McKinsey's Choice

by Heyward, Brenda

  “Wilson, on my wedding day, going to the church…. .” Her voice trailed off as she watched his reaction. She felt him jerk his hand out of hers.

  “McKinsey, what you said is not true," Wilson snapped. "Just tell me the truth!” He reached for her left hand, to see her wedding ring. When he raised her hand up in the air, her finger did not have the wedding band on it, just the engagement ring. Her finger did not even have the light outline, to show a ring had been there. He dropped her hand and backed away from her.

  When Wilson reached the wall, he stopped moving. In that instance, he saw the accident flash through his mind and tears slid down his face. His friends walked over to him to support him, but he was not ready. He just pushed them away. “Get out!” he yelled.

  He could see that no one moved, as he turned his back to his family. He raised his hand to his face to cover the flashes of memories. Even the accident in Afghanistan and images of him entering the hospital rushed forward in his mind, as he used his other hand to feel his arm that held the cast that he had told the Officer to remove earlier that day. He had risked his life to save others. Knowing Alexander was gone hurt the most, as he exited his room and walked to the gardens that were outside of the hospital.

  Linda followed behind him to keep an eye on him.

  ****

  The next day, as McKinsey walked into Wilson’s hospital room and saw him and Linda in a embrace, she ignored what she saw and asked, “Wilson, are you ready to leave?” She watched him as he extended him arm for her to see the letter in it, which had saddened him.

  “What is it?” she queried. No sounds came, so she walked across the room and reached for the letter that prompted his silence. It was his discharge papers.

  After she read the letter, she folded it and put it in Wilson's bag. “Wilson, are you ready?” she asked, as she picked his bag up before heading for the door. She hoped that he would follow her without saying a thing; he did.

  She was saddened for him, just thinking about the rush of emotions that Wilson was probably experiencing. She had been there. At McKinsey’s home that evening, Wilson sat in the bedroom not saying a word to her. She wondered how she could help.

  ****

  The next evening, when McKinsey came home from work, she could see that her house decorated with the wedding gifts she had received. Wilson had displayed them around her home. “Wilson, what have you done?” she cried.

  “Hello McKinsey," Wilson greeted. "I found your book on the table, on where you wanted the gifts displayed. I wanted to return the favor to you, since you are allowing me to stay in your home. You know my parent’s home is rented out.” As he walked, out of the bedroom and smiled. He looked at the display of anger on her face and realized that she was still in mourning from the loss of her fiancé, Arthur and Alexander.

  “McKinsey,” he murmured, as he walked over to where she was, took her hand and pulled her over to the chair to sit down. He sat there hugging her, letting her cry as their grief took hold.

  They were still in the chair together the next morning, when McKinsey’s alarm sounded. They awoke and looked at each other. No words said between them. McKinsey got up from the chair and walked to her bedroom.

  After she entered her bathroom, she turned on the shower water, walked back to the mirror that hung over the basin and started crying, thinking about her feelings for Wilson.

  ****

  Wilson, sat their on the couch for a few minutes and the memories of being close to McKinsey made him smile. He just got up, headed for the kitchen and starting cooking her breakfast, so that she could have something before leaving for work. “McKinsey, breakfast and coffee are ready," he called. "How much longer will you be?” He finished pouring the juice.

  "It’s been a long time since I had breakfast at home during the week,” she remarked as she walked around the table to where he was, kissed him on the cheek and returned to the stove to fix her plate.

  Wilson looked at McKinsey. He felt great happiness run through his body; his heart sang from the smell of her and her perfume. She looked good in her purple sweater top and skirt that showed off that figure of hers, even the stockings and shoes she had on made his manhood want to stand up and shout.

  “McKinsey, remember that basketball game when I thought I reached for my gym bag when you were sitting on the bleachers, after the basketball game?" Wilson reminded. "I had not realized that the arm of your sweater had been caught in the bag's zipper. I picked the bag up so quickly that your sweater and you pulled forward at the same time. You yelled, “Wilson, stop!” while everyone turned around. When you realized the crowd was looking at you, you ran over to me and brutalized me with you fists. Everyone standing nearby laughed.” He laughed, too.

  As she ate, Wilson entertained her with the stories they played on each other when they were younger. By the time she had finished her breakfast, she had laughed harder than she had in a while. The internal joy it brought her caused her day to start better than it had in a long time.

  ****

  McKinsey was just a few blocks from her house when she remembered she had promised Patricia she would pick up her and the twins today. She decided to make a call first, before heading to the hospital after work to pick up Patricia and the twins. “Wilson, can you help me this evening?" She asked.

  “McKinsey, whatever you need, I will help you do anything,” he promised, wondering why she was calling. He had fixed dinner and it was on the stove.

  “I forgot to tell you I had promised Patricia that I would help her bring the babies home tonight," McKinsey revealed. "Can you help me? I can pick you up before I go to the hospital.”

  “No problem, I will be at the door when you get here," he assured as he hung up the phone. “Patricia; must be another one,” he said to himself.

