by Donna Hill
“Mom, it’s not your fault. I know you and I know that’s what you’re thinking,” Desiree offered. “It’s Dad’s loss.”
“Exactly, Mom. If that’s what he wants to do, then as much as I love my father, I’d say let him go. You deserve to be happy and not living with someone who is sneaking around.”
“And we’re not kids anymore. You don’t have to worry about staying together because of us,” Desiree said.
“Exactly,” Dawne concurred.
Elizabeth looked at her daughters, the two beautiful little babies who’d grown into beautiful, successful, intelligent women, and her heart filled with so much love for them it was enough to get her through anything. She swallowed over the big knot in her throat and blinked back tears.
“Thank you. Thank you both. I…I didn’t know what to expect when I told you. I know how much you both love and adore your dad.”
“Mom, we love and adore you, too.” Desiree grinned.
“Yeah, even when you still nag us,” Dawne teased.
“So,” Desiree, always direct, began. “What are you planning to do?”
Elizabeth smiled for the first time since she arrived. “Well, the other night me and the girls came up with this brilliant idea….”
Chapter 16
Excitement coursed through Barbara all day at work. She should be exhausted, but instead she felt revitalized, as if she’d been given a shot of happy juice. She and Michael had talked for hours, well into the early morning, until they’d both fallen asleep curled in each other’s arms on her bed. He told her about his life growing up in North Carolina as the only boy in a family of four sisters.
“I spent the bulk of my growing-up years waiting to get in the bathroom and giving the evil eye to wannabe boyfriends.”
Barbara laughed at the images. “I was an only child,” she’d confessed. “I always wondered what it would be like to have sisters and brothers. I guess that’s why I’m so attached to my friends. They’re the sisters I never had.”
“I’d like to meet them.”
Her eyes widened for a moment. “You would?”
“Of course. And I want you to meet my friends, too.”
She was shaking her head as she spoke. “Mike… meeting your friends…”
“I want to show you off. I want my friends to know how lucky I am to have found you.”
“Let’s give us some time first, okay?”
Reluctantly he agreed. “You say when.”
“It won’t be long, promise. I told my friends about you already.”
“What did you tell them?”
“You really don’t want to know.”
“Yes, I do. What did you tell them?”
“That you were one of my patients and that you were young enough to be my son and that…I really like you.”
“What did they say about the age thing?”
“They all told me to go for it. That you only live once.”
He grinned. “I like them already.”
Barbara felt good inside thinking about the big step she’d taken with Michael. She’d been stopped several times by staff members on how “glowing” she appeared. Guess there was some truth in the saying that happiness made you glow.
Before he’d left her apartment, shortly before dawn, he’d told her that he had to go out of town for a few days but would be back in plenty of time for their date. He had a meeting with his coach and the team doctor in Florida who wanted him to begin a restricted training program to see how the knee was coming along.
When he told her he would be going away for a few days, she actually felt sad, maybe disappointed was a better word. Sure she was glad that he had come far enough to go back into training, but she would miss him. The time they’d spent together was balm for her soul. She felt complete and looked forward to the days ahead.
She took a stack of towels from the supply cabinet as she prepared for her next patient. The reality was, she mused as she placed the towels on the exercise table, if she planned on continuing a relationship with Michael she would have to get used to his traveling, being away from her for weeks, sometimes months, at a time. She sighed and pressed her lips together in thought. Was that what she wanted—a part-time lover?
Her years of marriage to Marvin had molded her in a way. She enjoyed the daily routine, of waking up next to her husband, always knowing she had a “date” for the holidays, someone always there at the end of a hard day to listen to her, and for her to be a shoulder, as well. Could it ever be that way again? Could it ever be that way with Michael? It would be several years before he would hang up his sneakers. Was she willing to wait?
Whoa, she was getting way ahead of herself. They’d made no lasting commitment to each other. And if she knew nothing else, great sex didn’t a solid relationship make.
“Barbara, your next patient is here. Mrs. Wells.”
Barbara turned and forced a smile. “I’m ready. Send her in.”
Mrs. Wells was one of her favorite patients. She was a young ninety years old and had broken her hip in a horseback riding fall nearly six months earlier. Unlike most senior patients with that kind of injury, Mrs. Wells was determined not to become an invalid. She’d made a miraculous recovery and was walking with a cane, something that really “pissed her off,” her feisty patient would say. “Makes people think I’m old.”
Barbara smiled for real when Veronica Wells walked into the room, head held high, back straight, accompanied by her husband, Herb. They’d been married sixty years and both swore they had another sixty in them.
“And how is my favorite patient today?” Barbara beamed.
“She’s still pissed off,” Herb announced.
Veronica elbowed him in the side. “I’d stop being pissed off if I could toss this infernal cane.”
Barbara came over to help her to the table, but Veronica waved her off.
