Page 30 of Rude Boss 2

“Quintessa was telling me what happened. I hope your wife is okay.”

“Yeah…” Dad slides his hands into his pockets, moving some change around. “We gon’ find out in a minute, I reckon. It’s taking forever for them to let us know anything.”

“Have you seen her since you been here?”

“Yeah, but they’ve given her pain medication while they do all the necessary X-rays and tests. She’s out of it.”

I stand up, stretch my legs. While Essex is busy talking to Dad, I figure I’d use it to escape to the bathroom. “Hey, I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” Essex and Dad ask at the same time.

I look at them and respond, “To the ladies’ room.”

“Okay,” Essex says.

I find the bathroom only a few steps down the hallway. I walk over to the mirror to get a good look at my face – I look a mess. My eyes are weary. My eyelids are swollen and red from crying. The little bit of makeup I had on washed away with the tears and my nose is red.

I am a mess.

I dash water onto my face repeatedly, trying to bring some form of life back to it, then pat it dry with a brown paper towel. I take a deep breath and return to the waiting room where I see a doctor talking to Dad. I run over to hear the conversation but the doctor is leaving before I make it over there.

“What’s going on? What did he say, Dad?”

“Good news! She didn’t break her hip and she doesn’t have a concussion either. She just took a bad fall, got a few bumps and bruises, but she’ll be all right.”

“Thank God,” I say, embracing my father, delighted with the news. I’m so elated, I embrace Essex, too, like it’s second nature. Like he’s my man.

And, I—

I feel his warmth. His care. His concern. It satisfying to feel his arms close around me. To be held close to his chest. A girl could get used to this much attention, especially since I never really had it. Gosh, does it feel good. He’s still squeezing me. I feel his chin bear down on top of my head, and while I don’t mind staying right here, I remember my father is present, observing us. I whisper, “Essex, you can let me go now.”

“I made that mistake one time before,” he says.

“What?” I pull back and look at him. “What’d you say?”

“Nothing.”

I stare at him for a long moment because I’m sure he said what I think he said. Dad clears his throat to get our attention. He says, “The doctor said one person can go back. Why don’t you go since you didn’t see her earlier, Quin?”

“Okay, Dad.” I look at Essex again and say, “Thank you for coming. I’m sorry this interrupted your day.”

“Don’t apologize for that. I’m good.”

“At least you have time to get back to the office,” I tell him.

“Are you kidding me? I’m not leaving you, Tessie,” Essex says. “I was going to run out to grab some lunch for us, but I’m coming right back. Would you like to ride with me, Mr. Bailey?”

Dad looks contemplative like he can’t make up his mind.

I say, “Go ahead, Dad. You need a break. I’ll be with Mom, okay?”

“Okay, but we’re coming right back aren’t we, Essex?”

“Yes, sir.”

I step over to Essex, rise to my tiptoes and whisper, “Don’t be driving like no maniac with my father in the car.”

He smiles. “I’ll only do that when you’re riding shotgun, sweetheart.”

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