Authors: Chamein Canton
“More than you know, Fil. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, sunshine. Anytime.”
Cathy reached for her bag. “May I have your number?
I’d like to call you from time to time if that’s okay with
you.”
“Aren’t you sweet? Of course you can.”
They exchanged phone numbers just before the first
pitch of the game.
Cathy had to admit she felt better after hearing about
Fil’s experience. She even thought that maybe God, the
fates or both had maneuvered things to get them together.
Fil had made some good points about things she’d never
thought of before. Athletes were raised to the level of gods
in this country. They represented the embodiment of hard
work and exceptional physical prowess. For Marcus to go
out with a woman who represented what was average about
this country’s women was sort of blasphemous. Cathy knew
she had to make sure she could handle it. She wondered if
maybe she could be another Fil and hang in there for the
long run.
Cathy had the opportunity to meet Jerry just before the
bottom of the first and he was as sweet as his Fil. Watching
them together, she wondered how anyone could have given
such a cute couple a hard time.
The afternoon was a boon for both Marcus and Cathy.
She made a new friend and Marcus had a stellar afternoon
after hitting the cycle; a single, double, triple and a
homerun. Cathy was so tickled for him. The Yankees were
able to keep their winning streak alive, seven straight.
After the game Cathy had to run the gauntlet. Two security guys flanked her to shelter her from the throng of press
people who lay in wait. Security had come up with an alternate way for her to get out of the stadium but her back was
acting up a bit and she wasn’t physically up to the challenge.
Actually she was feeling unsteady so she used the guys for a
little support until she got to the car.
Louis helped her get situated in the seat, then hopped in
the car and they were off. “Ms. Chambers are you all right?”
“I’m a little shaken up, but otherwise I’m fine. Thanks,
Louis.”
“If you start to feel worse, tell me and we’ll go straight
to the hospital or your doctor’s office. Whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Louis, I’ll keep it in mind. I’m going to rest
my eyes for a little while.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
Louis was perceptive. She wasn’t doing well. Even
though the whole gossip column thing was essentially over,
she worried about the next headline or caption. What clever,
witty little sound bites would they think of next? But for
now she closed her eyes and enjoyed the quiet of the car
ride. Deep down she knew something was brewing with her
back. All the signs were there and if she didn’t take care, she
wouldn’t be able to make it to Tampa with Marcus this
coming weekend.
She opened her eyes to Louis gently nudging her.
“Ms. Chambers? We’re home.”
She yawned. “That went fast.”
“It always does when you’re sleeping,” he joked.
She had to laugh.
He assisted her in getting out. “Are you okay to walk to
the door?”
“I’m fine.”
Cathy realized her back was a little worse than she’d originally thought. She had to move slowly to get to the front
door.
“Let me help you inside, Ms. Chambers.”
“Thanks. I’m so embarrassed. I promise I didn’t have
anything to drink. I’m not drunk.”
“I know Ms. Chambers. Your back is acting up.” He
kept her upright. “Do you have your keys? It doesn’t look
like anyone’s home.”
She had the keys in her pocket. He opened the door and
helped her get to the sofa in the living room.
“Louis, how did you know it was my back?”
“How does the saying go? Been there, done that. I have
a bit of a back problem myself.”
“Isn’t that something? How did you hurt your back?”
“I was in a car accident.”
“Me, too.”
He laughed. “Our bad luck.”
“Tell me about it.” He turned around. “I’ll be right back
with your bag.”
“Take your time,” she called.
It only took a moment. “Here you go. Where should I
put it down?”
“My bedroom is on the second floor so you can leave it
by the stairs. I’ll ask my sister or cousin to take it up for me.”
“Very good.”
“So, Louis, how long since your accident? If you don’t
mind me asking.”
“I don’t mind at all. It’s been about six years now.”
“I’m double that number.”
“You don’t suppose we were hit by the same guy, do
you?” he laughed.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” she grinned.
“You should take it easy and not let these crazy fools in
the press bother you.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“The bottom line is you have to take care of yourself and
let things roll off your back.”
“That’s a tall order but I’ll try.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” He looked at his watch.
“Well, Ms. Chambers, I must be heading back. Are you sure
you’re all right?”
“I’m fine. Either my sister or my cousin will be along
shortly.”
“Very good then. Have a good evening.”
“You, too.”
Cathy was awakened by the rattle of keys at the door.
“Hello? Is anybody home?” Madison called.
“I’m right here in the living room.”
“Oh there you are. I didn’t know you were back.”
“I just got home a little while ago.”
He sat down. “So it seems that I’m not the only one
Cathy’s curiosity got the better of her. “What
happened to you this weekend? Did you have another run
in with that guy?”
