If I Can't Have You, page 24
part #1 of If I Can't Have You Series
“Man, let go,” Chaz said. “Loretta, make yourself comfortable.”
She stared at my painting in the foyer. “You really do have one too.”
“I miss praying with you, Loretta.” I wasn’t sure how that came out, but it was the truth.
She nodded. “Me too.”
“Hey, stop pushing up on my girl, man,” Chaz playfully said, handing both of us a cranberry and vodka. “Where’s Madison?”
“She’s resting.”
“Oh yeah. That’s right. She’s with child. That’s probably why Mom is coming over,” Chaz said, sitting on the sofa next to Loretta.
My cell rang. I answered, “Yeah, let her up.” I paused, then said, “How many?”
The doorman said, “Three.”
“Okay, if they’re with my mother, it’s cool.” I opened my door so they wouldn’t have to knock.
“Who’s she with?” Chaz asked.
“I have no idea. I hope she didn’t bring any of her church members to counsel me about my engagement or our premarital pregnancy.” I tapped on the bedroom door. “Madison, sweetheart. My mother is here.” I’d give her a few minutes to get herself together; but like it or not, she was joining us.
Mom entered with Dad and my grandfather. “Well, isn’t this a mini family reunion. I didn’t know all of you were coming. Madison will be out momentarily.”
My grandfather said, “Hello, everyone. Son, we’re forced to come, but we’re on your side.”
Chaz gave everyone a hug and our mom a kiss. Loretta responded by simply saying, “Hello.”
Mom didn’t hesitate. “We don’t need her, Chicago, but I am glad that Chaz is here. Hello, Loretta,” my mother said in an extremely proper tone that indicated she wasn’t particularly fond of Loretta.
I wondered if that was because Loretta was Madison’s friend. Or had Loretta done something to piss my mother off? I asked, “Are you okay with Loretta being here?”
“Well, there are only six seats at the dinner table,” Mother said, sitting next to my dad.
Loretta stood. “Oh, we can go.”
“I want my family to stay,” Mother insisted.
“Then I can wait downstairs in the rec room,” Loretta said, handing Chaz her drink.
“Keep it,” Chaz said. “Sit down on the sofa. Ma, if she goes, I go. This is Chicago’s meeting. Not mine.”
Mom pretended she hadn’t heard Chaz. “Madison can go downstairs with Loretta. What I have to say won’t take long.”
“Here I am,” Madison said. “Oh, hey, Loretta, Chaz. I didn’t know all of you were going to be here.”
“Hey, baby. Neither did I. Have a seat at the table.”
Madison rolled her eyes at me. Mom smacked her lips. I pulled out the chair diagonally across from my mother and waited for my fiancée to sit. I sat next to Madison, facing Mom.
“I just lost my appetite. Chaz, come. Have a seat, son.”
Chaz sat in the remaining available chair at the head, facing our grandfather. “Let’s do this.”
Mom said, “Yes, let’s. I’ll get straight to the point. I had our family lawyer draw up a power of attorney. All I need you to do, Chicago, is sign it. That way your father and I can protect you. And I can be on my way.”
I was certain Mom didn’t have anything pressing. But with her terrible attitude, I wanted her gone.
I held Madison’s hand. “Protect me? From what? My wife?”
“She’s not your wife yet. We don’t even know if she got pregnant on purpose, or if that’s your baby. I don’t trust her. She’s moving too—”
Loretta interrupted, “With all due—”
Mom cut her off. “Respect? Really, Loretta. You’re not much better. Sit down over there and stay out of my family’s business.”
“We’re out,” Chaz said. “Chicago might sit there and let you disrespect Madison, but I’m not having it with my woman. Let’s go, Loretta.”
His woman? I watched Chaz kiss Mom on the cheek, pat Dad and Grandpa on their backs, then escort Loretta to the door.
“Ma, you’re doing the right thing. But the way you’re going about this is dehumanizing. We’ll be down the hall at my place. Ma, don’t bring this foolishness to my house.”
Madison went into the bedroom and closed the door. At this point I was not going to stress her out. Chaz was right. I stood. Stared at my mother. “Ma, I’m not signing it. If that’s all you came here for, you can see yourself out.”
