CHAPTER 12
“C
ome here.” Randall lay stretched across their custom, king-size bed, having only taken off his shoes and loosened his tie. By the time he’d reached their master suite, the fatigue had returned full force.
“I can tell you’re glad to be home.” Sherri, his college sweetheart, climbed on the bed and nestled herself against him.
“I am. The conference was good, though. Me and James finally got a chance to catch up.”
“How’s married life treating him?”
“I’ve got to admit it. He looks good, Sherri, like he’s lost at least ten pounds. Debbie must be doing something right.”
“She’s probably cooking, something that wifey number one felt was beneath her.”
“Now, don’t be too hard on the gold digger.”
“Ha! I wonder what she’s up to now.”
“If I know her, trying to find another cash cow.”
“Thank God for Debbie. She’ll help restore James’s faith in women. The few times we’ve talked, I’ve really enjoyed the conversation. I think I have her number in my phone.”
“You should call her. In fact, we should make plans to do an adults-only getaway. Maybe meet them in Vegas or somewhere fun.”
“That sounds good.” She repositioned her head in the crook of his arm. “Anything else exciting happen?”
A pause and then, “I did an exclusive interview for
Science Today
.”
“Ooh, very nice. I take it that went well.”
“Yes. She asked probing, intelligent questions, which allowed me the platform for informative answers.”
“She?”
“Yes. Her name is Jacqueline Tate. She is a freelance writer for them as well as other medical and science publications.”
“Hum. Is she pretty?”
“Beautiful, actually.”
“Well, why don’t you tell me how you really feel!”
“Hey, woman, you asked! But you don’t have anything to worry about. Nobody can compete with you.”
“Un huh. Whatever. I hope you behaved.”
Even if she hadn’t smiled, Randall knew she was joking. Aside from a single indiscretion early on in the marriage, he had never given Sherri anything to worry about. She trusted him completely.
Randall took off his tie, then slid off the bed to remove everything but his black Calvin Klein briefs. “Any updates on Mom Elaine?”
Sherri’s disposition immediately changed. Her mother’s health issues were a constant concern. “She’s doing okay. There have been no changes.”
“Then take comfort in that, baby. In this situation, stability is actually good news.”
Sherri nodded, but looked at him with forlorn eyes.
He sat down, reached for her hand. “She’s going to be fine, babe. We’ve got the best doctors in the country checking into her situation. Plus, I discussed her symptoms with my colleagues during our private meetings on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. One of the doctors is going to forward information he has on cranial infections and how they affect brain function.”
She sat beside him. “You think her brain is infected?”
“Sherri, please don’t get worked up. The truth is, I don’t know. But because the doctors have yet to offer a solid diagnosis, I wanted to describe her situation to those present and see if it rang a bell on something they’d treated. The head of neurology at UCLA is now on my speed dial. I’m going to do everything in my power to make Mom well.”
Sherri teared up as she moved in close to her husband. “You are such an amazing, incredible man. What would I ever do without you?”
He kissed her tenderly on the lips. “Thankfully, you’ll never have to find out.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry.”
“About what?”
“That night . . . before you left.”
“I told you over the phone not to worry about that.”
“But I do worry, thought about it all the while you were gone! You’re a good man, a wonderful father . . . and I need to be a better wife. I need to always take care of your physical needs, especially when you’re heading out of town for a week!”
For a while, Randall said nothing. After all, one couldn’t argue with fact. The home fires had been cooling for quite a while, especially since Sherri had become preoccupied with her mom. This wasn’t the first time. After each child was born, it would be at least two months before Sherri again felt in the mood. Other times it would be Randall’s nonstop schedule that kept them behaving more like roommates and less like lovers. Scarce sex wasn’t good for any marriage, especially one that was nearing its fifteenth year.
“We’ve both been under pressure,” Randall finally said, hoping to take away some of his wife’s guilt.
“You’ve always satisfied me, given it to me whenever I needed it, whenever I asked.” A single tear escaped her eye and headed toward her chin.
