Amaryllis

by Nikita Lynnette Nichols

  “Hi, Alex; it’s Michelle.”

  “Hi, yourself. What’s up?”

  “Please tell me that James is still there.”

  “Sorry, you just missed him. As a matter of fact, he’s on his way to your house. So, tonight’s the big night, huh?” Alexander knew that James and Michelle were getting together at her house to select wedding invitations. James had been talking excitedly about it all day.

  “Well, it was supposed to be, but I’ll be stuck in court longer than I thought. I’ll try reaching him on his cell.”

  “That won’t do you any good. He left it at home this morning.”

  Michelle exhaled a sigh of frustration. “I hate it when he does that. Thanks, Alex.”

  “So, Michelle, uh, what’s up with your sister? When can I meet her and why are you hiding her from me?”

  “Alex, I told you my sister has some issues, and now is not the time for her to get involved in a relationship with anyone.”

  “I just want to meet her.”

  “And then what, Alex?”

  “Nothing.”

  Michelle knew better than that. “Yeah, right. Amaryllis is my secretary these days. You can come by the office and introduce yourself.”

  “Okay, cool.” Alexander didn’t hide the fact that he was excited.

  “Alex, I’m going to say this to you and you can take it anyway you want. Amaryllis Price ain’t nobody’s punk. My advice to you is to keep your distance, but if you want to stick your hand in the cookie jar, you just might pull out a bullet.”

  “What the heck does that mean? Are you saying that if I get involved with your sister, it would be like committing suicide?”

  “All I’m saying is that you’ve been warned, and whatever happens between you two, I don’t wanna know about it.”

  “Is she a psycho or something?”

  “You ain’t heard it from me.” Michelle chuckled, ended her call with Alexander and called home.

  “Price residence,” Amaryllis answered after the second ring.

  “Ooh, I like that. How are you doing, sis?”

  “I’m okay, where are you?”

  “I’m stuck in court for God knows how long. James and I were supposed to get together this evening, but I can’t get a hold of him to tell him that I won’t be home until much later than expected. So, when he gets there, please apologize for me. And tell him I love him and maybe we can get together tomorrow night.”

  “Okay, no problem.”

  As soon as Amaryllis placed the telephone on its receiver, it rang again.

  “Price residence.”

  “Hello, gorgeous.”

  At the sound of James’ voice, Amaryllis’ heart skipped a beat. “Hi.”

  “That’s not the way we do it, Mickey. You’re supposed to tell me that I’m the gorgeous one.”

  Gorgeous you are, baby. “This is Amaryllis.”

  “Oops, my bad. You and Mickey sound exactly alike. I can never tell you two apart when you’re on the telephone.”

  “Everybody says that.” Amaryllis chuckled.

  “Is my beautiful fiancé there?”

  It was nothing for Amaryllis to tell a lie. “She called and said that she’s running late. She’s stuck in court, but she wants you to come over anyway and wait for her. She shouldn’t be too much longer.”

  “Okay, that’s cool. Hey, have you eaten yet?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “I can stop and pick up dinner. What have you got a taste for?”

  I got a taste for you. “I’m not sure. What have you got a taste for?”

  “To be honest with you, I can go for soul food. Maybe meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. I wouldn’t mind corn on the cob and grape Kool-Aid.”

  As he was speaking, the wheels in Amaryllis’ head were turning. She remembered the conversation she had with Michelle about cooking for men. Michelle wouldn’t cook meals like that for James often because she felt that he’d get spoiled and would eventually stop appreciating her good gesture. But Amaryllis knew all too well that a home cooked meal was a straight path to a man’s heart. She remembered cooking meals for Randall on a daily basis, and he treated her like a queen. “You know, James, I can cook that for you here.”

  “Girl, you can burn like that?”

  “Oh yeah, I can do a little something in the kitchen.”

  “I don’t wanna put you through any trouble, Amaryllis. I know you’re still recovering.”

  “Don’t be silly, it’s no trouble at all. Come on over. By the time Michelle gets home, dinner will be ready.”

