“You’re one of the most independent people I know. Hell, you’re more independent than I am,” Lester said.
“I’ve paid my own way since I’ve been here but I want to be independent in other ways. I need to be. My time with Neal was hard and when I left, one of the bright spots was thinking about the time when I would be able to live in my very own apartment.”
“I get it. You don’t have to explain. Constance was the same way when she finally got away from Jack.”
“So you get it then?” Damita asked.
“Yes, I get it. I’ll tell you this, though you owe me a night out on the town.”
“Absolutely, say tomorrow night?”
“That works for me,” he said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
After working at the insurance company for only six months, Simone was offered a promotion. Constance was happy for her, but there were some at the company that were jealous and couldn’t understand how she could be promoted before them. Once again, Damita found herself repeating old patterns. She realized, what was happening now was no different than when she got the VP spot at Underhill and Kevin was annoyed. She started to question herself and even though she would have liked to take the position, she decided she would try something different this time. She went into the supervisor’s office and, with the excuse of personal reasons, she turned down the position. Damita couldn’t understand why even in a different location, her life was still playing itself out in the same old ways. What she did know was what Constance had said was true. She was in control of her own destiny. She could control how she responded to the events that occurred in her life.
Everyone at the insurance company was surprised when she turned down the promotion, but those that wanted the spot for themselves didn’t question her decision. They were happy to once again have the potential to be chosen. In the end, Constance was the one promoted, even though she didn’t want the position as much as the others.
Damita was happy with her choice and believed that another reason her decision was the best one for her circumstances, was because she was not in a position to be noticed. Even though she was beginning to feel like she fit with her new life, the reality still existed that she was a woman on the run.
Although Damita had shared with Lester and Constance that she escaped from an abusive ex, she hadn’t told them the full story. One night when she was watching television with Constance, she realized how much she felt like family to her. Damita had never been the sort of person that was comfortable with lying. She wanted both Constance and Lester to know who she really was, but especially Constance.
“Constance, did I ever tell you how I was able to escape from Neal?”
“No, but I figured you would when you were ready.”
“Once I tell you, I’m afraid you may want me to leave.”
“I doubt that very much.”
Damita told her the entire story; the abuse, the rapes and her escape from the Twin Towers. When Damita was done, Constance was speechless. Damita searched the expression on Constance’s face to see if she really did want her to leave.
“Damn, Damita, your story makes mine look like an episode of Sesame Street.”
Both Damita and Constance laughed.
“I’m afraid to tell Lester.”
“If you don’t think you’re ready, or you don’t think he’s ready, then don’t tell him yet. Sometimes information needs to be spoon fed.”
“Constance, how on earth did you get to be so wise?”
“This is what happens when you’re forced to grow up before your time.”
“That makes sense.”
Once back at work, Constance was enjoying her promotion and the extra money and Damita was pleased with her decision to not take the promotion. The fact that she had not been there as long as others felt she needed to be in order to be eligible for a promotion was more than enough reason for some people to make life difficult for the person they felt was getting in their way. She didn’t want to be that person. All it took one was person to start snooping around and asking questions about where she came from or how she knew Constance and everything she had worked so hard to build could crumble.
The next night, Damita and Lester were going out. He loved to dance and he couldn’t wait to show off his fancy footwork. He was in such a good mood she thought it was a perfect time to tell him her secrets. After speaking to Constance and feeling like a lead weight had been lifted from her psyche, she hoped talking to Lester, would help unburden her as well.
Damita discovered Lester wasn’t exaggerating. He really was a good dancer. In fact, she had trouble keeping up. They danced the night away and when it was over they took a stroll. They decided they would head to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill and get a view of downtown Seattle and The Space Needle. Telling Lester came so easily, she no longer had a question in her mind about whether or not she should tell him. One look at the Space Needle and she was able to figure out exactly how she would tell him.