by Joy, E. n.
She lowered her head, looking sad. "No, sir." She sounded heartbroken.
Vincent slid back from the table then walked toward Shana. He tenderly lifted up her face. "I made a promise to you in church, remember?"
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, if I can't be sad, then you can't be sad. And besides, why are you looking sad when you now have a B.F.F.?"
"Who?"
"Me." He held his arms out.
"Really?" she perked up instantly.
"Yep. And to start off our new friendship, I'm taking you to the zoo."
Shana jumped and hugged Vincent. "Thank you! Can my cousin Takeitha come too?" she asked, referring to Claudia's niece.
"I don't see why not," Vincent replied as they immediately made plans for a trip to the zoo, and that very next morning, before Micki and her brother were to return from New York, Vincent fulfilled yet another promise to the little girl.
Chapter Nine
"How was New York?" Celisha was out by the pool with Micki, lounging on the shaded alabaster white chaise lounge.
"Crowded, loud, hectic and stuffy," Micki answered. "Same as usual." The two chuckled. "I'm never moving back there." Micki was sitting up on the chaise lounge filing her fingernails. Both women were wearing two-piece designer bikinis. On the wicker table between them was a pitcher of lemonade.
"How long has Vincent been in The Room?" Celisha pushed her tinted shades up on her head.
"Since nine this morning." Micki paused to blow dust from her nails. "That short story he's writing for that anthology is really a challenge for him. It's like he would have felt defeated if he didn't write it." She went back to filing her nails. "I just hope he doesn't push himself too hard. What do you think?" She laid the file down, looking at Celisha.
"Don't underestimate your man, Micki. I'm sure he'll be fine. He takes writing like no other author I've ever dealt with and you see how serious he is about it. Have you read any of it yet?" Celisha reached for her glass of lemonade and sipped through the straw.
"Not yet," Micki said, adjusting her bikini top. "So, how did church go? I really haven't had the chance to talk to Vincent since I've gotten back."
"It was special, Micki. Vincent wore that nice Steve Harvey suit you bought him."
"The fedora too?" Micki asked smiling.
"No," Celisha grinned. "And yes he wore his glasses. Aaron and my aunt Faye went too." There was a sad tone in Celisha's voice." Celisha placed her drink back on the coaster.
"What?" Micki asked
Celisha told Micki about Shana having AIDS. A strange look appeared on Micki's face that went unnoticed by Celisha. It made Micki uneasy to hear Shana's issue. Right now she needed some alone time in the bathroom, in secret, behind a locked door. She snapped out of her mental uneasiness when Celisha asked about a wedding date.
"Oh, um. . ." Micki stammered, caught off guard. "I'm thinking about July. I haven't spoken to Vincent about it yet."
"Oh, when would he like to get married?"
"If it means us being intimate again, Yesterday,"
Micki laughed. "I have to admit myself, though, I miss making love to him," she said, unsmiling. "I admire how you and Aaron are holding out as well."
Celisha became pensive, sliding her shades down over her eyes. She crossed her arms. Her mind was back to last month. A late night visit from Aaron had turned into a deep regret. A long heavy wet kiss and intimate touching ended with regrets.
"Is something wrong, Celisha?" Micki asked, noticing Celisha's sudden change in behavior.
"Micki. . .I'm not perfect," Celisha said stoically.
"I didn't-"
Celisha held up her palm. "Please," she said, "let me explain." She sat up and faced Micki, taking her shades off. "Um, Micki, last month things went too far and Aaron and I had sex."
Micki was taken aback, unable to find anything to say. She had assumed that temptation was not an obstacle for Celisha, with her being a practicing Christian and all.
Celisha's ringing cell phone ended the awkward moment that came as a relief to both. The call was an excuse for Celisha to end both her chat and visit with Micki altogether. She stood up tying a voila shamrock green sarong around her waist and shapely hips.
"Call me later, okay?" Micki said as Celisha left. To ease her mind, Micki slid out of her platform wedges and dove into the pool.
