Skip closed the garage door and scooped Detria in his arms as soon as it closed completely. His lips pressed against hers with unbridled passion as his tongue explored the recesses of her mouth.
“Skip,” she struggled to say but his mouth covered hers hungrily as he held on to her waist and walking backward guided her into his house.
With ease, she gently tried to push him away. “Hey, don’t you want to know what happened at Pastor’s?” she asked, twisting in his arms and arching her body to move from his grasp.
“Not really. All I want to know right now is do you want me as much as I want you?” He gathered her into his arms and swiftly carried her to his bedroom and undressed her while Detria buried her face in his hairy chest, totally aroused by his touch.
Skip couldn’t contain himself. His desire for Detria had overcome all reason. Stiles and him may have gone back a long way, but Detria was a woman that he couldn’t deny. When she first openly flirted with him at church, he tried to brush her off. But she was a woman who went after what she wanted, and when he discovered it was him, he gave into her like Samson to Delilah.
His hands moved gently and expertly up and down the length of her back. Detria welcomed him by curling into the curve of his body. Her defenses against his lovemaking weakened as she rose to meet him, without thoughts of Stiles or Baby Audrey ever entering her mind.
After their lovemaking, they lay spent in each other’s arms.
“I can’t lay here all night,” she finally said in a faint whisper. “It’s getting late.”
Skip responded by kissing her again.
“Come on, Skip,” she said and eased away from him. “As much as I want to stay, you know I can’t. We both have to be at church early in the morning too.”
Skip reluctantly released her. “Yeah, I know but we don’t get to do this often, so when I do see you, I don’t want it to be a pit stop. You know what I mean?”
“I know what you mean. And believe me, I don’t want to leave you. But we’ve got to be careful. At least I have to be careful. You’re a single man with nothing to worry about. Me, on the other hand, I’m the First Lady and a mother too. I can’t afford to have Stiles trying to drag my name through the mud or take my daughter away from me if he finds out about us. I have a lot to lose.”
“At least take a shower with me before you go.”
“You drive a hard bargain, Skip Madison. How can a girl say no?”
“Come on, let me make you presentable for your husband,” he said and led her into the bathroom.
“You are such a naughty boy.”
“And you love it,” he said and closed the door behind them.
16
“The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.” Saint Jerome
Detria tip-toed up the steps. As she approached their bedroom, she saw the door was closed. She slowly turned the knob and peeped inside. The bed was empty. Leaving the door open, Detria turned and walked up the hallway toward the guest room. That door was also closed. She repeated her previous actions, only this time when she opened the door, she saw Stiles in the bed.
Turning to walk away, she halted when she heard his voice.
“Where have you been?”
Before she turned around to face him she sucked in her breath and then slowly released it. “I went to see Pastor. After all of that yelling you did over the phone, and refusing to let me in on what was going on, I went and found out for myself. And honestly, Stiles, I have to admit that I understand why you were so upset.” She purposely changed her tone to sound sympathetic toward him.
Stiles sat upright in the bed and swung his legs to the side. “Is that right?”
“Of course. What could Pastor have been thinking? Why did he insist on your mother carrying the seed of another man?”
“Didn’t he tell you why?” asked Stiles.
“He tried and I guess he thought he was doing what was best for him and Audrey at the time. He said when she first found out she was pregnant, they weren’t sure if the baby was his or not. And you know him, he doesn’t believe in abortion under any circumstance.”
“I can’t believe that this is the same man. The man who I’ve respected and loved all of these years as my father. And he turns out to be some, some kind of dictator who was remiss about what he put my mother through.”
Detria walked all the way inside the guest room. “Stiles, you have to let it go. It’s over and done with. And as far as telling Francesca about this, I hope you don’t.”
Stiles stared at his wife. “You think I’m going to keep something like this from my sister? Everything she went through growing up, she never knew the reason why. Neither did I. But now it all makes sense. I’m not saying that my mother was right to treat Francesca the way that she did, but at least I can say she had a reason. Francesca has to know so she can maybe finally close the chapter on her past. Keeping this whole thing a secret is what caused all this mess in our family in the first place.”
Detria pouted her lips and released a heavy sigh. “That’s on you then. Do what you feel is best. I’m just saying that sometimes it’s best to leave the past in the past. That’s all.”
“It’s not that simple, but then you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” Stiles asked with bite in his voice.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Never mind, Detria. I don’t want to argue with you anymore. But I’m going to tell you this, don’t ever think that you’re going to get away with the little games you call yourself playing, and don’t you ever, and I mean ever leave my daughter with anybody until you talk it over with me.”
“Whatever, Stiles. I’m going to bed.” Detria abruptly swished around and walked toward the bedroom door. “Oh, and don’t you worry,” she said, “You’ll see your precious little Audrey tomorrow morning. I’ll tell Mother Brown to bring her to your office before church starts. Maybe that’ll make you feel better.”
