Secrets of a Kept Woman (Volume 1)

by Shani Greene-Dowdell

  “Hey, baby!” He beamed as he stood up and walked to the door to meet me. He took my bags from my hand, placed them on the floor, and lifted me up to his height, so that we were eye level. “Damn, you’re lookin’ good as ever, Shay. I missed you so much while you were gone, baby. I almost didn’t know what to do with myself.” He moaned and kissed my lips between words.

  Even though I knew there was a great chance I was living a lie, I had to admit that it felt good having this Titus home, at last. This was the man I fell in love with on the high school grounds back in the day – the man that made me feel that it was only me that made his heartbeat. In the back of my mind, I feared that his recent change was only temporary, but I was going to enjoy it for what it was worth while it lasted.

  “Come on, and show your pretty self off to Daddy, Mama,” he whispered in my ear. He licked his lips and added the cherry on top. “You don’t know how much I been missing you, do you?”

  “I have an idea, but I have something special planned for you, so you’ll have to wait before you show me,” I said, slightly protesting the fact that he seemed to be rushing things.

  “I know you do,” He squeezed my butt in the palm of his hands, and said, “and it’s right here.”

  “No, Mister T.” I wiggled away from his grip and shook my index finger from side to side. “Don’t spoil my surprise. Give me thirty minutes to freshen up, and I’ll be right back.” With that said, he eased me back onto my feet.

  “Aight, but girl, don’t make me wait too long.” He moaned deeply again, and reclaimed my soft lips before letting go. “Go on and do what you’re going to do, and I’ll pour up some of that wine we got from the refinery in Cali while I wait on your sexy ass to get back downstairs.”

  “Cool,” I said, before dashing upstairs. Twenty minutes later, I sauntered into the room wearing a red lace bra, red G-string panties, and a pair of fire engine red six-inch heels. My lipstick was a fiery red, as well, but it was the spark in my husband’s eye as he sat in the dimly lit den that I planned to ignite. I could see his chest rise and fall with measured breaths as I walked toward him. It was nice to know that the sight of me still made his breathing erratic.

  Using the remote control, Titus turned off the TV and pressed the button to turn on the CD player. Sexual Healing by Al Green gently glided through the speakers, which was the perfect song for the occasion. He was too anxious to wait until I finished my teasing walk to greet him, so he stood up and met me half way. He took me into his arms, kissed my neck, and then placed butterfly kisses all over my face.

  Looking around at my den, for a brief moment I could see in my mind’s eye Rhonda’s mouth receiving my husband’s offerings. I had to get out of that room before I was unable to go through with my plan of forgiving and forgetting the despicable things Titus had done with her. I could feel the pain building up behind my eyes, threatening to reveal itself through my tear ducts. I was like a prisoner needing a change of venue – quick! Slowly and sensually backing away from him, I pulled the red whip from the back of my g-string and said, “Upstairs, Mister!”

  ***

  Later that night, I was sitting at Mama Rosas waiting to hang out with my Sisters From Another Mother - I guess we could still be called sisters. From the looks of The Jerry Springer Show, even sisters did evil things to each other, like what Rhonda had done. However, it was Gladys’ idea to have a girl’s night out intervention, since we had not done so in a month of Sundays (a long time for the three of us). She said that she had lots of details to share with us about how things were going with her and James since she got back from Miami. She also had some news to tell us about a special someone. I couldn’t wait to get the scoop!

  Apparently, James had been straight tripping, acting all lovey dovey, and trying to be nice since she had gotten back from Florida. She texted me the other day and said that James had been laying it on thick and heavy, talking about taking her on vacations and the whole nine. The Florida sun must have worked wonders on my sister for her husband to be ready to do all of that for her. She wanted us to get together, so that she could discuss all of her issues. I could not imagine what would be the problem, since her husband was finally getting his act together.

  I was game for the evening out with Gladys and that other thang of a friend, especially since Rhonda had no idea that I knew about her and Titus. What she would know by the end of the night though was that me and hubby were in a new place in our relationship. We were happy, no matter how she felt about it.

