For Better or For Worse

by Desirae Williams

  Chapter 22

  Take me home

  Lucy

  Although I was still sleepy from the pain medicine, I could feel the comfort of a soft mattress and not a hard hospital bed against my body. I figured dad must have somehow taken me home, I could feel the sun beaming down on my face as I awakened. When I opened my eyes I took in the unfamiliarity of the room, this was not my apartment nor was it the house that Grant and I once shared. The room was pale green with brown mahogany dressers and doors. It had a balcony where you could peer out unto a garden of some sort not far from the house. The room was beautiful but it didn’t belong to me. “Dad….Dad...” I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and braced myself as the mystery person entered the room. “Good morning mama!” Little Greg said as he burst into the room. You don’t know how relieved I was to see my baby walk through the door. “Hey baby, come here.” He leaped into my arms and looked as cute as ever in some old Levi overalls. This put me somewhat at ease.

  “Did you sleep well mama?” he asked sweetly. “Of course I did….Hey um where is grandpa.” I inquired. Little Greg shrugged. “I don’t know… back home I guess.” I chuckled a little because I must have misheard him. “What do you mean back home sweetie?” “He is not here mommy.” The panic started to set in but I it drew back not wanting to alert my son. “Angel, honey, where are we and how did we get here?” A big smile swept across my face to mask my fear. “I don’t know where we are, but I know how we got here.” He spoke so cheerfully. I pulled my hair back and gulped in fear of what I thought I already knew. “How?” “Dad brought us here.” And with that my already hesitant smile faded completely. “What?” I said agitatedly just as Grant walked into the room carrying a delicious tray of food. “Rise and shine Woman.” He said with a big kool-aide smile on his stupid ass face. “You have got to be kidding me.” Was all I could muster up to say as I dropped my head into my hands. “No he is not kidding mama.” Little Greg said innocently. Grant laid down the tray on the nearest dresser and came toward us. “Hey kid, go down stairs and play while me and moms have a talk ok.”

  He nodded and hopped off the bed. “Ok dad I will play with sparks.” My head shot up. “What? Sparks?” I asked not knowing what he was talking about. “Yeah mommy, dad got a dog. You’re really going to like him.” And with that little Greg rushed down stairs. My head fell back against the head board and I repeated. “You have got to be kidding me.” Grant tried to intervene. “Look Lucy I know you may be a bit overwhelmed right now, but that should soon past. We are just outside of the city in a cottage house in New Paltz. I figured it would be a perfect place for you to get better, for us to get better.” He stepped closer to me. “That’s why I brought you out here…I want us to be a family again, spend some time together away from everything….. And everyone.” Particularly my father was what he meant. My intense silenced must have bothered him because he looked at me puzzled. “Are you ok?” I rubbed my head and chuckled. “Am I ok? I’m great…I’m just fine…because you’re going to take me now.” I turned to face him to make sure I had his full attention. “Or I’m going to burn this house down with you in it.” I put on the best fake smile I had. He exhaled at my resistance. “I can’t do that.” I looked at him confusingly. “What do you mean you can’t?” “Oh I’m sorry, I meant I won’t do that?” He said sternly. I glared at him not in the mood for any of his games in my current state. “Take me home now!” Grant leaned against the bed post and had the nerve to chuckle at me. “You’re not going anywhere.” I scoffed at him. “Look I know you are not familiar with this term but I’m an adult and that means you don’t tell me what to do…..and you damn sure don’t hold me hostage against my will.” He laughed, bastard he actually found amusement in my frustration.

  “Well-being that we are out in the middle of nowhere, with no phone, or computer insight and you can’t move to well….yes I can.” I chuckled trying to hide my panic. “My dad will come looking for me.” Grant shrugged. “And what if he does, you named me your primary care taker remember, there’s nothing much he can do but blow hot air as usual.” I gripped the back of my head trying not to rip my hair out then I thought of a better tactic. “So what are you going to do Grant?” “What do you mean?” He seemed taken aback by my question. I smiled at him wickedly. “Well what are your plans? Are you going to feed me to the wolves? Leave me for dead? Or come up with something new, more inventive? You do plan on finishing the job don’t you?” His smile faded but mines didn’t. He looked into my eyes trying to find some softness there but there was none. “Well, your dad sure did a good job of turning you against me huh?” I shook my head. “Oh no honey you did that all on your own.” He leaned into the bed and stared into my face I pretended not to be uneasy by his movement closer to me. “You know I didn’t hurt you?” I faced him excepting his challenge.

