Color of Deception

by Khara Campbell

  Moments passed as they sat awkwardly quiet.

  Sexual tension took over the atmosphere in the room. She looked away from him. Not sure of what to say or do with herself next. She hated how recently she felt so tongued tied around him. Sometimes she felt like a gawky teenager crushing on a hot jock at school. Ugh! I’m forty-two years old, I shouldn’t be this self-conscious around a man. We’re two adults, we should be able to handle ourselves appropriately. She reasoned, doubtfully. She shifted her body again to face Pete to say something, put when she saw him watching her with those sexy blue eyes she’d come to admire, she suddenly found herself straddling his lap and burying her tongue in his mouth holding his head with her hands pressed against his cheeks. She just couldn’t torture herself any longer. Her need for him took all her common sense away. All the concerns she had about not going there with him vanished.

  Pete didn’t know what came over her, but whatever it was if she hadn’t acted first he would’ve. His hands entangled in her long natural red hair. Their tongues explored and mated in their mouths. Pete hands trailed up and down her back, her thighs that were now exposed because the fabric of her skirt rode up as she straddled him. His hands moved down to her voluptuous butt, they fit so nicely in the palms of his hands. She moaned as he squeezed her round behind. She pushed her body more into his, her arms around his neck, her full breast pressed against his strong chest, her crotch massaging his groin. His erection straining through his pants making her wetter than she thought was possible. Pete marveled at how perfectly she fit in his arms – like they were made for each other. He got intoxicated on her feminine scent. He kissed her along the neck, now massaging her breast through her tank top.

  “OH MY GOD!” They heard a familiar voice screeched.

  Pete and Debra drunkenly pulled away from each other and stared toward the direction of the voice and footsteps in the living room. Rachel stood with her mouth wide open in shock, her mother Leah behind her was transfixed by the scene in front of them. Debra quickly hopped off of Pete’s lap and straightened her clothes. Embarrassment overwhelmed her. She couldn’t imagine what Rachel and Leah may be thinking.

  Pete stood up, already missing having Debra in his arms. “Ah, we didn’t hear you…”

  “I’m so sorry,” Leah finally spoke. “The door was unlocked and we just walked in…” she trailed off watching her daughter escape.

  Rachel spun on her heels and dashed out of the living room, out of the house.

  “Uh. I’m going to get her. Sorry about disturbing you two,” Leah said, still in shock. “Bye.” She dashed out after Rachel.

  Pete watched as Leah quickly walked away. He dragged his hand through his hair in frustration. By the way Rachel reacted, there’s no doubt she didn’t like what she saw. But he knew the reason wasn’t just for catching her uncle making out. It was the fact that he was making out with someone that wasn’t his wife. I should have locked the door. He turned and looked at Debra, she looked like she was about to cry from humiliation.

  “I’m sorry that just happened,” he stepped closer to her. He gently placed his hands on her shoulder, then he moved them up and down the side of her arms in a comforting gesture.

  Debra stood motionless for a moment, still stunned by what just transpired. “Oh God! Did you see Rachel’s face?” She looked up at him.

  “She’s a big girl. She’ll be all right, just shocked seeing her uncle making out,” he smiled softly trying to bring some humor to the awkward situation. “I don’t regret what we did.” He looked down at her wanting to recapture her mouth again.

  Debra pulled away from him, “I…I’m going to go up to my room.”

  Pete studied her as she pulled away from him. He was disappointed that their moment together had to come to an end so quickly. “What about dinner. I can put a pizza in the oven,” he suggested. He didn’t want her to run away again like she did the first time they kissed. Damn Rachel and Leah for walking in on us. He watched Debra standing in front of him fighting with indecision. He knew she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Don’t fight it, he begged of her internally.

  “No I’m fine. I had a late lunch.” She turned and started to leave.

  “Debra, please don’t fight what we both know is brewing between us.”

  She stopped halfway on her way out of the living room. He willed her to turn around and run back into his arms. But she continued with her exit, leaving him wanting to find Rachel and Leah and berate them for barging into his house announced.

