by Skyy
“So what do I do?” Will asked.
“Honestly, babe, I don’t have a clue where we should start, but I will help you, Will. I love you, baby, and it’s not about greed. It’s about honesty and doing what’s right. You are so good at what you do, and you don’t deserve to be cheated, especially by someone you love and trust.”
He didn’t say anything for a few moments. I then got scared. I didn’t want him to think I was trying to control his business.
“Marry me,” he finally said.
I blinked rapidly. With those words, my body was launched into orbit, or so it seemed. I pulled myself back into that moment, still blinking like I had some kind of allergy. “I’m sorry?” I said.
“You heard me, Lynn. Marry me.”
I swallowed hard. “Yes,” I whispered.
My world begin to flash in front of my eyes. I could not process one thought; my mind was all over the place. He grabbed my face and kissed me deeply. Quickly, the room began to heat up, and it felt like a match or flame was on my face, because my face got so hot. There were no more words, only the sounds of our moans as we pleasured each other all through the night.
I made it to the bakery the next morning, exhausted as hell, and couldn’t wait until closing. I had accepted the marriage proposal of the century, and when he came home, he laced my finger properly with eight carats of white and purple diamonds.
Yvonne, eat your heart out, bitch.
Part Two
Chapter Ten
Lynn
It had been two quiet weeks since I’d approached Will about investigating Lance, and he hadn’t said a word to me about going forward, so I decided to leave it alone. It bothered me and pressed on my nerves like an unruly child, but I let it go.
“Bae, do you want fish or chicken?” I yelled up the stairs.
“Why are you cooking?” he asked from the top of the stairs. “You know tonight is Yvonne’s birthday party. You’re supposed to be getting dressed.”
“Oh, shit, baby. I completely forgot. My dress is at my house, so I have to go home to get dressed.”
He looked at his watch. “Seriously, Lynn. I mean, you knew about this.”
“I know, and I have no idea how it slipped my mind. Look, I’ll race home, and you can pick me up. I promise I’ll be ready in no time.”
“Hurry up,” he scolded as I went for my keys and purse.
I rushed out, rushed home, and took a birdbath. I had gotten my weekly beauty treatments the day before, so all I had to do was make up my face. By the time Will made it over to get me, I was dressed and ready.
“Baby, you look breathtaking.”
“Thank you, handsome.” I put my arm in his, and we headed out to the party.
When we made it to our destination, my eyes bulged. The party was at a resort on the outskirts of Chicago, and it had a casino theme. It was a serious party at a party venue of the century. You’d think it was their wedding.
“Baby, this cannot be her party,” I told Will as we sat in the car.
“It is.”
“Oh, my God, Will. I mean, this is like a . . .” I said, trailing off. The valet opened my door and helped me out of the car. Will grabbed my hand. “This had to cost a fortune,” I said, hoping I’d get him to take up investigating Lance.
“You’re right. This is more of a . . . Shit, I don’t know. Definitely not the average party.”
We walked in. Champagne flutes were readily available, and servers were offering up delectables. I held on tight to my man because there were tons of gorgeous gals everywhere and none that looked like me.
“Lynn, Will, you made it.” I knew that voice.
“Yvonne, this is certainly a party.” I said.
“Yes. What Yvonne wants is what Yvonne gets,” she returned, then placed a couple of kisses on our cheeks. “Come, come, come. Lance and I have been waiting for you two.”
We followed her through the crowded room to a grand table, where two seats near her and Lance had been saved for Will and me. We enjoyed the music, the champagne and the birthday wishes that were given by several of Yvonne’s family members. After a couple of drinks, I was ready to eat. The appetizers were so delicious, but I wanted some real food. I was happy when the servers came around. They offered, chicken, fish or steak and I chose the steak.
“Baby, this is sooo good,” I said. Finally the main course, and I was in food heaven.
