I Was Waiting For You

The death of "Uncle "Eddie Ravenell stunned all of us... Especially since it was by suicide....A thorough police investigation could find no foul play....He was caught on camera purchasing a bottle of Jack Daniels just one hour before he jumped out of the window and one hour after we last saw him at Bottom of The C.

He was seen by at least 4 people walking back to his apartment alone in that last hour....There was no signs of breaking and entering or foul play and his fingerprints were on the window that he opened....He just chose to end it all that night...

An investigation into his health showed that he had Pancreatic Cancer...He had just been diagnosed and had been given from six months to a year to live....I guess this is why he was in such a rush to get his affairs in order and make things right with the daughter ,he abandoned...

Laura and her mother, Aida and his grandson were at the funeral...we spoke to them briefly and then they left...Uncle Eddie's other two ex-wives were not in attendence..

It had been a week since his death....I hadn't said anything to Olivia about another person who supposedly was near death's door...Her ex-husband...Elwood Barnes..

II-

I sat in Sam Mother's diner eating a pulled pork sandwich and some chips and drinking a coke , when Beverly walked in...

''All that pork is gonna killed you D.R." she said with her usual cheery smile...She had a folder with her which she tossed down on the table in front of me..

"We all gotta die of somethin."I said.

"You can't die yet...not before you make my auntay a happy woman..." she said...

"What is this?" I asked...Looking at the folder.

"Read it...I did some checking too...It seems that Elwood got let go from his firm in April of this year." she said.

"I know that...just before he was about to make partner..." I said.

"Do you know why he was let go?" she asked...

"Yeah...He impregnated the daughter of one of the partners...She quietly got an abortion and the whole thing was swept under the rug...She was 19 years old ,so they couldn't get him on statuatory rape, so they asked for his resignation...with no package...no pension..."I said.

''Very good D.R...Did you know that everybody is required to take an annual physical in his firm and that he took one in March ,just one month before he was let go..and guess what? He passed with flying colors...No cancer, nothing mentioned about any rare disease...He's fine...it's all there in his physical...And I can't find any other medical records after that involving him." said Beverly....

"Then that's our smoking gun...That's our proof that he's running a scam... Good work Bev...I'm surprised I overlooked his company physical."I said.

I passed her a photo...

"You recognize this guy?  I snapped a photo of him last week...That's supposedly his oncologist ,Dr. Sam Phillips..."I said.

Beverly took one look at the man and busted out laughing....

"Dr. Sam Phillips.....Ohhh boy..Is that who he is?  That's Pakistani Sam" she said laughing even more so now..


"I was told that Elwood was hanging out with some guy named Pakistani Sam....Who is he and how do you know him?" I asked.

"I was his lawyer ,when I worked in the public defender's office...He's what you coppers call a bunco operater...A con man....Grifter....He's harmless....But back in the day...He was said to be the best of the best.....He's semi-retired...Oh my God....Elwood is so full of...." she said..


''Cool it..Here comes your Auntay...She was supposed to meet me here." I said.

"Okay..I'll go...." said Bev...

"No...sit down...I want you to witness this..."I said.

"Huh?"

"Just cool it Bev and don't mention anything about Elwood.." I said. I pulled out a blue box..

"What is that?  Is that what I think it is?" asked Beverly, suddenly smiling...

''Depends on what you think it is." I said.

Beverly playfully slapped my shoulder....

"Smarty" she said.

III-

Olivia walked in and leaned over and gave me a big kiss and then sat down....

''Hey Bev" she said to her niece...

"Hey Auntay." said Beverly..

"I'm starved....let me see a menu.." said Olivia...

I grabbed her hand gently....

"Olivia baby, wait a minute..."I said.

"Huh?" she said....

I reached in my jacket pocket and pulled out  the blue box again and opened it and took out the  ring..

"Christmas is a few days away,I know...but I couldn't wait to give this to you.....It would be a great Christmas present to me if you would say yes.....That you'll be my wife!" I said....

