Loving Spoonful

by Candice Poarch

  He was a businessman. He’d never used wiles on his wife. He’d always been true to her. Always been up-front about his feelings and actions. But maybe it was time for him to put on a show to save his marriage. Wouldn’t it be worth it? It was for her own good.

  “Is that a yes?” the woman asked.

  Shaking his head regretfully, Jack rubbed the ring on his finger.

  “I thank you for the invitation,” he said smoothly. “But I have to get back to work.” Jack slid out of the seat. “Your drink’s on me.” At the other end of the bar, he signaled the bartender that he was picking up the lady’s tab, then left.

  His decision was made. He was playing poker. Byron wouldn’t appreciate him spying on him anyway. He glanced at his son one last time before he left the bar. He had not expected his son to be watching him—glaring at him. For a little while, Jack had forgotten his son was even there.

  The last thing he needed was for Byron to see him leaving the bar with another woman. Then all the negative thoughts the boy had about him would have been true.

  Jack pushed his way through the swinging door a tad too forcefully. Fidelity was all fine and good, but it didn’t help his sex-starved body one damn bit.

  Once a month Jack had poker night with his brothers and cousins. Tonight they were meeting at his cousin Sam’s place.

  The men met in the pool house so that Sam’s wife wouldn’t complain about them getting cigar smoke in her curtains. This was Sam’s man cave; the house was his wife’s domain. Sam’s wife hated cards. She was having some friends over, but they’d be in the house and wouldn’t interfere with their game. Except the guys might go there for food later on.

  “You all ready to lose? I’m feeling lucky tonight.” Samuel had already lit his cigar.

  It was pretty cool outside, so they opened windows before they settled down.

  “So, what’s going on with Kim and you? She let you move back in yet?”

  “I got it all under control.”

  He heard a bark of laughter.

  “You what?” Sam asked.

  “Trust me.” Jack frowned at the cards.

  “Naw, man, don’t even think that. It’ll get you in trouble every time. Take some advice from an old head. Go back and apologize. Let her know she’s right even if she’s wrong.”

  “Better listen to him. He knows what he’s talking about. When it comes to women, we never have it under control.”

  “You just wait and see,” Jack said, assured in his ability to gain control over the situation. Damn it, he wore the pants in his house. No woman was going to put him out and watch him come back begging. She was going to beg him to come back.

  Chapter 8

  Kimberly was contemplating what she would do that Saturday evening, when her sister-in-law called.

  “Girl, you had better get over here,” Janice whispered in a furtive manner.

  “I’m beat. I thought I’d watch a movie and go to bed early.”

  “You need to change your plans, girlfriend. Heard you were back on that part-time schedule,” Janice said. “You had most of the week to rest. You need to come on over here.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Wait a minute.” Kimberly heard Janice saying something in the background but couldn’t make out the words. Then she came back to the phone.

  “Girl, the guys are playing poker in the pool house and…well. You and Jack are still separated, aren’t you? I just wanted to make sure.”

  “Well, it’s a tempo—”

  “If I were you, I’d come over,” Janice said, interrupting.

  Her curiosity piqued, Kimberly said, “What’s going on?”

  “All the ladies are here and then some. Know what I mean? Everybody brought something to eat. I know it’s last-minute for you, so don’t worry about bringing a dish. We have more than enough. Just come.”

  “Janice—Janice—”

  “We’re going to have a party of our own,” Janice said in a loud voice. “We have enough food for an army. Just playing music and chatting. We miss you, girl. You’ve made yourself scarce lately.”

  “Janice, what is going on?”

  “Gotta go.”

  “Janice—”

  Her sister-in-law hung up. Frowning, Kimberly slowly lowered her phone. What on earth was going on over there? It had to be Jack. Just what was he up to now?

  There was no way Kimberly could not go. Nearly flying up the stairs, she had to stop and sit on the top step. Her stomach started roiling. She dashed to the bathroom just in time to throw up. The any-time-of-day morning sickness had come down on her hard.

