“Yes, I will. And if your roommate, Bridgette, wants to come, I’ll send for her too.”
“Are you serious?”
Michelle had never met Bridgette face to face. But she remembered the telephone call that Bridgette had made to her law office. Amaryllis was working for Michelle but had stepped out for lunch when Bridgette called from Chicago. What Bridgette didn’t know was that she was talking to Michelle, not Amaryllis.
Five minutes after Amaryllis left, the telephone rang. Michelle looked at the caller identification and saw that it was a Chicago call. “Price & Associates,” Michelle answered.
The first thing Bridgette said was, “So, you still got a job, huh? Your sister ain’t kicked you to the curb yet?”
Michelle stated to Bridgette that she had dialed the wrong number.
Bridgette had never spoken to Michelle before. She didn’t know that the two sisters had the same voice. She really thought that she was speaking with Amaryllis. “Don’t try and act like you don’t know who I am, Amaryllis. It’s me, Bridgette, your homegirl.”
When Bridgette said her own name, Michelle remembered Amaryllis mentioning someone named Bridgette, a coworker, from Chicago. “Oh, Bridgette, this isn’t Amaryllis,” Michelle said.
Bridgette didn’t believe Michelle. “You think I don’t know your voice, Amaryllis? Who are you trying to fool?”
Again, Michelle tried to convince Bridgette that she wasn’t Amaryllis. Refusing to believe that she was on the telephone with the wrong sister, Bridgette betrayed Amaryllis and told Michelle everything that Amaryllis had confided in her. “Oh, okay, you’re Michelle today, huh? What happened, Amaryllis? You wanted to live your sister’s life so badly that you hit her over the head, buried her body, and took over her business? All I wanna know is if your sister figured out what you’ve done yet.”
Michelle became curious about what Bridgette was talking about. “What’s to figure out?” she asked Bridgette.
Bridgette went in for the kill. She told Michelle that Amaryllis had purposely put her name on Michelle’s wedding invitations. Bridgette told Michelle that Amaryllis had set James up by drugging him and taking nude photos of the two of them and had one photo made into a puzzle. Michelle remembered receiving a piece of the puzzle every week leading up to her wedding. Amaryllis had saved the last piece of the puzzle revealing James’s face for last. Michelle received that piece just three days before she was to walk down the aisle to James.
Bridgette hammered the last nail in Amaryllis’s coffin. “I bet Michelle doesn’t even know that you’re the one who sent the puzzle, does she?”
If Bridgette hadn’t called the law firm that day, Michelle may never have known what Amaryllis had done. In a way, Michelle felt that she owed Bridgette for exposing her sister and saving her own relationship with James.
“Absolutely. I’ll pay Bridgette’s way too,” Michelle offered.
“Hold on a minute.” Amaryllis yelled across the office to Bridgette. “Hey, Bridge, you wanna go to Vegas in three weeks?”
Bridgette was at her desk filing her nails. “Nah, I’ll pass.”
“It’s my sister’s treat.”
Bridgette looked at Amaryllis and smiled. “Heck, yeah, I’ll go.”
Amaryllis spoke to Michelle. “Bridgette accepts your invitation, and we both thank you.”
“Okay, I’ll make the arrangements,” Michelle said.
“Be prepared to take me shopping and pay me my money when I get there.”
“What are you talking about? You haven’t won the bet.”
“I’ll call you back in ten minutes.”
Amaryllis hung up with Michelle and dialed another Las Vegas number.
“Eleventh Precinct, Officer Burns speaking.”
“Yes, my name is Michelle Bradley, and I’m trying to reach my husband, Detective James Bradley. I know he’s en route; however, I need to speak with him most urgently.”
“Hi, Michelle. It’s me, Markus.”
Amaryllis had no clue who the heck Markus was. “Hi, there.”
“My wife and I thank you and James for the lovely gift you gave us. She wanted me to ask where you got it, because she wants to get one for her mother’s kitchen.”
Mister, why can’t you just connect me to James? I don’t know what the heck you’re talking about or who you are for that matter. “I got it out of a magazine that my sister gave me, and I don’t think I saved it, but I’ll look for it. If I find it, I’ll make sure James gets it to you.”
