Too soon, the movie ended. Jacki thanked Elvira again and walked slowly to the door. Before she could open it, she felt Elvira at her side. “I had a wonderful time tonight. When can you come over again?”
Jacki turned to meet her eyes. “Again?”
“Well, that is...” Elvira blinked her thick lashes. “If you want to...”
“Yes, of course. I’d really like that...”
“All right then.” Elvira reached up and touched Jacki’s cheek, trailing her finger down to her lips, lingering for a moment, then dropping to her side. Jacki could only stare into those deep violet eyes. Her breath quickened and her hands began to tremble. Does she feel the same way I do?
Elvira placed her hands on Jacki’s shoulders, leaned forward until their lips met, just a whisper of a touch. Jacki moaned in pleasure from the contact. Elvira pulled Jacki to her; her lips so warm, her tongue, teasing until Jacki put her arms around her and held her close.
“Are you sure about this?” Jacki whispered, her heart pounding, her longing for Elvira deepening every second. Her body tingled with electric sexual pulses. Her hot wet sex throbbed with want for Elvira.
“I’m not sure...”
Jacki hesitated. Oh, please... don’t say ‘no’ now. Disappointment flooded through her.
Elvira laughed, and took her hand. “I guess there is only one way to find out.” Jacki followed behind her towards the bedroom, like an eager puppy.
Chapter 9
Roxy heard a knock on her door, but before she could get up to answer it, a young man walked in, carrying a large pizza box. “Hey, Seb, what did you bring me? Flowers?”
Sebastian only grinned in response and placed the pizza box on the table. She followed suit, retrieving a couple of plates from the cupboard. Picking up a roll of paper towels, she ripped off two squares, setting them beside the plates.
Sebastian sat down and opened the pizza box while Roxy grabbed a couple cans of soda out of the refrigerator. “Thanks for waiting,” she responded, taking a seat. Seb only nodded; his mouth was full of the thick-crusted pepperoni pizza.
Roxy aimed the pizza towards her mouth, but stopped just before taking a bite. “You didn’t get fired, did you?”
He shook his head “no.” Satisfied with that answer, Roxy took a big bite of pizza. She closed her eyes, savoring the taste.
“Still job hunting?” Sebastian asked.
Roxy nodded and swallowed. “There is a cleaning job I have an interview for. Cross your fingers for me.”
Seb wiped his mouth with the paper towel and touched her hand affectionately. “If we got married, you could quit work.”
Roxy burst out laughing. “You insane bastard!”
Seb’s eyes twinkled with humor. “Hey. At the end of the night there’s usually one or two pizzas that have to go to the dumpster. The order isn’t right, or someone calls in an order and doesn’t pick it up. You told me before you could live on this stuff.”
Roxy wiped the laughing tears from her eyes. “If you weren’t one of my good friends, I may have taken you up on the offer.”
“Two can eat for the price of one.”
“About a hundred years ago.”
“The best things in life are free.”
“Ya, if you want to live in a tent, go to the food banks.”
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with food banks!”
She leaned towards him. “I never said there was...but...I would rather not live my life depending on them.”
“So,” his face took on a forlorn look, “that’s it then. My standard of living is beneath you...”
“Oh, please...Seb!”
He took another bite of pizza. “And there’s the age thing.”
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to hide the glint in her eyes. She patted him on the head. “Yes, you are just a baby...what twenty-two? More or less ten years younger than me.”
“We could live with my mom. You could live rent free.”
Roxy laughed again. “Your mother is a loon! A loon! She dyes her hair fire-engine red, has agoraphobia and only interacts with TV soap opera characters...plus...plus! She still thinks Nixon is President!”
Seb shrugged his shoulders. He tilted his head and smiled. “Did I cheer you up?”
“Immensely. Seb, immensely.”
He stood up and walked to a small cupboard, pulling the door open. “Ready for me to kick your ass in Monopoly?”
“Only if I can be the bank.”
