Nappily Faithful

by Trisha R. Thomas

  She surveyed the rest of the party, seeking out who could be her potential competition. She breathed a sigh of relief to see only current board and committee members. All of them were already content in their privileged positions. Delma was the only one who needed a leg up.

  Judge Lewis scooped his arm around her. “Come with me, I want to take you around to say hello to everyone.”

  Delma grew more confident with each hand she shook. She felt like she was on her way. A serious campaign trail.

  “So how’s Keisha doing?” Judge Lewis asked, once they were a small distance away from the crowd. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stood facing Delma with more concern than she guessed necessary.

  “She’s fine,” she answered in a higher octave than she’d planned. The question took her by gentle surprise. Well, they were colleagues. He was perfectly expected to ask about Keisha, yet the question pivoted and bounced across her temples like a blinding warning signal.

  “I haven’t seen her in a while. Not since she graduated from college. Wow, that’s got to be almost eight years.” He stared out at the acreage that surrounded his grand estate, as if he were making a wild guess.

  No guessing, Delma was thinking. He’d done the math. There was that instinct only a mother had when it came to her children, when someone was snooping in business where they didn’t belong, or assuming what they had no business assuming. “Yes, eight years. She’s doing well.” She quieted the inner voice of Hudson telling her she was being paranoid.

  “I should’ve told you specifically she was welcome. I should’ve invited her with a formal invitation. You know you’re both always welcome here in my home.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Delma said, growing suddenly weary in the warm sun. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes before looking in the direction of the house. “I’m going to head inside and see if I can be of help.”

  “Nonsense, you’re our guest. So Keisha’s at the entertainment law firm, right?” He focused on the clouds, as if he were searching the sky for answers. “What’s the name …. the Peabody Group,” he said at the same time as Delma.

  “Now that she has her fabulous career, it’s about time she settle down, huh?” Judge Lewis smiled. His skin had warmed to an amber hue. The sun, perhaps. But Delma sensed it was something else. Nervousness. “You know all three of my boys are self-proclaimed bachelors.” He continued, “I tell you, there’s nothing worse than the prospect of these offspring not settling down and extending the family.”

  “Oh, yes, I know exactly what you mean.” Delma took a deep breath. Relieved. It was all about commonalities. “Keisha loves her job and being independent. I’m certainly proud of her but then in the back of my mind, all I hope is that she settles down with a good man.” Delma laughed at herself. “Isn’t that silly. All this time I raised her to be self-reliant and now I want her to be somebody’s wife.”

  Judge Lewis nodded. “Exactly. All we want is for our children to be safe and happy. All that prodding for a good education and good career falls by the wayside when you see them floating around without the commitment of a relationship. That’s the true thing that will sustain you, whether it be between husband or wife, or mother and son, or even father and daughter.” He quieted suddenly.

  “Hey,” Delma said quickly, “daughters are a lot of work. Don’t think you missed out on the party.”

  “We always wanted a girl, a daughter,” he mused. “But the boys were a joy. As men, they’re a whole ’nother set of problems. Thomas is doing well teaching. Says he loves it. Clarence is running for Congress, did you hear about that?”

  “I did,” Delma said, hoping she sounded convincing. She’d been so lost in her own narrow world she knew very little about anything else. “And how about your youngest?”

  “Kellogg …. he’s the jack of all trades, master of none. This year he’s a sports agent. Befuddles me how the one named after me can turn out to be my complete opposite.” Judge Lewis gave a quiet nervous laugh.

  “Really. Keisha’s group has a sports management team. Maybe he should give her a call.”

  “I was thinking the very same thing,” he said. “I’ll call her first thing Monday.”

  They headed back inside. She did her best to ignore the cloaked feeling along her arms and up her neck. Groped without hands, teased and bullied without words. She couldn’t figure out why the uneasiness. After all, she was getting the recommendation from Judge Lewis. She was getting the better of him, yet she couldn’t explain why she felt taken, used, and intruded upon.

  He gave her arm a little pat. “Time to let everyone know who I think deserves a place on the big bench,” he said with a wry smile. “Then before you know it, you could be on your way to chief justice.”

  Delma couldn’t shake the feeling. What part of her soul had she just given up? And how big was the price?

  40

  Jake

  Jake learned his lesson about ignoring the obvious. What the hell is she so happy about?

  Watching his wife bounce around, exuding confidence and unlimited optimism set off an alarm in his head. Considering she had just been given a hundred hours of community service for reckless driving. Considering the fact any day now the court would probably award Airic full parental rights. Lastly, considering the fact she hadn’t said two words to him directly in the past week, he knew there was something going on.

  She came into the bedroom having spent a good hour in the bathroom. “Oh, I didn’t know you were still here.” She sat at the edge of the bed and opened a box of shoes she’d just bought. She slipped on the high-heel sandals, then stood up and pulled the jean skirt down to settle over her hips. The soft blousy top that fell halfway off her shoulder was too revealing, even in the summertime.

  “Where’re you going?”

  “Shopping. I told you.”

  “Doing a lot of shopping lately, aren’t you?”

