Delilah said, “I want to see if I can make things right with my brother-in-law. We are family.”
“I don’t think this is a good time. Maybe later.” Sheba stood with her hands on her hips.
“Sheba, you look a little flushed. He hasn’t hit you, has he?” Delilah eyed Sheba curiously.
Sheba shook her head. “No, of course not. Uriah would never raise his hand at me.”
“My legs are a little tired, so if you don’t mind, I’ll come in and sit down.” Delilah walked closer to the door.
Sheba sighed. “Come on. Since you insist. Uriah’s in the den. Might as well get this over with.”
Delilah looped her arm through Sheba’s arm. “Let me throw on my Baker girl charm. Uriah will come around in no time.”
Sheba wasn’t too sure about it. She plastered on a fake smile and led Delilah into the den. “Dear, look who’s here.”
Uriah looked up and then looked back down at the television without saying a word.
Not good, Sheba thought.
“Yuaruh, I’m glad you’re home,” Delilah said.
“It’s Uriah,” Sheba said, correcting her.
“I need to go to the restroom. I’ll be right back,” Delilah said.
Uriah still didn’t say anything. He turned the volume up on the television. Sheba had to do something. She walked over to where Uriah sat and took the remote from him. She clicked the off button.
“I was watching that,” he said.
“I’ve never known you to be rude before. So what’s the deal?”
“I’ve heard about the problems she caused at that church, and I told you I don’t want that woman in my house.”
“That woman is my sister. Like I told you before, it’s something you will have to deal with. She’s family.”
“Her being your family is still questionable. I don’t have to deal with her. Now, hand me back the remote.”
“Uriah, come on. She looks just like my mom. That’s all the proof I need right there,” Sheba responded.
“I don’t trust her, and I don’t have to like her.”
Sheba sat down next to Uriah and started rubbing his leg. “She’s not as bad as you think. Sure, she can be a little obnoxious, but beneath all of that, she’s really a nice person.”
Uriah looked in her eyes. She batted her eyelashes and pouted. “Okay, I’ll try, but I can’t make you any promises.”
Sheba grabbed his head and planted kisses on his cheeks. “Thank you. That’s why I love you so much.”
Uriah laughed. “Don’t get carried away just yet.”
“So is it safe to enter?” Delilah asked.
Sheba responded, “Have a seat. I want my two favorite people to get to know each other better. While you two are doing that, I’ll go put dinner on.”
Sheba thought it was best to let them talk things out among themselves. Hopefully, by the time dinner was ready, they would have come to terms with their differences, and they could be one big happy family.
Laughter filled the room as Delilah entertained them over dinner. The doorbell rang.
“Were you expecting anyone?” Sheba asked Uriah.
“No, so let me go see who it is.” Uriah got up from the table.
“So, little sis, you like how I worked that Baker girl charm on him?”
“For a minute, I was feeling a little jealous. I haven’t gotten Uriah to laugh like that since he’s been back.” Sheba meant it, too. She could feel the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head when she noticed how Uriah seemed to be entranced with every word that came out of Delilah’s mouth. She and Uriah had yet to sleep together since he’d been back, and she was beginning to wonder if being pregnant had taken away her sex appeal.
Those doubts were erased when she looked up from her plate and into the eyes of David. David’s eyes seemed to pierce right through her soul. The heat scorched her to the core. She unconsciously picked up her napkin and fanned herself.
“David, nice to see you again,” Delilah said.
“Same here. Sheba, how are you?” David asked.
Sheba cleared her throat. “Fine. And you?”
This was the first time they had seen each other since the morning David dropped her off after their tryst. He seemed more buff than before. He wasn’t in one of his stuffy suits. He was wearing a shirt that showed off his biceps and triceps. Sheba forgot that Uriah was in the room.
Uriah stepped from behind David and addressed Sheba. “Looks like you can set an extra plate. Mr. King, you came just in time.”
