and was able to heal herself."

"Why'd you keep important information like that from me? Despite the differences between Misty and me, I was still her mother, and it would have thrilled my heart to know she wasn't confined to a wheelchair any longer."

"When I told you about her gift of prophecy, you said it was the work of the devil, so I decided to keep my mouth shut."

Thomasina became pensive. "Maybe I was wrong about her when I said she was touched by the devil; maybe she had a gift from G.o.d, after all."

"Maybe so."

"By the way, you're not the only one in a new relationship. I met someone at my line dancing cla.s.s. Someone my age. It feels good to be out with someone and not being stared and frowned at for robbing the cradle," Thomasina said with a chuckle. "So, I want you to know that I'm through fighting you over the particulars of the divorce. We took our marriage as far as it could go. I got a fine son out of the deal and hopefully you gained some wisdom."

"I did."

"My only regret is that I didn't make up with Misty and spend some time with her. It was foolish of me to allow pride to prevent me from having a relationship with my daughter. I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for not making up with her."

"She knew you loved her, Thomasina. She loved you, too."

"You think so?"

"I know so. She told me she was going to surprise you with a visit on your birthday." Brick was lying; Misty only cared about herself, but he wanted to remove some of the guilt from her mother's heart.

"People can say what they want about Misty, but she packed a lot of living in her short life. It's a shame Little Baron will never get to know his big sister," Thomasina said remorsefully.

"We'll keep her memory alive for him," Brick replied.

Brick turned over the millions that Misty had stockpiled in the storage unit to her mother, telling her that Misty had received the money from donations. Being financially secure, Thomasina was able to move out of the city and into a lovely suburban home that was only a few miles from Brick and Anya's house. Little Baron didn't have to travel far when he rotated between his parents' homes.

Five inches of snow blanketed Brick and Anya's property. After helping Little Baron build a snowman, and then partic.i.p.ating in a family outing where Anya and Brick ran behind Little Baron as he sledded on a plastic disc down a small hill with a slew of other exuberant kids, Anya's fingers were starting to feel frostbitten, despite her fur-lined gloves.

"I'm going to head back to the house and start wrapping the Christmas gifts for the women at the shelter."

"Do you need some help?" Brick asked.

"No, I'll be fine." Anya gave Brick a quick kiss and began the five-minute trek back home. She and Brick had a wonderful life and it sometimes weighed heavily on her heart that their financial blessings came from two people who had succ.u.mbed to violent deaths: Anya's mother and Sergio.

Though she couldn't bring them back, she did her best to show her grat.i.tude by spreading the wealth around and contributing to numerous charities.

In the midst of wrapping gifts, Anya was surprised when Brick and his son returned home sooner than expected.

She stopped what she was doing and undid the scarf around Little Baron's neck and helped him out of his outerwear. "Do you want some hot chocolate, honey?"

Little Baron nodded enthusiastically and ran toward the kitchen. "I can make it, myself," he squealed. When he visited his dad and Anya, he was allowed to be more independent. Popping a K-cup into the Keurig brewer and fixing his own hot chocolate made him feel like a big boy.

Brick and Anya trailed behind Little Baron to the kitchen, but hung back while keeping an eye on him.

"What's wrong?" Brick asked.

"Nothing."

"Yes, there is; what's on your mind? Talk to me."

Anya sighed. "Our life is perfect, yet I can't seem to find complete happiness. We've both done so many horrible things, and I'm terrified of the bad karma we've created."

Brick clasped both Anya's hands and stared in her eyes. "You have to stop judging us and allow the Man above to measure our sins. We all have to meet our maker eventually, but until then, we have an obligation to live life to the fullest."

"But I've seen and done so many horrible things, I'm terrified that as soon as I start to enjoy life, something horrible is going to happen. What goes around comes around, and I feel like it's only a matter of time before the dirt I've done catches up with me. I don't know how you manage to be so optimistic."

"Would it be better if I beat up on myself on a daily basis and fell into a state of depression? If I punished myself like that, do you think it would help me become a better husband and father?"

"No."

"So, you understand why it's important for me to remain optimistic and look on the bright side?"

Anya nodded. "I get your point, but I'm not like you. I have a conscience and I'm haunted by my actions in the past. I want to move forward, but it's hard."

"We made a promise to each other; remember?"

"When we said our wedding vows?"

"Our vows were heartfelt, but that's not what I'm referring to. Do you remember the promises we made to each other right before Misty's nurse tried to kill you?"

Anya was pensive for a moment. "It's all a blur. Misty attacked me and I was defending myself. I don't remember getting stabbed; I sort of blacked out, and the next thing I consciously remember was hearing Misty pleading with you to save her life." Anya gazed up at Brick with worried eyes. "And I remember the brutal way you stabbed her with that screwdriver," she recalled with a grim look on her face.

"I explained to you why I had to do that."

"I know you did, but it's such a confusing story."

"I'm gonna explain it again, and hopefully we can move past it."

Anya nodded.

"Misty's nurse attacked you with the screwdriver. She stabbed you in three places, and you were dying. I begged Misty to heal you, but you were so far gone that when she laid hands on you, it drained the life out of her."

Though Brick had recounted the incident on several occasions, each time he mentioned that Misty had lost her life while saving hers, Anya felt a knot in her stomach the size of a fist. "Oh, G.o.d, I feel horrible about that."

