Her First

by Mckenzie, Diamond

  He pulled over to the shoulder, reached over into the glove compartment and pulled out his license and registration. He looked in his rear view mirror and saw the cop walking towards his car. He couldn’t see his face.

  “I should lock you up,” the stern voice said.

  Ethan panicked. “Officer, I was only speeding.”

  He heard the officer laugh and saw Steven’s face when he leaned down.

  “Man, you know a brother is scared of jail. Don’t ever play with me like that again. If you weren’t in that uniform, I would give you a beat down.”

  “I’m only upholding the law.”

  “Well uphold this,” Ethan said with a smile on his face as he held up his middle finger.

  “So where are you headed to in such a hurry?” Steven asked.

  “Work. Some of us have a real job.”

  “Don’t hate because you’re not one of Dallas’ finest.”

  They laughed. Ethan spoke with him for a couple more minutes before heading to his destination.

  As he pulled into his job’s parking lot he pulled out his cell phone and called his brother. “Frederick, I’m back in town. I still don’t know if I’ll make happy hour on Friday though,” he said as he left a message in his voice mail. “Call me when you get this message. Bye.”

  He lucked out and got a parking place in front of the building. He spoke to everyone as he made his way to his office. Joyce was sitting at her desk.

  “Hey boss, glad you’re back,” she said.

  “Glad to be back,” Ethan replied.

  Joyce followed him into his office and shut the door behind them.

  “If you weren’t my cousin, people would swear we were having an affair as much as you’ve been coming in here and shutting my door lately.”

  She turned the knob to open it. “I could leave it open and let everybody hear your business.” She smiled and retreated back.

  He hung up his jacket, took his laptop out the case and began hooking it up to his monitor.

  “Anything interesting happen while I was out?” he asked.

  “Same old stuff. But you did get quite a few phone calls from Sarah.”

  “I’m so sick and tired of hearing about her.”

  “What’s going on now?”

  “When I got back in last night, Madison was babysitting Sarah’s son.”

  Joyce’s mouth dropped. “What? I know you almost peed in your pants.”

  He logged on to his PC as he continued to talk to Joyce. “I was pissed. She’ll be getting a phone call from me later on. I don’t feel like dealing with her right now.”

  With her hands on her hips, Joyce said, “I told you she is up to something. No woman in her right mind would have her ex-boyfriend’s wife keep her child. Especially when she and the ex are not getting along.”

  “Did you say wife?”

  “Forget I said anything.” She headed out the door.

  “Joyce, I know I heard you correctly. Come back here.” She continued out as if she didn’t hear him say, “Frederick.”

  He dialed Frederick’s number. “May I speak to Frederick Campbell?” He picked up the stress relief ball and squeezed it as he waited.

  “This is Frederick, how may I help you?” his brother said.

  “You can help me by not telling my business. Especially to the mouth of the south,” he blurted out.

  “Calm down. I assumed she knew everything. I called you before I knew you were out of town and she mentioned Sarah and the baby and I-”

  “Look. I don’t want to hear it. As far as happy hour on Friday, I have other plans.” He hung up the phone.

  ***

  Madison was not having the best of mornings. She almost wrecked on the way into work. Her phone rang all morning with irate customers who hadn’t paid their bills but were upset that their commercials didn’t air during the NBA finals and Sarah kept emailing her as if they were chat buddies.

  As she was ending a call, the receptionist from downstairs tapped her on the shoulder. She was holding a beautifully decorated candy jar filled with jellybeans.

  “These are for you,” the receptionist said. “I tried calling, but your phone kept going to voice mail.”

  “Thanks. I was on both lines,” Madison said as she took the jar and placed it on her desk.

  She assumed they were from Ethan and was dialing his number as she took the card out to read it.

  “I was calling to say thanks for the candy,” Madison said to Ethan through the phone receiver.

  “I didn’t send you any candy,” he said.

  “Please, let me finish. I know that after reading the card.”

  “Who are they from?”

  “Sarah of all people. The card says, ‘Thanks for keeping Christopher. It means more than you know.’”

  “Tell her thank you and be through with it. I don’t feel comfortable with you keeping her son.”

  “It won’t be a habit. I told you that I was only doing a co-worker a favor. I would have done it for anyone.”

  “Be careful. You might want to test the candy on one of your coworkers. What’s the guy’s name you say is always in your business?”

  “Owen.”

  “Yes, that’s the one. If he doesn’t fall over, then you know it’s safe to eat.” They both laughed.

  “Let me get off of this phone, my other line is ringing. See you tonight.” She chuckled before clicking over.

  ***

  “Things might work out after all. Madison, you keep turning my world upside down, but I wouldn’t trade you for the world girl,” Ethan stated, as he hung up the phone. He sat with a huge smile plastered on his face.

  His smile quickly faded when Joyce came in and told him Sarah was on the phone.

  “You might as well take the call or else she’ll keep calling,” Joyce said before returning to her desk.