“Come on now, don’t cry.” He wrapped his arms around her. “You always make me happy, no matter what.”
“You’re too good to me.”
“And you’re good
for
me. I love you, baby.”
“I love you too.”
Sherri got on her knees and positioned herself behind Randall’s back. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she began a massage. “Baby, you’re tight.”
“Am I?” He dropped his head. “That feels good.”
They were silent as Sherri worked her magic. He’d gone to professionals, but Randall still felt that his wife’s was one of the best massages around.
Sherri placed her fist against his back and ran it down his spine. After going back and forth a couple times, she firmly grasped the nape of his neck and used pressure to get out the obvious kinks. “Where to next week?” she asked, placing her fingers on his close-cropped curls and massaging his scalp.
“Nowhere if you keep making me feel like this.”
“You like this, huh?”
“Almost as much as I like massaging something that you’ve got.”
“Hum. We’ll get to that next.”
“Let’s see.Week after next I’m in New York, then Chicago.”
“The Big Apple and the Windy City.”
“Hopefully not this time. Last time, I was there in February and the wind was no joke, not to mention the snow. I can’t imagine April will be any windier than that.”
“What’s this conference about?”
“It’s a symposium done in conjunction with the University of Chicago. There’ll also be a special gala where several prominent Illinois doctors and donors will be recognized.”
“Sounds nice.”
“It will be. You should get Blair to watch the kids and come hang out with me.”
“You never have free time during these things.”
“You don’t need my help to shop the Magnificent Mile.”
“Sounds tempting, but it’s pretty busy right through here, Albany with her cheerleading and Aaron with his sports and band. Plus, Albany now fancies herself a beauty queen and wants to enter a contest sponsored by a mall.”
“She already spends half of her life in front of a mirror.”
“Ha!”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Randall placed his hands on Sherri’s, which were once again kneading his shoulders. “I feel much better, baby. Thanks. I need to hurry up and take this shower,” he said with a yawn as he got off the bed. “I’m about to pass out.”
When he finished his shower and came out of the bathroom, Sherri had turned off the lights and lit several candles. The soft sounds of Robin Thicke filled the air.
“Um, you smell good,” she purred, turning to snuggle against him once he lay down. She ran a hand across his naked back and taut behind. “Feel good, too.”
He pulled her close and kissed her deeply. “Baby, I’m so tired. If you let me sleep tonight, I promise I’ll love you in the morning.”
“I’ll let you do anything you want.” She turned so that she could spoon against him, and nestled herself in his arms. “I’m just glad to have you next to me. This bed doesn’t feel the same without you in it. Know what I mean?”
Randall’s soft snores were the only reply. Sherri smiled, raised his hand to her lips, and kissed it.
You work so hard for us, baby. Always providing for our family, taking care of our needs. Thank you.
She lay there, silent and content, listening to the sounds of Robin and her sleeping husband. She’d loved this man for more than a decade, and when she’d spoken earlier she’d meant what she said. She was going to take care of him the way he took care of her. He was a good man, a providing man, a faithful man. He deserved that . . . and more
CHAPTER 13
“G
irl, what are you doing still up? What’s wrong?”
Sherri smiled at the incredulity in her best friend’s voice. She knew that calling Renee at any time past ten p.m. Eastern Standard Time usually meant that there was a problem. And no matter that her former high school home girl lived in Vegas. Sherri knew she could call her at any time. “Everything’s fine, Nay. I just couldn’t sleep. Randall’s home and I didn’t want to wake him. So I’m here in the kitchen, eating popcorn and talking to you.”
“Your mom’s okay?”
“There haven’t been any more episodes lately. But I still worry; her in Raleigh, with no immediate family nearby. That’s part of what keeps me up at night.”
“I feel you, Sherri. I’d probably be walking the floors myself. Have the doctors discovered what’s going on with her?”
“No. They’ve run a battery of tests but still can’t conclusively say whether it’s dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease or something else.”
“What is Randall saying?”
Sherri sighed. “He’s been so busy. But while in LA he talked to a doctor there who might have some information.”