Beverly's eyes got as wide as saucers...So did Olivia's...

''Oh my God Auntay...He did it!!!!.. He asked you!!!" she said.

"Oh My God....  Oh My God.....Are you asking me to marry you Donnie Ray?? Oh My God...I'm out of breath....I-I-I was waiting for you to....I thought it might take a little while for you to get the hint... Oh My God...I was just waiting for you to ask me." she said...

''So uh, is that uh ....Yes?" I asked.

".....Ohhhhh....YES...YES...YES..I'll, I'll marry you.." she said.

Beverly's mouth was wide open...

"D.R.!!! You finally found your courage...I told you she'd say yes if you'd just ask." said Beverly....

I placed it on her finger...

"Wow, this thing is big." she said.

"You just have small dainty fingers.." I said as I placed it on her finger...

Olivia reached over and kissed me for a long time...When we broke for air she smiled..

"I love you...I didn't want to...I tried not to....but in the end...I couldn't help it.." she said.

"I love you too babes...and I always did...from day one.."I said. I thought I detected a tear in Bev's eyes...

"Guess what...I've got good news for you....I know that my ex husband is scamming me.." said Olivia.

Beverly and I looked at Olivia curiously...

She continued...

"His Oncologist...I looked him up...He is not listed amongst Cancer specialist anywhere and especially not where he claimed to work...Then I remembered where I saw him before....In court...He was one of your clients Bev...Pakistani Sammy right? Remember him? The grifter you got off that time?" said Olivia...

I just smiled...

"Does Elwood know that you know yet Auntay?" asked Bev...

''No,not yet...but he's going to know." said Olivia.

"Here's his last physical....He's as healthy as a horse....The jackass." snarled Beverly...

Olivia and I laughed our heads off.




IV-

One thing I was learning about Philly is that they had bars with no live entertainment...Bars like Roxys ,where you went to drink and watch several flat screen monitors with sports and music videos and news showing..
Josies, was more like home...Bars in New Orleans...Live entertainment or a DJ and lots of dancing....

Roxys was cool I guess...but not my style... Beverly and I sat in the back and watched as Elwood Barnes and Olivia sat in a booth and he made his final play..

"Liv,I'm so glad that you agreed to meet me here...You've talked to my oncologist...You've read the report...I don't have much time....If you ever cared about me at all, you'll do the right thing and marry me..We can go right down to city hall and get married tomorrow.." he said.

''And what about Donnie Ray?"she asked.

"What about him? Liv...He's just using you...He quits his job in New Orleans, moves up here right when you're starting your practice, gets a job with you, lives in the same building with you...He's a scam artist...I tell you...He won't wait for you...As soon as we are married...He'll realize that his meal ticket is gone and he'll move on....and so will that bra strap hanging niece of yours....I have to tell you Bev..You've done enough for her...You've been carrying her since she passed the bar...Cut the strings and let her get out there and fend for herself." he said.

Olivia smiled..

"Cut the strings eh?" she said and she placed her hand  on the table...

"You got a ring?" she asked and smiled slyly....

''An engagement ring?  I can get one, easy..." he said.

''Why don't you have your oncologist get one for you...He's got several fake ones." she said.

"Dr. Phillips?? How would he have several rings??" he said.

"Look at my ring...you like it?" she said showing him her engagement ring...

"What is that?" asked Elwood.

"I'm engaged....Donnie Ray and I are getting married...So I can't marry you....Not that I was going to ever do that again anyway." she said.

"What? How could you do this?  This is so sudden?" he said.

''Sudden? I've been in a relationship with this man for three years." said Olivia...

''Can't you see? This is a ploy by him to block what I'm trying to do... He didn't think about asking you to marry him until I asked you to remarry me!!" said Elwood..

"Elwood.. Elwood...everything is not about you....This man has been telling me how much he loves me for three years...In fact ,he told me before I told him..." she said.

"Of course he did...He's a scam artist." said Elwood..