“Uriah, we’re off the clock now, so call me David.”
Delilah patted the table next to her. “He can sit right next to me. Two good-looking men. Now this is the life.”
“I’m sure David would rather eat at one of the five-star restaurants than eat my cooking,” Sheba said as she cast her eyes downward. She hoped her eyes, filled with desire for David, wouldn’t betray her.
David sat down next to Delilah. “I’m sure you’re an excellent cook, so bring me a plate.”
Sheba wanted to wipe the smirk off David’s face. She had made amends with Uriah, and now here David was, throwing another monkey wrench into her seduction plans.
Sheba couldn’t enjoy her meal. She spent the entire time watching David and Delilah. Delilah was flirting with David a little too much, in her opinion. She caught Uriah watching her, so she flashed him a smile. She went back to picking over her food.
Toward the end of the meal, she excused herself and went to the bathroom. She held her head over the commode, but nothing came out. It was a false alarm. She walked right into Uriah when she exited the bathroom.
“I decided to leave those two alone. I think I see a connection there,” Uriah said.
Sheba wanted to say “I hope not,” but instead she remained silent. She welcomed Uriah’s embrace with open arms. She closed her eyes, with her mind on David and Delilah.
Chapter 32
David was enjoying the cat-and-mouse game he and Delilah were playing. Delilah was a beautiful woman, but she didn’t have that special something that Sheba had. He chuckled to himself because it appeared that Sheba couldn’t keep her eyes off of them. She needed to be careful, though, because she didn’t want to raise any suspicions with Uriah.
David removed Delilah’s hand from his. “You can stop with the act now. They’re gone.”
“Who said it was an act? I find you very attractive,” Delilah replied.
David leaned back. “Most women do. It’s hard to resist my charm.”
“You’re conceited, too, but I like that.” Delilah smiled.
“I think you know that I have feelings for your sister, so anything between us would never work.”
“Let me make you forget all about her.” Delilah moved her chair closer to him.
David moved his chair farther away. “That’s just trifling. Trying to hook up with your sister’s baby daddy.”
Delilah’s mouth flew open. “Oh my goodness. She’s pregnant.”
David placed his hand over her mouth. “Shh. Keep it down. Yes, she’s pregnant, but you don’t have to broadcast it.”
Delilah raised her hand and counted with her fingers. “Ooh. Wow. Wait until he finds out. He’s going to kick your behind from here to Afghanistan.”
“You need to chill out. He’s not going to find out from me or from you.”
“Y’all going to hell, and I don’t want no part of it.”
David eyed her curiously. “If that’s not the pot calling the kettle black ... all the dirt I’ve heard you’ve done.”
“Rumors, David. Just rumors. But what you’re saying is fact.” Delilah pushed away from the table.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I’m going to find Sheba. She and I need to talk.”
“Stay out of it, please. We’re going to work this out.”
Uriah stepped back in the room, with Sheba on his heels. Uriah said, “A lovers’ spat already. Delilah, stop givin
g this man a hard time.”
Delilah looked at David and then back at Uriah. “David will be all right. Won’t you, David?”
David cleared his throat. “Uriah, why don’t we go to the casinos and hang out? I would love to get a face-to-face report on what’s going on overseas.”
“Well, Sheba and I were about to—”
Sheba interrupted him. “Go with David. We can handle our business when you get back.”
David and Uriah left, and about thirty minutes later, they pulled up in front of one of the city’s casinos. They found a table near the bar, and David went to get their drinks. David noticed a woman all up in Uriah’s face when he returned to the table.
“Dear, I don’t think his wife would appreciate you pushing up on her man like that,” he said.
“Whatever,” the woman said as she rolled her eyes. She grabbed her drink and left their table.
“Thanks, man. I was trying to let her down nicely, but she wasn’t taking the hints.”
“When women are that aggressive, I’ve found the best approach is the direct approach,” David said as he handed Uriah a drink.
