“You have to let go sometime.”
“I know but it’s hard.”
“Wait till she gets your sisters age and you have to give her away to another man that’s when the fun begins.” He chuckled.
“Sometimes I wish I had a boy.”
“That’s no secret.”
“But I love that little girl.” Ramón smiled looking at his dad.
“That’s no secret either.”
Joseph looked at his son and patted him on the shoulder.
“You will be ok. I know you will. You’re my son how can you not be. Now let’s go join in the celebration maybe there is cake involved.”
They stood from the sofa and walked into the kitchen and Ramón smiled as his mother and daughter were sitting at the granite counter eating a piece of his mother’s sweet potato pie. As he went to grab a slice, someone knocked on the kitchen door then walked in. Ramón beamed as he saw his older sister Britney walk in followed by her husband Chad carrying their sleeping six-month-old son Brandon. Ramón walked over to her and hugged her.
“Hey big sis. And look at my little nephew.”
Madison jumped up and hugged her aunt and uncle. Rachael smiled.
“You guys are a little early I thought you weren’t coming up until tomorrow.”
“We didn’t want to miss daddy preaching tomorrow morning you know he only does it once every couple of months.” Brittney smiled at her dad she was always a daddy’s girl and wouldn’t change it for anything.
“Well that puts a smile on my face.”
Joseph hugged Britney and went to hold Brandon.
“Its official Rache we have the most beautiful grandchildren in the world.”
Madison walked over to her grandfather as he held her little cousin.
“Daddy he is so cute and big last time I saw him he didn’t have this much hair.”
“Yeah he is really cute. Looking like his uncle every day.”
Chad laughed.
“Yeah ok.”
Britney went over and hugged Maddie.
“Well my little niece is not so little anymore I can’t believe you’re almost Nine now.”
“I know and I am going to daddy’s camp.” She smiled beaming ear to ear.
“So you finally got him to say yes.” Brittney said not hiding the surprise in her voice.
“Yep.”
“How’d you do that? I have spent most of my life trying to get your dad to do what I want with no luck.”
“Nana helped…a lot.” Madison looked over to her grandmother.
“Yeah well mom has a way of getting her way so I am not surprised.”
“Yep. I am gonna join grandpa and uncle Chad in the living room I wanna play with Brandon.”
She walked out the room and Britney sat next to Ramón who had taken a seat at the round kitchen table with a slice of sweet potato pie.
“So how long until you settle down and give Maddie a mom?” she asked getting to the point. She felt it was high time he found her niece a mom.
“Come on Brit cant a guy get a break?”
“No you come on. I see these women throw themselves at you because you’re this super star but none of them are right for you.”
“When it’s time I will know.” He lowered his head his sister never gave him a break when it came to his relationships.
“I just hate to see you in the same position you were in when you first started out.”
“I was young and stupid I will admit that but I am not in the same position I was in back then.”
“So let me introduce you to one of my girls.”
Ramón laughed at the thought Brittney always had someone for him. “Yeah no thank you. Like I said when it’s right I will know.”
“I just hate to see you alone and I hate to see Madison Miss out.” he looked at his sister and noticed the sadness in her eyes.
“Brit I am doing the best I can.”
“I never said you weren’t. But that doesn’t mean you should fall for anyone.”
“Mom aren’t you gonna say something to her?” Ramón looked to his mother for support but had no such luck.
“No because she has a point” she said pointing her spatula him.
“See.” Brittney boasted smiling.
“Brit I know you are just looking out for me but I would really appreciate it if you just left this subject alone.” He looked at her with seriousness in his eye, but she waved him off.
“I’m just saying it would be nice to see you happily married we all would.”
“And when I find that woman who doesn’t want me for my money and who wants me for me I will settle down but until then I am going to continue to do me.”
Rachael smirked.
“Yeah well just remember doing you is how Maddie got here.”
Britney laughed and he looked at both women.
“I won’t make that mistake again. Not that Maddie is a mistake she’s the best thing that has ever happened to me but I was 20 and young and to be fair I thought I was in love.”
“Yeah I told you I never liked that heifer” Brittney said waving her freshly done manicure at him.
“Yes you did Brit many times actually.”
“I was more subtle than that” his mother smirked.
“Mom I believe your words were Ramón don’t bring that nasty girl back in this house.”
Rachael placed her hands onto Ramón’s shoulder.
“There was just something I didn't like about her and I was right. I mean don't get me wrong I thank her for giving us Maddie but that’s the only good thing she has ever done for you.”
“I agree so please let me set you up on a date?”
Ramón looked at her and exhaled deeply. “You’re not gonna let up are you?”
“Nope” she gave a smug look.
He threw his hands up. “Fine ok.”
Britney laughed and grabbed the last piece of pie left on Ramón’s plate. He looked after her.
“Hey greedy.”
“You snooze you lose. I thought you knew that.”
