Sidechick Chronicles

by Shadress Denise

  Ambrosia looked at me and shook her head.

  "Well at least tell me his name Aryelle."

  Shoot. I had to think quickly. She had a habit of picking up my phone. We both tended to do it to each other. I didn’t want her to be looking at me crazy if she saw something off base.

  "Ok, you're going to think this is weird.”

  "What?"

  "His name is Laurence."

  3

  She looked at me and started cracking up. "Why would I think that's weird? My dad is not the only person in the world named Laurence."

  I don't know why I felt relieved. I was wrong as sin. I was not only sleeping with my best friend's father, but the pastor of my church. If anyone got wind of this there would be more than hell to pay. We had a plan and as long as we both stuck to it, everything would be okay. I was ready to stand beside my man. I wanted to shout it to the world. I no longer wanted to be his secret love. I knew this had to be handled with care so I would be still until he said it was time to move.

  "I don't know I just thought you would think it was weird."

  She laughed again.

  "It would only be weird if it was my dad, but we both know it's not him so moving on."

  I blinked and swallowed hard. She had no idea.

  "Right," I answered.

  I had no other reply and adding to the lie I was telling didn't seem feasible. We hadn't had any close calls so far and I wanted to keep it that way. When you start adding extra components to your lie that's how you get caught. I kept our conversations about her dad at a normal level. I would listen to her when she talked about her parent's relationship and that was it. I kept my prying at a concerned friend level.

  I never asked anything too out of the ordinary.

  "Besides my parents are trying to make their relationship better so my dad is behaving."

  I felt my face scrunch up and immediately fixed it. I couldn't have heard her say that correctly. Laurence and I had a plan. We were going to be together and he was going to leave her. He had been complaining about their relationship the entire time we've been together. He was waiting for the right time to tell the kids they were separating. We had already been through this before. He would tell me one thing and then turn around and go back to her. I wasn't dealing with that again.

  My heart couldn't take it.

  I needed to know more without appearing suspicious. I wasn't letting him get away again. We were meant to be together. I loved that man and if I had to fight for that love so be it. She was not going to win again. She didn't love him as much as I loved him. We were soul mates. I knew it. He said it and that was all I needed to believe.

  "What do you mean behaving?"

  "Well my parents don't know that I know about my dad's affair."

  I wasn't his first mistress?

  He had done this before?

  How could he not tell me this?

  I was completely thrown off. I never believed he was perfect, but not this. Not a history of multiple affairs. I needed to know more.

  "Your dad cheated on your mom?"

  "Yes on her and Constance from what of my mom has told me. My mom and dad were in love and supposed to be getting married when my mom found out he was cheating on her. Apparently, my dad was quite the ladies’ man when they were younger."

  Humph, I thought.

  "Wow, I didn't know that. You never told me that."

  "Well I only found out a couple years ago. My mom told me when I told her I overheard my dad and Constance arguing about if he was having another affair. She told me she wouldn't be surprised considering it wouldn’t be his first time."

  I was trying to hide the five million emotions that were racing through my body. I was angry, hurt, pissed, and curious and so many other emotions I couldn't think of at the time. He had never told me he cheated on Constance before or Ambrosia's mom! I wanted to storm to his room at this very moment. I knew I needed to keep a cool head or everyone at the retreat would know what was going on.

  "Oh so he cheated on your mom with Constance?"

  "Nah they had been separated a while before he met her. I was like four when my mom left him and I believe I was seven when he met Constance."

  "So how old were you when he cheated on Constance?"

  "I don't know because I just found out about that. I do remember it probably being before LJ was born because I remember not going over there for a while. My dad would come get me from my mom's house, we would hang and then I would go back home. I was about 11 or 12 when he was born. At the time I didn't know what was going on. I thought he and my mom were mad at each other again. Now that I think about it that was probably it."

  I was completely speechless.

  4

  "Yikes, that had to be a lot for everyone involved," I said.

  I wanted to keep digging.

  I needed to know more.

  "It was although that situation didn't affect me as much as he and my mom breaking up did. I went from seeing him every day to a few times a week. I missed him being there. Though, I think it was harder on my mom then it was me. Having to get over a broken heart and still be forced to deal with the person who broke it has to suck."

  If she only knew what that pain really felt like. Your heart being ripped from your chest by the one person who swore they would be different. How you can listen to the many pieces crack and shatter as they fall to the floor in front of you.

