Absolution (Mr. Black Series)

by Marshall,Penelope

  She was about five foot five inches, with silky chocolate brown skin, and microbraided hair which she always wore up in some intricate bun. She was an impeccable dresser, smelling of Calvin Klein’s Euphoria, with thick burgundy lips paired only with dark black mascara, which framed her light brown eyes. Stella was gorgeous and did not need anything else to supplement her natural beauty.

  She had been an up and coming designer at the time I met her, with some minor success early on in her career, but decided after her husband was killed that life was too short to cater to the whims of others. She took the money she had earned and some of his life insurance and started the thrift store, free to fill it with all of the things that made her feel beautiful, with no unwanted inputs from the pompous fashion magazines.

  “Hey love, what do you have stashed away for me?” I asked excitedly.

  “Girl…you don’t even know. Come on back.”

  “The tips have been brutal lately, but I need to look like a million dollars on a budget of a couple of ten spots. I hope you’re hiding a miracle in here.”

  Although the fashionista in me loved to shop, my financial situation left my bank account resembling the piggy bank of a 5-year-old girl. Stella smiled and grabbed my wrist, dragging me to the back of the shop. I spent close to an hour and a half trying on anything I thought would make Cole’s head turn. I couldn’t even believe I wanted to make his head turn.

  When did that happen?

  After trying on every dress with nothing to show for it, Stella remembered one last dress.

  “Oh, girl, hold on…I just remembered I got this bomb ass dress. I’ve been saving it just in case a handsome billionaire ever walked through them doors,” she said, running to the back room to grab the dress.

  She came back holding a heap of black synthetic material in between her hands. Dusting it out by fanning it in the air, she held it up for me to see. It was a long black skintight dress with one long sleeve, and the other side with no sleeve at all. My eyes widened as I surveyed the cut of the dress. I imagined making my grand entrance at the ball; walking through the doors with my hips swaying from side to side, and my hair flying in the air, much like it happened in those shampoo commercials. I yanked the dress out of Stella’s hands and ran into the dressing room.

  “Oh my god, it’s so tight,” I hollered from the fitting room as I boldly tried to shimmy into the dress.

  “Don’t rip that…I’m gonna need that shit back if you don’t buy it,” she yelled back from the counter.

  I had to suck my stomach so far in―full breaths were out of the question. The dress was so tight in fact, that if I wanted to fit into it comfortably, I would need to starve myself. But it was do or die, all or nothing, and I was throwing everything I had, including the kitchen sink, at this ball. I wanted to make it memorable enough to erase the last few months of hurt, if that was even possible. I pulled the curtain aside and modeled the dress for Stella in front of the full length mirrors.

  “Oooooh girl, you look too good. I mean, you look too good,” Stella said with conviction.

  I surveyed myself in the mirror, twisting and contorting my body, imagining all the cute poses I could strike that would flatter me the best. But I was starting to feel a little light headed from the lack of oxygen.

  I puckered my lips, trying to look sexy in the mirror when Stella said, “Uh, uh. That ain’t a good look, sister. Go ahead and put that one back in your pocket. But other than that, this dress is the look. You gonna walk up in there and whip some heads around. Get it, girl!” She snapped her neck from side to side, snapping her fingers in the air.

  I continued to look in the mirror as I listened to Stella’s compliments, which were building up my confidence.

  “Girl, I am too excited for this. I’m so glad Cole asked me to go,” I said.

  “Yeah, so spill the beans…what’s going on with you and Cole?”

  I turned to her. “What do you mean?”

  “Am I speakin’ a different language? What is the deal with you and Cole?”

  “We’re friends and roommates.”

  “Uh huh…” she replied sarcastically.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing, girl. If that’s what you say, then that’s what it is. Mama Stella don’t know everything.”

  I looked at her, and she looked right back, her one eyebrow raised so high in the air, I was surprised it didn’t fly away.

