“Uh-huh,” a woman sang.
“Adultery is when someone has sexual relations with someone other than his or her own spouse.”
“True, true,” an older gentleman said.
“And when we turn to Matthew, we’ll find that even looking at someone with a lustful heart is also an act of adultery.”
Mariah wondered when he’d decided to preach this particular sermon and wondered why he was doing it. She wondered if he was trying to convince her that he wasn’t an adulterer himself. If he was, he’d soon learn that it was going to take a lot more than some sermon to make her believe what he was saying. It would take even longer for her to ever trust him the way she had when she first met him.
She listened for a few minutes longer, but when she couldn’t listen anymore, she tuned Curtis out and waited for his sermon to be over.
It was unfortunate, but for the first time since she’d joined Truth Missionary Baptist Church, she didn’t want to be there.
Mariah hung her suit in the walk-in closet and slipped on a two-piece lounging outfit. Curtis eased up behind her and grabbed her around the waist.
“Baby, you haven’t said more than two words to me since we got home,” he said. “So what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m tired and I don’t feel well.”
“But you didn’t say much at the restaurant either.”
Mariah ignored him and walked into the master bathroom. She turned on the faucet and squeezed a few drops of facial cleanser inside her palm. She massaged the makeup from her face, went over it with toner, and then saturated her face with moisturizer. When she came back out to the bedroom, Curtis was waiting for her.
“Baby, come sit down for a minute,” he said. “Please.”
She wondered where this pleasant nature of his was coming from, but she took a seat and didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you last night and for being gone all day with Tyler. I was totally out of line, and I won’t ever treat you that way again.”
“But it’s not just about yesterday, Curtis. It’s about every day for the past three weeks or so.”
“I know. That schedule at the church is killing me, and after we argued last night, I prayed and asked God to deliver me from it. So what I’m going to do is start delegating more of my duties to my associate ministers and start saying no to some of these outside services. I can’t give up everything, but you were right when you said I promised to take every Monday off and spend it with you.”
Mariah wanted to stay angry at him, but he was making it harder by the minute. Maybe she’d been wrong about Curtis. Maybe she’d jumped the gun when she’d accused him of sleeping around. Maybe Vivian had pushed her to confront him much too quickly.
“The thing is,” he continued, “I took on leadership of a huge church and got married three months later. And before I knew it, I started feeling totally stressed out. Then one thing led to another and before long both you and Alicia were on the back burner.”
“It’s not that I don’t understand all the pressure you’re under, because to a certain extent, I do. But you really hurt me last night when you said all those terrible things to me.”
“I know, baby, and I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I guess I felt like you were trying to interrogate me for no reason.”
“But I did have a reason, and I also wanted you to tell me why our marriage was all of a sudden falling apart.”
“I know, and like I said, I’m sorry.”
He hugged her, and she couldn’t help yielding to his embrace. As she closed her eyes, warm tears rolled down her face.
“You know it really bothered me last night when you said you couldn’t go on with the way things were,” he said. “Because, Mariah, baby, I just couldn’t stand it if you actually wanted to leave me.”
“I only said that because I’m so unhappy. You know that I love you, Curtis, but it’s starting to feel like you don’t love me anymore.”
“But I do. With all my heart. And that’s why I felt compelled to tell the whole church during service this morning.”
“But you do know that you embarrassed me, right?” she said, smiling.
“Well, I didn’t mean to.”
“Well, you did.”
“Then I’ll try not to do that again. But you are as beautiful as I told them.”
Curtis gently leaned her back onto the bed and removed all of his clothing. He helped her remove her lounging set and pulled her toward him.
“You know, baby, I was thinking about what you said,” he continued.
“What?”
“You know. That you thought it was time we started a family.”
“And?”
“Well, I think it’s time, too. At first I didn’t, because of Alicia, but I had a long talk with her the other night when she called me about the dance, and I think this will be fine with her.”
“So what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I want you to stop taking your pills as soon as your doctor okays it.”
“Curtis, I don’t want to do this if you’re not really ready.”
“But I am ready. I’ve been thinking about it ever since you came to my office to talk about it. But after last night, I agree that we do need something that will be a part of both of us.”
“You just don’t know how happy that makes me,” she said.
“It makes me happy, too.”
They held each other and made passionate love and Mariah couldn’t remember Curtis ever being so patient with her. She didn’t know if he was serious about everything he’d said or if he was simply trying to appease her for the moment. But she was going to assume he was being genuine. She just didn’t see how she couldn’t. Especially since she’d married him for better or worse. Vivian wouldn’t be too happy, and now Mariah wished she hadn’t told her all those awful things about Curtis. She wished Vivian could see them now and that she could’ve heard how well Curtis explained everything.
She lay there in her husband’s arms, exhaling deeply. She was glad to have him back and felt completely relieved.
She couldn’t wait to have his baby.
Chapter 13
Mom, let a few more curls drop down in the back,” Alicia said, sitting in front of her mother’s master bedroom dressing mirror. Tanya was helping her get dressed for the big dance Alicia and her father were going to.
