The Naughty Chocolatier Read online

  “Not to mention the dollars.”

  “Ain’t no shame over here. But in all seriousness, you could start out with the smaller clients vying for my attention. You’re my girl and I got you.”

  “That you do. I never thanked you for your attorney recommendation.”

  Her face turned cold, “I thought we weren’t going to talk about the ex.”

  “I’m not. I just wanted to thank you for the bank account.” We laughed at the implication. While Yaddi didn’t know exactly how much her attorney friend rang out of Daniel, she knew it was enough that if I played my cards right, I’d never ‘have’ to work again.

  She raised her glass, “Happy to oblige.”

  Instead of delving into deep drama we spent our time catching up on inconsequential topics, avoiding men of course. Assuming I was going back to the me she’d known from our college days, Yaddi grilled me on what I planned to do with my hair. And of course, she just had to know if we need a shopping trip for a new wardrobe or if one of my suitcases harbored a secret stash of eclectic wares.

  “Maybe I’ll start sewing again,” I said before shoveling the last spoonful of grits into my mouth.

  “Uh oh. Are we going to do Bohemian Chic again?”

  I gave her a seated hips sway dance as I said, “Me taw’t chu like de Boho Chica?”

  “See, this is why I can’t with you.”

  I allowed Yaddi to pick up the tab as I waited for Armond to circle back around. In the meantime, I scrolled through my phone checking the weather and dismissing the four missed calls from my ex. I hadn’t told anyone he’d started calling again and oddly he never left a message, just the incessant back-to-back calls that I ignored.

  A quick trip back through downtown and Armond dropped us off at one of those fancy rooftop lounges Yaddi found so intriguing. I will admit I liked this one. Open air. Blue illuminated glass shielding encircling the edges to keep too- tipsy patrons from accidently plummeting to their demise. And the mojitos were to die for.

  “Slow down,” Yaddi warned as I ordered round three.

  I’d eaten good, nothing wrong with a drink or two...or three. To divert her attention away from my spiraling descent into lush-dom I asked, “What’s the deal with you and Dwayne.”

  “I thought we weren’t discussing men tonight,” she countered.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, you misunderstood. We aren’t discussing my men. Your men are fair game.” I leaned in, flashing cleavage she took note of, as I rested my chin on my hand. “Now spill it sister.”

  Yaddi took a slow sip of her second Martini gawking at me over the rim of the glass before she lost the battle with the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Not much to tell. You know how I do. He came down for a long weekend.” She lingered on the word ‘long’. “He’ll be on a plane back to New York Sunday evening.”

  “Ah, so he came down for a fix?”

  “Among other things. Dwayne’s a chiropractor and massage therapist. He can do wonder with those hands.” Her eyelids lowered in that seductive remembrance way, “Dwayne is thorough and utterly generous, in case you ever need an,” she paused for dramatic effect and to allow a Cheshire cat smile to cross her face, “adjustment.” Double entendre duly noted. Not that I hadn’t started down this road with flashing my tits in her direction.

  One thing about Yaddi, she owned her sexuality. She flitted from lover to lover with what most would consider to be reckless abandonment, but scantily clad determine woman with a full-lipped bright smile knew what she wanted and where she stood in the world and anyone not with the program could kiss her big Black behind.

  As far back as I could remember she never hid her preference for men and women alike. Yaddi did have a type for each gender, preferring average but perky breasted women who were bottom heavy. Though she kept one or two men under 5’9’ due to other special skills they brought to the table, most of the men in her self-proclaimed harem stood over six feet, dark chocolate with a little to hold on to around the middle. Like myself Yaddi didn’t go for the overly fit physique. The buff guys spent way too much time in the gym, and we liked our food. All layered in sweet syrupy chocolaty goodness and fried to beyond inches of its life.