  “Do I? I don’t know anything about you anymore.” He nodded and stood up. “Well I hope that is not true because we are going to be here for a long time.” He walked to the door knowing he had the upper hand over me. “See you in a few.” He slammed the door on his way out. I was in utter disbelief I couldn’t belief he had done this, did he honestly think he could make us get back together. My rage was overpowering my better judgment due to the fact my pain medication was wearing off. “I’m not staying here!” I put one hand on the dresser and the other on the bed post and struggled to stand. I was breathing heavy, my body was still sore and injured. I swallowed the pain and continued to move.

  Grant

  “Dad can me and sparks play outside?” Greg asked making his way into the kitchen... Sparks was the recently purchased cocker spaniel that I brought home for little Greg. I figured he won’t get too lonely with him around and that would give me enough time to work on my relationship with Lucy. “Ok kid just let me make sure mom is situated.” “Yaaay.” He screamed while sparks continually barked. “I’ll go get my ball. C’mon sparks.” They both raced to the TV room. I smiled as they ran off, I enjoyed being able to spend as much time with my son as I wanted too. He deserved to have a family and I was going to get it for him. I thought Oden had me for a moment there threatening to go to the courts but hey I wasn’t charged with any wrong doing and I should have the right to see my wife whenever I wanted to…So I took a bit of legal action myself and came across some old documents Lucy and I filled out around the time we got married.

  Hmm…I could only imagine the look on Oden’s face when he got to the hospital…priceless. I knew Lucy and I needed a change of venue, I had to take her away to someplace where we could be alone and she would have no choice but to talk to me. I managed to take some much needed time off of work to help my wife heal her body and our marriage. I just needed to get her to see that we belonged together, and that we had been through too much to let it go now…regardless of anything else. I walked up stairs to Lucy hoping she had calmed down and at least eaten her breakfast. I knew she was going to put up fight but damn, I don’t know if I could handle all this animosity, she seemed completely against us being together. I got to her door and braced myself for the worst.

  When I walked into her room I saw her sitting on the bed with bags packed sweating profusely, I could tell she was in a lot of pain. “What the hell are you doing?” I yelled. She took a much needed breath before answering. “Look Grant you have had your fun but now I’m ready to go.” I looked at her as if she were plum crazy. “You’re not going anywhere.” You silly ass woman, I thought. Your about to kill yourself and you don’t even realize it. Slowly she rose to her feet refusing to listen to me or her body which looked as if it were ready to shut down at any moment. “Well your insane if you think I’m going to stay here with you….so go get the car ready or better yet give me a phone and I call for help.” Lucy grabbed her bags in an attempt to head out. I blocked the door, “You’re not leaving…sit your ass down.”

  She looked at me in disgust. “Don’t tell me what to do. Move.” She tried to walk past me but I stopped her.
“Let go…let g.g.g.” Lucy nearly fainted; she had no idea the pain she put on herself. I pulled her into my arms trying to comfort her. “It’s ok…its ok I got you.” She didn’t even think about fighting me, she just closed her eyes and dozed off. I laid her on the bed and stayed next to her, holding her like I used to. I looked into her bruised and beautiful face and pulled back her curly hair. “You almost killed yourself trying to get away from me.” I said resting my chin on her head as we lay together. “Do you hate me that much?” I wondered.

  Lucy

  By the time I woke up light from the moon was peering in through the balcony doors, making the scene of the room very beautiful…like a midnight bayou. I took it all in while trying to recollect what happened earlier. I must have really overworked myself my body felt wearier than usual. I noticed my bags were still packed and laying on the floor where I dropped them from earlier. Damn, I thought. Maybe I should have thought about my plan before I tried to execute it given my current state now. I looked down at myself, my hair was wet, and I was in my dark silk robe. My body scented of vanilla wash and my face became flustered as I realized I had been bathed. I didn’t know why I was so embarrassed, it was not like my husband hadn’t seen me naked before, but it has been a while. I became alert has the doorknob to my bed room turned. Grant flicked on the light, “Good I figured you would be up by now.”