Hours later, Vincent was being fed by his woman. The smell of his favorite meal had pulled him from The Room; buttered yeast rolls, macaroni and cheese and fried pork chops. He was at the kitchen table with Micki sitting sideways in his lap. Literally feeding him. It was an intimate act she enjoyed doing.
"You're my big spoiled baby." She slid the fork from his mouth. "All mines."
He chewed while rubbing her jean covered thighs. "Where's your brother?"
"At the bowling alley. He wanted to drive your Benz and I said no." She slid another piece of pork chop into his mouth. "Are you going back into The Room tonight?"
"Nah," he said after chewing and swallowing. "Why, what's up?"
"Nothing." She broke off a piece of buttered roll and fed it to him. "Celisha told me what you did for that little girl. Taking her to the zoo. That was very thoughtful." She held a spoonful of macaroni and cheese in front of him.
He opened his mouth. After he swallowed she held the glass of cranberry juice to his lips. This was devoted love at its best.
"I can't wait for you to meet Shana. She's-" Vincent started.
"Here, baby." Micki cut him off as she fed him more macaroni and cheese. "Celisha told me all about her. How's the story going?" Any talk of his books would deaden any other topic. She knew her man.
"I think I really surprised myself this time."
"I can't wait to read it. Better yet, how about you read it to me? I know it's challenging since it's like a new genre for you."
Micki fed Vincent a couple more bites before he asked her, "Have you circled a date yet?"
She nodded yes as she continued feeding him a piece of roll. "How about early July? Yes, in the month of your birthday and before it." She waited for him to swallow.
"Why July, and why you say that?" He looked at her puzzled.
"Because, silly," she giggled." If you ever forget our anniversary, you can cancel any type of birthday party."
He kissed her neck. "I'll never forget our wedding date because I'll be reminded of it daily."
"How?"
Vincent grinned. "Because you're gonna get the date. . .and my name tattooed on you."
"Are you serious?" She smiled, slipping her arms around his neck.
He gave her a serious look. "Well, since it's like that, I want my name on you too."
"Not a problem."
"And only my eyes will ever see it." She smacked him on the butt.
"Say what? Girl, I'm not getting no tattoo on my butt. That's suspect," he frowned.
"I'm not talking about your butt." She moved her lips to his ear and whispered where she wanted her name.
"Girl, that's crazy!"
She burst out laughing, clinging to his neck. "I'm just playing, boy. I know Mr. Masterpiece is too sensitive for a needle."
"That's not even close to being funny," he replied.
"Might have to spank you for that."
"Anytime and anyplace." She paused, caressing his bald head. "Te quiero, Vincent."
"Te Quiero too."
"I'll stop my birth control pills if you want me to."
Micki was snuggled up under Vincent in their bed. "I don't want no type of issues when we start on our family in July," she added.
"That's a good idea," he said, finger combing her hair. "This time next year, little Vincent Junior will be in our arms."
"We're having a girl. I don't know what you're talking about," she corrected him.
"Boy."
"Girl." She raised up on her side. "Wanna bet? Since you're so confident that your soldiers will produce a boy, why don't you make a bet?"
"Who you talking to?"
"That owl," she giggled. "What's up?" She laid her head on his pillow rubbing his chest.
"Okay. . .let me think of a good wager." He ran a few ideas through his mind. "Check this out; when my boy is born," he smiled, "I will be free of having to change any diapers for umm. . .a year."
"Boy!" She smacked his chest. "You done bumped your head. Talking about a year! No. . .I'll bet you six months." She raised back to her side.
"Seven."
"No, I said six, Vincent."
". . .Six and a half."
"Five!"
"Okay, okay. I'll take six," Vincent laughed. "Now what's your bet?"
"I'll take the same. When, not if, but when your first born is a girl. . .Daddy will be on diaper duty."
"Bet locked," he said.
"You are going to lose," she lowered her lips to his.
"Vincent Manor never loses," he assured her, then sealed the deal with a kiss to her nose.