  And like others who drifted into Yaddi’s gravitational pull, I’d succumbed to the intoxicating energy about her that made a person feel safe enough to test the waters and explore uncharted territory. Yaddi was an all-encompassing judgement free zone who never asked for commitment. In fact, that was rule number one when it came to sexual rendezvous. Yaddi made it clear to her partners she enjoyed sex and sexuality, but she was not looking to settle down with one lover.

  Of course, there had been one run in with a certain man who’d assured her he didn’t mind physically sharing her. I believe Stanley loved her. I think he was just naïve to believe in immunity to jealousy. And when it reared its ugly head Yaddi saw the writing on the wall. Even now, she kept a close eye on her partners, anyone turning clingy received walking papers. None had succeeded in taming the lioness.

  My rapidly glazing over eyes caught movement to our right, a brown-skin man in slacks, a green button-down shirt and sports coat holding a Corona making his way to us. And yes, I noticed the big feet and the way he commanded attention as the other women studied his approach. Our eyes locked and he offered a straight smile I convinced myself was genetics and not years of professional dental work.

  “Ladies.”

  My lady parts tingled at his greetings. I stared up at this tall drink of water as my nana used to say.

  He lowered his drink to our table, offering a hand to me. “Hope you don’t mind if I steal your friend away for a dance?”

  It was a question, a cautionary one like he was trying to get a feel for not only my interest in his offer but men in general. I suppose in this day and age, with society finally getting over its bullshit gender norms and more same sex couples saying screw it we’re going to do us, I understood the approach and kind of appreciated it.

  Yaddi tossed back the rest of her drink as she gave this guy the once over before leaning over and whispering in my ear, “If you don’t want him, I’d gladly take him off your hands. He looks real flexible. I could toss him around and bend him like a fresh rolled pretzel.”

  I couldn’t hold the laughter, my head lowering, hand covering my face in embarrassment. When I regained enough composure to allow a straight face to fall into place, I tossed her my handbag and took the gentleman’s hand.

  Chapter Three

  Good morning sunshine!

  That’s what the sun said to me as it beamed through the open bedroom door. I dared to crack my eyes, head pounding as I recalled the five Mojito’s I’d downed last night in a flashback to my college years that I immediately regretted. What was I thinking?

  I tried to move, but the piercing pain shooting through my limbs zapped every ounce of energy and motivation. Tears welled in my eyes.

  No. No. No. Not today.

  I knew I’d taken a risk, alcohol being one of the triggers to exacerbate my medical condition. But for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to think about being sick, so I’d thrown caution to the wind and indulged and now here I lay utterly immobilized. I tried again. Maybe if I could just inch my way up to the head of the bed and the nightstand, I could reach the pain meds. I breathed my way through each thought before garnering enough courage to just do it.

  My teeth gritted as I threw my all into one futile attempt to move; The floor and I shared an intimate kiss as I miscalculated and rolled off the end of the bed. At least I was facing the right direction now. And I was clothed so that would save me from carpet burn as I contemplated my next move. Still too far from the nightstand, I decided to just rest for a moment.

  I must have drifted off because the next thing I knew, a hand grabbed my ankle, and I wailed so loud the flock of geese that congregated around the pond shrieked and took flight.

  “Oh, my goodness,” Yaddi immediately dropped my ankle. “Are
you hurt?”

  Hurt was putting it lightly. I heard the fear in her voice suspecting she thought I’d injured myself falling out of bed. I couldn’t talk yet, the pain radiating all over my body. All I could do was lay there and cry as she crawled up to my head.

  “What’s wrong Soliel? Oh, my Goddess. Do I need to call 9-1-1?’

  Way to panic Yaddi. I stopped her jabbering with a grunt. She leaned down to put her ear near my mouth to hear my faint whisper.

  “Nightstand.... meds.” I muttered through concentrated sobs. It even hurt to cry. I didn’t want to move any more than I had to, so I closed my eyes and listened as she slid open the drawer and gasped.

  Before heading out last night, I’d organized the drawer of medication for easy access. Two big boxes of pill packs and the five daily bottles. Plus, the two white bottles of powerful painkillers that I only took in times of desperation. And believe you me, I was desperate.