  Gladys chose Mama Rosas as our spot to meet up this time, a central location where we could meet and enjoy some of the best soul food in the southern part of the map. I was glad that she chose Mama Rosas, too, because I had mad respect for the people that owned the restaurant. Talk about starting a family business on nothing but a dream, and attracting customers from all over the United States! Plus, I was sure that I wouldn’t bang Rhonda’s head into a wall there, just on the strength that I respected Mama Rosa.

  I was the first to arrive at the restaurant, fifteen minutes early, by design. I wanted to be able to choose the booth closest to the window and place my drink order before Gladys and Rhonda arrived. In just fifteen minutes, I was going to be sitting face-to-face with the woman who called herself my friend while, at the same time, was secretly enjoying the flavor of my husband’s body. It would be the first time I had seen her since that dreadful day I had heard the two of them going at it in my home.

  I prepared myself for the phony get together, practicing fake smiles and genuine friendly gazes. I had a plan to bust Rhonda’s trifling tail wide open, but it would not be today. The most aggravating part about it all was the fact that she hadn’t called or came by our house since I caught her and Titus that day. She didn’t have a clue that I was on to them, but I could tell that the fact that Titus was spending more time with me was making her tart towards me, as well. Truth be told, she really didn’t give a damn about me from the get go. As always, it was all about her.

  I knew that Gladys didn’t know anything about Rhonda’s dirty deeds, because Gladys had made her opinions on mistresses sleeping with married men very clear over the years. She had a disdain for “those thieving putas,” as she liked to call them. All of the heartache that she had experienced with James made her overly sensitive to the issue. Plus, I knew that if Gladys had ever caught wind to the fact that Rhonda was doing anything with Titus, she would have told me in a heartbeat. Gladys was a loyal friend, unlike some people we all knew.

  Once I got settled into my ‘happy face’ look, I checked my phone and saw that Titus had texted me three times already. One time to tell me that he missed his ‘sweet love pot.’ The second time to tell me to hurry up and get back home, and the third time was just to say ‘I love you.’ How sweet of him! I thought. Or was it knowing that I was about to hang out with his secret girlfriend that was causing him so much angst that he had to keep checking in on me through millennial technology? If that wasn’t guilt, I surely couldn’t think of a time before that he would text me back to back like that. Perhaps he was worried that Rhonda would let something slip with me? With that on my mind and heart, I didn’t even bother to respond back. I had just

  placed my phone down on the table when Gladys walked in, sounding all happy-go-lucky.

  “Hey, Sister-from-Another-Mother!” My girl’s face was lit up like a Christmas tree. She looked so gorgeous basking in her new glow, smiling from cheek to cheek, hair flowing down her back and silky, and wearing a colorful sundress with matching sandals. It wasn’t like she didn’t always have a nice and neat appearance, keeping her hair, nails, clothing, and shoes on point. However, the new glow about her made her seem to brighten under the restaurant’s lighting. She looked like a brand new woman with highly lifted spirits.

  “Hey, you! You are looking gorgeous than ever. Your man must really be putting it on you!” I got right to the point. There were only a few things that could make a woman glow like that.

  �
��Does it look that obvious that I have un nuevo amor?” she smiled, and slid into the seat beside me and gave me a one-arm hug. “Si, chica. Si! He is putting it down. I’m putting it down. We both are putting it dooooowwwwn.” Gladys, giggled, at her use of slang and gave me a high five. I could see for the first time in years a contentedness surrounding her like a well protected fort – the kind of happiness that is impermeable, where nothing goes in or out without your permission. Silently, I was happy that she had made it to the restaurant before Rhonda and that her seat selection was beside me, because I sure as hell didn’t want Rhonda sitting next to me with her negative vibes.

  With the seat next to me taken, Rhonda would be forced to face me directly, which is exactly where I wanted to keep her from then on – in front of me. Not beside me, and definitely not behind me with the big knife that she was carrying around ready to stab a sister. I was going to keep her in clear view until I could only see her in my rearview. “Wait a minute, did you say nuevo amor? I know my Spanish is a little rusty, but girl, that means new!”