“Me, feel better? You daggone right it’ll make me feel better. And I can’t believe you’re not concerned about how she’s doing over there tonight. She’s not in her own bed, or in familiar surroundings.”
“Well, if you were so terribly disturbed about her being with Mother Brown, like I said, you should have gone over there and picked her up. You didn’t, so it doesn’t seem like you’re too bothered. Anyway, I’m going to take advantage of her not being here and I’m going to go to bed and have an uninterrupted sleep. Goodnight.”
Detria left, went to their bedroom, undressed and climbed in the bed. Lord, forgive me. But you know my marriage is in shambles and Skip, well, Skip treats me like a woman, like he really cares about me. And Father, you already know before I even pray to you, that my husband has turned out not to be the man of my dreams. I promise I won’t sleep with Skip again. Forgive me.
◊
Stiles settled back in the bed, his frustration mounting. He casually picked up his cell phone and noticed that he had seven voicemail messages. His first thought was to let them wait until after Sunday services tomorrow, but his second thought was what persuaded him to push the ‘1’ button on the phone and listen to his messages.
The first three voicemail messages were from Brother Jones. “Pastor, just checking to see if you have any special instructions concerning tomorrow’s services,” Brother Jones basically said on all three messages.
“Not sure how I missed his calls. I must have dozed off earlier or something, or maybe I was in a yelling match with my wife,” he mumbled.
The next message made Stiles fall back and take a seat on the side of the bed. It was Rena’s voice on the other end. There was something about her voice that aroused him every time he heard it. His complexion turned a shade darker when he heard her going off on him about a box of condoms he’d sent her as a wedding gift.
Stiles had no idea what she was talking about. The more he listened to her practically cussing him out on the phone, the mor
e he thought that Francesca had been up to her old scheming, conniving tricks again.
“Dang, why can’t you just leave the woman alone, Francesca?” he looked at the time on his cell phone. “Eleven o’clock,” he said. He pecked the area code and then stopped and ended the call. Are you crazy? The woman is getting married or just got married, whatever, man. You can’t just up and call her, he told himself.
Rena, Rena, Rena, if only I could turn back the hands of time, then you’d still be mine. He tossed and turned as he tried to relax in the bed, but it was of no use. He reminisced about the good times he’d shared with Rena during their courtship. He thought about her smile, her sense of naïveté, and her devotion toward him. But his thoughts also turned toward how she had deceived him. But if he could forgive Detria, why had it been impossible for him to forgive Rena? If he had, maybe his mind wouldn’t keep yo-yoing back and forth.
If he could let go of what he once had with Rena, and concentrate on making his marriage work with Detria then things would be better for him, Detria and the child they had together.
Stiles got back out of the bed and dropped to his knees. There, kneeling by the side of the bed, he began to pray. “Father, God, I need your help. I’m in trouble, and I don’t know where to run. I’m confused, Lord, but I know confusion is not from you. Help me to find common ground with my wife. Help me to do what I tell others to do over and over again, to let go of the past. I need to be a good husband and father, Lord. I can’t effectively lead your people if I can’t manage my own household.”
He got up off his knees and got back in the bed. He didn’t stay there long before he decided to get up and go to his own bedroom and sleep next to his wife. If there was going to be any hope of making this marriage work, it had to begin with him, he reasoned. He was the man, the head of his household, and it was time for him to get things back on track.
Stiles eased in the bed and scooted up next to Detria.
“Oh, so you decided to come in here and keep me up all night? I told you, Stiles, I don’t want to argue. I’ll get the baby in the morning. Now , please, I’m tired. I want to get some sleep,” Detria said without turning over to face him.
“Detria, look at me,” Stiles said and gently pulled her by her shoulder and turned her toward him.
Detria stared in silence.
“I know things between us have been, well jacked up to say the least. And I want to be the first to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you afraid of me. I’m sorry for my short temper and for not realizing that you have a lot on you. It’s not easy taking care of a baby. I know that. And if you’ve found someone who’ll love and take care of our daughter when you’re tired and just need some ‘me’ time then who am I to get all bent out of shape. I mean, I know that Mother Brown is a good, Christian woman. She nor Brother Brown would ever do anything to hurt our child. So, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. Tell me that you forgive me,” Stiles said.
Detria shifted her weight so she was resting on her elbows. “Stiles, look, you have to trust me. I love our daughter just as much as you do. And you know I would never leave her in the hands of strangers. I could have taken her over to my parents’ house but you and I both know that they’re not in the best of health. And my sister, well she loves it when I take Audrey to see them. But the reason I took her over to Mother Brown’s was because I knew she would bring her to church tomorrow morning. You know we can never be sure if momma and daddy will be there or not, and Brooke would have taken her to her church. I know you wouldn’t like that, so I asked Mother Brown to keep her. And then this sudden jealous streak you have, well it’s frightening, Stiles. I have to tell you; I’ve never seen you behave like you have these past weeks. I’ve never known you to be violent. It’s like you don’t trust me.”
