On the Other Side(35)

“It’s strange, Carmella. Lately there have been moments when I could actually forget what happened before he went to rehab. Do you think it could have been the drugs that caused his behavior?”

“You know my opinion on that. But, like they say, opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one. In the end, all I’ll ever want for you is to be happy. I hope like hell that I’m wrong and Neal was so altered by drugs that it changed him completely. I hope that’s the case. It’s a lot easier to stop taking drugs than it is to change the person you are.”

Damita began to settle into the routine of work and was happy to see that she hadn’t lost it. She was as good at what she did as ever. Neal also returned to his business and though his clients questioned his extended absence, he resumed several projects he had been working on. It was as if he never left.

After weeks of both Damita and Neal walking on eggshells, they began to try connecting with one another.

“I was thinking maybe we’d go to the movies tonight,” Neal said.

“That sounds good. What did you want to see?”

“Scary Movie 2 looks like it will be funny. We’re both overdue for a few good laughs.”

“The Wayans should do the trick,” Damita agreed.

“We could make a night of it. Maybe have dinner after, unless you’re hungry now.”

“I’m good. Besides, I want to save room for popcorn and Twizzlers.”

“I almost forgot about you and your popcorn and Twizzlers. I don’t know how you can eat that junk and stay as tiny as you are.”

“I was blessed with a killer metabolism. If that’s not enough, I burn it up working my ass off all day.”

“I can relate. I don’t think I’ve worked more in my entire life than I have in the past few weeks. Business suffered while I was in rehab, but finally things seem to be rebounding.”

“I’m glad. I know how important your company is to you.”

“Not more important than you.”

Damita wasn’t sure they were ready for moments like these, but she decided she was at least ready to try.

They got to the movie theater early and found their seats.

“Oh, we forgot your popcorn and Twizzlers,” Neal said, standing up.

“No, I’ll get it. You’ve been working so hard lately. Relax.”

As she was walking away, Neal called to her. “Damita?”

“Yes, Neal?”

“Thanks.”

They both knew Neal was talking about more than Damita’s offer to get snacks.

“Did you leave anything at the concession stand?” Neal said, laughing when she returned with her arms full of junk food.

She smiled. “As a matter of fact, I forgot my Goobers.”

“I don’t know where you put it all. Save some room. There’s a juicy burger out there with your name on it.”

“Ooh, that sounds good.”

The movie was exactly what they needed. Both Neal and Damita laughed more than they had in a long time.

After the movie they decided to go to Burger Heaven.

“So what did you think of the movie?” Neal asked.

“Those Wayans brothers are crazy as all hell. It’s nice to see a sequel that’s as good as the original.”

“You really thought it was as good as the first one?”

“It was definitely as good as the first one.”

Neal reached over and touched the bridge of Damita’s nose. “How on earth did you get ketchup up there? Slow down, kitten. No one’s going to take your food and, if they do, I’ll get you some more.”

Damita’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered the first time Neal had used his pet name for her; kitten. The first time he called her that was the moment she knew she would love him forever.

“I really missed this,” Damita said.

“I missed it, too.”

It was a beautiful warm night, so they decided to walk home. They stopped and looked in store windows and reminisced about places they had been when they were dating.

“Oh my God, Neal, remember that place?”

Damita was pointing at an Indian restaurant they had gone to on their third date.

“Of course I remember. We were green for days. That was the worst food poisoning I’ve ever had in my life,” Neal said.

“I used to love Indian food before that place. Now, I can’t even look at Indian food without feeling green all over again.”

“Sounds like chicken saag to me.”

“Yuck, Neal, that’s nasty. That’s an image I don’t want to have, especially after that huge burger and fried onions I ate.”

They both laughed.

Neal and Damita hadn’t slept in the same bed for quite some time. When it was time for them to go to bed, they were both uncomfortable. Lying straight as arrows on their respective sides of the bed, Damita was the first to break the ice.