  “Making up for lost time.” She did a mild model’s turn. “Do you like these shoes? I got them for half price.”

  He could think of all sorts of things he could do with her in those heels and the skirt. Ideally, bent over backward, him directly behind. He shook his head. “I like the skirt, but it’s kinda short, don’t you think?”

  “No. It’s perfect. In fact, this one is tame considering what’s on the rack these days.”

  “I know what’s on the rack these days. I ran a clothing company, remember?”

  “Yes, I remember,” she said as if saddened by the reminder he’d lost his company. “I’ll be back around nine.”

  “Nine?”

  Her small but toned breasts had the nerve to jiggle underneath her blouse. No bra? He focused on her face, her full shapely lips. No, safer to look at her eyes, with smoky liner and perfectly arched brows. Stop it. Her cheekbones, high and defined with a touch of blush. “You plan to shop till nine o’clock? Sounds like you’re putting in work.”

  “You said you were going to stay home with Mya. So I figured I could take as long as I wanted. The stores close at nine.” She leaned near him for a kiss. Her scent, the fresh white tea oil she used on her body and hair infused his senses. He closed his eyes and pulled her close. She hugged him lightly. He inhaled anyway and held her there until she let go first.

  “Which mall are you going to?” he asked, following her to the edge of the stairs.

  “Umm, I hadn’t decided yet. I’ll call you when I get there.”

  “Venus,” he said, not sure of what he’d had in mind to say. Her china doll eyes stared up at him. She stood with one toned leg propped on the stair and the other smooth and straight on the landing. “I love you, baby.”

  “I love you, too,” she said. He had no choice but to believe her.

  41

  Venus

  “That was a good movie. Denzel hasn’t impressed me in a long while.” Airic lifted his arm and put it around my shoulder as we walked out of the theater. I gently lifted it back and removed it, placing his arm by his
side.

  “Not a good idea,” I said.

  “Right.” He nodded. He looked around and over his shoulder. “Forgot your husband was recently on America’s Most Wanted.”

  “Not funny.”

  He snickered at his own joke. “You know I’m kidding. Look, we’re forty miles away from your home, here in Gwinnett. Unless he has a tracking device on your car, I think you’re safe.” He paused for a moment. “Does he …. ?”

  “No. Please.” I gave it a moment’s thought. “Of course not.”

  “Good, ’cause I’m enjoying our time together.” He stopped in front of a restaurant with loud jazz playing out the open door. “Want to check it out?” The down and dirty rhythm of guitar, drums, and a touch of saxophone reminded me of a Tennessee Williams scene.

  “Sure. But the odds of them serving anything without bacon or ribs are slim to none.”

  “That’s okay. We’ll have a glass of wine, listen to some music, then find another place for dinner.”

  The darkness played into the blues setting. The darker the better. Even if I didn’t know a soul past the Mason-Dixon line, I couldn’t trust being seen with Airic.

  “So, do you and Trevelle go out much?” I said over the music.

  He leaned in close as if he didn’t hear me, too close, brushing his cheek against mine.

  “I said, you and Trevelle …. go out …. together?”

  “She wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.” He smiled, then brought my hand to his lips and lingered.

  The wine arrived along with a basket of rolls. I grabbed a roll and took a giant bite and chewed as if it were my last dying meal. I was taking my life in my hands after all. If Jake found out Airic and I were sitting around in dark theaters and jazz bars I could kiss my butt good-bye. Look for me buried with my ancestors in the backyard.

  “I wish you didn’t have to go back tonight,” Airic said, eyeing my crossed legs spilling out of my jean skirt.

  “I have a curfew,” I said.

  “You’re a grown woman and you have a curfew. Nice.”

  “I do.” I gave his arm a pat. “Your phone is ringing.” He looked down to see the blue light blinking on his hip. I spun around in the bar chair to face the musicians, grateful for the break. I knew it could only be his wife and he’d have to go outside to answer the phone. But to my astonishment, he remained in his seat. He leaned his chin over my shoulder and breathed in my ear. “Since you have a curfew, we should leave and go someplace quiet.” He finished off his proposition with a kiss on my neck. He spun my bar chair around so I was facing him. He put his hands on my thighs and pushed up to the hemline. “You never dressed like this when we were together.”

  My hands covered his. I leaned into his face and did the unthinkable. Our lips touched. His mouth opened slightly. My lips parted and I knew his tongue was approaching. “Change is good, don’t you think?” I said, pulling away.

  “Change is necessary.” He cradled the back of my head with his hand. This time I couldn’t get away. He engulfed my face with his wet mouth and tongue kissed me like a teenaged boy in the back of a Buick who wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  I stayed still, waiting for the out of body experience to lapse, my hands positioned in the air as if I were conducting an orchestra, and my legs crossed as if I still had a shred of dignity left. He held on to handfuls of my hair and pressed his cheek against mine. “Please, let’s go somewhere. Alone,” he panted, warm breath against my skin, “please.”

  42

  Trevelle

  Even after Trevelle had left several messages Airic hadn’t called her back. She was furious. After it was her idea, her hard work and effort that brought him and his daughter together, he had the audacity to treat her like gum on the bottom of his shoe. Trevelle would not stand by and watch his little visits turn him into the rescuing prince while she was portrayed as the evil stepmother.

