by Shelia Goss
The rest of the night went by well and even though Rose and Violet didn’t hold another conversation, they occasionally glanced at one another. Marcus tried to be attentive and noticed a change in Violet. Violet reassured him she was okay. “I’m tired from preparing for the ball.”
“Baby, we could leave now if you’re ready.”
“No, I can’t leave until the last person does.”
Janice overheard them. “Go ahead. You’ve done more than enough of your share of work. Terrence and I can make sure everything closes down properly.”
“Terrence, are you okay with this?”
“Yes. You guys go ahead. We got this. Now go.”
Violet and Janice hugged. Violet whispered in her ear, “Glad to see you’ve finally warmed up to Terrence.”
Janice stuttered, “I…well, he’s grown on me.”
“I see,” Violet said, looking in Terrence’s direction.
Violet and Marcus walked away.
As they were waiting for the valet to bring their cars around, David walked out with his date and Rose was walking behind him with Lance. Violet saw the scene and felt as if the walls were closing in on her. “Oh no,” she blurted.
Marcus leaned over and whispered, “What’s wrong baby?”
“Look,” she said, turning her head towards Rose and David’s direction.
“There’s your car. You don’t have to acknowledge them. Come on. Let’s just get you in your car.”
No one had noticed her until the petite woman David was with, pointed and made a statement, “Both of your women are here. I never would have believed it, if I didn’t see it for myself.”
Rose was standing behind David by now and questioned his date. “Excuse me and you are?”
Marcus touched Violet’s arm and motioned for her to move. “Come on baby. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
“I know, but I can’t leave like this.”
“Yes you can. There’s my car and I’ll follow you.”
Violet got in her car and while she waited on Marcus to get into his, she saw Rose and David’s date going at it. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it looked as if they were arguing. A horn blew and broke her concentration. The valet attendant knocked on her window and motioned for her to move her car.
When she reached her house, she tried to give Marcus her undivided attention. She needed a few minutes to gather her thoughts, so after making sure Marcus was comfortable in the living room, she went to her bedroom.
***
Marcus has been so patient with me. I had planned on a nice romantic rendezvous after the party, but this night has been full of surprises. I don’t know if I’m up for it.
***
Before she could change her mind, she undressed and put on her bronze colored lace trimmed babydoll that stopped a little above the knee. She grabbed the matching short robe and headed back downstairs. She heard the sounds of soothing jazz as she descended down the stairway. “Sorry for taking so long.”
Marcus stared at her and desire flamed from his eyes. “It was well worth the wait. Watching you come down the stairs was like watching an angel come from on high.”
She let out a schoolgirl laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Dance with me.”
They danced and were enthralled with one another. She leaned on him and inhaled a mixture of his natural scent and cologne. His scent was an aphrodisiac to her. He bent down and placed a short passionate kiss on her lips before ravenously taking her mouth with his. She felt as if she was floating on a cloud. As they kissed, she could feel the rise of his manhood. He picked her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. He placed her on the bed and looked deep into her sparkling brown eyes. “If you’re not ready we can wait. I’m satisfied with holding you.”
She had years of frustration built up and she was so in tune with her body that at this point, she couldn’t think of a legitimate reason to turn back. “I am ready.”
She reached up and pulled him on top of her. While they kissed, she undressed him. She ran into a snag with his belt buckle, but he stepped in to assist her. His moans got deeper. “Oh Violet. I’ve dreamed of this moment while on the road.”
He helped her take off the rest of his clothes. He removed a condom from his wallet and handed the condom to her. She placed it on him as they kissed. He leaned her back as he continued to place small kisses all over her body. She begged him to mount her, but he declined. “No baby. It’s not time yet. Lay back and let me take care of you.”
He continued to please her in ways she hadn’t experienced with David, in ways she only dreamed about. He turned her over, took his tongue and licked down the center of her back. Before she could get over the excitement of his tongue on her back, he placed more kisses in spots on her body that she wasn’t aware were sensitive. With each move, she could feel the water falling. He turned her around facing him and buried his face deep within her garden. Her own moans sounded foreign to her, but she allowed him to take her on a journey long overdo. She enjoyed each stroke as he entered and pushed her over the edge. She was brought to her sexual peak so many times, that she felt as if her head would explode from the excitement. She enjoyed every minute of it. After being completely fulfilled, they laid in each other’s arms and fell asleep.
20
ROSE
“Can you believe the tramp David was with?” Rose said while getting in the bed with Lance. “If you wouldn’t have pulled me away when you did, I was going to cold pop her in the mouth.”
Lance laughed. “You are something else. I thought you were happy David expedited your divorce.”
“I am,” Rose responded.
“Forget about her and come give daddy what he’s been wanting all night.”
Rose annoyed yelled, “I swear Lance. You’re like a dog in heat.”
“You shouldn’t be so desirable. I’m thankful your husband divorced you.”
She leaned down and kissed him. “Oh Lance.”