“It is.” Will said and put his fork down. He leaned in closer to me. “And so I tried to avoid the conversation we had a couple of weeks ago, and I hate to admit it, Lynn, but it’s time. This here”—he waved a hand in the air—“this had to be a couple hundred grand. I mean, they refill my glass before it is empty.”
I knew it was killing him. “I’m sorry, Will.” I rubbed his thigh.
“Don’t be, baby. It just has to be done. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, I have to face the truth.”
“I’m with you all the way, Will. You won’t have to do this alone, my love.”
“I know, and I love you for looking out for me, baby. And with you, I feel so free. There are no more secrets. But I’m all exposed, and I feel like a fool.”
“Why?”
“Because if things are not in order, it’s my own fault.”
“Baby, stop, okay? It’s not Team You anymore. It’s Team Us, and we are going to get to the bottom of whatever it is. And for your sake, bae, I hope I’m wrong.”
He looked around. “There are fifteen fucking ice sculptures in the image of Yvonne, babe. I doubt that you’re wrong,” he said. He wrapped his arm around me, and I moved in closed to him and kissed his neck.
“No matter what, I got your back,” I assured him.
“No matter what?”
“Yep. No matter what,” I said, and just then Lance tapped his glass.
The soft music that was playing stopped, and Lance gave his undying love speech for Yvonne and wished her a happy birthday. A few of her size-zero friends spoke, extending their birthday wishes, and then the DJ got it going.
Will and I drank so much at the party, we got a room at the resort instead of going home. That night we passed out without lovemaking because the overflow of champagne had done us in.
I thanked God that I didn’t open the bakery on Sundays, because Will and I could not move the next day. After devouring a room service breakfast, we called down to the front desk and extended our stay for another night because we were still too exhausted to leave. I made sure my bakery staff could open for me that Monday morning, and then Will and I enjoyed the rest of our day and evening naked, with room service, a jetted tub, and lovemaking.
Eyes shut, enjoying our intimate bath, Will kissed my head and then said, “Once we’re married, can we have a baby?”
Surprised, I paused and thought for a second before answering. “We’re not young anymore, Will.”
“I know, but we’re not old, either.”
“You’re right, my love, but I just thought now, at this age, I’d find my soul mate, and I did, and we’d just enjoy each other,” I said and then blew at the bubbles under my chin. We were in the tub again, relaxing and sipping more champagne.
“I thought that too, but I look at you, Lynn, and I want so much from you and from us, and I would love for us to make a baby, at least one. A little person we can just love and spoil and cherish together. I keep thinking of this little girl with your face, my personality, mixed with her own little finesse.” He paused. “I don’t know, Lynn. It’s just that I love you so much, and I want to share everything humanly possible with you, so I just had to ask.”
“Ask what?”
“I want you to stop taking the pill.”
“Wait a minute. How can you ask me something like that, Will? I mean, after we are married, I’d consider it, but before marriage, I don’t know.”
“So let’s get married now.”
My ears had to be playing tricks on me. “Let’s do what now?”
�
��Get married. I mean, we practically live together, and there is no reason to wait. We can live in my house or yours—your choice, baby—and sell one. All I know is I want to be with you, Lynn. I’d never thought I’d be blessed with someone like you. You’re gorgeous for one, smart, ambitious, sexy, and on top of that, you can cook and bake your ass off. I mean, your red velvet is the best in this world,” he joked.
I laughed. “Stop it, Will. I mean, I adore you too, but I don’t want this to be a hasty thing.”
“It’s not.” His tone was serious. “I want to marry you, Lynn. Let’s just do it. Time is moving, and I want to spend the rest of my days with you, and I want to be a dad. Can you give me a baby?”
“Yes.” It just came out. Although I had some hang-ups and uncertainties, I was caught up in his web. I was at his command. I loved him, and I wanted whatever he wanted. I’d give him ten babies if I could.
“Then it’s settled. Can you take off a few days from work?”
“Well, I guess I can.”
