Chapter 18

Lennox said lamely. He was almost confused as he watched her and contemplated dropping the topic but he'd already started it and he must finish. Just what was she playing at? Pretending and lying to him that she was still with Hector when he knew that was a lie? Well, except Hector had lied to him. He looked at Nora again and concluded she was the liar of the two and so he said again.
"I thought you two broke up"
He was cautious. Her eyes were still sparking and her lips pressed together but she sighed and softened her facial expression, her eyelids dropped and her hands went to relax on her chin.
"Hector didn't tell me he was done with me _with us "
Lennox held himself from saying 'he did tell me just that'.
"Has he been taking your calls, then?"
He asked instead and she shook her head vigorously . It was largely unsettling to see her shake her head so fiercely. It threatened her tight bun and made the curly hair draping down her chin sway pathetically. Lennox looked at her and said
"Could you please not shake your head so vigorously?"
He said with every ounce of courteousness he could muster only to find that she was biting her lips. Fighting the tears that already made her eyes glitter.
"Okay"
She replied in her cracked voice. She dug out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes before speaking.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lennox I didn't mean that".
" I know. Let's talk about something else. Do you usually close around this time from work?"
He asked dryly not sure what he should discuss with her.
"I couldn't focus at work and so I was allowed to go home. I'm on leave for the next two days"
She said. Her eyes still glistened and her smile looked faux.
"I'm sorry about that"
Hector said. The lady must be going through a lot to have lost interest in work and appetite for food.
"Your boss must__"
She didn't let him finish
" Please don't talk about Pete!"
She said. She was almost on the verge of hysteria as she continued speaking
"I fucked Pete , Lennox".
She broke down and sobbed to Lennox's amazement. People cheated everytime on their partners , married people also cheated but not once had he ever saw someone being so remorseful and shattered as the lady sitting across him.
"That's okay, Nora. It already happened. You'll get back with Hector. I'll drive you home. You're exhausted".
He stood up and she stood up with him. He handled the bill In haste and they headed back to his car. Once inside, Nora began to apologize.
"I'm sorry for breaking down back there, thanks for lunch"
" You hardly ate"
" I'm full. I appreciate your efforts".
They sat in silence for a while as Lennox drove to her place, their only words the directions Nora gave.
"Did Hector tell you he was done with us? We only just started"
She finally asked. Lennox didn't tell her that he'd called her a whore . That might cause her to cry again. So he said instead.
"He didn't exactly say that ".
The rest of the trip was in total silence. Nora staring intermittently at her wristwatch until Lennox saw that she was home safely.
"Do take care of yourself, Nora. Stop getting yourself all worked up for nothing, okay?"
She nodded and invited Lennox in for coffee but he declined politely saying he had piles of paperwork to handle at home while in reality, he was itching to speak with Hector.
He got home in time and phoned Hector. He picked up at the first ring and spoke first.
"What do you want with me?"
Hector asked over the phone.
" The most civil thing to say when you pick up a call is Hello".
Lennox replied from his end.
" Well, Hello, Lennox".
Hector said indifferently and Lennox immediately brought up Nora.
"I spoke with Nora today"
He said. There was a long pause and then a sigh.
"What did she say, did she talk about me? I guess not. She's probably having a good time with her boss"
" Far from it"
Lennox said.
" She's faking her acts, whatever she did was a lie. She's trying to look pathetic.. I know she isn't calling me for any good__"
" Keep quiet a second and let me say something"
Lennox said. Hector sighed again listened patiently as Lennox narrated what Nora looked like, how eaten up she was. Hector mumbled at the end of the long narration
"I wish she never met Pete. Man, I love her"
The were silent for minutes, the only sounds their breathings until Lennox murmured
"Goodnight man, don't be hard on yourself".
Kim got a call from Tessy just after she had had dinner which she cooked. She was surprised and delighted that Tessy would want to come see her not up to fourth eight hours after they parted ways. She'd taken a likeness to the young lady who seemed much like the younger sister she never had. She put back the phone on the receiver and waited for thirty five lengthy minutes for Tessy who'd said she was somewhere in South Florida. Her doorbell rang and she heaved herself off the couch lazily. She held the knob and an instant feeling rushed to her mind.
What if it was Lennox? Would she be able to turn him back this time? Would he try to touch her or look at her in that manner that made her skin tense in anticipation?
She peeped through the peephole to sate her curiosity. She sighed, it was Tessy. She flung the door open.
"Hi, Tess. Good to see you!"
She greeted heartily. Tessy gave her a small hug and perked her cheeks before stepping inside.
"Lovely place you got here!"
She commented and Kim smiled. Tessy looked__always looked too beautiful . Beautiful beyond logic. Her large opal eyes and rose red lips shone merrily as she found herself a couch and plopped onto it. Kim stood smiling for reasons she couldn't tell. Tessy looked good In her clingy jumpsuit and her body looked provocatively tempting In Kim's opinion.