Chapter Ten
"Hello, Aaron." Celisha closed her door and Aaron stepped inside her apartment. "You're late." Her tone was neutral.
"I'm sorry." Aaron stood by the sofa. "I had a last minute deal that needed closing."
"You can sit down." Celisha gestured for him to sit on the couch.
Aaron sat down, avoiding eye contact with his fiancé. "What's going on with us, Aaron?" Celisha sat down in the chair across from him.
"What are you talking about?" He attempted to act nonchalant, even though he, too, had noticed how awkward things had been between them since the night they slipped up.
"Aaron!" She raised her soft voice. "I'm sorry." She looked at him, lowering her tone. "I'm just tired of putting on a front for others that things are fine between us. I'm trying to love you, Aaron, but you-"
"I got needs, Celisha," he interrupted angrily.
She stared at him. She had seen this painful side of him before. She knew he had needs; needs that he had controlled until last month. Celisha had realized it was a mistake. But for Aaron, he wanted to keep making the mistake over and over. His frustration mounted as Celisha refused to give in.
"Aaron," she said, now speaking calmly again, "we made a mistake that night. We have to wait until we get married. So-"
"No!" He stood up. "You think your sex is. . .is based on our marriage, Celisha? I didn't want to wait. I got needs now, and you. . .you keep tripping." He threw his arms up in the air.
"Aaron!"
"Why the late night calls? Huh, you a tease now? You can't sit there and say you didn't enjoy what we did that night. We did it more than once, and you expected me not to want more? I'm a man. I'm your man; your man who has needs that-"
This time Celisha cut him off. "Aaron, I'm pregnant!"
Aaron's mouth fell open. "What did you say?"
"I'm pregnant," she repeated. "My doctor confirmed it today."
"Wait!" He started pacing in front of her. "How much?"
She stared at him. "I'm three weeks pregnant."
"No," he said. "How much will an abortion cost?"
Celisha stood up, facing him. "Are you serious?" She feigned a slight chuckle, thinking that he couldn't possibly be serious.
He sighed angrily. "Yes, I'm serious. You just said what we did was a mistake, so let's take care of this mistake."
"Get out!" Celisha yelled as she pointed to the door. Tears began to fill her eyes.
Aaron glared at her. "If I walk out that door, I'm never coming back."
"Get out!" she screamed again.
He picked up his car keys. "If you decide to have this. . .this baby, you can expect my lawyer to seek a blood test to deter-"
Aaron's words were ended with a slap from Celisha right across his face. He smiled at her as he rubbed his jaw.
"I swear to God, if you don't get out of my house now. . ."
He looked into Celisha's eyes and could tell she was hurting. "Maybe your ex jailbird of a boss should take a test too. But in the meantime, I'll be glad to leave."
Celisha sat in her dark living room in tears. "Why?" she cried out loud. "Why am I being punished?" Celisha shook her head as she thought about how she was supposed to be a Christian, yet she was about to have a baby without a husband. Did this cause her to be a sinner? A lie is a sin. No sin is greater than the other. But Celisha's night of sin would have a permanent reminder. Even through her tears and pain, she would view her baby as a blessing. Why shouldn't she?
Vincent was a light sleeper, so his eyes popped open when Micki slowly slid out of bed. It was now a few minutes past midnight. They had once again defeated temptation and refrained from having sex. Vincent waited a few seconds, then slid out of the bed himself. Out in the dark hallway he bumped into Rocky D. He paused when he reached the bathroom. He wondered why Micki hadn't used the bathroom in their bedroom? He placed his ear close to the door, heart pounding.
Vincent could hear Micki riffling under the sink. Apparently she didn't find what she was looking for when he heard her sigh with disappointment. He suddenly wondered if she would recognize anything out of place from his search. It didn't feel right to be snooping on her behind her back. No matter how hard he tried to justify his actions, Vincent knew he was wrong, but still, the unknown was getting the best of him, so when he heard the toilet flush, he stood his ground outside the bathroom door, in wait of Micki. He wasn't going to slip back into bed without getting answers.