  She washed out her mouth and brushed her teeth. She was having his baby. He had no business with another woman. Illogically, she refused to acknowledge that he wasn’t at home because she put him out.

  She scanned the clothes in her closet, considering what to wear. Morning sickness came and went. She wasn’t going to let it stop her from discovering what Jack was up to. She decided to go casual chic. She might not know the state of her marriage, but she wasn’t going to let herself go. She chose white jeans with an aqua, sleeveless sweater, a gold necklace, earrings and bracelet.

  She twisted the rings on her finger. Jack had bought her the four-carat diamond for their tenth anniversary. He’d opened three brewpubs by then.

  Worry settled in Kimberly’s chest and wouldn’t let up. She didn’t want to send Jack into the arms of another woman. Have I waited too long? Kimberly wondered when she started the car’s engine. Could they repair something that was that broken? She’d reached the point where, outside of sex, she was living with a stranger—and Jack just didn’t seem to care.

  Most important, had Jack moved on? Was that the gist of Janice’s call?

  When Kimberly got there, the ladies were sitting around talking. Kimberly looked for an unfamiliar face, but she knew everyone there. They were either wives or dates.

  “Kim,” Janice said, approaching her, all innocence. “I’m so glad you could join us. We’ve missed you this summer, girl,” she ran on without catching a breath. “Mom called the other day. She said she was going to the island with the kids this time,” Janice said.

  “They’re looking forward to it.” Kimberly still didn’t understand why Janice had insisted she come. “I threw together a bean and pasta salad to contribute. Janice, why don’t you come to the dining room with me?”

  “Sure. I’ll help make room on the table.”

  Kimberly waited until they were far enough away to talk without being overheard. “What’s going on?” she hissed.

  “Nothing. Who said anything was wrong?”

  Kimberly gave her a level look. “Is Jack here with another woman?”

  “No.”

  “Then why did you insist I come? And why did you have me believe he was?”

  “I said no such thing. It’s just…everyone missed you. Just like I said.”

  “Girl, don’t play games with me. Now I know where April got her scheming from. You.”

  “Girl, you know Jack has more sense than to bring another woman here. We’d be all over him,” she said. “And I’m not a schemer. I take exception to that.”

  “Oh, please. I could be getting some much-needed sleep, and here you’re playing games.” The dread in her chest had built to monumental proportions by the time she arrived. Now it slowly eased. She could strangle Janice for making her worry like that.

  Janice hugged her. “You and Jack have been together way too long to split now. I have faith that you can fix this.”

  “I don’t know,” Kimberly said, feeling tiredness stealing over her. She’d thought she and Jack would have been able to come to some equitable understanding long before now. But he was living his separate life and she was living hers—as usual. She didn’t know if there was a solution. And she couldn’t offer hope she didn’t feel.

  Since the women refused to bring food out to the pool house, the guys were forced to go to the house. The last person Jack
expected to see was Kimberly.

  The women were playing music and dancing. He searched Kimberly’s eyes. She’d been laughing when he first came in, but now the laughter stopped. As a unit, the women glared at him as if the separation was all his fault.

  He’d just like to have a chance to think and make a decision without their input. Since his family found out, he hadn’t had a moment’s peace. Everyone was giving opinions.

  Sam went to his wife, hugged her. “Are you going to fix my plate, honey?”

  She kissed him back just as sweetly. “Honey, I cooked. You can choose whatever you want, to your heart’s desire, but first I want to dance,” she said, tugging him into her arms. “Grab your husbands, ladies. Let’s put on a slow one.”

  Sam groaned. “The trials of a married man. Maybe Kim will take pity on you, Jack, and fix your plate,” he said, tugging his wife close. “Baby, you did put the arsenic away, didn’t you?”

  “Very funny, Sam,” Kimberly said.