“I haven’t had any liquor in months,” Uriah said. “I’m really not a drinker.”
“You’ve earned it. So bottoms up.” David held up his drink. What Uriah didn’t know was that David’s drink was straight cola. David rarely drank.
Uriah downed the bourbon and Coke. They played a few rounds at the roulette table. David made sure Uriah kept a drink in his hand for the next few hours. Satisfied that Uriah was good and drunk, David felt his mission had been accomplished. Now all he had to do was get Uriah safely back home to his adoring wife.
Uriah said, “I’m sorry. I normally can hold my liquor better than this.” He staggered a little bit. “Sheba, can’t see me like this. She’ll freak out.”
David had second thoughts. Maybe he should have Uriah sleep it off a little and then take him home. “Uriah, hold on. Let me get a room, and you can chill there before I drop you off at home.”
“That sounds like a plan. ’Cause I really don’t feel like hearing Sheba moan about me getting drunk.”
David didn’t want to hear her complain, either, but he sure would love to hear her moan. Moan out his name. David checked himself real quick. The hotel clerk recognized him and gave him the electronic keys to his usual suite.
Uriah leaned on him as they made their way to the room.
Once they were inside the room, David said, “Sit here and I’ll get you a cold compress.”
“Man, I’m fine.” Uriah plopped down on the sofa.
David went to the bathroom and wet a hand towel. When he returned to the living room area, Uriah was laid out on his back with his mouth open, snoring.
“What in the world?” David said.
He walked up to Uriah and shook him. Uriah didn’t budge. “Uriah, man, wake up.”
Nothing.
Uriah was stiff as a board. David took the wet towel and placed it on Uriah’s forehead. Uriah stirred, but he didn’t wake up. A moment later he shifted his body and turned over, with his back now toward David. Uriah was out cold, and David’s nudging didn’t affect him at all.
David called Sheba. “Hate to tell you this, but Uriah won’t be coming home tonight.”
“What do you mean, he won’t be coming home? What have you done to my husband?” Sheba screamed.
David moved the phone away from his ear. When he didn’t hear Sheba’s voice, he put the phone back up to his ear. “He sort of had a little too much to drink. We came up to my room for him to get himself together, and he passed out. I mean out cold. He won’t wake up.”
“That’s why I don’t like him drinking. He can’t hold his liquor.”
“Well, how was I supposed to know that? I’ll bring him home as soon as he wakes up,” David said.
“Whatever. Oh, and another thing, I don’t appreciate you flirting with my sister.”
“Are you jealous?” David asked.
Sheba hung up on him.
David laughed. She’s jealous. I know it.
Chapter 33
“So it’s just you and me for the night. We can have a sleepover,” Delilah said.
Sheba hated that Delilah had overheard her conversation with David. “I’m fine by myself.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but I think you better decide what you’re going to do about the baby you’re carrying.”
Sheba felt exposed. “What baby? What are you talking about?”
Delilah stood up and placed her hand over Sheba’s stomach. “I can see a little pouch developing. You’re pregnant, dear. And if I do the math, Uriah’s not the daddy.”
Sheba let the floodgates open. Delilah wrapped her arms around her and let her cry on her shoulder.
“What am I going to do? I can’t have this baby unless Uriah’s the father,” Sheba said.
Delilah handed her a tissue from the box on the nearby table. “You’re not going to be able to pull it off, so you need to come clean with Uriah. Do it while you still have a chance. Don’t let him find out another way.”
“He’ll never forgive me. I need for him to think this baby’s his.”
“Sheba, how can you expect the Lord to bless you and this child if you keep living a life of dishonesty? Don’t be like me. Be better.”
Sheba pulled herself together. “I think you better go home.”
“Tsk, tsk. You’re treading on thin ice right now. This game you’re playing with David is going to blow up in your face. I’m only looking out for you ... for the baby.”
