I'm halfway to my apartment complex when my phone starts ringing, and I'm surprised to see Xia's name flashing across the screen. I quickly press the button on my steering wheel to answer.
"Zee?" I say, pulling to a stop at a traffic light.
"Hey, are you busy right now?" Her voice sounds quieter than usual, almost as if she's whispering.
"No, just leaving school, what's up?" The light turns green and traffic to my left starts to move forward but I decide to make a sudden right into a convenience store parking lot instead.
"Umm…" she stammers. "I'm about to take my calculus exam. I'm actually standing in the hall outside the classroom but I got a weird text from my mother over two hours ago. Now she's not answering her phone or texting me back."
"Really? Well, what did the text say?"
"It says, 'She can't be here.'"
My brows furrow. "Who can't be here?" I ask.
“I don't know. I'm going over there when I finish my exam… but I'm so worried. She's been really down over the last few days. Can you please check on her for me?" I can hear the panic in her voice and it causes my heart rate to pick up.
"Of course." I had barely settled my car in the parking lot before whipping it back around toward the street. "I'll go now."
She exhales, the air causing a staticky sound to echo over my car speakers. "Thank you. I just couldn't focus on this test knowing she may need help."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
I make it to the house about ten minutes later. Xia's mother’s blue Audi is parked in the driveway in its usual spot. At least I know she's still home. My car rolls to a stop and I quickly hop out and make my way to the door.
I'm about to knock, but as I approach it hits me that I may need to prepare myself for what I'm walking into. What if she's pissed Zee sent me? Or worse, what if she doesn't answer? I sure as hell won't be bothering Zee about it, not while she is taking her exam. She just seemed so worried though. I pause, staring at the large floral wreath that's hanging on the door before I ring the bell. Hopefully she answers and this ends up being nothing.
A few seconds go by before I hear shuffling on the other side of the door. I brace myself, trying to decide if I'm going to mention the text or just pretend I'm stopping by when the shuffling goes silent. I didn't hear her walk away so she has to be standing there. Maybe she's fixing herself up? A few more seconds go by and I decide to knock again.
"Hey Della, it's Jordan. You in there?" I listen again for sounds of movement but I don't have to wait long. The metal lock clicks, then moments later the door opens. She’s wearing a long blue nightgown with a thin white robe wrapped tightly around her body, her thick black hair is uncombed, sticking out in multiple directions. She looks unkempt, a sight I never expected to see.
At first she opens the door only partially until she sees it’s me. She looks calm and holds an even smile but I can see the sadness lingering in the corner of her eyes.
"Hey, sweetheart," she says pulling me into a hug. "I thought I recognized that car." Taking a few steps backward, she waves a hand in front of her, gesturing for me to come inside.
"Oh yeah?" I want to ask if she thought it was me then why'd she take so long at the door but I decide against it. "Just stopped by to see my dad and figured I'd check on you too." I step inside just enough for her to shut the door behind me.
“That was nice,” she says, her body language stiff and uninviting as she folds her arms across her chest. It’s odd because everything about her tone is upbeat and, well, happy. But she seems guarded. I guess that makes sense though, her husband just dragged her heart through mud. But the forced smile she has plastered on her face along with the fact that she will barely maintain eye contact is getting sort of creepy. “Come on in, have a seat.”
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want to bother you, but I’m headed to the store to pick up a few things for dad,” I lie. “Since I’m coming back this way I can grab some things for you too.”
“Nonsense,” she says. “I can get my own groceries but thank you.” Before she finishes her statement she turns her back to me and disappears into the living room. For a second I stand there, not exactly sure what to do. I did say I was about to leave but it would be odd to just walk out the door and not say goodbye.
“Umm. Okay,” I holler, my feet still glued to the floor. I consider leaving again, not because I don’t care for Della but it’s starting to feel like she doesn’t need visitors right now. She’s just being polite and it’s clear her head is all over the place. I’ve never seen anyone walk away in mid conversation the way she just did.
Cautiously, I step further into the quiet house and head in the direction of the living room. “Well, Della I’m going to head out. If you need anything just let me…” The words die on my tongue when I see the state of her living room. It’s not trashed or smelly, but every inch of the floor is covered in photos beside the small walking path she left herself which leads outside the room.
“Come over here, I’ll show you some pictures of my daughter.” She’s sitting in the middle of the photos with her legs folded and my heart sinks as I watch her smile, looking at them all. Beside the small group of baby pictures she’s sitting closest to, all the other photos are of her and Ben. Young, newly married and happy. This isn’t the woman I know. Not only would she never be caught dead in her pajamas in the middle of the day but she’d never let her house become so undone. She’s broken—he broke her—and the longer I watch her sit in her pool of memories the more I start to boil.
Ben’s selfishness completely decimated the two women I care most about in the world and I’ve been trying to stay out of it but after seeing her like this… I just can’t. Carefully, I step toward Della taking care not to disturb any of the photos.
“Listen,” I say, being forward and kissing her forehead. “Xia will be here soon. I’m going to go now. I have a few things to do but I’ll stop by again soon.” It takes her a few moments to look up at me but when she does fresh tears pool in her eyes. Without a word she stands and walks me to the door.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” I say, giving her another hug. “But I’ll stop by again in a few days to check on you.”
“Thank you,” she says before shutting the door.
Twenty minutes later I find myself back at the school and storming down the hall toward Ben’s office. I know this isn’t the time or the place but I can’t seem to think straight right now. I just keep seeing Della, hearing Xia’s cries, and knowing it was him that hurt them. The hall is pretty empty and I pray he hasn’t left yet. Relief washes over me when I see his door is cracked.
"Ben, what the hell man?" I push into his office slamming the door behind me. He’s sitting at his desk looking down at his computer but is clearly startled when I walk in.
"Excuse me, son?" His eyes narrow. “You need to lower your voice.”
"How could you do this to them? Xia is wrecked, your wife is losing it, did you plan to fuck to your whole life with this girl or were you just thinking with your dick?"