Damita took off her gloves. “He broke two of my fingers and one of my ribs.”
“That bastard! Damita, say the word and I’ll have somebody break his fucking legs!”
“That won’t solve anything.”
“Yes, it will.”
“What will it solve?”
“It’ll make me feel better. Where is that asshole anyway?”
“He checked himself into rehab.”
“How noble of him. So, this is the part of the program where he’s remorseful and wants to save the marriage?”
“That’s exactly what he said. You know what’s even more fucked up than what he’s done? I actually still love him. Sure, the smart, logical part of me knows that I have to leave, but there’s another part of me that is hoping he can change.”
“Let me help clear your mind, sweetie. Men like that never truly change. He may even come back here after rehab looking like every bit the knight-in-shining-armor that you married. But, I can assure you, it’s all smoke and mirrors. A leopard doesn’t change its spots.”
“You’re right. I really do need to get it together, but I need some time for all of this to sink in.”
“Dee, you do know there is a bright side to all of this?”
“What on earth could that be?”
“Some women have to wait a lot longer than two weeks before a man shows his true colors.”
“Lucky me. I didn’t even have to wait a week. The first time he hit me was on our wedding night.”
“I’m so sorry, Damita. You don’t know how much I wish I was wrong about him.”
“I feel like I haven’t had a moment of happiness since I said I do. This is the first time I’ve felt like myself. I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I don’t want him to ruin my night even when he’s not here. We should pig out, watch some television and guzzle whipped cream straight out the can.”
“Don’t forget the spirits.”
“I could definitely go for some spirits. I’ve got some Patrón. Is that to your liking, chica?”
“Hell yeah!”
• • •
Damita and Carmella behaved like teenagers all night. It was exactly what Damita needed. For a moment she forgot her troubles.
“You wanna spend the night?” Damita asked.
“Fine time to ask, after I’ve already had several shots.”
“You already knew your ass was staying after the third shot. You’ve never been able to hold your liquor.”
“Look who’s talking. Aren’t you the same girl who took off her shoes and threw up in them the night of our senior prom?”
“Yuck! Did you have to remind me of that? What an attractive memory that is.”
“I can’t believe you actually remember it. We were all so drunk that night.”
“Speaking of drunk, I’m going to bed. I don’t think Patrón mixes well with pain-killers,” Damita said.
“Me too. Between the funeral and the Patrón I’m whipped.”
“Don’t remind me. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Brandon is gone. I keep waiting for him to walk in the room and put us both in a yoke like he always did. I’m gonna miss him so damn much.”
Before Damita and Carmella went to sleep, they spent at least an hour reminiscing about Brandon and all the good times they had through the years.
CHAPTER TEN
Damita and Carmella had stayed up so late drinking and having fun that they both slept practically to noon. The phone woke them both sometime around eleven forty-five a.m. Damita answered the phone.
“Hello.”
“Why is she there?” Neal asked.
“Neal?”
“Yes, it’s Neal. Who did you expect?”
“What is Carmella doing there?”
“That’s him?” Carmella mouthed silently.
Damita nodded yes in response to Carmella.
“She stopped by after Brandon’s funeral yesterday. We had a few drinks so I told her she should stay over instead of traveling last night. Wait a minute. How did you know Carmella was here? I thought you were in rehab.”
“I am in rehab.”
Damita’s face echoed the irritation she was feeling. “So how would you know Carmella is here?”
“I heard her voice.”
“But you asked me why she was here before she even said anything. How could you know?”
“I must’ve heard her say something. Otherwise, how would I know? Anyway, that’s not important.”
“I didn’t know you were allowed to use the telephone in rehab.”
“They take all the cell phones, but there are pay phones here. We’re allowed to use them during designated times.”