I keep petting Kota and try to avoid touching his injured foot, but he flinches when my hand gets too close to it. I still feel upset looking at it, but it makes me relieved knowing he will be okay.
I lower Kota from my chest and lay him down on my lap, with my one hand holding his little furry body, and my other hand caressing his head. I don’t want to keep him holed up in that taxi anymore.
"So, do you want directions?”, I asked Danisha. We’ve only been sitting in her car for a few moments, but it felt much longer. I keep glancing behind us with the car's mirror, warily staring at Marie's parked car.
“Sure, just put them in the GPS while the heat comes on.” She starts the car and puts the temperature dial up.
Danisha hands me her phone after putting her passcode in. I go to the FriendAddress app and put in Raena’s address: 124 Daisy Lane, Wicken-chester, PA.
I tap on the first route that takes 28 minutes by car. “Okay, we can go now,” I say. The car is heating up slowly, but surely. “Alright,” Danisha replies. She reverses and follows the GPS directions one at a time. First it says: “Go straight for two miles, then make a right on Clover Road.” She keeps driving down the mysterious and dense road.
There was a silence, which she broke with the basic question, “Leah, can you tell me about yourself?” I clear my throat. “Sure, yeah. . . I have-, had a girlfriend, Marie. I just turned twenty-four yesterday. Marie and I aren’t on good terms, and I ran away from her because she was really breaking me down emotionally.”
I let out a nervous laugh and refused to say anything more on that subject. “What about you?”
Danisha quickly glances at me and smiles, before turning her eyes back to her driving.
“Well, I already told you my age. But. . . I’m bi-sexual, and. . looking for someone to be with. As I’ve said earlier tonight, I used to work as a veterinarian, and I’m looking to head into nursing school. I’ve always had a passion for the human body.”
She chuckles and reaches over to slowly run her hand down my arm.
“Interesting,” I smile. “Can you tell me more about your background?”
“I’m mixed, half Jamaican, and half white. My dad’s side of the family is white, but my mom’s is black. So, I have my mom’s complexion and her eyes, but nothing really from my dad, except the hair. It’s naturally straight.”
“Oh. That’s really nice.”
I hear a noise and notice that Kota turned in his slumber. The car is really hot now, and I reach over and turn down the heat and also put down the window. “Sorry, I was really warming up,” I say.
The GPS voice suddenly speaks. “Turn right on Clover Road, then turn left on Ferris Avenue.” I hadn’t realized how long Danisha and I have been talking.
It feels like forever, but I enjoy it, actually. I feel cozy in her presence.
I check my phone and notice it’s almost 1 AM.
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There’s a message from Raena: “Where are you? Damn, you take forever. You were supposed to be here before midnight.”
I immediately reply back: “I’m on the way, should be there soon. Got caught up with my neighbor’s niece, she was fixing Kota’s leg. Sorry!”
Danisha clears her throat and turns the radio on to a R&B station and puts it at a low volume. “How about some music?” she asks. “Okay.” I say. “What club are you going to tonight? Maybe I might come along someday.”
“It’s way down the road a few ways, back near my house.”
“Have you always been there?”
“On and off, yeah. Tonight will be pretty enjoyable, I’m gonna need a lot of drinks to zone my Uncle out. But, he’s probably fine by now.”
“I would hope so. He worries me, I’m scared for him.” I frown. “Can I come back next week to your place? I would like to check on him.”
Danisha scoffs. “Well, I guess you can, but I’d rather you not waste your time on him. He looks for anyone to talk to, that’s what he does.” The way she says this is really bitter.
“Okay, let’s talk about something else then, shall we?”, I ask. Danisha suddenly goes silent for a few minutes, still driving. “Huh? Oh, alright, go ahead.” I focus on the music and notice it’s playing a romantic-like jazz tune.
In the tender moment, I forget where I am and drift off to sleep.
“Hey, we’re just about to reach Raena’s house. Wake up, Leah!”
I jump up, startled, and immediately feel wide awake. “Oh jeez, sorry. I’m awake now.”
She laughs. “It’s fine. We can talk another time, if you want. I’ll still be around for a few more days before I start the way back home to North Carolina.”
We stop in front of Raena’s house. It’s now 1:45. I go to check my phone notifications, and it’s dead. “Can I have your number?” I ask Danisha. “Yeah, I’ll give it to you once I help you get your stuff out of the backseat and such.”
We get out of the car and get my bins of clothes, backpack, and the pet taxi. Danisha carries the heavy bins and I notice her muscular arms. They make her really attractive. “Okay, let’s go.” she says.
We walk up Raena’s driveway and stop in front of the door. The lights are on inside, and the curtain shades are lifted a bit, and I see a silhouette of someone sitting on the couch. “Here we are.” I smile. “Thanks for bringing me.”
We put my stuff down, and I suddenly hear Kota’s little meows. I thought he was still sleeping! He worries me, that little furball. Poor thing.
“Let me give you my number now.” Danisha smiles and giggles. She takes out her phone. “But wait, what’s yours?” I proceed to tell her mine. “Message sent.”
I nod and smile. “Oh, I just noticed my phone is dead, so I won’t see your text until later. “ She waves her hand. “It’s no problem, Leah.”
We hug and she gets in her car and drives away. I knock on the door. I hear the person get up and open the door to let me in. “Leah! You’re here, that’s great. Come in! And let me help you with these, I’m sorry.”
I walk into her house. Raena carries my belongings inside and puts them in her room. She leaves Kota in the living room. I walk up to his cage and open it, gently taking him out and wrapping him up in a random blanket on the couch.
He shivers and whimpers. Leah comes back downstairs and we hug gently and pull away. “What’s up, how are you?” I ask. “I’m alright, and yourself?” Raena smiles at me. “I’m good. Do you have any cat food or something? Kota hasn’t eaten today, not that much. And he’s freezing.”
“Oh yeah, I have, like, mostly everything here.” She laughs and we go to the kitchen, where she takes a small can of food from the bottom cabinet. “Thank you”, I say, petting Kota.
He slowly starts to purr and I feel him get warm. Raena opens the can and puts it on a small white plate next to the wall. I set Kota down and he slowly walks up to the food to eat. “I’m going to turn the TV down and fluff the pillows.” Raena tells me.
I look at her quickly before turning back to look around. I notice the kitchen is small and basic. Brown laminate wood floor, with white countertop and cabinets. Pictures of her and some guy on the round table. “Let’s sit down.”
We go to the living room and sit on the couch next to each other. “How long has it been? And since when were you a blonde? Is everything going well now? Tell me the details.”
She turns her body towards me and I realize how much older she’s gotten, though she’s only almost 34. I tell her everything that’s happened over the last few days, and then I begin to cry.
Raena hugs me. “I’m sorry,” she says, “you don’t deserve that mistreatment.” I sniffle. “What am I supposed to do? Marie knows where I go and always stalks me on the phone. I want to just leave her! She makes me so mad, and even worse, she’s the one who hurt Kota!”
She shushes and keeps holding me. “Keep it down, hun. My husband is sleeping.” I cry silently and develop a headache. I pull away and put my head back on the firm couch.
I hear small footsteps and put my head up to see Kota limply trying to walk to me. Raena gently picked him up and put him on my lap. “Here, I’ll give you and your lovely pet here some alone time. Let me know when you feel better, okay? Do you want some tea?” I nod and sniff.
“What kind?” she asks.
“Chamomile is fine, thanks. Can you charge my phone, please?” I ask, handing it to her.
“Sure thing.” She plugs my phone into the charger behind the other side of the couch. I pet Kota, who paws at my belly and purrs, and I proceed to fall asleep again.