by D. Camille
“Sure Sean. Your friends are always welcome.”
Sean stood and walked over to his mother kissing her cheek. “Thanks Ma.”
“Bye Daddy,” he said smiling at his father before he left for school.
When he was gone, Carolyn turned to her husband.
“I came to visit you at your office the other day and you weren't there.”
“And I was looking for you last night,” she told him.
Xavier looked at her. “I had to take care of some things,” he said gently.
Carolyn tilted her head. “What about taking care of me Xavier?” she questioned.
“Everything I do is to take care of you Carolyn. You and Sean,” he calmly responded.
Carolyn looked him directly in the eye. “Are you cheating on me?” she accused.
Xavier stood and walked over to her taking her hand. “I am not cheating on you Carolyn. I love you. I've always loved you.”
“Then where are you disappearing to Xavier? What is going on?” she cried.
Xavier sighed. “I'm doing what's best for all of us,” he told her before kissing her cheek.
“I'll see you later.”
With that, he walked out of the room leaving Carolyn with more questions than she had before.
Sean sat in Jordan's bedroom waiting for Jordan to get dressed for school.
“Jordan. We're going to be late and we still have to pick up Izzy,” Sean told him.
Thirteen-year-old Jordan stepped out of his walk-in closet that was filled to capacity.
“I'm trying to figure out which tie to wear,” he told Sean holding a few ties in his hand.
Sean shook his head. “It's just school Jordan. Nobody wears ties but you.”
“A man never knows what opportunity may occur so he should always look his best,” Jordan recited.
“That's your Daddy talking and he doesn't go to school with us,” Sean reminded.
Jordan gave him a look. “Just hold up. I'll be ready in a minute.”
Jordan surveyed all the ties and then selected one tying it quickly around his neck.
“You're just jealous because I look fly all the time,” he teased Sean.
Sean gave him a look. “Yeah, all the girls love it,” Sean said sarcastically.
“I don't care about those girls at school,” Jordan told him. “I care about cash. I'm going to be stupid rich.”
“Besides, I don't see girls flocking to you either,” he said pointedly to Sean.
Sean shrugged. “I'm interested in school and getting good grades so I can be a great lawyer. I'm going to protect people who can't fight for themselves.”
Jordan smiled. “Well when I'm filthy rich and you're a famous lawyer we won't have to worry about getting girls.”
Sean shook his head. “Speaking of girls...can we go get Izzy now?”
“Izzy's not going anywhere Sean,” Jordan sighed.
Sean smiled. “Do you still like her?”
Jordan looked over at him while packing his book bag. “No.”
“Why not?” Sean asked. “She's really pretty.”
Jordan went back to his bag. “Yeah, Izzy's really pretty and nice, but she likes someone else.”
Sean looked surprised. “What? Really?”
“Yeah.” Jordan zipped his bag.
Sean laughed. “Maybe you should beat him up and then she'll like you instead?”
Jordan gave Sean a look. “Yeah, I thought about that a while ago... but nah.”
Both boys picked up their bags and headed out the door. They walked the short way to Izzy's house and when they got there, she was waiting outside.
“I didn't think you guys were coming,” she told them as they joined her.
Sean looked at Jordan. “Jordan was getting dressed.”
Izzy nodded. “Say no more.”
Jordan smirked as Izzy and Sean laughed before they all began walking the path to school.
Sean smiled. “So Izzy, Jordan says that you have a crush on somebody.”
Izzy looked at Jordan. “Jordan should mind his own business,” she said nicely.
Jordan smiled and kept walking.
“So is he going to hang out with us?” Sean asked kindly.
“Yeah Izzy, is he going to hang out with us?” Jordan asked looking at her.
Izzy returned Jordan’s look with narrowed eyes. “No. He's not. And I'd rather not discuss this if you two don't mind,” she said walking ahead of them.
Sean looked at Jordan confused but Jordan shrugged and kept walking. When they caught up with Izzy, she gave them both the look and they didn't mention anything else about it.
“We're going to the park this afternoon Izzy. Are you coming with us?” Sean asked.
Izzy smiled at Sean. “Sure. I'll go to the park with you guys.”
When they got to the school, Izzy turned to Jordan. “Nice tie Jordan,” she teased him.
“I know,” he answered seriously walking into the building.
Sean and Izzy looked at each other and shook their heads.
Later that afternoon, Sean, Jordan and Izzy had gone home and changed before heading to the park. When they arrived Jordan headed for the basketball court and Sean and Izzy followed.
“Come on Sean, let's play ball,” Jordan invited.
“No thank you.”
Jordan sighed. “Why'd you come to the park then?”
“There are other things to do besides playing basketball Jordan,” Sean told him.
Jordan tossed the ball to Sean. “One game.”
The ball hit Sean on the chest and fell to the ground.
“The only reason you want to play Jordan is because you know you can beat me,” Sean told him.
Jordan shrugged. “Exactly.”
Sean pushed the ball back towards Jordan. “No. I don't want to play.”
Jordan picked up the ball and tossed it to Sean yet again. This time Sean caught the ball and threw it away from the court and onto the grassy play area nearby.