Sheba rolled her eyes. “Delilah, I’m warning you. You need to mind your own business.”
Delilah grabbed her purse. Before she left, she reached into her purse and handed Sheba some literature. “Looks like you’ll have to learn things the hard way. This is the kind of woman I want to be and the kind of woman I thought you were,” Delilah said.
Delilah left Sheba alone with her thoughts and the literature. Since she was far from sleepy, Sheba held on to the paper and read it as soon as she got back on the couch after seeing Delilah out. Tears streamed down Sheba’s face as she read a familiar passage from Proverbs 31. She was far from being a virtuous woman. She had allowed lust and a bout of temporary insanity to cause her to break her wedding vows.
She held her head down in shame. She was an adulterous woman. She wondered if she would ever be able to redeem herself in the eyes of God. She rubbed her belly as she thought about the sin she’d committed. The little one growing inside her belly was the reminder of her one-night lapse of judgment.
She closed her eyes and prayed. “Lord, please forgive me. I know that I haven’t been going to church like I should. That I haven’t been praying like I should. But I’m so sorry. If you could get me through this, I promise you, Lord, that I will do better. Please don’t let me lose my husband. Uriah’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve to get hurt. If he finds out about this, he’s going to leave me. I don’t know if I can live my life without him, Lord. Please, God. Please fix this situation.”
By the time Sheba stopped praying, her face was covered by tearstains. After praying, she curled up into a little ball and fell asleep on the couch. She remained there until the next morning, when she heard the front door open.
She yawned and stretched. “What happened to you?” she asked Uriah.
“Baby, I’ll explain later. First, I need to take a shower.” Uriah headed toward the master bedroom.
She didn’t notice David until he spoke. “How’s it going?”
“I’ve had better mornings,” Sheba replied coldly.
“Your man is going to need peace and quiet for a few hours. He has a slight hangover.”
If looks could kill, David would be dead. Sheba bore into him with her eyes. “I blame you, you know.”
“He’s a grown man. If he couldn’t hang, he should have stopped drinking.”
“He looks up to you and is always trying to impress you.”
“I’m a likable guy. I wish you liked me,” David said as he walked near her.
“Good. You’re still here,” Uriah said, startling them both.
David turned around to face him. “What’s wrong?” David asked.
“I got a call from the satellite office. I need to get back there as soon as possible.”
“Nooo,” Sheba wailed. “You haven’t been here a week yet. You told me you were going to be here for two weeks.” She ran up to Uriah.
He looked at her. “I know, baby, but duty calls. I’m responsible for the satellite office, and with things not going well, I need to get back there pronto. They thought they could handle everything without me, but something’s come up.”
Sheba turned to face David. “Can’t he handle the problem from here? Can you send somebody else?”
David looked at Sheba and then back at Uriah. “I’m afraid not, Sheba. He’s been handling this phase, and if something’s not going right, he’s the one I trust to fix it.”
“Fine. Then go.” Sheba pouted.
A moment later she stormed out of the room, went to their bedroom, and lay across their bed. Ten minutes later Uriah entered. He lay across the bed, too, and placed his arm around her.
“I’m sorry, baby. I wish I didn’t have to go.”
Sheba cried and cried while Uriah held her tighter and tighter. She cried because she was going to miss Uriah. She cried harder when she realized that there was no way in the world she would be able to pass off her child as Uriah’s unless they did it before he left. Sheba did her best to seduce Uriah, to entice him into having sex with her.
Uriah’s body wouldn’t cooperate. “Baby, it’s the stress. You know I want to, don’t you?”
“But I need to feel you inside of me,” Sheba said, pouting.
“I can’t make it do what it won’t do,” Uriah said as he got up and started packing some of his clothes.
While he packed, she watched. She refused to help him pack to leave her. The doorbell rang.
“That’s probably David’s driver. I’m not getting the door,” she announced.
“Come on, Sheba. Don’t be like this. Do you love me?” he asked.
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