  She scooped up every bottle, plopping down in front of me. “Which ones?”

  Good. She’d calmed down and taken a more analytical approach to the situation instead of her initial fight or flight instinct. Yaddi was good that way. Give her something to focus on and she’d think things through instead of panicking.

  “White bottles.” I said wanting to roll up in the fetal position but sure it would hurt too much so I dismissed the natural desire and homed in on my breathing.

  Yaddi’s feet disappeared for a minute, and I heard the sound of pills being shaken out of the bottles followed by the fridge opening and closing. To my surprise, when she reappeared, she thrust a straw into my mouth. “Drink and I’ll give you the pills one at a time.”

  I sucked a mouth full of water as she forced the first pill between my lips and gave me a minute to swallow. We repeated the process for the next two pills before I was beyond spent. So long as I didn’t move, I could tolerate the slow aching pain. I’d used everything I had to get to this position and all I could do now was wait until the meds kicked in.

  When I finally woke from my drug-induced stupor, hours later I suspected by the change of the sun’s light, fear still reigned supreme. The aching was gone but it could just be a trick of my mind, so I just laid there for a minute watching as Yaddi picked up one of the pill bottles and started typing something into her phone.

  Crap. Yaddi had camped out in the corner giving her a view of me but allowing her to rest her back comfortably against the wall. She’d dragged one of the Yoga pillows from the exercise room I’d seen upon my initial inspection of my new living arrangements.

  Cat was out the bag now. I dared to wiggle a finger. Start small I told myself. Test the waters before diving into the deep end. No pain. I secretly danced inside before rolling my head. The crook in my neck from the awkward position annoyed me but nothing like the excruciating pain from before. If I made it through this test, I’d stretch it out first.

  Yaddi’s eyes came to rest on me as I worked to roll over onto my side.

  “How ya feeling?” She asked, returning the pill bottle to the pile as she placed her phone on the nightstand.

  “I’ll live.” Everything still hurt. Or maybe just my pride.

  She claimed her feet, padding closer to me. “Need some help?”

  “Yeah.”

  We managed to get me into an upright position opting for the theater seating in the open living space over the bed. I’d seen enough of it to know that I’d rather sit in something with more support. Yaddi thrust a full bottle of water towards me.

  “Drink. You’re dehydrated.”

  Among other things. I was glad she hadn’t chosen hungover. I obliged, pressing the button on the side of the seat to raise the legs.

  “You should have told me.”

  My eyes darted to my friend, “Are you going to lecture me now?”

  “I should. You could have died.”

  I shrugged, “But I didn’t.”

  ‘What is wrong with you?”

  Everything and nothing. While her question might have had two meanings, I knew she wasn’t referring to what physically ailed me. She wanted to know what was going through my mind and right now I was a blank slate waiting for the entity in dark billowy robes wielding a scythe to be like Calgon and take me away.

  My life was a wreck. Though the average person wouldn’t think so. But the money meant nothing when life itself meant so little. As the saying goes, money can’t buy happiness.

  “I need to eat,” I finally said, closing my eyes.

  “Oh. So, you’re just not going to answer my question.”

  “Not on an empty stomach.” I peeked an eye to gauge her reaction. “And possibly not at all. Either way, food comes first.”

  Yaddi huffed, sulking while she stalked around the room. I just laid there like a toad on a stool waiting on a juicy fly to appear. Eventually she stormed upstairs slamming cabinets and rattling pots and pans until the aroma of sautéed veggies and bacon hooked me. So easily manipulated.

  I took inventory of my fridge. Couple of my favorite yogurts, bottled water, and blueberries. This would never do, though I silently thanked Yaddi for at least thinking of a quick something to grab and letting me shop on my own.

  By the time I showered and changed out of last night’s clothes, Yaddi was plating the food for herself and Dwayne. She handed him a plate, and he strategically excused himself daring not intrude upon girl talk. When he disappeared around the corner to the hallway leading to the bedrooms, I plopped down on one of the bar stools.

