Detria rolled her eyes. “Yes.”
Stiles turned and walked out of the room, leaving Detria and Audrey alone - again. “Is this what married with children is supposed to be like? Daddy’s busy, busy, busy all the time, isn’t he,” she whispered to Audrey. “It’s hard enough dealing with being a preacher’s wife and first lady.” Baby Audrey nestled close to her momma’s bosom. “Now I have to learn how to be a single mother even though I have a husband.”
She rocked Audrey until she saw her eye lids close. She stood up and carried Audrey back to her crib. “At least someone in the Graham household seems to be relatively content,” she said and covered Audrey in her favorite lemon-yellow baby blanket before she retreated to her bedroom.
2
“Complaining is good for you as long as you're not complaining to the person you're complaining about.” Lynn Johnston
Stiles burped after he took the last swallow of his beverage. He got up from his office chair, picked up his plate and empty glass and went downstairs. The house was quiet. He looked at the clock in the kitchen. Twelve-thirty a.m. Detria was asleep and so was Baby Audrey. Maybe he could get some shuteye.
He didn’t know what was going on with Detria lately. Practically, ever since she had Audrey, she had been acting like a totally different person, someone he didn’t know. He couldn’t figure it out, and he told himself he did not have the time to play into Detria’s numerous temper tantrums. She was definitely becoming someone he did not like.
He washed his plate and glass and placed them inside the dishwasher. That was something else he didn’t quite understand. Why wash the dishes only to turn around and put them in the dishwasher just to wash them again? But that was the way Detria chose to do things. The house was her turf, so he tried to abide by her rules.
When Detria first posed the idea of being a stay at home mom, Stiles thought it was a great idea. He would be able to enjoy his wife and daughter more often. But things hadn’t been exactly the way he expected. It started soon after she came home from the hospital. Initially Stiles blamed Detria’s short fuse on postpartum depression, but Audrey was going on ten months, and Detria’s attitude hadn’t gotten any better. If he thought about it long enough, he had to admit that she was never the same after she lost their first child. He managed to forgive her for physically abusing Pastor, something that took quite a bit of prayer and meditation. If it wasn’t for Pastor, Stiles wasn’t quite sure if he would have remained married to Detria or not. To know that his own wife was going behind his back and beating his sick father, was almost worse than being betrayed by his ex-wife, Rena.
Rena may have had a sexual relationship with his sister, Francesca, but at least it was before he took her to be his wife. If only she had told him the truth before he married her, maybe things would have been different. He loved Rena like no other woman, but her deceit and the fact that she also had an STD and didn’t tell him that either made it impossible to stay married to her. Yet, when he compared her to Detria he admitted only to himself that he would always love Rena.
He loved Detria too, and he certainly didn’t want to be in the pulpit preaching if he couldn’t keep his own house in order. He entered the bedroom and saw her turned on her side.
He went inside the master bathroom, brushed his teeth and then got on his knees and began to pray next to the fancy bathtub. When he finished he went to the bed and climbed in on his side. Detria didn’t move. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was glad she was asleep. He didn’t want to go through explaining to her why he wasn’t in the mood to have sex. It was a question he couldn’t answer even if he wanted to. For some reason, over the past five or six months, their sex life had dwindled to almost nothing. What bothered Stiles the most about their lack of intimacy was that he really wasn’t the least bit bothered by it.
Just as he was about to turn over from his back to his side, Detria turned over and faced him. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, Detria. Now go back to sleep.” He propped himself up on his elbow and leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. “Good night.”
Detria placed her arm over his waist and eased in next to him. She started kissing him on his arm. Stiles lay back down on his back.
“Honey, it’s late. You need to sleep while the baby’s sleeping. You know she still doesn’t sleep through the night.”
“Um hmm, need you remind me?” Detria answered, turning up her lips. She continued to kiss him, moving her hands up and down the length of his tall, muscular body, totally ignoring what he’d said. She planted light patches of kisses on his chest. Easing herself up, she lifted her short, satin gown and began to climb on top of him.
“Detria, I said not tonight. It’s been a long day.”
“I know it has. I want to give you something to help you relax,” she whispered into his ear. Her kisses became more passionate and she found his lips and parted them with her tongue. He listened to her moans.
He immediately pushed her off of him with unintended force. Detria stared at him with a look of disbelief. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you away like that.”
Immediately, tears formed in her eyes. “Am I that much of a turn off? When was the last time we made love, Stiles?”
“Look, I don’t want to have this conversation right now, Detria. I’m tired. And look, stop being so paranoid, will you. There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s me. What part of it’s late, and I’m tired don’t you understand. I want to get some sleep.” He tried to kiss her on the cheek, but Detria quickly turned away.
Stiles reached over toward her. In an effort to try to make things right between them, he would show her a little affection. Pastor always told him never to let the sun go down without having solved whatever issues needed solving for the day between him and his wife. But he’d failed at doing that more times than he cared to count. “Honey, please. I said I was sorry.”
Detria didn’t say a word.
“Detria, let’s not do this. You know we promised never to go to bed angry,” he reminded her.
