In Need of You

Chapter Nineteen

That was going to be her holding Elisha's hand, Ava thought. She watched the happy couple walk hand in hand as they passed a platoon of geese and ducks hunting for fresh grub hidden in the grass near the lake. The smile on Sabrina's face was the exact definition of happiness that Ava had never experienced before. It was always money for pleasure. It was never real love. Those men she escorted on her arm at fancy galas and fucked in luxury hotel rooms only wanted her body when their wives didn't want to give up their goodies. They never wanted to love her, until she laid eyes on Elisha. She wanted that smile. She longed for that smile. Ava needed that smile. 

She was going to get that smile too. Regardless of how she was going to remove Sabrina from the picture, Ava was going to find a clean, quiet way of erasing her from Elisha's memory. 

She sat on the wooden bench. Several kids ran passed her. Their little laughs and skips tired their mothers walking behind them. She waved at them, trying to make herself look as homely as possible. Then again, the matted blonde wig she wore along with those wide BluBlocker shades did that for her very well.

She frowned, trying to peep through the ragged bodies of women calling themselves working out. It was more like a sweat fest in too expensive yoga pants and screaming sports bras that could have given away their goods as their breasts flailed about while they jogged. Thank God for good genes. Her parents, at least, did right by her in that department.  

It was their laughter that made Ava hone on them. Watching Elisha sweep Sabrina off her feet and pull her into a kiss drug a tear to her eye. Ava gritted her teeth, then grinned. She understood why Jonah was upset with this woman. She'd brought something out of his son that maybe he, himself, couldn't do. Or it could have been that he wanted her for himself. Maybe the whole racist act hid deeper lust-filled feelings that made him want to hurt the woman. Well, Ava wanted to hurt Sabrina too. It wasn't because she was racist; it was because the bitch was with her man. 

Elisha would soon find out that everything Sabrina was to him wasn't anywhere near as perfect as Ava was. 

"I'm sorry, miss," an older woman sat next to her. She pulled off her jacket, then took off her shades. Her blondish-gray hair sat frazzled on her head. The first day of summer's sun did a number on it. She wiped her forehead with a white cloth and pulled a bottle of water from her backpack, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip of water. "I'll be out of your hair in a moment. It's been a minute since I ran through the park."

Ava glared at the woman, noticing those beautiful steel blue eyes of hers. Her smile seemed very similar to Elisha's-- that was Lori. She'd recalled seeing her smiling face standing with Elisha and another young lady in a photo together. "You're fine, ma'am," Ava said. "I think everyone's taking advantage of the first day of summer."

"They sure are," she replied with a laugh. "I'm one of them."

Noticing that Elisha and Sabrina were making their way toward her, Ava shifted in her seat, hoping they wouldn't recognize her.

"Mom?" Elisha asked, walking closer to her.

"Elisha. Sabrina," she said, getting up from the bench and running to go hug them both. "It so good to see you two. Where's Madeline?"

"With her Uncle Edward at the aquarium," Sabrina said with a smile. 

"I've missed seeing you all." Lori took her son's hand into hers and squeezed it tight. "Your father and I are getting a divorce."

Elisha sighed. "Haven't you two talked?"

"Not since he what he did to Sabrina. I don't want to have any more part of his hatred and greed. I can't stand it."

"Have you told Amber yet?" 

"I have. She wasn't too happy with the idea, but she understands. She knows that her father needs to change for the better." She said, walking back toward the bench where she left her belongings.

Ava looked in the other direction and fanned herself with her hand. She had to get away from the bench before they started talking to her. The last thing she wanted to do was give herself away. 

She noticed Sabrina eyeing her every few minutes. The wig wasn't the best choice in the world, Ava thought, but it did keep her long hair from being pointed out. Besides, she did just get the woman fired from her job and kicked out of her apartment. She smiled. The woman's body was a powerful thing. Yet her greatest weapon laid in between her legs.

Ava glanced at Lori and patted the seat of the bench without saying a word.

"Oh, miss," I'm not trying to move you," Lori said.

Ava shook her head. "I insist," she replied. "Please, don't make them stand for me. I've got to go anyway. There's someone I must meet."

"Okay," Lori said. "Thank you for your kindness."

"You're welcome." Ava quickly walked away from the three. She looked back at Sabrina who still had her eyes fixed on her. Distancing herself away from the three, she pulled her smartphone from her pocket and dialed Jonah's number. 

"This is Jonah," he answered after the first ring.

"I met your wife or should I say soon to be ex-wife," Ava said, walking to her car. "Why didn't you tell me that she liked Sabrina and Madeline?"

"All you need to do is focus on getting rid of Sabrina. Lori isn't any of your concern."

"Sounds like you still love her."

Jonah scoffed. "So you want me to take everything you have from you right?"

"No," Ava responded quickly. "I just thought of a way I could help you save her marriage. I wasn't trying to upset you."

"Let me deal with Lori," he said. "Did you see her?"

"I did."

"Was she alone?"

"No. Your son was with her."

"Shit," he said. "That damn boy is so pussy whipped it's a damn shame."

"So what do you want me to do,"

"Get Elisha alone. Take him out for a drink or something. Keep him from going home."

"And then what?"

"I'll handle the rest from there."

Ava sighed. "Jonah, you do know that Elisha isn't very easy to drag away from work or home. When he's in it, he's in it."

"Not if you drug him."

"I'm not trying to hurt him, Jonah."

"The boy needs to learn a lesson anyway."

Ava sat in her car and watched Elisha and Sabrina get into an SUV. "I have an idea that I believe might work."

Jonah scoffed. "Ava, I'm not paying you to make your own ideas. I'm paying you to pull my son away from that woman."

"Just trust me, Jonah. If it fails, then dock my pay. But if it works, you'll owe me way more." She watched the massive vehicle drive off the park's parking lot. 

"Fine. If you fuck this up, it's going to be more than pay I'll take from you."

The phone call ended. She hated threats. The men she used to escort threatened her every time she didn't do something right. And as much as she tried to please them, they always left her with a mark. Jonah was no different. In fact, he was worse. He never wanted to touch her. All he wanted was to make his family name look good. Well, Ava could do just that. She really could. 

She woke her smartphone, looking for his number. Holding the phone to her ear, Ava waited to hear his voice. 

"Hello," Kevin answered.

"So about that help," Ava said. "How could I help you get to Sabrina?"

"Damn girl, I thought you'd never ask."