7:10

by Wilkins, Dominique

  He had his invitation, so he went in and got to work. They banged around in the unisex bathroom for over thirty minutes. Thirty minutes later, Charlotte found herself completely nude and covered in sweat, while Rome still had on his socks, Timberland boots, and a pile of clothes around one of his ankles. Charlotte assessed the situation inwardly, because the two of them were panting so hard that conversation was useless. She smiled as she looked at him, still sitting on the toilet where she left him with his stick waving in the air like a flag in a soft wind and drenched in her juices.

  They couldn’t talk, so she quietly started the clean-up detail. She grabbed a towel from under the sink, and began to run the water on top of it, as she straightened out the soap dispenser and fragrance containers to put the bathroom back together. She grabbed the hot towel, lathered it in soap and washed him seductively, while he looked on with a look of appreciation through the balls of sweat still dripping down his face. Even his chest was still rising up and down quickly. She wondered if he was getting excited again from the wash-up.

  She hoped not; they would need to continue their marathon at a later time, in an intimate setting. She washed him completely and gave him a towel to do the drying himself, then began to take care of herself. After she had completely washed and dried herself, she began to look around, to attempt to collect her clothes and underwear that were strewn about everywhere. As she looked for them, she checked in again with him to see that his crazy butt was still sitting on the toilet, naked with a hard on!

  This time, she laughed out loud and said, “Boy, put your clothes on, we’ve got to get out of here. There’s no time for more rounds!” He made a sad face first and then smiled as he wrestled the anaconda back into its cage.

  Chapter 6

  Charlotte had no idea how much she needed that release! No heart tightness at all. The old ticker was skipping a beat now. It was beating to the song by McFadden & Whitehead called, “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now.” It was all she needed to feel alive again. She gathered herself and closed the store after she cleaned up their mess. Rome was feeling good as he followed her home in his truck, so that she could park her car and ride with him to her destination.

  He hadn’t driven very long, before his phone was vibrating again to continue the drama from earlier. His wife was calling him to destroy his day. He had already been to an attorney to have divorce papers written and request for custody of their sixteen year old daughter. Initially he had been trying to rekindle things with her and stay in his daughter’s life, but after he met Charlotte and the girls, the fight within him had gone and he wanted nothing more than to give them what they craved- a life without him. He cared too much and spoke too much about their safety and their well-being, while they only wanted what the Devil in the streets had to offer.

  Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

  (2 John 1:9-11)

  Although Rome was trying to give them the freedom that they longed for, she wanted to fight it. He fought for months to get their attention and beg for compromises, but neither of them was interested in what he proposed. Now, with the need for closure, she wanted to throw a monkey wrench into things. She called earlier asking if he was sleeping with some hoe in the streets or if he was letting a bitch suck his dick? She clearly accused him of the activities that she had been engaging in, assuming that if she was doing it, he had to have been as well. Rome was feeling so good, that he refused to let her disturb his groove. He picked up the phone and talked to her in a cool voice. There was nothing that she could say that would hurt him anymore.

  He turned on his blue-tooth and said, “Listen, Cicely, I am not going to keep arguing with you and debating with you about the inevitable. It is over between us and has been for quite some time. I am not going to ask you if you have been committing adultery. You have to answer for your own sins, just as I will have to answer for mine. We all will have to beg for forgiveness individually. If you don’t want to consent to sign the papers, that is fine, you are not the first person to contest divorce papers and you will not be the last. I will still pursue the resolution of this marriage whether you like it or not. At the end of this phone call, I will block your number and not allow this foolishness to take up any more of my time. If my daughter has discovered the error of her ways and would like to reconnect with me at that time, then have her email me. I will continue to pray for both of you and wish you well with your new lives. Goodbye, Cicely.”

  He knew that he needed to tell Charlotte about them, but didn’t want to scare her off with too many complications. He decided he would tell her once everything had blown over and under the rug. It was too soon. He had the rest of his life to tell her about his past, now he must work diligently on his future. Rome smiled at the thought just as they pulled up to Charlotte’s place. She greeted him with twinkling eyes and a huge smile, when she got in the passenger seat and took her place alongside him. He reached for her hand to hold as he pulled off. Looking at the two of them, no one would have ever thought that they were heading to the police station to pick up an offender.

  The two of them didn’t do a whole lot of talking during the ride, it was as if they had already connected and communicated mentally. Rome felt that the music on the radio station played all old school gospel songs to give this relationship its blessings; a promise for new beginnings and the ending of their previous storms.

  Chapter 7

  At the police station, Rome was reminded of how real the Psalm 23 verse was:

  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.(Psalm 23:4)

  They walked up to the front desk and told the officer who they were looking for and why she would be there and waited patiently for the officer to direct their steps to Estelle’s captor and ask all of the necessary questions. During the time that they waited for the information, they looked around them to take in the atmosphere. There was no one in the building that appeared to want to be there. The two of them stood out like sore thumbs in view of the fact that they looked calm and at peace in this establishment.