“I’m not angry. You said you were tired, so go to sleep.”
“I love you,” he told her.
“Goodnight, Stiles.” Detria pulled the bedcover up higher until it covered her shoulders.
Stiles propped one arm behind his head. He didn’t understand exactly why, but he began to think about Rena. The last time they talked, she told him that she was going to marry Robert.
Stiles had met Robert when Rena brought him to Audrey’s funeral. In Stiles’s opinion, Robert seemed like a pretty cool dude, and he hoped Robert could make Rena happy.
Robert was a much better man than he was, Stiles had concluded, because Robert accepted Rena after learning about her former lesbian lifestyle and the fact that she had contracted herpes from his sister. If only Rena had been as open with him as she was with Robert, maybe their marriage would have stood a chance. But she chose to keep her past a secret, and that was more than he could take. She had hurt him like no one had hurt him before. Never again would he allow himself to fall victim to the kind of heartbreak he endured with Rena.
Stiles closed his eyes and tried to answer the call of sleep, but flashes of Rena’s smile kept replaying in his mind. Father God, forgive me. Help me be a better husband. I shouldn’t be lying here thinking about my ex or any woman other than my wife.
He turned over on his side toward Detria. He reached underneath the cover and his hand began to explore her curves. Stiles cautiously eased her gown up and felt the warmth of her naked flesh; he became aroused.
“Go to sleep, Stiles,” Detria said in a stern voice.
“Baby,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.” He nibbled on her ear lobe. “You know that I love you.” He continued caressing her body, touching her in all the places he’d come to know she loved. He eased up close to her until his body touched hers in a spooning position. Detria moved slightly, but Stiles heard her soft moan. There was no st
opping him now. He caressed the nape of her neck, her back and her arms with his mouth and tongue. Gently and slowly, he turned her over toward him. Detria didn’t resist. He eased out of his pajamas bottoms. With tenderness, he lifted her gown over her head while he continued to kiss and caress her.
As he made love to his wife, he tried to keep Rena from making love to his mind. It was Detria he loved; Detria he was married to; and Detria who had given him his first child. With each thrust, he saw her rising to meet him. Rena, Rena.
◊
Stiles awoke in the early dawn. The house was quiet. Detria was curled in a semi fetal position. He watched the rise and fall of her breasts for a split second before a deep wave of guilt attacked him for the thoughts he’d had hours before. Man, what’s happening to me?
Baby Audrey started crying. He looked over at Detria. Her head popped up seconds later. She looked around the bed for her nightgown. Stiles pulled it from underneath his body.
“Looking for this?” he said and half-smiled.
Detria reached for the gown. “Yea, thanks.” She sat on the side of the bed and slipped the gown over her head. She moved quickly and disappeared seconds later in the direction of the nursery.
Stiles proceeded to get up and started grooming himself in preparation for another long day that would be filled with the endless responsibilities that was expected of a full time pastor. By the time he finished his morning ritual, he came out of the bathroom in his boxers and an A-shirt. Baby Audrey was sitting on the bed playing with her favorite glo-worm doll while Detria was inside the walk-in closet going through the rows of clothes on Stiles’ side of the closet.
“Hi, precious. How’s daddy’s girl this morning?” He walked over to the bed, and picked Audrey up. Scooping her up in the air, she giggled and a long drool of slob landed on Stiles’s nose. He chuckled and kept frolicking with his daughter.
Detria stepped out of the closet moments later with a black suit, white shirt and a pair of Stiles’ dress shoes in her hands. She closed the closet door and proceeded to hang the outfit on the back of the door and set his shoes in front of the bed.
Stiles reached for her and held her and Audrey in the cradle of his arms.
“Stiles, stop it,” Detria told him, but not in her I mean it voice’. He kissed her and then he kissed Baby Audrey. The more Detria tried to twist herself out of his grasp the tighter he held on to her.
“My two favorite girls in the entire world. How blessed can one man be?” he said and gave each of them another kiss. He released Detria and she immediately straightened up. When he sat Baby Audrey back down on the bed, she went straight for her baby doll again. “How are you doing this morning, First Lady Graham?” he asked with a smile.
Her response was dry. “Fine.”
“You still angry with me?”
“No, I told you last night that I wasn’t mad at you, so please, let’s not ruin the morning with bringing up last night. Will you watch your daughter while I wash up. Then I can get breakfast started.”
“Sure. What daddy wouldn’t want to watch this sweet little angel,” he said and laid flat on his tummy in front of Audrey. Audrey pulled on his low cut hair and slobbered on his face. Her way of kissing. He adored her. “Every day she looks more like my mother. Don’t you think?”
“Umm, a little, but I like to think she looks like me.” A tiny hint of a smile finally appeared on Detria’s face.
“Of course, she looks like you too, but I still see my mother every time I look at her.”
“Let me get washed up. I’ll be out in a minute.” Detria disappeared into the bathroom. Stiles heard the shower come on. He continued playing with Audrey for a few minutes before he got up and started putting on the clothes Detria had laid out for him. It was something she did every morning. She had a great taste in style, and often bought many of the clothes he wore. That part reminded him of his mother too. First Lady Audrey used to love fashion. She used to outfit Pastor like Detria was doing for him. Stiles smiled as he finished tying his tie.
