Before We Were Wicked by Eric Jerome Dickey

Author:Eric Jerome Dickey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

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AS JAKE ELLIS drove us away, I called home and there was no answer, so I called my wife’s cell, worried, hoping the baby wasn’t coming early. Jimi Lee answered, told me she was at Lila’s place in Malibu. She said she had driven up and they had gone to dinner and caught a movie, some chick flick starring Julia Roberts.

She asked, “When are you back home?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I didn’t want to stay in the apartment alone.”

“How are you feeling?”

“She’s in my belly playing soccer.”

I smiled. “Yeah?”

“Your daughter won’t give my bladder a break.”

“Put the phone to your belly so I can sing to her.”

“Not now. Let me rest.”

“Love you.”

“Bye.”

It was a girl. Jimi Lee’s dream had been right.

Jake Ellis said, “You’re going to be a daddy soon.”

“And you’re going to be a godfather, bro.”

“Real soon.”

“Yeah. Soon.”

Something wasn’t right. Jimi Lee had dreams, and I had a gut feeling.

I called my wife back on her cellular phone.

She didn’t answer. Her phone was turned off.

I called the house phone. She didn’t answer.

Jake Ellis asked, “You okay?”

“I’m cool.”

“You look worried.”

“Just want to make sure Jimi Lee is okay.”

I called the number I had for Lila in Malibu. She answered. Said she was home, reading. She told me that she hadn’t seen Jimi Lee in over a week. I told her my wife was fine and I was just calling to say hi, then let her go.

As we pulled up at our hotel, Jake Ellis asked me, “What’s wrong?”

I answered, “Nothing.”

Wherever she was, whoever she was with, she had sounded happy.

I tossed my John Lennon glasses, grabbed my backpack, got ready to go back to my room at Howard Johnson’s in the area known as College Park, but for some reason pronounced as Collie Park.

Jake Ellis asked, “Bruv, want to have a couple of drinks?”

“Nah. Long day. I’mma shut it down.”

“Atlanta is the place to party. Magic City. Strokers. Strip clubs all over the place.”

“Not tonight. Not this time.”

“You good?”

I nodded. “Make sure you’re ready in the morning.”

“What time we have to be at the airport?”

“Noon. So be ready to bounce by ten.”

“Eleven. Airport is five minutes away.”

“Bro.”

“Bruv, you don’t want to hang?”

“I’m good.”

“All right, bruv.”

Jake Ellis went to his room, talking, laughing, followed by ebony and ivory, two girls named Keisha.

I called my wife again and again and again.

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