"No, think I want to be out in public like this? You getting some type of joy from this, Derrick? Bet it does a hell of a lot for your ego to see me this way! Let's intensify the thrill, drag me out in public, why don't you! Humiliate me before a crowd! Wanna sell tickets first?" she sobbed sarcastically.
"Look! I don't want anything of the kind. You have to calm down." He was panicking, thinking someone would knock on the door any second now, she was getting loud enough for someone passing by in the hallway to hear her.
"You want me to calm down, you come to my home then, and say to me what you have to say! If you can't find it in you to do that, then right here, right now! Because I can take only so much—"
"Okay!" his voice boomed, then lowered, "okay…I'll follow you home. Just calm down."
"Right now! Either it's right here—right now, or my home—right now!"
"Your home—right now, let's go."
* * *
Chicago...
"Hi, what you doing?" Vivian asked as soon as Jake answered his cell phone.
"I'm at your place, trying to keep busy. Bought some paint to do the trim on your windows. Good thing I carry a lot of my tools and equipment around with me. The schmuck who did this place over didn't take off the old paint, just painted over it, cracked up paint and all! I hate shit done like that. I have the two front windows done, stripped down, smooth as can be with one more to go and then your door. Once I sand it over, I'll paint them. After that, I'll be repairing that lower step where the concrete has broken and cracked; that's an eyesore, not to mention dangerous. After that, I'll get these hedges trimmed and your yard straight."
"Wow…are you ever busy! Problem is, I don't own that property; the landlord should be doing all of that," Vivian reasoned with him.
"Screw it, no sense in waiting on that. You miss me already?" He went straight into flirting.
Vivian smiled, she could already see the look on his face, a definite grin would be there. "Listen at you, do I miss you already; you miss me?" she returned.
"Hell yeah! I miss you like crazy, baby—just heard the song on the radio," he chuckled.
"Well, then, if that's the case, would you consider coming and having lunch with me?"
"All the way back downtown for lunch? I wanna get this stuff done, Vivian. I'm here for only a few more days; you best get whatever you can out of me while you can."
"I suppose so. It's just that, for one, I need to go and file for new IDs, after my purse—"
"Nope, came in the mail today," he cut her off, informing her.
"What came in the mail?"
"Your purse, wallet, IDs. All except credit cards. You have any credit cards?"
"Yes, I did."
"Gone now, and of course, any cash you may have had, but at least you have your purse, wallet, IDs back—driver's license and all. Be glad for that."
"Yes, I suppose that's all a good thing. Well, no need for me to take off the afternoon from work then."
"Nope, and I can get this stuff here done that I started. Unless, that is, you really really want me to come?" He checked to be sure.
Vivian thought about it, sighed and thought, hell with it, let them suffer. They didn't need to see him, they would simply have to wait until the time was right. Besides, he wasn't a fancy new gadget and her relationship wasn't on display for show and tell hour.
"Nooo, that's fine. Picking me up after work is soon enough. You may have not liked being here for lunch, anyway; three of my co-workers are dying to see you, meet you. More than anything, see you, get a close-up inspection of you because they're all nosy as hell, and one of them, a gay guy named Dean, saw you dropping me off this morning. I can tell you now, his tongue is wagging like mad."
"And you wanted me to have lunch with him? A gay guy? Get real! I don't do the gay scene, sorry."
"Jake! He's not so bad, he's funny, and I like him."
"Yeah, I'm sure he is funny. You can like him all you want. Besides, fine specimen that I am, do you really wanna put him through it? I mean, come on, if he's effeminate gay, he'll be all over me, then what will you do? I hear they're ten times worse than any woman after your man," he teased, chuckling lightly with it, but then, Vivian wasn't so sure. Dean was that kind, and was just a bit too excited about meeting Jake.
"Yeah, I think we better slide on that."
Jake was laughing at her and her tone. "You sound so sexy when you use that tone, that low, black earthy tone…emmm, you're gettin' me goin'."