  “Anyways, if this dress don’t knock ’em dead, then these Christian Louboutins are gonna knock ’em into next Thursday! I’m here to tell ya.” she boasted, pursing her lips.

  She pulled a shoebox out from behind the counter. The box was dusty and smashed on all corners, looking like it had been to hell and back. Pulling the top off, she carefully shifted the white tissue paper that served as an extra measure of dust protection, revealing a sliver of red. I looked intently at Stella’s hands as she unwrapped the shoes from the paper. The sliver eventually turned into a pair of bright red stiletto pumps. Gently pulling each shoe from its resting place, she stood them up on the counter. My eyes shot wide open, and my jaw dropped as I gazed upon the most beautiful pair of Christian Louboutins I had ever seen in my life.

  Then again, I had never seen a pair of Louboutins in person, only in the magazines that were accidentally delivered to my mailbox from time to time. I felt a lump form in my throat as I eyeballed the shoes set before me on the counter. To me, wearing Louboutins was tantamount to finding a unicorn in one’s bedroom holding a winning lottery ticket in its mouth.

  Stella gently handed me the stilettos like she was passing on a sacred family heirloom, and I held out my hands to receive the magical bounty. One could almost see the aura surrounding the elusive shoes, and as I walked backwards, I tripped, but luckily fell right into an oversized velvet chair, almost dropping the shoes. Stella’s jaw dropped, but I caught them just in time. Slowly, I slipped them on like Cinderella trying on her glass slippers.

  I screeched in victory, “They fit! Hallelujah, they fit!”

  “Now, you know these are just a loan, boo. Don’t have me come up to yo’ job lookin’ for my shoes. I don’t wanna have to cut you! ’Cause you know, I’ll cut a bitch,” she said, winking at me.

  “Of course not, friend! I’ll return them as soon as midnight strikes and the car turns into a pumpkin,” I said jokingly.

  “Uh, that heifer lost her shoe…don’t be that heifer,” she replied, laughing as she punched a few buttons on her turn of the century antique cash register. “All right sister, it’s about to get real up in here.” She pressed the last button, totaling up the whole sale. “All in all, including your military discount, you owe me zero dollars even.”

  I smiled, grateful for her generosity. “Are you sure?”

  She tilted her head and pursed her lips. “Do unicorns like barbeque on a Sunday afternoon?”

  I raised my eyebrow and paused to ponder her question. “Yes?”

  “You’re damn right they do!” she said, chuckling to herself.

  I gathered up my bag and purse, and followed her outside, where she threw her arms around my neck. “Have fun…don’t mess up my Louboutins, and I’ll see you the day after to get the 411. Do me proud in those shoes.”

  I gave her an extra little squeeze and whispered, “Thanks, friend. Love you.”

  “Love you too, baby girl.”

  “I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, okay?” I said, pulling away from her to look into her eyes.

  “Yup, have fun for the both of us,” she said as she walked back into the store to lock up.

  I started down the street toward my car, and about a block down, I felt someone come up behind me and covered my eyes with their hands. An uncontrollable fear overwhelmed me, followed by a wave of heat that blanketed my entire body.

  I was startled. “Help! Help!” I screamed, fiercely clawing at the hands that bound my eyes shut.

  My assailant’s hands quickly withdrew from my eye
s, and I heard a woman’s voice say, “Adeline, it’s me! It’s me, stop yelling!”

  I paused, wondering where I had heard that familiar voice before. I spun around and saw it was Catherine. An instant fear overwhelmed me.

  “Catherine, what are you doing here?” I asked, looking around to see if there was anyone I could flag down, just in case.

  “What? Do you own this street, Adeline?” She laughed.

  “No, of course not.”

  Her tone changed completely. “Are you sure you don’t own this street? Cuz I feel like you think you own everything else.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, backing away.

  She stepped toward me. “Oh, you know…Ezra…Cole…my house.” A tear cascaded down her face. “You have taken everything away from me. I was nothing but kind to you. I fuckin’ hate you.”

