“Yea, I heard you,” she lied. Delilah stood under the shower and let the water heat her body and cleanse the weakness away. Soon her muscles relaxed and she felt more like herself.
“I’m going to meet up with Apollo today. Can you handle her? Goodiva? I will be back tonight.”
“I got it,” Delilah mumbled.
“Huh? Did you hear what I said?” Queen asked again.
“Yes! “’ll handle everything,” she said. She turned off the shower and came out of the glass stall to reach for her towel. She dried herself and slipped on her robe all the while Queen watched. “Go. I’m good. I promise.”
“Will you please call him? Talk to him Dee. It’s not about what you think. He’s taking care of things in New York for you both. Hear the man out before you shut down,” Queen pleaded.
“I’m not shutting down,” Delilah shrugged.
“I know my friend. Soon there will be no window, no door, no opening for Maverick. You’ll be Delilah Montgomery again, and you’ll make him pay for hurting you.”
Delilah paused. She looked to Queen and then to herself in the mirror. Thats how they all saw her—stubborn, strong-willed, unforgiving, smart and heartless. Even Maverick believed she was that woman, until she showed him who she was. Why can’t people accept that there are more sides to her? Isn’t she entitled to be hurt?
“Call him,” Queen insisted.
“I’ll call him,” she said.
Queen stared at her for a moment. Before her friend left Delilah turned and hugged her. She squeezed her tight. “I’m so happy we found Shelly. I’m happy that things are finally starting to feel normal. I’m happy and grateful.”
“Me too. Are you sure you’re okay?” Queen touched her hair.
Delilah nodded. “Shower, and food is what I need. I’ll be one hundred percent.”
Queen kissed her cheek and left. Delilah groomed herself and took extra time to relax in her spa sized bathroom. When she left the bathroom she harnessed her confidence once more. On the floor was her cellphone. She picked it up to see the many missed calls she had since yesterday. Maverick had gone from one line texts to long paragraphs with heartfelt explanations. She didn’t bother to read any of it. She went to her dresser, located a safety pin, and stuck it in the side of the iPhone. She took out the SIM card and tossed it on the dresser.
There was a knock on the door.
“Sweetheart, can I come in?”
“Sure daddy,” Delilah said and sat on the bed to receive her visitor. “Come in.”
Her father entered and immediately she smiled to see him in his dungaree’s. He looked around the room half expecting to see evidence of destruction from her heartbreak. She was sure her mother had said something to him. Or maybe he heard her screaming in the night.
“Something you need?” she asked.
“I want to talk to you about Maverick,” her father said.
“Okay,” she said.
Her father let go a sigh of relief. He sat in the chair in the room and exhaled before he spoke. “I saw him before he left. He was conflicted. He wanted to call you. But he knew if he did he might not go do the work he needed to do.”
“What kind of work?” Delilah asked only half-interested. It was happening again the logic in her would squash out the last ambers of emotion. She was numb to news of Maverick. Why should she even bother with the conversation?
“Fixing himself. We talked about his police officer days. I think he has some things to resolve in New York. Here’s the thing sweetheart. I like the fella. I really do. But you two were moving really fast. He left to get his house in order and he should if he is gonna be in Noah’s life. And yours. Right?” Henry asked.
Delilah smiled. “It’s fine daddy. I understand. We all have our issues. Besides the world is really upside down right now. New York is off of lockdown. It makes sense that he has to go home. I’m fine with it.”
“That’s for sure,” her father nodded. “Is Shelly here?”
“Goodiva? Yep. She’s in the guest house. I’m going to go see her as soon as I finish getting dressed.”
“Delores tell me that she is pregnant. That true?” her father asked.
“Yep. She’s pregnant. She’s happy about the baby too,” Delilah said.
“Me too. Maverick called this morning. He said he tried calling you last night. Want me to tell him to call you again?”
“No. I’ll call him. I think you should let me speak with Maverick. Don’t take his calls daddy. Let me work it out. Okay?”
Her father paused, considered the request and then nodded. “Whatever you want sweetheart.” He walked over and kissed her on the brow. “Noah is running around calling for you. You coming down?”
“In a minute. Promise,” she mumbled.
“Okay,” her father said. He winked and left. Delilah let go a deep breath when the door closed. She picked up the house phone in her room and dialed.
“Hey, it’s me,” she said to her assistant. “A few things. I need a zoom meeting with my team on the agenda is the Montgomery trust. I want to make sure we set up food drive and I need to know how we’ve been taking care of our employees that were laid off. I already emailed you some of the cases I need you to look up, find me everything on he Saudi’s investments in the Cove. Start with Fikrit and work your way backward. Oh, and call Raphael Kournik. He’s a defense attorney who has dealt with federal cases like Goodiva’s. Yeah. You got it?”
Her assistant ran off the list of action items and checked Delilah’s calendar for meeting times. “Anything else?” her assistant asked.
“I lost my cellphone. Get me a new one sent immediately with a new unlisted phone number. Sick of the press finding my number and harassing me. Oh, and have you heard anything on the security team I want to hire?” Delilah asked.
“It’s been difficult, with COVID. But I have a company I’m securing,” her assistant replied.
“Good. Good job. I want you to put a team on my ranch. No one is to come here without explicit consent from me. I will send you the list of visitors that are acceptable.”
“Okay, I got it,” her assistant confirmed.
Delilah hung up the phone. She changed the sheets on her bed and fluffed pillows. When she looked down again she saw her mother had cleaned the room and recovered the ripped up pieces to Maverick’s note. She stacked them in a neat pile. Delilah picked up the trashcan and swiped them across the top into the trash. She had a busy day planned for her. There was plenty to do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
CLOSURE
Maverick knocked twice before he was brave enough to enter. Chief Robert Dailey sat behind his desk in full uniform minus the police cap. The Chief didn’t bother to look up. Maverick closed the door and waited in silence until the Chief acknowledged him.
“Took you long enough,” said the Chief. “Have a seat.” The Chief spoke without an upward glance. Before him was an empty chair to the front of the desk. They were alone. Maverick eyes scanned the decorated awards on the wall that acknowledged the precinct's accomplishments under his leadership. Awards received from the Mayor and Governor for his achievements as the once popular Lieutenant they’d brought in to clean up the force had risen to the top during the riots. In their profession, Lieutenants were responsible for ensuring that officers followed the rules. Dailey had been part of six precincts that Maverick could think of in his twenty-year career on the force, and his record was impeccable. Many felt that the police went unchecked; that wasn’t going to happen on Dailey’s watch. The last stop for Maverick had always been destined to be the chair he sat in today.