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THAT NIGHT CHESS DREAMT OF Derrick again. But this time he wasn’t screaming, he was just dead. She, Kendall, Frankie, and other faceless people were weeping over him when he suddenly sat up in his coffin. Screaming mourners scattered away from the resurrected corpse. Chess wanted to run away too, but she couldn’t move. It was as if someone had super-glued her feet to the floor.
Derrick’s head suddenly spun on his neck, like a corkscrew on a cork. White eyes with no pupils met her own, and he opened his mouth. An army of flies flew from his mouth, leaving her more horrified than she’d ever felt. Though his lips didn’t actually move, she heard his voice in her head.
“It was you.” Derrick’s terrifying voice echoed. “You killed me.”
It was enough to startle her out of her sleep. Panting, she sat up in the bed even as her eyes struggled to adjust to the room’s darkness.
Her vigorous awakening was enough to startle Tazeem out of his sleep too.
“Chess.” His gruff yet reassuring voice pierced through the darkness. Reaching for her, he asked, “You okay?”
“Mm,” she answered.
He turned on the lamp on his nightstand, plunging the room into amber light, then turned to her. “Nightmare?”
She nodded. “Mm.”
He lifted one arm. “Come here.”
She scooted closer then lay down with her head on his shoulder. Instantly, she felt the sense of being safe in his arms overwhelm the terror that had eclipsed her just moments before. She cuddled even closer to him so she could feel his warmth, hear his heartbeat, and sink into his scent.
Though Tazeem didn’t speak, the slow pat of his hand on her back gave more comfort than any words could. Soon, she found herself slipping into slumber again. This time there were no nightmares.
When she came to, it was six a.m., and Tazeem was shaking her awake so they could shower together.
The shower should’ve been a ten-minute affair at most, but between the kissing, touching, and moaning, it became a half-hour shower. Afterward, Chess felt refreshed and ready for whatever the day would bring.
“What time will you and the boys be done?” Chess asked as they were dressing up.
Tazeem thought about it. “I’m thinking five or six latest.”
Because of everything that was going on, they’d resolved to give the kids a day off from school. Chess had a few urgent issues that she needed to deal with at work so she couldn’t stay with them. Fortunately, Tazeem could afford to take a day off work. He’d suggested watching a movie with the boys in the morning, going out for lunch, then stopping by the park.
“Okay then, once Kendall is done with her chemo, we’ll just wait for you at her place.” She suggested, “When you’re done playing with the boys, you can drop Frankie off and pick me up at the same time.”
He came closer to press a swift kiss to her lips. “Sounds like a plan.”
After breakfast, Chess took a cab to the office.
Chess’s team was already shorthanded without Derrick, but Evie’s unexplained disappearance meant more work for Chess. Evie’s team members kept coming to Chess to help them sort out issues with their events. The day flew by so fast that she didn’t even realize that she’d missed her lunch break. She only became aware of the time when she saw Kendall calling.
“Hi, Kendall,” Chess greeted while shutting down her computer. “Are you here already?”
Kendall didn’t say anything, but there was some weird shuffling and whispering on the other end of the line.
Pausing in her actions, Chess prodded, “Kendall, are you there?”
“Y- ye – yes,” Kendall stammered weakly.
Instantly, Chess’s worry spiked and she shot to her feet. “Are you okay?”
“I- I am.” Kendall’s voice trembled as she said, “Um… Chess… sorry, I couldn’t come to your office. I felt a little unwell and… and… Could you come and pick me up?”
“Where are you?” Concern for her friend had Chess hurriedly picking up her purse and jacket then heading for the door. “At your house?”
“N- no.” Kendall paused a beat then stuttered, “I’m- I’m at a motel.”
A motel? What was Kendall doing at a motel? If it were any other time, Chess would’ve asked those questions but Kendall’s trembling, weak voice had her more concerned than curious. So all she asked was, “Which motel?”