  The officer got Charlotte’s attention, with her announcement of Estelle’s transfer. She was originally brought there to them, but due to the fact that she was a minor, they transferred her to a juvenile holding center on Roosevelt Road. They needed to go down there for her. Charlotte nodded her head and used the name that she read on the tag to politely ask for the pertinent information that would be required for the next officer to retrieve her daughter, as well as the directions to the facility and it’s parking arrangements. She asked a few more questions for clarity and then politely thanked the officer for her assistance in the matter before they left.

  At the juvenile detention center, they discovered that Estelle was charged with theft and disorderly conduct on someone else’s phone. They released her to them but not before Estelle was given a court date in a month, where they would determine at that time if she would be sentenced to Juvenile jail time. The officer led the two of them to what seemed like an interrogation room to wait for them to bring Estelle down to them for release. Rome stayed close to her side and kept her hand tucked inside his massive, strong ones for support. He was proud of her for holding up so well, considering the state that he found her in earlier, when he arrived at the bookstore. He loved her strength and determination. She had been through a lot and she was harnessing that energy.

  When the female officer brought Estelle down, she removed the handcuffs from her wrists and sat the brown bag with her belongings, confiscated earlier, down on the table and stepped back. Estelle gave a grunt and began to go through the bag to retrieve her things without even acknowledging her mother. Charlotte
sat there watching her put her belt back on and put her jewelry and things back in place quietly. Charlotte rose to go but did not gather the paperwork from the table as she rose. She removed her hand from inside of Jerome’s, pushed the chair in and walked up to Stell’s side. Stell finally raised her head to make eye contact with her mother, but with an aggravated look on her face. Charlotte took the same hand that Rome had been powering up and training for its purpose and sent it across Estelle’s face like a Mortal Kombat finishing move. Estelle fell back on the table and looked up at her mother in complete shock. Both Rome and the officer stood back, looking on. There was no purpose of intervening. It was one-sided, but it was oh so fair. After knocking her down, Charlotte picked her up by gathering the neck of her shirt and pulling it out of shape, as she brought her close enough to her face for a kiss. Through clenched teeth, Charlotte threatened her life and suggested if she wanted to continue to live, as long as she was a minor, she would do as she is told and get a new attitude. There would be some changes, going into effect immediately. She also told her that if she thinks that she is a joke, the next time they end up at the police station, it will be for either a successful murder or an attempted one on her life.

  On that note, Charlotte released her shirt, extended her hand toward Rome to grab, and then walked out of the station hand in hand to the truck. She only looked for Estelle, after she had gotten into the truck and put on her seatbelt. She didn’t have to look far because she was walking up to the truck with her bag and papers in her hands right afterward. Apparently, the fact that the officer didn’t do or say anything, when her mother grew this new backbone on her scared the crap out of her...

  As they drove to the school to meet with the principal, Estelle quickly got over the recent events and jumped on board. She wasn’t sure if she was more shocked at her mother or proud that she had finally grown a backbone. She apologized to her mom for what she did and assured her that she would not do it again. Charlotte never turned around. She continued to face forward and smiled to herself.

  He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him early.(Proverbs 13:24)

  Since Estelle was jolted back into her new reality, it was easier to discuss a lighter punishment. After school community service, a verbal apology to Deidra, a gym class change and a three-day suspension, they allowed her to continue to attend the school with a last chance warning. Charlotte knew they would, the school was in the middle of an impoverished neighborhood and were funded off of every student they had in attendance. They needed Estelle because Charlotte made sure she got those girls out of the house every day. She may not have been able to get them to do what they were supposed to when they were there, but she could definitely make sure they went.

  Chapter 8

  Charlotte assessed her situation and determined that things were finally changing and going her way. Rome and Dell had hit it off great. The two of them would always run off on errands together or laughing about some corny joke the two of them shared on a run, while he and Stell enjoyed watching the reality shows on TV together. It was apparent that he had passed the test for them as well and they accepted them as their new father and friend.

  Stell was still acting a fool here and there, due to the negative company that she kept and a stupid gangbanging boyfriend who they knew that time would rid them of his phase with a little help from the threat department. Charlotte was all too familiar with the bad-boy mate that only you saw the good in, but no one else could. The more your family forbids you to see him, the harder you worked to keep them. Charlotte saw the cycle in motion. Her own mother did it, then she did it and now her own daughter was doing it.

  Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

  Charlotte prayed on the situation and for the cursed cycle to end. Rome did the same and tried to keep her preoccupied with activities and family, while speaking to her on behalf of men that age and what their intentions really were, in hopes that she would see her value and worth, then voluntarily leave him and that dark life alone altogether.

