WG2E All-For-Indies Anthologies: Viva La Valentine Edition

by Scott, D. D.

  One morning she woke up knowing what she had to do. She told Robert of her plans, hoping it would shock him into working harder at their marriage. He listened and never responded – not a mumblin’ word, as her grandmother used to say. That same afternoon Jan called a lawyer and began divorce proceedings. Robert didn’t fight the petition for divorce and agreed to the terms of the settlement. He just didn’t care.

  The judge awarded her the house in the settlement. Robert moved back to Mississippi to be nearer to his family, and simply returned to the life he’d had before they met. What hurt Jan most was knowing he wouldn’t miss her any more than the old chair that had once occupied a corner of their bedroom.

  Bobbie and Val arrived and settled at the kitchen table, our meeting spot. Jan decided to get right to the point. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  “Oh, and we thought you just wanted the pleasure of our company,” Bobbi said with a sarcastic grin.

  “You know I love when you visit me, but tonight I do have a purpose.” Jan passed the hot garlic bread across the table.

  Val’s eyebrows rose in curiosity. “Come on, Mom. What is it?”

  She bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath. “One of Mr. Scott’s business associates asked me on a date. He hired me to do a dinner party for him then he invited me to the party. At the end of the night he asked me out with him this weekend.” She stopped to read their expressions. Bobbi face broke into a wide smile, but Val wore a blank stare.

  Bobbi spoke first. “That’s great, Mom. You’ve been sitting around here by yourself long enough.” She turned to her sister, whose expression had escalated from bewilderment to shock.

  “You and Daddy have only been separated for a year.” Val’s voice climbed an octave with each word.

  “We’re not separated, Valerie. We’re divorced. The papers were signed. He’s moved on, and it’s about time I did too.”

  “What do you mean, he’s moved on? Is Daddy seeing somebody?”

  “He relocated to another state, honey. I consider that moving on. And it doesn’t matter what he’s doing or not doing. Our lives aren’t connected anymore.”

  “He’s still our father.” Her voice trembled.

  “Yes, but he’s not my husband, and you have to accept it. You’re nineteen and old enough to face the realities of life.”

  “So, who is he? What does he do?” Bobbi asked, obviously trying to diffuse the tension between her sister and her mother.

  “His name is Mac Sinclair. He’s an agent for a sports management firm. The dinner party was for his current clients and a few guys he’s hoping to sign.”

  When Val pushed her plate away and sat staring at her half-eaten meal, Bobbi made an attempt to snap her out of her funk. “You know Mom’s had to start a totally new life on her own. The least we can do is be there to support her. She didn’t divorce us.”

  “But she divorced Daddy. He didn’t divorce her.”

  Fed up with the bitterness Val had harbored against her since the divorce, Jan took a hard line. “Valerie, I’ve had enough from you. I know you love your father, but I don’t anymore. One day realized I’d spent half my life with a man who didn’t care for me any more than his lawnmower. I couldn’t exist in misery the rest of my life. I’m sorry if you can’t understand.”

  Quite unexpectedly, a tear trickled down Val’s cheek. “I know you were unhappy for a long time,” she whimpered. “I guess I always hoped it would get better.”

  Jan rose from her seat, walked around the table and put her arms around her baby girl’s shoulders.

  “It’s hard for me to imagine you with somebody other than Daddy.”

  “I know, but it’s just a date – nothing serious. Listen, why don’t we finish dinner so we can get on to dessert? I made Death by Chocolate.”

  “And we all know Death by Chocolate can fix anything.” Bobbi said, smiling at her sister.

  • • •

  On Monday morning, Mac called and invited Jan to the Alicia Keys concert at Chastain. She quickly accepted, thrilled yet apprehensive about her first date in twenty-five years.

  He rang the doorbell promptly at seven on Friday night. She stifled a laugh when she opened the door and saw him wearing a white gauze shirt that matched her dress. “We couldn’t have done better if we’d planned it. My girls are going to be so jealous. They wanted to get tickets, but the show sold out early.”