“I took out a restraining order to cover all contact
between him and me. Still, he’s not listening. He’s been
sending me coded messages from someone else’s
computer,” Madison said.
“But you’re on to him. Have the police discovered
where the messages are coming from?”
“Not yet. As far as the cops are concerned this is a low
priority civil matter. Meaning, they will enforce the
restraining order but they can’t do much more than that.
Unless he violates the order in a clear, definitive way, their
hands are tied.”
“But he’s on record as assaulting you. Are you
supposed to twiddle your thumbs?”
“That’s what it seems like. I had to upgrade the security system at my apartment and I don’t walk to my car
alone now. The whole thing has me freaked.”
“I know how you feel.”
“Speaking of freaked out, I know you hit the roof
when you saw that garbage in the paper.”
“Freaked out hardly begins to cover it. I was really
beside myself. Thank God Marcus had the kind of clout
to handle it. There will be a retraction in tomorrow’s
paper.”
“How did that happen? They usually hide behind the
first amendment.”
“There was a fourth woman in the bathroom. She
heard the whole thing go down and will refute the story.”
Anna casually walked in holding her briefcase. “Hey,
you’re back.”
“I just got in a little while ago. Why the briefcase? It
is Sunday right?”
“Yeah. I had to help someone with a tax question.”
“Oh.”
“It seems like I’m here in time to hear what really went
down in the bathroom at that club.”
“I’m actually getting sick of replaying this in my mind
so I will only go through this once more. Okay? I don’t
mean to sound horrible but I’m tired.”
“Go ahead,” Madison said.
Cathy recounted what happened in detail. The way
she saw it, if she gave them the straight skinny they’d be
able to tell everyone, including her mother and father,
what went on.
Anna was pacing like a bull. “I can’t believe you didn’t
jump out and beat their asses for that cow remark.”
“Anna, I didn’t do anything to them but say a few
words and you see how much happened without me
laying one hand on them.”
“It’s a good thing Marcus got a retraction, but you can
still sue.” Madison was emphatic.
“I plan to. I think E.D. is getting in touch with Frank
tomorrow morning to set something up.”
“Good. They should pay for this. That caption was
God-awful. What would possess anyone to write something like that about another human being?”
“It’s because being fat is the last form of acceptable
discrimination in this country. Hell there’s a whole multi
billion dollar weight loss industry based on the fact that
no one wants to be called fat. I never thought about it
until Mrs. Phyllis La Fontaine brought a few things to my
attention.”
The name rang a bell for Anna. “That last name
sounds really familiar. Is she related to Jerry La Fontaine
from the Royals?”
“She’s his wife
and
she went through the same thing
when she and Jerry were dating. Her theory is athletes are
perfect so there is a certain amount of perfection that’s
expected of people around them. So when a perfect man
dates someone who is less than perfect, some people seem
to go crazy.”
“It’s unfortunate that most of those people are in the
media,” Madison observed.
“Isn’t that the truth?” Anna stopped to look at Cathy
more closely; she could see something was wrong. “You
don’t look like yourself, Cathy. What’s going on?”
“My back is acting up a bit.”
Madison shook his head. “I think the stress is really
setting it off.”
Cathy shrugged. “It’s because I haven’t worked out in
a couple of days. I have my meds. Things will be fine in
the morning when I go back to the gym.”
Anna raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know if that’s a
good idea. I think you should make an appointment with
Dr. Adams to be sure.”
After the few days she’d had Cathy was defiant. “I’ll
make an appointment but I am heading to the gym in the
A
.
M
. as usual. I also plan to make it into the city office this
week. Don’t worry, I have to see Dr. Adams anyway to get
checked out before I fly out on Friday.”
Madison raised his glasses. “Fly where?”
“Tampa. The Yankees are playing the D-Rays at
Tropicana Field and Marcus asked me if I would come
down for the series.”
“Sounds good to me. I think I’ll come along. I have
some vacation owed me from the state,” Anna said. “I
could use a break from my whole Cape Fear theme and
going somewhere warm where the women are still
showing some skin sounds like the right medicine to me.”
“I don’t need a couple of babysitters, you know,”
Cathy quipped.
“I’m not babysitting anybody. Roger might go so he
can visit some friends who live in the area.”
Cathy knew they wouldn’t take no for an answer. It
was nice to know she had family support. She was grateful
but she didn’t let on.
Just as Anna was about to leave, she noticed something a little different about Cathy again. “Are you using
a different conditioner? Your hair looks really shiny and
full.”
Cathy automatically started fussing with her hair.
“No, I haven’t changed conditioners or anything.”
“She has sex hair.”
Cathy was taken aback. “What the hell are you talking
about, Madison?”