“He still hasn’t been back to check on her? Since a month ago?”
“He’s a scientist, Renee, not a medical doctor. So while he has a lot of information on cause and effect and is actively working on a stem-cell-related cure for all types of brain malfunctions, he can’t instantly fix my mom.”
“I guess you’re right. It would still probably make you feel better if he were working more closely with the doctors.”
“He talked extensively with the team that was chosen to treat her. I have confidence in them.” There was a pause. Sherri heard Renee rummaging through something. “What are you doing?”
“Girl, I’m looking for Rambo.”
“Who is that? Or should I say
what
is that?”
“Either works. It’s my dildo, and he’s been more faithful than any man I’ve had lately.”
“Whoa, sistah. That’s a little TMI even for me.”
Renee chuckled. “You asked.”
“What happened to that guy you were raving about just, what, two months ago? The one who you said had you hitting notes like Mariah Carey?”
“Ooh, girl, don’t remind me about Shannon’s big dick.”
“Why not? Sounds like you could use it right about now!”
“Only problem is, I’d have to stand in line behind half of Las Vegas!”
“He was cheating on you?”
“To his credit, we hadn’t quite gotten around to the exclusive-or-not conversation. But I didn’t know he was rocking two to three of us in one evening.”
Sherri leaned back in the chair. This is why she loved her still-single-after-all-these-years friend. It made her remember what it felt like to be young and carefree, to enjoy the thrill of the chase, getting caught, and even having to throw an overzealous, uninteresting fish back in the ocean. But Shannon was fine. She’d seen his Facebook picture. Had she been single, Shannon could have parked his shoes under her bed at any time.
“How did you find out he was multitasking?”
“Would you believe? The hair salon!” Sherri whooped, and Renee responded, “It sounds funny now, but believe me, when I heard the woman in the chair next to me talking about the date she’d had the night before, one that greatly resembled mine except Shannon and I had met for lunch, I was all ears. Flowers at the pickup? Check. Nice meal in a fancy restaurant? Check. Coming home and getting screwed seven ways from Sunday? Check and checkmate.”
“Wait, girl. That sounds like the type of date had by millions of women across the country.”
“It does, except for when she began talking about how he smacked her ass three times before coming and then hissed like a snake when he went over the edge.When she ended with the same phrase he’d used with me, ‘Baby, that was better than front-row seats at a Lakers play-off game,’ I knew we’d both played ball with the same bat, know what I mean?”
“Oh my God, girl. What are the chances that you two would be getting your hair done at the same time?”
“I know, right?”
“Did you ask her? I mean, did you confirm for sure that it was Shannon that she was talking about?”
“As if that lame-ass comment wasn’t enough? But to answer your question, yes, I asked her. Discreetly though. I didn’t want everyone in the shop to get all up in my info.”
“So how’d you do it?”
“Passed her a note and included my telephone number. She called right away and gave me more information on that fool than a background check. Turns out she and him grew up together here in Vegas. He was her first, and still tunes her up two to three times a week, at least that’s what she told me. She also informed me that he has several children by several women, all who still appear to be receiving baby-mama benefits—and I’m not talking child support, although I’m told he does that too.”
“Wow, I hear about guys like this, even saw somewhere on the Internet where a man with, like, twenty-two babies by fourteen women was trying to get a reality show. Stuff like that just doesn’t seem real. But I guess it is.”
“Sherri, you’ve been married so long that you’ve forgotten how it is. But the truth of the matter is, a good man is hard to find, so much so that after month after month of being alone, sometimes a hard man is good to find and all some women are looking for.When you can’t find that . . . you go buy Rambo.”
“You’re a good woman,” Sherri said, her voice filled with sincerity. “Don’t give up on the idea that what you want is out there. A good man may be hard to find, but when you meet him you’ll know that it’s been worth the search.”
“You were lucky to find Randall before he blew up.”
“What do you mean?”
“Girl, those of you who were smart enough to marry the man with potential instead of waiting and trying to snag the man with means were way ahead of the game. Once a man becomes successful and has reached the age of thirty without getting tied down? They act like they’ve dodged a bullet. By that age they’ve also learned how to play the single game.”