“Why in the hell did you do that?” Jordan yelled.
Sean shrugged. “It wasn't me, it was Benjamin Rucker. He's an Olympic disc thrower today and he wanted to see how far he could throw a basketball.”
Sean turned to see where the ball landed. “He's great at everything,” Sean told him.
Jordan's eyes narrowed as he stalked away to retrieve the ball. Izzy looked at Sean hiding a smile before Jordan returned with the ball and walked up to Sean.
“Do it again and we're going to have problems,” he threatened.
Sean turned to Izzy. “Well Izzy, Benjamin Rucker is now an ice cream connoisseur. May I buy you some ice cream?” he offered.
Izzy looked between the two boys and shook her head. “Sure Sean, I'd love some ice cream.”
Sean and Izzy left a steaming Jordan at the court and walked to the refreshment stand to get in line. By the time they made it to the front, Jordan had joined them. They all ordered ice cream and Jordan pulled out his wallet.
“I've got it,” he told them pulling out some bills.
“I can pay for the ice cream Jordan,” Sean told him.
Jordan shrugged. “I know. I got it though,” Jordan said walking away.
The trio walked to an outdoor table and sat down with their ice cream.
“You know I'm going to kill Benjamin Rucker, don't you?” Jordan told Sean.
Sean smiled. “You can't. He's immortal.”
Izzy laughed and Jordan frowned.
“I hate we even had that stupid assignment,” Jordan muttered.
“I'm not. I would have never found The Black Herman also known as Benjamin Rucker, one of the first black illusionists in history,” Sean said.
“And my life would have been better off,” Jordan told him.
Izzy paused eating her ice cream. “I thought it was pretty fun having to find someone we admired and wanted to be like in the future.”
“I wouldn't have found out about Betye Saar, the great
African American female artist and how her art impacted the negative ideas of black people,” she informed them.
Jordan looked at them both. “Well I didn't have to go into history to find out who I admired and wanted to be like. My Daddy is who I want to be like.”
“We know Jordan,” both Sean and Izzy said simultaneously.
Jordan smiled. “Don't hate because my Daddy is the bomb.” He went back to eating his ice cream.
That evening Carolyn found Sean and Izzy on the sofa watching television when she went to inform them that dinner was ready.
“Where's Jordan?” she asked.
Sean looked at Izzy. “He went home to change clothes,” he answered.
Carolyn looked confused. “Okay. Well dinner is ready if you two want to go into the dining room.” Carolyn turned to go back to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. She made her way to the door and opened it to find an immaculately dressed Jordan.
She smiled. “Hello Jordan.”
“Hi Mrs. Jackson,” Jordan responded with a smile and Carolyn was instantly transported back to last night. Jordan was the spitting image of Justin and Carolyn knew that one day he would be just as much trouble as his father.
“My Daddy said to thank you for having me over for dinner. He also told me to give you this,” Jordan said handing her an envelope.
Carolyn stared at the square envelope now in her hand before looking back to Jordan.
“You're welcome Jordan, anytime. Sean and Isabelle are in the dining room already,” she told him.
He gave a quick thanks and went to meet his friends.
Carolyn took the envelope and returned to the kitchen. Taking a seat on one of the stools, she quickly opened it and read:
Carolyn,
Last night was only a prelude of things to come. I've reserved room 515 at the Loews in Hollywood every Tuesday for the next three months. I will be there every week waiting to give you everything you desire.
Carolyn quickly tore the letter into pieces and dumped it inside the trash. She had to find out what was going on with Xavier. If he didn't want her anymore she had to know because Justin Black was becoming very hard to resist.
For the next two weeks Carolyn did everything in her power to find out what was going on with her husband. Xavier was still missing in action at times but continued to vow that he wasn't cheating on her.
Today he was home working in his office and Carolyn decided to confront him again. She walked to the door and heard him on the telephone.
“No, I haven't told Carolyn,” she heard him say.
“I don't know how to tell her. It's going to break her heart.” Carolyn's hand flew to her heart.
Xavier sighed. “I can't believe I'm doing this to her. What is she going to do when I'm gone?”
Carolyn's mouth opened. Xavier was planning to leave her.
“I don't want to leave her like this and leave my son...” He sounded tortured.
“But I have no choice. It's out of my hands now.”
Carolyn turned and ran from the room, grabbed her purse and quickly left out the door.
Inside her car, Carolyn broke down in tears. Her husband was leaving her. What was she going to do? She'd never worked a day in her life. Would Xavier still provide for her and Sean?
She thought of how she would become a disgrace in her circle. Her friends would laugh and mock her for not being able to keep her husband. She didn't understand why Xavier would do this to her...and to Sean. It was so out of his character.
Xavier was a kind, loving and honest man. He'd always taken care of her and provided everything she ever needed. What had changed to make him not want her anymore?
Full of pain and anger Carolyn started the car and drove to a nearby coffee shop. Inside she pulled out her phone and made the worst decision of her life. She dialed the infamous number and the secretary immediately put her call through.
“Carolyn,” the deep baritone greeted.