“You’ve never heard of sex hair?” He seemed shocked.
“It’s basically the result of a lot of showers for two without
wearing old lady shower caps and air drying your hair.”
Cathy playfully threw a napkin at him. “Who asked
you?”
“All of that gives you amazing looking hair?”
“Don’t front, Anna. I’ve seen you with sex hair plenty
of times.”
“Cathy’s right. Who the hell asked you?”
“I’m just calling it like I see it.”
Anna put her hands on her hips. “Yeah. We’ll just see
how many ladies you meet wind up with sex hair this
weekend.”
Madison simply grinned.
Even though she was more active now than ever,
Cathy still got up Monday morning at four for the gym.
Besides, with Marcus in Baltimore her aerobic activities
were now limited to power walking on the track.
As she walked out into the fall-like morning, Cathy
took a deep breath.
Thank God, it feels like fall
, she
thought. A few minutes later she pulled in the gym’s
parking lot. All the usual suspects were in their designated
spots waiting for the doors to open.
Cathy turned the engine off when Melody tapped on
the window. “Oh!” She rolled down the window.
“Melody, you nearly scared me to death.”
“Sorry I scared you, girl.”
“I didn’t see you walk over.”
“I figured I would come over to you before the rush.”
“Before what rush? The rush to get in and get a good
machine?”
She bent down. “I’ll tell you in a minute.”
In the rearview mirror Cathy could see the receptionist opening the doors.
“What’s going on?”
“Come on and I’ll tell you.”
Grabbing her water bottle Cathy stepped out. They
walked to the door.
“You’re the talk of the gym.”
Dread came over Cathy. “Oh God, the Sunday paper,
right?”
“I’m afraid so. But I have to say that I didn’t believe
any of that crap anyway. However, I was a little insulted
that you didn’t tell me you’re dating Marcus Fox.”
“I’m sorry, Melody. I only started going out with him
last week.”
“Lord, you wouldn’t know that from the way the
papers print it.”
Cathy stopped before they got any closer to the
entrance.
“Do I want to go in there? The paper is printing a
retraction today, but the damage is done, right?”
“As long as they spelled your name right, who gives a
rat’s tail about some sleazy old gossip column?”
“But these are the people I exercise with almost every
single day.”
“So? You have friends here and they support you. Not
a one of them believed the newspaper.”
Cathy took a deep breath and hoped she was right.
“Let’s go.”
They swiped their cards and went upstairs to the
track.
When Cathy and Melody began their six-and-a-half
mile trek around the track, Cathy noticed they got a lot
more attention than they had on other days. Some waved
hello while others who only occasionally spoke broke
their necks to look at her.
What on earth is everyone hoping
to see?
Cathy wondered.
Marcus isn’t in my back pocket.
Melody took a cleansing breath. “Before we get going
talking about anything else…how are you feeling?”
Cathy was relieved at the innocuous question. “I’m
hanging in there. I came this morning in the hope of
feeling better.”
“Stress getting to you?”
“Yeah, just a bit.”
Melody looked her over “You’re glowing, but you do
look a little uncomfortable. Are you sure working out is
okay?”
“Sure. I’ve been working out five days a week for the
last six or seven years and it’s been good for me and my
back.”
Melody didn’t look convinced. “Have you seen your
doctor?”
“I have an appointment this week. Okay? Believe me,
I have my hands full with my sister and cousin on my
case. I promise I’m taking care of myself. Now can we just
walk?”
“Okay. I was just checking. Now on to the news. Girl,
people have been asking me about you nonstop since
Saturday and Sunday.”
“I’m sure they have.”
“Of course they have. Marcus Fox isn’t just any guy.
He’s a New York Yankee and that makes him damn near
royalty in New York.”
Cathy smirked. “You’re right about that, too.”
Melody pressed the point. “Don’t hold out on me,
give me the scoop.”
“As soon as you tell me what happened with Jason.”
“Touché! Well, if you’re not going to give me details at
least tell me something.”
“As nice as he seems on television, Marcus is even
nicer in person.”
Melody looked disappointed. “That’s sweet and all,
but I wanted a juicy little tidbit.”
“There’s nothing little about him,” Cathy said coyly.
Melody’s mouth hung open. “Ooh, girl, you are bad.”
They laughed.
“Seriously, Melody, it’s been very nice with the exception of the press.”
“I hear that.”
“So how are things going with you know who?”
Melody’s usually warm grim turned mischievous.
“Not bad. He and I had dinner out the other night.”
Cathy was shocked. “Really?”
“He and Miss Thing broke up and now it’s about him
and me.”
“Get out of here!”