It was Vivian's turn to laugh. "You be trippin'; let me off this phone. Oh, what are we gonna have for dinner?"
"I'm thinking about cooking again. I made you that breakfast this mornin', that was good, wasn't it?"
"Yes it was! Listen at you, starting to like that domestic role, aren't you?"
"Hell, if Shawn can do it, then so can I. I'm not stupid, I know what tastes good. I might try my hand at something; I've watched him and my mom enough."
"There are cookbooks right there in my kitchen, and a Jewels food store three blocks from the house."
"I know, been there this morning for coffee, you were out. I just might surprise you with something, we'll see."
"Aaah, I can't wait. Okay, I better go, see you later. I love you."
"I love you, too, lil girl. I'll be there on time, so be out front. I don't want to have to go around and come back again, it'll take forever with traffic."
"I'll be out front; bye, baby." She clicked off, her cheeks aching from smiling so much. She sighed, "My man." She wouldn't have been smiling so if she knew what her man was doing right when she clicked off.
Jake put his cell phone back in his jacket pocket, sipped from his coffee mug, sat it back on her dresser, and then commenced to stuffing all of the clothes he removed from his woman's closet into the garbage bag. He had been thorough. Never had he known a woman to have so many clothes. Only his mother had this many, and he wondered if Vivian even had her beat. Even so, he was just about done, removing only articles of clothing that in his estimation, she no longer needed to be wearing. Her evening wear: all the stuff that fit and detailed the contours of her body, like her tiny waist and ample ass, shapely legs, giving them more emphasis than he cared for. After all, she'd be fat-bellied with his babies soon enough, might as well pass these things on to someone who would need to wear such bait trimmings. She had him, so the things he collected together to give to goodwill, the one that he passed coming back from downtown, would gain more from them. After all, some still had tags on them; they would go for a nice dollar.
Everyone met up at the elevator, talking about where they wanted to eat. Dean, of course, didn't care where they were going to eat, he just wanted to know if her new man would be joining them.
"Unfortunately, Dean, you won't experience the pleasure of his presence today. He's busy at my place, doing my yard, stripping and painting. And, he says he's going to try his hand at cooking me dinner. That ought to be interesting."
"Oh, hell! Who gives a shit about your yard!" Dean complained.
Vivian only laughed. "Obviously he does, and he's there taking care of business."
"I bet you didn't even try to get him to come!" Dean again.
"Drop it, Dean, it's a no-show today; even so, if it's any consolation to you, he'll be here to pick me up from work. You'll just have to be out front then, won't you?" Vivian enlightened him as the elevator doors opened and they boarded.
"Em hm, you know I will be. I'mo tell you right now, don't pull no shit today, either, giving me no last minute stuff to do so I can't be out there."
Vivian grinned mischievously.
Dean changed his attitude, more humble, he knew who was in charge. "Oh, please don't, you said you liked me earlier."
Vivian only laughed.
"What are you going to do about ID?" Janna asked.
"He told me that my purse, wallet, and IDs arrived in the mail today, all save my credit cards and cash, of course. No matter; at least I won't have to go
through applying for new identification, what a hassle that is!"
"Tell me about it; my aunt had her purse taken a few years back, and to get more ID, it took almost the whole goddamn family to show up with all they shit to prove she was who she said she was, insane!" Stephanie contributed to the conversation.
"Thank goodness for small favors, I'll be spared that."
"Yes, thank goodness. Now, since he couldn't be here, tell us about him. What does he do? How old is he?" Janna asked, curious.
"Yes, more details, please! All the good shit! We wanna know it all!" Dean added.
Vivian sighed long and deep. An architect was on her tongue to lie and say, but she felt her face burn at the thought. Instead, she came as close to the truth as she could.
"Jake is a carpenter. Builder, all around jack-of-all-trades, I guess you could say."
"Jack-of-all-trades? What's that?" Dean made a face, asking, looking at Stephanie.