She ran out the room and he followed her. Rachael tilted her head as she picked the plates off the table. She looked out the window and up to the sky.
“Lord thank you for my wonderful family. And Lord, I know the perfect woman for Ramón is out there. Please let him find her soon. Amen.”
***
Charles smiled as he hugged his son. He glanced at Desiree and couldn’t understand why he was so stupid. He loved her still after all the years they had been apart. He went to hug her but she held up her hands in protest.
“Hi Charles.”
“Desi. How have you been?” he went to her again but she put both her hands up.
“Fine.”
“You look great.”
She gave a fake smile and clapped her hands.
“Yay for me. Where’s the car.”
She walked towards the luggage carousal and Charles and Zach followed. Desiree told herself she needed to stay focused on dropping Zach off and getting out of Charleston as soon as possible. She didn’t want to be around Charles any more than she wanted to see the dentist. It was a need to do basis. After taking Zach’s luggage, he led them to his 2009 silver Dodge Ram.
“I was thinking we could go out to eat for dinner tonight?”
“No thanks if you can drop me off to a hotel until I leave I will see you guys then.”
“Nonsense I was actually hoping you would join us for church tomorrow.”
She let a laugh leave her lips. “Church? You attend a Church?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“I don't know maybe because in the whole one year of marriage we were together you wouldn’t join me once.”
He flashed her, his pearly whites and she rolled her eyes. He cleared his throat then licked his lips. “What can I say? I was a fool back then. I keep trying to tell you I have seen the error of my ways.”
“And that is what?” she turn
ed to him waiting to hear his answer.
“That I need to be a better father and a better man. And if you would come with us to church that would mean a lot. I just started going and I don’t really know anyone but you go to hear the message right?”
“Yeah mom come on.” Zack said with wishful thinking in his eyes.
Desiree looked at her son and felt like she would let him down if she said no.
“Fine.”
“Good so you can stay in the spare room.”
“Spare room?”
Zack smiled.
“Dad has a three bedroom house. It’s so kewl because he said that the basement is like our man cave with a pool table and the games systems.”
Desiree felt anger rise within her. “A house? So I guess that is where all that back child support has gone. I'm glad your son and I could help you live it up.” She folded her arms.
Charles looked at her as she looked away and out the window. There was nothing more he could say at the moment. He knew she was still upset about the past few years and if she was anyone else he would have just let go a long time ago but he couldn’t she was the love of his life and despite how he acted towards her in the past he was determined to show her.
Desiree walked around Charles’s two-story home and frowned. While she lived in small two bedroom apartment with her son, was barely scraping by trying to take care of her son and here was Charles her no good rotten excuse for an ex was living in a beautiful three bedroom, two and a half bathroom house. The living room was covered with carpet as well as the hall and stairs leading up to the bedrooms. The only parts of the house that weren’t were the bathrooms, which held white tiles, the dining room with ceramic wood, and the kitchen with ceramic tile.
She couldn’t lie and say she didn’t love the kitchen. With the island in the middle of the room and brand new stove and fridge, it was a place she would love to be. She felt the counter tops and sighed. She gave in to the thought of waking up early in the mornings and cooking for a loving husband and her wonderful kids. She thought she would have at least three by now. At 27 she was ready for her life to begin so why hadn’t it? When had she realized that she let her life be put on hold?
She walked out of the sliding glass doors in the kitchen to the back yard and saw the fenced in pool. At Eight feet deep, it was a standard size underground pool she figured. She stepped off the porch and felt the warm breeze from the trees hit her. She did love the calm of this place. The more she saw of Charleston the more she loved it. She was lost in thought and didn’t even hear Charles walk up behind her.
“Desi what are you doing out here?”
Desiree jumped as she turned to face Charles. In the setting of the sun, he looked like the man she fell in love with. She met Charles back in high school she was 14 at the time. It was love at first sight. He was tall, dark, and handsome. Smart and so sweet to her. He was three years older than she and because was so young all they could be was friends. When turned 16 she wanted to badly to be his but he was into her friend at the time.
They remained friends throughout the years and when she needed a date to the Senior Prom Charles agreed to go. When he picked her up for the dance his eyes widened at how beautiful she looked in her sea foam dress that had an empire wrapped waistline with sprinkled beaded crystals down the dress. Her matching high heeled sandals were covered by her ball gown skirt. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with spiral curls falling to her face. He managed to get out a “wow” before he moved towards her.
He wore a black tux with a sea foam vest which went nice with his milk chocolate complexion. That was the day he saw her for a woman and not some little girl and she saw him as the man she would marry. They danced the night away and at the end of the night, when he walked her to her door. Charles looked her in her eyes and told her he could fall in love with her. Then they shared their first kiss. It filled her stomach with butterflies and everything she wished for had come true.