She took a deep breath. “I know it's not Tuesday, but I want to see you.”
“Meet me there in thirty minutes,” he told her.
“I'll be there.”
Carolyn pulled up to the hotel and parked. Grabbing her bag, she slowly entered the building and headed to the elevators. When she reached the fifth floor, she walked down the hall until she reached the room she sought. Outside the door, she took a deep breath.
This was something she had never done before. In fifteen years of marriage to Xavier she had never once contemplated cheating on him. He had never given her any reason to. She knew what awaited her on the other side of the door. Justin Black.
Fear and anticipation escalated inside of her as she knocked softly. The door was opened and dark penetrating eyes looked down at her. No words were spoken or needed as Justin led her inside the room. He didn't allow for thinking or even breathing, as he got right down to business.
Justin began undressing her as soon as he closed the door and Carolyn was swept away in a tidal wave of blatant unabashed passion. Before she knew it, she was naked and Justin was lifting her onto the bed. That dark gaze caressed her body as he began to undress with her watching.
“Justin...” she began and he shook his head as he continued to remove his clothing.
When he was naked he climbed on the bed over her. “The only thing I want to hear is how much you're enjoying what I'm doing to you and how much more you want me to give you.”
His mouth and hands were everywhere on her body in a complete onslaught. His heat was so intense that Carolyn tried to shield herself from it by tightening her legs, but Justin was not going to be deterred.
“Don't,” he warned. “You want it.”
He captured her mouth demanding everything she had to give, taking her breath, her mind, and possibly her soul. She inevitably gave in to what he was delivering and her body accepted his magnificence and accommodated him in every way.
“Now tell me how much you want it,” he breathed against her neck as he moved within her.
This was far beyond what Carolyn had imagined being with Justin would be like. This heat, this power, this capturing of her was something she'd never experienced. She found it exciting, thrilling and enticing.
“I want it. All of it,” she told him and was rewarded with a wicked smile.
Justin flipped her over on bed to where she was on top. Dark eyes mesmerized her.
“Then take it.”
And take it she did. Carolyn had never been so aggressive and out of control, but Justin brought that side out in her. He commanded it and would accept nothing less. Justin turned her over, sideways and upside down. He bit her skin and pulled her hair and she loved every minute of it never thinking about the repercussions of her actions.
Chapter 3
A few days after Sean’s last visit to the facility, Carolyn met with her therapist. Dr. Williams was working with Carolyn to deal with the anger and pain she carried inside. She sat in his office taking in the view from his window.
“Carolyn how are you feeling?” he asked.
Carolyn shrugged. “Good, I guess.”
“Is there something you'd like to talk about?” he asked.
Carolyn sighed. “I've been thinking about my affair with Justin Black and how it destroyed me.”
“Why do you feel it destroyed you Carolyn?”
“The guilt.”
Dr. Williams nodded. “Why do you have so much guilt Carolyn?”
A tear slid down her face. “Because when I started it...I didn't know...” she said softly.
“Didn't know what?”
Carolyn was transported back to the day she found out the truth...
Two months into her affair with Justin, Carolyn was on cloud nine. Not only did Justin completely rock her world in bed, he showered her with gifts. Whenever he called, she made it her business to be where he was. She was so enamored with Justin that she stopped paying any attention to Xavier.
She returned one night from one of her trysts
with Justin to find Xavier sitting in a darkened room. Stepping inside she called his name.
When he answered she asked, “Why are you sitting in the dark?”
“How was your time with Justin?” he asked.
Carolyn was shocked. “Wh...what?”
“I know that you're having an affair with Justin,” he said calmly.
“What about you Xavier? What was I supposed to do, just wait until you left me for another woman?” she accused.
Xavier sighed. “There is no other woman Carolyn, but you're right I am leaving you.”
“What are you talking about? If there is no other woman, why are you leaving me?”
“I'm dying Carolyn. I have cancer,” he said softly.
Carolyn froze. “What did you say?”
Xavier leaned forward in his chair. “I have cancer. I've been keeping it from you and Sean for the last year. I'd hoped that I could find a way to beat this, but it's too late.”
Carolyn rushed to his side dropping to her knees beside his chair.
“What do you mean it's too late?” she cried.
“I've tried everything and it hasn't worked. I only have a few months left.”
“Nooooo Xavier! Why didn't you tell me?” she screamed.
Xavier touched her hand. “I didn't want you to worry.”
Carolyn placed her head in his lap crying. “I'm sorry Xavier! Oh God, I'm so sorry!”
“I'm not angry with you Carolyn.” He patted her head.
She looked up at him through her tears. “How can you not be?”
“I want you to be happy.”
“I was happy. Happy with you Xavier, until I thought you were leaving me for someone else.”
“I need you to be strong for Sean,” he told her.
She looked at him astonished. “For Sean, who's going to be strong for me Xavier?”
“You've made your choices Carolyn. I need you to take care of Sean. Make sure he goes to college and has a good life.”
Carolyn got to her feet. “Is that your only concern?”
“Right now at this moment, yes it is.”
“What about me Xavier? What's going to happen to me?”