“Thanks, Michelle, I appreciate it. Do you know what other colors it came in?”
Didn’t I say that this call was most urgent? “You know, I can’t quite remember, Markus. I really need to speak to James, though.”
“Sure, Michelle, just a moment.”
Amaryllis was connected to James’s work-issued cellular phone.
“Detective Bradley speaking.”
“Hi, James, it’s Amaryllis. I know you’re busy, but I got a question for you. Did you witness Michelle getting dressed this morning?”
“Yeah.”
“I made a bet with her, so I gotta ask you two questions. Did her bra and panties match?”
James frowned because he wasn’t sure if he’d heard Amaryllis correctly. “What?”
“Just answer the question, James.”
“Uh, I don’t know if I should. What’s going on, Amaryllis?”
“I told you that I made a bet with her, but I need your help. Did her bra and panties match?”
“Amaryllis, Mickey doesn’t wear any underwear.”
If Amaryllis were standing up, she would’ve hit the floor. “What? Michelle took a walk on the wild side?”
James laughed at her. “Nah, I’m just kidding with you. She’s wearing a black bra and pink panties.”
“Okay. One more question. Are her panties covering her entire stomach?”
James was too outdone. “What?”
“James, please answer the question.”
“Yeah, I guess you can say that.”
“Thanks, brother-in-law, I owe you one.”
Amaryllis disconnected from him and quickly dialed Michelle’s cellular phone.
“Hey, sis,” Michelle greeted her.
“You got on a black bra, and your pink bloomers are pulled all the way up to your melons.”
Michelle couldn’t do anything but laugh, because Amaryllis was absolutely right.
“Girl, how do you know? You got some type of radioactive 3D glasses that you can see me from Chicago with?”
“Nope, but I got a brother-in-law.”
“He actually told you what kind of underwear I’m wearing? I thought he was asleep when I left this morning.”
“Just be glad that you got a husband that pays that much attention to you. So, Bridgette and I will see you in three weeks, and as soon as we leave the airport we’re going straight to the mall. Bring the Navigator because the Jaguar’s trunk ain’t big enough for all of the stuff I’ll be getting.”
Chapter 14
Michelle saw Amaryllis coming through the airport terminal before her sister saw her. “Amaryllis.”
Amaryllis heard the voice that sounded so much like her own and looked to her left and saw her sister. She dropped her bags, then ran to Michelle and embraced her. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey, Boo. How are you? I missed you.”
“I missed you too, girl. I’m so glad to be here.”
Michelle saw a woman walk up and stand next to Amaryllis. “You must be Bridgette.”
Bridgette smiled at a dark-skinned Amaryllis and extended her hand. “Yes. It’s nice to meet you, Michelle. You two are identical.”
Michelle ignored her hand and pulled Bridgette into her arms. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Bridgette, and welcome to Las Vegas.”
“Thank you. Amaryllis has told me so much about you, and I don’t care what she says, I don’t think you’re snooty at all.”
Amaryllis looked at Bridgette, and h
er mouth dropped wide open. “You ghetto heifer, no, you didn’t.”
Michelle leaned into Bridgette and lowered her voice. “That’s okay, girl, we got the same daddy, and he is snooty, if I do say so myself.”
“See? What did I tell you, Bridge? Like father, like daughter,” Amaryllis commented.
Bridgette opened her purse and pulled out a Chunky for Michelle. “Amaryllis told me that you’re a chocoholic, so I brought you a little something.”
Michelle squealed in delight. “Thank you, Bridgette. Girl, I like you already.” She looped her arm through Bridgette’s and started walking toward the baggage claim.
“Come on, let’s get your bags and get out of here. I got a husband waiting on me at home. I’ve been gone all day.”
The two of them walked away, arm in arm, laughing and chatting. They totally forgot about Amaryllis.
Amaryllis called out to them. “Uh…hello?”
Michelle turned around. “Oh, I’m sorry, sweetie. I got all caught up in the chocolate.”