He cleared his throat and she was brought back to reality. She looked up to his 6’1 height and had always loved how he towered over her. The only thing that hadn’t changed about him throughout the years was his golden brown eyes. She spent many hours a night just staring into them, falling in love with the compassion and love that shined through when she looked at them.
His body was much more defined. She could see through his skin tight black tee-shirt that his shoulders were broader, his chest flat and hard. She saw through his black jeans that his thighs were strong and lean. She looked to his face and had to turn away. He was pulling her back in and wasn’t even doing anything.
“I just came out for some air.”
He stepped closer to her. “You know you are still as beautiful as the day I married you.”
“Really and what about the day I filed for divorce? How did I look to you then?” she asked looking at him.
“Like a pissed off beauty” he grinned.
“Funny.”
She gave a fake laugh and walked pass him. He sighed deeply.
“Talk to me Desi please.”
She turned towards him.
“About?”
“How have you been?”
“We haven’t spoken in years and all you can say to me is “how have you been?’”
“I really want to know.”
“Why?”
“It was just a question.”
“Well here is the answer I have been struggling to take care of your son because you refused to pay child support” she fumed.
“I didn’t refuse we got joint custody therefore I wasn’t ordered to pay anything.” He stated as he saw the anger fill her eyes.
“Except for the fact I had your son full time since.” She pushed beside him but he grabbed her arm.
“I was away for work you know that.”
She pulled away from him. “So you could afford this house that car all those nice things you have but you couldn’t afford to send your son money for food or clothes things like that.”
“I am not saying I was perfect I know I was far from it. But that is why I am trying to make it up to you and Zack.”
She walked away from him and frowned.
“How about you focus on your son and leave me out of it.” She tried to leave but he blocked her path again.
“I love you and all I want is a second chance.”
She could not believe what she just heard come out of his mouth.
“You left me.”
“And I am sorry but-” she held her hands up and stopped him before he could finish.
“There is no but here! You left me you packed up your things and you walked out on me and our one year old son. And that was after I took you back for cheating on me. I loved you before we married and even after you left I still loved you wanting you to come back but I was young and naive but not anymore. You are pathetic and I am glad to be rid of you. Your son needs his father and that is the only reason he is here because if it was up to me you would come nowhere near my son. And before you start I say my son because I have raised him while you missed out on everything. You haven’t earned the right to call him yours. For right now claim what you really are a sperm donor.”
Charles glared at her as she walked away from him. In his mind he grabbed her to him and allowed her to feel the warmth of his body. He would demand a kiss from her taking her lips as his own and showing her he was just a man who missed his wife. But he sighed he didn’t feel like sleeping with his eyes opened if it didn’t go as he wanted so he just looked after her and wondered if he would ever get another chance again.
As she entered the house and walked into her room, she tried to dismiss the anger that grew inside her. How dare he throw around those words as if they could place a spell on her? They had no effect on her now and all she wanted was to leave this place and not return. She went to the window and looked up to the moon, smiling at the sight of the fullness of it. She closed her eyes and prayed a silent prayer.
“Lord please help me. I feel so alone and lost I don't want to fall back into the rut I have been in please let me find the one I have been looking for. Amen.”
She smiled and looked up to the moon. Not knowing that across town the love of her life was staring at the exact same moon.
***
Ramón looked out the window and up to the full moon as the girl his sister hooked him up with continued to gush over him. He wanted to focus on anything but the gorgeous blue eyes on the dullest woman he had ever been out with. She agreed on everything he said and kept hinting that they would look so cute together on the cover of Vanity or some magazine he wasn’t paying attention. As she rubbed her freshly manicured fingers across his right arm he didn't understand why he wasn’t enjoying himself, why the feel of her soft hands on his skin didn’t leave him wanting more. His sister picked her out perfect for him.
She had long sexy legs soft ivory skin. Her body was lean and toned. She was the perfect shape from her tight little waist to her slender swanlike neck. She was beautiful so why wasn’t that enough for him anymore. Someone cleared their throat and he looked up and saw his teammate and best friend Aj and his wife Gia.
“Ramón fancy seeing you here thought you were in for the night?” Aj walked over to him with one hand in his pocket and the other wrapped around his wife’s waist.
“Hey Aj I thought so too when Brit said she was gonna hook me up I thought it would be next week or something not same day.”
Ramón looked at Gia.
“And Gia aren’t you looking beautiful tonight.”
Ramón stood and hugged her. Aj smiled.
“And who do we have here?”
Oh this is Sammy.”
“It’s Sandy!”
Ramón looked at her with his hands in front of him.
“I am so sorry.”
She mugged him as she placed her cell phone in her purse and stood.
“You know this is not what I expected when your sister told me I was going out with you. I couldn’t believe it I thought we would be going out to a party or hit up an awards ceremony but a lame ass dinner come on this is boring. Where are the cameras and interviews? If you ever need a date for something like that, call me. My girl just texted me about an after party for Bonez so I'm out. I still love you though.”
To Love a Man Page 3