After they made love, Lance fell asleep immediately. Rose stayed awake and thought back to the encounter she had with her sister. For a few minutes, they talked as if they were old high school friends who’d lost contact and were running into each other at a reunion. Rose saw Violet when she was getting ready to leave and before Rose could speak to her, Violet had already gotten into her car. The man Violet was with was tall and one of LA’s most eligible bachelors. She was surprised her sister was interested in a basketball player.
***
Violet you’re full of surprises girl. First I find out your escort is Marcus Jameson, the finest man in basketball and to top it off, I get a surprised hug as if you were glad to see me. I don’t know if I should call you or wait for you to call me. I know one thing, Mama will sure be glad. I’m so tired of not having someone to share things with. Oh well, let me go to sleep, staying up all night won’t change anything.
***
Rose kept busy by auditioning for several different movie roles. She was finally able to bounce back from the negative publicity of Violet’s interview and her much talked about divorce. The media had a field day with the divorce. Fortunately David agreed to file for divorce under the reason of irreconcilable differences, instead of adulterer. She agreed to not ask for any type of alimony or any other type of monetary award. She spent the next few months in the studio with Lance recording her music CD. She was scheduled to do a photo shoot for a magazine cover and the first single would be released the following week.
As she drove to the photo shoot, her mind was on her music. She barely heard her cell phone ringing over the loud music. She scrambled to find it. She fumbled through her purse until she realized it fell between the seat and arm rest of her car. “Hello.”
“Hello stranger.”
“Mama I was going to call you.”
“Sure you were. That’s the same thing your sister told me when I called her yesterday.”
“You talked to Violet.”<
br />
Her Mama sounded joyful. “You would know that if you talked to your sister more.”
“Things are civil between us since I ran into her at this charity event she hosted.”
“See. I told you if you worked at it, things would work out.”
“Hold on. I didn’t say we were the best of friends. It’s the first time we’ve been in the same room and not argued. It was decent.”
“Good. I know my girls can work it out. I need to take my medicine, so I’ll talk to you later okay dear.”
Rose said, “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
After the phone call with Pearle, she decided to call Violet. “Hi Violet. Sorry I missed you. Give me a call when you get a chance, maybe we can do lunch this weekend.”
Rose continued to her photo shoot and afterwards Lance took her to LeMeridian, a French restaurant to celebrate. “Rose you are about to be the next Whitney,” he stated.
Rose loved to hear him sing her praises. “You really think so. There are a few songs I feel will do well.”
“A few. You have a hit CD,” Lance stated.
Rose raised her champagne glass and said, “Thanks to the best producer.”
After dinner, he dropped her off at home. “I wish I didn’t have to go back to the studio, but I have an artist flying in from Dallas tonight and this is the only time we’ll be able to get together.”
She kissed him and pushed him out the door. “I understand. Call me tomorrow.”
***
This has been a long week. I can’t wait to sit down and relax. I know what I need, a vacation. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone somewhere for fun.
***
She went to her computer and accessed the Internet. She typed in the words vacation packages in the search browser. She looked at her calendar to confirm some dates and paid for a four-day weekend to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She spent the rest of the night surfing the net until she was too tired to see the screen and eventually went to bed.
21
VIOLET
Janice waltzed into Violet’s office. “How’s it going Ms. Lady?”
Violet ended her conversation on the phone, before addressing Janice. “It’s going. I just got off the phone with Rose. We’re supposed to meet for lunch tomorrow.”
“Say what. Cool. It’s about time.”
“Don’t read more into it. It’s only lunch.”
“Lunch today, shopping tomorrow.”
Violet laughed. “Whatever. I still have a bone to pick with you anyway. I’ve been meaning to ask you something. How long have you known that Rose was dating your brother?”
Janice stopped laughing. “I’ve known for quite awhile, but I was sworn to secrecy, because she was still married to your ex at the time.”
Violet mouth dropped. “Say what?”
Janice walked to the door and closed it before pulling up a seat. “Well since it’s all out in the open now. I guess I can tell you everything that I do know.”
“Yes. Do tell.”
Janice brushed back her bangs from her forehead and continued. “Well apparently Lance and Rose met when her agent started shopping for a producer to work on her CD. Lance said he had always had the hots for her, so he thought it was the perfect opportunity to make his moves.”
“Didn’t he know she was married?”
Janice sneered. “Like that’s going to stop a dog from sniffing. Anyway. She ignored his advances and one night out of the blue she called him and they have been messing around every since.”
“Man, I wonder if David found out. Is that why they divorced?”
“You know it. You know the time you heard from your mom that Rose had been in the hospital for exhaustion. It was around the same time. Her publicist had to pick her up.”
“Interesting. Are they serious?”
“I don’t know. She’s stayed around longer than some of the others. He might have a love jones for her.”
“Mama told me about the divorce, but I didn’t know all of this was going on.”
