by Carmen Green
“You’ll learn everything when we get to Aunt Gert’s,” Renee said, glad she’d insisted on driving. When she’d shown up at the Smithstones’, Karen had fired questions like a fully automatic machine gun. “Where have you been? Why have you been avoiding me? Have you been crying? Where’s Chris? Tell me. Tell me right now!”
Renee had almost changed her mind about the whole thing, but saw the concern on her friend’s face and toughed it out. It hadn’t taken much to get Karen to go with her to see Aunt Gert. What had been difficult was deflecting her questions. She was relieved and nervous when she parked her car in the visitors’ lot.
She went to the trunk and removed two large shopping bags. “Here. Take one of these,” she said, holding out one of the bags to her friend.
Karen took the bag and looked inside. “Is Miss Gert having a party and am I invited?”
For the first time in days, Renee laughed. “Sorry. No party. The rum is for her bridge club and the tequila is for her poker club and the wine is for dinner.”
“She is one busy woman.”
They walked into the lobby and signed in. The guard gave her a smile, but Mr. Douglass eyed the shopping bags bearing the name of a well-known wine shop.
“Ms. Foster,” he said in a tone that irritated her. “Are there more than two bottles of alcohol in those bags?”
“Yes.”
The man puffed out his thin chest. “Well, I’m sorry, that is against our policy. You’ll have to take them back to your vehicle.”
Renee shook her head. “I’m not taking them back, Mr. Hall, and I would suggest that you review the policy. I contacted the company headquarters. They were very happy to send a copy of the new policy to my lawyer. There isn’t a single thing in it that limits the amount of alcohol a resident can bring into this building.”
“Young woman. I have worked here for years—”
“And—” Renee interrupted him “—you’ve been lying to the people who live here. I am going to go visit my great-aunt and I’m taking these—” she held up a bag “—with me.”
“I will have your great-aunt thrown out of here.”
Renee looked him up and down with disdain. “You don’t want to mess with me and if you so much as look at Aunt Gert the wrong way, I will squash you like a bug.”
He narrowed his eyes and tightened his lips, but said nothing when she and Karen headed toward the elevator.
A few residents waited at the elevators. Renee felt heat rush to her face when two older men clapped as she joined them. “That’s telling that pain in the butt,” one of the men said. Mr. Hall was a pain in the butt and it felt good knowing that she’d told him off and there was nothing he could do about it. Karen stared at her with a shocked look on her face.
They exited onto Aunt Gert’s floor and walked the short distance down the hall to her door. Nerves she’d been battling on the drive down returned in full force when she pressed the doorbell. Aunt Gert answered the door wearing purple linen pants and a matching tunic.
“Well, come on in.” She opened the door to let them enter.
Renee put the bag on the dining-room table and Karen followed suit.
“Miss Gert, Renee told the man downstairs at the sign-in desk that she was going to squash him like a bug.” Karen sat down on the love seat, her eyes wide with delight.
Aunt Gert looked at Renee and raised her brow. “Is that true?”
“Yes, ma’am. He threatened to have you thrown out of here because I told him I was bringing you more than two bottles of alcohol. I had Terrell review the contract and there’s no rule like that in it. If Mr. Hall gives you a hard time, you let me know.”
Aunt Gert looked at her for a moment then walked to the love seat and sat next to Karen.
“I will,” she said softly. “So, what is it that you want to tell us?”
Where did she begin? Then she knew exactly where to start. “I love you, Aunt Gert.”
She watched as Aunt Gert’s eyes filled with tears, but it was the smile on her face that let her know everything would be okay. “I know you do, sweetie,” she replied, and pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eyes.
Karen brushed tears from her cheeks.
“There’s something you should know about Marc.” Renee told them everything, beginning with the call from Chris and ending with her bringing the necklace here.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” the older woman asked softly.
“I felt responsible.” She held up her hand when both women protested. “I married Marc and brought him into your life and when I thought he’d stolen the necklace…” She closed her eyes, her heart pounding. “I thought you would stop loving me and treat me the way my parents treat me.”
“Oh, Renee. I will never stop loving you.” She left the love seat to stand in front of her, and cupped her hands around her face. “That, you can take to the bank.”
Renee put her hands on top of hers and saw with clarity the love that had always been there in her aunt Gert’s eyes.
Minutes and several tissues later, Aunt Gert and Karen laid down the law.
“You’d better not ever keep something like that to yourself again,” Karen said, giving her the old hairy-eyeball look. “I love you, and friends help each other through good times and bad.”
“Same goes for family,” Aunt Gert added.
“Okay. I promise not to keep anything like that to myself.”
“You’d better not,” Aunt Gert muttered.
“Well, there is one more thing,” Renee said.
“Oh, good Lord,” Karen gasped. “What else?”
“I’m in love with Chris Foster.” She smiled when they looked at each other and smiled back at her. “Y’all already knew.”
Karen nodded. “It was pretty obvious. So when is he coming back?”
