“Chance, son, I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend more time with you,” said Mr. Mosley. They shook hands, and then Mr. Mosley said good-bye to Craig.
“Chance sweetie it was definitely my pleasure.” Mrs. Mosley winked at Chance, and smiled. “Take care of my baby.”
Inside of her tiny car, she sat with her hands gripping the steering wheel. She was ready to go. She could hear the tingle in her mother’s voice which indicated she’d soon be inviting Chance for dessert or breakfast just to give her and her father a chance to talk to him more.
“Yes ma’am. I will.”
“I think you will,” said Sinclair’s mom.
She squeezed Craig’s arms, and said, “Craig, sweetie, you are so cute. The girls told me about Chance, you, and your girlfriend at the protest with my baby. I’m glad she has friends like ya’ll with her.”
“Jill Marie, are you going to talk the boys to death?” asked Mr. Mosley from the backseat of Sinclair’s car.
“I’m coming. I’m coming.” Mrs. Mosley sat in the car, and strapped herself in.
Chance and Craig walked to his truck.
Sinclair pulled into traffic with Chance behind her.
“I wish you guys weren’t leaving in the morning. It’s going to be so boring without you both.”
“Well you know Clair baby, we do own our restaurant. We could stay longer.”
“Ma, that would be so great, but I can’t take another week off. Now, Chance’s back maybe I can get caught up.”
“He seems like a very nice young man. Don’t you think so, Honey?”
“Jill Marie, we don’t get involved in Baby girl’s life. She can make her own decisions. She knows she could do a lot worse than to have a strong young man like Chance by her side.”
In his own way, her Dad was pushing her at Chance, too. He just thought he was subtle, and she appreciated it. “Thank you, Daddy. Ma, listen to him.”
“I am Clair baby. Are you?” Her mother had a mischievous grin on her face.
Clair’s mom hummed to the music. Sinclair and her father joined in. They sang, hummed, and talked all the way back to Sinclair’s condo.
The tiny Harrisburg airport bustled. Sinclair’s parents’ left as they came, overflowing with hugs and kisses, but this time there was the addition of tears. Unlike her normal routine, this time, she waited and watched the plane take off. She longed to be on that plane with them. To leave Pennsylvania and Carni’s behind, but she couldn’t. There was too much she still had to do, and one of those things was confront Chance.
In the next passing weeks Chance and Sinclair made up a lot, in many different positions. He didn’t know who had missed whom more. Lying at the foot of the bed, he sat up and stared at her as she slept. He couldn’t believe she was still a part of his life, and he didn’t want to see a time when she wouldn’t be.
Chocolate crammed his senses. The nearby factories and park were the perfect setting. A weekend at Hershey Park gave them both the time they needed to talk, cry, and love. Her body squirmed beneath the sheets as she rolled over. Her hand rubbed across the pillow where his head should have been. In her sleep she searched for him. He ached to be near her. Pulling the covers away from her, he exposed her naked body beneath. The site of her brought his body to full alert. Slowly, his hands slid up her thighs spreading them as they traveled north toward the curly mound that was his goal. The pads of his fingers softly massaged her. The sheen of her body on his fingers told him that she was now aware of him.
Her body moved with his fingers, moans escaped her. Sex and sleep mixed in her stare. His mouth replaced his hand. Together his tongue and fingers increased her excitement. The push of her body against his tongue sent all of the blood in him to his penis. He rolled their bodies. They lay stomach to stomach. She was on top with her head at his feet. Her thighs rested on his shoulders allowing his head room between her legs. He hooked his arms around her knees and dipped his head deeper between her thighs. He pulled her body down to his mouth, and thrust his tongue in and out of her wildly.
Moaning, she took his rod into her mouth. Wrapping one hand around his shaft, in measured beats she alternated between using her hand, and her mouth to stimulate him.
He thrust his tongue in deeper; she paused. He thrust even further.
She panted breathlessly. “Umm.” Trembles rolled off his tongue through her body.
The warmth of her mouth surrounded his swollen organ. He filled her mouth. He couldn’t stop his body any longer; he erupted.
She lay beside him running her fingers up and down his thigh watching his organ throb.
“Are you coming up here?” she asked.
“Yes.” He flipped around to the top of the bed. She molded her body into his, and they slept.
Sinclair and Chance strolled through Hershey Park holding hands. She didn’t even care that people stared. It didn’t even seem as frequent to her, now. Maybe it never had been. Chance pulled her over to a huge black kettle where a young black haired guy poured sugar and salt over popcorn. It smelled delicious.
“What on earth is this, Chance?”
The smile on his face was positively childlike. “What? Don’t tell me you haven’t had this yet?”
“What is it something special?”
“Woman, this is kettle corn. Once you try it, you’re hooked for life.”
“Well, maybe I shouldn’t try it because if I can’t get it in Georgia it might be a problem in a few months. And Chance, we still need to talk about Georgia. You keep avoiding it.”
“Would you guys like some kettle corn?” asked the popcorn vendor.
Holding up two fingers, Chance said, “Yes, two please.”
“Chance?”
