Unresolved Issues

by Wanda B. Campbell

  Staci would rather he work hard at being the best husband.

  “I’ve since realized he wasn’t trying to please me at all. Derrick was trying to make his father accept him. Derrick was trying to be this perfect person in hopes of gaining his father’s acceptance.”

  Staci didn’t quite understand what Derrick and his father had to do with her. “Miss Cora, you don’t have to apologize to me for that.”

  “Huh?” Miss Cora appeared momentarily confused, and then recovered. “Yes, I do. You’re absorbing the blows that are intended for me and John Archer.” Miss Cora used her elbows to lean closer to Staci. “I’ve been watching how Derrick doesn’t know how to relay his real feelings to you. That boy spends more time away from home than he does at home. Like the other night, I had to make him go home.”

  “You’re right about that,” Staci snickered.

  “I know I’m right. Derrick is introverted and insecure. But the sad part is he doesn’t know or at least he won’t admit to it.” Miss Cora shook her head. “Baby, I tell you that boy is half crazy.”

  “Oh,” was the only response Staci had. Staci had been in denial herself about Derrick. She really thought she could change him.

  “On the other hand, my son is a good man. He just doesn’t know it yet. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to suffer until he recognizes the awesome person he is. But, when his light comes on, trust me, it’s going to shine bright. I probably won’t be around to see it, but I know he’s going to shine and be a good husband to you eventually.”

  Staci wanted to scream: how long? “Is there anything I can do to help him?” she asked instead.

  “Pray for him. Can’t nobody but God help my baby.”

  Chapter 5

  “Good morning, Dr. Garrison,” Staci greeted her husband with a welcoming smile when he walked into the kitchen.

  “Good morning.” Derrick looked puzzled, as if attempting to figure out what special occasion had Staci up so early this morning.

  “Have a seat,” she said, then directed his attention to the formal dining room. “Breakfast will be served shortly.”

  Before walking back to the stove, Staci removed her robe. Derrick looked perplexed as if he was trying to recall if he’d seen the black lingerie before. However, he didn’t ponder too long before offering his smile of approval before she strolled away.

  Inside the formal dining room, he found a table fit for a king. Staci had set the table elegantly with fine china and gold-trimmed stemware.

  “What did I do to deserve all of this?” he asked when she returned with his favorite morning meal: a Denver omelet with home-style potatoes and fresh squeezed orange juice.

  “Nothing.” She sat on his right side, making sure he had a nice view of her assets.

  Derrick found it difficult to enjoy his breakfast. His eyes kept wandering to his wife’s voluptuous body. Twice he missed his mouth and dropped potatoes on his shirt.

  “I hope you come home early tonight. I have something special planned for you.” Staci gently ran her finger along his massive forearm.

  He took a sip of his orange juice before asking, “What’s the occasion?”

  Derrick was too busy watching Staci’s cleavage to notice that her smile had disappeared and her finger had stopped stroking him.

  It wasn’t a surprise to Staci that he’d forgotten today was their first wedding anniversary. He never remembered any of their special days. Still, she felt like a half-naked fool. She swallowed hard and gripped the seat of her chair to keep from running upstairs and locking herself in the bathroom.

  “It’s our anniversary. Our first anniversary.” Chill bumps suddenly covered her bare arms.

  “Oh, Staci! Baby, I’m sorry. I forgot.” Derrick redirected his eyes upward to her face.

  She pasted on a smile. “I know you did. It’s early, and you still have time to do something about it.” Staci hoped her voice carried more optimism than she felt. “Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”

  When she stood to leave, he stood also and took her into his arms. “I like this,” he said and slowly ran his hands over the black lace. “And I am sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

  When he kissed her hungrily and subsequently set her on the mahogany table, Staci’s hopes soared at the thought of some early-morning fun. They were quickly squashed when he suddenly backed away from her. She still held her smile.

  “Make sure you eat all of your breakfast. You’re going to need a lot of energy later,” she said after replacing the black straps on her shoulder.

  “I’m in trouble,” she heard him mumble as she sashayed away from him.

  “Happy Anniversary, Dr. Garrison,” Phyllis greeted him excitedly.

  Derrick was too embarrassed to tell his office manager he’d forgotten his own first-wedding anniversary. He simply nodded his thanks, then continued on to his office. Derrick still couldn’t understand how he had forgotten the special day. His younger sister had even called from out of state before he left the house to mark the occasion, but he had forgotten. It wasn’t like the day was unimportant; it just slipped his mind.

  “This will not happen again,” he said to himself as he admired the wedding picture on his desk.

  Derrick spent his lunch break trying to find something for Staci. He’d looked on the Internet and learned the first anniversary was celebrated with paper. At first he started to just write her a check, but Staci didn’t need money and would find that impersonal. Then he thought, since paper comes from trees, he’d pick up a tree from the nursery and plant it in their backyard, but that wasn’t romantic enough for him. Then he remembered. A local art gallery carried an original oil painting by one of Staci’s favorite artists. Next year he vowed to be more prepared. Staci deserved that. She deserved much more.