Her smile faded away. “He’s not.”
“What do you mean he’s not?” Aunt Gert folded her arms over her chest.
“I mean he went back to Atlanta. I said some pretty bad things to him and I never told him that I love him.”
Aunt Gert pursed her lips then said, “So when are you going to Atlanta to fix all this?”
* * *
Chris ignored the knock on his apartment door just as he’d ignored the calls to his cell. It was Friday night and he planned to stay inside his apartment. Alone.
He relaxed in his chair when the knocking stopped and stared at the muted television. On-screen, a car exploded, sending people on the street running for cover. He wasn’t interested.
At work today, he’d learned his request for transfer to Washington, D.C., had been accepted and he should have been happy and eager to go. Instead he really didn’t give a damn. There was nothing for him in D.C., just as there was nothing for him anyplace if Renee wasn’t with him.
Pain washed over him every time he thought of her and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. With her, he didn’t feel the empty restlessness, the need to always be on the lookout for the next place to go.
He swore when his cell phone rang again. He took it out of the pocket of his jeans and read the screen. It was Will.
“Hello.”
“Are you home?”
He laughed. This empty apartment would never be home. “I’m at my apartment.”
“Good. Now, open your damn front door.”
Frowning, Chris closed his phone, walked to the door and looked out the security hole. Will stood on the other side of the door, looking impatient.
He opened the door. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“My sister’s going to some charity event tomorrow. I hitched a ride with her.” The ride was one of his family’s private jets. Will would “hitch a ride” when the mood struck him, which was pretty often. In casual pants and a polo shirt, Will looked as if he were on his way the nearest golf course. He didn’t look like he was a member of one of the wealthiest African-American families.
Will shook his head as he looked aroun
d the room. “Is there a name for the fear of furniture?”
“Shut up.” Chris went to the hall closet and brought out the folding chair he’d purchased the last time Will came to his apartment. Will had made himself at home in his recliner. Chris mentally shrugged and sat in the folding chair.
“I hear your transfer request to D.C. was approved. When are you moving?”
Chris looked at him. Sometimes, like now, it still surprised him how well connected Will was with the bureau. He wondered why Will wasn’t working there.
He turned and stared blindly at the television screen. “I’m not going to D.C.” That surprised the hell out of him. Until he’d said the words, he hadn’t realized he was thinking of not going to D.C. He’d always transferred, always moved about every two years.
For what?
The job didn’t require him to move. It had always been his decision, his choice to move.
He could stay in one place if that’s what he wanted. He realized that he didn’t have to always be ready to leave without notice. He was moving to Birmingham…to Renee.
For the first time in days, he felt the pain fade. He’d move there and spend the rest of his life showing her, proving to her that he loved her. Smiling, Chris turned to his friend. “When do you have to leave?”
Will gave him a quizzical look. “Monday.”
“Good. I need your help.”
* * *
The one good thing about not having a permanent job, Renee thought as she packed the overnight bag, was the freedom to come and go as she pleased. She’d gone shopping with Karen and used the BlackBerry Alex had insisted she and Danielle use to keep in touch, to e-mail photos of the outfits she and Karen had selected for the other wives’ approval.
She’d spoken with Danielle later to bring her up-to-date. Danielle had given her stamp of approval to Chris and the outfits. She told her she was sending Renee a package of scented soaps and lotions and it would arrive at her home before she left to go to Atlanta the next morning. The package had arrived a few minutes ago. When she’d opened the box she’d smiled and immediately smoothed the lotion on her hands. It smelled wonderful.
It was easy being herself around Karen, who had no trouble telling her when something was over her head, and she never made her feel uncomfortable. Except when she dragged her into an adult toy store for women. “If you’re going to jump Chris, and I suggest you do, wear something that will make all the blood rush to his…”
“Karen!”
Karen rolled her eyes and began looking through the costumes. She didn’t take pictures of the one she’d chosen. Chris would be the only person to ever see her in that getup.
Without Marc, she would never have met Alex, Danielle or Chris. For that, and Aunt Gert’s earrings, she would always be grateful. She zipped the bag and carried it downstairs to the kitchen, where she’d put her purse and a map with directions to Chris’s apartment. She was about to leave when her doorbell rang.
Curious, she walked to the front door and looked out one of the small, door-lite windows.
Chris stood on her porch wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt and gray striped tie. He looked cool, in control and drop-dead gorgeous. He held a large brown envelope in his hand. Her heart began to race and she opened the door.
“Hello, Renee.” His voice was deep and low. The sound of it was as welcoming as a lover’s touch.
“Hi.” She stood motionless, just looking at the face of the man she loved. She couldn’t believe he was here. She frowned. “Why are you here? Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” he replied. “Can I come in?”
“Oh, sure.” She moved back and could have kicked herself for leaving him standing on the porch. “Do you want something to drink?” she asked as she walked down the hall to the den. This was not the way she’d planned to see him again. She’d planned to shower and change at Alex’s place before heading to his apartment. She had on the wrong underwear for this.
