The Longer The Fall, Aviva Gat [top 10 books to read txt] 📗

big gang sweep through Harlem. No one knew what caused the arrests—not even the local police. Some federal shit Keisha wrote, and Rhonda was satisfied that karma existed even if it took 15 years. She had suspicions that Hunter was behind it. Ultimately, it couldn’t have been a coincidence that Ray was arrested right after Hunter stepped down. To her, it was proof that he loved her. She silently forgave him, but resolved to punish him for at least a few months so he would appreciate her more.

From his wife’s couch, Hunter began his new job. There was no one telling him what to do, what hours to work, but he knew he had an unforgiving boss that he needed to please. He started shooting hoops at the basketball courts in rundown neighborhoods and attended church services with large gospel choirs. He started making friends and gaining respect from members of his new community.

He watched Madeline’s reelection from afar. He read every headline from: Polls show tight race for senate to Thomas’ secret to a happy family. He tried to contact Jane a few times, but she brushed him off, telling him the senator would speak to him when she needed to. It made Hunter wonder if she had forgotten about him and their arrangement, but the truth was that Madeline too was scrutinizing him from afar.

During that month, Madeline herself was very busy. She was flying coast to coast even more often as campaign events often brought her to California for the evening after senate votes in the morning. She couldn’t let go of her main responsibilities as a lawmaker, even when appearances were required to gain more votes. She followed a strict schedule between speaking engagements, events, meetings with community leaders. Jane had even partitioned time for coffee with Brandon or pancakes with Adam. Even just a three-minute window would be useful—for family time and posing for the photo opportunities that proved Madeline could do it all.

Hunter saw all the photos, of Madeline with her husband by her side supporting her while she ran. He wondered what would happen, when he and Rhonda would have dinner with them and why this was one of Madeline conditions. Truth be told, he had hoped Madeline had forgotten about this condition. He was not looking forward to it one bit. Not meeting her husband, nor having her sit across from his wife. Why Madeline wanted this, he had no idea, he wracked his brain over that month wondering if it were some cruel joke, a way to further punish him, or for Madeline to gain some amusement. He wasn’t even sure if Rhonda would agree to such a thing, she hadn’t even allowed him to eat anything in the house for the first week of his stay. It wasn’t until just recently that she invited him to eat with her and their daughter.

He had just convinced himself that Madeline had forgotten about her request when Jane had called him that day after his first month in California. He was sitting at the tutoring center at a local middle school when his phone rang. The ring annoyed him; his student, Damon, was just starting to understand the secret language of algebra that was splayed across the notebook and Hunter didn’t want to be pulled away. But his thirst for knowledge about Madeline got the better of him.

“8:00 p.m. at La Quinta,” Jane said. “Reservation under Thomas. Don’t be late.” Hunter nodded as though Jane could see him and put the phone away wondering how he would convince Rhonda. They had never spoken about Madeline, about the conversation the two women had or what part she had played in Hunter’s move. Should he pretend the dinner was just the two of them? He wasn’t sure he could survive the consequences at home when Rhonda found out otherwise. Should he pretend like it was just a friendly double date with an old acquaintance?

Hunter tried to get back to his tutoring session with Damon, but his mind had already packed up and left. He whizzed through Damon’s homework and hurried home, hoping that Rhonda would be there. She had left early that morning for her shift at the airport. If she hadn’t taken on a double, she would most likely be resting until their daughter came home from school.

To his luck, Hunter saw Rhonda’s car outside when he pulled up to the house. He smiled to himself, feeling like the husband he wanted to be. He fantasized about walking in the door and saying “Honey, I’m home!” and kissing her on the cheek like they did in movies. But that was too cheesy for real life. In real life, he’d settle for “Hey, Rhonda,” and hope she didn’t give him a stink eye when he walked in. Inside, Rhonda was in her bedroom, a place Hunter had yet to walk inside. It was like a forbidden chamber and Hunter always felt he was about to get shocked if he approached. But this time, he gathered his courage and was ready for the shock. He knocked on the door.

“What?” Rhonda said from inside. He peered in, gazing on the room for the first time. It was plain, white walls, a white bed in the middle with a nightstand on one side. Rhonda was sitting up reading a magazine and gave Hunter a look he didn’t quite understand. It wasn’t disdain or anger at him for broaching her chambers, but it wasn’t welcoming either. “Need something?”

“Let’s have dinner tonight,” Hunter began, deciding not to mention who dinner was with.

“Sure, there’s a lasagna in the freezer.”

“No, I mean, outside. Just us.”

Rhonda put down the magazine. “Are you asking me on a date?” Her tone was judgmental and accusatory.

“Yes,” he responded. Baby steps, he thought to himself. Get her to agree to one thing before the next. “Go out with me.”

“I’ll see if Marie