The waitress brought Charlotte her salad and told her to enjoy. But Charlotte was much too flustered to eat anything. She couldn’t stop thinking about Michael or the offer he’d made about them seeing each other. At the same time, however, she couldn’t forget about Curtis and the love they’d shared for so many years, regardless of all the ups and downs they’d had to deal with.
So, at this point, she didn’t know what to do. As she weighed her options, she thought about the affair she’d had with Aaron, and how she’d nearly ruined her and Curtis’s marriage for good. She was also reminded of the fact that Aaron had turned schizo on her as soon as she’d told him their little fling was over with. He’d set their house on fire while she was still in it. He’d tried to kill her.
She would never forget what a nightmare that had been and how her mistake had caused a mountain of pain, not just for Curtis but also for Matthew. It had taken a while for them to overcome the entire fiasco, and if that hadn’t been enough, Curtis had started up his multiyear fling with Tabitha, gotten her pregnant, and then learned that Tabitha was HIV positive. Worse, a former interim pastor filling in for Curtis, Reverend Tolson, had tipped off the top national media, and it had taken them weeks and months to overcome all the scrutiny and gossip. The whole thing had just about killed Matthew, and Charlotte never wanted to see her child go through such agony again.
So, no, she decided. It was best to ignore Michael’s message and pretend she’d never read it. It was best to pretend she’d never searched for him on Facebook in the first place.
Better to just enjoy her meal there at The Clubhouse, head back to Mitchell with her brand-new clothing and accessories, and do what her mother had suggested: give Curtis an ultimatum and then wait for him to send his precious little girl as far away from all of them as possible.
Chapter 15
Michael maneuvered his body to Charlotte’s side, panting frantically, and Charlotte thought her entire being was going to explode. It had been forever since she’d felt so exhilarated, young, and like she just couldn’t get enough of a man. This was how it had always been with Michael in the past, and it was amazing how, even though it was more than a decade later and he was in his forties, nothing had changed. The man still offered the kind of sex that made you want to broadcast it across the country. He gave her what Curtis had always given her, too, before she and Curtis had found themselves at odds over this Curtina issue.
Charlotte lay there, catching her breath, and thought about how easy it had been for Michael to change her mind—when she’d told him she couldn’t meet him at his friend’s house. She’d sat at the restaurant, debating back and forth, but when she’d checked her Facebook inbox again, this time, Michael had gone as far as sending her his cell number. He’d asked her to call him, and without much hesitation she had done so. Not because she wanted to have sex with him, but because she’d wanted to explain to him why they couldn’t get together. Against her better judgment, however, she’d allowed him to convince her that all they would do was talk about old times, and that there was nothing wrong with old friends hooking up for good conversation. But when she’d arrived, one thing had soon led to another, and their lying next to each other right now was the result.
Michael turned toward her. “Girl, I’m completely speechless. I mean, there’s a lot I could say, but I honestly don’t know where to begin.”
“So it was that bad, huh?” she said, teasing him.
“No. It was just that good. It was the best and just as mind-blowing as it was when I first met you.”
Charlotte wanted to tell him how much she agreed with him, but out of nowhere, guilt crept in. She’d actually slept with yet a second man behind Curtis’s back, and she’d done it in less than forty-eight hours. That Tom guy had pleasured her pretty nicely, but she’d pretty much already forgotten about him. But this, what she’d just experienced with Michael, was something different. They’d made passionate love, but there was also an emotional connection. She’d felt a strong sense of chemistry as soon as she’d laid eyes on him, and it was as if no time had passed at all. It was as if they’d never missed a beat, and it was obvious how comfortable they still were with each other.
“And you’re still as beautiful as ever, I see,” he said.
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment. It is a compliment, right?”
They both laughed. “I’m just messing with you. You are just as handsome as I remember.”
“I’ve really missed you, Charlotte. I didn’t realize how much until you arrived here this afternoon, but even yesterday when I saw your note, I don’t remember feeling so uplifted about anything in a long time. You really made my day.”
“I’m glad we connected, too,” she said, but she thought about Curtis again. Her conscience was trying to get the best of her, but she wouldn’t let it.
Michael gently stroked Charlotte’s hair, over and over. “I think the reason I was so excited to hear from you is because my marriage is a real drag. I can barely stand to look at Sybil anymore, but she won’t give me a divorce. Not without my practically going broke, anyway. But I’m to the point where I don’t even care about the money, because what I want is to be free of her.”
“I’m sorry things are so bad. They’re not good for me and Curtis either.”
“And why is that? I mean, for Sybil and me, we simply outgrew each other many years ago, and we’ve never had a thing in common.”
“Well, Curtis and I have had our problems, but right now our struggle has to do with his daughter. The one he conceived with his dead mistress. Curtis decided without my consent to move her in with us permanently, and I want her gone.”
“Wow, that’s a tough one.”