  Wilson heard McKinsey’s horn as he turned around to make sure the food was covered and the stove turned off. He ran to the bedroom to put on a shirt and shoes before heading out of the door. Laughing as he swung the car door open, he said, “I thought I had at least five minutes, but I think you were sitting at the corner trying to make up you mind whether to call me or not. Am I right?”

  His laugher was contagious, and she started laughing. “Keep them guessing,” she remarked with a grin.

  “You are spontaneous and fun," Wilson observed. He poked fun at her on the things they did together in the past, and before long, they had reached Patricia’s hospital room.

  The sight of Patricia and the babies made him rush over and hug her. “Patricia, how are you doing?” he asked, before releasing her out of his bear hug.

  “Just a little more up to date on the past few months' worth of events than you are," she chided. "Surprise!” Patricia raised her hand to point in the direction of her children.

  “You couldn’t just have one, but two," Wilson laughed. "What are their names?”

  “Go see for your-self," she challenged. "You can tell them by the names on their sweaters; my parents bought them.” She waved to McKinsey to come over to where she was standing.

  Patricia and McKinsey stood together holding hands, as they watched Wilson look at the babies. His emotions flashed across his face as he picked up the boy. Afterward, he moved over to where the baby girl lay and rubbed her face with his hand before turning back to where McKinsey and Patricia stood.

  Patricia walked over to him and asked, “Does that look on your face mean that I could get some free baby sitting out of you when I need time to myself?"

  “Patricia, the weather is changing quickly outside," McKinsey interrupted. "We should get the babies to your house before it changes any more.”

  “Yes, you are right,” Patricia agreed and reached for her son to place him back in the carrier, for the trip.

  Once outside of the hospital, the two women could see how excited Wilson was with the babies, because he wanted to fasten them in and sit in the backseat with them. They only laughed at him.

  “Wilson, if you had to change
one of those smelly diapers, you wouldn’t be so happy to be with them,” Patricia sneered, remembering the challenge of getting them dressed for the first time that morning.

  “You are right, but now that the work is done, I will enjoy,” he agreed. He smiled at Patricia and McKinsey.

  Minutes after they entered Patricia’s home, the front door bell rang and the house filled with family members who had come to see the babies.

  “Wilson you can stay at my apartment with me.” Linda said truly afraid that she would never have Wilson alone to herself again. Life was unfair she thought.

  “Linda I have already told you that I will stay with McKinsey,” Wilson said trying not to get angry with her. That night, McKinsey and Wilson did not leave Patricia’s until late in the evening. After they walked into McKinsey home, Wilson said, “Our children will play with Alexander's children.” He turned to McKinsey, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her with all of his pent-up passion.

  McKinsey stood there for a second, trying to comprehend just what happened. She did not refuse him, when he pulled her toward him and took what he wanted from her. She watched as he walked toward the kitchen, touching on his features in her mind. He was six-foot two, very athletic and weighed around one-hundred ninety pounds. He looked damn good in a pair of straight cut pants that showed off the bow in his legs.

  His walk had always captured her attention. The cologne he had on stayed in the room for just an instant, for her to relive the kiss that she had dreamed of all her life. Over the years, she had realized that she was just a person that her brother had to make sure she was all right until her parents got home from work.

  At those times, it was the three of them constantly together. Wilson was her brother’s friend she didn’t want to cause a problem by saying she loved him. She thought that would stop him from coming to visit her brother and having her around. Her silence had kept his presence constant over the years. She could rebel in his presence in silence. Arthur came along after her brother and Wilson went into the military. He had made her happy that was why she had decided to marry him.

  ****

  A few nights later, Wilson woke up from the dream he was having of how McKinsey felt in his arms. It was so vivid that when he awoke, he found himself sweating. He decided to get out of bed and go to the family room to watch a little television. However, when he passed McKinsey's room, he could see her holding a picture of her brother as tears slid down her face. He started to close the door, but his instincts told him not to leave her there all alone.

  He walked over to the chair, sat down beside her and put one arm behind her shoulders. He slid his other arm under the legs to lift her up onto his lap so he could hold her. They sat that way for a while, as McKinsey cried in his arms until her head leaned against his chest from exhaustion.

  He lifted her chin toward his face and smiled at her. “McKinsey, I will always be here for you,” he promised, before kissing her passionately.

  As he felt her respond to his kiss, he asked for more through his kiss. He used his hands to feel her breasts, as her arms surrounded his shoulders. He lifted her up off his lap and carried her to her bedroom. She let her legs fall back down on the floor before he lifted her gown over her head.

  He began kissing her again, as he backed her toward the bed. When her knees hit the bed, they buckled. She fell back with him on top and they laughed. He pulled her the rest of the way onto the bed.

  This time he got up, climbed on top of her and smiled down at her, before kissing her once again. His hands enjoyed roaming her body. He moved his mouth down to her breasts.

  His hands made their way down to her thighs, as he continued to pay attention to her with his mouth. He then used his hand to find what would make her world his. He slowly used his hand to rub up and down on the outer lips of her womanhood, as he felt her breathing change as his hands got closer.

  Then he heard her say, “Wilson,” and he knew it was now time for his manhood to replace his hand and for both of them to become one. When he entered her, they began to hold each other tightly; their breathing changed. He used all of his pent-up feeling that he had been holding back for years. After it was over, he held her in his arms and they fell asleep together.

