Chapter 6

Three days later . . .

Regina was talking to Scott about his progress. The pool would be five feet at its deepest. The digger was coming tomorrow to break ground on it. Once the cement was poured, Scott could start working on the hut and patio.

His men were returning from break. They grabbed their tools so they could continue to break up her old patio slab.

Regina looked over at the men. “Hey, I thought you only had three guys working for you,” she said as she eyed the fourth man she had never seen before. He was wearing blue jeans and an orange T-shirt.

Scott followed her gaze. His eyes narrowed at the unidentified man. “Hey!” he yelled.

The unknown man started walking over to them. He pulled an envelope out of his back pocket.

“Who the hell are you?” Scott asked with furrowed brows.

“Regina Jackson?’ the man asked her.

“Yeah.”

He handed her the envelope.

“What’s this?” she asked as she slowly took it from him.

“You’ve just been served,” he said and quickly walked away. He was headed for the side of her house.

“Served,” she said as she opened the envelope. She unfolded the papers and saw “Petition for Legal Separation.” She glanced over the document with her mouth open. It was from her and Sidney’s attorney. In gist, Sidney had filed for a legal separation, which was the first step to filing for divorce. A note included with the papers stated that their attorney had decided to represent Sidney; she needed to find a lawyer to represent her.

Regina’s heart pounded in her chest. She felt like she was going to have a heart attack. Disbelief consumed her. Sidney had filed paperwork with the court to divorce her.

“Regina,” Scott said in a low tone. “What is it?”

“I . . . I . . . I have to go. Lock up before you leave,” she said frantically and quickly ran to the patio doors of the house.

****

            Regina had grabbed her purse and run out of the house. She had driven to a bar in downtown Orlando. She didn’t know how long she had been there, but what she did know was she was on her seventh glass of wine, and it was getting dark outside.

            Slowly, she raised her hand and waved, motioning for the bartender to bring her another drink.

            The short, chubby man waddled over to her. He was in his forties and had thin, reddish-brown hair. “Honey, don’t you want something to eat?”

            “Nope. Just another glass of wine, please,” she slurred.

            “Are you driving?”

            “I can call a cab . . . oh, no, wait. Uber is the thing now, right? I’ll call Uber when I’m ready to go.”

            “All right. Your car will be fine here,” he said and grabbed a fresh wine glass.

            Fifteen minutes later, Regina was going to order another drink when a black man with a gold chain and one gold tooth in his mouth sat down. “Hey, baby, how you doin’?”

            She turned her head and started looking for the bartender. She hoped the man would take the hint that she didn’t want to be bothered right now.

            “What’s your name?” he asked.

            She raised her hand up to get the bartender’s attention.

            “Hey, I’m talking to you.”

            She rolled her eyes and kept waving her hand.

            “Look, you want a drink? I’ll buy you one.”

            She turned to look at him. “I can buy my own, thank you. I just want to be left alone, okay?”

            “Why?”

            “I came in here for a drink. I just want to be left alone.”

            “Hey, I’m a good man.”

            “I don’t care, okay? Now please, just—”

            “Ms. Parker, we’ve been looking for you,” a man said.

            Regina and the annoying man turned to look at the man who had approached them. It was Scott Jenkins. He was wearing a white dress shirt with two buttons undone at the top and beige slacks. “You missed your last appointment, Ms. Parker. You know what happens when you don’t come in weekly. Look at you now.”

            Regina and the man stared at Scott like he was nuts.

            He looked over at the man with the gold tooth. “I’m Dr. Scott Jenkins. Are you Richard Parker, her brother?”

            “Nah,” the man answered quickly. “I just met her.”

            Regina started to see what Scott was doing through her drunken haze. He was getting rid of the guy for her. Good. She turned around on the bar stool and waved the bartender over.

            “Oh, I see,” Scott said. “You have to excuse my patient. She probably doesn’t know what she is doing. When was the last time you’ve taken your medication, Ms. Parker?”