  Gladys just rolled her eyes and turned her head to the side, meaning ‘hell yes.’

  “OMG! Girl, now it all makes sense. Your trip to Florida. Girl, somebody else is putting it down, or James has really stepped his game up, because you look happier than I’ve seen you in years. Which one is it?”

  “The first, and I look happy, because I am happy. I see that Ronnie hasn’t told you who I ran into in Miami.”

  She sure had not given me any news about Gladys and that probably was because she was too busy trying to screw my man. That’s what I thought, but I simply said, “No, she hasn’t.”

  “Oh, we have some catching up to do. At least we know that girl can keep a secret!”

  I smirked, thinking, you have no idea, Gladys. I thought about using this time that we had alone to tell Gladys about the drama that was unfolding in my home, but this was neither the time nor the place. Gladys had amazing news to tell me, and the issues with Rhonda would only ruin this day for everyone. No, the time would come, and when it did, Lord help Rhonda Grezille.

  For the next ten minutes while we waited on the always fashionably late Rhonda to arrive, Gladys filled me in on the details of her time in Miami. She told me about her dilemma of deciding between a life of stability for her kids with James or happiness for herself with Maverick. She was torn between the two. Gladys said that she felt like she had let not only James down by cheating, but would also be letting her kids down if she decided to leave James and move them in with Maverick, the man that she truly loved.

  “My goodness, Gladys! I didn’t know that you had all of this on your plate. It will take some time, but we will get you through this. Trust me.” I touched her hand and assured her that she was not alone. Just about the time she finished telling me about her time in Florida, Rhonda sashayed her conniving tail into the restaurant wearing a Louis Vuitton cat suit, expensive sunglasses, and a matching Louis Vuitton purse.

  It was the same outfit that I’d purchased for myself last Friday when I was planning the special evening for Titus. She told when we were in the store shopping that she didn’t like the outfit and that ‘it would make me look pudgy.’ And now she had the expensive ensemble wrapped around her small frame. I’d always wondered who her financer was for all of the pricey things she owned, and now my answer was loud and clear. I tensed up for a second, but then glanced in the opposite direction to prepare myself to face her.

  I could not believe she had the nerve to step off into Mama Rosas wearing that same damn outfit! I couldn’t wait to bury her ass alive with her trifling ways on top of her. Had I not caught her cheating with my husband, I’d still be sleeping on the way that she hated on me. Her day was

  definitely coming, though. She was on my radar, and as a matter of fact, Titus was on my radar, as well.

  “Hello, Sisters from Another Mama!” Rhonda beamed with artificial joy when she looked at me, as if she was actually glad to see me. I forced the most convincing smile I’d ever smiled upon my face, but she really had me messed up in the head standing there acting like it was business as usual.

  “Hi, girl,” Gladys stood up and gave Rhonda a quick hug with a back pat greeting. I watched the exchange and my stomach turned at how phony Rhonda could be. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rhonda hadn’t thought about dipping with James before, either – if he was more her type, she wouldn’t have thought twice about being one of James’ whores. Rhonda slid into the booth in front of me, and said, “Hey, Shayla. What – are you not speaking?”

  I just continued smiling and looked her dead in the eye without a word. Obviously recognizing that I hadn’t acknowledged her with anything other than that forced smile, she asked, “Okay… So, how did you and Titus enjoy your trip to California?”

  “Well, honey, I’m glad you asked. It was lovely, every minute of it. Titus took me to just about every landmark in Hollywood and shopping on Rodeo Drive was to die for. After my shopping spree came the fun part. We rode a trolley ride, which took us on a tour of some of the most influential stars homes. But that’s not even what really took the cake. What took the cake was when hubby surprised me with tickets to P. Diddy’s All White Affair. Oh, honey, our entire time there was one beautiful experience after another, if you know what I mean.”

