𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 - On Hiatus

5. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥

There had been plenty of moments in my life when I felt like I was watching my life happen from the outside. Watching my father being carried away on a stretcher at the tender age of four, the countless nights of my intoxicated foster parents using me as a punching bag, my seventeenth birthday when I was torn away from my foster siblings and thrown out to fend for myself. I look back on these moments in the third person.

This moment was no different. I slowly began dissociating as the weak elderly voice spoke to me.

"Daniel," She called out softly. There was a familiarity in her tone that was difficult to ignore.

"Uh, who is this," I questioned in a confused haze.

She cleared her throat, then seemed to shift around as fabric rustled loudly against the microphone. "Gather your belongings from your room and check out from your hotel," she commanded with no further explanation.

"Who is this and how did you get this number," I asked with a more authoritative growl.

There was an exasperated sigh that followed this time, almost as if she had grown impatient with my curiosity. It was like she couldn't comprehend why I wasn't taking her directions seriously whilst I still had no idea who this was. She spoke clearly and concisely, but her tone lacked patience as she continued.

"I know you are down to your last minuscule scrap of funds. You can barely afford another night in that 3-star hotel you've gotten for yourself. So, gather your things and check out. Your driver will be out front waiting for the next hour if you choose to do so. In regards to who I may be, I would much rather introduce myself to you in person. I look forward to seeing you soon Daniel."

Before I could get another word in the call was ended. Common black man sense was telling me to ignore the call and go on with my day as planned. On the other hand, my intuition was screaming to go along with it. With the odds I had been facing, there was nothing left for me to lose. I finished my breakfast and went to get my shit.

Why the hell not?

Once I'd sorted things with the hotel, I stepped outside to find a lone SUV parked along the curb. I assumed this was the driver she'd spoken of. When I got closer I came to realize that it was the same Hispanic gentleman that picked me up from jail.

I paused for a moment as he shot me an eerie smile. It reminded me of the smile he gave me the last time. It was like he knew something that I didn't. That's when it dawned on me that he wasn't just some Uber driver. Whoever had sent him to pick me up had to have been who bailed me out of jail.

As I approached, he stepped out of the driver's side and grabbed my trash bags. He placed them into the trunk with care and gave me a friendly nod. "Good to see you again Mr. Voss," He greeted.

"Same to you," I responded politely, confusion apparent on my face. Seeing him handling my things like they had value was a bit ridiculous.

We both climbed into the car and pulled off. I couldn't help but glance at him as we rode. He seemed like a nice enough guy, so I felt comfortable asking him a few questions.

"I didn't catch your name last time, brother," I spoke out casually.

He chuckled, briefly looking back at me. "William, but most people call me Will."

"Good to meet you, Will," I said with a nod. "You're not an Uber driver, are you?"

"No, I am not."

His response was swift and simple. I ran my hands over my pant legs nodding. "Lyft," I asked playfully.

"Nope."

I let out a nervous laugh, patting my legs. "Can you tell me where we're heading, Will?"

"North," he responded sarcastically. "Somewhere safe, I promise."

Then a thought passed. I furrowed my eyebrows and straightened up in my seat, looking over him once again. "Do you work with the people from the bank?"

He peeked at me through the mirror, then averted his gaze back to the road. It was a quick shifty movement that I could've easily missed, had I not been watching him. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "No more questions Danny."

I was tempted to press for more information, but his tone held a bit of authority. So, I left it at that.

The drive lasted no more than an hour. We approached a neighborhood of high-end condos that lined a small beach. It was quiet and clean, the opposite of the neighborhoods I frequented. I felt oddly out of place and thought about the trash bag of belongings that sat in the trunk behind me. They weren't some multi-million dollar mansions, but they still felt a world away from anything I'd ever be able to afford.

After a few intersections, we pulled into a garage. I remained silent as we grabbed my things from the trunk. The nervousness in my stomach seemed to triple as I followed him inside.

The interior was impressive and decorated to look sleek and modern. The floors were a deep mahogany hardwood. The appliances looked updated and the furniture brand new. There was an aroma of fresh linen in the air. I took a breath as we approached the living room, hearing someone clearing their throat softly.

There awaited a small elderly white woman in a pantsuit. She looked up at me with dull eyes, studying me wordlessly. Her presence was intimidating. I couldn't help but straighten my back under her gaze. She had the aura of someone with a lot of power.

For a long time not a single word was uttered. I anxiously looked to Will, only to find him dragging my bags upstairs. There I was, left alone with a little old white lady.

My mind was filled with so many questions and assumptions. The silence was so suffocating, that eventually, I couldn't contain myself. I just spat it out:
"So, what? You tryna be my sugar mama or something?"

Her lips instantly hooked up into a smirk, breaking her indifferent scowl. A slight chuckle left her lips and she reached out her brittle fingers requesting my assistance. Reluctantly, I gave her my hand.

"There are several things wrong with that," She began, standing to her feet. "For starters, I'm happily married. Secondly," she paused looking me over then smirked. "I believe you may be my Grand-Nephew."

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