Call me Duchess

Up and out

I rush home and begin packing. Michael is nowhere to be found. Not a trace of him in the house. I open up my laptop and scroll through the student emergency contact list to find Denise's phone number. Good thing I'd gone for that walk and cleared my head. My mind was much clearer now. I call the number and continue packing. She picks up after a few rings. Her voice sounds breathy as if she's panicked.

"Hello?"

"it's me, where are you?"

"Um I'm at a diner in the middle of town, I panicked I figured if he was going to do something to me I should go where there are a lot of people. Duchess I'm scared.

"Shhh, it's okay. I need you to do your best to avoid him, dip through a large crowd and catch a cab to the airport. I'll meet you there.

"The airport? Why, I can't leave my nephew."

"Is he with you now?"

"No, he's with my mother until I can pick him up. I called her and said I would be late when I noticed a man in a black Audi, I swear its him."

"Okay, get to the airport. I'll see you soon."

I hang up and finish packing. I take a final look around the house to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Once I'm sure I leave and send Rhaz a text letting her know I'm heading home.

The ride to the airport was loud, I turned the music up loud to drawn out my anxiety. The sun was beginning to set, and the atmosphere was thick. I arrive at the airport, grab my things, and go inside searching for a wild haired beauty who may or may not be followed by my husband. There seem to be hundreds of people in this airport, people coming and going, shouting on their phones, and looking just as lost and anxious as I was. Focus and relax I tell myself. My inner voice behaving and actually being helpful for once. I have a seat near the terminal and wait patiently, trying to sooth my anxiety. There was a very real possibility that my gay, possible homicidal husband was in this airport right now. I sit and cross one leg over the other and pull out my phone hoping to receive a call or text. To my surprise I had a message, but I'm unenthused to see that it's my dear friend, Rhaz.

Text

Rhaz: Hey, what time is your flight?

I dismiss the message without a response and place the phone facedown. After a moment I take a breath and feel my skin beginning to crawl with an anxiety rash. Fuck. And just as I began to scratch, I hear the sweetest voice whisper from behind me.

"Duchess?" her voice was hushed and low but as the sound touched my ear it's as if the entire airport had gone silent. I couldn't hide my smile as I turned to see Denise, safe and ready to go. She's wearing large brown shades with flowers on them, a black scarf around her head and a sweatsuit. I chuckled and shook my head.

"I'm sorry miss, do I know you?" I ask playfully. Hoping to also lighten her mood, she looks afraid, and she could barely look me in the eye.

"You're joking? Right now?" she sighs and sits at the seat directly behind me, so it seems we don't know each other. I roll my eye and cross my arms.

"The flight leaves in 20 minutes. We should go" I say over my shoulder to her and grab my bags. She follows a few steps behind me, and we board the plane.

Once on the plan she kept her disguise on and sat quietly. I wasn't sure how to begin a proper conversation with her. Denise wasn't usually quiet, and I wasn't usually unsure of how to speak to a beautiful woman. For several hours we remained silent. Denise fell asleep and leaned her head on my shoulder. I placed a blanket over her and held her hand underneath it.

The sun is completely down when we reach New Orleans. We exit the plane and start inside, I text Rhaz:

Text: we're at the airport, come pick us up

Rhaz: We?

Me: Just come, I'll explain in the car

Rhaz: girl I'm already here lol. Come to the west exit

I laugh a little and tuck my phone away. "Let's go" I say to Denise who is still pretending we don't know each other. She's looking over her shoulder ever few minutes and most definitely giving it away that she's hiding. We walk quickly to the west exit and spot Rhaz in her Tesla.

"Uhhh, who is this?" Rhaz asks and I open the door for Denise" I close the door behind her and get into the front seat.

"Denise, Rhaz, Rhaz, Denise" I respond quickly and shut the door. Rhaz raises a confused brow at me then drives off. I noticed as she drives, she checks her rearview mirror a few times. Undoubtably eyeing Denise. She hasn't said anything, yet which means she's storing it all up to throw at me when Denise isn't within earshot of us. The ride back to Rhaz's place was rather long, so I figured I'd cut the tension.

"So, Michael is possibly a homicidal gay man. What's new with you?" I cross my ankles and look toward Rhaz as she and Denise both respond "WHAT?"