Free Addie Combo by Tareka Watson Page B

I choose not to acknowledge. Ignoring Emily too,
Quinton goes on tosay, “You’re still way ahead, in any case. You own property now, you have
your L.L.C, tons of experience. Okay, it didn’t work out with this guy, but they can’t fault you
for trying, right?”
“Can’t you sue him?” Emily asks him. “That’s what lawyers do.”
“It’s not a matter of contract law,” he says. “And I don’t think the firm would handle
anything that small, in any case.”
“It’s okay,” I say, glad to be moving forward. “I just want to get on with my life.”
Emily says, “That is a good idea, Adds. Have you thought about going back to Montana?”
“She can’t go back to Colorado ,” Quinton says. “Just because this jerk doesn’t know what
he’s missing?” This doesn’t seem to bring Emily much comfort, but it does make me feel a bit
better. But just a bit. Quinton asks me, “What about the car?”
“Forget the car,” I say without even thinking about it. “I’ve got some money saved, credit’s
good. I’ll find another car.”
“Good for you,” Emily says, her increasing discomfort clear in her quickening words. “You
don’t need a lot of objects weighing you down. Travel light, isn’t that what they say?”
Quinton looks at me. “You’re not going anywhere, at least not for the wrong reasons.
Addie, you’re here now; don’t you think that’s because this is where God wants you to be?”
I’m not even sure how to answer that. I love God and I believe in God. But I know God
helps those who help themselves, and right now that’s my main goal; helping myself. “I’m not
running off anywhere,” I say, with an innocence which is quite genuine. I never mentioned
selling off the property and running away; that was Emily’s idea. “Anyway, God’s business is
eternity; mine is this week. I gotta find a new car, a new job ... ”
Quinton says, “I’ll follow you to the guy’s house, you can drop off his car. Then we’ll go to
the lots on Glendale Boulevard, find something good, affordable. As for a job, I dunno.”
Emily forces a smile. “Of course, you can’t just expect to go from one man’s care to the
next! You don’t want to be relying on the kindness of strangers your whole life.”
“Oh, Emily,” I say, “I didn’t know you were a Tennessee Williams fan.”
“I’m not,” she says with a smile, “I’ve never even been there.”
After an awkward moment, Quinton clears his throat and says, “Either way, you’ve got
friends here, Addie; never forget that.” Emily glares at Quinton again, but we both ignore her.
He’s just being helpful, after all, and right now that’s all I need or want ... or can handle.
I drive back to my apartment, half-expecting to see a bunch of police squad cars with their
lights flashing, carrying an arrest warrant with my name on the charge of grand theft auto. I
begin to wonder what Randolph is capable of, what actions he might take.
I trusted him too much, I realize, and I wonder if I can reverse the damage to my life and
future that I may have inadvertently caused, or unwittingly allowed Randolph to cause.
Nice theories, Princess Paranoia, I chide myself. Things aren’t that bad. You got hurt,
doesn’t mean anyone’s out to destroy you.
The next day, I get a closer look into what Randolph is thinking and feeling.
And planning.
As he promised, Quinton follows me up the winding hillside street Micheltorena, to that
modern manse behind the locked gate. Emily insists on joining us. The cluster of square,
concrete sides and big, glass windows shines like a beacon on the hill.
I park his Beamer on the street while Quinton idles behind me in his Kia Sentra, in a whole
other class; a much better class, as far as I’m now concerned. I pitch the key ring over the fence.
Hearing the little clanky thud, I know my payload’s been delivered. Without giving him the
satisfaction of a rant, the humiliating display of any emotion, I turn and