Baby, You're the Best

by Mary B. Morrison

  “I’ll drive. My car,” I insisted. Picking up my car and house keys, I checked to make sure I wasn’t missing one. The way Alexis sucked my dick a bruh could end up falling for her and not realize it until he was in too deep.

  “I want to take you to brunch at the Ritz after church.” I’d just made that up but it was a fantastic idea and the chances of Charlotte being there were slim.

  Alexis could come back here after the service but my black ass would not be here. I did not trust my dick around her. Hopefully they wouldn’t want to join us. I locked Fabulous’s front door with the key she’d insisted I have.

  LB opened his car door for Alexis, waited until she got in, then headed to the passenger side. Since when did he start opening doors for females?

  “It’s a beautiful day. Let’s take my Benz.” Fabulous reached into her purse.

  “No.” I opened the passenger door of my Range Rover, waited for her to get in. “You can give me directions to the church,” I said, leaving the driveway.

  “Or, you can follow me, Alexis,” she said. “Is there something wrong, Spencer?”

  “Nah” was all I’d said. My dick wanted to shout, “Hell, yeah!”

  Fabulous must have sensed something wasn’t right. She said, “I think LB and Alexis could make a good couple but he won’t last. That girl doesn’t like anybody. Man or woman.”

  “Or what?”

  Fabulous instructed, “Turn right at the stop sign,” then said, “My beautiful daughter is bisexual.”

  Lots of girls got down like that in the ATL but Alexis didn’t seem the type. Oh, snap. That’s why LB was all lit up. Lucky motherfucker. They probably had a threesome. On the first date? I was jealous. But if he knew what went down in the kitchen, he’d be pissed.

  “She has a gorgeous stripper girlfriend, Chanel, who adores her. A man who worships her but she won’t commit to him. She doesn’t even wear the engagement ring he gave her a few days ago. What do you think she’s in search of?”

  Me, if I was lucky. If I’d said that aloud, it would be true and I’d get slapped upside my head. Alexis needed a real man to challenge her.

  “She seems to have a male mentality,” I said. “For some people it’s all about the chase.” That was understandable for dudes. I wanted to say, For us, but en route to church was not the time to spark our first argument.

  “Maybe I don’t have enough chase in me. What do you think?” Fabulous asked.

  “Oh, you’ve got it. Where do you think Alexis gets it? You ever see dogs play when one provokes the other then runs away? That sparks the chase. And when the chaser loses interest, he’s provoked again. Chases again. Men are supposed to pursue you but they need a reason.”

  Fabulous didn’t have the right approach. She was nice but she wasn’t exciting. I parked in the church’s lot next to Alexis’s door. LB scurried to let her out. I’d just noticed my boy had on the same jeans and T-shirt from yesterday.

  Looking into Fabulous’s eyes, I lied trying to boost her self-esteem, “You’ve got the right amount of everything.”

  This woman could be the best thing that’s happened to me. If I could change one thing, it would be her overly generous spirit. I was offered the keys to her cars anytime I wanted. She freely handed me money to go get us food. I’d been by her side for one week and she trusted me with almost everything she owned. I’d planned on leaving her house and her house keys this evening.

  Alexis stood in front of my car with her back to us. I swear that was a woman who knew how to bring out the dog in me.

  CHAPTER 40

  Spencer

  I closed Fabulous’s door, held her arm until we were inside. Sitting beside Alexis, we were at the end toward the center aisle five pews from the back exit. Intentionally, I’d let Blake sit on the very end in case she wanted to go up for altar prayer or some special offering. I wasn’t in favor of having a minister lay hands on me for additional blessings. God gave me what He wanted me to have. What I did with it was pretty much the same as the people who’d thought they’d get more than their share.

  I glanced around to see if I knew anyone. A few of these folks I’d seen at the restaurant, the mall, but I didn’t know them enough to say, “I trust them.” Just because it was church didn’t mean half the congregation wasn’t toting a piece on them.

  Hearing the choir took me back to the days my mother and I worshipped together. In the middle of the bishop’s sermon, I held Blake’s hand. I whispered, “You good?”