  He was carrying another tray of food, being that I didn’t touch my breakfast. He stood there watching me for a moment I could tell he was staring at something. I looked down and my robe was half open, I quickly covered up. He laughed at me and sat the tray on the dresser. “Here you need to eat.” He motioned to the tray. It was filled with lasagna, green beans, a roll, and peach delight. I plopped down on my pillow not wanting any part of it. “I’m not hungry.” I could tell Grant was becoming frustrated with me by his deathly stare and long silence. “Look you haven’t eaten all day…if you are going to get any better you will need some food.” I pretended to go to sleep by rolling over and closing my eyes. Grant bit down on his lips trying to quell his anger. “Look I know you hate me now but could you at least be civil…for Greg. You really scared him tonight.”

  He placed the tray beside me and headed for the door. “Goodnight.” He said as he left. I opened my eyes and thought about what he said, as much as I didn’t want to admit it he was right, I must have sacred my son…hell I scared myself. I sat up and placed the tray of food in my lap. This looks really good, I thought. Must be that TV dinner I saw in the store knowing good and damn well Grant couldn’t cook.

  Chapter 23

  Not that Mad

  Grant

  I crept in on Lucy as she slept, I was pleased that she had eaten most of her food and watched her silently. I gazed in wishing I could lay there next to her, smell her, hold her body, whisper in her ear and tell her I love her. I exhaled knowing I couldn’t get close enough to her to do that at least not yet and left her medication on the dresser. I rose a little late the next morning, I quickly washed up, turned on some cartoons for Greg and sparks and made my way upstairs. I was hoping things with Lucy would go a little smoother…but dealing with my precious angel you never know. “Knock, knock”, I said as I walked into the room, but I didn’t see what I expected. Lucy was nowhere in sight. “Lucy…where are you?” There was no way in hell she could have left this room, so where the hell is she? Did this crazy woman get up and leave again? Just as I was about to run downstairs she opened the door to the bathroom. “What are doing?” I said angrily. She rolled her eyes at me not appreciating my tone. “Going to the bathroom is that ok with you?” She limped back to bed and I managed to calm down.

  “Why didn’t you call for me? I could have helped you.” Lucy smirked and laid back. “Umm... I could handle it.” I grew tense, I was sick of her putting herself in harm’s way to prove that she didn’t need me. That was an absolutely childish thing to do in her situation now. “Look I’m here to help you. You are not well enough to be taking care of yourself.” “Just because I’m injured doesn’t mean I’m helpless. I’m pretty sure I can handle certain things like going to the bathroom.” Instead of arguing with her today I tried to be reasonable. I walked closer to the bed and looked over her. “I got breakfast for you.” She closed her eyes as if she were going back to sleep…like I wasn’t even speaking. “Leave it on the table.” Now I rolled my eyes. “I was hoping you could come downstairs.” Lucy twisted her face at me like I was crazy. “I said I could go to the bathroom not jump hurdles.” “I could carry you.” I said timidly. She chuckled a little. “I’d rather stay up here.” I was growing tense again. “I didn’t bring you up here so you could not talk to me.” “I wish you hadn’t brought me here at all.”

  Unbelievable, I thought. I rubbed the back of my neck where it was starting to pain, then started laughing. Lucy looked a little disturbed but continued to lie in the bed ignoring me. “Woman, You really are not going to make this easy for me are you?” I asked leaning over her. Lucy pretended to be asleep and ignored my question. I sat down right next to her. “And that’s how I know you still love me… because if you didn’t you wouldn’t be fighting me so hard.” She tried to turn away from me but I pulled her back. Our eyes locked and I brought my mouth down to hers. Instantly that burning passion that had been building up inside of me exploded. She tried to fight me but the familiarity of my lips must have been too enticing. She let me overcome her and caressed her soft dark brown skin. She moaned as I licked and kissed all over her neck. As my hands began to travel under her robe, she reluctantly pushed me off. We both tried to catch our breath. I sat up and looked at her smiling. “Well you’re not that mad at me.” Lucy still trying to regain her composure scowled at me. “Oh, get out.” She gnarled at me. I was still smiling. “You sure. Is that what you really want me to do?”