"It was her time," Brick said bluntly. "She beat death on a couple of occasions, but this time, she was ready. She left this earth with a smile on her face. Since I'd already called nine-one-one and reported a stabbing, I knew we'd have big problems if your blood turned up on that screwdriver. What you have to understand is Misty was already dead when I stabbed her. It wasn't an easy thing to do, Anya. It took all my strength and willpower to drive a f.u.c.king screwdriver into her lifeless body. But I did it so that we could have a chance at love and all the good s.h.i.t that life has to offer."

Anya looked at Brick with sorrow in her eyes, still hesitant about taking a plunge into happiness that more than likely, wouldn't last.

Trying to convince her, Brick said, "You seem to think that self-punishment is going to change the past and wipe the slate clean, but it won't. Being happy is a choice, and it's what I want; I thought you wanted to be happy, too."

"I do, Brick. With all my heart, but I can't help feeling that I don't deserve to be happy. Not after all the harm I've caused others."

"Neither one of us ever harmed an innocent person, and you know that's the truth."

"But we're not G.o.d."

Brick fell silent briefly. "When we were in that parking garage, before it all went down, I complained about being dealt a bad hand during my childhood and you wisely suggested that I replace those cards with a different hand."

"Yeah, I remember saying that."

"And we agreed that from that moment forward, we'd be happy and live in the moment. Do you remember that?"

Anya nodded. "I do."

"We only have to choose happiness, Anya. It's that simple. You seem to think it's n.o.ble to wallow in guilt and regret." Brick eyed her intently. "So, what's it gonna be-are you willing to move forward or are you going to linger in the past?"

"I'm going to try my best to put the past behind me. Just bear with me, please," she said, snuggling up to Brick. "It's going to take a little time for me to live in the moment, but I promise that my ultimate goal is to hold on tight to you and our family, and to accept all the joy that life has to offer."

"You're my wife, Anya, and I love you more than life," Brick said, lowering his head and kissing her.

Little Baron made a face as he waited for his hot chocolate to finish brewing. "Ew, you two are always kissing."

"That's because we love each other very much," Brick explained.

"And we love you, too," Anya added. "And I'm about to cover your face with a bunch of sloppy kisses," she said, playfully chasing a squealing Little Baron around the kitchen.

Brick smiled warmly at Anya and his son, relieved that he'd convinced his wife to let go of her gloom and the ghosts of the past. Life was a precious gift and it would be a shame to not enjoy it. One day, the two of them would have to answer for their sins, but until then...only G.o.d could judge them.

MISSED ANY OF MISTY'S DRAMA?

SEE HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED IN.

BY ALLISON HOBBS.

AVAILABLE FROM STREBOR BOOKS.

Along with an exotic dancer named Star, Brick, Misty, Shane, and Tariq had all piled into Brick's borrowed car. After dropping Tariq off, Brick weaved wildly through traffic, swerving like a drunk. He struggled to steer the car toward Star's apartment on Pulaski Avenue.

"Do you mind if my friends crash at your place? My man's too messed up to drive." Shane asked the dancer, with a worried gaze fixed on Brick.

"Sure, if they don't mind sleeping in the living room. I only have one bedroom."

"That's cool," he responded and then scowled at his friend. "Yo, Brick. You want me to drive, man?" Shane shouted.

"Naw, I'm straight, man. I got this." Brick's words came out slurred.

"He ain't got s.h.i.t," Misty interjected. "Pull over, Brick; let Shane drive."

Jumping the curb when he pulled over, Brick hit the brakes. "d.a.m.n, that was f.u.c.ked up," he said, cussing as if the car was at fault.

Shane took the driver's seat. Misty got in the back with Star while Brick slid drunkenly into the pa.s.senger seat.

"You dance real good." Misty sidled next to Star. "I wish I could dance like that."

"It ain't even about dancing; it's working your body like you getting some good d.i.c.k. Anybody can do it."

"Yeah, but I'd be so scared to take off my clothes like that." Misty made her voice sound small, like the voice of a little girl.

"Girl, as pretty and young as you are..." Star paused and shook her head as if Misty had no idea of the untapped goldmine she possessed. "Girl, you wouldn't even have to work up a sweat. The only thing you'd have to do is come up on stage, swivel your little hips, and rub your crotch. If you showed those perverts just a little bit of t.i.ts, they'd break their necks to stuff your thong with cash."

"For real!"

Star nodded with a smile.

"But is it worth it? You know...do you make enough to really get up there and take off your clothes?"

"If you get some lap dances in to supplement what you get on stage, you can make out pretty good. Like tonight. Here it is a Monday night. Most people don't think of Monday as a money night. But I made out pretty good."

Misty's dark, round eyes grew large; her heavy silky lashes fluttered with interest. "So you're saying this is a career I could think about getting into and I could make enough green to survive?"

"Survive! Girl, stop playin'. I made three hundred in lap dances and a buck twenty on stage. On a Monday night! That ought to tell you that you can make some real nice change."

"Do you think you could get me in there?" Misty asked, her voice filled with hope.

"Um. I can put in a good word, but you're still gonna have to audition for the manager. I'll give Shane my number; give me a call tomorrow and I'll try to set something up."