  She lunged at me, knocking me to the ground. I covered my face with my hands as she punched me about the ribs and the chest. She stood up and began to kick me in the legs and at my arms.

  Someone yelled, “Stop!”

  The beating suddenly ceased, and when I pulled my hands away from my face, Catherine was gone and a strange man was standing over me.

  “Are you okay, lady?” he asked.

  I couldn’t reply. The wind had been knocked out of me, and all I could do was sob silently to myself.

  The man turned to the crowd that had gathered. “Call the cops.”

  The police arrived a few minutes later, along with an ambulance. The man helped me to my feet and walked me over to the first police officer that stepped out of his car. He handed me off to the cop, who walked me over to the paramedic.

  “Ma’am, do you know who did this to you?”

  I nodded.

  “I need a name.”

  “Catherine…” my voice cracked. “Catherine Dahl.”

  He jotted down her name in his pad. “Do you know how we can find her?”

  “Can you call Cole?” I asked in a broken voice, tightly hugging the itchy wool blanket the paramedic had covered me with.

  “Who is Cole?”

  “My friend.”

  “Adeline! Adeline!” I heard Stella's voice call out from behind a police officer holding back the crowd.

  “That’s my friend, can you let her through?” I asked.

  The police officer whistled at the cop holding Stella back, and motioned for him to let her through. Stella ran over and threw her arms around me.

  “Oh baby, who did this?”

  “Catherine,” I whispered.

  “That fuckin’ bitch,” she said, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

  The cop looked at Stella. “Do you know this Catherine woman?”

  “I sure do, and I’ll tell you all about her crazy ass,” Stella said, leaving me to walk with the cop.

  I pulled my phone out of my purse, wanting to call the only person I felt safe with.

  I listened as the phone rang a few times before Cole answered, “Hello?”

  I couldn’t get a full sentence out, except for an intermittent word with a sob in between.

  “Catherine…hit…kicked…”

  “Where are you, Adeline?”

  “On Fifth…by Stella’s.”

  “I’m on my way. Don’t move.”

  I dropped my phone back into my purse and panned the scene. So many people had crowded around, gawking at me like some animal in the zoo. I was so embarrassed. Stella walked back over, wrapping her arms around me.

  “I told the cop everything. Don’t you worry about that bitch. They’re gonna get her.”

  “Cole’s coming,” I said.

  “Good. He’ll take care of you,” she said, rubbing my arm.

  A few minutes later I heard, “Adeline!”

  It was Cole, being held back by the same cop. Stella walked over and spoke with the police officer. Cole ran over, kneeling on the asphalt, wrapping his arms around me.

  “I was so worried,” he said, backing away, cupping his palms against my cheeks.

  Stella walked up. “That bitch, Catherine, did this to her.”

  Cole rested his cheek against mine and whispered in my ear, “I got you, baby girl.”

  His words alone filled me with an insatiable urge to kiss him, and at that moment, I knew. I knew what I had been denying inside was real. Funny how the strangest things cause feelings to bubble up to the surface.

  I didn’t reply. I couldn’t deal with those feelings right now, my head was too clouded with fear. I closed my eyes, which had already begun to fill with tears. I could feel his breath flow down my neck as he spoke so gently to me. I took in the moment as the sounds of the honking cars and the smell of the polluted air that swirled around us seemed to melt away.

  He rested his forehead against mine, the tension that hung between our lips blaringly apparent. It was the kind of tension one feels before they experience their first kiss with someone new. I wanted nothing more than to lean in the rest of the way and press my lips to his…to know what it felt like to be in his arms in that way.

  God, I want him.

  My flesh began to throb, my fear turning to lust as I felt myself losing control of the situation. This was not the flirtatious banter or innocent peck on the cheek I was used to. This was so much more than I was able to comprehend at the moment, so I did my best to push him away, but his strong arms opposed me. He wrapped his strong fingers around the back of my neck and pulled me toward him.

  Gently, he kissed me on the forehead, and shifted his face slightly from mine. Looking into my eyes, he asked solemnly, “Can I take you home?”