  “Thanks, Amaryllis. I had to stop at home and get my cell phone, so I’ll be there in about an hour.”

  Amaryllis called a seafood restaurant and ordered a dozen raw oysters on a half shell for delivery. Her mother once told her that oysters were aphrodisiacs, and if she fed them to a man, he’d instantly be under her spell.

  She managed to honor James’ request. The meatloaf was tender and juicy, the mashed potatoes were buttery and lump free, the corn on the cob was hot and ready and the grape Kool-Aid was chilling in the refrigerator. The raw oysters sat in a tray on the table next to the meatloaf.

  After a steamy shower, Amaryllis styled her hair into a French roll then took a stroll into Michelle’s closet and selected a pink chiffon teddy that was meant for God’s eyes only. She sprayed Michelle’s Ralph Lauren perfume behind her ears and went downstairs to the kitchen where she lit two candles and dimmed the kitchen light. The bait was set. Just as Amaryllis was finishing setting the table, the doorbell rang.

  “It’s show time,” Amaryllis whispered under her breath. She opened the door to see James standing there with pink carnations and a small white bag in his hand. He looked at Amaryllis from head to toe and had to blink his eyes a few times to make sure he was seeing what he thought he was seeing.

  The pink chiffon teddy hugged her every curve and it left nothing for his imagination. He was stunned and couldn’t move. Amaryllis reached for his hand and pulled him inside. “You’re just in time, James. Dinner is ready. I hope you’re hungry.”

  James started to sweat. He’d never been in this situation before and he didn’t know what to do. “Uh, what’s going on, Amaryllis?”

  “Just dinner.”

  “Why are you dressed like that?”

  “What? This? This is something I just threw on.” Amaryllis turned around to give James a rear view. “Do you like it?”

  “Where’s Mickey?,” he asked nervously.

  “I told you that she’s gonna be late.”

  James looked at his wristwatch. It was almost 5:30 P.M. Surely, court couldn’t be in session this late in the evening. “I thought she would’ve been here by now.”

  Amaryllis could see the flowers shaking in his hand. “Do I make you nervous?”

  “Nah, I’m cool,” he lied. James was as nervous as a hooker sitting on the front pew in church. Not only were his hands shaking, but his knees were getting weaker by the second.

  “Are those flowers for me?” Amaryllis asked.

  “No, I bought them for Mickey.”

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “Chocolate squares for Mickey.”

  Mickey, Mickey, Mickey. All this talk of Michelle was getting on Amaryllis’ last nerve. She took the flowers and candy from James. “I’ll make sure she gets them. Come on into the kitchen. I lit candles and I ordered oysters for an appetizer.”

  James didn’t move from where he stood. He may have been a minister, but he’d heard about oysters and the effect they supposedly had on men. “Uh, Amaryllis, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The way you’re dressed; I don’t think Mickey would appreciate it.”

  “This ain’t about Michelle, it’s about you and me.”

  James frowned. “What are you talking about? There is no you and me.”

  “But what about the rose you gave me today, and calling me beautiful?�
��

  “You are beautiful, Amaryllis. I gave you a rose because you’re my fiancé’s sister, but I’m in love with Michelle.”

  Amaryllis stepped to James and put her arms around his neck. “But she can’t give you what I can give you, James. I know you two aren’t sleeping together.”

  James was shocked that Michelle would share such personal information. He removed Amaryllis’ arms from around his neck and took a step backward. “She discussed that with you?”

  “Oh, yeah. Michelle told me everything. And a fine man like you should be fulfilled.”

  “Look, Amaryllis; whatever you had planned to happen tonight, ain’t going down. And I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I was interested in you. Michelle is the one I love.” James opened the front door to leave.

  Amaryllis was stunned that her beauty and perfectly planned evening didn’t impress James. “So what am I supposed to do now?”

  He turned and looked at Amaryllis. “That’s on you, but I’m not down with this.” James shut the door behind him, got in his car and drove straight to his pastor’s house.