  They arrived at the Chastain amphitheater early and had a little time to talk before the show started. Mac recounted his years as an Army brat who’d lived all over the country.

  “Earlier you mentioned family. Do you have brothers and sisters?” Jan asked.

  “One of each. Don’t laugh, but my father was military to the bone, right down to naming his children. He’s a war history buff and named all of us after famous generals – MacArthur, Patton and Grant. And Pat is a girl.” He let out a rumbling laugh that made her toes curl.

  “Very imaginative. So Mac is just a nickname.”

  He opened the hatch of the Range Rover and produced a picnic chest and a folding bamboo tray table. The chest contained a perfect meal for a warm summer night – chicken salad, croissants, a green salad, chocolate-dipped strawberries and bottles of sparkling white grape juice. The man definitely had style. He’d even remembered to bring citronella candles and mosquito repellent.

  “This is lovely, Mac.” All traces of her earlier nervousness had disappeared until he asked, “Did you say something about your girls earlier?”

  Had she said that? A sudden a trickle of sweat inched down her back. Now that it was out, Jan figured she might as well address the issue. “Yes. Bobbi, that’s short for Roberta, has been on her own for a couple of years now. Valerie is sophomore at Georgia State. She lives in an apartment in the GSU Village.”

  “You look too young to have college-age daughters,” Mac replied with no change in his easy, relaxed manner.

  “Oh, you’re sweet. The truth is, I’ll be forty-seven this year.” She held her breath and waited for the hammer to drop.

  Instead, he sent her an admiring look. “That’s hard to believe. I wouldn’t have guessed you were past thirty-five.”

  A burning heat rushed into her cheeks. “Thank you. Are you sure it won’t be a problem for you?”

  Mac fixed his gaze on her face. “Your daughters or your age?”

  Jan gave him a sidelong glance. “Both.”

  “Why would either one be a problem?”

  Jan smiled and studied the man sitting next to her. At just over six feet tall, his beautifully proportioned body moved with easy grace. Gold jewelry seemed to be his weakness, but he limited it to a watch, a ring and a thin rope chain around his neck. His demeanor appealed to me the most – cool without appearing arrogant.

  Very conscious of his physical presence, Jan didn’t talk much during the show. When the music ended, Mac packed everything up and preceded her back to the parking lot.

  “This was a wonderful evening, Mac. You really outdid yourself.”

  He put his hands on the car on either side of her shoulders, hemming her in. When he leaned forward and inched her back against the truck, the musky masculine scent of his cologne teased her senses.

  “I really like you, Jan.” He fingered one of her dangling earrings, cupped her face between his hands, and kissed her long and deep, leaving her feeling as if she’d had a Mojito overdose. The delicious sensation of the touch of his lips wasn’t passionate, yet it was more intimate than the kind of kiss you’d give a friend. Instantly Jan felt heat in places that hadn’t been warm in a very long time. Mac had awakened something inside her that had been dormant for years. The thought of telling him how she really felt about him scared her silly.

  • • •

  Mac and Jan’s next date, a bon voyage party for Kathy and Verna’s trip to Africa, took place on her turf and was Mac’s first chance to meet her daughters. Verna’s husband, Ron had requested the guests all wear something Afro
centric and asked Jan to prepare authentic African dishes for the menu.

  Mac arrived at Verna’s and found Jan in the kitchen attending to last minute details. “Can I interrupt you for a minute?” he asked from the doorway where he stood giving her an approving once over. “Turn around. Let me look at you.” His voice was low and purposefully seductive.

  She obliged, spun in a slow circle and modeled her backless dress made of authentic mudcloth.

  “You look…incredible.”

  The underlying sensuality of his words captivated her. “Thank you. So do you,” Jan admired the black tunic and pants trimmed with gold braid he wore with one of those round cloth hats to match. “I love your outfit. It makes you look very kingly, if that’s a word. I’m finished in here. Come on. I want to introduce you to my friends.”

  He placed his hand on her bare back and maneuvered her through the crowded family room. She introduced him to Verna and Noreen then he excused himself to talk with Ron.

