Open Door Marriage

by Kai, Naleighna

  “She’s doing all right.” Dallas narrowed his gaze on the man. Dots of perspiration were on his forehead. The only time that happened was when the man was full blown into the heat of a sermon, sliding across the pulpit, channeling his inner James Brown.

  “And your father?”

  Yes, his father. A very good question indeed. He almost wanted to answer, “Which one?” Dallas had lunch with his mother prior to setting foot in church today. She had told him about Paul Alexander and had even taken things one step further, slipping him a sheet with a phone number and address as she said, “Paul wants to meet you. Any time you’re ready.”

  Dallas made the call from the church parking lot. Now he was all set to have his first visit with his biological father right after this meeting. He looked his pastor in the eye, “Reverend…” Dallas crossed one leg over the other, “no disrespect. I like small talk as much as the next guy, but why am I here?”

  The pastor nodded, sighing as he did so. “I always liked you, Dallas. You’re a straight shooter. Even on free throws,” he said, grinning at his own pun.

  Dallas gave him a patient half-smile.

  Reverend Braxton moved from behind the desk and perched on the edge nearest Dallas. “The recent …” he cleared his throat. “The recent exploits pertaining to your relationships are not becoming of a good Christian man, a man of faith, a man of honor. Fornication is a sin.” Then, he nodded as though agreeing that he had made his point. “You need to bring Tori here to my office so I can marry you in a civil ceremony right away; then y’all can have that big fancy wedding later.”

  Dallas centered his thoughts and stayed silent, formulating his response.

  Reverend Braxton cleared his throat again. “And that second woman, Dallas? You’re going to have to stop having relations with her.”

  Dallas paused before answering, deciding on how ticked off he should be with Pops for calling the pastor about all of this. Funny how Pops could never find time to see the pastor when he was doing his own dirt.

  “Are you going to poll every single member and ask them about their sex life?” Dallas asked.

  The pastor’s weathered brow furrowed as though he wasn’t expecting Dallas to lay down any type of defense. “No, but you’re one of our most visible members, an ambassador for our church. A role model for our teens.”

  Dallas cocked his head. “And whose idea was that? You know, for me to be ‘the most visible and a role model.’” He jutted his thumb toward his chest. “I never wanted to be anyone’s role model. I play ball and invest in people, progress and pleasure—exactly in that order.”

  The reverend’s lips twisted in a frown, and his eyes narrowed to slits.

  “Pastor, I come to this church because I love the choir,” Dallas began. Realizing that was probably insulting, he quickly added, “and your sermons—I come for those, too. But I didn’t come with the intention of being the face of this church. I wanted to be like any other regular church member.”

  He scanned to the photos of the pastor shaking hands with various celebrities, accepting checks to benefit one of the many much-needed programs of the church. “I remember you giving me a half-hour-long ‘to whom much is given, much is required’ speech. So I shelled out the money for a whole new set of structures when we were in a building that could barely hold a hundred people.”

  “Well, money isn’t the only thing I meant when I said ‘much is required’.”

  Dallas fingered the crease of his black slacks. “You were the one who insisted on putting me out front, saying the publicity would be good for the church. And from what my father tells me, it helped you to land some additional grants for the after-school program, the etiquette classes, woodshop and the computer lab.”

  Dallas glanced out of the only window in the office, which overlooked the solarium terrace, where several senior citizens were seated at café rounds enjoying an afternoon game of Bid Whist.

  “When I come through these doors, it’s to give respect to the Man Upstairs. And I pay my tithes just like everyone else. So I’ll give you my bottom line.” Dallas looked back to the pastor, who had pulled out a well-worn Bible, gearing up for an unwanted round two. “If what I’m doing is hurting the church so much, I don’t mind giving up all the rest of the responsibilities you’ve placed on me. Being a regular member has always been fine with me.”

  Reverend Braxton rubbed his hand over the leather cover of the gold leaf edition Bible. “You know what the Good Book says about fornication. It says that sex before marriage is a sin. That’s why I counseled Tori that you both should wait for marriage before entering into a sexual union.”