  Chapter 34

  “So I heard what transpired at your house yesterday,” Noah said before taking a swig of beer. He watched as Pete positioned himself against the pool table to hit the balls with a cue stick. Two of his balls went into pockets.

  “And?” Pete studied the pool table as Noah readied himself for his turn.

  “I have to admit, I was shocked about what Leah told me they saw. My sister’s only been gone a lil over a year. But you’re a grown man so you can do whatever you want.”

  Pete turned and looked at his brother-in-law. He didn’t like what his comment suggested. “Are you suggesting that I didn’t love my wife?” He was indignant. “That I’m not mournful of her death?”

  “Hey,” Noah said holding up his hands in surrender. “I’m not suggesting any such thing.”

  “Well it sure as hell seems like it!” Pete snapped. “Your wife and your daughter shouldn’t have just walked into my house announced.”

  “Come on man. You have to understand that they would be shocked by what they saw. They’ve only seen you with Moriah. Debra is a nice woman and all…”

  “Yeah, and what?”

  “I just think it’s too soon.” Noah said matter-of-factly.

  “Too soon for what, Noah?” Pete was already irritated with this conversation. How could they have any opinion on how he was supposed to live his life, grieve, unless they themselves had walked a second in his shoes.

  Noah looked away from Pete. He trained his eyes on the pool table, trying to find the right way to voice his opinion. “It’s too soon for you to move on with another woman.”

  “Is that right? This coming from a man that still has the pleasure of going home to his lovely wife every day,” Pete barked. He threw down his cue stick. It hit the side of the pool table, fell to the hardwood floor and rolled away from Pete’s feet. “I know you lost a sister too, but she was my wife! The love of my life, the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. So until you’ve walked a minute in hell like I have for the past year since her death, don’t you dare tell me how I am to grieve or when and how I am to move on. Because I will NEVER get over losing Moriah!” Pete slapped his hand on the pool table which stung instantly from contact.

  Other patrons in the sports bar playing pool nearby turned to watch the commotion Pete created with his outburst.

  Noah stared at Pete, shocked by his words and actions. “Peter, I’m sorry,” Noah said from a distance. He feared being near him in case he wanted to take his anger out on him physically. “You’re right, I was out of line.”

  Pete walked over to the side of the pool table where his beer sat. He picked it up, the cold beer bottle soothed his sore hand. He took a long swig, still fuming, but hoping the cold beer would help calm him down. He knew his brother-in-law was sorry because he used his full name – Peter. But darn if Pete wasn’t angry that Noah would even dare lecture him on when to move on with his life. Hadn’t he suffered enough over losing his wife? He just recently repented to God for having harbored up hate in his heart for black people because a black man killed his wife. He’d selfishly turned his back on Carlisha because of it. He was beyond remorseful and disgusted with himself because of that. And he tormented himself over his developing feelings for Debra – feeling like he was cheating on his wife for having desire for another woman. Now he’d finally made a decision to release his sorrow to God, to allow God to help him to heal and to finally allow himself to be happy again. Only to
have Noah tell him he’s moving on too soon – the heck?

  “I loved Moriah Noah. You can’t even imagine what I’ve been through since she’s been gone. So please don’t ever tell me how or when I am to move on with my life.” Pete rested the beer bottle down on the edge of the pool table.

  “Got it! I know you loved my sister, there’s no doubt about that.”

  “Good!”

  Chapter 35

  “Hey, how are you?” Debra asked walking into the kitchen carrying a bag of groceries. She placed the heavy bag on the counter.

  “Hmmm,” Rachel responded with her back at Debra while she made a bottle for Carl who was sitting in his car seat that was on the center island.

  “Hello handsome,” Debra greeted Carl tickling his bare feet. He gave her a gummy smile and cooed in response to her. “Is my little man hungry, are you, are you?” She tickled his feet again as he flapped them up and down in excitement of seeing her. He cooed showing his dimples. Debra bent over and kissed his face.