“I do trust you, Detria. I really do.”
“I’m not Rena, Stiles. And I’m tired of living in her shadow. I hear what you’re saying but your actions say otherwise. Sometimes I feel like you’re still in love with her. And if you are, then I can’t compete with that. I won’t compete with that, I should say.”
“Baby, please. Let’s start over. Let’s start over right now,” Stiles said. He leaned in, placed his arm underneath Detria’s back and pulled her almost naked body close to his. His lips brushed the side of her cheeks before he slowly trailed kisses along the nape of her neck, down to her shoulders to her perfectly formed mounds.
Detria flinched. I can’t let him do this. Not after being with Skip. But Detria didn’t try to stop him. Instead she allowed herself to relax in his arms. She wrapped both of her arms around his neck and kissed him fully on his thick, soft lips.
Stiles’ body responded completely. As he explored his wife’s almost perfectly shaped body, he dismissed thoughts of Rena that tried to invade his mind. Hearing Detria’s soft, sexy love cries, and caressing her soft, warm skin took him to the place he needed to be and wanted to be for some time: in the arms of his wife. His manhood connected with her body until all he could feel was his desire being fully met. This was how it was supposed to be. With each kiss, each touch, each stroke Stiles forgot the problems between him and Detria.
“You’re so sweet,” he whispered. “So, so sweet. And I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry,” he kept saying as he made love to his wife.
“It’s going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right,” she said between moans and barely above a faint whisper. “Yes, everything is going to be good.” Skip, Stiles. God. Lord, I didn’t want this to happen. I shouldn’t have let this happen. God, why did I let this happen? Detria thought as cries of pleasure escaped from her lips.
17
“Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.” Unknown
“Babe, why don’t you and the baby ride with me to Jackson? We can stop somewhere and have a nice lunch on our way back home. You know, make it like a mini road trip,” Stiles suggested over a breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon, toast and a cold, tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Detria sat in the chair across from him and Baby Audrey was in her highchair stuffing grits inside her mouth with her chubby caramel colored fingers. “Do you think Francesca is even going to want to see Audrey, or me, once she hears what you have to tell her?”
“Sure she will. Think about it. The last time she saw li’l Audrey she was just a couple of months old. Well, she’s seen her through picture mail, but that’s not the same as holding daddy’s sweetpea in person,” he replied and looked over at Baby Audrey.
“I don’t know, Stiles. I don’t want to go up there with you and then find myself in the middle of a big fight between you two. I mean, telling her that she was conceived during a rape, and that Pastor is not her father that’s going to be tough. Real tough. Lord knows, I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, and I sure wouldn’t want to be in hers.”
Stiles crumbled his crispy bacon into his buttered grits and then mixed in his scrambled eggs. “To be honest, I could use the company. I don’t like being the bearer of bad news myself, but I feel like it’s only right that I tell her. I promise we won’t stay long. And Francesca already told me that she and Tim have plans later this afternoon. But I think seeing Baby Audrey and you will help cushion the blow.”
“Ummm, I don’t know, Stiles,” Detria responded. “But then again I guess it won’t hurt. It sure can’t make matters any worse if me and the baby go. And maybe you are right. Francesca probably will enjoy seeing her niece. Let’s hope so anyway.”
Stiles eased his body half way off the dining room chair and leaned in to kiss Detria on her lips. “Thanks, babe.”
Detria got up from the table.
“Aren’t you going to finish that bowl of fruit?” Stiles asked.
“Not right now. If we’re going to go, I need to get dressed, get the baby ready and then get her bag p
acked.”
“Okay. But soon as I finish eating, I’ll get the baby ready. You just concentrate on you.”
“Ohhh, well, that definitely sounds like a plan.” Detria smiled. “It won’t take me long,” she said.
The house phone started ringing. “I’ll get it,” Stiles yelled so Detria could hear him. “Hello,” he said when he picked up the phone. He already read the caller ID; it was Pastor on the other end.
“Good morning, son,” Pastor said, his voice full of caution.
“Good morning,” Stiles answered, not adding anything else.
“Is that my baby I hear trying to talk?” Pastor asked.
“Yes, she’s calling her dada,” Stiles answered with obvious pride. “What can I do for you this morning?” His voice returning to a serious tone.
“Son, I hope you’ve had some time to calm down and think rationally about everything that happened last week. I know it’s hard for you to deal with, but you’re a grown man now. And there are some things you as a man, especially a man of God that you should understand.”
Stiles acted like he didn’t hear Pastor. Instead he answered, “I don’t have time to talk about this this morning. We’re getting ready to go to Jackson.
“So, I guess you’re going through with ruining the rest of your sister’s life. Don’t you think she’s been through enough?” Pastor asked, sounding quite irritated with Stiles.
“Yes, she’s been through enough, and I wonder why? It wouldn’t be because you had a huge hand in making her life as miserable as it was,” he bit back.
My Sister My Momma My Wife Page 11