  Dallas mulled over those words. “Well, if we’re going to be honest, I think a good majority of your congregation is doing more listening than believing in that part of your sermons.”

  “We’re not talking about everyone else,” Reverend Braxton shot back.

  “Here’s the deal.” Dallas uncrossed his legs and inched to the edge of his seat, “if you’re going to call one of us on it, then call everyone in and let’s do a group session. I’d be down for that.”

  Reverend Braxton’s eyes flashed with frustration. “Dallas, your situation is a little different than people just having sex. You’re getting into a polygamous relationship! If you’re going to continue in that kind of relationship, Dallas, then I’ll have to insist that you not come back to service until you’re ready to follow the dictates of the Bible.”

  Dallas settled back in the chair and gave his pastor a long hard look.

  “I realize you’re upset—”

  “Oh, I’m not upset,” Dallas said, giving him a wicked smile that caused the older man to stiffen. “I’m about to call it the way I see it. I understand the position my lifestyle puts the church in, so I’ll just catch you on television from here on out.”

  “I’m not saying you should leave the church altogether,” Reverend Braxton said, getting to his feet. “I’m just saying—”

  Dallas’ smiled widened, and it caused the pastor to fall silent. “I’m not leaving the church, Reverend Braxton, I’m just leaving this church. I have a personal relationship with God, whether I set foot in a building or not. I’ve always known that.”

  Reverend Braxton put a hand on Dallas’ shoulder. “Is she—I mean, that other woman—worth losing your soul’s salvation?”

  “I don’t think you understand, Pastor. I thank God every day for sending her my way, for showing me what it’s like to feel truly loved and wanted by a woman who wants me for me. For making me feel … alive.”

  Understanding dawned in the pastor’s eyes, and he averted his gaze to the other hand still resting on the old Bible.

  “Everyone—my family, the press, her family—is ripping into me for this. Right now I couldn’t care less whether anyone approves.”

  “As your spiritual advisor,” Reverend Braxton said after a long while, “I had to be certain that you know that fornication is a sin, adultery is a sin.”

  Dallas pictured the buxom secretary outside the office “A married man lusting after a woman other than his wife is a sin too, right?”

  Reverend Braxton winced.

  Dallas gave him a mild shrug. “What did the Bible say about casting the first stone? Or was it people in glasses houses?” His index finger circled the outside of his ear. “It tends to get all jumbled in my head sometimes.” Dallas extended his hand. “Thank you for everything, pastor.”

  “You’re taking this the wrong way,” Pastor Braxton said, grasping Dallas’ hand, which practically eclipsed his own.

  “No, I’m not. Leave her or don’t come back here.”

  The pastor’s thick lips pulled into a straight line.

  “I’m not giving her up anytime soon, so that leaves me outside of these doors.”

  Reverend Braxton put a tighter grip on Dallas’ hand. “And your commitments?”

  “Commitments?”

  “To the church.”

  “Ah, money,
” Dallas said, nodding as realization dawned. “That’s what it all comes down to. So, my presence is unwanted, but my presents are still welcome?”

  “Don’t misrepresent what I’m saying here,” Reverend Braxton replied in a solemn tone. “There’s a lot we can do with what you’ve been sending. We—”

  “Unfortunately, my money goes where I go,” he replied from the half-opened door. “You know I have several foundations and I’m sure God will add that to my account.” Dallas gave him a slow, easy smile. “And since it’s God who’s actually keeping score, I’m sure He’ll say that I’m giving back, even if I’m not giving it here.”

  Dallas walked from the office and felt the Reverend right behind him. When Dallas made it a few feet past the secretary’s desk, he turned in time to see that the pastor’s line of vision was right where he figured it would be—on the sexy assistant.

  Chapter 29

  New Year’s Eve

  9:31 a.m.

  Fort Worth, Texas

  Dallas parked outside his biological father’s house and sat in the car for what seemed an eternity. He was more anxious than he should have been.