  Rachel finished making Carl a warm bottle and turned to get him out of the car seat. “Excuse me,” she mumbled with an attitude reaching for him over Debra.

  Debra moved to the side, ignoring Rachel’s rudeness. Is she really going to be childish about walking in on me and Pete kissing? “So what did you guys do today?” She turned and walked back over to the kitchen counter to remove the items she purchased out of the grocery bag.

  Debra was baffled as she watched Rachel walk out of the kitchen into the family room right off the kitchen, completely ignoring her questioned. I can’t believe this! Debra placed the can of formula that she just pulled out of the grocery bag onto the counter. She walked out of the kitchen and into the family room where Rachel was sitting in a rocking chair feeding Carl. Debra’s chubby little godson sucked contently on the bottle as he looked around taking in all the fascinating things his young eyes saw.

  “Rachel, do you have a problem with me?” Debra asked while standing at the entryway to the family room off of the kitchen. She didn’t have time to beat around the bush to figure out what Rachel’s problem was. And she certainly was shocked by Rachel’s negative behavior – it was so unlike her.

  Rachel huffed a breath. “I see you’ve had no problem coming in here acting like you’re the lady of the house,” Rachel accused, slowly but lethal with each word she released from her mouth. Ever since she’d walked in on Debra and Pete kissing on the couch she’d developed ill feelings toward Carl’s godmother. She felt like her uncle was betraying her Aunt Moriah by being with another woman. She figured it was probably childish of her to think that way – but that was how she felt nonetheless and she would not allow another woman to come into her dear aunt’s home and act like she ran the place. Aunt Moriah was like a second mother to her and she couldn’t let her be disrespected like that.

  Debra felt like she was just slapped in the face with the undercover insult, especially coming from Rachel of all people. “Excuse me?” Debra shifted her right hand to her hips. Did I just hear her right?

  “You must think you really have it made now don’t you?” Rachel shifted her arm a bit to accommodate the weight of Carl in her lap as he continued to suck the bottle. She looked up toward Debra staring at her. “You get to be mommy to Carlisha’s son and sneak in and get your claws into Uncle Pete. That must be quite an accomplishment for a divorced woman with no kids. You get an automatic family.”

  “Rachel!” Pete shouted walking fully into view as he appeared into the family room after arriving home and entering the house through the garage door that entered into the kitchen. “How dare you talk to her like that? What the hell has gotten into you?”

  Rachel looked at him with shock, but no shame for what she was just caught saying to Debra. She lifted Carl to her shoulder to burp him.

  Debra spun on her heels and ran away from the room. Pete tried to catch her by her arm but she sidestepped him. Tears escaped down her face as she snatched her purse off the counter in the kitchen and ran out of the house to the safety of her car to release the floodgates of tears. Rachel’s words cut her deep and it only awakened the doubts, low self-esteem and guilt she felt for her life being the way it was. Here she was thinking she was getting her life in order after a bitter divorce. Going back to college for her degree, finally accepting that God’s will for her life wasn’t for her to have children of her own – all that to only be reminded of the failure she felt she truly was. She cried until she felt she couldn’t shed another tear, then started her car and drove off.

  “Have you lost your mind?” Pete walked further into the family room. “I can’t believe what you just said to Debra, she didn’t deserve that.”

  “She’s the one in here acting like she owns this house.”

  “Is this about you walking in on us kissing?”

  Rachel continued to pat Carl on the back to get him to burp. “This is Aunt Moriah’s house. I can’t have another woman in her acting like she’s the woman of the house.”

  “This is my house!” Pete pointed a finger to his chest. “If I want her, you or anyone else in here, I’m the one who chooses not you.” He snapped. “You were way out of line young lady and you sure as hell are going to apologize to her.”

  “Burp,” Carl burped softly. Rachel moved him from her shoulder and wiped residue of milk from his mouth with a bib. She walked over to a baby blanket that was spread on the floor and laid him down for tummy time.