“I can manage.” She set her cane aside and took off her stylish trench coat. She looked up at Barbara, placed her forefinger beneath Barbara’s chin and turned her face from side to side. Veronica’s right brow rose an inch. “New lover?” she asked, unabashed.
Barbara blinked several times while the question ricocheted around in her head looking for traction.
“You can tell me. I’ve been around long enough to have heard everything and I can tell when a woman has had great sex, a mile away.”
“Veronica!” Herb warned. “You have to excuse her, Barbara. She hasn’t taken her medication this morning. She’s a little crazier than usual.”
Veronica turned to her husband and clucked her tongue. “Can you honestly stand there, Herb, and tell me that this woman doesn’t look radiant? And what is the one thing that puts a glow in a woman’s cheeks and a secret sparkle in her eyes? Great sex!” She nodded her head definitively. “Don’t you always say that to me after we’ve done it?”
Herb shook his head in surrender. “I think I’ll wait outside.”
“Good! Let us girls talk.” She waved him off, then turned her attention back to Barbara. “Is he cute at least?”
Barbara started to laugh, a deep soul-stirring laugh of release. “Yes, very,” she was finally able to say.
“That’s a start,” Veronica said, waving a finger in Barbara’s face. “All that stuff about ‘in the dark’ is for the birds. You have to turn the lights on sometime and you want to be able to take him out in public.” She chuckled. “Help me with this zipper.” She turned her back to Barbara, who unzipped her dress.
As usual, Veronica was clad in the latest Victoria’s Secret undies. Barbara smiled to herself. Mrs. Wells was something else. She helped her up onto the table and prepared her for her exam and massage.
“Well…” Veronica questioned.
“Well what?” Barbara braced Veronica’s hip in her right hand and lifted her leg with her left.
“Who is he?”
“Tell me when it hurts,” Barbara said, avoiding the question. She raised the leg a bit higher. “He’s
just a friend,” she confessed.
“And…is he any good?”
“Veronica!”
“Well, is he?”
Barbara pressed her lips together as visions of her and Michael danced in her head. “Yes,” she said on a breath. “Very.”
Veronica clapped with delight. “That’s what I like to hear. So what’s the problem?”
“Why do you think there’s a problem?”
“The hesitation in your eyes. Is he married?”
“No.”
“Babies?”
“No.”
“Gay?”
“Definitely not!”
“So what is it?”
“He’s…much younger than I am.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, it’s just—”
“Happiness only comes around a couple of times. And when it does, we have to snatch it and hold on to it for as long as we can. I know.”
Barbara lowered Veronica’s leg, went to the cabinet and took out the massage oils. She returned to the table. “How do you know?” she asked, really needing to hear some wisdom.
“Maybe you don’t know this, but Herb is not my first husband. Divorced that S.O.B. and took him for everything he had.” She shrugged. “And when I finally decided to get back in the market, Herb came along. Young, handsome and sexy. Just the way I like them.”
Barbara giggled.
“No one thought it would work. That Herb was a rebound lover and too young for me. But we proved them all wrong.”
Barbara’s interest perked up. “Too young?” She applied the oils to the incredibly smooth skin and began to rub.
“Herb is fifteen years younger than me. Snatched him right out of his mama’s house.” She giggled. “And I’ve never regretted one minute and neither has he.” She angled her head to look at Barbara. “Is that it? He’s younger than you?”
Slowly Barbara nodded. “Almost twenty years.”
Veronica slapped the table in glee. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about. And what he lacks in experience he makes up for in energy. Keeps you young. Look at me. If I was married to some old coot do you think I would still keep myself in the shape that I’m in? I don’t want any of these young hussies getting their hands on my Herb.”
Barbara had to admit, Veronica was in excellent shape. She had the toned body of a forty-year-old woman, give or take a few years, and she had the personality and mentality to go along with her youthful appearance.
“So you think I should pursue it?”
“I sure as hell do. Ride the wave.” She giggled.
All the way home, Barbara thought of her scandalous conversation with Veronica. Maybe she was right. She should just enjoy it and stop being so conventional. Go with the flow, as the kids would say. Even the girls said to go for it.
At the red light, it hit her. If Veronica could do it so could she.
When the light changed she made a left and headed toward the shopping strip on historic One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street.
If she was going to cross that line she was going to do it in style and give Michael something to look at while she was at it.
She found a metered parting space and crossed the street. Taking a deep breath of resolve she pulled open the doors of the newly established Victoria’s Secret.
It had been a while since she’d used her credit card on something for herself. She was long overdue.
Barbara pulled up in front of her building nearly two hours later. She took her four pink-and-white stripped signature bags from the car and practically skipped to her front door.
She grinned as she put her key in the lock. Wait until Michael saw her in these. Yeah, go with the flow. After all, it wasn’t as if they were planning on marriage.
Chapter 17
Stephanie was just turning off her computer when there was a knock on her office door. She looked up and her stomach did a quick dive to her toes then rose to her throat.
“Thought we could get together for drinks.”
“I have plans.” She shoved a folder into her desk.