  Stella rested her hand on my shoulder. “You’re in good hands. I’m gonna let Cole take over,” she said, winking at me as she walked away.

  I shifted my gaze back down to Cole. “Yes, take me home.”

  COLE

  The drive home was pretty silent. I didn’t know what to say to her, and I’m sorry wasn’t going to cut it. I pulled up to the house and walked over to her side of the car to pull her door open. I went ahead of her to unlock the door, then led her to the bathroom, where I turned the water on to start her bath.

  “Are you going to be okay?” I asked.

  She just stared at me, her trembling arms crossed, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Do you want me to stay and help?”

  She nodded.

  I wiped the tears and blood from her face, then I slowly clutched onto the edges of her shirt, pulling it up over her arms. I unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, then slowly pulled them down her legs and over each foot. She turned her back to me, shifting her hair out of the way, revealing the clasp of her bra and the elegant line of her spine.

  I hesitated. I wanted her, but I didn’t want her like this. She had just been through a traumatic experience and she was vulnerable. I unclasped her bra, allowing the lace material to fall to the floor. The bruises on her sides and arms were already visible.

  I shook my head at the anger I felt toward Catherine, wanting to rip her to shreds. Adeline stood there, waiting. I knew what was left, and I was afraid that if I touched her panties, I wouldn’t stop there.

  I hooked my finger under the elastic, sliding the fragile fabric off her slowly. Aside from the bruises, her body was perfect, and I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and make sweet love to her…but I restrained myself. I led her into the warm tub that was already three-fourths filled with water. She laid down in it, and I took a rag and wiped the dirt and blood from her body.

  She kept her eyes closed the whole time.

  “What’s wrong, darlin’?” I asked.

  She didn’t reply. I washed her hair, bathing her bruises as gently as I could, keeping my eyes focused on the blood and nothing else, which was a task in itself. Once the night’s events had been washed away, I held up a towel, and wrapped it around her as she stepped from the tub. I picked her up, cradling her like a baby in my arms, and carried her to her room. Laying her on her bed, I turned toward t
he door, but stopped when I felt a tug at my wrist.

  I looked down to see her staring up at me. “Stay.”

  I nodded, taking off my boots as I turned out the lights. I crawled into bed and laid next to her, her body fitting with mine like a perfectly placed puzzle piece. Wrapping my arms around her wet body, I slowed my breathing to calm hers.

  We didn’t say anything else the rest of the night. We didn’t need to. She fell quietly asleep in my arms, and I in hers. Our first night together couldn’t have been any more perfect.

  ADELINE

  I fell asleep in his strong arms. It’s the only place I felt safe. The moment my eyes closed, Ezra came to me for the first time in months. I found myself sitting on the beach, with him sitting next to me, holding my dress for the ball.

  All I can think about is you at the ball with him.

  “Do you not want me to go with him?” I asked, staring out into the sunset, the tide coming in from the Pacific.

  I guess I can’t stop you.

  “You could ask.”

  It’ll be fine and you’re gonna be stunning. I’m sure of it. You should really model the dress for me so I can give you an honest guy’s opinion.

  He tugged on my wrist and handed me the dress.

  “Nope, you’re just gonna have to wait like everyone else,” I said, pulling my wrist away from his hand.

  It’s not like you love him, right?

  I turned away.

  Right?

  “Why do we have to talk about this? I haven’t seen you in so long. Where have you been?” I asked.

  That's not what I asked you, he said as he stood from the sand and walked away.

  I tried to follow but I was stuck. Paralyzed. Unable to move.

  I screamed for him, “Ezra!”

  I shot up in bed. Gasping for a breath. The night was still young, and Cole was lying asleep next to me. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and nestled myself back into his arms.

  “Everything okay?” he whispered.

  I smiled. “It is now.”

  I fell back to sleep without another run in with Ezra. For some reason, his visits were becoming less welcome as I felt a growing anger coming from him.