by Tiana Laveen
“That sounds like an Uncle Lance response!” Trudy cackled.
“Yes, my father is consistent, that is for sure. So Aaron started up. He said, ‘Okay Mr. Armstrong. I understand and agree with you. You don’t have an argument from me. So, I’ll go on ahead and tell you a bit about myself. My name is Aaron Joshua Pike. I was born in Frisco City. First, let me tell you the things you ain’t going to like, sir. I am the eldest of three children from parents that were not the best at raising children. I’ll just leave it at that and fast forward to more contemporary news, but feel free to ask me more about it later if you want. Anyway, I’ve served time. I’m a former white nationalist, a racist. I’m a man who thought I had the entire world figured out when really; I didn’t know anything at all. I have a daughter out of wedlock and a baby’s mother who is not always agreeable. I’ll be the first to admit that don’t sound like good dating material. But I am who I am, and now onto the things you actually might like… I went to school.
‘I graduated with honors. I’m smart and resourceful. I own my own security company, I have land, and I’m responsible with my money. I want to get to know you and your wife, ’cause you created the best thing on God’s green earth, and that’s your daughter, Mia. I have the utmost respect for you. I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. Armstrong. She’s beautiful, she’s good hearted, and they just don’t make them like her anymore. She helped turn my life around. I want to marry your daughter, too. I know you’d rather she be with someone else. I have a daughter, too, just as I stated. My daughter is my world; I’d do anything for her. If I were in your shoes, I’d feel the same concerns if, years down the line, my Laura came home talking about she was seein’ a former member of The United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors. But I can assure you I will spend my entire life, if I need to, proving to you that I’m not what I used to be. Mr. Armstrong, I’m definitely not what I used to be. I ain’t quite where I need to be, either, but every day, I get one step closer and I thank your daughter for her love and understandin’, and hope that you can do the same…”
“GIRRRRRL!” Trudy slapped her leg and burst out laughing. Mia’s mouth morphed into a toothy grin.
“I know… Aaron was talkin’ so slick it’s like his tongue was greased!”
“What did Uncle Lance say?”
“He had a whoooole bunch of questions, naturally.” Mia shrugged. “So did Mama, but Daddy monopolized the conversation. He wasn’t rude to Aaron or anything, but he was hitting him where it counted. I don’t think Daddy is necessarily sold, but he definitely feels better about the situation. He told Aaron that God is a forgiving God, but he’d still have his eye on him. He also threatened to sic the dog on him if he didn’t straighten up and fly right in the future. And he meant it.”
“Oh my goodness…mmmm.” Trudy kept laughing and shook her head. “So, do I get to meet him, too?”
Mia stared out at the field of grass she called her front yard, but said nothing.
“I hurt you, Mia… I know I did. I just…was worried about you. I should have handled it differently. I panicked and… I’m sorry.” Trudy reached out and gripped her wrist. Mia slowly looked down, taking note of the lavender coffin-shaped nails. When she looked in Trudy’s eyes, she hoped she was witnessing true sincerity. She imagined she was.
“I accept your apology, Trudy. I trusted you out of everyone in this world, so it hurt me triple bad.”
“Mia, I know. The kids miss you…and your cookin’, too.”
Mia offered a light smile and looked back out into the field. “Anyway, it’s done now,” she said with a sigh. “Let’s just move on…” She took another sip of her drink then leaned back on her elbows.
“Yeah, you sittin’ here all dolled up for him… lookin’ so pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“So, he’s your date tonight, right?”
“Yes…”
“Can I sit here and wait for him to show up?”
“Nope.”
Trudy burst out laughing. “What if I just pretend to leave, wait out there somewhere?” She waved her arm towards the trees in the near distance. “Some spot where you can’t see me?”
Mia smirked at her meddlesome cousin and shook her head, curtailing a laugh that danced along the sides of her lips and begged for release.
“Tonight is not the night, Trudy. You’ll meet him soon though. Anyway, you better get going. He’ll be here any minute.”