His hand swept across her cheek, and down her hair. He tugged at the tip of one of her locs. “I’m not ignoring you or avoiding the question. We’ll talk about it. I promise.”
“When?”
The young man handed each of them a clear plastic bag of popcorn that was as long as Sinclair’s arm.
“Thank you,” said Sinclair.
Chance echoed her remark. “Thank you.”
Holding hands, they headed across the blacktop to the Bleacherite Amphitheatre. “I promise when I have everything worked out. I will let you know, but right now just trust me. We’ve only got a few months left here. I don’t want to waste them worrying about anything.”
She wished she could be as confident as Chance about working everything out. But how could she, when he wouldn’t discuss it. In a few months, they’d both be gone, and what then? Long distance relationship? Yeah, right. Women would line up at his door before her side of the bed was cold. Maybe, just maybe he could come to Georgia.
They sat.
The announcer came over the loud speakers welcoming everyone to the live dolphin performance. He and his teammates warned the individuals in the front that they could get very wet.
They moved, and sat in the back.
They ate popcorn, and laughed at the people in the front row until the show ended. They didn’t get wet, but on their way to the car with their arms loaded with stuffed animals, the sky darkened, lightning flashed and thunder cracked around them. Raindrops the size of quarters fell. Before they could reach Chance’s truck they were drenched.
Safely inside the truck, Chance stripped off the t-shirt he wore, and handed it to her. “Here use this for your hair.”
She twisted the shirt through her locs. Stacking the wet tresses on top of her head. The white t-shirt he still wore clung to his body. Every muscle she’d kissed and stroked called to her. “Chance, I love you. I want to enjoy every moment of our last two months.”
He kissed her, slow and tender. The kind of kiss she wanted from him for the next eighty or ninety years. “We will enjoy them together.” He cranked up the truck, and turned on the defrost. “In fact, we should start packing up your stuff, and you stay with me until you leave.”
“What?” asked Sinclair.
�
�I think it makes sense. You save money, and-”
“What about my lease, and my things?”
“We break your lease. We ship your stuff home.”
“I’m not even sure where I would put my stuff it won’t really fit in my parents’ house.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of everything. We can start next week. You should change your address, and personal information at work Monday.”
Sinclair’s thoughts were spinning. Was she really going to move in with this guy for two months? She was thinking crazy. What would her parents say?
“Oh, and don’t worry about your parents? I discussed it with them. I told them I thought it would be a good way to save money, and get you back to them fast.”
“You spoke to my parents? How? When?”
Chance put the car in drive, and pulled off.
“Your mother calls me when she can’t get you on the phone, and well…you know how your mother is.”
“Really, and Daddy? What did he say?”
“He’s fine. As long as we sleep in separate rooms.” Chance laughed. “I told him I only have a one bedroom.”
Sinclair couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She ignored the dull throbbing in the back of her mouth.
“Chance let’s talk about it tomorrow. Let’s sleep on it.”
That night Sinclair could barely sleep. She tossed all night long. She couldn’t believe what she was contemplating, and her Baptist raised parents were okay with it. Living with Chance for two months. Whew!
Chance was persistent. He pointed out she was wasting time they could be spending together. They spent every night together anyway, and debated the tiny point of actually living under one roof.
After a few days, she said yes, and Chance wasted no time moving her in. She didn’t even know half of the guys Chance had given moving assignments. People began to show up at her house with boxes, hand trucks, etc. Chance even took care of talking with the rental office about the lease. She didn’t have to pay a fee for breaking her lease. He never told her how he’d managed that one.
After three straight days of speed packing with recruits like Craig and Bridget to assist, Sinclair was exhausted. Chance sent her home to their apartment while he worked with FedEx and a small moving company to ship everything she didn’t need home to Georgia.
Sinclair passed out fully dressed. When her alarm clock went off she was in a nightgown. Chance must have changed her clothes during the night. He had already left for work when she turned over in bed.
She didn’t feel well. She wobbled her way around the bed into the master bathroom. Her face was slightly swollen, and her jaws were stiff. She could barely brush her teeth because of the pain. She hopped into the shower, dressed, and headed to work. It would go away with a couple of Tylenol.
Sharon took one look at her, and said, “Hon, what’s wrong with you?”
She dropped her head into her hands. “Sharon, I feel horrible.”
“Hon, maybe you should go back home. Or go to a doctor.”
“Yeah, maybe I’ll call my dentist. I don’t feel well at all.”
Sinclair search through her purse for her dentist’s information. She’d only been for a cleaning twice since she’d been there. She couldn’t even remember what his name was. Maybe Binder or Bember or B-something on Jonestown or Union Deposit or maybe she took Union Deposit to Jonestown to Linglestown Rd. She couldn’t remember for the life of her. She walked up to HR for another book of providers, and asked if they could check her file for her last dental appointment.
The assistant who gave her the book, checked her file, and asked her if she needed another card sent to her, too.
“Yes.”
“Should we send it to the address on file Ms. Mosley.”
“Yes, uhh, no. Send it to this one.” Sinclair wrote down Chance’s address on a piece of paper.
“Okay. I’ll update the system, and do it for you immediately. Meanwhile you should still be able to make your appointment. They should have your information on file when you call your dentist.”