Detria came out of the bathroom in her robe. She went to the dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of house pants and a matching shirt. After picking up Baby Audrey, she slipped her feet inside a pair of slides. “Breakfast will be ready shortly,” she said. Without waiting on a response, Detria started to walk out of the bedroom.
“Okay, give me about thirty minutes, and I’ll be down.”
“Sure,” she answered before she disappeared and headed downstairs. Stiles retreated to his office, like he did every morning, for his alone time with God.
◊
“Breakfast was good,” he complimented his wife. “Nothing like a bowl of hot grits, and wheat toast.
“DaDa,” Baby Audrey said and then blew out a mouthful of grits all over her high chair and the floor.
“Did you hear that?” Stiles wiped his mouth and jumped up. “She said Dada," he said. “She’s always saying MaMa, but this is the first time I’ve heard her say Dada. You are such a smart little girl, Daddy’s smart, beautiful little girl.” Stiles took a paper towel and wiped her molly mouth.
Detria looked at him, like she wanted to tell him that his precious Baby Audrey had been saying DaDa for at least a month.
“Honey, she said DaDa,” he repeated. His voice was full of excitement and awe.
Detria removed the breakfast dishes from the table and highchair. “Actually, this isn’t her first time saying it.”
“It’s my first time hearing her, and you’ve never told me that she’s been calling my name.”
“Maybe it’s because you didn’t bother to ask. If you were around here−” Detria turned on the kitchen faucet. “Never mind.”
“No, go on. Say what’s on your mind.”
“I said never…mind.”
“Look, what’s wrong with you now? I thought we patched things up last night. Now this morning, you still tripping.”
“Why would you think that, Stiles? Because you got some? Well, you wouldn’t have gotten it if I didn’t let you get it. Remember that.” Detria pounced around, went to Baby Audrey’s high chair, and started cleaning it off. Baby Audrey continued to talk baby talk.
“I’m out.” Stiles kissed his daughter. “I love you, sweetpea,” he said to her before he left the kitchen, slamming the door leading to the garage behind him.
He heard Baby Audrey crying. As bad as he wanted to turn around and go back inside and comfort her, he didn’t. “No drama; not today anyway,” he said and climbed inside his Audi A6.
3
“One man's folly is another man's wife.” Helen Rowland
Rena had exactly three days to go before her impending nuptials to Robert Becton. She walked through the bridal store with her mother, searching for last minute bridal accessories.
“Mom, what do you think about these?” Rena held up a flower girl faux pearl necklace and ring set. The ring had a lone faux pearl trimmed in sterling silver.
Meryl replied, “That is too cute. It would be perfect for Robert’s little girl. You haven’t bought anything to go with her flower girl dress have you?”
“No, Ma’am. And I agree with you; this is so cute. I’m going to get it. She’s going to love it. She is so dainty and feminine, and she’s only seven years old.” Rena giggled as she continued to admire the ring and necklace.
“She is that. She knows she loves to dress up.” Meryl smiled.
“Okay, now let’s see what we can find for the bridesmaids.”
Meryl quickly corrected her daughter. “You mean bridesmaid as in one bridesmaid, and the Maid of Honor.”
“See, you know what I meant.” The closer it came to her second wedding day, the more Rena flip-flopped over the decision she’d made. This is going to affect me for the rest of my life. Am I ready for this? Can I be a good stepmother to little Isabelle and Robbie, and a good wife to Robert? I don’t want to fail again.
“You know your sister won’t be here until the day before the wedding. Let�
�s make sure they’ve ordered her bouquet. We want everything to be perfect.”
Rena snapped out of her daydream. “Sure.” That’s a good idea. Then all we’ll have left to do is get their gifts. But, remember, Mom; this is a small, intimate wedding. Just Robert’s kids and his sister plus his best man, of course. And me, well Delores is flying in from D. C. and there’s you and dad.”
“Honey, please, this is no time to be cheap. You’re getting married; it doesn’t matter the size of the wedding; it’s still a wedding. Now, don’t forget you said you wanted to get some type of jewelry for your bridal party.” Meryl’s tone of voice made it apparent that she took this wedding seriously.
“I know, Mom.” Rena sighed. “I remember.”
Mother and daughter spent at least two more hours shopping inside the bridal store. They left out of the store with Isabelle’s flower girl jewelry set, matching pearl and rhinestone necklace and earrings sets for the bridesmaid and maid of honor, plus a dainty tiara for herself that she couldn’t resist.
Rena was quite confused. One minute – ecstatic. Next minute – uncertain. One thing for sure, she believed that Robert loved her for real. He proved it by accepting her despite her past relationships with Stiles and Frankie. Rena often thought about the circumstances being switched. Would she be forgiving toward Robert like he was toward her? She didn’t think that she would, or could. No, she would have reacted just as bad, or worse, than Stiles did when he found out the truth.
My Sister My Momma My Wife Page 2