Trudy reluctantly got to her feet and dusted her salmon colored shirt and sage green capri pants off.
“Mia, if he makes you happy, and he’s a good man, then that’s all I care about. You love him; there’s no doubt about that.”
“We love each other very much.”
“Good, I’m happy for you. If Uncle Lance can suspend his disbelief and give him a try, I can, too.”
“Well, honestly, Trudy, neither Aaron nor I are waitin’ around for peoples’ endorsement. If we were, we would’ve pulled the plug on this a long time ago.”
Trudy nodded in understanding as she took the first step, and then the next, to get off the porch.
“All we care about is growing what we got, cultivating the seeds. The people around us that we love and care about are either going to be the sun and rain, or a shovel tryna displace and ruin us. Our roots run deep though, so it won’t be any use trying to destroy what was determined, planned, and fought for with or without a seal of approval. I’ll call you tomorrow.” She gave a lazy wave and blew the woman a kiss.
“You promise?” Trudy paused and looked over her shoulder.
“Cross my heart and hope to bake apple pie…”
Chapter Eleven
MIA STOOD ON the slumped front porch looking at the well-dressed man who stood like a stone soldier before her. Aaron wore a pair of black Aviator sunglasses atop of his dark, buzzed hair and had already gotten a bit of a tan, which gave his skin a healthy, russet hue. Dressed in a button down khaki colored shirt and dark brown slacks, he fit the bill for a man quite well put together, stirring her lust all the more. She caught a whiff of his scent as a faint breeze kissed him from ear to ear and flirted dangerously close to her sense of smell…
Mmmmm…he smells good enough to eat.
He wore Dolce & Gabbana’s ‘The One.’ The first two white and cream tortoise shell buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the very tip of a tattoo as well as a hint of dark chest hair. His amber eyes glowed bright as he took her arm and spun her around real slow, like an old-fashioned waltz was about to commence.
“Don’t you look like a perfect angel?” he proclaimed in his deep, husky voice as she completed her pivot and stood before him, front and center, taking a proud bow.
“Thank you.”
She’d chosen a short red sundress with a daisy flower design that cinched around the waist, and had placed a crocheted rubicund rose hairpin in her loose curls.
“So where are we off to?” she asked as he wove his fingers between her own and walked her down her steps before opening his truck door and helping her inside.
“Somewhere special,” was all he offered before closing the door and making his way into the driver’s seat. With the flick of his hand, he turned on some music: Amos Lee’s ‘Violin.’ “You like that?” he asked as he kicked the truck in reverse, hooked his hand around her’s, and gave a gentle squeeze.
“Aaron, I love this song.”
“I do too, one of my favorites. I used to listen to it when I’d read your letter sometimes.”
She swallowed deeply, her complexion undoubtedly reddening. He still gave her butterflies…
…In her gut…her pussy… and in her mind…
The truck moved up and down like a slow roller coaster along the gravelly road until they’d entered an area almost an hour later that she’d never seen before. They’d remained fairly quiet along the ride, simply enjoying each other in a peaceful silence.
“Here we go, baby.” He released his grip around her fingers, opened his door, t
hen moved about in the back of his truck. She sat there, looking through his rear view mirror and trying to figure out just what the man was up to. She took note of the field full of wild flowers and the sweet scent of the day growing stronger all around her as she placed her arm lazily out the open window. And then… she smiled.
He approached her door, holding something in his hand. He opened it, hitched his hand under her elbow and helped her down off the steep step.
“Uh,” she grunted as she jumped to her feet.
Closing the door behind her, he walked several feet away from his vehicle while she stood there and observed him open a large, light beige wicker basket and place a big red and white checkered blanket on the ground. “A picnic?” She smiled over the words, growing more and more excited.