  I felt that way about Laurence the first time he broke my heart. I wanted to stop going to church and everything. Every Sunday I saw him standing in the pulpit I could feel the breaths caught in my throat as I would try to breathe through the tears. I would constantly see the future we would never have drift away. I tried to move on. I even tried dating other guys. None of it worked no matter how hard I tried. I picked up hobbies, took trips and even transferred to an out of state school. I was in dire need of a fresh start, a new beginning. I had cried my eyes out and was at the point of completely putting myself back together when he showed up at my doorstep.

  The love that could never separate us.

  The irony that surrounded us.

  You leave me to go back to your wife, and then show up on my doorstep begging for me to take you back. How does that make sense?

  I knew he had gotten the address from Ambrosia so I hadn't bothered asking. He stood on my doorstep begging and pleading about how me leaving has destroyed him. He told me he had prayed over and over about me giving him a second chance. How he should approach me or if I would even take him back. He promised me that he would leave her and I was the only woman for him. I was five seconds from slamming the door in his face when he pulled out a diamond pendant and paperwork to a car he had bought for me. He had got down on one knee and told me if I gave him a little time he would leave her and we would spend the rest of our lives together. I wasn't completely convinced and knew going back down this path was probably a bad idea.

  A path that I knew would eventually lead to another broken heart if I walked down it again.

  I was torn.

  I had a 3 carat diamond pendant around my neck, keys to a 3 series BMW in my hands and it still wasn't enough. My heart was still fragile. I needed assurance. I needed him to fix this. He could see the traces of pain remaining in my eyes and knew the necklace and car wasn't enough. It was like he could read my mind because in one swift move he picked me up, closed the door and we headed to my bedroom. We made love all night. Round after round, he held me and I let the tears fall releasing all the pain he caused me. He told me I was the end for him. I told him the same and at that moment I finally felt complete.

  That night, he placed a spell on me.

  He had stolen my heart,

  Once again.

  I snapped back into my questioning her.

  "Did he try to make it work with your mom after she found out?"

  "Nope she was done. It wasn't the first time he had cheated on her. They had been together since undergrad and were head ov
er hills in love from what my mom tells me. They did the whole Greek thing, he pledged Omega and she pledged AKA. She was student body president and he was a basketball star so they were the ideal college couple. Unfortunately, his popularity got him in trouble a few times"

  "Wow sounds like they were the perfect couple."

  "I thought so too, however most first love stories usually do. He still loves my mom. It’s just different from the love he has for Constance."

  "Why would you say that? Your mom was his first love."

  "Yeah, still it’s different. I see the way he looks at my mom and then I see how he looks at Constance. He and my mom have history. They have me and that's essentially where that love stems from. Now with Constance there's this passion and desire look. It's like they can't live without each other, like their souls and hearts are one. It's kind of hot if you ask me."

  I wasn't sure how to feel.

  I couldn't breathe.

  I thought he only looked at me like that. I believed I was the fire buried beneath his eyes. I thought his heart only beat in sync with mine. I wanted to stop her. I wanted to end this conversation. I didn't think I could listen to anymore. Initially I fought the urge, but like a junkie I held my arm out for more.

  "Do you think they will ever leave each other?"

  I knew that question would probably raise her eyebrows. It wasn't smart; a total red flag on my part. It wasn't even logical to ask. I was feeding this need to know more. I shook my head. Love made you say crazy stuff. Heartbreak made you act even dumber.

  "At one point I did. Now I believe the love they have for each other is unbreakable. They are soul mates and will be together forever."

  I was prepared for an answer.

  A simple answer.

  Just not that particular answer.

  Any answer would've been better than together forever.

  Constance

  5

  I left Dr. Gregory's office under the assumption we had a long way to go. Not to mention a lot more to talk through. Here I was sitting on his couch, pouring my heart out about my husband's affairs and I was having one too.

  Hypocrisy at its finest!

  Unfortunately, my situation was different. It was somehow justified in my mind. By the time he was going to comment, I was halfway out his door. I promised him I would make another appointment. We could finish this conversation later. Right now, I was horny and I needed a fix.

  I needed Armond.

  I only had two days before Laurence and the kids came home. I wanted to fill them with repeated orgasms. His wife and daughter would be returning from the retreat as well, so we didn't have a lot of time left. I assumed he was ready too since he called me repeatedly while I was in my session. We hadn't had much time to spend with each other due to our church obligations and my marriage. I plugged my phone into the charger and started my car.

  I didn't get out the parking garage good before my phone rang again.

  Husband.

