His Substitute Wife... My Sister Book One

by Sylvia Hubbard

  “About what?”

  “Curious or just nosey.”

  “Both.”

  Had she noticed how close she had moved toward him?

  “It’s none of your business and it doesn’t concern you,” he answered, without forethought he pushed a cowlick that had come down from her loose ponytail away from her face, but snatched his hand away.

  She didn’t realize it until he snatched his hand away that he brushed her forehead and she hadn’t panic. Usually she would have been up in arms screaming, shouting, but she didn’t. Looking at his hand then back at him, she frowned as if she couldn’t understand her own reaction.

  “I’m sorry,” he immediately said.

  Standing up, she could instantly feel her underwear again had filled with moisture. “I think Dr. Redmond needs to check me out.”

  He stood up very ready for her to go into hysterics. Her voice was quivering and she had started to perspire.

  “I’ll go get him,” he said very concerned and left the office.

  She collapsed back in the chair. Her legs had started to tremble and her heartbeat was increasing.

  ‘Yes, something was wrong and she didn’t think she should wait until her next appointment or it could be serious.’

  ***

  Kimberly had arrived when the doctor had finished the exam and called Parker to let him know she was waiting in a gray van behind the parking lot.

  “Should I come in?”

  “Yes, I’ll have the nurse open the employee entrance for you,” he said and arranged it at the front desk. Knowing the private matter of their visits, the nurse helped him out.

  Kimberly had the most precious three-year-old that was a likeness to Kimberly, but with Jaelen’s cinnamon’s eyes. They hugged briefly and then went into Dr. Redmond’s office where Parker continued to pace.

  “What’s wrong?” Kimberly questioned worriedly.

  He told her what happened. “I didn’t mean to do it,” he explained still confused by his actions.

  “You mean you didn’t think about what you were doing? So you’re saying the action seemed natural?”

  “I guess,” he said shrugging.

  She smiled knowingly. “So you care about her, Parker?”

  “Of course I do. She’s my sister-in-law.”

  “I’m not stupid,” Kimberly said. “I know about the affair with the other sister. You aren’t– “

  He cut her off. “No Kim, I don’t feel lust toward her.” He looked briefly insulted, but knew it was useless to get upset over action he’d done in the past. “I mean she’s beautiful. Even more beautiful than her sisters, but this is a friendship for her.”

  Kimberly looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”

  “Even before she agreed to have the baby I felt she was a good person to talk to. I enjoyed just talking to her.”

  Stopping the baby from reaching to grab something off the doctor’s desk, Kimberly said, “And she didn’t jerk or scream or anything when you touched her?”

  “No, but then she looked really sick all of a sudden, but it was only after a moment, yet, I swear…” His voice trailed off.

  “What?” she asked.

  “When I did it, she leaned closer.”

  “Are you sure you’re not looking more into this?”

  “No, Kim.”

  “And when you talk together, she’s amicable?”

  “She’s sarcastic and says what’s on her mind, but other than that, she’s nice to speak to. Almost a female version of Jaelen.”

  “Then we’d get along very well,” she said with a brief chuckle. “Maybe she feels comfortable with you, Parker. She doesn’t sound like the type to have close friends.”

  “She doesn’t prefer people or the niceness of people. That’s what she told me, which I find odd since she seems like once you get to know her she’s an acceptable person. I hope I didn’t make her too sick. Do you think this could hurt the baby?”

  “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know,” she answered.

  “But you have more than enough kids to know.”

  She dug out a sipping cup from her purse and gave it to the little girl getting restless in her lap. The child eagerly gripped the cup and slurped loudly on the juice. “All you did was brush her forehead. It takes a lot more than that to physically hurt a baby, Parker. You probably just startled Charisse.”

  A nurse entered to let them know that Charisse was all done with her examination and was getting dressed.

  Kimberly gathered her things and walked with Parker to stand outside the room. He nervously waited for the doctor to come out.

  “Join me in the office, Parker,” Dr. Redmond said with a grim expression. “Charisse is almost finished getting dressed.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for her?” Parker questioned.

  “No. She’ll be fine and she doesn’t need to hear what I want to discuss with you.”

  “I’ll stay here and wait,” Kimberly said adjusting the baby in her arms. “We’ll be fine.”

  Parker followed him into the office looking over his shoulder worriedly at Kimberly.

  ***

  Nothing was wrong. That’s what the doctor had said, but she was feeling funny all the time and there was no explanation.

  “We could stop for something to eat if you’re that hungry,” Kimberly said quietly.

  Charisse looked up from being deep in thought. “I’m not hungry.”

  “The way you’re gnawing at your fingers I beg to differ.”

  “I’m just confused. I have a lot on my mind.” She looked down to see she had messed up the nice job Sophie had helped her do a while ago. “I’m worried.”

  “I texted Parker and let him know we slipped out.”

  “He’s not what I was worried about.”

  “But I wanted to make sure he’s not worried.”

  She didn’t know if she should be thankful or not. She was grateful Kimberly understood that panic look in her eyes when she came out of the exam room and asked if they could leave right away after Kimberly said she was there to take her home.