  “Now see, that’s what I’m talking about.” Noreen bestowed her approval. “That brother is USDA Grade A Prime. I didn’t know you had such good taste.”

  Jan grinned still finding it hard to believe she was actually involved with a man that even nitpicky Noreen considered spectacular. “Neither did I.”

  Mac returned from his conversation with Ron and found seats in a corner where we chatted until Bobbi and Val arrived and found Jan among the guests.

  “I’m glad you came. You’d better get a plate now if you’re hungry before everything disappears. Make sure you try the chicken. I put my best hand on that. We’ll save your seats.”

  When she said “we,” Val give Mac a visual once-over and whispered something to her sister before they headed to the buffet table. Jan figured it was time to warn him about her youngest. “Before they get back, I wanted you to know that Valerie still hasn’t gotten over my divorcing her father. So if she doesn’t want to be your best friend, don’t be surprised. It’s not personal.”

  “Yeah. I caught that look she just gave me. Don’t worry, I’m not touchy.”

  The girls came back with full plates. “Well, Mom, are you going to introduce us?” Bobbi asked, being her typical good-natured self.

  “Sure. I just wanted to make sure you got some food first.” She turned to Mac. “These are my daughters, Valerie and Roberta. This is Mac Sinclair.”

  Bobbi reached out, offering a friendly handshake. Val simply mumbled, “Hi.”

  Mac stared at Bobbi for a moment. “Wow, you look just like your mother. I thought I was seeing double for a minute.”

  “I wish,” Bobbi said cheerfully.

  Val grunted and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Oh, please.”

  “Val, did you see Kwame when you came in?” Jan asked, referring to Kathy’s son and quickly changing the subject. “He said he wanted to talk to you when you got here. It might have something to do with school. He’s trying to get into Georgia State for the winter semester.”

  “No I didn’t see him yet. He’s coming to State?”

  “That’s one of the schools he’s interested in,” Mac answered. “He’s also considering Morehouse and Emory.”

  “How would you know?” Val asked in a rude tone.

  Mac graciously overlooked her disposition. “Ron Scott and I talked with him earlier this week. We’re trying to help him get an internship.”

  “Oh, so ours isn’t the only family you’re meddling with?” She gave him a surly stare.

  Mortified, Jan sprang from her seat and grabbed Val by the arm, dragged her toward the foyer then backed her into an unoccupied corner. “Valerie, I’m so ashamed of you!” Jan hissed through clenched teeth, her head throbbing with anger. “I did not raise you to be disrespectful. You’re going back in there right now and apologize to him.”

  “When you made your big announcement, you conveniently left out the fact that he’s young enough to be your son,” Val snapped in defiance. “How old is he?”

  “That’s an exaggeration, and you know it,” Jan lambasted her, trying to keep her voice down. “I don’t have to justify myself to you. I am your mother, not one of your girlfriends.”

  Bobbi came up behind them. “That was real ugly, Val.”

  “So it’s all right with you that Mommy’s running around with some –”

  “Some what – good-looking, sexy, young man? Yes, as a matter of fact, it is all right with me. Why can’t you just be happy for her and stop acting like a brat?”

  “Come on, Bobbi. Be real. What could he want with her?”

  A wave of shock slapped Jan, and hot tears welled in her eyes.

  Bobbi took a napkin from the table and put it into her mother’s hand. “Val didn’t mean that, Mom. She’s just being ignorant.”

  “Valerie, get in there and apologize – now!” Jan dabbed at her eyes.

  “Oh, all right,” Valerie sputtered. “Why didn’t you at least warn us about his age?”

  Jan’s fists clenched were so tightly her fingernails dug into her palms. “Because it was none of your business. Now move!” She and Bobbi followed Val’s reluctant walk back across the family room.

  “Mr. Sinclair,” Val began, avoiding direct eye contact once she reached him. “I’m sorry for the way I acted before. It wasn’t right.”