  “Yes. You?” she asked.

  Not really. I should’ve been listening to the word but the truth was I was only here for Blake. Sitting next to Alexis was a major distraction. I felt Alexis’s leg next to mine. I wanted to switch seats.

  I lied to Blake. “I’m cool.”

  Alexis’s shoe touched my shoe. I moved my foot away from hers. She placed hers closer. Touched me again. Okay. I wasn’t going to play this game with her. Not here. Not now. She’d made it clear that she was interested in me but we’d made our choices. She was with LB. I was with Blake.

  I’d missed whatever was said after Alexis distracted me. Truth was, I wasn’t mentally present in the word. Had to concentrate on keeping my dick from rising. There’d be no hiding if this thang got loose. I was here with and for Blake.

  When the bishop said, “Pull out your cell and tweet this . . .” that gave me the opportunity to check my phone. No text messages or missed calls from Charlotte. That bothered me more than if she’d blown up my car in the church’s parking lot.

  Finally, church ended. I didn’t mind still being here but my praying for forgiveness for lusting for Alexis while I was sitting in the house of the Lord was the worst. It wasn’t my fault. I couldn’t call Alexis out. I was ready to go to Fabulous’s place. Oh, yeah. Brunch. Whatever we did next, my time with Fabulous was almost up.

  Soaking in Fabulous’s essence while we chilled in her Jacuzzi one last time would be a great way to end a good week. I was going to miss her spot. Six thousand was a lot of square footage for one female.

  Looking around the church I’d bet quite a few of these females who just finished praising the Lord had hit up a guy in their rotation during the sermon. What was Alexis’s motivation for being with LB while pushing herself on me? I knew the answer well.

  Ego.

  “Let’s say hi to the bishop, Mama,” Alexis said, leading the way to the front of the church.

  She was definitely a control freak and a real freak in one. Looking straight ahead, I focused on Alexis. LB was to her left. Blake was to my right.

  Alexis’s dress rested on the top of her ass. There was a subtle indentation that only a thong or no underwear could allow. I imagined circling my third eye around her asshole wondering if she were the type to strap on for her girl. Did she ride a fake dick or preferred penetrating pussy? Could she take it up her rear like a pro? She was so bad I’d almost forgotten where I was until I heard, “Alexis Crystal, it’s good to see you and your mom.”

  LB was looking around as if he were trying to see if any other dudes were checking out Alexis. I was glad he wasn’t tripping on me.

  Alexis shook the pastor’s hand. Complimented him on the sermon.

  Alexis had my undivided attention until she turned to Blake and me. “We’re outta here, you guys. See you later this evening, Mom.” She winked at me, then said, “Come on, LB.”

  “Later, Spence,” LB said, trailing Alexis.

  Wow! My boy was gone. I prayed she hadn’t turned him out.

  As the pastor reached for Fabulous’s hand, I checked out the people chatting with one another. A woman approached us, extended an envelope. The bishop smiled hard reaching for it. She pulled it back, gave it to Fabulous, then walked away.

  I glanced at the bishop, and he stared at me. His smile vanished. Sounded like the whole church shifted to mute when he mouthed, What’s your name, son?

  My neck shrugged backward. He mouthed it again but he wasn’t asking. Seems like he was t
rying to place me in his mind. As I faced the bishop, my eyes shifted toward Blake. She put the envelope in her purse, then smiled at me.

  I was cool until the bishop stared deep into my eyes without blinking. Oh, wow. This nigga is a bishop. Really?

  Blake pronounced, “This is my guy, Spencer.”

  While Fabulous was telling him my last name, he mouthed, Leave her alone.

  He didn’t want to go there with me. I stared him down, stood nose-to-nose, then I whispered, “You lucky we in church.”

  He never looked me in the eyes when he was fucking me in my ass. Faced me to my bedroom wall. My action hero, Superman, on my favorite poster couldn’t save me. My dad could’ve but didn’t! He knew what was happening.

  So this is where he’s been. I hadn’t seen him since my mom left my dad seventeen years ago. This dude fucked me when I was a kid but he acted as though he didn’t know me at all now? If he were so righteous. If he were a man of God back then as opposed to being a child molester. If he were truly his brother’s keeper.