Seb laughed, picking up the box. He sat it down on the table. “Can I trust you?”
Roxy winked. “Why...what a question to ask a lady.”
* * * *
Sunday was looking forward to Duffy coming home from work. They had a dinner date planned, and surprisingly she felt the excitement of sexual stirrings. Duffy had been exceptionally affectionate lately and her emotional guard had eased up a little. He had broken her heart many times over the years, with his emotional and physical abuse, yet she continued to hold out hope that he would change one day, and become the man she needed him to be. He had so many wonderful attributes—but the abuse had taken its toll over the years.
How many times had she planned to leave him...only to wait a little longer and suddenly, he would treat her like his princess. Why can’t he do it all the time? she wondered. He’d win her back...then...the inevitable would happen and the cycle would run its course again.
The sound of his Explorer caused her heart to beat a little faster. Sunday hurried to the bedroom, opened her perfume bottle, dabbed it behind her ears, wrists, and a touch between her breasts. The front door opened and Sunday called out, “Hi, honey!”
“Hello,” Duffy answered.
Sunday quickly applied her lip gloss and headed for the living room. He stood in the dining room, flipping through the mail she had retrieved from the mail box an hour earlier. “How did the meeting go?”
“All right. I don’t know if we’ll get the bid or not.” Flipping through the rest of the mail, he glanced up. “I’m taking a shower then we can get going.” He pursed his lips. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
Sunday frowned. She had her designer jeans on, which he often preferred. “Do you want me to wear something else?”
He walked over and gave her a soft kiss on her lips. “Why don’t you wear one of your short skirts and that sexy black top I like so much?”
Sunday grinned, slid her hand to the back of his neck, and whispered, “Sure, Honey.”
His hand slid down to her bottom and he pulled her close. She felt his hardness and a flood of heat swept through her. Still holding her close, he tightened his grip and rocked into her. A moan escaped her lips and she felt her own hot wetness. Sunday clutched his shoulders. Duffy let go of her. “Later.”
Sunday only smiled as he walked towards their bedroom. Tonight is going to be super! She followed him into the bedroom and opened the closet, looking for the clothes he wanted her to wear. He stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.
Just as she took the skirt off of the hanger, a sing song noise went off. It was unfamiliar to Sunday. She walked into the dining room and saw it was Duffy’s cell phone.
“Duffy, your phone!”
The only response was hearing the shower water running. “Okay, I’ll see who it is,” she mumbled. Sunday picked up the phone and noticed it was a text message. She considered leaving it, but curiosity got the best of her. Maybe it’s good news about the bid. She flipped to the message and read: Hey, Baby, had a great time the other evening. When can we do it again? U fuc so good.
Sunday felt bile rise in her throat. Her heart beat madly, she felt gutted, and her body trembled. He wouldn’t do that to me! Not after everything else! Thoughts raced through her mind. Her breaths came deep and quick. Options! What were they?
She could text back, pretending she was Duffy, but the woman, whoever it is, would probably mention it next time they spoke or texted again. She erased the message. Hot tears burned her eyes, but her
intense anger stopped the flow. Her hands trembled so much she was afraid she’d drop the phone. She should walk in there right now and confront him. Or maybe just pack her bags. The shower stopped running and Sunday laid the phone back down, in the same place she remembered. She thought about her wonderful loving feelings she had for him only a few moments before. She had been joyful and happy. Now, she only felt full of anger and betrayal. A hot intense wave of woman’s scorn raced through her feminine veins. No! He’d not get off that easy. He is going to pay through the scrotum for his infidelity...his years of abuse... He is going to pay!
A minute later Duffy called out, “Are you ready to go?”
Sunday plastered a happy fake smile on her face and walked into the bedroom. “Almost, honey.” She quickly changed her clothes.
A few minutes later they were driving towards town. Duffy reached over and took her hand. “You’re so quiet. Are you okay?”
Sunday nodded. “Just a bit of an upset stomach.” Bastard. Lilly–livered cocksucker.
