CHAPTER 004

MAYA

The phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand. I stretched out a hand and grabbed it. Slid a finger across the screen without looking.

“Happy Birthday to you, Maya… I hope you have fun today.” The voice was low, but deep. Manly in every sense. The thumping of heart followed next. I sat up, pulled the sleep mask off at once like it shielded my sense of discernment.

Only then did I take a glance at the screen. Digits spread across the screen. It was an unsaved number. I could have sworn I knew that voice. Eyelids batted endlessly as I stared at the screen.

“Hello,” The voice continued. My chest thumped, my lips parted but no words came. Then the call went dead.

Williams Banks!

Why was he calling me? For a moment I thought it was Evelyn. Of course, my life had a particular routine, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing special.

A warm smile crossed my face. The warm voice replayed in my mind even though I wasn't able to say past the first “Hello”. Someone had remembered my birthday. I smiled again.

Yes! Gabriel made a promise. On this day last year, he had forgotten my birthday. And then he promised to sweep me off my feet the next year. And here we are.

I pushed off the bed. Maybe I could go to his room. My fingers circled the doorknob, then an idea struck!

Why not let him find you instead? I mean, he promised to sweep me off my feet on this year's birthday. I would wait for him to show up. Perfect plan! I smiled to myself as I darted into the bathroom instead.

I did a little dance as I brushed fast. For some reason, my morning had started on a lighter note. I walked back into the room, voices echoed through the hallway. I could tell the whole house was lively already.

My phone rang again. This time it was Evelyn. Her high-pitched voice serenaded my ears. Her melodious voice reciting a happy birthday song for me. That almost brought me to tears.

I pressed the phone to my ear holding it with my shoulder as I selected the newest red dress in my closet. Then I tore off the tag that clung to it. My voice bounced off the roof in a wild laugh. Evelyn had that magic to bring out that part of me.

****

A wave of silence had fallen over the house. It's been over two hours since I last heard voices in the hallway. I pulled off the laptop before me. Walked to the door and pressed an ear against it. Silence.

No way! I scoffed. Then I walked out the door to Gabriel's room, hand pushing against the door like it was something with teeth. The room was dim. No lights. Bed well laid. Curtains pulled together neatly.

“Gabriel,” I walked in slowly. I knew it was a sacrilege to be in this part of the house without being invited. But I didn't want to believe Gabriel had left the house without saying a word.

I walked to the bathroom door. “Gabriel,” a little louder this time. But no sound came. Only then did it dawn on me. I was the only one left in this house, with the maids of course.

My stomach rumbled low. I jammed his bathroom door so hard that the frames shook. My phone rang back in my room, but whoever it was would wait. I needed to call my husband. Maybe he was planning something after all.

I dashed back into my room. Grabbed the buzzing phone off the sheets. It was Evelyn. Why was she calling back? I had told her my husband would have plans for today when she asked to take me shopping.

Well, I let her call end then my finger swiped through the screen, frantically. I dialed his number. Gabriel picked on the third ring.

“What now?! I'm busy.” He groaned low. Birds chirped in the distance. I pushed that out of my mind.

“Busy? Gabriel, have you forgotten it's…” My eyebrows drew together. How could he say he was busy? I mean it was a Sunday! But he hadn't let me finish.

“Something came up at the office… An impromptu meeting… Yeah! Don't wait up. Amila and Hannah won't be home tonight, either. I had dropped them off at my Mom's.”

I listened carefully as he dictated every word. Amila could visit his Mom? I was shocked to hear that. But that doesn't matter right now. The call had ended before I could remind him what day it was.

I exhaled loudly. Chest thumping hard against my ribs. The red dress stood in the hanger staring back at me, mocking me. I slumped back on the bed.

“Happy birthday, Maya Delaney-Steele,” I mocked, “Nothing to worry about. It was work anyway.” I consoled myself. If only that worked. Finger twitched on the wedding band sitting on my finger.

I was tired of this loneliness. I was tired of staying locked up waiting for a man who never showed up. But that man was my husband. If he said it was work, then it was work. I exhaled still, the knot in my chest tightening even harder.

Just then my phone beeped. It was a message from Evelyn. I tapped on it. A picture was loading. I sat up at once. The picture that stared at my face vibrated me to my marrow. Finger flew to my eyes. Wiping vigorously.

Gabriel and Amila at the beach, bare feet in the sand, his hand curled at the small of her back, the other tilting her chin up so their lips pressed together in a warm kiss. Her hair swayed in the air, mocking me. Her little Hannah sat in the soil.

Gabriel and Amila?! I couldn't believe my instincts didn’t lie after all. My heart tore into shreds. Gabriel had forgotten my birthday again. Or maybe he just chose to be with her regardless of what day it was.

Wait! Isn't she supposed to be his cousin? The one he had supposedly dropped off at his Mom's? A loud guttural laugh tore out of my throat. I had had enough.

Pain shot through my veins as I shoved everything on the dresser down in one move.

“I am done!” I screamed. Hands dug into my scalp. Wavy black hair scattered all over my face at once.

Gabriel had made a space in our home for his mistress. He had looked me in the face and told me she was his cousin.

Little wonder why she walked past me with such disdain on her face. Why she never responded to any of the things I said. I was nothing but a worthless piece of rag. That was what Gabriel had reduced me to.

Wait! Was Hannah his child? I was the side-piece in my own marriage? Gabriel had a four-year-old during our four years of marriage?

One thing only made sense. Amila had always been in the picture. I was only a tool. A money-breeding machine. That was why he never bothered about making babies with me. I was only good for designs. Designs that funded their lavish lifestyle.

I pulled out my luggage. I wouldn't wait for him to get back. He would talk me out of this. He needed me for the company. But I was done giving!

My hands shook as I signed the god-damn divorce papers. Then I scribbled a note on a blank piece of paper asking him to sign the papers once he gets back. I threw his bedroom door open. Placed the signed papers and note on the nightstand.

I wore my red dress. Grabbed my luggage and wheeled the two heavy boxes all the way out. The sketches I had made for UrbanAxis sat cool in my shoulder bag. The cool autumn wind brushed my face as I stepped into the compound.

Evelyn’s navy sedan stood in the driveway. She rushed out of the car as soon as she saw me at the door.

“I'm so sorry, Maya.” She whispered as she threw her hands around me. My heart ached. My head banged. But I was tired of taking in less than I deserved.