Dad spoke for the first time. “Son, don’t talk to your mother that way. She’s looking out for your best interest.”
“Mine or hers. Dad, did you sign a power of attorney or a prenuptial before you married Mom?”
He shook his head. “No, son. But things are different now.”
I looked at my grandfather, who was nodding. “Grandpa?”
“Huh, what?” He picked up his fork. “Where’s the food?”
“Grandpa, did you sign a power of attorney or prenuptial before you got married?”
“I’ll sign whatever you’d like if it has cherry-flavored Jell-O.”
We all needed to laugh. Mom was straight-faced.
“Helen, let me see why you’re denying us dinner. Hand me that power of attorney,” Grandpa insisted.
Mom passed it to Dad. He gave it to my grandfather.
“First off, why is your name the only one on here? You’re trying to control my grandson’s financials. If it’s money that you’re worried about, Helen, we’ve got plenty of it. Chicago, if you love that girl, marry her without this.”
I watched my grandfather rip the document in half. That was a defining moment for me. Madison had never made our relationship about money. Nor had she given me a reason not to trust her.
“Thanks, Grandpa. I needed that.”
Mother’s jaws were tight. “What you need is a head on your shoulders. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She stood. “Martin. Wally. Let’s go.”
Grandpa scooted his chair closer to the table. “Y’all go. I’m going to eat and watch the game with my grandson.”
Dad said, “I’m staying too. Helen, you can go. Chicago will bring us home.”
Mom picked up her purse. She slowly walked toward the door.
“Helen.”
Mom stopped and answered, “Yes, Martin.”
“Stop and tell Chaz to bring that girl back over. If we gon’ be family, we might as well break bread together. I’ll be sure to bring you a plate. See you when I get home.”
CHAPTER 37
Loretta
This day did not come soon enough, but I was glad it was here. Any opportunity to put negativity behind me and start new was refreshing. Now that I was on the receiving end of Mrs. DuBois’s insults, I understood why Madison wasn’t nice to her. Helen was afraid of losing both of her sons to women she felt weren’t worthy. Did she honestly think her comments would run me off? I was hoping to be next in line at the altar.
“You look so beautiful, Mama,” Raynell said. She slid her hand along my dress. The stylist had decorated my daughter’s hair with Shirley Temple curls and baby’s breath. I let her wear a little light pink gloss and a hint of blush.
“You too, princess.” I faced her toward the mirror and stood behind her.
“The wedding should be yours and Daddy’s.”
Why did she have to bring up Raynard? I smiled, not wanting to explain to her that I was in love with Chaz or Mr. C., as she called him.
From the bouquets of white lilies and magnolias to the pearls around our necks, I had to give it to Madison. She’d planned the most elegant wedding.
“Madison should’ve been here by now,” Tisha said.
Caught up in the moment and my own wedding fantasy, I’d lost track of time. Glancing at my phone, I said, “You’re right. She’s never late.” I dialed her number.
“We’re leaving now. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Madison.”
“Loretta, I’ve gotta go.”
“I love you,” I said, thinking about Romans 13:10: Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
There was silence. Then she said, “I love you too.”
After today I’d be the only one without a husband, but I was thankful I finally had a man. Maybe Chaz would propose to me at Madison’s reception.
Tisha peeped out of the dressing room’s window. “Raynard just drove up.”
“Daddy! Daddy! Can I show him my dress?” Raynell said.
“No, honey. We don’t want the guests to see you before you scatter the flowers. You have to make your grand entrance.”
“Just like we practiced?”
“Exactly like we practiced. You can ride with your dad to the reception if you’d like.”
She smiled and nodded. “I’d like.”
Being a mother, I’d backed off on my snide remarks about the paternity of Madison’s baby, and she’d become supportive of my having to fight with Raynard for custody of Raynell. Tisha locked eyes with me. I read her thoughts, which were also mine. Why had Madison invited Raynard to her wedding? I wasn’t giving up Chaz to appease Raynard, and I’d fight with all the strength in my body to keep my daughter.
“What’s taking Madison so long? It’s fifteen minutes past the fifteen.”
