Series: Doubting Power Pt. 3

As Joey drove to Jeff’s house he was entirely edgy each stoplight seemed like it took a year and a day to change from red to green, while at one of these stoplights, he turned on the radio because the silence only enabled his mind to flashback to the bistro and it was like he was sitting there all over again. While he was driving he kept taking deep breaths to soothe himself but they didn’t seem to help, a sigh of minor relief escaped through his lips as he pulled in Jeff’s driveway. Everything was moving in slow motion for him because even though he was walking briskly towards the front door to him it was taking longer than the time he had imagined and his patience was growing thin. He finally took the steps he was anticipating; into Jeff’s lounge.

After a thorough explanation to Jeff he had this to say “So why don’t you tell Maya she’ll help you.”

“I don’t want to get her involved in this, she doesn’t need to know about this,” he said as he took a gulp of the whiskey Jeff had poured for him.

“Well that’s the only advice or help I can offer to you the most I can even come up with is 10 grand.”

Joey chuckled and responded, “I didn’t even have the 200,000 all I have is 175.”

“What if he asked for the 200, what would you have done then?”

“I knew he wouldn’t because he doesn’t accept partial payments.”

“Dumb but smart move, you got lucky.”

“Yeah, you could say that,” they both sat silent seemingly in deep thought; after a few minutes passed, Joey took the last drink from his glass before resting it on the rosewood center table. He stood up with no sense of direction and said, “Hey, I’m gonna head home now.”

“If you need my ‘help’ just give me a call.”

“Yeah, bro no problem, thanks.” Jeff let him out and bolted his door and made a phone call straight away. Back on Petunia Drive...

“Hi, honey,” Maya said with a smile as Joey walked through the door.

“I’m off punishment?”

“Well, you obviously had a bad day, it’s written alllllll over your face. I wasn’t very enthused about your sticky note but that’s beyond the point at this moment, let’s talk business.”

“What kind of business, Maya?”

“First question, do you enjoy being in some kind of trouble with someone? When it’s not me, it’s someone in your family, when it’s not them, it’s him!”

“Huh? What are you talking about?” Joey stared straight faced trying to hide the ‘secret’.

“Don’t! Beg me to hurt you... Why do you owe him money and... Why would you go to the meeting if you don’t have the money, so he can insult you?”

“You seem well informed,” he said with an annoyed look on his face.

“I am actually, no thanks to you! Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“Be...Be... Because you’ve bailed me out of something like this already, you’ve had you fair share. I made it clear to Jeff.”

“And you’ve met with him six times before, Joey? What the hell!”

Joey mumbled to himself, “Bastard, sell out.” He laid in the couch and covered his face with a cushion, “Stop judging me please?”

“Stop judging you!”

He got up and looked at her with clenched teeth, “Please don’t argue with me about this, not in the mood, where would you even find $300,000 anyway?”

“Let me teach you a little trick, Joey,” she said with a smug smile on her face, “let’s use an example, let’s say I owe you $20, but you have two wallets and you only walk around with one and just toss one aside for a rainy day,” she sipped her lemon grass tea and glanced up at Joey who was very attentive, “So I have your $20 but if I give it to you I’ll be broke, so I go in your rainy day wallet and give you $20, in your mind my debt is cleared and by the time it starts to rain, I already have my umbrella, so in other words, I would have already covered my tracks... it’s the same thing with bank accounts honey.” Joey sat shocked and speechless, “You follow?”

“I think so.”

“Then wipe that stupid look off your face darling,” she didn’t seem perturbed at all by the fact that she was talking about stealing?

“So is that how you ‘handled’ it the last time?”

“Maybe the time before the last time, the last time I just killed him, haha.”

“You did what!”

“Calm down Saint Joey the fourth, I’m joking, just know I’ll deal with it,” she walked over to where Joey was sitting and sat on his lap, she gently placed a hand on his cheek and caressed it and in a meek voice told him, “Joey, we’re a team, and you know how I feel about him, we both want to see his pit fall so don’t hide things from me because you think I can’t handle it,” she kissed his lips and got up and headed upstairs from the top of the steps she spoke these words, “You’re doubting power honeeeeey, now go have your dinner before it gets colder and I’ll see you upstairs soon,” the ominous smile she wore throughout the conversation made Joey feel like he was in a room with a serial killer, he wasn’t quite sure if he was okay with all she had said or not, he had so many questions to ask and so many comments to make but just couldn’t find the breath or words to ask or say them. He sat blank with his thoughts in turmoil, who was that lady he just spoke to? Was that the same gentle Maya that gave him back massages at nights? He was so confused, his appetite went missing but he still made his way to the kitchen to try and eat something, he wasn’t even sure if he should eat it. The day was getting even more petrifying for him.

About an hour after he went upstairs, obviously it was the same gentle Maya that gave him massages; she took him to the bathroom and stripped him, directed him to the shower, turned on the warm water and lathered up his loofah and washed him thoroughly, he sighed because for the first time all day he was feeling comforted and relaxed. Maya was being extra nice to Joey tonight since she was well aware of just how stressing the meeting was for him, after his shower Joey was relieved and they laid in bed quietly watching television. Even with the chaos in Joey’s mind, especially with the reoccurring thought that his girlfriend of almost 3 years was a fricking schizophrenic, the worst part being he didn’t know, he managed to calm himself long enough to fall asleep.

Sunday seemed to have dissolved in silence and thoughts. Joey never got around to finding the words to say and ask what he wanted so badly to and Maya thought she had explained herself enough. Maya read Joey’s body language like a book and she knew he was worried and confused, she tried her best to comfort him and she was partially successful.

Sunday ended in cuddling and a kiss. The last flash of fear for the day surfed in the pit of Joey’s stomach and he was not eager for the next day. The last thought for the day fluttered in Maya’s mind, “Monday is a new day for anything to happen,” she smirked and closed her eyes until sleep consumed her. 

You knows it! 

To Be Continued Next Week =P