  She rolled her eyes and tried to cover herself. “Seriously Grant leave.” “Really?” I responded while moving back closer to her. “Do you really want me to leave?” Before we knew it things got hot and heavy again, my hand found their way inside her and she clung to my mouth. We could see it…we could see ourselves coming back together again. “Dad…Dad. I don’t know how to work the remote.” Lucy and I both fell across the bed in disappointment. “Dad!” Little Greg yelled again. “I’m coming.” Or at least I was about to, I thought.

  Lucy

  After hearing little Greg’s voice I covered myself. Damn saved by the kid. Grant exhaled and made his way to the door, but not before looking back at me and smiling in his victory. I was losing my grip, we couldn’t keep doing this, we would be making love by nightfall. After some time passed I heard a knock on the door. I jumped but to my relief it was little Greg. “Hey mama, are you feeling better?” I smiled at him. “Yes baby much better.” He made his way over and sat beside me. “How is my little man huh?” “I’m good,” He grinned. “Dads downstairs microwaving dinner.” In the mist of laughing I quickly thought of something. “Hey baby, do you want to have dinner with mama tonight?” “Yessss…!” He screamed. Good, I thought, I would spend time with my son while holding Grant off…just a little longer. Oh boy, but damn didn’t it feel good to touch him again. I was getting hot just thinking about it. “Mama are you ok?” Little Greg asked looking at me puzzled. I broke away from my thoughts and recollected myself. “Yes baby. I’m fine.” Oh Lord give me strength.

  Chapter 24

  How we met

  Grant

  Ah Yeah, I thought as I found those black love candles I’ve been waiting to use…and tonight was the night. I knew Lucy still wanted me but we just needed the right atmosphere and the right time. So while in town I paid a visit to my barber and got my waves lined up just right, stopped by the store bought the best food I could get. I showered up real good and was in my black pen stripes suit and put a dash of that Burberry cologne on; I knew she couldn’t resist the Burberry. I glided through the kitchen, the smell of the steaks and wine was like an aphrodisiac…and had me ready to
go. The only thing that was missing was a good R. Kelly cd. I put everything on a tray and made my way upstairs, there was a big ass grin on my face because Lord only knows what we were about to get into tonight.

  I exhaled before I opened the door. “Woman I hope you’re ready, because you’re about to get…” I stopped in mid-sentence. “Hey Dad, what it is mama about to get?” Little Greg said while cradled in his mother’s arms. Damn, I thought. I knew I forgot something… the kid. “Dinner, Mama is about to get dinner.” I said putting the tray of delectables down and scowling at Lucy knowing good and damn well she planned this. “What are you doing up here little man?” I asked all ready knowing the answer. “Mommy wanted me to have dinner with her tonight.” He said while Lucy had a big grin on her face. “Did she?” He nodded. “Daddy why are you so dressed up? Were you going to a party?” Lucy chuckled to her own amusement. “Yes Grant, are you planning on going somewhere?” I chuckled too and looked down at her robe. “Oh I planned on going a lot places tonight.” She gave me a stern look not liking such talk in front of Greg so I eased up. “But since we are all in one room, we might as well have dinner together.” I put the tray of food on the bed and admitted defeat…for tonight.

  Lucy

  Unbelievable….I mean unbelievable he really thought just because he came in here all dressed up and decked out that I was just going to give him some… and damn he was right. That bastard, he knew he was looking entirely too damn good in those pen stripes. My God if Little Greg was not here Lord knows what would have happened. As he sat on the bed I got a whiff of his Burberry cologne. He tried to hit me with the Burberry; now he knows he was wrong for that. You don’t play with a sista about the Burberry. I had to shake this hot feeling off. I wasn’t going to let him know he was getting to me; I refused to let him now he was wearing me down. I was going to eat this dinner and act like everything was fine. “So baby what did you do today?” I asked Greg keeping the conversation as unsexy as possible.