“I want to take you to Vegas. Let’s do it Vegas style. We can leave from here, Lynn. No packing required. Whatever you need, we can buy.”
I looked over my shoulder at him. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. Dead serious.”
I contemplated this idea for a moment and then yelled, “Vegas, here we come!” Glowing and basking in a sense of adventure, spontaneity, and chance, I planted a wet kiss on the back of his hand. This man had done the unthinkable to me, and I swore, I had no control when I was with Will. He was so good to me, and he loved me hard and strong, and I couldn’t ask him for more, because my heart was happy with him.
“Now, I hope you got your debit card,” he joked.
I hit him playfully. “For you, baby, I do.”
“Don’t worry. I got us. And when we come home, we will get to the bottom of what is really going on here in Chicago with my company and my business partner.”
I agreed. “Yes, baby, we will.”
Chapter Eleven
Lynn
Once we were back in Chicago, I was still on a high. I hadn’t told anyone about exchanging vows with Will, and I wondered how everyone would react once I announced I was married.
I quickly gathered a few items at my house to take to Will’s place, and before leaving, I took a moment to call my mom. She was pissed that I had gone to Vegas, but she had already met Will, had instantly loved him like I did, and after an hour of scolding, she prayed with me on the line for God to bless our marriage.
After getting my mom, the super Christian, who had reminded me it was better to marry than to burn, off the line, I dialed my girlfriend Kenya to tell her and learned she had good news too.
Since Will and I were in bliss, I had failed to answer her calls when I was in Vegas.
“Oh, my God, Kenya. Congrats,” I said. She had informed me that her longtime boyfriend, Joseph, had finally gone down on one knee and had asked her to be his wife.
It had taken him only six years, but I had never once shared with her that I thought he was stringing her along.
“Never did I think he’d do it, L. And my ring . . . it is so gorgeous. I mean, it is way more beautiful than I could imagine. Joseph did good. I mean, I cannot stop staring down at this beautiful ring. I mean, I can’t believe that he asked. I mean, I’m so elated, so happy, so excited.”
“I so understand. When you see this rock my Will laced my finger with, you just might cum as hard as I did last night.” I laughed; Kenya didn’t.
“Watch your mouth, girl. I got you on speaker.”
“Then freakin’ take me off of speaker,” I retorted and then heard what sounded like a phone being picked up.
“Okay. Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing your ring, and I do hope this one loves you better than that last husband of yours.” Kenya paused, as if she was taking a puff of a cigarette. “I mean, you fought like a champ to stay as long as you did.”
“Hey, this is Will we are talking about. He adores me, girl, and you know that he is ten times the man Chez proclaimed to be. And now that we are married, I finally feel like I got it right. I mean, he married me as I am. A big and beautiful woman. He sexes me as if I was light as a feather, and to be loved by someone so caring, so romantic, so selfless is, like, surreal. Chez fucked up my self-esteem, had me blaming myself for things going south, but Will . . .” I paused.
Five seconds went by, and the right words came to me. “Will has just shown me what real love is about, and how real love is supposed to be, Kenya. I mean, for a long time I thought I knew. I mean, for a moment I really thought that love had to hurt to be real, but I now know better.”
“Well, Chez is somewhere now wishing he’d done right by you. I know no other woman is doing half the shit you did for him. I mean, a clean home, cooking two or three meals a day when he was in town, something I’d never do.”
I laughed and then teased, “That is why Joseph took so long to pop the question.”
She laughed with me. “Shit, you’re probably right. I’m not domesticated. I know how to make reservations and budget my money so my housekeeper will always return twice a week. Hell, I can’t help that my mama raised me this way. Clean a toilet? Shit, no thank you. I’ll suck your dick all night long, but damn your laundry,” she joked.
I laughed so hard.
“No, I’m serious, and I’m so glad Joseph is a six-figure brother, because he already know.”