  Hours later and ready to make retribution, Derrick stepped from his SUV and after removing the painting, started for the front door. He stopped short of using his key when he spotted what appeared to be a formal invitation affixed to the etched glass on the oak door. He nearly dropped the painting when he read that there was a private lingerie showing being held with him as the honored guest. He entered his home with excitement and at the same time wondered if he had enough willpower to stick to his agenda.

  Inside the sunken living room, his favorite scented candles were arranged around the room, accompanied by the glowing fireplace. The bearskin rug in front of the fireplace was sprinkled with freshly cut rose petals. Sounds of their favorite love songs permeated through the sound system. Staci had set the mood.

  “Happy Anniversary,” Staci purred from behind, taking the painting from him and positioning it against the coat closet.

  “Happy Anniversary,” he responded, wondering what she had on under that robe. His hands decided to explore.

  “Not yet,” she whispered, catching his hands in hers and bringing them to her lips. She kissed them. She then led him over to the center of the room where she’d placed a chair. Before he sat down, Derrick brought her to him and kissed her passionately. Reluctantly, she pulled away from him again.

  “Ready for your private show?” Once he was seated, she removed her robe.

  Derrick’s eyes nearly protruded from his head, and his complexion turned a shade of red. Staci was beautiful and delectable in red and black lace and spiked heels. He sat there speechless and thoughtless, watching Staci model lingerie he’d never seen before. She modeled five little outfits. Derrick enjoyed his present. The hunger in his eyes and the way his mouth consistently hung wide open served as confirmation.

  After modeling the last piece, Staci treated him to a dance. That proved too much for him. In no time, his hands and lips were all over her. In a matter of mere minutes, clothes were strewn over the floor and the two lovers were on the rug with the rose petals. Staci closed her eyes. Then it happened. Derrick pulled away from her.

  Staci leaned up on her elbows. “What’s wrong?”

  Derrick sat against
the marble on the fireplace after reaching for his underwear. “Baby, we can’t do this today.” His chest expanded rapidly, and his jaw muscles flexed.

  Staci rubbed her finger against her ear as if she needed to have her hearing checked. “What did you say?”

  “You don’t ovulate for another two days. We have to wait until then.”

  Staci’s confusion turned into hot anger. “So you’re refusing to have sex with me because I’m not ovulating? It’s our anniversary, stupid!”

  Derrick watched her collect her clothing. “Baby, you know if we have sex today, my sperm count may not be high enough for when you ovulate.”

  “That’s a good thing!” she yelled between blowing out candles. “You don’t deserve to reproduce!”

  Derrick walked over to her and tried to reason with her. “Two days, baby, that’s all. I promise I’ll make it memorable.” He tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away.

  “It will be memorable, because in two days you can satisfy yourself!”

  She stomped up the stairs and slammed the bedroom door. Her anger was so strong, it didn’t allow her to feel the hurt of having Derrick reject her after all the effort she’d put into making their anniversary special.

  “Are you gay?” she charged when he entered the bedroom.

  “Staci, you know me better than that.”

  “Are you sleeping around with someone else?”

  He shook his head. “No!”

  “Then what is wrong with you?” she screamed. “There is no reason for a man, a married man at that, to walk away from his naked wife whom he hasn’t touched in weeks!”

  “Staci, you know how much I want a baby.”

  “Derrick, do you know how much I want a husband? You want a baby.” She pointed at herself. “I want a husband. Did it ever occur to you that, if you would be a husband to me, you would have a baby?”

  “Staci, what are you talking about?”

  “Figure it out, Einstein!” She slammed the door again on her way back downstairs.

  An hour later, hurt replaced her anger. Every candle Staci put away and every rose petal she threw into the trash brought down a new tear. She didn’t bother to hang her new lingerie. She left it in a pile on the bed in the downstairs guest bedroom.

  Going into the kitchen didn’t make her feel any better. She looked inside the refrigerator at the chocolate-dipped strawberries she’d made for a halftime snack and cried some more. Then she turned on the oven. She was going to have her lobster tail with or without her stupid husband. She’d just stood from bending down to retrieve a cookie sheet for the garlic bread when she felt Derrick’s arms around her waist.

  “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered in her ear.

  Staci shook her head. “No, you’re not. You always say that, but you don’t really mean it.”

  “Yes, I do mean it, and you’re right. I am stupid,” he admitted and turned her around, then kissed her lips.

  At first, Staci didn’t receive his kiss, but he knew how to handle her. By the time he carried her into the living room and laid her back down on the rug. She was responding to more than his kisses.

  “I don’t want to anymore,” she pouted as he untied the belt on her robe.

  “Yes, you do.”

  “This will not solve anything.” Staci tried to maintain her focus, but his skillful touch made it impossible. She stopped trying, for now.

  “Derrick, I’m sorry I called you stupid, but we have some serious problems,” Staci said after feeding him a chocolate-covered strawberry. His head lay in her lap.

  “I know,” Derrick agreed. “And I am at the root of those problems. Give me a little more time. I’m working on something that’s going to make me a better man.”

  “Why can’t you tell me what it is?”

  “I have to do this on my own.”

  “Honey, why do you always shut me out?” She played with his curls.