“Don’t worry. I will. But first I want to make sure we’ve got the curls loose enough. Otherwise none of them are going to hang the way they should.”
Alicia was tickled pink. She was so excited about the new gown her mother had bought her, and she couldn’t wait to see her father in his tux. He always looked handsome in any suit, but still she couldn’t wait to see him in evening attire. He would definitely be the best-looking man in the whole gymnasium.
“This is going to be the best night that Daddy and I have ever had together.”
“I think it will be, too, so aren’t you glad James talked you into calling him?”
“Yeah, but I still wish James could have gone, too. I know I couldn’t take both of them, but I sort of feel sorry for him, because he doesn’t have his own daughter to take to dances.”
“There will be other stuff he can take you to, and I don’t think he feels bad at all, because he knows how much you love your father.”
Alicia heard what her mother was saying, but she still wondered what it felt like to want children and not be able to have them. Her mother and James didn’t talk about it to her, but Alicia had overheard her mother on the phone with her own mother down in Georgia. She’d told her that since they’d been trying for two years straight, they were just going to be thankful for everything else that God had given them and accept the possibility that they would never have a child together. Alicia remembered how sad her mother had sounded, but she never really showed it.
“Mom?”
“Yes,” Tanya said, pinning strands of Alicia’s hair.
“Am I ever going to have a baby brother or sister? I mean besides the one Daddy had with that girl.”
“I don’t know. Why? Do you want one?”
“I don’t know. I guess it really doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. Sometimes I think it would be fun, but some of my friends have little brothers and sisters who get on their nerves.”
Tanya laughed. “I’ll bet.”
“So I guess I’m happy with things just the way they are, as long as I can be with Daddy.”
“Well, that’s good to hear, because you seemed so upset these past few weeks.”
“I know, but I won’t ever act like that again. I didn’t mean to talk to you the way I did either, Mom.”
“Apology accepted. And I also think it was a good idea for us to go back to counseling. Even if it’s only once a month.”
“I really like Dr. Pulliam. She always makes me feel so comfortable, and she always knows what to say.”
“Yeah, I like her, too,” Tanya said. Then she positioned a few more ringlets and spritzed Alicia’s hair with holding spray.
“Now all we have to do is put on your makeup and then you can slip on your dress.”
Alicia sat quietly as her mother smoothed on a light layer of Lancôme foundation. After that, she applied barely a touch of eye shadow, drew eyeliner on the lower lids, brushed mascara on her lashes, and gently swept blush on her cheeks. She finished by dusting pressed powder across her entire face.
“What do you think?” Tanya asked.
Alicia turned toward the mirror and grinned from ear to ear. She stood up and hugged her mother.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. You look absolutely beautiful.”
“Now I have to get my dress.” She was so excited she didn’t know what to do.
“Wait a minute. We need to put on your jewelry.”
“Oh yeah,” Alicia said, picking up the rhinestone earrings and placing them in her ears. Her mother clasped together the matching choker.
In her room, Alicia removed her robe, pulled on her panty hose, and slid on her dress, which was satin, periwinkle, and off-the-shoulder. It was striking, if Alicia had to say so herself. She looked so grown-up.
“It’s almost five-fifteen, so Daddy should be here any minute,” she said, slipping on two-inch off-white heels.
“We’d better get downstairs so we can take some pictures,” Tanya said.
Alicia grabbed her purse and they went down to the family room.
“Nobody told me that Miss America was showing up here tonight,” James said, and Alicia blushed like she didn’t know him.
“She does look stunning, doesn’t she?” Tanya said.
James snapped shots of Alicia and Tanya and Tanya did the same for Alicia and James. Then he set the camera and they took a photo with the three of them together.
“It’s five-thirty,” Alicia said, peeking through the blinds. “Maybe I should call him.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here,” Tanya said. “He’s probably just running a little late.”
Alicia didn’t say anything, but she was starting to get nervous.
“I’m glad we got a dress with a matching shawl, because it seems like it’s going to be a little chilly tonight,” Tanya continued.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you have a seat until your dad gets here,” James said, and Alicia knew it was because he sensed her anxiety.
She sat a while longer, but just when she looked at the clock and saw that it was five forty-five, the phone rang. She watched her mother walk into the kitchen to pick it up and felt distressed.
“Hello,” Tanya said.
“Tanya. Hi. Where’s Alicia?”
“She’s right here waiting for you.”
“Well, let me speak to her.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m running a little late, but I’ll be there.”
Tanya walked the phone over to Alicia and said, “It’s your father.”
“Hello,” Alicia said, practically holding her breath.
“Baby girl, Daddy is so sorry. He got caught up with some church business, and it threw him a little late. But I’m on my way home now to get dressed.”
“To get dressed? The dance starts in less than fifteen minutes, Daddy.”
“I know, but we’ll just have to be a little late. Okay?”
“Well, what time are you going to pick me up?”
“I’m only maybe twenty minutes from the house, and all I have to do is shower real quick and put on my tux. So I should be there to get you around seven.”