  Overall, Charlotte concluded life was good and God was great. In between bible study, the mother’s board meetings, church functions and service, her mother would squeeze in from time to time to check in with her and share a prayer or two and catch up to speed with their lives. Her mother was so happy to hear about their newfound peace in their home and lives but still felt the need to remind Charlotte that she was still married to Greg and the bible frowns upon adultery.

  Mrs. Sheri Harrigan felt the same way about parenting as Charlotte did. She would not force her beliefs, views and opinions upon her children; for she knew that it was useless. She would simply voice her opinion and point out the error in their ways, so that they are informed, but ultimately allow them to make their own decisions. Since they would inevitably do what they wanted anyway.

  Mrs. Sheri didn’t want to dampen the mood of the conversation, but felt that since she had brought up Greg, she might as well continue on the subject, while she was there. She told Charlotte that since she had not moved or changed her phone number, Greg had called her the other day, saying that he missed her and the girls and wanted them to come back home. Mrs. Sheri continued, since Charlotte remained silent. She told Charlotte that he had come by later that day, to ask her for forgiveness, because he knew that when he hurt Charlotte, he was hurting them all.

  After he finished his apologies and requests for forgiveness, he broke down and cried. He admitted that he wanted his wife and children back, but would understand if they never came. Mrs. Sheri went on to say that before he left, he told her that he knew they were very close and shared intimate details with each other, so he told her that he tested positive for HIV and wasn’t sure where he got it from or how long he had it, but someone told him, which prompted him to get tested and now he wanted you to know.

  This time, Charlotte shocked her mother, when she responded quickly and very happily, “Thanks for telling me that Mom! You see, it makes me that much happier to know that I stayed in that abusive relationship for many years, while I often left and went back for more, but now, this is for so many reasons ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’ If ever I thought that I wanted to go back for any reason that is now the greatest reason not to!”

  Mrs. Sheri said, “Charlotte, the bible says that when someone asks for forgiveness, you are to forgive them. At the end of the day, that is your husband, but if you feel as though he has not changed his ways and would never go back to him but needed validation to stay away and alive, that is great. Except what about you? You are aware that he does not know how long he has had it and may have given it to you as well, aren’t you?”

  Again, Charlotte replied happily, “Oh, no, Mom, I heard you and I will make an appointment to take the test when Rome and I come back with the girls from our mini-getaway this weekend. It’s just that, after I was so upset after I found him having sex with that woman, I immediately went to the Planned Parenthood to take all of the tests that they offered and received a clean bill of health! That was almost six months ago, but I will go back and do a follow-up, since you’ve passed on this new information.”

  Mrs. Sheri was so relieved. She was not sure how to feel. She realized then, why Charlotte could rejoice upon hearing what should have been terrible news. She struggled with the overwhelming feeling of relief and gratefulness for her daughter’s news that competed with the feeling of sadness and pity for Greg’s. Her daughter was not heartless and she knew that she too would address the sadness of Greg’s situation at a later time, but for now, they could only pray for him and his sickness.

  On that note, Mrs. Sheri changed the subject, before she had forgotten her thought. It was important that she shared her dream with Charlotte, since she mentioned a road trip. She told her that she recently dreamed that she and the children were in a car and had a terrible accident while driving through some mountains. She warned her not to go and definitely not to put h
er whole family in one vehicle.

  Charlotte was all too familiar with her mother’s dreams. Her mother was so deep in the church, that sometimes, she seemed to live in fear and didn’t do a whole lot any more. To her, dreams were no longer just a recreation of a movie, she may have seen, but were visions given to her from God as messages. Sure one or two of them had some similarities that had come to pass in reality, but not enough to say “Everyone stop. Mom has spoken.”

  She thanked her mother for the warnings and tried to convince her that they were only going to The Wilderness Resorts, where Rome had rented a two-bedroom vacation villa in Wisconsin Dells. The drive would be three hours at the most. Since their bags were already packed, they would leave out the next day after they had gotten home from work and school and head back Sunday evening with enough time to rest up to welcome their normal routines on Monday.

  Once again, Mrs. Sheri stated her piece but knew that arguing and carrying on would do no good, so she gave Charlotte some safety tips and told her to call her when she made it there safely. They exchanged their love and then goodbyes over the phone before they hung up.

  Chapter 9

  At this point, Rome had moved in with them. He was officially a part of the family. Charlotte knew he had no job and wasn’t able to contribute much from his Social Security disability check that was direct deposited to him from his injury on his job with the railroad a few years back. He had fallen on the third rail, which electrocuted him and caused various complications ever since.

  Charlotte’s job at the bookstore didn’t bring home a whole lot, but it had its perks since she loved to read. The books were her therapists, her girlfriends, her nemesis, her encouragement and comedy relief. She often wondered how she could be paid to do something that she loved. She was in various book clubs where they’d get in heated debates over her man, her girl or whomever the book’s main character was that aroused her emotions that week.