And later that night, Sunday rode him, her nails gripping into his shoulders, not from ecstasy, but from anger. She would screw him all right! She would screw him so bad that by the time she left him, it would take him months to figure how badly.
Chapter 10
Roxy glanced once more at the address she had written down. She had about thirty minutes before her interview for the office cleaning position. Her stomach churned in knots. She hated interviews. Hated them! She felt like she was on stage giving some kind of faked performance...being judged. She desperately needed the extra income though, and hoped it went well. Roxy closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “I’ll do fine.” Picking up her car keys, she headed out the door when her cell rang. She glanced at it just long enough to see it was her mother and thought about not answering it. Roxy continued on, putting the phone up to her ear as she closed the door behind her and locked it. “Hi, Mom.”
Her mother burst out with such a hysterical sobbing noise that Roxy almost dropped the phone. “Mom? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Uncle Ned, baby. He’s dead. My Ned is dead...oh God...what am I going to do Roxy? Agggggh...”
Roxy felt her body begin to tremble, not from the death its self, but hearing that he finally died brought back an overpowering flood of memories of his abuse; feelings of her humiliation and shame erupted in an icy hate for him. Her body remembered the pain and hurt from his touch and every muscle fiber quivered. A wave of dizziness swept through her and Roxy stumbled against her door. Her breath came to her in gulps; black spots floated in front of her face. A piercing ringing began in her ears.
“Roxy, come and get me. I’m at the hospital now...oh God...” She burst into another bout of sobs and words that Roxy couldn’t understand.
Roxy felt a shift in her world, her reality. Could he really be dead? And what did that mean? He still left all his ugly memories with Roxy...he didn’t take them with him to hell like he should have, so she could finally have some peace.
“Are...” Roxy felt her voice break. “Mom...are you sure?”
“What? Of course I’m sure. The nurses came in as I was sitting here reading to him and they checked him and said he expired. Expired! Like he was an out dated carton of milk! All the time I was reading to him...he just died. And I didn’t even know. I should have known... I should have felt...” sob, “something.”
Roxy’s breath was coming slower now, her balance returning. The ringing in her ears, only a dull vibration.
“Roxy?”
“I’m here, Mom.”
“You are coming right now, aren’t you? Don’t make your mother wait in a dead man’s room.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Is he still there?”
“No. He’s gone. I just have to get his belongings.”
Roxy noted her mother sounded so normal now, as if talking about the weather or doing the laundry.
“I was just leaving for an interview...”
“Roxy?” The voice was sharp. Demanding.
“Yes, Momma. I’ll be right there.” Roxy closed the phone and opened her purse. She pulled out the slip that had an address and phone number. She pushed the numbers on the phone.
“Hello? This is Roxy. I was supposed to come in for an interview, but...my mother just called. My uncle died.”
She heard words of condolences.
“Is there any way I could have the interview tomorrow, say after four when I get off my other job? I am really interested in the position...”
The woman replied, “I was hoping to close it today...but...under the circumstances, I think that would only be fair. Tomorrow after four then.”
“Thank you so much.” Roxy closed the phone and placed it in her purse. She walked to her car, still in a daze. She started the engine and sat for a moment. Her mind drifted endlessly and when she glanced at the time, she noticed twenty minutes had passed. She took her phone out and punched in a number.
“Hey, Doll, what up?” Madison answered.
“Help,” Roxy whispered.
“What?” A tone of concern was in her voice.
“The bastard is finally dead.” She took a deep breath. “I’m free Madison...but...I can’t seem to...function. Will you come get me and take me to the hospital to get Mom?”
“Sure, Roxy, I’ll be right there.”
“Okay...”
* * * *
Madison pulled into the driveway, directly behind Roxy’s car. She saw Roxy’s reflection as she tilted her head and eyed Madison from the rear view mirror. Their eyes met and it seemed to Madison that Roxy closed her eyes and sighed, before she opened the car door and got out. Madison’s heart slowed down. It had been working hard, pounding in her chest since the phone call and Madison felt relief at seeing her friend was all right.
