My Life

==== Chapter Four - Nat ====

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I could not believe what I was seeing as I stepped from my car. Some Neanderthal was manhandling MY Sheila. She didn't know she was mine, but that was a mere technicality.

Sheila had been mine since she was just a little 7 year old girl following me and her brothers around, begging us to play with her. She was mine from the time she was 10, when she broke her arm falling out of our treehouse and I had to carry her 3 blocks home. She belonged to me when she was 16 and cried on my shoulder because her boyfriend had broken up with her. She had always been mine and always would be. Now that she was ready for me to tell her, I find her in some other man's arms.

I could have killed.

Marching over to the cozy couple, I demanded an explanation. "Just what the hell is going on here, Sheila? Who is this guy and why is he carrying you?"

I shot a venomous look at Neanderthal Man receiving a surprised look in return. Sheila, however, wasn't quite as accommodating.

"Nat! What are you doing back here? I thought you went home."

Keeping my eye on Neanderthal Man, I gave Sheila the obvious answer. "I came back."

That wasn't good enough for Sheila. I would have been surprised if it had been.

"No kidding, Nat. I figured that out all by myself. The question is why are you back? Is something wrong? Is it Todd? Or Mom and Dad?"

Sheila was starting to panic herself and for that I was sorry. I didn't mean to worry her. I just wanted her out of this other man's arms. I took a deep breath.

"Sheila, calm down. Everyone is fine. I just came back to see if I could take you to dinner. I figured you wouldn't feel like cooking after working on the apartment all day."

Sheila went limp until my next words registered.

"I thought I would find you passed out with exertion. Not cavorting with the neighbors. Guess you're not as tuckered out as I thought."

It was an asinine thing to say. I knew it, but I couldn't seem to stop the words from coming from my lips. Jealousy is a hard taskmaster. I had suffered through Sheila's boyfriends for years because I knew that she wasn't ready for me. Now she was ready and I wasn't going to tolerate any interference. Whoever Neanderthal Man was, he would just have to go away and find another woman. This one was spoken for.

Of course, first I would have to apologize to Sheila.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Nat? I was taking some boxes out to the trash when I tripped and fell, twisting my ankle. Mark here is my new neighbor, a paramedic, and has been kind enough to offer to help me back to my apartment since I can't walk. And for your information, Nathaniel Lewis Davis, I will cavort with anyone I damn well feel like!"

I knew I was in trouble after I said it. Sheila trotting out my full name only confirmed it. My mother was the only other person to use my full name and my lips twitched as Sheila played that card. She was angry, righteously so, and beautiful in her anger.

"Did you know that you're beautiful when you're angry?" I smiled as Sheila snapped her mouth shut. Her eyes promised retribution.

She turned to Neanderthal Mark effectively dismissing me. Good try, Sheila, but it will take a lot more than that to get rid of me.

"Mark, will you take me up to my apartment, please?"

Mark was looking back and forth between Sheila and myself with not a little amusement. He chuckled before pushing off with a quick "Sure". I could see the challenge in his eyes. So be it.

I trailed behind the pair more than a little peeved at the obvious enjoyment Mark took from carrying Sheila. Sheila, for her part, refused to look at me.

Walking into the apartment, I pushed past Mark in order to clear some books and clothes off the couch so that he could lay Sheila down. No way was I allowing this stranger into Sheila's bedroom. That was reserved strictly for me. Now that Sheila was out of Mark's arms, I finally looked past my jealousy to see the pain in Sheila's eyes. My irritation melted as my concern jumped to the forefront. No matter what my emotions were, I hated to see Sheila hurting.

Dropping to my knees beside the couch, I reached out a hand to push her hair back from her eyes.

"How does your ankle feel? Do I need to take you to the hospital?"

Mark had been probing Sheila’s ankle since laying her down and was the one who answered.

“She’ll be fine. Her ankle isn’t broken or sprained. It’s swelled a bit, but nothing to be concerned about. A little time with the ankle elevated and some aspirin for the pain and you’ll be good as new in the morning.”

The last was said with a grin toward Sheila. I would have bristled, but had to admit that it appeared this guy knew what he was talking about.

Mark stood up and headed toward the front door, calling over his shoulder, “I have an ice pack at my place that will help that swelling. Be right back.”

I glanced down at Sheila. I wanted to gauge her reaction when I asked about Mark.

“So that’s your neighbor, huh? He appears...friendly.”

Sheila just sighed tiredly. “Mark’s nice. Nat, why are you really here? Are you checking up on me again? I’ve already told you that I don’t need you to worry for me ‘cause I’m all right.”

I echoed Sheila’s sigh and decided to give her a small portion of the truth.

“Sheila, I’m not checking up on you. I just wanted to spend a little time with you and maybe take you out to dinner. Is that so bad? Despite what you think, I am not one of your brothers and I have no desire to be.”

Sheila’s eyes widened a bit at that declaration, but I don’t think she understood exactly what I was saying. That was okay. All things in their time. I had been patient for years, and while I was finding myself singularly impatient now, I knew the value of waiting for the right time. Timing was, after all, everything.

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