  Kimberly’s smile was as strained as Jack’s. The other men sought out their wives, leaving Jack with no option but to gather Kimberly in his arms. She went along with it, but was as stiff as a board.

  He couldn’t help but wonder why she agreed to come. Did she really want to hear everyone’s opinion about the separation? She knew they had to regale her as much as they did him.

  Memories of the last time they made love floated back as Jack held Kimberly in his arms. She was warm and soft against him. At first, he thought to hold her away, but it seemed of his own volition that he soon tugged her closer. The rhythm of the music, the low lights, all seemed to conspire against his brain and focus on his body’s needs.

  “You feel different,” Jack said, frowning.

  “I haven’t been exercising as much as usual.”

  “That must be it.”

  At first, Kimberly’s movements were stiff; then she softened and danced as if all the drama of late hadn’t transpired.

  It was times like these that Jack didn’t understand why they were going through this mess. He thought all would be better, once he moved out and began to do the things he’d always dreamed of, the things that a family and early marriage had cheated him of. But now that he had that freedom, the loss of family seemed too harsh a burden. He felt so guilty that he couldn’t move past what he was doing to his wife and kids.

  “I’m sorry, Kim.”

  “About what?”

  “I feel guilty about leaving you and the kids.”

  “You feel guilty?”

  “Yeah. Maybe I should come back. The kids are taking this pretty hard.”

  “Jack, I don’t want you back for that reason. We’ll be fine. I don’t want you back unless I’m the one you truly want to be with. Not out of a sense of guilt or responsibility. The children will be fine. I’ll be fine.”

  “Kim—”

  “Jack, I’ve always felt that I had to put out more, do more to make you happy, to make the children happy, to make sure our marriage survived. I’ve always felt responsible for you having to marry me, but it wasn’t just me. When I got pregnant at eighteen, you were as at fault as I was, and I don’t feel responsible any longer. I’m not bending over backward to please you. I have some needs, too. I’m glad now that I’ll be working part-time, because I do need to spend more time with the children. But I’m going to have some say in what goes on in my home.”

  He looked surprised. “You’ve always had a say.”

  “I’ve held back and let you take the lead.”

  “So, are you saying everything that went wrong in our marriage was my fault?”

  “No, it’s my fault for letting it disintegrate to this point. But, Jack, I’m not going to sit around moping while you find yourself. I’m going to live my life, even if I have to do it without you.”

  “You’ve been doing just great without me so far, haven’t you? Are you seeing someone?”

  “No. This has nothing to do with another man.”

  He studied her in silence before he spoke again. “It’s not just you and me, Kim. April is having a difficult time with the breakup. And so is Byron.”

  “It will be painful for them in the beginning, but they’ll adjust, especially if they know you’ll still be a part of their lives. I think it’s even more important now than before.” Kimberly paused. “They’ll be fine, Jack. Really. Like I said, I don’t want you back for the kids. They’re older. As long as you play an active role in their lives, they’ll survive,” Kimberly said. “You’re free to explore your wildest dreams, whatever goals you haven’t been able to achieve because I stood in your way. You’re free. And, Jack, we’re not going to be friends with benefits.”

  The thought that Kimberly might not be there when he got himself together had never crossed Jack’s mind. He pictured her waiting for him while he tried to do that.

  “I had dreams and goals, too. Your life wasn’t the only one affected back when I got pregnant.”

  “So, is the guy you were with the other night the beginning of a new you?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “If he’s around my kids, it damn well is.”

  “He’s my new producer at the station,” Kimberly said. “Remember, I told you about him?”

  “Hey, you two. I thought you were supposed to be enjoying this mellow music,” Sam said. “Looks like it’s getting heavy over there.” The music had stopped and Jack hadn’t even realized it.

  Ungrateful, he thought. He’d sacrificed his life so that his children could be born in wedlock, and his wife was ungrateful. How many millions of men wouldn’t care less if the woman wasn’t married when the child was born? But he’d done the right thing and she didn’t even appreciate it.