  I wanted to beat his ass down!

  “You okay, Spencer?” Fabulous asked, touching me on my bicep.

  I gave her a serious look. “That’s him.”

  She squinted. “Him?” Her eyes widened. “Him? Spencer, are you sure? There must be some mistake.”

  “Yes, son. You must be mistaken,” the bishop said. Moving over, he greeted some woman. “Praise God, sister. It’s good to see you back in the house of the Lord.”

  I wanted to strangle him with that cross and shove that Bible down his lying throat. Opening up to Fabulous took a heavy weight off my chest yesterday. If I hadn’t released some of my anger I was sure Bishop would be laid out at the altar.

  I nodded at him. I had a pine box in my heart for this nigga. The worst part was, he didn’t care.

  Shaking my head, I exited the church before I did something even the Lord might not forgive me for.

  CHAPTER 41

  Blake

  Once a Christian always a Christian my behind.

  I loved the Lord and the people who worshipped Him but some folks went too far with their phoniness. Being a saint wasn’t in one’s DNA like being black or white. All the years I’d attended my church, I’d never step foot in that one again. That man ministered to me, my children, my grandkids. The thought of what’d he done to a defenseless innocent child made me want to expose him.

  The gospel message was separate from the deliverer but a rapist and a molester—pastor or not—Bishop was a person I no longer respected. Sure he could’ve repented and reformed but the fact that he showed no remorse toward Spencer pissed me off. I knew long as there was breath in our body everyone had the right to ask God for forgiveness.

  Spencer was silent the entire ride back to my house. Refusing to go inside, he sat on the porch rocking back and forth. I made two martinis, went outside, handed him one hoping the vodka would relax him a little.

  His fingers were interlocked face up. He shook his head, spoke toward his palms, “I’m good.” I placed the drinks between our chairs, sat in the rocker beside him, then I touched his wrist. He pulled away, telling me, “Blake, you mind?”

  Yes. I did. I wanted to be there for him the way he’d done for me.

  “Blake! Do you mind! Damn! Leave me alone!”

  I left the martinis on the porch in case he changed his mind. I needed to catch up to Mercedes, Devereaux, and Sandara. None of them were at church today. Seeing and hugging my grandbabies would do me good right now. Quietly, I left Spencer rocking with his thoughts.

  Staring at my face in the mirror, I removed all of my makeup. The constant application of witch hazel had done an amazing job. The bruises seemed more like skin discoloration. I reapplied a light coat of foundation, a little eye shadow. I hadn’t perfected all those strokes and blends the artist at Sephora showed me. The basics were fine. I didn’t want to spend forty-five minutes to an hour applying makeup unless it was a special occasion.

  I felt bad for Spencer. I knew he was hurting yet I could do nothing to alleviate his pain. Staring at myself in the mirror, I shook my head. If Spencer didn’t love me, I wanted to know how he’d treat the woman that he’d fall in love with. I believed one day he might be mine but I didn’t want to seem desperate. For what reason other than love would a man I barely knew tend to me?

  Maybe I was doing it again. Falling for a man before I knew him and giving him all I had to offer. If Spencer was attracted to Alexis, even if she weren’t my daughter, how could I compete with a twenty-six-year-old woman?

  Exchanging my coral dress for a white jumper, I switched to my white and black Michael Kors bag, slid on my sunglasses, got in my Benz, then drove to the exit of my driveway. I glanced in my rearview mirror. He was still looking down, rocking.

  “God, I love that man,” I said, driving off.

  There were many degrees of love. I didn’t want to analyze how much, or how deep my feelings were for Spencer. Self-acknowledgement of my feelings was good enough for me.

  Spencer knew how to contact me. I made sure the volume on my cell was turned up. He could leave my house or stay. He had a key to lock the door. If he called, I’d go back to hold him in my arms. The entire time Spencer was at my house, he hadn’t started any arguments the way Fortune would’ve done. I wasn’t sure which was harder to deal with. A man that shut down or one that bitched more than me?