            “You want another glass of wine?” the bartender asked.

            “Yes,” she replied.

            He nodded and left them to get her a refill.

            “I just ordered another dose,” she slurred over her shoulder.

            Scott grunted.

            “Wait a minute? Is she crazy or something?” the man asked with raised eyebrows.

            “The correct term is . . . schizophrenia,” Scott whispered.

            “Shit,” the man sneered as he hopped up. “Thanks, doc.” The man quickly walked away and headed for the front door.

            Scott chuckled as he took the seat the man just vacated.

            The bartender sat a fresh glass of white wine in front of Regina. “You want something, buddy?”

            “No, I left my drink over there,” Scott nodded to the right.

            Regina glanced over to where Scott had leaned his head. A pretty blonde was watching them.

            The bartender walked away.

            “Are you on a date?” Regina asked.

            “No. I’m here with a friend. We came through the alley entrance. When the waitress brought us our drinks, I saw you here. And I saw that man trying to hit on you. Your body language was screaming for him to leave you alone. I noticed he wasn’t taking the hint, so I thought I would help you out.”

            “Thank you,” she slurred. “I appreciate it, but you better get back to your friend.” Regina could see the blonde had eyes for Scott. She probably agreed to go out as friends in hopes that something more happened. Regina wasn’t going to get in the woman’s way. The last thing she wanted right now was a man.

            “All right, but I’m going to keep an eye on you,” he said with a soft smile. He stood and walked back to his companion.

            Regina didn’t think of Scott or the pest with the gold tooth anymore. All she could think about was her pending divorce. It was just too unreal. Sidney had actually started the process. Thirteen years of her life down the drain in a matter of weeks. She shook her head and took a sip of her wine. She was thirty-six years old. Granted, she wasn’t a fossil, but she wasn’t in her twenties anymore. What was she going to do with her time? Her salons practically ran themselves now. She had no children. The property managers handled her rental properties. Being married, she had someone to cook for and vacation with; someone to talk to and watch movies and TV with. She shook her head again and took a healthy swallow of wine. Now, she had to face the fact that she had to grow old — alone.

She had two more drinks and settled her bar tab. When she hopped off the bar stool, she felt her body getting closer to the floor. Then a pair of arms caught her and stood her up. Lifting her gaze, she found Scott. He had kept her from falling.

“It’s a good thing I was coming over here to say goodbye,” he said with a crooked smile.

“Is she all right?” the blonde who was standing behind him asked with concern.

“Yeah,” Regina slurred. “I’m heading home.”

“You can’t drive, Regina,” Scott stated seriously.

“Oh, I know. I’m going to call Uber.”

“Why don’t you let me drive you home?” he asked.

“Oh no, I can’t inconvenience you like that,” Regina said and looked at the blonde. “You’re . . . out on the town.” She didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t want to call the girl a date when she knew Scott didn’t see it that way.

“I don’t mind,” the blonde said with a small smile. “It’s better than us worrying about you getting home.”

“Well, if it really isn’t out of your way . . .”

“It’s not,” he said. “Come on.”

Ten minutes later, Regina was sitting in Scott’s pick-up truck next to the blonde, whose name was Kat. During the ride, Kat chatted about her son, Hank. Apparently, Scott and Kat were neighbors, and their sons played together all the time. The boys were the same age, but they went to two different schools. Regina didn’t understand that. Perhaps Kat had explained it, but Regina couldn’t be sure because she was too busy trying not to pass out from the booze.

Regina was thankful when they arrived at her house.

Scott pulled into the driveway. “Do you need help getting inside?”

“Nope,” she answered as she opened the pick-up door. She carefully got out.

“Are you sure?” Kat asked.

“Yeah. You two enjoy . . . the rest of your evening,” Regina said as she stifled a hiccup. She closed the truck door and hobbled toward the house.

Scott didn’t pull out until she was inside.