The Empress
Sitting at the table in the coffee shop. I was starting to lose my nerve. I was kind of hoping maybe she didn't show up. What was I doing agreeing to this? My overthinking went into straight hyperdrive. It was also day 3 and I hadn't heard from Drew.
Why hadn't he called? Text? Why hadn't I called him? All these thoughts rambling through my head I didn't even see very much pregnant Angela waddle up to the table.
"Zoe? Hey!" She slides into the seat in front of me. Even pregnant Angela is still beautiful. Anytime you see Angela she is dressed to the nines and labeled out also. Not today though she had her long jet black hair pulled up in a slick bun her red velour tracksuit went well with her milk chocolate complexion. Her gold hoops in the sunlight beaming through the window. She had to be at least 5-6 months but she seemed to be carrying it very well. she dramatically crossed her legs so I could notice her designer heels. She plopped her matching Gucci bag on the table. "I'm just ready to burst Zoe!"
"I can see that," I say. I really don't know what to say to her. How do you have a pleasant conversation with the woman that ruined your life? About a baby that she is having with the man you were supposed to marry? We haven't spoken since I found out what was going on. Now I have to play nice.
Trying to avoid awkward silence I speak."Boy or Girl?" "Well... Angela smiles. "I told Stephen that we would wait until birth but I had the Dr. tell me." "We are having a boy!" She rubs her stomach . Little Stephen Jr!
"Oh that's awesome!" I know that came out dry as fuck. I don't even care. I can't do this!
As I am about to excuse myself Angela reaches for my hand "Zoe please. Sit." "I know this is hard, it's hard for me too." "Hard to be a hoe huh?" Oh I hope I didn't say that out loud as I sit back down. "Well I see someone is still bitter." I definitely said it out loud.
"Bitter! Angela we knew each other! You knew Stephen had a girlfriend. Fiancé!" "Why would you do that to me? Fuck being my friend associates being acquainted or whatever Woman to Woman why?!?" Angela pauses before she speaks "If I was able to take Stephen away from you was he really yours in the first place?"
I began to wonder how much time I would get for fighting a pregnant woman. Before I knew it my hand was going across her very well made up face. It was the slap heard around the coffee shop. I stood motionless. I saw Mike from behind the counter. He had kind of witnessed my relationship from the sidelines. Some of it actually playing out here in the coffee shop. One of his employees asks should she call the police. Mike crosses his arms across his chest then scratches his graying head and says "No. They are going to work this out. Let them be." He turned to take someone's order and just like that the shop was back buzzing and people looked away and went about their activities.
Angela grabs her face in shock "Zoe! You really know how to take advantage of a situation." "Angela pregnant or not if you let me get close enough to slap you could you really even fight in the first place?" I sit back down and stare at her intently. "Zoe this is ridiculous !" "And so is that comment you just made!" "First of all you did interfere in my relationship. You saw an opportunity and you went for it." "I have always had to deal with women coming for him. He always respected our relationship. We were under a lot of stress and you saw a way in and you took it. You were just doing what hoes do."
"Good Game." "My real issue is with Stephen. I was in a relationship with him, not you." "Zoe Miller I am not a hoe." "Angela did you know Stephen was in a relationship when you started to pursue him?" "Yes" "Was Stephen still in fact in a relationship when you started sleeping together?" "Yes." Just then Meeks slides into the booth next to me. "Sounds like you're a hoe to me boo." We both stare at Meeks in shock. I give Meka this look like how did you find us? Meeks answering my question "Oh, find My iPhone. I dropped my phone in your purse on silent before you left." If Meeks wasn't a nurse I swear she was some sort of agent for CIA or FBI she can find out anything!
"Zoe I didn't come to fight!" "Well that's too bad" Meeks fires back. "Meka!" I say. "Angela what the hell did you call me here for?" "We been going round and round almost an hour I have to get to work and"... before I could finish Angela starts to cry. "Stephen is still in love with you! I know he is. He tells me that he loves me and the baby but I don't feel it. To be honest I never did. When we used to go out as a group I used to look at the both of you and want what you had! I was so jealous. You guys looked so happy together and he really is a good catch." Meeks starts in under her breath…" this gold digging ass".."Meeks let her finish!" I hand Angela a tissue from my purse. "Thank you." Wiping tears and a few lashes away she continues …"When I got wind of you guys having issues I took my chance. I knew it was wrong and I told myself all these things like oh if he left you for me it wasn't real. But then I saw that he was pulling away so I got pregnant because I know in his heart of hearts he's a stand up guy and wouldn't leave because of the baby." Just then I got of text from Meeks:
403. I rotate my phone HOE.
I roll my eyes at Meeks and turn back to Angela. "We got in a fight and I told him the baby wasn't his." I debated telling her that I talked to Stephen. I decided to keep that to myself. "I haven't been with anyone else I was just mad. I figured maybe he reached out you and I was wondering if you could talk to him. See where his head is at? He is not sleeping coming home and being distant. I'm ok with us not being together if that's what he wants. That's what I get I was wrong. But I'm really worried about him."
Shaking my head "I don't think I can Angela." "Zoe please! I know he will listen to you." I look at the clock. "Angela I have to go. Let me think about this." I motion for Meeks to let me out and we get to leave. "Zoe," Angela calls me back to the table. "For what it's worth I truly am sorry." Sorry. I think about my wedding dress hanging in my closet. Sorry indeed.
Once we had a break at work I told Meeks about what happened with Angela and my phone conversation with Stephen.
"Zoe I'm kinda mad at you. Why have you been keeping all this from me?" "Meka I don't know trying to be an adult and deal with it all myself." Just then Sharon says that someone can go home on low census. It's Meka's turn but she decided to let me go because I need to sort some stuff out.
You don't have to tell me twice. As I'm walking through the parking garage I start to think about Andrew where he was? Did he make it back? Why hasn't he called? Why hadn't I? Having one of my Zoe zone outs I didn't even see the car pulling out in front of me. "Need a ride?" It was Stephen. "Nope I'm fine." I turn to walk down the aisle of my car. Stephen leaves his car in park and hops out and walks after me . "Stephen what are you even doing here?" "You won't talk to me or answer my text so I thought I would catch you at work." "But normally I don't get off until 7am?" "I know I was going to sleep in the car until then." "Stephen, go home." "I am home. I love you Zoe. I know I fucked up but I can fix it we can fix it."
"Fix it? Have you lost your mind?" I am so frustrated right now I could scream. "Stephen
You need to go home! It's over between us. I can't do this. No matter what happens between you and Angela we can't be together. You broke my heart." I say fighting back tears. "Zoe I'm so sorry....I don't love her. I'll help her take care of the baby but I don't love her. Let me come home." Stephen dropped to his knees in front of me and buried his face in his hands. Just then hospital security is driving by doing rounds. Oh great I think. Now the whole hospital is gonna know my sad love story."Stephen get up!" Randy, the senior security officer pulls up beside us. "Ms. Zoe? You good?" "Yes officer Randy I'm fine." Randy stares at me then back at Stephen. "You ok young man?" 'Yes sir I'm fine. I'm going home now." Stephen says, trying to pull himself together. "Alright let me know if you need any help getting there." Officer Randy is ready to retire but he does play with anybody. Stephen turns to walk to his car. Randy stays to make sure he gets in his car and pulls off. I tell Randy I'm fine and turn to walk toward my car. Before pulling off Officer Randy reminds me that I can have a security escort when I get off if I need it. I thank him and walk toward my car. I begin to think about what Angela said. This was totally out of Stephen's character. As I sit down I get a text from Stephen:
I'm not letting you go that easy Zoe.