  The woman didn’t hesitate and led Kimberly straight out to the van with tinted windows parked behind the building and drove off.

  Kimberly didn’t wait for her to say anything, before she offered, “Is there something you want to just talk out and maybe I can help you? I’m no doctor, but I’ve been a woman all my life and a mother of five.” She was trying to be humorous and to put Charisse at ease.

  Charisse had been to enough psychiatrists to know when people were trying to get her to open up and Charisse had always resisted in the past, but today and for a while, she really had no one to talk to about “women stuff.” She didn’t trust Chyna not to tell her business to someone and Cheyenne was out of the question. Even though she could talk to her doctor about anything, she didn’t want to and Rochelle was just too old.

  Kimberly looked about her age – maybe a little older, but she had these caring trusting eyes.

  “The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with me, but I’m feeling these effects.”

  They just happened to be at a stoplight and Kimberly looked over at her with great concern. “What kind of effects?”

  Now that she had said it, Charisse became overly shy and wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell Kimberly anything because what was happening to her was almost embarrassing. Even now she wanted to hurry and get home and put on clean underwear. But Kimberly had children and mother’s seemed more understanding in odd situations, plus Kimberly seemed as if she knew more about hard situations that any other person in the world – especially married to a man like Jaelen. The woman had to have a big heart to put up with that difficult man and be so kind all the time.

  “I get wet down there when Parker does things to me.”

  Kimberly’s eyes narrowed and then relaxed. After slowly drawing her bottom lip in and giving it a thorough licking, she asked, “Things like what? Touch you like he did today? This isn’t the first ti
me he’s touched you?”

  “No touching. It’s just when he’s near me or looking at me or sometimes when I’m thinking about him…” Her voice trailed off at the look of horror and then amusement in Kimberly’s eyes. “What?”

  “As my oldest daughter says, you scared the dickens out of me. I thought the man had raped you and you didn’t know.”

  “No!” Charisse exclaimed. “He doesn’t touch me – except for today and that’s when my sickness became worse. It was like I exploded and …Why are you looking like that?” she asked, seeing the disbelief over Kimberly’s face.

  Kimberly shook her head slowly. “You’re really that innocent when it comes to men, Charisse?”

  “I’m not innocent. I mean I haven’t had sex if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “But don’t you know about sexual attraction?”

  “Yes, I read about it. But I don’t feel shortness of breath or faint or silly things like that.”

  “But your body is aroused, which is why you’re wet.”

  Charisse’s mouth dropped open stunned.

  Kimberly looked as if she wanted to hug her out of her confusion, but she didn’t. “You’re not sick, Charisse. Far from it. You’re just coming into lust with Parker.”

  ***

  “Has she voiced any strange feelings lately?” Dr. Redmond asked him.

  “No, what’s wrong with her?”

  “She’s fine Parker, but she’s getting up there in age and we must remember that a woman comes into her sexual height near and after her thirties. Charisse is due and it’s confusing to her, so we have to be careful. Particularly you.”

  “Me? What do I have to do with her sexual –“ He stopped himself and realized what a dumb question that was. “Wait a minute! She’s not sick like she thinks she is. She’s just aroused?”

  “Yes and that’s why I’m telling you to be careful.”

  “I have no desire to sleep with her,” he said, but that was a bold faced lie and he knew it but for the first time in his life, he really wanted to keep a relationship with a woman platonic. Back in the day, he’d have no bones about slipping it to Charisse – married or not, because his motto was he didn’t know when he was going to get some more. Now, he had matured and he really wanted to stay committed to Chyna even though she couldn’t give him sex, but it wasn’t as important as it was years ago.

  But this was Charisse. Not just any woman. This was his sister-in-law and there was still the touching.

  Although he wasn’t crazy. When he had touched her, her face had slightly leaned toward him as if… yearning… wanting… craving…

  ‘No, Parker! You’re looking too much into it. Charisse doesn’t want you!’

  “I’ll play it cool,” Parker said out loud.

  “I should warn you with her pregnancy these symptoms may worsen.”

  “Symptoms?”

  Dr. Redmond answered, “In some pregnant woman, their sexual urges have increased.”

  “But she’s a virgin. She doesn’t know about sex.”

  “Her maiden head was slightly torn, most likely from the turkey baster, but it’s still there so she’s still partly inaccessible. That won’t prevent her body from being aroused, so just be understanding.”

  He would, but he doubted that Charisse would give in to any “urges.” She kept her emotions in check all the time and only showed what she wanted people to see. Dr. Redmond was acting like Charisse was going to turn into a sex craved nymphomaniac – Not!

  There was no way in hell Charisse would allow Parker to touch her. No way!

  ***

  So deep in thought of what Dr. Redmond had said as he left the office on his way to the car, he didn’t even see the woman walking right up to him until she was just inches away and he moved out her pathway, but she just moved right back in front of him.

  Really looking at her, his stress increased tenfold. Cheyenne glared up at him angrily.

  She looked like she’d stepped out the salon, just like Chyna would have looked. Dressed in the latest fashion with a low neckline, Parker found that his desire to be with Cheyenne was so gone he couldn’t fathom as to why he had even had an affair with her to begin with.