  “I need a cold drink,” Jack said, and left for the buffet, but instead of pouring a shot of whiskey, he poured a glass of water. He might have to pick up April, and Kimberly was just ornery enough not to get the child, even knowing that he was in the middle of an important game. She’d been adamant about him seeing the children on weekends. Before the split, she’d mention it now and then, but now she’d become downright hostile about it. What had happened to the nice, malleable woman he was married to? She’d changed into a totally different person.

  He took a long swallow of water, when his mother and kids walked in. Jack sighed heavily. All he needed was another lecture from her. He should have gone to his lonely apartment.

  Kimberly dashed to the bathroom. Frowning, his mother followed her. When they were still back there after five minutes, Jack knew they were talking about him. His mother—his entire family—adored Kimberly. According to them, the separation was entirely his fault, even though he wouldn’t discuss it with them. He knew Kimberly wouldn’t.

  Jack finally gave up waiting for Kimberly and began fixing his plate. When they finally returned, his mother was all smiles until she leveled her gaze on him. What had he done now, other than the obvious?

  “Why didn’t you tell me Kimberly was pregnant?” she asked.

  “She’s…” Jack glared at Kimberly. That was it. She’d lied to him. He’d asked her on Canter Island and she actually lied. He couldn’t believe she’d lie to him about something so important.

  “Jack, Kim always had bad morning sickness, and it happens any time of the day,” his mother said. “Don’t you remember?”

  “I haven’t told him yet,” Kimberly murmured.

  “Lord, Lord, Lord. Another little one. Aren’t we blessed?” His mother sighed, sending a searing glance to her other children before her gaze settled on Jack again. “Seems you’re the only one who’s ever going to give me grandchildren, but I welcome every one of them.”

  But Jack wasn’t listening to his mother’s raving. He grabbed Kimberly’s hand and tugged her outside.

  “Why did you lie to me?” Jack demanded.

  “I didn’t lie to you. I wasn’t pregnant when you asked me.”

  “When did you get pregnant?”

  �
��Probably the day of the hurricane, or at least when we were on vacation.”

  “You knew all this time, yet never mentioned it once. Not once. You knew I would have come back.”

  “Exactly the reason I didn’t tell you. I don’t want you back for that reason.”

  “If you think a child of mine is going to be born—”

  “It’s not just your child. It’s mine, too, and I have some say in this,” Kimberly rebutted.

  “You’ve had too much to say lately. You’re not keeping me out of my own house.”

  “Then I’ll move out.”

  Jack’s whole being was stamped with frustration. “Now I understand why you’ve been irrational lately.”

  “I’m not irrational. If you want to ignore everything that’s happened, and label it under the heading of ‘crazy wife,’” she said, making little quote marks with her index fingers, “be my guest. It’s not going to get you back in that house with me.”

  Kimberly left him outside and stormed into the house. She was hungry. Jack could damn well do what he wanted.

  Kimberly couldn’t believe the words that had poured from her. Yet she was glad she’d said them. She believed every one of them. She valued herself too much to play second fiddle, or hold on to a man who didn’t really want her. She still loved Jack, but she wasn’t willing to destroy herself for that love.

  Jack’s sister linked her arm through Kimberly’s. “The guys are going to grab food and take it to the pool house. We’re going to chow down, too. Oh, Kim.” Janice’s eyes filled with tears and so did Kimberly’s. “I’m so happy for you. You’ve wanted another child for so long.” She grabbed Kimberly in a bear hug, nearly crushing her.

  Kimberly blinked the tears back.

  From across the room, Jack watched the exchange between Kimberly and his sister. Kimberly looked radiant. Her breasts were fuller. Her skin glowed with health. Absolutely beautiful. Jack felt his heart clench at the unexpected pleasure and frustration. Desire, hot and immediate, spread through him like molten lava.