For the next thirty minutes the two men chatted, their conversation passing easily from science to golfing and from medicine to sports. Both were huge Redskins fans, though Dan professed to still be learning the game. A phone call interrupted their casual conversation. Dan went back to his office and Randall spent the next few hours reading, returning phone calls, and checking his mail. He was just about to head to the lab when the intern walked by.
“Evan.”
Evan stepped back. “Hello, Dr. Atwater.”
Randall waved him in. “Glad I saw you. Interesting article you found on the African cacti.”
“It looked like something that might be useful to your work, sir. Dan agreed.”
“Both of you were right. I’d like you to keep digging, forward anything and everything you find on the subject, including contact information for any of the personnel connected to the study.”
“Hey, if you go to Africa, can I tag along?”
Randall’s face was one of amused surprise. “You’d want to?”
“Absolutely. I’d love to be a part of a scientific or medical breakthrough.”
“I appreciate your hard work while you’re here. You’re heading back to Cornell for your junior year, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“Well, you’re doing well here, so keep in touch. When it’s time to find employment, we just might be able to work something out.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” Randall began shuffling papers, a sign that the conversation was over. “All right, let’s get back to work.”
Evan began walking toward the door. “Oh, Dr. Atwater?” Randall looked up. “Yes?”
“Have you spoken to Jacqueline since returning back home?”
The hairs on Randall’s neck stood up. “No,” he replied, as calmly as his suddenly tense nerves would allow. “Why would you ask?”
“I ran into her yesterday when she stopped by the office.“
“What office?” Randall queried with a crease in his brow.
“Uh, this office.” Sensing Randall’s unease, Evan hurriedly added, “She was getting the paperwork you left for her, the information you gave your secretary for her to pick up? Thought she might have called you about it.”
“Oh, right. The papers. Thanks for letting me know she got them, Evan. Now, could you please close the door on your way out?” Randall watched him leave, and as soon as the door latch clicked shut, he picked up the phone and dialed the security firm protecting their building. He forced his voice to remain calm when the call was answered. “Yes, this is Dr. Atwater. There’s been a breach in our office security. I need to speak to the captain, and I need to speak to him now.”
Sherri reached for another grape as she studied the information on her iPad. She was happy, excited, and a wee bit nervous. Going to Vegas had been just what the marriage doctor ordered, and the stunt that Jacqueline pulled had been a blessing in disguise. She believed that Randall had been faithful, and a long sistah-girl chat with Renee had helped her refocus on that fact. It had also led to a conversation she’d had with her husband on the plane ride back to D.C. She’d been pleased at Randall’s reaction when she’d mentioned returning to the workplace, if only part-time.
“You gave up a lot to support me,” he’d said, reaching for her hand and squeezing. “The kids are growing up, the business is doing well. If that’s what you want to do, if it will make you happy, then . . . go for it.”
So here she sat, having Googled and Binged and called former associates to try to get a bead on the education climate today. When she’d left her career, she’d been on a fast track to becoming a principal, then a president, and eventually a college dean. Those days and dreams were behind her; the desire to reach those heights had passed. But the genuine love of teaching remained inside her, the joy in giving back still stirred her soul. Maybe I should research alternative options for sharing knowledge. She sat back, popped another grape, and thought about academics within detention centers, prisons, and centers for people at risk. Randall and I are so fortunate. Our children are receiving the best education that money can buy. She stood and walked to the plate-glass window that covered most of the back of the great room. She took in the perfectly landscaped yard with its cabana and pool. They have every tool at their disposal, everything needed to ensure success. Thinking back to her and her husband’s challenging childhoods increased her interest in this new possibility: going outside of her tony environment and using her education to help those who needed it most. A smile scampered across her face as she felt a conviction about this direction, felt goose bumps of excitement cover her arm. She thought of her mom, the woman who’d inspired her love of teaching, and decided to give her a call.
“Mom, guess what?” she began by way of greeting, placing the phone on speaker as she walked around the room.
“Sherri? How are you, baby?”
“I’m fantastic!”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Randall and I just returned from a short vacation, during which I decided to return to teaching. I’m going back into the classroom, Mom.”
“Well, now. This is a surprise. No wonder you sound so happy. And Randall approves?”
“Yes. He said that if it made me happy, then I had his full support.”
“That’s wonderful, Sherri.”
Sherri paused, listening closely to see if she heard anything amiss in her mother’s voice or breathing. “How about you, Mom? Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, girl!” Sherri heard the frustration in her mother’s voice. “I keep telling everybody that. And I’m still angry at Constance for suggesting I need someone taking care of me full-time. I can take care of myself.”
“Ms. Riley only does what she does because she loves you.” Sherri’s voice was soft as she shared this truth. “As you probably know, she’s going to St. Louis soon, and may be moving there. We all want you safe. Nathan and I have been looking at in-home care agencies and are close to choosing one to find your nurse.”
“Hmph.”
“Maybe you don’t need a full-time nurse. But you do need a companion, besides Lady, okay? Think about it, Mom. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to share breakfast with, join you for your walks, or engage in a game of gin rummy? Someone to take you shopping or sit with you at church?”