“No. I’m good.”
She sat on the sofa where he’d made her scream with pleasure.
Okay, she was going to have to change her plans. It would be here that she’d make a stand and bear her true feelings.
“What brings you here?” she asked.
“I got a renewal notice from the airport where Marc leased a hangar. In addition to leasing a hangar, Marc also rented a locker. When I went to clear out his locker, I found a key to an apartment.”
“Marc had an apartment?”
“Yes. He had a room dedicated to you, Danielle and Alex.”
“What do you mean dedicated?” Renee asked, interrupting him.
“I mean he kept important information on each of you. In your room, he had pictures of you and your family, a bottle of perfume you wear and even some of your clothes.”
Renee didn’t know what to think of this new information.
“I discovered something else in his apartment. There’s no easy way for me to tell you this.”
Renee braced herself. “Just tell me.”
“There was a fourth room in the apartment. I believe Marc was involved with another woman.”
She put her hand to her head and rubbed her temple. She was glad she was sitting because she would have fallen on her rear after hearing this. She waited, expecting to feel anger or indignation. Instead she felt sad…for Chris. And she realized that Marc’s actions didn’t have the power to hurt or anger her any longer. She was totally free.
“Did you contact the other woman?” she asked.
“There wasn’t enough information for me to find out who she is or if Marc even married her.”
“Have you told everyone?” This was the last thing Danielle and Alex needed to hear.
“No. I’ll call Tristan and Hunter later. I wanted to tell you first. I’m sorry about this.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “I’m okay. His actions don’t mean anything to me anymore.”
He studied her face. “You’re not upset.” It was a statement not a question.
She shook her head. “No. Is this why you came back?”
“No. I need to give you this,” he said, holding out the envelope, making no move to sit down.
“What is it?” she asked, taking it. There were no markings or writing on it.
“Open it,” he said and walked to the fireplace.
She opened the envelope and removed a stack of papers, which were held together with a binder clip. Scanning the first page, she noted Chris’s full name, date and place of birth. “What is this?” she asked again, turning the pages.
“Part of the file the bureau has on me.”
She looked at him and frowned in confusion. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“Because I want you to know my background. I want you to know who I am.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Marc lied to you about so many things. I don’t want there to be lies between us.”
Between us?
“What are you saying?” she asked, afraid to jump to conclusions, watching as he walked across the room and sat down beside her.
“I’m saying that I love you, Renee. More than anything in this world.”
She felt her heart melt at his words. He loved her. Her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, but the only sound she could make was a choked sob.
Gently he took her hand. “I know you don’t love me, but give me a chance to show you how much I love you. I promise you’ll never regret it.”
Renee held on to his hand then took two deep breaths.
“Chris, I…” Her voice cracked.
“Wait.” He let go of her hand and reached across to the envelope she’d placed beside her. He removed a smaller envelope from inside. “These are for you.”
She wiped away her tears and opened it. Inside were two tickets from Birmingham to Cape Town, South Africa. A calm settled within her. She carefully put the tickets, his files and the envelops on the end table.
&nb
sp; She reached over and took his hand in hers. She looked into his golden-brown eyes. “I have something to tell you, and I want you to promise not to interrupt until I’m done.”
“I promise,” he said without hesitation and she could see the concern on his face.
“I love you, Christopher Steven Foster and I’m sorry,” she said, squeezing his hand, “but I’m going to have to jump you. Right now.”
And she did.
EPILOGUE
“You know,” Renee said as she slid her hand over his chest, pausing to rub her thumb over his nipple, and smiled when she felt his heartbeat quicken, “you messed up all my plans. I was supposed to leave today.” Of course, she didn’t mind because she was happy with the way things were, thank you very much.
After she’d jumped him on the couch, Chris had carried her upstairs to the master bedroom, leaving what was left of their clothing in a rumpled trail along the way. He’d somehow managed to pull up his pants and keep them on during the trip upstairs, which puzzled her because she distinctly remembered pushing them and his boxers off his hips one slow inch at a time.
“I saw the suitcase in the kitchen.” He rested his hand on her bare hip. “Where were you going?”
She closed her eyes, enjoying the way his hands moved on her body. “To Atlanta to seduce you.”
“Hmm. You would have missed me. I was out of town.”
“What for?” She opened her eyes and leaned back to look at his face. His eyes were closed. He looked totally relaxed and content.
“I had a few loose ends to take care of here and there.”
“Hmm.” She put her head on his chest again and didn’t push for answers. She knew there were things about his job that he couldn’t tell her.
“I’m not moving to D.C.”
She grew still. “You’re not?”
“No. I put in for a transfer to Birmingham.”
She leaned back, maneuvering until she was on her side resting her head on her hand. “You’re moving here?”
“As soon as the transfer goes through,” he said, turning on his side mirroring her position.
She smiled, pleased with him. “Okay, so you’re transferring to D.C. two years from now?”