Sinclair returned to her office, made the appointment, and called Chance to tell him she was going home.
Chapter Twelve
Chance had taken a day off to drive Sinclair to and from the oral surgeon’s office, and then another to babysit her while she slept and drank water all day. A mouthful of cotton stopped her from eating. After three days, she felt well enough to go back to work.
She was positive people had been whispering around her all day. She was right. Sharon walked into her office at the end of the day, and sat down.
“Sinclair, Hon, I wanted to let you know that that meddlesome Raquel has been talking to everyone she can about you and Chance. It’s none of my business, but she’s been telling everyone you and Chance have moved in together.”
Sinclair couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She remembered what her mother said, but she was pissed, and somebody needed to know she was sick and tired of all of the crap coming from Raquel.
“Sharon, how does she know anything about me?”
“I’m not sure, Hon, but this all started happening when you went to the dentist.”
No wonder the HR assistant was so nice. She was spying.
“Hmm. Okay. Thank you Sharon.”
“Hon, I’m glad you don’t have much time left here. You don’t need to be worried with all of this.”
Except for the unresolved issues with Chance, she was thankful she was leaving, too. “Thanks again, Sharon.”
Sinclair stormed over to her boss’ office, and had his secretary, Janet, interrupt a conference call with Michael Dickinson.
Daniel Houser was the V.P. of General Merchandise, he and Michael often met. Throughout her time with Carni’s, Sinclair always felt as if she could trust Daniel, but she thought he was worried more about his own amicable retirement. She couldn’t blame him, it’s not like he owed her anything.
Sinclair entered Daniel’s office, and closed the door behind her.
“Daniel do you know what is going on around here.”
Daniel stood, walked to the doorway leading to his private bathroom, and rubbed his back against the doorframe. It was something Sinclair had seen him do often right before or after a big meeting.
“Sinclair, I don’t know what to do about any of this. I want you to speak to HR. The conversation I had with Michael was completely inappropriate.”
“What? That meeting was about me?”
“Sinclair, off-the-record, I know Michael loves his daughter, but we’ve got to get a handle on this. I hope you know that however I can help…I will.”
“Daniel, I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe she is taking things this far.”
“What about Chance?” asked Daniel.
“Well, he took a couple of days off, too, because I was sick. I don’t know how much he knows.”
“Sinclair don’t do anything today. Talk it over tonight at home, and come back to me tomorrow. Maybe together we all can come up with something. You’ve only got a few weeks left. Don’t let people like Michael or Raquel leave a lasting impression on you about the rest of us. Why don’t you leave early? Forget about this place.”
Why should she leave? Sinclair knew Daniel was only trying to diffuse the situation, and she knew he was right. She was too angry to think straight. Speaking to anyone other than Chance or her parents would not be good.
Chance was pacing the center of his office while on the telephone, when Sinclair entered his office. She heard him mention Steve’s name. He must be speaking to his boss. He wrapped one arm around Sinclair’s waist, and kissed her without missing a beat of his telephone conversation.
He closed and locked his door, sat in his chair, and pulled her onto his lap.
“Stephen, what in the hell is this all about? Because some spoiled brat can’t get laid my life is complicated.”
Sinclair could here Stephen’s voice through the phone.
�
�Chance, I told you this was a delicate situation.”
“Stephen, how long have I worked for you? Since I left college. I’ve never let you down. You got this contract because of me, but this is how you handle this situation?”
“Chance, why did you have to do it? Why did you let your private life become so public?”
“I didn’t do it, and my private life is no one’s business, but since you can’t handle this situation, I will. You know you can’t win this fight, Stephen?”
“Are you threatening me, Chance?”
“No, Stephen, not a threat.” Chance hung up the phone.
Sinclair couldn’t hold back the tears burning behind her eyes any longer. Her face grew hotter with each tear that fell. They seemed to singe her skin as they rolled down her cheeks.
Chance pushed everything on his desk to the floor. He lifted Sinclair from his lap, and sat her on the desk. Chance placed his hands on the desk beside her, and leaned into her. He kissed her tear stained cheeks.
Her mind played over and over again the words of one of her favorite poems by Langston Hughes. She said the words aloud to Chance. “Love is the master of the ring; and life a circus tent.”
He paused, and looked into her eyes. “Langston Hughes?”
She smiled. He knew her mind so well. “Yes. The Ring.”
“Very appropriate babe. Very appropriate. I’m sorry you had to go through all of this. I know this is hard for you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It would be a lot harder if you were not here.” Sinclair planted tiny kisses all over his face.
Chance groaned. “I did lock the door, right?”
“Yes.” Sinclair massaged the bulge in his pants.
His groans deepened. He slid her skirt up her thighs exposing her stocking covered legs. He grabbled with the garters that prohibited him from removing her underwear. He unsnapped each button. She pushed her body away from the desktop allowing him to pull her underwear away from her body.
She set her bottom back on the desktop. Unhinging his belt, she tugged, and pulled until it loosened. Then she unbuttoned, and unzipped his brown slacks. They fell to the floor.
Love's Chance Page 13