  Mac motioned for her to sit. “Valerie, I can’t say I know how you feel, because I don’t. I’m sure you love your father, and I’m not trying to meddle with your family. But I do care for your mother very much. Even though you probably don’t see her this way, you have to understand that she’s an attractive, appealing woman. And to be honest with you, we were drawn to each other from the very first night we met. Granted, I may not be exactly what you expected, but if you give me a chance, I can grow on you.” He grinned.

  “Did she tell you how old she is?”

  “I never asked, but I knew she had college-aged kids. It wasn’t hard to do the math. Your mom isn’t as old as you seem to think she is. Lighten up on her, okay?”

  Val managed a slight smile. “I’ll try.”

  Satisfied with her apology, Jan left to check the buffet table. Bobbi, a natural peacemaker, went to locate Kwame and asked him to take Val off their hands for a while.

  “Bobbi just told us what happened. Verna said, resting a comforting hand on Jan’s shoulder as Jan spooned more chicken into a chafing dish. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m so mad at that child I could explode. She’s never acted that way to –”

  Ron’s call for everyone to join him in the living room where he’d made space for dancing interrupted them. Jan tried hard to pretend she didn’t feel Val’s burning gaze while she and Mac danced to the African-inspired music, especially at the end of the song when he kissed her neck. Thankfully neither of her girls saw when he drew her into a corner, traced the outline of her lips with his tongue then moved into an urgent, exploratory kiss that left her body vibrating.

  Before the night was over, Mac asked her to join him at a client’s dinner party the following evening, but Jan begged off. “The way I’ve been running the past few days, I was really looking forward to a quiet evening at home. Why don’t you come over to my house on Sunday afternoon? We could watch a movie and kill the rest of the party leftovers.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Do you want me to bring anything?”

  “Just your handsome self. That’s all.”

  Chapter Three

  Completely enamored by Mac’s attention, Jan lived from one date to the next. After a frantic week, she could hardly wait to see him on Sunday. She reveled in his attention, which did wonders at erasing the soul-destroying years of Robert’s disregard. In addition to the fact that Mac treated her as if she were the only woman on the planet, the envying looks she received from other women always sent her confidence soaring. They never failed to give her a wicked sense of satisfaction. Mac loved that she had her own business and made her own money, even though he always insisted on paying for everything when w
e went out together. Unlike Robert, her independence didn’t threaten him. If Mac had an ulterior motive in choosing her, Jan couldn’t imagine what it was, since she wasn’t a wealthy divorcee or a cougar on the prowl. Still Valerie’s qualms about her new relationship constantly echoed in her head. Was she being foolish?

  Their low-key evening consisted of devouring the party leftovers and watching Dwayne Johnson’s latest action flick. When it ended, Jan put on some music, and they moved to the kitchen where she prepared the coffeemaker and took two of her special mugs from the cabinet.

  “Those are unusual coffee cups.” Mac took the modern design ceramic mug from her hand and gave it a 360-degree turn so he could examine it from all sides. “Where’d you find them?”

  “On a gourmet foods web site. Different aren’t they?”

  “I have a weakness for classy, unusual things. I guess that’s why I’m so attracted to you.” His gaze locked with hers, and she felt as if she’d stuck her finger into an electrical outlet. “You’re an incredible woman, Jan.”

  “You’re pretty incredible yourself.”

  “So, what am I going to do with you?” He ran a finger from her earlobe down her neck to the lacy trim of her bra peeking out above the edge of the tank top she wore.

  Jan’s breath quickened. “I don’t know. You tell me.”

  Mac lifted her chin with one finger. “All I could think about since Friday was being with you tonight.” He kissed a trail down her neck and nipped her collarbone with his teeth.

  Jan grabbed the table edge to steady her desire-weakened legs. Never in her life had she experienced such a head spinning sensation, and she shivered at the power of her own driving need.

  “I want to make love to you, Jan.” Mac’s breath was warm and moist against her face. “I want to know what it’s like to touch you, taste you and to be inside you.”

  Engulfed by overpowering need, without a word she took his hand and pulled him down the hall to her bedroom.