"Scam Artist? You ought to know about scamming Elwood."said Olivia...

"But Liv...I'm dying..You saw the medical report." he said.

"Cut the bull Elwood..Please....Just stop." said Olivia..

''What do you mean? Stop what?" he said innocently ,before he looked up and was astonished.

Just then Beverly and Pakistani Sam walked past their table...

''Auntay...Fancy meeting you here....Remember my former client, Pakistani Sam?? The grifter...The retired  Grifter?" she said laughing...

"Dr. Sam Phillips?  I thought I recognized you the other day..."laughed Olivia...

Elwood looked like he had swallowed a canary....He stared at Beverly like he wanted to strangle her...

Pakistani Sam smiled sheepishly...The old con man knew the game was up...

''Hi Liv...I was surprised that you didn't remember me..Kinda hurt too...Sorry Elwood...They know the whole deal...I still expect my money, the amount we agreed on." he said and shrugged his shoulders...

At this point, I walked up and dropped a folder in front of him...

"That's your final physical....You're as healthy as a horse...You aint dyin...but you deserve to" I said.

He gave me the same look he gave Beverly...but I was through being nice at this point..

"And take those Charles Manson mass murder eyes off of me before I knock you on your ass...You ought to be ashamed of yourself..pulling a scam like this."I said.  Beverly hugged me and stuck her tongue out at Elwood.

"Liv...I'm sorry...I had to have you back...After my last relationship failed, all I could think about was you and how you were the only really good thing in my life...You were the best of all the women I had.....This was all to get you back in my life Liv...I still love you baby...I need to be with you...You know me..." he said.

"And you still lie and manipulate...Even if I weren't involved with Donnie Ray...I wouldn't have ever married you again...Not ever....Come on Donnie Ray, Bev...Let's get out of here...Sam...I'll buy you a drink at Josies if you're there Friday." said Olivia..

"Thanks Liv..Sure was nice seeing you again." said Pakistani Sam as he left...

"Liv please...please!  Don't do this....I'm the only man for you...Please!" Elwood protested....A drunken patron who had heard the entire exchange yelled-

"Hey buddy ,have some pride...stop beggin...She's with someone else for christ sakes....sheeeesh" he said before falling off of his bar stool!

A big burly waiter walked over to the table with the bill...

"That will be $17.50 for the drinks." he said.

"He'll pay" say Olivia  pointing to Elwood....

Olivia, Bev and I walked out of the bar...

I heard Elwood tell the waiter....

"Uh,I uh think I left my wallet in my car..Let me run to my car and get it." He said.

Still scamming!

EPILOUGE:

I sat in with Symphony Sam and The Josie's house band at Josie's the next night...I loved playing my horn and I loved being newly engaged to Olivia....

Olivia and Beverly sat with Kevin Morris's wife, Sepia and Robert Foxworth's wife Bonita and

showed off her engagement ring..

When my set was finished I walked over to them...They all smiled and congratulated me...Bev got up and kissed me on my cheek...

''Welcome to the family D.R."she said...

Olivia smiled...

"I was just waiting for you to ask me..." she said...

"I was afraid you might say no." I said.

''Why would you think that? " she asked....

''I don't know...I just did...Thought you'd think it was too soon.." I said.

"I've been alone for a long time...And we've known each other for three years...You said you couldn't live without me.." said Olivia...

"Yeah...well now I won't have to..."I said.

"No you won't baby." she said and kissed me again..

Sepia, Bonita and Bev clapped...and whistled...

Olivia whispered in my ears...

"I'm moving in with you at the end of next month okay? ..But tonight, we can pretend like I'm living there...So you'd uh better drink your orange juice and take your vitamins.." she said and ran her index finger over my lips...and kissed me lightly..

"Mmmmmmmmmmmm that's a forerunner to tonight baby." she whispered softly.....

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu....That's fine with me." I said raising my left eyebrow and winking at Bev, who probably guessed what her Auntay had whispered in my ear and gave me a sheepish grin.

(For Rozie)