Suzetta Perkins - Déjà Vu

Margo batted her eyes and sat back down. Malik may have won round one, but she and Jesus were going to win round two.

Malik fixed the plates and brought one to Margo. No words were exchanged as they ate their food. Soon, the only noise came from a Target commercial that was playing on TV.

“Enough of this,” Malik exclaimed, putting his plate on the coffee table.

Margo’s startled face turned in Malik’s direction as she wondered what would come next. Her chest heaved in and out as she watched Malik get up and come toward her. Before Ivy’s call, she and Malik were fine. It was as if Ivy had pulled the mask from her face and exposed her to the world. And her heart was admitting what her mind had blocked out-that she might be…could be a little infatuated with this man.

Malik sat next to Margo and put his arm around her. Margo moved to the far end of the couch. “What are you doing?” Margo asked.

“Surely you had to know that I have feelings for you. Why do you think I come around all the time?”

“Malik, you have always come around. I thought you were looking out for your best friend’s wife.”

“I was, but then I began to look out for myself. There were many days, Margo, when I’d get close to you and smell your hair, and I would literally have to run home and take a cold shower.”

“The best thing you could have done.”

“But I have fallen in love with you.”

“I’m a married woman.”

“Whose husband committed adulterous acts with your next-door neighbor and your ‘so-called’ best friend.”

“And so, are you willing to commit adultery?”

“My wife is dead.”

“But my husband is not. And for your information, Angelica told me she did not have a relationship with Jefferson.”

“That’s her story. Do you know that she tried to seduce me at my shop? Margo, she unbuttoned her jacket and exposed-”

“Too much information. She’s always had a crush on you.”

“What do you really know about her? Her jailhouse cot was barely a week cold before she was up to her old tricks again.”

“Where is Angelica? I’ve called her number several times the last couple of days and didn’t get her. Has she shown up for work?”

“I fired her.”

“Fired her? She was volunteering her services.”

“It didn’t work out, and I haven’t seen her since. You know what happened the last time she went missing.”

“She wasn’t missing. She was out of town.”

“Yeah, lying in the lap of some criminal while helping to serve death warrants on Hamilton and Jefferson.”

“I’m tired, Malik. I don’t want to talk about Angelica, Jefferson, or Hamilton. I don’t want to talk about us.”

“If you want me to leave, I will. I’ve resisted the urge to be with you for a long time because I respect the sanctity of marriage. I understand what it means to not covet another man’s wife. I understand what it means to not commit adultery, but I want you in the worst way.

“I can’t explain what you do to me when I’m around you. You are a beautiful and smart woman, Margo. You are a successful realtor. You have a beautiful home. There are so many qualities about you that mirror my beliefs. Yes, I know it is wrong, but I don’t want to be right.”

“Did you ever love Toni? You seemed to be very happy.”

“Yes, I loved Toni very much. She was special to me, and she made me complete. We were very happy together. And, since I’m telling the truth, there were days when you were going through stuff with Jefferson before the trial and right afterwards that’s if you had let me in, I would have dropped everything for you.”

Margo covered her face with her hands. She had been so consumed with everything that was going on with Jefferson that she had no inkling Malik felt this way about her.

“Maybe it’s time for you to go home, Malik. I think we both need some space to sort things out.”

“What is there to sort out, Margo? I’m laying it all on the line. I’m in love with you.”

“Please don’t say that. You’ll ruin our friendship.”

“But I do, Margo. If you want me to go, I’ll leave, but I can’t help the way I feel.”

Margo’s eyes were tight, but she offered a little smile.

“I love you too Malik, but as a brother. We can’t have a relationship because I’m married to your best friend.”

Tears formed in the corners of Malik’s eyes. Before he knew it, he was catching them with the back of his hand. This surprised Margo. She went to him and hugged him tightly.

“I’ll always be your friend, Malik, but I love Jefferson. It is until death we do part.”

“Okay, Margo.” Malik sniffed. “I have to respect you because you have always been that special kind of lady. That’s what I have always liked…loved about you. I’m going to miss seeing you often.”

“It might be advisable to change your church membership.”

“Ouch. You’re serious.” Malik waited for Margo to say something, but she didn’t. “Well, I guess I’ll be going, but it will never stop the way I feel about you.”

Margo stood at the door and watched Malik get into his car and drive off. Her heart was heavy because she did not want Malik to leave. If she was going to remain committed to her vows to God and Jefferson, Margo could not entertain Malik in her home or be with him on fun occasions. Although Margo had asked the Lord to keep her from harm and danger, her flesh was weak. And while just about any man would do for her because it had been five years since she felt a man’s touch on certain parts of her body, Malik was the one she had fantasized about in her dreams.

The mobile phone was inches from where she stood, and Margo attempted to reach Angelica for the fifth time.

Sleep eluded Angelica. She lay awake, wondering what her day would be like. Soft fingers combed through her hair as she envisioned changing into expensive garments by top designers in the fashion world. She hoped that one day her name would become a household word that would command millions of dollars for her services. Angelica saw herself stroll-ing the catwalks of New York, Paris, and Milan-the buyers not only checking out the latest fashions but also admiring her beauty. And later, there would be television ads promoting her new line of clothing.

Donna was up early, chatting on the phone. It was four-thirty a.m., and Angelica decided to get on up. She walked into the living room where she found an assortment of cameras strewn throughout it.

Donna had certainly carved her way into the industry. The weekend had been fascinating, to say the least. Hobnobbing with Donna’s rich friends and rolling up on Diddy and his crew at a lower Manhattan nightclub was the crème de la crème for Angelica’s first few days in the big city. Fayetteville was now a distant reminder of the past, although Angelica knew she needed to call Margo, who had left several messages, to let her know she was all right.

“Anxious to get started, I see.”

Angelica jumped. In the shadows stood Donna, who had walked quietly into the room and disturbed Angelica’s thoughts.

“Yes, so excited I can’t sleep.”

“Well, Angelica, this may make or break your career-that’s if you desire one in modeling.”

“Donna, if I haven’t said it already, I’m grateful for this opportunity. I won’t disappoint.”

“Oh well then, be ready at six. We have an early morning shoot at eight. Hope to be done by noon for the first set. Dress casual.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Ari brought Donna’s car to the front of the building, and she and Angelica jumped into it. The city was abuzz, and Angelica marveled at all the people who were already up and about so early in the morning. A bagel hung out of Donna’s mouth as she maneuvered into traffic.