  He took a deep breath and picked up the line. “Ethan speaking.”

  “You don’t have to be formal. I’m sure your cousin told you it was me on the phone,” Sarah said with an attitude.

  “What do you want?”

  “Testy aren’t we? I’m surprised you didn’t call me and let me know how much fun you had with your son.”

  “I was out of town, and I don’t appreciate you using your son to get next to Madison.”

  “It was sweet of her to help me out in my situation. See, women understand other women.”

  “Was there another reason for your call?” He tapped his pen on the desk.

  “Now that I know she doesn’t know about Christopher being your son, you better change your tone.”

  He sat straight up in his chair. “Don’t go doing anything stupid.”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.” When he didn’t respond to her comment, she continued to say, “I want you to acknowledge your son and pay child support like you’re supposed to. My attorney will be contacting you.”

  This time she hung up on him without giving him a chance to respond.

  He slammed the phone down.

  ***

  Madison couldn’t concentrate the rest of the day. She fantasized about Ethan and how he would be in the bedroom. She held a secret that not even her best friend knew. She knew in her heart that Ethan was the man she wanted to give her love to and spend the rest of her life with.

  After work, she went by her place and picked up her mail and some more clothes. She took her time driving over to Ethan’s. Once she arrived there, she pulled up into the driveway, but waited a few minutes before getting out of her car.

  I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to hold out. Ethan’s kisses melt me, she thought on her way to the door with bags of her things in hand. Just the thought of him touching me in anyway makes me want to explode.

  Before she could put the key in the door, Ethan opened the door and greeted her. He reached down for one of her bags.

  “Here, let me help you,” he said to her.

  “Why is it s
o dark in here?” she asked.

  “Trying to save on electricity,” he joked.

  As they passed the living room, she saw light flickering from candles. “You’re so cheap.” She played along with him.

  She followed him up the stairs. He placed her bags down next to the bed. “I ran some bath water. I see that you like Temple Bath and Body Products. I hope you like the Peach Blossoms bubble bath I used. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

  Madison lifted her arms and sniffed. “Am I funky?”

  “You always smell like fresh flowers to me.”

  She opened up one of the dresser drawers and pulled out a pink-laced bra and matching bikinis. “I could swear I saw you blush.” She looked up at Ethan.

  “I better get going. Meet me downstairs when you finish.” He walked out without waiting for her to respond.

  A huge smile formed on her face.

  ***

  Ethan fixed a tray of fresh fruit consisting of grapes, strawberries, slices of cantaloupe and melon. He placed some cream cheese and crackers on the same tray. After placing it on the table in the living room along with a bowl of chocolate, he checked on the roast he had in the oven.

  After making sure the roast was done, he removed the apron that he was wearing and threw it on the counter. Before he could do anything else, the doorbell interrupted him. He wasn’t expecting anyone, so he was surprised when he opened the door and Frederick was on the other side.

  “What’s up, bro?” Frederick said as he walked in without waiting on a response.

  “I’m surprised to see you here,” Ethan huffed.

  “My date for the evening lives a few streets over. Thought I would check in on you and my new sister-in-law,” he said in a sarcastic manner.

  “We’re kind of busy right now.”

  He walked towards the living room. “Something sure smells good.” He reached down and took some grapes off the tray and plopped one in his mouth.

  “I thought you had a date.”

  “I do, but I might stay here and eat with y’all.” He sat down in the chair near the tray.

  “You’re already on my bad side, so you might want to leave the tray alone.”

  Frederick looked around. “Looks like you two are really taking this marriage thing seriously.”

  “What Madison and I do is none of your business,” Ethan said bluntly.

  “Where is Madison by the way?” Frederick said as he looked around.

  “She’s upstairs and will be down shortly, that’s why you need to go.”

  “First you hang up on me, now you’re kicking me to the curb. Where is the brotherly love?”

  “There’s a thin line between love and hate,” Ethan said while holding a smile.

  “On that note, I’ll catch you later. I see why happy hour is out now. I’m not mad at you. Have fun.” Frederick opened the door and walked out.

  “Later,” Ethan yelled out behind him.

  “Who was that?” Madison said as she stood on the edge of the stairway dressed in a pink terry cloth short set with the word, ‘delicious’ written across the back of the shorts and the top.

  Ethan turned around startled as he closed the door. “That was Frederick. He had a date in the area and dropped by to say hi.”

  “I hate that I missed him,” Madison said, snapping her fingers.

  “He told me to tell you hi.”

  Madison headed to the living room. Ethan followed her. She stopped and admired the fruit tray.

  “This look good,” she said, reaching down and taking a stem of green grapes from the tray.

  “They sure do.”

  She turned around and caught Ethan staring at her butt. “Ethan.”

  “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

  They sat down. He dipped a strawberry in some chocolate and placed it to her mouth. She took a bite. “Umm. This is delicious.”

  “Just like you.” He kissed the chocolate from her mouth.

  “Mmm. A woman can get used to this star treatment.”