  Bishop Joel Graham opened his door and saw a distraught James. James had been his armour bearer and right hand man for the past six years. Bishop Graham and his wife, Cookie, didn’t have any children of their own, so when James became his armour bearer, they treated James as if he was their own son. “What’s wrong, Son?”

  “Bishop, you won’t believe what just happened.” James walked past him and sat down on the living room sofa.

  Bishop Graham sat in his La-Z-Boy recliner across from James. “You act as though you’ve just seen the devil.”

  “You have no clue how right you are.” James stood and began pacing the floor.

  Cookie came into the living room from the kitchen. “Everything okay in here?”

  James approached his first lady and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Cookie.”

  “You’re not disturbing us, James. You know you’re always welcome here. You want some dinner?”

  “Nah, I just stopped by to talk to the Bishop about something.”

  “Okay, then I’ll leave you two alone.”

  James had his mouth all set to enjoy soul food, and whatever Cookie had cooked tonight was penetrating his nostrils. When she turned to walk away, James called out to her, “Um, what did you cook?”

  “I baked beef spareribs and I got garlic mashed potatoes and pinto beans.”

  The hunger in James’ stomach was singing a song. “Could you make me a plate to go?”

  “Sure, but I want my Tupperware back because it ain’t the cheap stuff.”

  “I hear you, and I promise to return it.”

  “I’ll leave it on top of the stove for you.” Cookie winked at her husband. “Call me if you need anything.”

  Bishop Graham smiled at his wife but didn’t say anything. James caught the chemistry between them. “Bishop, it amazes me how the two of you are still so much in love with each other after twenty years of marriage.”

  “Cookie is the apple of my eye,” he admitted, his dreamy smile confirming such.

  “I can tell.”

  James placed his hands in his pockets and started pacing the floor again. Bishop Graham reclined his chair, folded his arms across his chest and watched James for a full sixty seconds. “Whenever you’re ready, James, just jump right in. I prefer you do it before you wear a hole in my carpet.”

  James sat down on the sofa and looked at his Bishop. “I don’t know where to begin.”

  James proceeded to tell him what happened at Michelle’s house that evening. Bishop Graham listened to his story, and the only thing he could say was, “Wow.”

  “Wow is right. Now you gotta tell me what to do because I have no clue.” James looked at his Bishop with worry in his eyes.

  “Well, son, the first thing you do is to tell your fiancé’.”

  James would rather be crucified than tell Michelle. “Bishop, there is no way I can tell Mickey about this. Give me something else.”

  “Don’t be a fool, James. You’ve gotta tell Michelle and you definitely wanna get to her before her sister does.”

  “Uh-uh. Mickey would have a fit. Who do you think she’ll believe, me or her flesh and blood?”

  “James, listen to me. You and Michelle love each other and are planning a wedding.

  “You can’t allow this to come between you. If you sit her down and tell her exactly what happened, I’m sure she’ll see her sister for who she really is.”

  James stood, put his hands in his pockets and paced the floor again. “I don’t know, Bishop. Mickey loves her sister. You should hear the way she talks about her. ‘My baby sister this’ and ‘My baby sister that.’ ”

  “She loves you too.”

  “I know, but I don’t wanna hurt her. If I tell her about this, she’ll either hate me or hate Amaryllis. The bottom line is she’ll be hurt and I can’t do that to her.”

  “James, you’re about to mess up. You and Michelle have been together for a long time. You told me her sister has only been in town barely a week. Do you really think she’ll find you at fault?”

  “I can’t risk my relationship, Bishop.”

  “You’re risking it by not telling her what happened. You don’t want this woman to get to Michelle first and tell another version other than what really happened, because I guarantee you that her sister’s version won’t be anything nice. And guess who’s gonna look like the guilty party? You.”

  “Amaryllis is living with Mickey rent free and she’s working at the firm.”

  “So?”

  “I don’t think she’ll tell Mickey anything because she wouldn’t want to mess that up.”