“Got my own friends in the congregation, and I don’t need babysitting.”
“I know.” Sherri worked hard to keep the smile out of her voice. “But you’re all that Nathan and I have. If anything happened to you, and we could have done something to prevent it, we would never forgive ourselves. So will you consider it? For us? Let us send a couple women over and just see how you like it?”
“I guess so, Sherri. Sometimes I do get scared at night, wondering if something happened how long would it take for someone to find out.”
This statement tugged at Sherri’s heart. “You could always come up here and live with us, Mom. We’ve told you that for years.”
“It will be a cold day down under before I share another woman’s kitchen. Even my daughter’s. That’s just asking for trouble.”
“Then it’s settled. As soon as Nathan and I have selected an agency, and they provide a couple candidates, we’ll let you know.” Sherri heard the doorbell. “Mom, I need to go. Someone’s at the door. I love you.”
“Love you too, baby.”
“Bye.”
Sherri’s thoughts were running from classrooms to companions as she walked to the door. Even so, her heart was filled with happiness. She had a loving husband and a beautiful family, a marriage back on track, and now, the opportunity to return to the career that she loved. How could life get any better than that?
One look through the side-pane, and she had her answer.
“Jacqueline . . . Tate, right?” She shook her head sadly, and crossed her arms. “You are an unhappy, jealous, and pitiful woman, with a hell of a lot of n
erve coming to my house.”
CHAPTER 35
Jacqueline removed her oversized, Jackie Onassis–inspired shades. She was as cool as a winter breeze, dressed in a simple yellow halter-dress and Lanvin ballet flats. No one in the world, especially Blair, would believe that this same woman had arrived on this doorstep as a tackily dressed cleaning woman just two days ago. “Hello, Sherri. May I come in?”
Sherri stepped out onto her front porch and closed the door behind her. “Absolutely not.” She looked across the street and noticed a neighbor walking his dog and another one driving by, waving as she passed. Sherri waved back, and used the same smile she’d pasted on for the sake of that driver to keep herself from punching Jacqueline straight in the mouth. But she loved this neighborhood and had no plans to move. Holding in the rage might cause a heart attack or stroke, but she would not give this woman the satisfaction of making a scene. “How did you get through our security gates?”
“The same way I got into your husband’s bed,” Jacqueline replied, casually inspecting her nails before looking at Sherri. “Determination.”
Resisting the urge to curse, Sherri walked over to the seating area hidden from the street by an ivy-covered lattice. “Is that so?” she asked, as she sat and inspected her nails as well. Inside her head, however, were visions of Jacqueline’s head meeting pavement as Sherri dragged her from the porch to her car . . . by her feet.
Jacqueline joined Sherri in the sitting area. “Sherri, I came here in hopes that we could talk peacefully, sensibly, woman to woman. I don’t know you, and wish you nothing but the best. Honestly, I do. I believe you love Randall and the idea of a picture-perfect family. But life happens, and when it does, we have to adjust. Randall and I didn’t mean to fall in love with each other . . . but we did.”
Sherri turned so that she was facing Jacqueline directly. “You seem like a smart girl, so there are a few things I’m going to tell you. But I want you to listen carefully because I’ll only say them once. If you ever get up the nerve to ring my doorbell again . . . we won’t be talking.” She ignored the smirk on Jacqueline’s face and continued. “Randall and I have been married for over a decade, in fact, almost fifteen years. We are not only spouses, but best friends. There are no secrets between us.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I knew about you from the beginning, Jacqueline, when you set up the interview in LA. I know about the romantic dinner, the subsequent coincidental meetings in various hotels, and how you tried to incite suspicion by showing up at the door to our Vegas suite. None of this has been spontaneous, in my opinion. No, you planned this shit.
“I’ll admit it.The scent of perfume that wasn’t mine almost got me out of character. Almost, but not quite. I trust my husband.
“Randall was right about one thing. You are beautiful. But from your recent actions, including being on my porch right now, it’s obvious that you’re not too smart.” Sherri stood. “I’m going to go inside my house and call the police. Shortly after that, I’ll be heading to the police station with a copy of your picture and a request for a restraining order. I will also alert our homeowners association and the guards at the gate about the trespasser who somehow got past them and on to my street. And I’ll make sure that they keep the surveillance footage of your entrance, just like I’ll keep the footage captured by our personal security cameras of you on my porch right now.” Sherri nodded toward a camera discreetly tucked between two beams. “Now, get off my porch and out of our lives. Use your assets to get your own man, and stop this foolish, impossible attempt at trying to take mine.”
It had taken all Sherri had to remain calm, but Jacqueline’s smug look had her anger rising to the boiling point. She knew if she didn’t get away from this woman soon, things were going to get ugly.
“Goodbye, Jacqueline.” She turned and walked toward the door.
Jacqueline stood and walked to the steps. “Sherri,” she said, turning back after taking the first step down. “Since Randall tells you everything, will you let me know when he tells you where he found my panties? Albany came home early from her day trip with Lauren and I had to, uh, leave in a hurry. It was quite the romp we had in your bed. You know how insatiable he can be. I was wearing them when I came here. But not when I left. So they’ve got to be somewhere around that gorgeous, mahogany, custom-made four-poster.”