  When her alarm went off that morning, he lifted her chin up with his hand, kissed her, and pulled her back in his arms. He asked her body for more through his kisses. They made love again before she got up.

  When McKinsey got up out of bed, Wilson said, “I remember the reason why you got that red rose tattoo on your sixteenth birthday.” It sat on the side her right thigh. “You wanted to prove you were all grow up but your parent’s were disappointed when they saw it.” Both of them started laughing. He could see McKinsey turn her head, smile and shake her finger in his direction, before entering the bathroom.

  ****

  When McKinsey turned the bathroom, her heart was beating quickly as memories of the night before ran through her mind. She stood behind the door, waiting for her heart to slow down. She had made love to Wilson.

  She stood there in the bathroom, twisting Arthur’s ring around her finger on her left hand. “What had she done? Didn’t she still love Arthur?” she thought to herself before taking her shower.

  When she returned to the bedroom, Wilson had already left the room and she could smell and hear the signs of breakfast. After she got dressed for work, she headed for the front door with her coat.

  After she closed the door behind her, she ran to her car, trying to escape the thoughts in her head. Before she could reach her car, Wilson was by her side.

  “McKinsey, what is wrong?” he asked, looking into her face and seeing the tears sliding down her cheeks.

  “Wilson, what have we done?” she asked, raising her left hand up for him to see the ring there.

  “Nothing," he retorted. "We have comforted each other physically with our love for each other.” He held her to stop her from getting into her car. “Come back into the house," he pleaded.

  Wilson walked her back to the kitchen and let her continue to cry while he served her breakfast. “Eat!” he ordered, as he held the fork in his hand waiting for her to take it.

  “McKinsey, do you want me to move out of your home?” Wilson asked, after she had finished eating her food.

  “No,” she whispered, not sure what she wanted.

  ****

  Wilson had decided to stop by Autumn’s store to invite her to lunch. Before walking into the store he read a sign that they was looking for men to put together a calendar. As he walked into the store, a camera flashed. He was dressed in a pair of navy trousers and sweater, with his hair that now fell just above his shoulders. He held a two-day old shadow on his face.

  He was immediately was surrounded by the woman in the store who converged on him. “Hello ladies,” he said in his sexy dripping voice, smiling at them.

  “Are you going to be in the store calendar, they are shutting the gentlemen in the back? Can I walk with you?” as she put his arm under his smiling.

  “Ladies I am sorry but, I am here to see McKinsey the owner.” He said.

  “Please just take a shot for me to put on a T-Shirt that they make here. I am sure the rest of the ladies’ here would also buy one with your picture on it.” As she continued to hold onto Wilson’s arm.

  “Okay!” He said at the same time they escorted him in the back to take his picture.

  After the excitement in the front of the store, he headed off to McKinsey’s office where he knew it would be quiet. “Hello,” he said as he knocked and walked into her office.

  “Hello Wilson,” she said getting out of seat and walked over to where he was standing. There embrace was heated. Wilson reached back and locked her door.

  “What was that for I thought you came to take me to lunch? Not to have me for lunch,” she said as she kissed him. His kisses asked and she replied as their embrace advance from kissing to lovemaking. He removed his sweater and backed her toward the
coach. As the both of them fell, they laughed before continuing.

  His hands help undress her, his lips found the spots that he had enjoyed before. The heat that Wilson and McKinsey reflected burned hot and deep. Their in her office they satisfied their desires for each other before a knock on the door came.

  “One minute,” McKinsey said as they dressed quickly to cover up their actions.

  When McKinsey opened the door, she said, “What’s up Cathey.”

  “You appointment is early and they were wondering if you could take them.” Cathey replied.

  “No problem,” she said as she watched Cathey go get her next appointment. Before Wilson left they kissed once again, her temperature had risen and she was ready for more of what she just had.

  “See you later,” he said in his low voice that excited her even more.

  When McKinsey drove up to her house the evening she saw Linda’s car in her driveway, her feeling starting overflowing as she parked her car. She ran to the front door and unlocked it. She wanted to see what they were doing. As she opened the door in her rushed in she pushed Linda backward landing her on the floor.

  Then she saw Wilson coming to give Linda a hand and all she could see was the way he helped her up off the floor. The thoughts of knowing them two had a relationship hurt. What had they done in her house while she was out? The thoughts of their lovemaking angered her seeing Linda. Had Wilson played her earlier that day so he could come to her and make love to her in her house?

  She stood their watching them for a second before she took and her purse and keys and backed out of the front door. She ran to her car and pulled out before Wilson could speak to her. Wilson sat there, angry with himself. They had been getting along fine, why had he agreed to let Linda come over.

  She returned to the house an hour later with a bag that carried alcohol. She had not had a drink in a few months, but the pain had returned in a flash. Wilson saw the bag in her arm when she walked in the house. What could he say to her without her getting angry with him? Maybe she would put him out of her home. The next few weeks Wilson watched, as McKinsey became someone he did not know at all. He refused to leave her alone in the house, thinking that was what she wanted. He could see her hand always had a glass attached to it when she was at the house.