  He was the last person I wanted to talk to right now. After this session, I realized I was still carrying a grudge towards him. I knew if I didn't answer he would begin to worry. Before I knew it one of his nosey church people would be at my door "checking" on me.

  "Hello Laurence."

  I didn't answer with any enthusiasm.

  No real excitement towards him.

  I wasn't happy and I wanted him to know it.

  "Baby where have you been? I've been calling and texting you for the last two hours."

  He was right. I saw all five missed calls and texts. I didn't care at all. He was the last person I wanted to speak to.

  "I had an appointment. What's wrong?"

  He knew damn well why he hadn't heard from me. I was still pissed off and he was the reason for it. I really didn't want to get into this with him right now. My head was somewhere else. Somewhere my body was trying to get to.

  "Are you okay?"

  "Are the kids okay?"

  "Yes everyone is fine. The boys are having a blast and Ambrosia is off with the young adult group. "

  "Oh well that's good to hear. Well if there is nothing wrong, I'll see you ball when you get back. I want to enjoy my last two days of solitude."

  "I miss you Constance.”

  I had no response. No real feelings to reciprocate to him right now.

  "See you when you get back Laurence."

  "Okay, I understand and I know you're still mad. We can fix it when I get back. I promise it will be better. I love you baby."

  "I love you too," I said and hung up.

  Another promise.

  Another meaningless I love you.

  I turned my volume up to hear Jessie Ware’s; Say You Love Me playing. Another love song, another melody that reminded me of the forgotten love we once had. I wanted to believe things were going to be different. There was a small part of my heart that still held out. A small part of me which clings to the possibility we will rekindle the passion we once shared.

  Mariah

  5

  My skin was so soft and it seemed to be glowing tonight. I was so excited about this evening and the surprises he had in store. I had already received my first two surprises of the night. I woke up from my nap to find two boxes sitting on the chaise. I looked at myself in the mirror and the Zac Posen dress he bought me fit perfectly. I always loved the way red looked against my skin. The small train flowed beautifully from the fitted dress.

  My eyes and smile reflected love.

  I felt beautiful.

  He made me feel beautiful.

  I looked at the clock and saw that it was 6:30 p.m. Our evening was scheduled to begin at 7 o’clock. I slid on my gold Casadei pumps that were also a surprise from my man.

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  I walked over to my room phone. We had reserved separate rooms since Rhonda had come on this trip. We wanted to make sure there were no traces of unprofessionalism on our part. Rhonda was cool and all but clearly she participated in office gossip. I wanted to parts in adding to the circulation.

  “Hello”

  “Hello beautiful. Are you ready for our evening?”

  I was smiling from ear to ear. Lord, the man even sounded sexy on the phone.

  “Well yes I am handsome.”

  “Ok well I will be down in the lobby waiting for you.”

  “Oh you’re not coming up to get me?”

  “No I don’t want to be tempted to undress you. I want us to get through our evening before I do that.”

  There it was oozing through the phone. The undeniable panty-dropping charm.

  “I see. Well I will be down shortly then.”

  “See you soon beautiful.”

  I snickered.

  I hung up the phone and walked back to check myself in the mirror one last time. I was proud of the fact I managed to maintain my size 8 frame. The high neckline and the drop back gave this dress the perfect seductive, yet classy look. I grabbed my clutch and headed downstairs. I was excited about tonight. I was ready for the unforgettable memory he promised.

  The elevator door opened and there he stood. He looked at me and smiled. He had a way of looking at me. A way that would always make me feel incredibly sexy. I looked at him and felt weak in the knees. The man could wear the hell out of a suit. He could definitely give James Bond a run for his money. I grinned and walked towards him. I saw he had a long black box in his hand.

  Another surprise.

  “You look breathtaking Mariah.”

  “You clean up pretty good yourself Mr. McDaniels.”

  I placed a small kiss on his lips.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “A gift for you,” he said holding out the box.

  He opened the box and I saw two tickets. I laughed at the irony of what he had done. I wasn’t expecting tickets. I reached for the tickets and removed them from the box.

  They read, A Night with Anthony Hamilton.

  I was stoked. I loved Anthony Hamilton! So far my s
urprises were getting better and better. I wasn’t sure what he had left. Although, I couldn’t imagine him topping a surprise Anthony Hamilton concert.

  “Are you ready Ms. Nicholson?”

  “Why yes Mr. McDaniels.”

  I loved how we played coy with our formalities. The professional tone we played with was fun. Not to mention, it turned us on in a major way. He held his arm out for me and I slipped mine through. We headed for the car he had waiting for us.

  Unforgettable, I thought.