“But the school is almost thirty minutes away, and the dance is over at nine o’clock,” Alicia said, tears already welling in her eyes.
“I know, baby girl, but at least we’ll still have an hour and a half to be there.”
“I don’t wanna go. So let’s just forget it,” she said, dropping her purse.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to.”
“Baby girl, please don’t cancel the whole evening just because I messed up on my timing.”
“No, let’s just forget it.”
“Okay, maybe I can get there by six forty-five.”
“No, Daddy, I said I don’t wanna go.”
“But, baby girl, you and I have been looking forward to this for two weeks.”
“I knew you were gonna do this, Daddy. You always say one thing and then you do another. And I’m sick of it,” she screamed, crying. “I’m sick of you treating me like this, and you don’t ever have to worry about me bothering you again.”
She threw the phone down on the circular sofa and ran upstairs. Tanya looked at James and hurried behind her.
“Look, Mariah, don’t start this again,” Curtis said, stepping out of the shower. “I’ve really messed up with Alicia, and I’m not in the mood for all this nagging.”
She was really starting to irritate him, and he couldn’t wait to get away from her for the rest of the evening.
“But I don’t understand why you have to go back out this late when you were already gone all afternoon. You did the same thing last Saturday, and since it’s already after nine, why can’t you just go to the hospital after church tomorrow?”
“Because I’m going tonight, that’s why. I already told Brother Fairgate that I would come by and pray for his wife as soon as Alicia’s dance was over. So he and his family weren’t expecting me until around ten, anyway.”
“And who are the Fairgates? Are they new?”
“No, they’re not new.”
“Well, I’ve never heard that name before.”
“Woman, there’re over three thousand members at that church, so I’m not surprised that you haven’t. I mean, what do you expect? To know every single person who’s a member there?”
“No.”
“Well, you sure act like it.”
“Is she in critical condition or something?”
“Sweet Jesus.” Curtis sighed. “I don’t know all of that. All I know is that she’s low sick, and they want me to come pray for her.”
“Okay, then, I’ll just go with you.”
“For what?” he said, turning to look at her, frowning.
“Because it won’t hurt for me to be there with you. I should go visit the sick with you more often anyway.”
Why was she trying to make his life so difficult? Didn’t she know that if he’d wanted her to go, he would already have asked her? Why couldn’t she just accept what he was telling her and climb off his back?
“Maybe some other time,” he finally said. “Because with everything that has happened between me and my baby girl, I need to be alone. I know you mean well, but I need some time to figure out how I’m going to make things up to her.”
“Well, where were you earlier?”
“I’ve already told you that I ran some errands and took care of some church business.”
“Then what was so important that you couldn’t even ge
t home in time for Alicia’s dance?”
He was about to end this useless interrogation.
“For the hundredth time, I told you I got caught up at the church and then I got caught up in traffic. You know how the Dan Ryan can be on a Saturday.”
She looked at him and he could tell she hadn’t believed a word of what he’d said. But it didn’t make any difference, because as soon as he stepped into his other shoe, he would be walking right down those stairs and right out the back door.
“I don’t like this, Curtis.”
He raised his voice. “You don’t like what, Mariah?”
“The way you’ve been acting today. You seemed like you were really trying all last week, and now it’s like you’re a different person again. It’s almost like you hate being here with me.”
“Think what you want to, because I’m through trying to convince you. Jeez. You tell a person the truth, and they still don’t believe you,” he said, heading down the stairway.
“Curtis, just let me ride over there with you,” she pleaded.
“I’ll see you when I get back,” he said, and walked out of the house.
And he couldn’t have been more relieved to be free of Mariah and her relentless cross-examination. More importantly, he was never going to forgive himself for disappointing Alicia. And he was a little upset with Adrienne, since he’d told her that he couldn’t see her today because he had to escort Alicia to her dance. But against his better judgment, he’d gone ahead and met with her over at Tyler’s. He’d told her he could only stay for two hours, but when they’d both fallen asleep, two hours had turned into four, and they hadn’t woken up until five. He still didn’t know how he’d allowed himself to get so relaxed and fall off to sleep the way he did. But he knew it partly had to do with how tired he’d been for the last couple of days. He’d been working as hard as always and then spent all day Monday and every single evening with Mariah just the way she wanted. But that meant he hadn’t seen Adrienne. And of course, by Thursday she’d started sounding suspicious.
So now, since he’d been trying to satisfy both of them, his life was spinning out of control. They were placing far too much pressure on him, and it was time he put a stop to it. Adrienne was much easier to deal with because he didn’t have to see her every day, but Mariah was getting under his skin. She was getting beside herself, and he knew it was because he’d told her they could start a family, and because he’d made love to her six days straight. But by Wednesday he’d become very bored with her again, and had made the decision to call someone else. He’d tried for years not to do it, but now, with all this talk about having a baby, he longed for his only son. As much as he hated to admit it, he longed to spend just one night with his son’s mother again. He needed Charlotte to add up the rest of the equation.
Too Much of a Good Thing Page 13