“Yeah, a little something. I figured we could do this, and maybe then go see that movie you were talkin’ about the other day,” he stated nonchalantly as he painstakingly spread the thing out. Once he finished making it just how he wished, he dug back into the basket and retrieved a bottle of dark wine, two sparkling glasses, white plates, and a big Tupperware dish full of sliced fruit. “You hungry, sweetheart?” he asked, his back towards her as he dove into the basket once again and brought out what appeared to be fried chicken and baked fish, green beans, and other delicious foods.
“Yes.”
“Well, come on over here by me then. Stop standin’ way over there like you never seen me before.” He shot her a look over his shoulder and paired it with a big, toothy grin as he waved her over.
She immediately went to him, falling to her knees as if they were about to pray together. Her upper thigh grazed the side of his leg as he paused, looked down at her, and wrapped his arm tightly around her waist. He tilted her chin upward then placed a gentle, yet firm kiss against her lips, causing her insides to toss and turn like a washing machine on the fritz. Grabbing for the man, she pushed her fingers through his hair, drawing him impossibly closer. Their noses bumped against one another. He slicked his tongue inside of her mouth, probing in and out as his hands grew firmer and harder against her frame. After a short while, they broke free from one another, then fell into fits of laughter…
“I love the hell outta you, lady,” he said around a smile, then got to laying out the food once again, finishing his display. “Life is so funny.” He popped the cork out of the wine. The pretty, purple wine flowed into the flute and he handed it to her, then poured his own.
“It is funny. Sometimes we have one plan, but God has another.”
Aaron nodded in agreement, then raised his glass up to make a toast. She followed suit. “I’d like to make one, too,” she announced.
His brow lifted as he waited for her to speak.
“To a bright future, full of surprises, growing together, honesty and love.”
“To forgiveness… to hope… to being the student and the teacher, to being lost”—His eyes hooded—“all alone in the woods… but now found.”
Their glasses clinked together and then they simultaneously took sips of their beverage. It tickled as it cascaded down her throat, the full-bodied flavor awakening her taste buds. He leaned forward and gifted the tip of her nose with a soft kiss. Mia closed her eyes, her breath hitching as her heart began to race. A gentle current caught the hem of her dress and moved the thin material around as the sounds of perched birds upon high branches sang their songs and water rippled a pretty tune in the near distance. The world grew a shawl of soft nostalgia right before her eyes, ushering her into a real life fantasy, giving her an additional sense of peace.
“You know we’re gettin’ married, right? I meant what I said in those letters and to your father.” The popping sound of a plastic lid, the gush of escaping air followed by the stomach-enticing scent of something sinfully deep-fried coated the air.
Mia’s brow arched as she leaned back onto her hand and leisurely crossed her ankles, then flexed her toes in her favorite canvas wedge sandals. “Is that a proposal, Mr. Pike?”
“Nope.” He smirked as he scooped bean salad onto two plates. “A proposal is an idea. This ain’t an idea. This is a definite.”
At this, she lightly chuckled and looked up at the sky. Yeah, she was feeling it.
“So, when should I meet you at the church?” she teased, causing him to offer a fractured grin.
“Just letting you know my intentions, a reminder is all. Nothing has changed. That first letter I sent you is still valid.” He grabbed a small stack of neatly folded napkins. “You’re going to be Mrs. Pike soon.”
She sank into her lower lip as she attempted to halfheartedly squelch a smile, tuck away the corner of the dream. Of course she knew the man’s intentions; he’d been upfront since day one. That trait was one of the things she adored about him.
“I figure you’ll want to get married in a big, lavish wedding… have all of your family and friends there. You can have that…whatever you want, Mia.” He looked her square in the face. The sun fell on the short strands of his hair, highlighting them. Those same rays turned his intense eyes electric…
“Maybe I just want somethin’ small and quiet.”
“Then that’s yours, too. Like I said.” He leaned slightly forward and played with the cuff of his pants, straightening it just so. “It’s whatever you want.”
“So you are actually giving up control.” She tapped a finger against her chin as she delved deep into the notion, teasing him, mocking his ways. Aaron not behind the wheel? Madness!
