by Zena Wynn
Marketta worked for the electric company, processing payments. Von knew not to call her direct office line because she wouldn’t be able to talk. But her cousin could talk on her lunch break, only an hour away. However, less than five minutes later, her phone rang.
“He’s here?” Marketta squealed excitedly as soon as she answered.
“Yessss!” Von felt like pumping her fist in the air.
“Does Derrick know?”
Confusion calming her somewhat, she answered, “Of course. How do you think I found out? Derrick called to say he wanted me to go with him tonight to Chili’s. That’s where they’re meeting up.”
“Wait. Now I’m lost. Sean is here to see you, isn’t he?”
Both Von’s eyebrows shot up. “No! Derrick’s been inviting Sean to come visit forever. He must have finally decided to take him up on it.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Suddenly agitated, Von rose from the couch and crossed over to the window. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Girl, Derrick’s been out of the service, how long? In all that time, your boy Sean has never come to visit until one day, he goes MIA and drops off radar for months. When he suddenly resurfaces, he pops up for a visit. You know what I think? I think something went down that spooked your boy and made him realize who’s important in his life, and that’s why he’s here. He may have contacted Derrick, but it’s you he’s here to see.”
Troubled and unable to pinpoint why, Von began to pace. “Marketta, Sean and I are friends—pen pals really—just like he and Derrick are friends. But unlike Derrick, Sean and I have never discussed meeting in person. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but maybe whatever happened—supposing something did—made him realize how important his friendship with Derrick is. Derrick saved his life once, you know. That’s not something a person forgets.”
“Hmph, knowing Derrick he hasn’t let Sean forget it,” she murmured.
“Derrick’s not like that,” Von snapped.
“All right, all right. No need to get hostile. You know best. I gotta get back to work.”
“Okay.”
“Make sure you call and tell me how the evening went.”
“I will.”
Dismissing her cousin’s words as nonsense, Von finished her laundry, all the while wondering, What am I wearing tonight?
****
Promptly at five twenty-five, a knock sounded at the door.
Von took one last look in the mirror. Her modest, tulip shaped, calf-length denim skirt skimmed her body without being too revealing. Paired with it she wore a baby blue shirt with fitted three-quarter length sleeves, possessing a neckline that bared only her collarbone. Her hair, which hung to the center of her back when unbound, was gathered and pinned to her nape in a reserved bun. Her only adornment was the slightly decorative hair comb helping to hold everything in place.
Satisfied that she looked nice, she left her bedroom and answered the door. “Hello,” she greeted Derrick with a peck on the cheek.
Derrick placed his arms on her shoulders and pushed her back a step, looking her over from the floor up. He was smiling and nodding approvingly until his gaze reached her face. Then he scowled. “You’re wearing makeup.”
“Just the barest hint of face powder,” she defended.
“Wash it off.”
“But Derrick...”
“Von, you know what we teach. How can we, as leaders, expect others to do as we say if we’re not obedient to scripture ourselves?” he asked in a more reasonable tone.
She pulled away from him and widened the distance between them. “The bible doesn’t say anything about women not wearing makeup. This little bit of foundation I’m wearing is not going to send me to hell.” In recent weeks, she’d been questioning more and more their church’s teachings and searching for her own answers rather than blindly following what she was told. “Not only that, I’ve been watching other churches on television. Their women wear cosmetics and pants, too, and their ministers don’t make them feel like whores for doing so.”
Derrick reached for her and when she avoided him, he sighed deeply. “You’re right. Wearing makeup is not a sin. We never said it was. We believe, like Paul, that women should focus more on their inward beauty rather than their outward appearance. You have a pure and holy soul. Inner goodness radiates out of you like a light. You don’t need to paint your face. You’re beautiful naturally, the way you are.”
She wavered indecisively. There was logic in his words.
“Will you do it for me, please?”
Von bit her lower lip, tugging on it with her teeth before nodding.
“Thank you,” he said warmly.
She went into the bathroom and washed her face, then reapplied moisturizer. As she gathered her purse and keys, Derrick asked, “When did you purchase that stuff?”
“I didn’t. One of Marketta’s friends sells Mary Kay. She bought it to help out and gave it to me as a gift.”
Under his breath he muttered, “Should have known she was involved in this.”
“Derrick, don’t start,” she warned.
“I’m not starting anything. I just wish you could see that she isn’t the best influence on you,” he said defensively.
“She’s family. Marketta’s always been there for me and always will. I love her.” Her association with her cousin was the one area Von had always refused to bend on. Neither Derrick nor his father liked her. They thought she was too loose, too opinionated, too...everything. They’d tried to get her to terminate her relationship with her cousin and when that didn’t work, they pushed her to minimize contact. Again, she’d refused, preferring instead not to mention Marketta unless absolutely necessary.
They walked to the elevator in silence. In the car, Derrick spoke. “If you have questions about our teachings, come to me. Watching all those religious programs on television isn’t good for you. I don’t want you getting confused.”
“Truth is the truth, Derrick. Shouldn’t matter who is preaching it.”
