David Handler - The Blood Red Indian Summer

“The two of us came north and moved into his place last February, I think it was. There was still snow on the ground. Within a few weeks I was pregnant. We got married in July. Tyrone really wanted our popsy to be there to give me away. I told him Popsy hadn’t been a part of our lives for a long, long time-because he was either in jail or because Moms wouldn’t have anything to do with him. Popsy’s no angel. Not that he’s a mean or bad person. He tries to do the right thing. He’s just weak. Lacks will power, you know? Tyrone hired someone down in Houston who found him living in a homeless shelter. Tyrone flew him to New York for the wedding and he’s been with us ever since. It’s worked out real good for him. He and Chantal fight like crazy, but that’s family, right?”

Des looked at Kinitra and said, “So Tyrone has been pretty nice to you?”

“He’s been real nice. Wants to produce me and everything.”

“How about Rondell? Has he been nice to you?”

“I guess.”

“Do you have feelings for Rondell?”

“Get out! He’s a total Urkel.”

“How about Clarence?”

“Cee’s a pest but he’s harmless.” Jamella glanced at her kid sister. “Right?”

Kinitra nodded. “And kind of lame. He keeps saying he’s a sound engineer but I know more about the studio than he does.”

“After the commissioner suspended Tyrone,” Jamella went on, “we decided it would be a good idea to get away from his teammates and all of their friends. A lot of them are no-good punks from the neighborhood, if you ask me. So we ended up in Dorset.”

“Which brings us to last night,” Des said to Kinitra.

“I already told you,” she responded crossly. “I’ve got nothing to say.”

“Did you go to Clarence’s party?”

“Hell, no!” Jamella answered. “I don’t let her near those sort of people.”

Des looked at Jamella and said, “Please let her answer for herself, okay?”

“Fine. Whatever, you say.”

“I was working at my piano on some things,” Kinitra allowed grudgingly. “Until Clarence got in that fight and all hell broke loose. Things settled down after a while but I felt, I don’t know, kind of wired. So I had myself some wine.”

“You had some what?” Jamella demanded.

“Wine,” she repeated hotly. “Do you have a problem or something?”

“ I do,” Des said. “Dr. Cindie just told us that there was no trace of alcohol in your system.”

“I can’t help what her test said. It’s wrong. I also smoked some reefer.”

“Okay, now I know you’re lying,” Jamella said angrily. “You’ve never been near weed in your life. Who are you protecting?”

“Nobody!”

“This is bull. I am not going to listen to this.”

“Where did you get the reefer?” Des asked her.

“Found it in an ashtray out on the patio.”

“What were you doing out there?” Jamella wanted to know.

“I went outside for a few minutes, okay?”

“Who with?”

“Nobody!”

“Don’t you lie to me! Did that no good Cee get you high?”

“No!”

“So you got high by yourself?” Des asked her.

“That’s right. I got high by myself. A-And it was real warm out so I decided to take a swim.”

Des nodded. “Makes sense. You didn’t bother with a bathing suit?”

“What for? It was late. No one else was around. Plus I was high, like I said. That’s how I scraped my knees. I tripped on some rocks on my way down there. The water felt great. But I was so high that I swam out too far, I guess, because I got caught in the current. I swam and I swam but I couldn’t get back to shore. I was lucky I found my way to that island.”

“Yes, you were.”

“Girl, were you trying to kill yourself out there?”

“Don’t be silly.”

“Look at me,” Jamella ordered her. “ Were you?”

“No, I was not trying to kill myself.”

“You mentioned those scrapes on your knees,” Des said. “How about the bruises around your wrists and throat? How did you get those?”

“I figured from when they did the CPR on me or whatever.”

“The folks who found you told me that the bruises were there before they called 911.”

“They’re wrong.”

“They also told me you came to for a second and cried out, ‘Please don’t make me go back there!’”

Kinitra lowered her eyes, swallowing. “I really don’t remember that. I must have been delirious.”

“Okay, I’ve heard enough of your bull,” Jamella blustered at her. “Tell us who attacked you right goddamned now. Was it the same dog who got you pregnant or was it someone else?”

Kinitra reached for the Styrofoam cup of tea on the bedside table and took a sip. She wouldn’t say.

Des said, “You told Dr. Cindie that you took a home pregnancy test.”

She nodded. “A few weeks ago.”

“And you don’t tell me?” Jamella cried out.

“How could I? I knew you’d freak. Just like you are right now.”

“Because I’m your sister and I love you! What is this, are you trying to punish me or something?”

“Why is this about you? Why does everything have to be about you?”

“Ladies, let’s try to lower our voices, okay?”

“You tell her to stop lying to me, and I’ll lower my damned voice!”

“Kinitra, are you planning to have this child?”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Jamella put in.

“Which you don’t!”

“Girl, what about your musical career?”

Kinitra shrugged. “Stuff happens.”

“But you have a gift. You have dreams.”

“Those are your dreams, not mine.”

“They’re what?”

“Does the baby’s father know that you’re pregnant?” Des asked.

“No.”

“Is he the same man who attacked you last night?”

“I wasn’t attacked. How many times do I have to tell you?”

Jamella said, “Your doctor told me they can give you a paternity test. I want you to have that.”

Kinitra stuck out her chin. “No way. And you can’t make me. This is my thing.”

“Is it true that you’re presently in a consensual relationship?” Des asked her.

“That’s right. But don’t ask me his name because I’m not going to tell you.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because it’s personal.”

“She’s lying again,” Jamella said. “She hasn’t had a boyfriend since she was thirteen.”

Kinitra let out a harsh laugh. “Like you’d know.”

Des said, “Dr. Cindie found signs of forcible vaginal and anal penetration when she examined you. You have all kinds of scarring down there. Care to talk about it?”

“That’s just how we roll.”

“So you like it rough?”

Kinitra smirked at her. “The rougher the better.”

“More lies,” Jamella said, fuming. “Girl, who are you trying to protect?”

Kinitra sighed wearily. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. What’s the point? You don’t believe me anyway.”

“Okay, if that’s how you want it,” Des said. Clearly, the girl wasn’t going to give up anything else. Not with her sister present.

“Can I take her home now?” Jamella asked.

“I’m afraid not. She’s being transferred to Middlesex Hospital for overnight observation.”

“What for? She’s fine. Aren’t you, baby?”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind,” Kinitra said offhandedly.

Which totally flabbergasted Jamella. “Wait, you’re good with that?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, if the doctor thinks I should.”

She stared at her kid sister long and hard. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”

Des led her back out into the E.R., closing the door behind them.

“I swear, I don’t even know who that person is.” Jamella’s voice sounded hollow. She was badly shaken. “It’s like she’s turned into somebody else. Lord, what happened to her?”