"Someone good at everything, but a master of nothing," Janna stated. "Blue collar, huh?" she finished off, asking.
Vivian felt it already, with slanted eyes cut at Janna, she answered, "Oh, believe me, he's a master at quite a few things—trust me, everything he does, he gives it his all—ev-ver-rything," she emphasized the latter with the lift of a brow.
"Shit, that sounds like a brag on some sex to me! I know good sex when I hear it! Damn good sex! Yo' hot ass!" Dean griped.
"Now, Dean, did you hear me say anything about sex?"
"You ain't have to. I can see it in your walk, that damn glint in your eye! He done lit your ass on fire, admit it!" Dean was making faces that had Vivian laughing and shaking her head.
"Dean, you are too nosy, mind your business." She turned back to Janna. "No, he's not a professional. So, let's just get this all out of the way right now. He's home-grown, all man, works with his hands—"
"Good goddamn sex! That's all you saying. Scratch the bullshit, cut to the chase—shit!" Dean added again. "Country-ass white boy—"
"Man, sweetie, all man!" Vivian corrected, reaching up to tap the cleft in his chin.
"Oooh! All man, I bet his country-ass—"
"He's not country, either, just…used to working on a farm…"
"He a cowboy?" Stephanie asked.
"Kinda…he certainly does the hat and boots!"
"Your ass is wrong! You know you could've got him here! I wanna see his ass! Invite us all to dinner this weekend!" Dean strongly suggested.
"No! We're going to my folks house for dinner, so my family can meet him."
"I can't stand you! You know that, don't you?" he asked.
Vivian, ever tolerant, only smiled and winked.
"Your family, huh? What are they going to say? About his being white?" Janna asked.
"They know. I've already told them. Whether they like it or not, not my problem."
"His family? What do they say?" she asked with a particular glint in her eyes.
"His mother loves me! In fact, she did all in her power to get us together. I love her, she is one special lady."
"Get outta here! For real?" Dean asked, stunned.
"Cross my heart, I do not lie!"
Janna stared at her moment, shook her head in disbelief. Stephanie was growing impatient. "Anywaaay, more about him," she cut in. "How tall is he? Is he fine? How old is he? Is he…is he…got it goin' on? You know, is he a big business man, or a little business man?" she asked, on the verge of licking her lips in anticipation of hearing.
"Good questions," Dean commended, "I like that in you, you learning." He swung his head from her to Vivian for the answers.
"He is 6'2…mmm, maybe 6'3, give or take an inch…fine? Oh yeah…oh yeah! Thirty-nine, and as for his business, that is my business."
"Oh, honey, do you not know the rules of engagement? Sugah, that much older in a man…only when it's about the money." Stephanie tried to school her, shaking her head. "Oil, baby: Old, ill, and loaded. Otherwise, why bother?"
Vivian sighed. "First of all, he's not that old. Thirty-nine makes him only ten or more years over me. Second, he's in excellent condition; trust me, when it comes to endurance, he's got more than enough, when it counts."
"That's sex, dammit! Braggin' ass! Tall? Good-looking? Country-ass with no money? Good evening, Mr. Schlong Johnson!"
"Dean!" Janna and Vivian both yelled at him.
"Pul-lease, I don't think so! Don't confuse him with the black man," Stephanie corrected him.
They stepped off the elevator, Vivian and Janna walking ahead, shaking their heads with the two behind them bitchin' at each other about who was right when it came to who was the king of endowments between races. Both trying to get Vivian and Janna on their sides to agree with their point of view. With so many heading out the doors for lunch, there was a bit of congestion at the rotating doors, which quieted the heated discussion for the time being. Once outside the tall office building, they made their way to their favorite restaurant for lunch, the argument resuming. They were almost at an alley to cross, when Vivian felt someone take hold of her arm. She had little choice but to stop. Within seconds, she glanced down at the hand on her arm, immediately recognizing it and then up to the owner of it.