Hallelujah! It’s about time
, Cathy
thought, though she knew better than to say it out loud.
Besides, Melody was happy for the first time in a long
time and so was she.
Before their high profile date in public Jason had
treated Melody like his back door girl. It had come as a
shock to Cathy that even Melody with her looks, charm
and intelligence was insecure and would put up with
someone like Jason. Cathy didn’t think he was in Melody’s
league by a long shot.
While they chatted it up on their umpteenth lap,
Cathy noticed a woman on the Nautilus equipment.
“Melody, the woman in the blue shorts and tank top
keeps watching us.”
“Where is she?”
“In the Nautilus room.”
Melody slyly turned her head. “I’ve seen her before.
She seems to keep to herself most of the time but I have
seen her talking a blue streak a few times.”
“Oh really?”
The five
A
.
M
. crowd was a lot like a family sitcom.
There was a regular cast of players, and new people only
guest starred until they met the required number of 10
straight early morning visits to the gym. In other words,
when a new face showed up in the morning the regulars
noticed.
Melody and Cathy continued their walk until six
thirty when they completed their six and a half miles.
That was Cathy’s cue to leave. As she walked downstairs,
she looked up to see the same woman from the Nautilus
room on her cell phone, trying to act as if she weren’t
watching Cathy on her way out.
“Cathy!”
She looked over her shoulder to see Benjamin running
to her.
“Hey, Ben. How are you?”
“Not too bad. I guess you’re done for the day.”
“Oh yes.”
“Let me walk you to your car.”
Cathy was a little taken aback but she went with it.
Ben was an accountant like her sister and while he wasn’t
a stick in the mud, he didn’t do anything just for the sake
of doing it.
“So, Ben, we’re outside. Anything wrong?”
“There’s something I want to tell you about that new
blond who’s been working out here.”
“Yeah.”
“She’s been asking a lot of questions about you. And if
you press her she acts like she knows you.”
Cathy was alarmed. “I’ve never seen her before in my
life.”
“I figured that. But there was all that stuff in the paper
and you’re going out with Marcus Fox, so I figured there
was a connection.”
“Thank you, Ben. You don’t know how much I appre
ciate it.”
“I have one more thing for you. Supposedly her name
is Lisa Spellman. Maybe you can have somebody from
Marcus’ camp check her out.”
“Thank you again, Ben.”
“Anytime.” He waved and went back inside.
Cathy hopped in the car to head to Dunkin Donuts to
get her coffee and a paper. She filed away the name Lisa
Spellman until she had a chance to ask Marcus about her.
The usual Dunkin Donuts crowd was lined up with
Johnny, Itzhak and Avila running an assembly line of
made to order coffee in various sizes.
“Haven’t seen you in a long time,” Johnny joked.
“I’ve been out of town.”
“Oh. Okay.” He handed her an extra large, extra light
coffee with half and half and three sugars, along with a
paper.
“Thanks. Have a good day all.”
Coffee in hand, she opened the paper as soon as she
got in the car. There was the retraction big and bold on
the gossip page. She felt vindicated as she drove away.
Planning to work at home, Cathy took a quick shower
as soon as she got home. Dressed in comfortable clothes,
she went back to the kitchen to have coffee and read the
paper. She heard her sister getting ready.
“Cathy!” she yelled.
“I’m right here in the kitchen!”
Anna walked into the kitchen. “Can I borrow your
brown leather pumps? This black pair just isn’t working
with this outfit.”
Cathy looked at Anna’s feet, then at her chocolate
brown suit. “I see what you mean. They’re in my closet.
Want me to get them?”
“No you sit. I’ll run up and get them.”
Cathy continued reading the paper.
Anna returned with the shoes on. “This looks much
better. Don’t you think?”
Cathy looked up. “Much better.”
“Yeah. Wait a minute. You have the paper. Is the
retraction in there?”
Cathy showed her the paper. “Big and bold.”
“Good. So how were things at the gym today?
Anybody ask questions or make you feel weird?”
“Melody asked me directly for the straight skinny.
Otherwise it was pretty routine except for this one blond
woman. Ben told me she’s been asking questions about
me.”
“Sounds like she’s a reporter or something.”
“Who the hell wants to know about me? By myself I
am not that interesting. Anyway, I’m going to ask Marcus
if her name sounds familiar.”
“Good idea.” Anna looked in the refrigerator. “What
do you want to do for dinner tonight?”
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
“I’ll pick up a rotisserie chicken at the supermarket.
Keep things simple.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Cathy agreed.
Anna looked at the clock. “I have to get a move on. It’s
time to put fear in the hearts of school boards everywhere.”
Cathy snickered. “You go get ‘em, killer.”
“See ya later.”