  Lust used to rage in his blood at just the thought of having sex with her and he understood now it was only because his wife was not giving him the sex he wanted, but instead of him being a man about it and talking with Chyna, he had lost himself in the woman that looked like her, but there was nothing else that he desired about Cheyenne.

  “Parker, you and I need to talk,” Cheyenne demanded.

  “There’s nothing for us to talk about,” he stressed adamantly, trying to walk around her without causing a scene to others coming and going from the building. “Why are you even following me? How long have you been following me?”

  She blocked his way from going anywhere on purpose. “Joanie saw your car turn in while we were going the other way and then we did a U-Turn and came back across the street to see you just sitting in your car alone. Chyna’s at the salon, so why are you seeing the gynecologist alone?”

  She obviously didn’t see Charisse go in before he went in and Parker was very grateful. Right at that moment, his phone vibrated and he read the text from Kimberly to let him know Charisse insisted on leaving immediately.

  Looking over Cheyenne, he saw overweight Joanie sitting in the car stuffing a chocolate something in her mouth. “That’s none of your business.”

  “I know this isn’t for Chyna!” Cheyenne said disgustedly. “You might as well know she can’t have any babies, Parker. Is this what you meant about your future? Is this what she’s lied to you in order to make you stay?”

  “That’s between my wife and I,” he said tightly.

  “Chyna can’t have any babies! I don’t know what lies she’s told you, but she’s unable to produce a child and even if you get it implanted she’d die from the sheer pain. She’s useless as a wife and a lover. You will never get a child while you’re married to her.”

  “And you can help me? I know your situation too.”

  “I can find a way for us.” She tenderly caressed his cheek. In the past it would have inflamed him, but today it just felt like a snake rubbing against his face. “I can make it happen.”

  “How?”

  “I have my ways, but I won’t tell you unless you promise me a life for us together, Parker. Think about it, because I know your desire to have a child is strong and I don’t mind you using me, because I’m the sister that can give you what you want. Not Chyna.”

  Why couldn’t there be a law to slap a woman when a man felt like it? Never in his life had he ever wanted to lay hands on a woman, but Cheyenne was actually driving him to it.

  What happened to the sweet, shy woman Cheyenne had been in the past? Was she now showing her true colors? Did she actually think she could make him leave his wife with the promise of a child?

  Realistically, maybe if Chyna had not planned what they were doing now, he would he seriously thought about it, but now… Now he was going to get that child and live the life he wanted without this cold calculating bitch in his business or his way.

  “Like I said,” he said between gritted teeth. “I won’t leave my wife, Chyna.”

  Her attitude suddenly changed and she pressed her body against him, but he didn’t respond. “Parker, I just missed you. I miss our friendship and you’ve been ignoring me on purpose. I miss you so much!”

  He couldn’t say the same as he gently stepped away from her, holding her off from coming any closer. “Chyna asked me to break off all contact with you Cheyenne and I’d appreciate it you stay away from my family. I really don’t care what happened in the past between all of you. I don’t want to get involved in any of this, but I do want my family and I don’t want anyone outside of my family to do anything to destroy what I have. Am I getting my point across?”

  Cheyenne looked as if she wanted to say a lot more and he was positive her dull brown eyes were cl
ose to turning red because she looked so angry. “One more time,” she begged still keeping a fake sweet voice. “Let me see you just one more time without Chyna being around, Parker.”

  “To see me?”

  “Yes. We could have lunch.”

  He smiled wickedly. “Fine, but make it dinner. I’ll meet you.”

  Excitedly with triumph in her eyes, she asked, “When?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything. But you have to promise if I agree to have dinner with you without Chyna around, you won’t bother me or my family again.”

  “I promise. You won’t hear hide nor hair of me ever again,” she said, but there was so much wickedness in her eyes, that Parker felt dirty all over. Fingering his lapel, she asked, “Just like old times, Parker.”

  Far from it, but she wouldn’t know that until the night she met with Charisse and Parker showed up to have dinner with her.

  Pulling in her arms and instantly seeing lust jump into her eyes, he had to force himself not to be sickened by her closeness. “Just like old times, as long as you’re a woman of your word.”

  “I am,” she said passionately. “I’ll do anything for you, Parker. Anything.”

  Tenderly, kissing her cheek was like kissing a camel. Revulsion enveloped him and he was so disgusted with himself for even sleeping with this witch, he released her and headed for his car seeing the text message on his phone from Kimberly that they’d stop to get something to eat and would be home later.

  This was fine. He didn’t mind that at all and hoped that Charisse enjoyed herself away from the house with Kimberly, who was a very nice person. Maybe Charisse could get some tips for being a wife that she could pass over to Chyna.

  ‘Stop lying to yourself, Parker. You’re hoping that Charisse will pick up tips and be the better woman.’

  And then what?

  ‘You’ll divorce Chyna for her sister?’ his mind reasoned.

  That was out of the question and it was some machination that would never happen. He’d remain only friends with Charisse. Nothing else.

  ‘At least you’re going to divest one sister.’

  Getting rid of Cheyenne was going to be easier than he thought. Why did Chyna think it was so difficult?