  “You know I’m livid with you,” Yaddi said scooping potatoes onto a plate for me.

  “Yes mother.”

  “This is serious Soliel. You half scared me to death.”

  “Welcome to my new life. That’s why I said I wouldn’t be in your hair long. Almost dying all the time is rough on others. I don’t want to put you through that.”

  “Put me through that? What the hell are you talking about?”

  I gestured for her to finish putting the food together. “You might want to sit down for this.”

  She rounded the counter placing a plate before me piled high with skillet bacon still dripping in grease, potatoes scattered with bell pepper and onions, and eggs, just how I liked them fried hard. “See, if I keep eating like this, I’m gonna have a heart attack.”

  Yaddi chose the seat at the other end of the bar, the slinky yellow robe trimmed in lace she adorned left little to the imagination. She focused on her food. “Is that a change of subject?”

  “Look. A lot has happened.”

  “Hmm. Are you saying, I should just be thankful you called me out the blue when you needed an attorney?”

  “That’s not fair Yaddi.”

  “Pot and kettle.” She tossed her fork onto her plate. Appetite spent. “I get it Soliel. You have secrets. I have secrets.”

  “It wasn’t always this way. Remember when we were staying in that shit-hole apartment in the bluff. And the guys downstairs used to come up to make us play truth or dare to see which one of us would spill the dirt on the other’s kinky behavior?”

  Undeterred, Yaddi just stared silently at her plate.

  “Fine.” Though I did need to eat, I slid the plate away from me and swivel to face her. “I saw you checking the meds.”

  “What is it?” She tried to keep the quiver out of her voice but failed. “Cancer?”

  “No. That would be a more definitive diagnosis. I don’t have nearly as many options as cancer patients.”

  She turned to face me then. “What? What is it then?”

  “The medical term is Trypanosoma Cruzi.” The words rolled off my tongue with ease at this point. I’d said them a million times to hundreds of doctors in search of an apparently nonexistent cure. “It’s commonly known as Chagas disease. I’m a giant experiment.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  Her genuine concern forced me to press on. “I shouldn’t be going through what I’m going through. Or at least, not right now. What the doctors
are seeing usually doesn’t show up for decades in people who’ve been exposed.”

  “But what is it?”

  “It starts out as a parasitic infection. I must have gotten it on one of our trips to South America. You know I’m a country girl and I don’t mind roughing it, so we’d opt for jungle cabanas instead of lush hotels. A couple months after one of those trips Danny noticed lesions on my arm and back. I’d had on and off headaches since we’d returned and fever that refused to break. I chalked it up to the heat and stress. Then one of my eyelids started to swell and it was all downhill from there.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. None of the doctors seemed to know what was going on. I was talking to one of the cleaning ladies who’d apparently been watching my descent into illness. She knew we traveled to South and Central America a lot and suggested I might want to get checked for Chagas. She said in the smaller towns it can be easily transmitted. Since we ventured into jungle instead of staying in the more touristy sections it made sense.”

  “What’s the prognosis? I mean there has to be a cure.”

  “Like I said, I’m one big experiment. Because it took so long to identify the cause there was no guarantee the anti-parasitic drugs would work. I’m on to the chronic phase. For most patients that doesn’t start for decades. Here I am a year and a half down the road, and they are already seeing signs of an enlarged heart.”

  Yaddi moved to the empty seat between us, resting a hand over mine her robe falling open to reveal her lack of bosom support. “I’m guessing Danny didn’t take the news too well.”

  I huffed. “Bastard.” It was the only word I could use to describe him. “First, he started missing my appointments. When I was hospitalized, I’d barely see him. I mean he was in surgery, and I tried to dismiss it as work obligations. Then some chick started playing on my phone. Sending me random detailed texted messages. Next came the photos of them cuddled up. Instead of him sticking by my side, he started seeing this nineteen-year-old. By the time I had the strength to confront him, the girl was knocked up.”