Laek Chan…gazing straight into her eyes.
Dean, Janna, and Stephanie stopped and turned to see what or who had stopped her. Dean, with wide eyes, looked down at Stephanie. "Emmm," came from him as if to say, The plot thickens.
Chapter 202
Madison...
Derrick sat in his truck out in front of Margaret's apartment building. His stomach was tied up in knots. This didn't feel right, this whole situation. It wasn't that she was the first woman to come on to him, far from the truth. It was that the others had all given up after a bit. Because of his unaffected, non-response, they got the message. The others hadn't been willing to go the lengths that Margaret had gone. After a few advances towards him, and blatant flirtation and invitation, his disinterest was enough to diffuse them, having too much pride to go any further.
What he could not understand was, why she had not been the same? After two years and no success, he didn't get what was going on with Margaret. What kind of woman was she, that she was willing to humiliate herself with him, he wondered. She was standing in the door of her apartment building looking at him, waiting for him to get out of his truck to follow her in. Derrick took a very deep breath and blew it out. He had to deal with her; he had no choice but to go there, he felt, because he couldn't deal with a public scene, not the kind that she was willing to conduct. He opened his door before he lost his nerve.
Standing in the center of her contemporary dining room, where you entered her apartment, he gave her a chance to close her door. She stood a moment, the door closed, still facing it as if afraid of turning around, coming away from it, to face him. After a silent fearful prayer, she turned to him, her back to the door, one hand gripping the knob so tightly, her knuckles were white. The sight of him there in her home was almost her undoing. No man made her feel and fantasize the way this one did. She was in love with everything there was about him. She would give anything to spend just an evening with him, in light casual conversation. A few drinks. Then, yes, to bed to make love. He was a solidly built man, tall, heavy, stout, and well endowed. She knew by the imprint of his bulge. Many of the teachers speculated about him. There were times, depending on what he wore, that it was a battle to keep her eyes from his groin area, certain clothing emphasized and flaunted his package. Her heart took off beating in her chest, making her short of breath.
He was nervous, uncomfortable.
She was scared, desperate.
"Margaret, I need us to get passed this. I need you to be calm about it."
"I'm in love with you. Deeply in love with you."
"I'm married, Margaret. I'm happily married," Derrick emphasized.
"To her? How can you be happily married to her? You two have nothing in common."
"We have plenty in common—our child
ren, for one."
"Anyone can have children with someone, Derrick, it's not very hard to do. Doesn't mean you two are meant for each other, because you have children. Sexual intercourse is the cause of reproduction; almost anyone can do this, doesn't make them suited for one another."
"Margaret, I love my wife. Whatever differences that exist between us, makes our marriage that much more interesting, exciting. My wife brings me the kind of thrills, I look forward to. No woman, thus far, that I've encountered, does for me what she does."
"How do you know that? Have you given anyone else a try?"
"No, I haven't, and I have no plans to."
"You know why? Because you're afraid that you might find that you're not as happy as you think you are. You're playing it safe! So you don't have to face the truth."
"I like safe. Safe is a good thing for me. My wife is good for me. She takes damn good care of me, our children, our home. She is exactly what a man like me needs. I need nothing more."
"You can't mean that!"
"I do. I do mean that. I need you to stop this. For your own sake, please…redirect all of this energy towards someone for you. I'm not for you. I'm taken, totally and completely."
"My God, does it mean nothing to you to see me like this?"
"There's no need for you to be like this, Margaret! Why have you continued to pursue me, when I've given you nothing to hope for? The day I left you in my office as you were, with nothing on, should have been clear enough that this pursuit of yours will go nowhere. I have a family, a home, a life that means the world to me. There is no room in that for what you're looking for, there's no room in it for you," he finished, hating to see her struggling, to see the pain she was trying to endure. It hurt him to see anyone hurt, especially a woman, but he was powerless to stop it.
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