“There’s truth and then there’s practices and varying interpretations. To avoid confusion, a family should always be fed from the same source and that’s what we’ll be—a family. One day soon.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “So, you’ll stop watching those other programs and from now on, ask me?”
“I’ll think about it,” she said as she gazed out the window.
Derrick’s grip tightened briefly on her hand before releasing it. “You’ve been talking to your cousin. Don’t deny it. The only time you get combative like this is when you’ve been around her.”
Von turned to face him. “Combative? Because I didn’t instantly agree with you but instead stated I’d think about it?”
“A wife is to obey her husband,” he stated firmly.
“We’re not married yet,” she muttered.
Chapter Three
Derrick parked the car and grabbed her by the left arm. “What are you saying?” he asked angrily.
Von’s gazed traveled from his hold to his face. “You’re hurting me,” she told him in a low, quiet voice.
He shook her roughly. “Answer me,” he demanded before finally releasing her.
Rubbing her throbbing bicep, Von moved closer to the door, watching him warily. He’d never touched her in anger before. “I mean just what I said. You can’t demand obedience of me because we’re not married. Even if we were, I’m a woman with thoughts and feelings. A human being deserving of respect, not a dog waiting to obey your every command,” she spat out in rarely shown resentment.
His eyes rounding in shock, Derrick held out a hand and she flinched away from it. Noting her reaction, he paused and then sighed deeply. Leaning on his door to give her more space, he ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration. In a much calmer voice, he asked, “Where is all this coming from? You’ve never had a problem following my lead before.”
Von turned her head and gazed at Chili’s through
the windshield. Was Sean inside waiting? After a few moments of tense silence, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking—about me, about us—and I don’t like what I see.” She twisted around and pinned him with a look. “Do you really know me, Derrick? The real me? Or is who you see the person you and your father seem to want me to be? Sometimes I wonder.”
Derrick’s opened his mouth and moved his lips, but no sound emerged. Finally he closed his eyes and visibly composed himself. When they re-opened, he stared at her with that intent gaze of his that always made her feel like he could see through her, and slowly smiled. He raised his hand and hers went to the door handle. He shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. Earlier was a mistake.”
She watched with wary eyes as he cupped her face gently and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Of course I see the real you. Sometimes I think I see you more clearly than you see yourself. You’re sweet, gentle, kind and compassionate. You value peace, dislike arguments, and love helping people. You’re good with children, respectful to the elderly and kind to animals. Everyone loves you.”
He stroked her bottom lip and his gaze became slumberous with desire. “I love you, too. I know it seems like we’ve been waiting forever but we will be married. And when we do, you won’t just be a pastor’s wife. You’ll be my wife. The woman I love and desire above all others.”
Derrick closed the distance between them and kissed her. It started out gentle but as she gradually responded, ended in an intoxicating tangle of tongues and teeth that left both of them breathing hard. Withdrawing only far enough that their breath still mingled, Derrick said in a husky voice, “We’d better go inside before Sean thinks I stood him up.”
He placed another light kiss on her lips then exited the car. As usual, Derrick knew the right thing to say to calm her troubled thoughts. She waited while he came around to open her door. As she rose beside him, he pulled her into his arms and gave her another deep, lingering kiss.
“Derrick! Public displays of affection are not appropriate for ministers,” she scolded, shocked but pleased.
He laughed and placed a hand on her lower back to escort her inside. Leaning close to her ear he murmured, “You’re my woman, and I don’t care who knows it.”
Derrick opened the door and held it for her to enter. As she did, he pinched her butt and chuckled when she jumped and slapped at his hand. Von felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she was grinning as the hostess approached. This was the playful man she’d fallen in love with. Since seminary, he’d been much too serious.
“We’re meeting a friend. A Sean Jacobson.”
“Yes, sir,” she told him. “You’re party’s already arrived. Follow me.”
They followed the hostess to where Sean sat near the window, nursing a beer, his dark head bent gazing at the open menu.
“Cougar,” Derrick called out as they approached.
Sean looked up and a huge grin crossed his face. “Hooch!”
Hooch? Derrick had been holding out on her. She’d have to remember to ask Sean about the name later.
Sean rose from the seat and the two exchanged back pounding hugs. Lagging behind, Von felt a smile cross her face at their display.
“Your waitress will be with you in a moment,” the hostess told Von before excusing herself.
The two men were talking a mile a minute and while Derrick was distracted, Von was able to take a good look at Sean, up close and personal. He was tanned, toned, and extremely handsome in his snug army green t-shirt and fatigues. His pictures didn’t do him justice.
After a while, when she was sure Derrick had completely forgotten her presence, she cleared her throat—twice. The second time he heard her.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” He reached out and pulled her closer, placing an arm around her shoulder. “Cougar, this lovely lady is my fiancé, Von. Von, this wild man here is my buddy, Sergeant Sean “Cougar” Jacobson, the guy you took pity on and sent letters to while I was enlisted.”
Von’s eyes widened and she bit her lower lip at the reminder that Derrick had no idea their letters to each other continued.
“Master Sergeant, now,” Sean corrected as he held out a hand. As she shook it, he told Derrick, “She’s as beautiful as you always claimed. I never thanked you for your generosity in taking time to write a poor, lonely soldier like me with no family.” His eyes twinkled at her, smiling at their shared secret.