  Suppose his father was yet another person who would be disappointed with the way he was living his life? A blog that went viral with scathing accounts of the exploits of black men who had hit sports stardom ranked Dallas somewhere among Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Michael Vick. And that was one hell of a place to be.

  From the driver’s seat, where he sat contemplating his next move, Dallas witnessed something intensely beautiful. Two little brown-skinned girls were playing in their front yard, holding hands. No matter where they traveled on the well-manicured lawn, they continued holding on to one another. One went over to a spigot and turned on the water. She allowed the other girl to take a drink first, and then had her own drink. All the while, their hands remained clasped, as though separating for even a moment was not an option. Why couldn’t relationships remain that innocent, that loving, that pure?

  Alicia and Tori had been that close once, but because of him they were as far apart as Quan was from getting a real job.

  A knock on the driver side window made Dallas jerk forward. When he looked to his left, a man towered over the car, blocking out the sun’s rays. Dallas examined the face—a spitting image of his. He had always thought he favored his mother, but seeing Paul Alexander in the flesh, he wondered if his mother’s genes had factored into the equation at all.

  Dallas pulled the key from the ignition, exited the vehicle and leaned against the driver side door to shut it. A simple gold chain hung about Paul’s neck, and a diamond flittered in his right earlobe. A gold bracelet and Movado watch encircled his wrist. His casual shirt and slacks covered a muscular athletic build that mirrored Dallas’ completely.

  Dallas inhaled the fresh air—well, what passed for fresh air in this part of the country. Paul’s tri-level sky cottage had an unobstructed view of the water, and the marine smell was something that took getting used to.

  Paul extended his hand, saying, “I thought you’d been sitting out here in your car long enough.”

  Dallas clasped it and held on for a few moments before letting his hands fall by his side. “I was deciding if I really wanted to meet you at all.”

  “Now you don’t have to make that decision.”

  Dallas gave his father another once-over and said, “You look just like me.”

  “I think you’ve got it all wrong, young blood,” Paul said with a toothy grin and a conspirator’s wink. “You look like me.”

  “I guess that’s about right,” Dallas admitted with a laugh. Then, they were silent as an awkward ‘what’s next?’ moment came between them. “I’m not one to mince words, so I’m going to ask straight up …why?”

  Paul moved to take the space next to Dallas, keeping only a few inches between them as he followed Dallas’ gaze to the two girls. “She made the choice to marry John while she was pregnant. I didn’t want to complicate her life.”

  “But you knew you had a son?”

  “Yes.”

  Dallas looked out to the river, trying to ignore the pain that stabbed his heart. “And you didn’t think that I needed you?” He looked back toward the two girls, who had been joined by another. They were fighting now, each pulling at a single doll that hadn’t been there a few minutes ago.

  “You already had a father and a mother,” Paul countered smoothly.

  Dallas could feel the man’s eyes on him, but he couldn’t look his way.

  “I had a dad,” Dallas snapped, “but that didn’t mean I didn’t need you.”

  Paul gave him a bittersweet smile. “In hindsight, maybe … I should have … but I was young and probably angry that she choose stability over love.”

  Dallas took a minute to wrap his mind around that admission. “If you loved her, why didn’t you come for her?”

  “Son…” He paused, grimacing when Dallas’ right eyebrow shot up. “Dallas,” he amended. “She wanted something different than what I had to offer. I loved her enough to let her go.”

  Loved her enough to let her go. Dallas stared out at the brownish-grey water.

  “I was about to go pro,” Paul added. “But I injured my leg and failed to make the draft.”

  “Who’d you want to play for?”

  “The Mavs. What other team is there?” He smiled, but it quickly faded. “It would have put me closer to home. And it didn’t hurt that they were talking the right kind of deal.”

  Dallas looked toward Paul. “So what did you do?”