  I took the opportunity to rub my time with my husband in Cali all the way in her face. Once I rubbed it in good, I scattered, smothered, and covered her face with it. I gave Gladys a high five for added effect while adding all kinds of ‘honey chiles’ and ‘that man, that man.’ Truth be told, there wasn’t that much great about that man except the fact that he was mine, but I would not let Rhonda know that I felt that way. I made sure I put emphasis on the beautiful experience I had with my husband, and tried to look as starry eyed as I could. I wanted her to know that everything she thought she could do for Titus was for naught. “He kept telling me how much he loved me, and how he’s never had so much fun with someone in all of his life. I don’t know why, but he kept repeating that. Like, ‘Shay, you don’t even know how good it is to be with you. No one makes me feel like my wife does.’ It got embarrassing after awhile, you know?”

  “Oh, that’s nice,” Rhonda said quick and conveniently changed the subject. “Well, we’re here to help our girl solve her issues, so I’m assuming you told Shayla everything?”

  “Yes, I just told her about it before you came in,” Gladys said, looking back and forth between Rhonda and me. I was hoping she wouldn’t mention the snide remarks that I was sure she noticed Rhonda and I shooting off towards each other. A blind person could see that there was tension that could be cut with a knife between us.

  “So, what are you going to do about meat head James?” Rhonda asked, moving the conversation along. “He is such a dog!”

  “And what would you know about a man being a dog? Is it that you know a dog when you see one?” I couldn’t help but ask her trifling ass. I know I was supposed to be keeping the fact that I was through with Rhonda on the low-low, but her sitting here in my face like she wasn’t in my den sucking my man off less than week ago was boiling my skin.

  “Huh?” Rhonda and Gladys asked at the same time, but Gladys decided to answer Rhonda’s question to avoid the tension, “I-I don’t know, Rhonda. My heart says leave him and don’t look back, but my conscience tells me that I will regret it.” Gladys spoke to Rhonda, but kept her gaze fixed on me questioningly.

  “Well, here are some things for you to think about. One, you’ve only spent one weekend with Maverick. While you may have known him well in college, fast forward to eight years later, and you don’t know him from a can of paint. Sure, you had a beautiful and magical weekend with him, and all of that is nice, but that doesn’t mean he is man enough to take care of you and your kids. That also does not mean that he is sane and not some crazy stalker dude that will end up worse than James in the long run.” I had to give Gladys some news that Rhonda’s airheaded ass would be too naïve to tell h
er. Of course, she was on Cloud Nine after a weekend with Maverick, but eight years can really change a brother.

  “Shay has a point,” Rhonda agreed, and actually looked for a moment like she cared about our sisterhood. I noticed that she was avoiding my eyes, concentrating solely on Gladys.

  “I know that he could have changed, but Shayla, you didn’t experience what I did. You didn’t see the genuine sincerity flow from his soul to mine. When he kissed me, when he said my name, and when he whispered Spanish love messages into my ear until I went to sleep, it was all real. He is the same man I was in love with then, if not better. The feelings are still there and are super strong, just as strong as they were back at Albany. I know I’m mature enough to know the difference, but for the sake of my children, I will take it slow. Hell, if it were just me and no children, I would be calling you guys from Florida right now.”

  I turned to her intently, hoping to get through to her, and said, “Well, if the feelings are there and have never left after eight years of being separated, they will be there next year and the following year. Those feelings are not going anywhere anytime soon, especially after what you shared last weekend. Therefore, you can stand to hold out a little while longer before you up and divorce James, uproot the children, and move to Miami because of one great encounter. Come on, Gladys, you are a smart girl. Put your thinking cap on. ”

  With that cheesy grin that was starting to irritate the fuck out of me on her face, Rhonda opened her mouth to speak, and I knew she was about to come out with some bullshit. She said, “Yeah, you ain’t got to be trying to run down there and marry his ass. Why not just creep with him? You know, get your groove on in Miami once a month or something like that, and keep James back at home. Maverick could even come and meet you up here sometimes. There are ways to handle your business on the down low, ya know?” Rhonda raised her eyebrows as if she was giving a hint, and that was it. I was about to snatch her a new asshole right across the table talking that shit about creeping. The nerve of her to be giving advice on how to creep when she didn’t have the sense enough to take her creeping with my husband outside of my home. On the