“Well, if you talked to your sister more. Maybe you would know what was going on in her life.”
Violet looked down at her calendar. “Well I do have lunch tomorrow with the drama queen. I’m sure it will be full of surprises. I doubt if I get a chance to talk. You know how she likes to dominate a conversation.”
“What time is it? I was supposed to meet Terrence at the gym and I’m tired of him complaining about me being late.”
Violet chuckled.
“What are you laughing at?”
“You. Remember when you couldn’t stand Terrence. Now it’s Terrence this, Terrence that. Now I can’t stand to hear his name, because you say it so much.”
Janice snapped her fingers in the air. “Don’t hate.”
“I don’t have to hate, because I have a man.”
They both laughed and Janice left to meet Terrence.
Violet finished her work and headed home. She went to bed early because she would need all of her energy to deal with Rose the following day.
***
Violet slept well. The next morning, she decided to lounge around the house. She needed to mentally prepare herself for her meeting with Rose at Café Max. She dressed in a short purple skirt and matching silk shirt. On the weekends, she normally threw on a pair of sweats or old pair of jeans, but she wanted to show Rose she wasn’t the only one who could get all dolled up.
After she pulled up in the parking lot at the restaurant, she looked in the visor mirror and added some lip-gloss over her lipstick as a final touch to her makeup. She blew herself a kiss in the mirror, exited her car and strode into the restaurant.
When she entered, the maitre’d recognized her right away and showed her to her table. As she walked toward the table, she was surprised to see Rose already seated.
***
Hmm. Normally, Rose is late for everything. Maybe she has changed. I guess I should keep an open mind.
***
Rose stood up and pushed her chair back. They hugged each other before taking their seats.
After sipping on her water, Violet commented, “Rose you’re looking good. I was concerned about your health for awhile there.”
“Thanks. I’m fine.”
Violet took her napkin and placed it across her lap as the waiter poured them both water and asked, “Would you ladies like any wine today?”
Rose responded, “Yes. Bring out your best white wine.”
Violet picked up her menu. “It has been awhile since I’ve been here. What do you recommend?”
“The Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is excellent.”
The waiter came back and poured the wine. “Would you ladies like an appetizer with your meals today?”
“Yes. I would like a bowl of your soup of the day.”
Rose added, “And I would like the salad with chicken strips.”
“I see you haven’t given up your love for chicken.” Violet stated.
Rose responded, “Never. Don’t you see my wings? Lord knows I feel like flying away.” Rose’s phone rang. “Excuse me a minute. This is Carmen, so I must take this.”
***
I have to say, Rose seems a little different. I still don’t know about her though. This almost feels right.
***
Rose ended her phone call and they continued their lunch. The conversation remained light, neither wanted to irritate the other.
Rose asked, “Do you think we can ever be friends?”
Violet was taken aback by her question so it took her a moment to respond. “Rose, a lot has happened.”
“I know, but we’re sisters and I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of fighting. I want you in my life. I need you in my life,” Rose stated.
“If only it was that easy,” Violet said.
Rose took a sip of her drink before speaking again. “I’m sorry. I know those two words can’t make up for the pain I’ve caused you, but I’m sorry.”
>
“I wasn’t expecting this,” Violet admitted.
“As mama would say, all I ask is that you pray about it,” Rose stated.
“I will.”
Rose changed the subject and they each exchanged tidbits of information about family members back in Shreveport, Louisiana.
The waiter placed the check on the table. Rose insisted she pay for the meal, so Violet let her. As they left the restaurant, they discovered they were parked by one another. Not much was said at this point, so they hugged and promised to meet again in the following week for lunch.
Before she started her car, Violet checked her voice mail on her cell phone and heard a message from Marcus. “Sweetie, my flight was delayed. It’ll be late when I get in. All I want to do s hit the sack, so I’ll call you in the morning. Love you.”
***
Violet decided to take a detour and instead of going home to watch movies, she stopped off at the neighborhood movie theater. She knew she was overdressed for the movies, but she didn’t feel like changing. People stared at her, as she paid for her ticket. Someone stopped and asked her for an autograph. “Sorry. I’m not Rose, I’m her sister.” The fan seemed disappointed as she walked away.
After the movie was over, Violet drove the long way home. It was still early enough for her to go out in her garden when she got there. She changed into some old sweats and spent the rest of the evening in her garden.
22
ROSE
Rose enjoyed lunch with Violet. Although Violet never answered her question about being friends, she didn’t come straight out and say no either. She was looking forward to seeing Violet again. This time, she was going to ask her about going on a four-day vacation with her. Rose knew it was a long shot, but she would try.
***
I could invite her to my CD release party. It might be best if I try lunch again first and see what happens. No. I’m going to ask her. This makes the second time we’ve been together and it’s actually been civil. I tried to explain our relationship to Lance, but he says I’m being childish. Men, what do they know? Well, my body is sure craving some Lance right now, so I guess men are good for something.