  Tears flowed. What if he was testing me? Giving me the option to be by his side the way he’d been there for me and I’d abandoned him. Wow. I wasn’t five minutes away from my house and my heart ached for Spencer. I made a U-turn, headed back home, parked in the driveway, walked up five steps onto the porch.

  This time I refused to walk away. I stood in front of Spencer, opened my arms. “The world can wait.”

  For the first time since he’d sat there, he looked up at me. He stood. Hugged me, then started crying on my shoulder.

  “You have no idea how fucked up it is to have a man stick his dick in your ass against your will. I was a kid, Blake. I should’ve laid his ass out across the altar. But all I did was walk away. I’m feeling like a bitch right now for punking out,” he said.

  “You could never be that. It wasn’t your fault.”

  He yelled, “Then who’s to blame! Huh? Tell me! Who’s to fucking blame!”

  I refused to let him go. His concerns were valid. The one thing no one should ever question was who was wrong for abusing a child. “Shh.” I held him tight. When I touched the back of his head, he cried louder.

  After about ten minutes, he started sobbing. I whispered, “You don’t have to say a word. Let’s go inside. I’ma fill the tub so we can zone out.”

  “Everything okay over there, Blake?” Tom was standing in my driveway.

  “Yes, Tom. We’re good.”

  Tom made an about-face, then headed across the street. Spencer entered my house.

  My Jacuzzi had become our sanctuary. A place where we could lay our heads, clear our minds, and open our hearts to each other. Turning on the surround sound I played his favorite smooth jazz CD.

  Spencer settled into the water. I sat naked on the side of the tub with my feet in the water. I rested the back of his head on my stomach, dipped the sponge in the warm water. Gently, I washed his neck, shoulders, back. I scrubbed his chest. With each stroke, I stayed well above his waist. This moment was not about stroking his dick or his ego.

  He dunked his face into the water. “Get in. I need for you to hold me.”

  I eased into the water, sat behind him. I wrapped my arms around him. He gripped my biceps. This was the type of man I’d longed for. Sensitive. Caring. Open.

  We chilled. Our energies comforted each other. The connection felt spiritual.

  Spencer whispered, “Thank you, Blake.”

  I could trust this man, and love him hard.

  I cried. He cried.

  I whispered, “Thank you, too.”

  CHAPTER 42

  Spence
r

  Just as I dozed off, my cell rang. Looking at the caller ID, I smiled.

  Fabulous was lying next to me asleep. “What’s up?” I eased from underneath the covers, tiptoed to the living room.

  “Can you be here in two hours? I need you.”

  Now who needed whom? I didn’t want to argue or debate, I was happy somebody genuinely wanted me.

  I replied, “You got it. See you in two.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No. Thank you,” I said, ending the call.

  One of the many things my mother, Venus, taught me was being courteous to the right people at the right time is called respect. Pride ain’t worth a dime if you have to step on others to get it or to keep it.

  I shook my arms, wiggled my body, tilted my head side to side, then proudly entered the bedroom. Fabulous’s eyes were wide open. “Who was that?”

  “I’ve got to go. I’d planned on leaving today anyway.” That was the truth.

  “So you’re not going to tell me who it was?”

  Telling her my boss, Derrick, needed me wasn’t a problem. I didn’t want Fabulous to show up at my job. Not that it’d be a problem for Fabulous to chill but I’d been with her long enough. A brotha needed some space. And I mean what if Charlotte decided to drop in at the bar?

  I opened a new pack of boxer briefs, held up two pair, then asked her, “Black or red?”

  I’d been here so long, I’d run out of the new clothes I’d bought at Cumberland Mall and I had to order more underwear online and have them overnight-expressed. All my dirty laundry was in a trash bag. I could’ve used Fabulous’s washer machine but I didn’t want to.

  “I have business to tend to,” I said, giving her a kiss.

  Fabulous hugged me. “You’re leaving me,” she said with a sad face.

  I imagined she didn’t want to be home alone. “Maybe one of your daughters can come over.”

  She let go. Turned her back to me. Wrapped her arms around her pillow.

  Not committing to a day or time, I said, “I promise I’ll call you.”