Need You

CHAPTER 1O

I woke up abruptly from another nightmare. Again, it was about my experience in jail. I was starting to get worried because it didn't allow me to have good sleeps.

Looking out the window, it was still dark. I shifted in the long sofa I was lying in and closed my eyes hoping  that I would soon drift off to sleep.

I was expecting to hear from Hardware House and Banking Investments — the places I had been interviewed. Today was a weekend so I thought that if either chose me, they would let me know so that I could start on Monday.

I hoped that I would get the job so that I could get my own place and move out of the house. Did I even have to get my own place? I could just move in with Derrick.
I was sure that my dependence on Ethel would soon become an inconvenience to her.

When I opened my eyes, the light from the sunrise shone through the windows, beautifully lighting up the room, the orange walls brighter.

I helped Ethel clean the house. She was reluctant about my helping at first but I insisted. It was the least I could do after all she had helped me out with.

Having tea with her at the dining table, she asked, "Do you have anything planned today?"

"No." I said right before I took a bite of the bread the tea was served with.

"Did you ask Nikki?" She asked. "Maybe the two of you and Amanda could plan something. It's the weekend, I don't think you should just stay in."

"Um," I chuckled. "I'd probably be intruding on Nikki and Amanda. I'm sure they have their own plans."

"Okay. What about you come with me to the restaurant?"

I didn't want to be left alone in the house. What would I do if I was? "Yeah." I agreed.

"Good morning auntie." Nikki sang happily as she came into the dining area. "Good morning Harry."

"Good morning." Ethel and I said to her almost at the same time. She looked very bright with her happy mood and the yellow spaghetti-strap dress she was in.

"Which time will you be going to the restaurant?" Nikki asked Ethel.

"Probably in an hour. Why?"

"Amanda and I are meeting up with Gina. The three of us have some things planned for today."

"Okay." Ethel sipped her tea and then said, "Well Harry and I will be at the restaurant. I'm sure it we'll have fun."

I smiled.

"Really?" Nikki questioned. "I think it's going to be just you at the restaurant today because Gina told us to bring along Harry."

"Me? Why?"

"She said Derrick wants you to come along. He's at the restaurant with her."

"Who's Derrick?" Ethel asked and I answered, "A friend of mine. We met earlier this week but couldn't talk much so he said he'd contact me through Gina."

"Okay. Well we'll be ready in an about an hour then." Ethel told Nikki.

"Great. I'm sure we'll also be ready by then." She left the dining area and when I heard the door shut, I knew she was back at her place.

When we got to the restaurant, Nikki, Amanda and I went in through the front door while Ethel parked her car in the lot.

Derrick and Gina were at a table in the back by one of the windows and they seemed to be having a really good conversation. I gave Derrick a nod when he saw us and Gina waved at us.

Walking to their table, I was nervous. What if Amanda starts questioning him just to verify what I told her? She wouldn't. They were just here to meet Gina.

"This is Amanda," I heard Gina say. "and this is Nikki."

"I know Nikki." Derrick said.

"You do?"

"Yes, we haven't met in person before now but I know you. Your aunt owns the restaurant, doesn't she?"

"She does."

He grinned and said, "It's nice to meet you two ladies."

"Same here." Amanda spoke. "I've been wanting to meet you since your return from Europe."

Oh? We all had our eyes on her. That was a surprising statement. "Gina told me you were there. Weren't you?"

"I was." Derrick replied. "With Harry actually."

"You were in Europe!?" Nikki turned to me.

"Yeah." I answered nervously. I was really hoping Amanda wouldn't do that.

"But Harry told me he was there alone." Amanda said, sounding confused.

"Alone?" Derrick looked at me.

I had to do something or else... "Well we were both in London together at the start but a couple of months later he left for —" I intentionally trailed off hoping for him to finish the sentence.

"France."

"Okay."

"He went there for some business and then next thing he calls me and tells me he loves the place and is staying." I lied but the laugh made it believable, I thought.

"Yeah, there's a lot to love in a country like that." He played along.

"Alright." Gina interjected. "We'll be going now." She stood. "You guys, have a nice day."

"Yes. You too." I bid them before they left.

I waited for them to be outside before I sat. "What's Amanda's problem?" Derrick asked as soon as I sat.

"I don't know but she's clearly suspicious of me."

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"How do you even know them?"

"Well, after I was released, I went to where I thought was still our house and she was there. I thought she was your girlfriend but she told me she bought the house and had been living in it for a while, and then I started working here and the owner, Ethel, realized I was homeless and took me to her house which happens to be the one attached to the one we lived in." I replied.

"You work here?"

"Yeah. I'm a busboy. Hopefully, by Monday I won't still be working here." I said. "I'm hoping to hear back for some jobs I was interviewed for earlier this week."

"Yeah... that was why you were at Hardware House, right?"

"Yes." I waited a few moments for him to speak. He didn't so I asked, "Were you really in Europe?"

"Yes. I was there for some business."

"Okay so why didn't you tell me that?" I asked. "You just stopped reaching out about a year into my sentence and then when I called your phone, you weren't answering."

"Sorry. It happened fast. I didn't have time to consider a lot of things before I left."

"How long would it have taken you consider and actually tell me you were selling our house!?" My voice raised a little and I shifted in the chair.

Looking around for a moment, he turned to me and said as he stood, "Bro, let's go. We can't talk here."