  “In my eyes, you are a star.”

  Madison felt queasy. The heat between them sizzled. She felt that if she didn’t move soon, she would be at a point of no return. She jumped up without warning. “Woe, let’s see what’s in the kitchen.”

  Ethan reached for her. “Hold up, Madison.”

  “Hmm. What?”

  “Sit.” She paused, and before sitting back down, Ethan placed his hand over hers. “Every time we get to a certain point, you pull back. You act like you’re scared of me sometimes.”

  “If you only knew.”

  “I’ll only bite if you want me too,” he joked.

  “There is something I want to tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh.”

  He fed her some grapes. “I promise.”

  She picked up a napkin and wiped some of the juice off her mouth. “You’re a very sexy man.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m serious. I don’t think you realize how you make me feel whenever you’re in the room. Shoot, your presence is still felt when you’re not in the room.”

  “I’m flattered.”

  Her eyes darted away. Ethan reached up and gently ran his hand across her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not who I pretend to be.”

  “Duh. Remember, I know all about the fake marriage. I’m the invisible husband, remember.” He shrugged his shoulders.

  “There’s something else I haven’t told you.”

  The timer on the stove went off. “Hold that thought,” he said. “Let’s continue this conversation over dinner.”

  Madison followed Ethan into the dining room. There were gold trimmed plates and champagne goblets sitting across from one another. The centerpiece had gold ribbons and was made out of gold spray painted pine cones. “This is a lovely arrangement,” she said out loud. When she turned around, Ethan was nowhere in sight. She sat down and waited for Ethan’s return.

  I don’t know if telling him about my condition is such a good idea after all, she thought as she waited.

  Ethan walked in with two plates. Both were piled with slices of roast beef and baked potatoes. The steam was still coming from the plates as he placed it down in front of her.

  “I hope you have an appetite,” he said as he walked around to the other side of the table and sat down.

  “Do I? I didn’t have time for lunch today.” She reached for her napkin and placed it across her lap.

  They said grace and Madison devoured her roast beef.

  “Any room for dessert?” he asked after they finished eating.

  Madison rubbed her stomach. “I couldn’t fit anything else in here.”

  “Not even one little slice of pound cake.”

  “My, my. I didn’t know you baked.”

  “I stopped by my mom’s and she sent it over.”

  He walked to the kitchen and came back with two slices. He handed her the smaller slice of the two.

  “I need to get this recipe,” she said after taking a few bites. “I thought my mom’s pound cake was good, but this here is the bomb.”

  “You can ask her for it when I take you to meet her.”

  With a serious look on her face, she asked, “You want me to meet your mom?”

  “Of course. I’ve told my mom all about you and she can’t wait to meet the woman who’s got me lying for her,” he stated with a serious look on his face.

  “You didn’t?”

  He burst out laughing. “No. But seriously she does want to meet you.”

  “I want to meet her too, but I wish it was under different circumstances.” She continued to eat her cake.

  “We’re together, so that should be all that matters.”

  “Honestly, do you think we would be together if I hadn’t convinced you to go along with plans to fool my family?”

  He looked at her with caring eyes. “I have no doubt that we would be together. Grant it, we wouldn’t be living together, but we wo
uld still be together.”

  “Living together was your idea.”

  “Selfish, I know.” He smiled, showing both dimples.

  “I guess now is a better time than any,” Madison said. Ethan remained quiet, so she continued. “I need to tell you something and I don’t know if you will look at me differently once I do.”

  “There’s nothing you can say that would change my mind about you. Don’t worry. You can tell me anything.”

  “I’m a virgin,” she blurted out.

  “Yeah right. Not Ms. Madison.” He tried not to laugh, but failed.

  Madison threw her napkin on the table as tears flowed down her face. “I tried to be honest with you and you laugh in my face.” She stormed upstairs.

  She’s serious. She really is a virgin, Ethan thought to himself. I never would have guessed. No wonder she clams up every time things get heated up.

  He went after her. By the time he got upstairs, her door was closed. He knocked and said, “Madison, open up.”

  “No!” she shouted back.

  “Please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of your situation. I never would have thought in a million years you were a…” He paused. “A virgin.”

  “That’s okay. I should have kept it to myself.”

  He leaned on the door. “No you shouldn’t have. I would have found out eventually anyway.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”

  “Open the door, Madison. Pleassse,” Ethan begged.

  He heard her unlock the door. He slowly opened it and found her standing there, with red eyes and all. He took her in his arms and gave her a tight reassuring hug.

  Madison pulled away and asked, “You’re not mad?”

  “Baby, it only makes you more special to me.”

  They walked and sat on the edge of the bed. “Most men run after I tell them.”

  “I’m glad. I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”

  “You wouldn’t, because this is your place,” she joked.

  “Glad to see you’re smiling again.”

  “It’s getting late and I need to be out of here around six instead of seven tomorrow, because I’m taking Friday off.”

  “Really, any special plans?” he asked.