Conrad stepped in and shut the door behind him. “With who?”
She stared him in the eye, certain that he wouldn’t cause a scene in the office. “I don’t think that’s any of your business. I said I have plans.”
“Another man?”
She put her right hand on her hip. “Go home to your wife and kids.” She picked up her purse then her jacket from the back of her chair. She started toward the door.
“You’re upset about the other night. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t get back. I got tied up.”
“It really doesn’t matter, Conrad,” she said, weary from the direction of the conversation that was going nowhere.
He grabbed her arm when she reached for the door. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Not necessary. Good night.”
He lowered his head so that his lips met her ear. “We’ll talk about this again.” He let her go and she walked out.
Stephanie walked down the corridor toward the elevator. Her legs were shaking. This couldn’t go on. It just couldn’t. She pressed the down button. She had to find a way out and still be able to take care of Samantha. She looked down the corridor and saw Conrad talking with one of the associates at the reception desk.
On the surface Conrad Hendricks was the greatest guy on the planet. At least to those who didn’t really know him. He was handsome, intelligent, funny when necessary and from the outside seemed like a real family man. But she knew differently. The elevator doors opened. Conrad glanced in her direction and smiled an instant before she stepped on and the doors swished closed behind her.
Their illicit affair began innocently enough, she recalled as the elevator made its slow descent from the fifteenth floor. He’d called her into his office after she’d landed a major client for the firm.
“Great job, Stephanie,” he’d begun after offering her a seat.
“Thank you.” Getting noticed by the head of the firm was something that she’d diligently worked toward from the day she joined the company. Now she was finally being recognized for all of her hard work.
“I was going over your file,” he continued. “Quite impressive. You are probably one of the most underrated rainmakers in the company.” He leaned back against the plush cushions of his executive leather chair and looked her over. Suddenly he leaned forward, giving her an intent stare. “In this business you can only survive when you stay at the top of your game, draw in the big names and keep them in the public eye.” He folded his hands atop his desk. “My business is surrounding myself with dynamic people, those who have the charisma and the drive to get to and stay at the top—no matter what that takes.”
Stephanie swallowed and adjusted herself in the seat, wondering where this conversation was heading.
“Beginning on Monday, you will move to the corner office. You’ll have your own assistant and you will be my right hand.”
A hot flash raced through her, making her head pound. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? A major promotion? Conrad Hendricks’s assistant? She must be dreaming.
“You look surprised. You don’t think you deserve it?”
She blinked herself back to reality. “Yes, yes, of course I think I deserve it,” she stammered with excitement.
The corner of his full mouth curved upward. “That’s better. I’ll be turning over some of our bigger accounts to you in the coming months, just to see how well you really handle pressure.”
“No problem.” She sat up straighter in her seat. “I’m ready.”
“Glad to hear it.” He stood. “I think this calls for a celebration. If you don’t have plans I’d like to take my new assistant out to dinner. Tomorrow, about six.”
She swallowed. “Thank you. That would be wonderful.”
“Good. I’ll make a formal announcement to the staff in the morning.” He extended his hand.
Stephanie stood and shook his han
d.
“Firm grip. I like that.” He released her. “That’s it then.”
“Yes, sir.”
“From now on you can call me Conrad.”
She nodded. “Conrad.”
“Much better. We’re going to be working very closely together and formalities only make for more tension.” He smiled. “Tomorrow, then. Have a good evening, Stephanie.”
“Thank you. Thank you for having faith in me.”
He walked her to the door and held it open. “One thing I must warn you about. I expect results. I don’t take kindly to failures.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“Good.” He stepped aside to let her pass. “Travel safely.”
“You, too.”
That was nearly two years ago. And for a good while it was strictly business between them. She worked hard, grueling hours and many weekends. They had brainstorming sessions sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. It was exhausting, but she never faltered and her bank account bore the fruits of her labor.
It was maybe a year into her new job. She and Conrad were working late. The office was empty. Even the cleaning crew had gone for the night. They’d ordered Chinese from the local restaurant and had finally taken a break to eat.
“I really like all that you’ve been giving to the company, Stephanie,” he said before lifting his fork filled with lo mein.
She smiled and took a sip of her tea. “I told you when you gave me this position that I would give it my all.”
“That you have.” He looked at her for a long moment. “There’s something about dynamic, self-assured women that has always intrigued me.” He paused. “You intrigue me in more ways than one.”
She nearly choked.
He looked sheepish. He lowered his gaze. “I know I have no right to say this to you. I know it’s inappropriate, but I’m going to say it, anyway.” He looked into her eyes. “I have feelings for you. Deep feelings. I’ve been struggling to keep them on the back burner, but I can’t, not anymore.”
He got up and came around to her side of the small, rectangular worktable. He stood in front of her. Slowly he took the cup from her hand and put it on the table. He took her hands and pulled her to her feet. Her heart was racing so fast she began to feel dizzy.