  “After rehab, I finished college, got a degree, then started my own construction company. My father was a carpenter and bricklayer by trade. Now I specialize in building structures like this one.” He gestured to the place behind them. “And multi-level complexes, offices and malls. I invested in other ventures that worked pretty well for me, but building things—that’s my true love.”

  “Basketball was Plan B?”

  Paul chuckled, probably at the incredulous sound in Dallas’ voice. “Basketball is what I loved, but there were thousands of boys itching to get into the paint. They were just as good as I was. The chances of being chosen were slim.”

  “So mom wasn’t down with that? You being into ball? I don’t figure that. She’s my biggest cheerleader.”

  “Anna was raised by a hard man,” Paul answered. “Her father hated me on sight. Said I was sly, slick and wicked.” Paul crossed his arms over his broad chest. “The only thing good about me back then was my love for Anna. I would do anything for her,” he said in a low tone. “Her father chose John because he was a factory worker and church-going man like him.”

  Dallas gave his father a sidelong glance. His lips twitched in an effort not to form the question on his mind. Sly, slick and wicked.

  “Oh, I wasn’t a choir boy,” Paul replied to the question in Dallas’ eyes as he moved to rest against the car right in the space next to Dallas. “But I put my cards on the table, and Anna’s father dealt her a hand from the bottom of the deck—either marry John or never speak to her family again.” Paul shrugged. “We could’ve made it on our own, but I couldn’t take that kind of a chance with a woman who didn’t believe in me. She chose John—a man who would rather work a 9 to 5 than go for his dream of winning a Heisman Trophy.”

  Dallas’ jaw went slack.

  Paul slid a glance at Dallas and frowned. “Oh, you didn’t know that?” he asked, scanning Dallas’ expression. “John was the best running back in all of Marshall, Texas.”

  Dallas shook his head. “He never mentioned it. And I don’t remember seeing any pictures of him either.”

  “If I had given up my dream just to keep a woman from marrying the man she really loved, I wouldn’t talk about it either.”

  Dallas stiffened and glared at his father for a moment.

  “If you want sugarcoating,” Paul said in a dry tone, “the bakery’s two miles up.”

  Dallas thought a few minutes and wondered if t
hat was the main rift between him and Pops—jealousy over the fact that Dallas made it and got to keep his women. “I’m surprised you’re telling me all of this.”

  “Well, your mother said to be honest. She feels you need to know before you make a mistake in your own life.”

  “So, she married my dad because her father wanted her to,” Dallas said, realizing just how much it explained about his parents’ unhappy marriage. “And look how that turned out,” Dallas mumbled.

  A vein throbbed at his father’s jaw. “Is she … is she happy?”

  “She’s married,” Dallas replied dryly. “I’m beginning to believe the words ‘happy’ and ‘married’ don’t live on the same block.”

  “I wouldn’t know about that.”

  Paul’s wistful tone made Dallas give him a hard look. “You never married?”

  “The woman I loved was already taken. No one else measured up. Why make another woman’s life miserable if you’re going to constantly compare her to the real thing?” His smile widened with each passing second. “And your mother … Anna was the real thing.”

  The look in Paul’s eyes when he said Anna’s name spoke to the fact that he was still in love with her. Dallas could not imagine a life without the woman he loved. This was confirmation that his insistence on marriage to Alicia wasn’t all that important. Maybe this ‘having children thing’ was overrated, too. He certainly didn’t want to be his father’s age and singing a sad love song about how he had let love slip away.

  Across the street, the girls had went into their separate houses. The tattered doll had been left on the lawn.

  “Are we going to continue having this conversation outside, or are you coming in?”

  Dallas lifted up off the car, and his father led the way into the sky cottage, which had a decidedly different architecture than the rest of the modest two-story homes on the tree-lined block. As Dallas followed him through a front patio and to an entryway with only a single wall and three sides of tinted glass, they went up a series of black metal stairs. The living room showcased low-backed furniture and a fireplace that extended the length of one wall, separating it from a stark white kitchen. Every angle of the house had a view of the river. And his father had designed it. Genius!