Roxy opened the passenger door and got into the car. When she sat down, Madison leaned over and gave her a hug, feeling her friend’s body tremble. “How ya doing, Sugar?”
Roxy only nodded quickly. “I...called...Cory...and told him.”
“Good.” Madison put the car into reverse and backed up, easing back onto the highway. Stomping the gas pedal, she headed quickly towards the hospital. “Is your little brother meeting us there?”
“No, he said...he will stay with Mom tonight.”
“Good, that way you can stay with me.” She glanced quickly at Roxy, who remained sitting stiff in the seat, staring ahead. She only nodded in response.
Madison continued on. “I called Sunday.”
A few minutes later they pulled into the hospital parking lot. Roxy got out of the car. “What did you tell your boss to be able to get away from work?”
“I said there had been a death in my family.” She placed her arm around Roxy as they walked up to the building. “I didn’t say it was cause for celebration though.”
They walked in silence into the building. They proceeded down the long hall towards the elevator doors. Madison took Roxy’s hand as they rode in the elevator. The elevator stopped on the second floor. Two young nurses, perhaps still in training, stepped into the elevator. The dark haired nurse glanced at Madison and Roxy. Frowning, she moved off to the side. The other nurse pushed the third floor button and stepped next to her companion. The small room began to move.
Madison squeezed Roxy’s hand and spoke louder than she needed too. “Last night was fab!”
The small room stopped abruptly. The doors began to open and Madison exclaimed, “When you went down on me last night, I thought I was going to die!”
The two nurses hurried away and Roxy exploded in laughter. “That was sooo bad, Madison!”
Madison giggled. “I needed some comic relief.”
Roxy nodded, meeting her eyes. Madison noticed her trembling was gone now, although she was sure that Roxy did not feel calm on the inside. “Me too. Me too.”
They got off at the next floor and headed down another long hallway. Outside of her dead uncle’s room Roxy st
opped and glanced at Madison. “Here we go.”
“Rock and roll,” Madison responded and took the lead. She stepped into the room, seeing Roxy’s mom, Madeline, sitting on the bed, staring up at the television, seemingly all consumed in what she was watching.
The elderly woman turned to them. Jumping up, she burst into crocodile tears.
“Oh, what am I going to do? He’s died and left me all alone.”
Madison and Roxy surrounded the old woman and hugged her, her sobbing face smashed against Roxy’s chest. Madison met her friend’s eyes and made a face, faking crying herself. Roxy’s eyes twinkled in response.
Madison spoke first. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Madeline.” Her eyes rolled.
“It will be okay, Mom. We will take care of you.”
“Where’s Cory?” her mother’s voice demanded sharply.
“He’ll come over tonight. He couldn’t get away from work just yet.”
“We have to go to the funeral parlor and make arrangements.”
“Yes, Mom,” Roxy responded.
Madeline pulled away and wiped her hand across her eyes. She pointed to plastic bags on the floor beside the empty bed. “Let’s get the stuff and go then.” She stood quietly while Roxy and Madison picked up all the bags, not offering to even carry one of the small parcels.
The started out of the room, but Madeline stopped at the doorway and stared back inside the room. “Goodbye, Ned.”
Waiting for the elevator, Madeline said crisply, “You should have come more often to visit your poor dying uncle, Roxy.”
“Yes, Momma.” Roxy nodded, waiting for the elevator doors to open.
* * * *
Reaching the car, Roxy had taken the back seat, letting her mother sit up front with Madison. She tapped her foot nervously as they drove to the funeral home. Madeline continued to talk about her dead brother.
“He suffered so towards the end.” She turned around in her seat toward Roxy. “It was horrible! Horrible!” She shook her head as if she was still having a difficult time thinking about the memory. “No person should have to go through what he did.”
(Don't Mess With) Clear Lake Women Page 6