  “Baby, I don’t mean to.”

  Staci thought about what his mother had said. Derrick was an introvert. But Staci loved him, and she’d have to work with what he gave her. She kissed him and gave him a look that said she understood, but she really didn’t.

  “I loved my present.” He licked a drop of chocolate from the corner of her mouth.

  “Where’s mine?”

  Staci watched Derrick’s bare body walk to the foyer. When he returned, she couldn’t decipher which she liked better, the painting or him.

  “I love it.” Staci was used to reassuring him, so she added, “It’s beautiful.”

  The smile on his face communicated to her that he was convinced.

  “Where are you going to put it?” he asked.

  “In my office. Every time I look at it, I’ll think of you.” She kissed him. “I love you.”

  “Will you ever stop?”

  Staci heard his insecurity in the musing. “Derrick, I’ll never stop loving you.”

  “Even when I act stupid, like I did tonight?”

  “If you do that again, I’ll cut you.”

  Chapter 6

  Staci sat at her desk examining her anniversary present. It really was a beautiful painting. She just wished the lovemaking between her and Derrick last night had been as beautiful. It was enjoyable, but it wasn’t what she expected for her first anniversary, especially after all the effort she’d put into it. Physically, they responded to each other, but emotionally, something was missing. At least it was for her. Derrick appeared to be totally content. This morning, he fed her breakfast in bed, something he hadn’t done in a long time. Secretly, Staci wondered what it was he was working on that, as he put it, would make him a better man. Whatever it was, she hoped it would be completed soon.

  The rejection she felt last night almost broke her spirit. Leaving her on the floor open and vulnerable like that served a severe blow to her self-esteem. She’d never been self-conscious of her body until now. But this morning after showering, Staci studied her natural form in the full-length mirror. In her opinion, she looked good. With regular exercise, she’d managed to remain a solid size twelve since college. She didn’t wear heavy makeup; her skin was smooth, the color of double-creamed coffee. She maintained a tight form; nothing hanged or sagged lower than it was supposed to. She kept her skin soft with scented oils and creams. By her own judgment, she wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but worth a second look. So what was wrong with Derrick? She couldn’t help but wonder if it was more than her not ovulating that stopped him last night. Is it possible to grow bored after only one year? “God, please let my husband still be attracted to me,” she found herself begging once again.

  Staci carefully set the twenty-by-twenty-eight-inch frame on her desk, then hit the intercom button. “Can I have a moment of your time? I have something to show you,” she sang into the speaker when Marcus answered.

  She couldn’t wait to show off her new painting. Both she and Marcus had been eyeing it. Now that she had it, she had to be a good sister and rub it in his face.

  “Be right there.” Marcus didn’t question her; Staci intended for him to come to her and not the other way around. Otherwise, she would have barged into his office like she used to barge into his bedroom.

  “How was your anniversary?” Marcus asked, entering her office and taking a seat.

  “You tell me.” When Staci lifted the painting around, Marcus jumped up.

  “My boy picked that out? I can’t believe it. I thought he would have written you a check,” he chuckled.

  “You’re just mad because I got the original work and you didn’t.”

  Marcus waved his hand in the air and dismissed her comment. “I’m just happy the man remembered his anniversary.”

  Staci offered her brother a half smile. She wouldn’t dare tell him Derrick had indeed forgotten. Suddenly bragging wasn’t important anymore.

  “Are we still on for this weekend?” she asked. They were scheduled to meet at Brian and Lashay’s for dinner and a basketball game.

  �
�As long as my baby is up to it.” As always, Marcus’s face broke into a wide grin at the mention of his queen, Shannon. “She’s been very tired lately, but I think we’ll be able to make it.” Marcus paused, like he was debating his next question.

  “What is it?”

  He continued. “Is Derrick coming? He’s been missing in action lately. Is everything all right with him?”

  Staci stood with the painting, mainly to avoid her brother’s gaze. “He’s been busy at the office during the week. You know your boy is an overachiever; always has to be the best.”

  Marcus and everyone else in the family knew about Derrick’s insecurities. That’s why he was concerned. Ever since learning of Shannon’s and Lashay’s pregnancies, Derrick had been acting indifferent toward the family. He always came up with reasons why he couldn’t attend gatherings. He also wasn’t attending church on a regular basis any longer.

  “As long as you’re happy.” It was a question.

  “Can you help me hang this?” Staci asked, before she ended up divulging how miserable she really was.

  “Sure.” Marcus hung the painting without pressing her for an answer.

  Four days later, Staci roamed around her cousin’s house wishing she had stayed at home.

  “Will the two of you cut it out?” Staci scolded, and then smiled. Marcus and Shannon were at it again, hugging and kissing like the newlyweds they were. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough of that already?” Staci’s eyes fell to Shannon’s slightly extended belly.

  “I can never get enough of my baby,” Marcus said, before kissing Shannon again.

  Staci dismissed them with a wave of her hand and went into the kitchen only to find Brian and Lashay huddled at the sink. Finally, she walked into the den where Derrick sat. He was so engrossed in the basketball game he didn’t notice her come in.

  “What’s the score?” she asked, then scooted next to him.