“Very. It’s a hard situation, and I’m not sure we’re ever going to come to terms with it. Curtis isn’t budging, and I’m not backing down either. Not about this.”
“I hear you.”
Charlotte turned on her side so that she faced him. “So what else has been going on? I see you’re still working in the financial world.”
“You know I’ve always loved being a broker, and even with the economy being in such dire straits right now, I still love what I do, and people are steadily beginning to warm back up to the stock market.”
“Well, at least you have your work to focus on. I don’t even have that.”
“No? I just assumed you held some position at your church.”
“I sit on the elder board, but with the exception of that, I don’t have a daily, full-time position. Until now, though, I didn’t mind that because not having a career has allowed me the opportunity to be there for my son the way he’s needed me to be, and to also travel with Curtis when he did frequent speaking engagements. But now, Matthew is seventeen and getting ready to be a senior next year, so it’s not like he really needs me the way he used to.”
“Sounds like you’re experiencing empty-nest blues a whole year early.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Well, you knew Sybil and I only had the one child, and she’s now a sophomore at Yale.”
“That’s great, Michael. Good for her. Matthew is gearing up for an Ivy League school as well. Curtis practically has him enrolled and already living on campus at Harvard, but if Matthew had it his way, he’d probably go to one of the top football schools. He’s very good at football, but he’ll never disappoint his father, though.”
“I have to say I tend to agree with your husband on the Harvard tip. If you have a child who gets exceptional grades and you can afford to send him or her to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, then you definitely should. They may not lead in sports, but they do turn out some of the smartest young men and women in America. Most of whom go on to earn well into the six figures with their first job.”
“True. And I think Matthew understands that, so that’s why he doesn’t complain.”
Michae
l stroked Charlotte’s hair some more, and she finally closed her eyes. She was so relaxed and relieved of tension.
“So, hey. You know I wanna see you again, right?”
Charlotte wasn’t sure how she should answer, but before she could, his phone rang. Michael reached over on the floor and pulled it out of his pants pocket. “Hello?” he said, covering his face with his free hand and laying his head back on the pillow. He seemed irritated, and Charlotte knew it was Sybil. She knew because he had the same look of annoyance he’d had a full decade ago, whenever he heard from her.
“What is it? No. No. I don’t know what time I’ll be home. I have a lot to finish up here at the office. I didn’t answer my office phone because I don’t want to be distracted by any business calls. I’m working on something for a client that requires my full concentration. I already told you. I don’t know what time I’ll be home exactly, but I’ll see you when I get there. Good-bye, Sybil. Because I need to get back to work. Geez,” he said and hung up the phone.
Charlotte watched his body language and facial expressions and wondered why he didn’t just tell her the truth. But then it wasn’t like she was rearing to tell Curtis about the man she’d slept with two nights ago or about Michael. She hadn’t voluntarily told him about Aaron either, so who was she to judge anyone?
“So when can I see you again?” he said.
Charlotte thought about Matthew and Curtis. “I don’t know.”
“I really want to see you again as soon as possible, and I’ll do whatever I have to to make it happen. My friend is over in China working for the next three months, so his house is all mine the whole time he’s gone.”
“Really? So who else have you brought here?”
“I won’t lie. Last year, I was seeing someone, and I did bring her here a few times. But I swear, I haven’t done that since. The only reason I have a key is because my friend—Gerald is his name—wanted me to check on the place from time to time. So when?”
“Well, aren’t we persistent?” Charlotte said, teasing him.
“I am. And on purpose, too,” he said, easing on top of her. “I’m persistent about a lot of things, and I work very hard for whatever it is I want.”
“Is that right?”
Michael kissed her. “It is. I guarantee it.”
“Then, in that case, do what you will to me. Do whatever you want.”
Chapter 16
Curtis didn’t know what was wrong with him. Last night, before dropping off to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms, the one closest to Curtina, he’d told himself he was finished arguing with Charlotte and was prepared to move on without her if need be. But now, here he was sitting in his office on a Wednesday evening, preparing for Bible study, trying to call Charlotte for the third time. He was almost ashamed of himself because of the way he basically had been kissing her behind, and he didn’t like it. He felt like a wimp. Though what kept him making one attempt after another was the love he still had for his wife, regardless of how terribly she was treating him. He’d had the same thoughts only days ago, and he was still trying to hang on. He was still hoping for some sort of miracle.
Curtis read Scripture and jotted down some notes. Bible study would be starting in a couple of hours, but before then he had a meeting with Anise, Charlotte’s cousin, the one she still wasn’t on the best terms with. Anise hadn’t gotten past the idea that Charlotte had slept with her husband when Anise had still been married to him, although the good news was that, as of late, she at least chatted with Charlotte whenever they were in the same room—something she hadn’t started doing regularly until maybe a year ago.
As he continued outlining the lesson he was about to teach, he heard a knock at his door.
“Come in.”
“Hey, I know I’m a little early, so just let me know if you want me to come back in an hour,” Anise said.