“I still believe that there are plenty of men out there who want to get married.”
“Why would they? Nine times out of ten they already have a child somewhere, so they’re not worrying about a legacy. Ten times out of ten they’ve got their choice of women to warm their bed at night, take to the concert, get invited to Thanksgiving dinner, or what have you. Today’s single Black man has it made in the shade, while we’re out here just getting played!”
Sherri laughed. “You’re silly. But seriously though, there’s a good man out there for you, Renee. You just have to know where to look and, more importantly, what to look for.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning he may not look like Boris Kodjoe or be driving a Mercedes or wearing a Ralph Lauren suit.”
“Well, what the hell do I want with him then?”
“He might not have a large bank account, but he could have a large appendage.”
“Hmm, in that case . . .”
“Ha! I knew that possibility would make you think twice. But that he be well-endowed shouldn’t be a high priority either.”
“Please. If I’m going to be with the same pecker the rest of my life, you’d best believe he’s got to be able to satisfy.”
Sherri shook her head. “You’ve been talking to your great-grandma again. How is Miss Hattie?”
“Still as feisty at ninety-two as she was at twenty-two.”
“Next time you talk to her, give her my love.”
They talked for another half hour. Sherri yawned, looked at the clock, and was surprised to see that it was two thirty a.m. “Thanks for the conversation, sis, but I’d better run. Albany has cheerleading practice at seven.”
“In the morning?”
“Girl, her schedule is busier than mine.” She yawned again.
“I think I can go to sleep now. Thanks again, girl. You’re the only one I can call and know I’ll feel better.”
“Whatever, heifah. I’m the only one you know in the West, and can call this late.”
“Well, there is that.” They laughed.
“Speaking of the West, was Randall’s good doctor friend at that LA conference?”
“Yes. I could tell Randall was glad they got the chance to hang out a bit.”
“He’s married, right?”
“Yes, for the second time. I’ve met the Mrs. and I must say . . . he picked a good one this time.”
“The first wife wasn’t?”
“Let’s just say the first wife married his title and his bank account. When his practice suffered as a result of the economic meltdown, she caught the first thing smoking straight out of the marriage. Her loss, because James is the real deal. Just goes to show you, Nay, they’re still out there. Just keep believing.”
“Why didn’t I know about James before he got remarried ?”
“Uh, because this time two years ago, when he was available, you were head over heels for somebody named Troy, remember ?”
“The bodyguard,” Renee said with a sigh. “I knew my chances were slim with somebody like him. But the one time I got behind the velvet rope, I had to take my chances. And I have no regrets.”
“Do y’all still talk?”
“No. I tried calling him, but after he married his Larger-Than-Life Superstar wife, all of his numbers changed.”
“Can you blame him?”
“No, I guess not. He still chose the wrong sistah. She might be able to sing like a canary, but I bet she can’t put her foot in a pot of greens or a peach cobbler from scratch.”
“You’re probably right.” Sherri stood and stretched.
“Look, girl. Don’t worry about your mom. God’s got her, all right?”
“Okay.”
“And don’t ever forget how blessed you are to have a man like Randall. They don’t make many like him anymore.”
“Thank you, sistah. I won’t forget.”
She tiptoed back into the master suite and quietly, so as not to wake him, eased under the covers to go to sleep. Her head had barely hit the pillow when she felt an arm come around her middle and pull her close. Randall kissed the back of her neck and ground himself into her backside.
“I’m sorry.” She turned to face him. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay.” He kissed her and ran his hand across the top of her gown, tweaking a nipple when he found it.
“You want something?” she coyly asked, stroking his manhood until it felt like steel.
“Mm-hmm.”
Without a word, Sherri threw back the covers, scooted down until her mouth was where her hand had been, and licked him.
“Oh, baby . . .”
“You like that?”
“You know I do.”
“Just lie back and enjoy, big daddy. I’m going to give it to you real good.”
And for the next hour, in different ways and different positions, that’s exactly what she did.