  “James, you’re gambling with your relationship. Michelle loves you and I’m sure she’ll believe you.”

  James’s cellular phone rang and he saw Michelle’s home number. He stopped pacing and looked at his Bishop. “It’s Mickey, what should I do?”

  “I already told you.”

  He answered his phone. “Hello, Mickey.”

  “Hey, gorgeous,” Michelle said on the other end.

  “What’s up?” James asked nervously.

  “What did you say?” she asked.

  “I said, what’s up?”

  “Something is wrong, what is it?”

  James looked at his Bishop as he answered Michelle. “What do you mean?”

  “You didn’t greet me right. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

  He could’ve kicked himself. When Michelle greeted James, he didn’t tell her she was the more gorgeous one of the two. “Nothing’s wrong, baby. Everything’s cool.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m at Bishop’s house.”

  “Why?”

  “I stopped by to talk church business.”

  Pastor Graham looked at James and shook his head from side to side.

  “Amaryllis told me you came by. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to reach you to tell you that I’d be stuck in court all evening and couldn’t meet you tonight.” Michelle sounded regretful.

  “You were gonna tell me not to come over?”

  “Yeah, I talked to Alex and he told me that you had left your cell phone at home, so I called Amaryllis and told her to tell you that I couldn’t make it.”

  “Amaryllis said that you wanted me to come over and wait for you.”

  “I don’t know how she got that mixed up, but what about the wedding invitations? You wanna come back over and take a look at them?”

  “Now?”

  “Yeah, now. It’s still early.”

  James’s wristwatch told him that it was almost 6:30 P.M. He thought it was too early for Amaryllis to have gone to bed. He didn’t want to interact with her again. In fact, if James never saw Amaryllis’s face again, it would be too soon. “Um, you know what, Mickey? I’m kinda tired and I really wanna just go home and get into bed. Can we do it another time at my place?”

  Michelle knew h
er man well and something was definitely bothering him. “James, baby, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

  “Where’s Amaryllis?”

  “Amaryllis? She’s upstairs in her room. Why?”

  “Did you get the flowers and candy I left for you?”

  “Yes. She put the flowers in water and the candy was on the kitchen table next to the flowers. Thank you.”

  James thought about the candles and oysters. “Did you see anything else on the table?”

  “Just a dinner plate Amaryllis wrapped up for me. That reminds me, she said she offered you dinner but you said you didn’t wanna eat.”

  Because that’s not all she offered. “You talked to her?” James questioned.

  “She said you told her that you didn’t like meatloaf and I know that’s not true. So, why didn’t you stay and eat?”

  He had to come up with a logical excuse fast. “Because the Bishop called and asked if I could stop by. Since I didn’t know how long you were gonna be, I decided to come by and see what he wanted.”

  Bishop Graham looked at James in awe and couldn’t believe the lie he was telling, and to include his name was totally wrong.

  “But you could’ve eaten before you left. I know how much you love a good home cooked meal, James.”

  That statement reminded James not to forget the meal Cookie had set aside for him. “Well, I wasn’t really hungry and I didn’t want to eat without you.”

  “I think you hurt Amaryllis’ feelings, honey. She was kinda upset that you didn’t stay and eat. She was just trying to be nice to you.”

  Yeah, nice and easy, James thought.

  “James, are you there?”

  “Yeah, baby, I’m here. Listen, the Bishop and I are done talking, so I’m gonna head home.”

  “Are you sure everything’s okay? You sound kinda funny.”

  “Yeah, everything’s cool. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Okay, sweetie, I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mickey.”

  James ended the connection with Michelle and saw how his Bishop was eyeing him. “I know what you’re going to say.”

  “So, I’ll say it anyway. You’re gonna regret not telling Michelle what happened.”

  “Amaryllis didn’t say anything either, so maybe this will all blow over.” James was hopeful.

  “James, I love you like a son and I pray that you’ll take heed to what I’m saying. You’ve got to tell Michelle what her sister did.”