“No, no. You’re fine. I was just reviewing a few items, so have a seat.”
Anise removed her brown, elbow-length leather gloves and then her camel-colored, burnt-wool swing coat with three-quarter sleeves. “It’s really cold out there.”
“I know. Supposed to get down into the single digits before the night is over.”
“Well, I’m ready for spring. It’s only February, but I’m praying for May already.”
They both laughed.
“I think we all are,” Curtis agreed.
Anise pulled a file from her briefcase, but Curtis said, “I know we need to discuss a list of to-do items for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and all the other grand opening activities you’re planning, but if you’re okay with it, I want to discuss something else with you.”
“Definitely. Go ahead.”
“Well, I don’t know how much your mom has told you, but Charlotte and I haven’t been doing too well.”
“Yeah, Mom kind of filled me in the other day, and I really don’t know what to say about my cousin.”
“Neither do I, really, but this whole disagreement is taking a major toll on our marriage. It’s affecting every aspect of our lives.”
“I’m sure it is,” she said. “But as much as I hate telling you this, I don’t see Charlotte budging on this. Charlotte has always wanted what she wants when she wants it, and that’s just the way it is.”
“Don’t I know it. But I still never expected her to act so cruelly toward Curtina. Not when she brought a child into our home that wasn’t mine.”
“Charlotte is the queen of hypocrisy, though, and you can’t win with someone like that.”
“Well, somethin’s gotta give because we can’t go on like this forever.”
“No, I don’t see where you can. And for whatever it’s worth, Curtis, you’re a wonderful man. Yes, you made some mistakes in the past, but how many of us haven’t? So regardless of what happens, I hope you won’t forget that. I also hope you won’t stop being a good father to Curtina, the same as you’ve always been to Matthew and Alicia.”
Curtis nodded but thought back to the time he’d learned Matthew wasn’t his son. For a while this was what everyone else had believed, too, until another DNA test had been administered, proving he was. Curtis had been devastated by the news and had stopped by Anise’s house for comfort and encouragement. But then, they’d spontaneously shared a kiss, which had caught them both off guard, and thankfully, they had been saved by Anise’s doorbell. Her best friend had come for a visit, and while Curtis had left in a hurry, he’d often wondered how far he and Anise might have gone. He hadn’t thought about this in years, though, so he was a little bothered by the fact that he was thinking of it now. He didn’t like it, because, slowly but surely, his old desires and his attraction to other women were trying to ambush his psyche. He was now having to battle some very lustful demons, those he’d thought he was rid of, and he was worried.
“So, tell me,” Curtis said. “How are things with that guy…what’s his name? William, right?” He knew he shouldn’t have cared one way or the other, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from asking.
“It’s not the greatest, and to be honest, we barely even talk on the phone anymore. He just wasn’t my type, and I think he could tell I wasn’t as interested in him as he wanted me to be.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You’re too good of a person not to be in a happy relationship,” Curtis said and then looked over at his cell phone when he heard it ringing. Charlotte was finally calling him back. “Hey,” he said.
“Hey. Can we talk tonight after you finish up with Bible study?”
“So you’re not coming, I take it?”
“No. But I really don’t want to take a chance on Matthew overhearing our conversation, so I’ll just come there when I think Bible study is over with. I’ll just wait in your office for you, if that’s okay.”
“That’s fine.”
“Then I’ll see you soon.”
Curtis hung up, a little shocked by the calm in Charlotte’s voice. She sounded pleasant and not angry, the way she had been f
or days now. Maybe Curtis’s prayers had been answered. Either that or her calm nature was the beginning of a new storm.
Chapter 17
You taught a wonderful lesson, Pastor,” Mother Johnson, one of the appointed mothers of the church, said to Curtis.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mother.”
“Even at seventy-eight and with all that I’ve learned from the Bible over the years, I still always learn something new because of you.”
“Now, that’s what I call a real compliment,” Curtis said, smiling and hugging her.
“It’s the truth. Now, you take care, son, and God willing, I’ll see you on Sunday.”
Mother Johnson walked away and Curtis shook the hands of more parishioners. Then Elder Jamison walked over.
“Well, Pastor, I’m going to head home, but I’ll see you on Sunday morning here at church and then that evening at my house…you know…when your Colts take a beatdown from those Saints.”
“Yeah, right. I see you got jokes just like Matthew does,” he said, and they both laughed.
“Matthew is a smart kid, and like me he knows a winning team when he sees one.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
Elder Jamison left the sanctuary, and Curtis shook a few more hands. But as he prepared to head up to his study, a tall, shapely woman with beautiful, wavy brown hair walked up to him and gave him an envelope. “I really enjoyed the lesson, Pastor.”
“I’m glad.”
The woman smiled and left as quickly as she’d approached him. He wondered what she’d given him, but from time to time, some of the members would bless him with a love offering or submit a special prayer request, so he knew it was one or the other.
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