She breathed a silent sigh of relief that Sean wasn’t going to ‘out’ her. “It was my pleasure.”
He continued holding her hand within both of his and Von gently tugged. “Oh, sorry,” he said, releasing her.
Derrick herded her to one side of the booth and she scooted in, placing her purse on the seat in the corner as he slid in beside her.
Sean resumed his seat across from them. “They have their two-for-twenty special going if one of you wants to share.” Though his words were directed toward Derrick, his gaze was on her.
At that moment, the waitress arrived at the table bearing two more menus. “My name is Mindy and I’ll be your server today. Can I take your drink order?”
“We’ll have two sweet teas,” Derrick told her.
“Make mine a strawberry lemonade,” Von corrected.
“That has too much sugar. You’ll be up all night,” he told her. Turning back to the waitress, “Two sweet teas, please, and make one of them half sweet and half unsweet.”
Mindy looked to her for confirmation. Von’s gaze slid to Sean, who made a show of studying his menu. Von reluctantly nodded her agreement with the order, then turned her head to look out the window.
“Sir, would you like another beer?”
“No, this is good.”
“I’ll be back with your drinks and take your order.” She walked off.
“So, Sean, tell me what you’ve been up to since Iraq. Emails and infrequent status updates on Facebook don’t tell it all.” Derrick casually reached out and took Von’s hand in his, holding it on the table in full view while he played with her fingers. Von sat stiffly, watching their reflection in the window, only looking away from it when the waitress returned with their drinks.
“Everyone ready to order?”
“Yes,” Derrick answered, after a brief glance at Sean for his agreement. Without consulting her, he told the waitress, “I’ll have the fried shrimp and my fiancé will have your Chicken Caesar Salad. Put the dressing on the side, please.”
“Mindy, change that, please. I’m having the half rack of baby back ribs and loaded mash potatoes instead of fries.”
Derrick frowned and looked at her. “Pork isn’t good for you, even the bible says so.”
“That’s why I eat it sparingly,” she said in a firm, ‘don’t mess with me’ tone of voice.
“You’ll feel better if you have the salad. It’s much lighter.”
“I don’t want a salad,” she told him fiercely.
He scowled but subsided when he took note of her angry expression.
“Would you like the two-for-twenty? Both of your entries are on the selection items,” Mindy stated helpfully, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the two of them before settling on Von.
“Yes,” Von said.
“No, no appetizers,” Derrick said, speaking over her.
Inwardly, Von fumed but since Derrick was the one paying the bill, she accepted his decision.
“Well, I’d like the two-for-twenty, and you can add their meals to my tab. I’d also like the half rack, with fries please, and...” Sean paused and glanced at her. “...since Derrick doesn’t want one, what appetizer would you like, Von? We can share.”
Startled, Von said, “Oh. Um, the onion and jalapenos?”
He grinned. “A woman after my own heart. Bring us that, and I’ll have another beer now.”
****
The waitress walked off with their order. On his thigh, Sean’s hand tightened into a fist before he consciously relaxed it. The scent of Von’s anger and humili
ation rose in the air and he wanted to lunge over the top of the table and teach Hooch not to be such a dictating asshole. Instead he smiled and acted like he didn’t notice the growing tension between the two and answered Derrick’s questions with generalities.
When they first walked inside, Von’s mouth had been swollen like she’d recently been thoroughly kissed, and the faint scent of arousal lingered in the air. Both of them had been smiling and looked so comfortable with each other that Sean thought he’d have to accept the fact that she and Derrick were happy together and settle for having a few days with the woman he loved, even if she didn’t return his feelings. Then he’d discovered Derrick didn’t have a clue of their continued association. If she hid that from him, what else was she hiding?
As the evening progressed, he occasionally caught Von watching him out the corner of her eyes, especially when one of the answers he gave to Derrick’s inquisition glossed over or downright contradicted what she knew to be true. He worried for a moment that she might think he’d lied to her previously and that it would ruin the trust they had built between them. Then he caught the little secretive smile she quickly hid. She knew he was lying to Derrick and the thought amused her.
“Enough about me. What have you been up to? Obviously not the gym. You’re getting soft, man. If the guys could see you now...” he taunted, knowing how obsessed Derrick used to be about his physique.
As expected, he took the bait. “Soft? I can still wipe the court with your tail.”
Sean winked at Von, pleased when she flushed. “Nah, I don’t want to humiliate you in front of your woman. I know how sensitive you are.”
“Bring it on, baby. Tomorrow at twelve. Loser buys lunch,” Derrick said, his chest puffed out.
“I hope you have enough money ’cause I’m feeling steak—porterhouse.”
“Don’t worry about what’s in my wallet. I won’t need it.”
They needled each other for the rest of the evening and Sean even managed to draw Von out of her reserve a few times. There were times when he could see questions in her eyes. She’d open her mouth, glance at Derrick, and fall silent. He knew she was curious about what happened to him, and he planned on telling her, but not in front of an audience. The question was, how did he get her alone without causing problems with Derrick?