“This is gonna be a great trip, I can see that already, and we ain’t even left the airport,” Amaryllis said.
The aroma hit the ladies’ noses as soon as they walked in the front door. James heard them come in and walked into the living room from the kitchen wearing an apron that read, I COOK FOR MICKEY. He went straight to Michelle and kissed her lips.
“Hey, gorgeous, I missed you,” he greeted his wife.
Michelle indulged in James’s soft lips. “I’m not the gorgeous one, baby, you are.”
“Not me, you are.”
“No, you are.”
Amaryllis was used to the greeting her sister and brother-in-law shared, but Bridgette stood looking at them like they were aliens. James and Michelle stared at each other for a long five seconds; then Amaryllis decided to make her and Bridgette’s presence known by clearing her throat. “Ahem.”
James looked at her and smiled. “Oh, I’m sorry, sis. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine, James. How are you?”
He stepped to Amaryllis and hugged her. “I’m well, thank you.”
“This is my friend, Bridgette, from Chicago,” Amaryllis introduced.
James extended his hand. “Hi, Bridgette, from Chicago. Welcome to our home.”
Michelle picked up their luggage and turned toward the stairs. “Let’s get you girls settled upstairs.”
James quickly interceded and took the luggage from his wife. “Oh, no, baby. You ain’t got no business carrying that. I’ll take their things upstairs. Since you’ve been gone all day, I baked pork chops and made brown rice and crescent rolls because I knew you’d be tired and hungry when you all got in from the airport.”
Michelle looked at her man who was too good to be true. “Sweetie, I love you for taking such good care of me.”
“It’s my pleasure, baby. Dinner is on the table, and I’ve already prayed over it and thanked God, so you ladies enjoy your meal.”
James took the luggage upstairs, and Bridgette stood in the living room to watch him disappear, then looked at Michelle. “Girl, Amaryllis told me that you had a good man, but da…uh, I mean, wow.” She almost cursed.
Michelle had to laugh at her. “I can truly say that God has smiled on me.”
They went into the kitchen and saw their plates already prepared, complete with glasses of grape Kool-Aid. Michelle always kept a pitcher of grape-flavored Kool-Aid in her refrigerator because it was her husband’s favorite drink.
Bridgette looked at the feast James had prepared, then looked at Michelle. “Da…uh, wow.”
Amaryllis and Michelle both laughed at her and sat down to eat. James came into the kitchen with Michelle’s slippers and knelt next to her. He removed her pumps, but before he slid her slippers on her feet, he massaged her toes first. Bridgette and Amaryllis looked at him in awe. Afterward, he stood up and talked smoothly to Michelle. “Any back pain today, baby?”
“It’s not hurting as bad as it was yesterday. I feel a little bit better,” Michelle replied.
“I’m running your bath water with Epson salt. When you’re done eating, come on up, and I’ll give you a back-rub.”
James’s special attention toward Michelle was not new to her, but he was blowing Amaryllis and Bridgette’s minds. He kissed Michelle’s forehead lightly and turned to walk away when she called out to him. “Honey, I forgot to make sure that Bridgette and Amaryllis’s bathroom was stocked with soap, toothpaste, and stuff.”
“I already took care of that. I made sure that they have everything they need. It’s all good. And when you ladies are done eating, leave the dishes. I’ll do them after I give Mickey her bath.”
When he left the kitchen, Amaryllis spoke to Michelle. “He bathes you, Michelle?”
“Each and every day,” she replied. She saw how Bridgette and Amaryllis’s mouths were hanging open. “What?” she asked them.
Bridgette was the first to speak. “Girl, your husband washes dishes and bathes you?”
Michelle looked at her. “You don’t think he should?”
Bridgette shrugged her shoulders. “It ain’t that. I just don’t hear that often. Good for you, Michelle.”
“I thought your mother-in-law was here visiting,” Amaryllis said.
Michelle inserted a forkful of food into her mouth. “Mother Bradley flew back home yesterday. She got a call that her eldest brother was ill. I was looking forward to you meeting her.”