She took two more steps and turned once more. “Those TempurPedic mattresses really are amazing.” With a flip of her hair over her shoulder, she bounced down the steps.
Sherri followed, ready to go with this nervy heifah for fifteen rounds.
“Hey, Mom!”
The sound of Aaron’s voice stopped her. She turned to see him walking toward her from the opposite direction of where Jacqueline now fled. His best friend, Hunter, rode a skateboard alongside him. She tried and failed to put a smile on her face.
“See you later, Aaron,” Hunter said, once they’d reached the Atwater sidewalk.
“All right, man.” Aaron fell into step beside his mother as they neared the porch. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She opened the door and walked in, then held it so that Aaron could follow.
“Who was that woman?”
Darn it. He saw her. Sherri had been so hoping that he hadn’t. “Nobody important.”
“Looks like y’all were arguing.”
“Well, we weren’t! Okay?!” Immediately regretting her outburst, Sherri took yet another calming breath. “Just a little misunderstanding, that’s all.”
“About what?”
“Not now, Aaron. I’m not in the mood!”
“All right. Geez.” Aaron walked toward the kitchen and Sherri headed for the privacy of the master suite.
Once inside, she closed the door and reached for the home phone. “Girl, I’m so glad you answered,” she said to Renee, “because I need to ask you a serious question.”
“Sure, anything,” Renee replied.
“If anything happens to me, will you raise my children?”
“Oh my God, Sherri, why would you ask me that?”
“Because I can’t raise them from prison, and if that witch Jacqueline shows up at my front door again, that’s exactly where I’ll be.”
Randall pulled into the garage and turned off the engine. His hands stayed on the wheel, clutching it tightly. He was still trying to figure out what the hell had happened, and how what he thought was a casual friendship had turned into Jacqueline acting like a love-starved fool! And coming to his office without his knowledge or permission, on the pretext of picking up papers? For what? This knowledge, after what she had pulled in Vegas, left him with a very bad feeling. The office. Wait, she was there that day, right before I fell asleep. Could she have . . . ? No, I don’t think so. That notion is too far out, even for her. He sat there, rigid, as questions continued to plague him. Why had she gone back to the office? What was she looking for? What did she want? “James warned me about her,” he mumbled, reaching for his briefcase and iPad case. “I should have listened.”
He entered his home through a hallway that led from the garage to the kitchen. The first thing he noticed was that it was quiet. Too quiet for a weeknight at the Atwater house.The second thing he noticed was that there was no food on the stove-top, no delicious smells wafting up to tickle his nostrils and tantalize his senses. Given the events of the day, the bad feeling in his gut worsened. “Sherri.”
Loosening his tie after placing his briefcase and iPad on a table in the hallway, he mounted the stairs. “Baby, where are you?” He entered their room. Sherri was standing near the foot of the bed, arms crossed, foot impatiently tapping the floor.
Her demeanor stopped him cold. “Baby, what’s wrong?” “Don’t.” She held up her hands, as if blocking his words from reaching her body. “Don’t even stand there trying to look as if you don’t know what’s wrong.”
“How’d you find out?” Randall was genuinely confused as to how Sherri could know about
Jacqueline’s visit to the office.
“How do you think I found out? She came over here, Randall. That woman had the nerve to bring her ass to my house!”
“How in the hell does she know where we live?”
“You tell me. And while you’re at it, tell me how she knows the style of our bed and the type of mattress.”
CHAPTER 36
“Sherri,” Randall began in a pleading voice as he walked toward his wife. He stopped a couple feet away from her, dissuaded from going any further by her frown as much as anything else. “I swear to God, I don’t know what’s going on here. A week ago I saw her in Chicago and she was cordial but professional, and then we got to Las Vegas where she acted like she’d lost her damn mind!”
“People don’t just ‘go crazy’ all of a sudden,” Sherri replied, using air quotes for emphasis. “And you still haven’t answered how that woman knows the style of our bed.”
“I. Don’t. Know.”
“Have you brought her to this house, Randall?”
“Of course not!”
“Have you slept with her?”
“No, Sherri, I told you that there was nothing going on with her and me.”
“You’ve told me a lot of things: that you had dinner in LA,” she began, counting on her fingers. “That she interviewed you in your suite, instead of the restaurant or the lobby or anywhere a man with an ounce of sense would have conducted it. That you went to a Broadway play together.”
“There was supposed to be a group of us. The others didn’t show up.”
“How convenient.” She sounded anything but convinced. “You’re spending time with a woman who’s obviously enamored of you, and then acting surprised that she got caught up!”
Randall walked over to the bed and wearily sat down. “I admit that we flirted around, but you know that about me, babe. I may toss a compliment out or give a wink, but it’s never more than that. Yes, all of what you just pointed out is true. I did all of those things. But I wish you could have been there to see the innocence of those meetings. Even while we were together in the suite’s living room . . . nothing happened. We sat in two chairs with a table between us. Once the interview was over, she left the room. And never came back—in any city, at any time.”
The Perfect Affair Page 19