“Hey, I know that’s right,” I said. “I’m not mad at’cha, sis. I just have never been comfortable with sharing my kitchen, nor can I allow some woman to wash my man’s boxers. Now, a cleaning lady . . . ? I think this year I’ll spring for one, but she cannot be some slim, attractive chick. I trust Will, but I’d never serve up temptation on a platter in my house.”
“Speak on it. Trust, my two cleaning ladies are not a threat. They are old enough to be both of our mothers, and Estelle is mean as hell. If you walk on wet floors, that is your ass. Norma bosses you around like she gave birth to ya, so I don’t have anything to worry about.”
I giggled. “Well, you’ll have to ask them for a recommendation. I will be putting my house on the market soon and moving to Will’s.”
“Really? You’re giving up your palace?”
“Yes. There are too many Chez memories here. Too many memories of how marriage is not supposed to be. Plus, Will’s place is super gorgeous, and he’s already revamped the kitchen for me, and, girl, I have three ovens, eight burners, a grill, and let’s just say cooking is never a chore at his place.”
“That means there is a dinner invite for Joseph and me in the works to celebrate your marriage and my engagement.”
I took the hint. “As a matter of fact, there is. Let me decide on a good night with Will and get back to you.”
“Okay, love. I must go now. A judge is never off. I have several search warrant requests on my desk as we speak, and if I want to put the bad guys away, I need to get to signing.”
“You mean rubber stamping?” I teased.
“Yeah, that.” She laughed. “Still takes arm strength.”
“Okay. Bye, girl. And again congrats. I will call you later, after I talk to Will.”
“Okay, darling, and please put red velvet on the menu. Your red velvet is to die for.”
“So says my husband.” I snickered. We hung up, and I immediately dialed Will.
“Hey, you,” he sang.
“Hey, husband.” I had a huge, uncontrollable smile on my face. I smiled so hard, I knew my face should hurt or become stuck.
“Yes, my wife? What can I do you for? I am in the middle of something right now, baby.”
“Oh, okay.” My smile diminished. “Nothing big. I can talk to you later, my love.”
“No. I have a couple of moments now, but only that. The city is down here, and they are combing my project like they are searching for a cure for cancer.”
“Aw, baby, I’m sorry. I just wanted to tell you that Kenya got engage
d while we were in Vegas, and I want to have a dinner for her and her fiancé at the house. I know this project is behind schedule because of our trip, so I wanted to know when you think you’ll be free. Maybe invite Lance and Yvonne, a couple of your employees. I want it to be a little celebration.”
“Well, I can say a Sunday will work. I know my Saturdays will be full, but no matter how far behind schedule a project gets, my love, Sunday is a day we don’t slang a hammer.”
“Okay, love. Not this Sunday, but the following one. Kenya is going to be so thrilled.”
“I’m sure. Babe, I gotta go.”
“Okay, baby. And that thing with Lance . . .” I had tried to squeeze the topic in, but the line had disconnected. “Hello?” I repeated three times, and then I tossed my phone and went back to gathering things from my house. It had been only a week since I’d said, “I do,” and we’d been home only four days, and so there had been no talk of the issue with Lance.
I knew I was out of line.... Maybe I was out of line. I took stock of the entire situation. Lance might have made a lot of money, and Will and I hadn’t sat down and opened bank accounts just yet, but I still thought it strange that Lance was living like he was Jay Z and my man was living like Trey Songz. Trey Songz was popular and was doing well, of course, but we all knew that Jay Z’s money was a lot longer than his was.
I made it to my new home, and after unloading my truck, I saw it was still early enough to shop for dinner. Since my bakery was open as early as the roosters crowed, we closed by three, leaving me time in the late afternoon to run errands. Now I hurried out to get some fresh fish, clams, wild rice, and veggies from the market. Since I got in a lot earlier than Will, dinner was and probably would always be my chore. Will made a mean, hearty breakfast for me on Sunday mornings at my place or his, so being his dinner maid made me happy.