Micki turned the bathroom light out as she opened the door.
"What were you looking for?" Vincent asked in a tone that demanded an answer.
Micki shrieked, jumping back into the dark bathroom. She immediately turned the light back on and looked at Vincent. "Boy!" she vented. "Why are you standing in the middle of the hall, in the dark? You scared the crap out of me." As she looked at him, she started frowning. "Wait. How do you know I was looking for something, Vincent?"
"'Cause I got ears." He refused to back down. "Now answer my question."
"I'm not answering nothing!" She turned to slam the door in his face but he stopped it with his opened hand.
Vincent pushed inside the bathroom. "Don't play with me, Micki!" He had her backed up against the wall. He was pleased to see anger in her eyes and not fear. If it had been the latter, he would have eased up. He never wanted Micki to think that he would ever hurt her.
"I'm not talking to you," she snapped, folding her arms, looking up at him.
"What are you hiding from me, Micki? You think I haven't been paying attention to this locked bathroom door thing you got going on?"
She turned her head.
"Look at me." He turned her chin tenderly. "Micki, I love you. No secrets should be between us, baby." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Talk to me, baby. I'm not dropping this until you tell me what's been going on here. . .behind my back." His shoulders sagged. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the wall.
"Talk to me. Don't force me to assume anything."
She opened her eyes. "Has anyone been in this house while I was in New York?"
"No, and what does it have to do with now?"
Micki reached up to rub his forearms. "Where's the Bible, Vincent? I left it behind the toilet paper and now it's not-"
"You hid that Bible?" he exclaimed.
She nodded. "Where is it?"
"You were looking for the Bible? Are you telling me that?"
"Yes, Vincent. I've been reading and praying. Now where is it?"
Vincent was dumbfounded. He released her shoulders and sat on the closed toilet lid. Micki stepped toward him, embracing his head into her stomach. He hugged her waist.
"I'll explain," she whispered while grabbing his hands and leading him back to their bedroom. And for the next half hour, she did just that; explain. She explained how lately she'd been drawn to the Bible and God's word and how she had been learning how to commune with God.
"Why did you hide this from me? I don't understand." Vincent was sitting up in the bed with Micki.
"Be
cause I didn't want you to judge me."
"Baby," he took her hand in his, "why would you think that? Of all people, how can I judge anyone? You had me thinking you were on drugs or something, and the whole time you were talking to God."
"I'm sorry." Micki slid closer to him and came clean. She told him how the car accident had left her mother in a coma for six days before she died. "My family was deeply religious, Vincent. I was young and I loved my mother madly. I was at her side reading the Vulgate."
"Vulgate? What's that?"
"The Latin version of the Bible. Like I was saying. . .I turned into a young preacher. It was all for show. I never really had a real relationship with God. I did it for the wrong reasons. When my mother died, I turned my back on religion. Like many, I never read the entire Bible. When I found your aunt's Bible in the sunroom, I started reading it again. I wanted to know why. . .why my mother died."
Vincent got up and went and retrieved the Bible he had planned on sending back to his aunt. "Here's what you were looking for." He handed it to Micki as he sat back down on the bed.
She opened the Bible to St. Matthew chapter 6. "Read verse one through eight and you'll see why I pray in secret." She pointed as Vincent read. When he was done, he looked at her. She believed. She believed in God's word. "I've been praying for us, Vincent," she said softly.
"Baby, I don't know what to say. I don't know God like I need to, but I know it's not wise to be ashamed to love Him." He flipped through the Bible. "Listen to this." He began to read. "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed. Let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed. Let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Psalm chapter twenty- five, one through three." He looked at her.
"Do you believe in God? Do you believe in heaven?" she asked him.
Vincent chewed his lips briefly. "Let's go to church this Sunday."
"Really?" Micki wanted to be sure she'd heard him correctly.
"Really," he said.
"Okay." She hugged him. "I love you."
"I love you the same." Slipping his arms free, he slid from the bed. "But before we do that, can we do something else together first?"