  Her frustrations were interrupted by the knock at her bedroom door. She’d already shooed her housekeeper, Nita, away several times. The woman was getting more and more impossible. There were six other rooms she could be dusting and cleaning. Five other toilets she could be washing. Didn’t stop her from hovering around Trevelle’s door like an alley cat.

  Trevelle swung the door open revved up to say something appropriately rude to make Nita understand she did not want to be interrupted again. Instead she found Airic standing before her like a wounded soldier back from battle. His warm expression said he was sorry before she had a chance to do any reprimanding. Airic came inside and sat quietly, taking off his tie.

  “What happened? I was worried sick about you.”

  “I was in an area that had no reception.” Airic looked Trevelle directly in the eye with a bit too much effort.

  “Well, how was your visit?” Trevelle asked.

  “Good. Mya’s an angel. Sweet girl.”

  “Where’d you go? You and Mya?”

  “A movie.”

  “Another movie, nice. What’d you see?’

  “Ahh, the one with the animals. A cartoon. Then we went to the aquarium.” He stood up and stretched. “I just wanted to stop in and tell you that I was home, but I’m exhausted. I think I’ll go lay down, maybe catch a nap before the charity dinner tonight.”

  “That’s probably a good idea,” she said. “You look tired.”

  “All right, I’m detecting a little hostility. What?” he said.

  “Nothing. I didn’t say a word. Just can’t figure out why you couldn’t return one of my calls.”

  “I was in an underground aquarium. I think it’s a little difficult to get reception when you’re surrounded by concrete and steel.”

  “Please, don’t make silly excuses,” Trevelle said, unable to maintain calm any longer. “You blatantly avoided my calls.”

  “Because I was visiting my child. My time is limited as it is.”

  “It would’ve taken you two minutes out of your time with your precious child,” she shouted.

  “And I’m sick of you giving me a hard time,” Airic shouted. “I wanted a minute of peace. Is that too much to ask?”

  “Leave. I want you out of here. Out of my house.”

  “Your house?” he questioned.

  “My house,” she spat. “My house. My world. I let you in. I trusted you and you have the nerve to turn your back on me.” She paced back and forth. “The minute you put someone before me, you showed me what kind of man you truly are.”

  He let his head fall in his hands. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you feel that way. But now is not the time. We’ve got to stick together if we want to welcome Mya into a spiritually healthy family.”

  Trevelle did her best not to choke on the laugh caught in her throat. “Stick together? I told you from the beginning we should stay united. I begged you. And what did you do, fly solo to Atlanta all big and bad, not once or twice, three times. My child,” she huffed to mimic him, “not yours.” She paced and then stopped with her finger in his face. “I swore as God is my witness I would never allow myself to be hurt by any man. You have disrespected me and I will not allow it.”

  Airic gently reached out to her with the need to be forgiven.

  “Let go of me,” she uttered weakly into the well of his neck. Her resolve sank. She didn’t want him to let go, not really. She wished things could go back to the way they were when it was just the two of them. She wished she hadn’t prodded him into accepting responsibility for the child he’d fathered. If time could go back, all she’d wish for was to be loved by him the way a husband is supposed to love a wife.

  “I will never hurt you again. I love you. Do you understand that? I promise,” he whispered. “I don’t want anyone but you. You understand? No one is more important in my life than you.” He guided her chin closer, tracing her bottom lip with his thumb.

  Trevelle felt the familiar confusion, the combination of anger and lust when someone was treating her badly, but at the same time confusing her
senses, making her feel so good. She needed Airic. She needed his touch and his love. She swore after many years of counseling and soul-searching she’d never fall into another vicious cycle of abuse. She had to be clear not to fall back into an unhealthy relationship.

  “Ouch. Damn that hurt. What’d you do that for?” Airic staggered back, holding his groin area and bending over. “I said I was sorry and it wouldn’t happen again. What do you want from me?”

  “Funny, this is the third time I heard those words, but it seems that your frequent flyer miles keep adding up.” He should’ve known by now, once she’d made up her mind it would be easier stopping a charging rhino than changing her way of thinking.

  “I’m going to give you a minute to think more reasonably. You let me know when you come to your senses.” Airic ducked, as one of Trevelle’s Gucci pumps turned into a projectile as he exited Trevelle’s bedroom.

  “Get out.” She slammed the door behind him. Now what? She paced back and forth. It was she who’d encouraged Airic to go after Mya. She who drew the first sword and began this little war. Now that the sword had been turned on her, she didn’t know how to stop the damage from being done.

  Eddie Ray arrived at her front door holding the large sealed envelope. Trevelle had forgotten all about their meeting, even after he’d called to confirm only two days before.

  “We had a meeting, three o’clock,” Eddie Ray said, his huge frame blocking the bright sunlight from the entrance. He sensed his presence was a surprise.

  She took the envelope with lackluster interest, motioning for him to come inside. “What is this?” She closed the door after peeking outside to make sure Airic was nowhere around. He followed her into her office.