  “How could you have another woman in Aunt Moriah’s house? You and Debra shamelessly having a fling under her roof,” Rachel said bravely, standing inches away from her uncle. If Pete wouldn’t stand up for her aunt, his wife, she sure wasn’t going to back down.

  “First of all, let me remind you that I’m the elder in this conversation. So don’t you dare cross the line with me about what I do in my own home. I don’t like your tone or your attitude right now.” Pete turned and started pacing the length of the family room. “I’m surprised at you. Just months ago you were the one telling me I needed to stop grieving Moriah’s death through hate – yet you’re the one in here throwing hatred at Debra. That’s so unlike you Rachel.” Pete turned and faced her now sitting in an arm chair watching Carl play on the floor.

  “Yes, I wanted you to stop grieving her death that way. But. How could you just start dating another woman?”

  “Debra and I aren’t dating.” Not yet at least. “And whether or not we are is none of your business. I know you love your aunt and you’re being protective of her, but you have to admit that what you said to Debra was wrong.”

  Rachel sat quietly for a couple minutes and Pete doubted that she was going to say anything or at least appear to be remorseful for her actions toward Debra.

  “I have to go.” She stood up abruptly, walked over to a side table and picked up her purse. “I love you Uncle Pete, but I don’t agree with whatever it is that’s going on between you and Debra, and especially in Aunt Moriah’s house.” She started for the door not looking back.

  Pete threw up his hands in frustration after she loudly closed the front door behind her.

  He looked down at Carl on the floor still on his tummy trying to reach for a baby toy in front of him. “Oh Carl. Women, you can’t live with them and you sure as heck can’t live without them. Best you learn that early.” He walked over and picked up Carl off the floor. He kissed him on the cheek then swung him around in the air cheerfully with his hands firmly on both sides of the baby’s chubby waist. Carl giggled in excitement showing his gummy smile. “I love you little guy!” He hugged Carl to his chest. He looked down at the contrast of his light cream skin to Carl’s dark mocha complexion. “You saved my life!”

  Chapter 36

  Porsha pulled up to the mechanic shop and parked in the first available parking spot near the main office. She slammed the car door shut and sashayed over to the garage where mechanics were busy working. She caught some male attention as she strutted with a purpose across the parking lot. Her
natural hair was in its signature style – a huge afro puff ponytail high on her head. Huge gold round earrings hung from her ear and bounced as she walked. She had on a tight black and white pencil skirt that was four inches above her knees and she wore a white blouse and strappy red heels. As a part-time hairstylist it was her mission to always look fabulous. Her haters would never catch her looking a hot mess – she dared not give them the satisfaction.

  “Where is Roger?” she demanded from one of his coworkers. A light skinned tall guy that was bent over working under the hood of a truck.

  He lifted his head up and looked at her like, cussing under his breath for banging his head against the hood while doing so. “Well damn Porsha, can a dude get a hello first?” he joked, raking his eyes over her body from head to toe in pure male appreciation.

  “Whatever, Will,” she snapped. “Where is Roger?” She thrust her right hand on her hip.

  Will sensed that she was brewing for trouble, especially with all the drama Roger had told him about her recently. “Yeah I think he went for lunch,” he lied. He stuck his head back under the hood.

  “When did he leave?” She shifted her weight from her left foot to the right, still standing with her hand on her hip.

  “You just missed him,” Will started tinkering with the truck engine.

  She turned and stormed off. “I will wait for him in the car and he better not keep me waiting long.”

  When Will looked up from the hood and saw that she was gone, he jumped down off the stepping stool he was standing on and walked briskly to the back of the shop. “Hey man, your wife is out there looking for you and she don’t look too happy. I told her you just left for lunch,” Will warned Roger who was sitting on a bench in the tiny air-conditioned space eating a sandwich.

  Roger placed the sandwich he was eating down on the napkin in front of him and wiped crumbs away from his mouth with the back of his hand. “Ah hell. What does she want?” He took a swig from his can of soda. “I swear that woman is a thorn in my flesh!”