After dinner, while Amaryllis and Bridgette were made to feel at home and were in their room for the night, James bathed his wife. Then he wrapped a towel around her and led her into their bedroom where she heard soft jazz music coming from the stereo system next to the king-sized bed.
Michelle saw that her pillow was dented with a box of chocolate-covered raisins, one of her favorites. She looked at her husband. “Every morning when I wake up and look at you still sleeping, I thank God for my man. I honestly don’t think there is another man like you anywhere on this earth.”
James untied her body towel and let it fall to the floor. “Mickey, I’m the one that’s blessed.”
He picked her up and laid her on the bed, then opened the box of chocolate covered raisins. One by one, he placed the candy across her belly in the shape of a heart. He then bent over her and ate the candy, piece by piece. For the next half hour, James enjoyed his wife, and Michelle enjoyed her husband. The next morning they were welded together by melted chocolate.
Chapter 15
James opted for a bowl of cereal, and Michelle decided to treat her guests to breakfast at the chicken and waffle house before they went to the shopping mall. Michelle came into the kitchen and saw James savoring his favorite breakfast food while glancing at the sports section of the newspaper. “How’s your cereal, honey?”
“I’m coocoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
Michelle laughed at her husband and kissed his cheek. “What’s on your agenda for today?”
“Well, until someone gets either shot, stabbed, or murdered, I’ll sit on the sofa and see what’s on ESPN.”
“Yuck, who needs sports? Why don’t you hang out with me and the girls today?”
“Doing what?”
“What women do best.”
James knew what that meant. “Uh-uh, no way. Me, with three women in a shopping mall? I don’t think so, Mickey.”
Michelle stood behind his chair and wrapped her arms around his neck and purred like a kitten. “Aw, come on, sweetie, pleeeease.”
James continued eating his cereal as if he hadn’t heard her plea. “Mickey, you know I love you, right? But I refuse to let myself be set up into going shopping with you, your sister, and her friend. It takes you, alone, two hours to go through one store. So, I’ve learned that when you’re in the mood for spending money, to turn you loose so you can do your thang.”
“Well, I’m not exactly in the mood. I gotta pay off a bet that I lost, and I just know that it’s going to cost me at least three grand. A bet that you
helped me lose, might I add.”
James stood from the table, grabbed Michelle’s waist, and pulled her close to him. “I promise to make it up to you tonight.”
Michelle kissed his lips. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”
She left James to his cereal and went upstairs to the third floor to wake Amaryllis and Bridgette. She knocked lightly, then opened the door. “Good morning, ladies. It’s time to get up.”
Bridgette was lying on her stomach and lazily turned over, but Amaryllis didn’t stir at all. Michelle walked over to the window and opened the vertical blinds to allow the sunshine to fill the bedroom. “Come on, sleepyheads, it’s almost nine o’clock.”
At the same time, Amaryllis and Bridgette pulled the sheets over their heads. Michelle knew what it would take to get them moving. She closed the blinds then walked toward the door. “Oh, well, if no one wants to help me spend three grand, that’s fine with me.”
Immediately covers flew off two bodies as the women hopped out of bed. They collided into one another trying to be the first in the bathroom.
“We’ll be ready in fifteen minutes,” Bridgette called over her shoulder.
“Please don’t leave us, Michelle,” Amaryllis pleaded as she pushed Bridgette out of the way and rushed into the bathroom.
The ladies ate breakfast at the chicken and waffle house. The next stop was at Pamper Me Good Salon for a morning of beauty duty. Michelle told Bridgette and Amaryllis that she was treating them to a full-body massage, a facial, a manicure, and pedicure. “I wanna get you ladies relaxed for tonight because Prophetess Anderson is gonna blow your minds.”
Amaryllis kissed her sister’s cheek. “Sis, I really appreciate this.”
Bridgette kissed her other cheek. “Me too, Michelle, I really do.”
They sat in the lobby to wait for their names to be called. Bridgette picked up a magazine and saw a picture of a woman whose face and makeup was done to perfection. She held it up to show Amaryllis. “I wonder if they can make me look like this.”
Amaryllis looked at the picture. “Uh, Bridge, something like that costs about ten thousand dollars.”
“For makeup?”
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