“That’s women’s territory. I wouldn’t go there unless invited. Anything you want is fine by me. Give me a place and a date and time, and I’m there. Just don’t keep me waitin’.”
“What if I want you to participate?” It was getting good to her now, messing with him like this. The entertainment factor began to soar as he looked at her with a bit of irritation, then cracked a grin like a child she’d just let in on a little secret.
“Then I’ll do that, too. Don’t know much about invitation designs and cakes ’nd shit like that though… so don’t expect much. Here, be quiet for a minute and eat somethin’.” She playfully smacked his shoulder as she accepted the plate loaded with food.
“Wow, this looks good! Who made it?” The corner of her mouth kinked as she picked up her fork and prodded a cherry tomato.
“How do you know I didn’t?!” His face scrunched up as if he’d been deeply insulted while he wrapped his lips around a leg of chicken and took a hearty bite.
“Aaron, a fool is born every day but I ain’t one of ’em. Now who made it?” Her lips kinked in an anticipatory smirk. She took a taste of the salad. “It’s good!” she blurted with her mouth full.
“The wife of an employee of mine. She does catering.” He sucked his teeth, then began to stab his plate again with a bit more force. “He used to do my accounting, then I hired him to work for me, and only me.”
You’ve been possessive for a long while, huh, Aaron?
“William ran my company while I was incarcerated.”
“You trust him… That’s good.”
“Not completely.” He shot her a look then quickly turned away. “I don’t trust too many people anymore, Mia. I barely did beforehand, but,” he said with a shrug, “he’s not turned on me yet. We have a respect for one another and I know he knows what he’s doin’ on the business end. I only trust two people in this world…and one of ’em is sittin’ right here beside me in a pretty little dress that keeps movin’ around in the breeze givin’ me sneak peeks of her thigh…”
She smiled and lowered her head.
“Anyway, I told William I wanted some food for a special lady, and asked if Veronica could help.” He looked down into his plate, sorting through pieces of chopped up, vibrantly colored fruit. “He called her right then and there and she agreed to it. She is a really good cook… She did me the favor at the last minute, too.”
“Well, they sound like nice people, Aaron, and this is delicious. Thank you for being so thoughtfu
l.”
Aaron nodded and continued to devour his food as if he’d never eaten a day in his life. Mia burst out laughing, unable to contain herself a moment longer at the sight of the man wolfing down the bounty, leaving barely a crumb on his plate.
“What’s so funny?” he asked around a mouthful of sliced strawberries.
“I just like seeing you enjoy your food. It’s funny.”
“Yeah. I’m eating too fast, huh?” He licked his fingers and went for a buttery biscuit that sat inside a small, dark wicker basket with a white towel over it. “Sorry I’m not all classy and refined like you.” He rolled his eyes and grinned.
She put her plate down and leaned in close until their noses almost touched. Plucking a piece of fruit from her plate, she placed a slice of strawberry between her lips. “Take it gently from my mouth… and chew slowly,” she whispered.
He let his gaze rove leisurely from her chin to her eyes, and then again.
“You tryna tutor me or somethin’, Ms. teacher? Make it a lesson?” He placed his plate down, but kept his eye upon her as lust took over his expression.
“Mmmm hmmmm.”
Bringing his lips to hers, he blindsided her with sensual force. Instead of a delicate kiss that summed up her mood, Aaron ambushed her as he worked his teeth around the succulent, sweet fruit then snatched it into his mouth like some starving beast. Eyes locked, she waited until he swallowed the fruit. Soon, they were both laughing with abandon, looking up at God’s sky and loving the moment…
She quieted when the sound of his voice trailed to nothing. He cocked his head slightly to the side like a damn canine curious about the world before him, then ran his fingers down the side of her face… up and down… up and down… gently, so gently. He touched her like clouds dipping low to feel humans, like cotton balls against sensitive fingertips, and light feathers against the nape of one’s perfumed neck. Such a sweet gesture, short and endearing, and she wished for it to keep going, much like the day was long, but not nearly long enough…