"Thanks, dear. Howdy?"
"I'm just good. I bring good tidings!"
She said as she stretched on the Sofa. She looked completely at ease, lime she'd been there before and it was only right to help herself around the place.
"Yeah, you look like good tidings itself. What's up?"
" There's going to be__"
She cut her short.
" Lemme grab you something to drink"
"I'm absolutely fine and full".
" you sure?"
She insisted. But Tessy nodded.
" There's an open audition in new york next two weeks and I we're going, girl!"
She was so enthusiastic that it amused and saddened Kim. She realized that she was still running around after all, still hustling for roles even though she knew she was good in her art.
" I already got the news but i didn't pay much attention to details. What are they casting for ?"
" It's a general casting call for a soap opera. A lady's got to be the lead character ".
" Oh, we should go then, I was once a star in a soap opera".
She sat clumsily on a chair and began to fiddle with her nails.
"You don't look too excited. Won't you want to be auditioned for this particular stuff? It's a huge one, baby!"
Tessy enthused.
" Yeah, I know that Tessy. You just don't know how I feel about this whole thing".
Kim replied. Tessy was immediately interested in whatever was bothering her.
"What's wrong, girl?"
She asked more seriously. Kim sighed.
"I didn't think I'd still have to scramble for roles, and still run around town going for auditions at this age. I don't have the fame I deserve Tess, it's sad".
Tessy laughed without a hint of humor.
"You're funny, ma'am. Anyways, maybe you don't know yet, CRADLE is taking you to startdom, while you wait for the accolades and prizes that will come with it, keep yourself busy and come with me to this audition. You need this! When was the last time you were in New York?"
" Say, three years ago..my parents are in Mississippi so i__"
" You have to come. We'll catch a night bus if that's okay with you?"
" Why night? I want to see buildings go by in broad daylight as I travel"
" Well then, I'll have to humour you. It's in two weeks time, I can't wait!"
" You will have to"
Kim said, laughing. She liked how Tessy made her laugh even if few minutes ago she'd been on the verge of tears, she only needed the subtlest probing to give in to the pain of unfulfillment that clogged her mind but she was smiling now and anticipating the big cast hunt that would take place in New York in two weeks time. Soap operas, she knew took a lot from actors. It went on and on and on until the actors lost themselves to the characters. Kim recalled how people in her locality back in Mississippi used to address her as the character she portrayed in the soap opera in a Small TV channel that didn't exactly announce her to the entire America. She sighed. She'd made a small impact and name back In Mississippi but here, she had to struggle for the fame she wanted, the name she needed in her career.
"Did you come all the way to tell me of this New York trip?"
Kim heard herself asking Tessy. Tessy turned slowly and nodded.
"Yes, I wanted to go with you. New York is a big place and I've been there only once!"
Her eyes were twinkling again and it made Kim laugh. Her childlike charm and delight at little things warmed her heart.
"Okay, I get were all the energy is coming from. Save it. You'll need it in the next few years".
" Right. And, about Joe__"
Kim felt her stomach churn at the mention of Joe's name. The unpleasant scenario he and Clayton had caused suddenly embarrassed her again and she wished above everything that Tessy had picked another topic of discussion but when she did let her eyes meet Tessy 's, she saw the plea in her eyes, she wanted her to listen to all she had to say and she pleaded with her eyes.
"What about Joe Hamilton, Tess?".
Kim asked formerly. The smile returned to Tessy's face and she didn't try to conceal it.
"I told you I really liked the young man, didn't I?"
" Well, do you only want to remind me of that?"
" I told him, while we were in Dakota that I really liked him"
" Tess, I'm not surprised. Say something that might surprise me".
" He was nuts over you and didn't even notice me".
" Too bad for him".
" He called yesterday and apologized! He's in Newport and I'll be going to see him by this weekend, he wants me to come!"
She was excited and it bothered Kim slightly.
"Are you sure about this? Did you really give it a thought? Does he like you like you do him?"
" There was no mistaking, Kim. In his words, he said ' I'm sorry I pretended not to have really noticed you all the while while I actually thought of you everyday after a shoot. You're beautiful and I know it's you that I really want to hang around with' ".
" Hang around with? Sounds like a temporary plan".
" The most important thing is that we're going to give each other a chance, see?"
" Okay, then. Did you feel that telling me was important?"
" I just wanted to talk about it."
" Okay. Tess, I'll be in Mississippi by this weekend to see my parents while you're off seeing your new found love".
They laughed and there was nothing unsettling between them. A pure and free laughter that came naturally not just from amusement but from the deligth they felt with each other. For the next twenty minutes, Tessy gave Kim all the latest gossips she had accumulated for the past few days and kim couldn't help her laughter.