Checking my phone, Tisha was right. I told the planner, “Go to Madison’s house and bring her here.”
She raced out the door like she should’ve thought of that herself. If Madison was still at home, it might take another thirty before the wedding started.
“Have you heard from . . . ?” Tisha asked, then circled her finger around her ear.
We had to talk in code around Raynell.
I said, “Not since I got my PO.”
“Do you think he’ll show up today?”
I opened my purse and showed Tisha my handgun. “Just in case.”
Tisha nodded. “Good decision.”
CHAPTER 38
Chicago
Today was the last day I’d officially be a single man.
I thought I’d be nervous when we selected our wedding bands. I wasn’t. I expected to feel guilty this morning after my Wet-N-Wild bachelor party, which one of the players hosted at his mansion in Katy, Texas. I did not.
Madison didn’t complain or demand to be there. I was shocked. She knew the running back had arranged to have exotic performers flown in from Rio. I was told the girls did everything, and that was no lie. What happened at my bash was smashed.
There was a woman on my lap the entire night. It was hard not to do any of them. I was so drunk, if I confessed to my soon-to-be wife, all I’d say was “I don’t remember,” and that was the truth. Half the team, plus the coaches, with the exception of Blue, gave me the best send-off a man could dream of. I loved that Madison hadn’t called me once in the last twenty-four hours.
“Who’s out there?” I asked Chaz.
He looked distinguished. Madison had my people looking better than I’d imagined. It all worked: from the tailor-made tuxedos, to the barber, to the woman who’d put a touch of makeup on all the men to make us what she called, “Photo and camera ready.”
“Man, looks like everyone is here, except Madison. We were supposed to start an hour ago.”
“Seems like I waited forever for your grandmother to show up. This is Madison’s special day,” Grandpa said, “she wants to look flawless. If she’s not here in another hour, then I’d worry.”
We sat in our dressing room down the hall from Loretta. I wish I could pray with her in private. Madison was cooperative with my having a party, even though she didn’t want one. But my kneeling beside her best friend right before taking her hand in marriage might make her say, “I do not,” instead of “I do.” That was one chance I couldn’t take with our baby inside her.
“So you gon’ pop the question to your girl at our reception?” I asked my brother.
“Let’s just get you down the aisle. She might be the one, but don’t worry about me,” he said.
Dad commented, “I know that look. He’s next.”
We were blessed. Judge Vanessa Gilmore was performing our ceremony. Madison told me that the mayor had covered the limousine expense. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler paid for everything else. My parents didn’t have to spend a penny, not even for their clothes. Madison made sure that was taken care of too.
Mother stuck her head in. “I hope she doesn’t make it, but if she’s not here in twenty minutes, I won’t be here either.”
Dad walked to the door. “Not today, Helen. Don’t do this to our son. She’ll be here and you will too. Now go sit down and wait like everybody else.”
CHAPTER 39
Granville
I was so excited that I almost peed in my pants.
“Thanks for helping me out on this, Precious.”
“So you’re sure she doesn’t know about her husband’s request? And he’s okay with this bondage thing to his wife on their wedding day?”
“That’s what he said. I’m just doing my job.”
This woman was so gullible; if I didn’t like her, I’d call her a dumb bitch to her face. I told her I used to play pro football and she believed me! I was joking; but when I saw how excited she was, I gave her stats. Obviously, she didn’t know shit about sports. She didn’t question if I was telling the truth or research my background. Madison and Loretta would’ve googled me on the spot.
“It’s cool that you haven’t seen your cousin since she was a little girl, but what if she hates us for doing this? I don’t even know her, and I’m going to tie her up? I’m happy we’re driving her to her wedding, but I have to say this is the weirdest bondage fetish I’ve heard of. But I’ll do anything for you.”
“That’s why I love you, dear. Give me a kiss.”
Ignorant trick.
Precious opened her mouth and I let my saliva drain down her throat. “That’s the best kiss ever,” I told my woman.
Finally I’d met a person who appreciated me. But she wasn’t Madison, and Precious wasn’t carrying my baby.
I’d offered her five hundred dollars to help me out, but she’d refused. Said, “I’ll help because you have a big heart.”
“If this goes well, I’m taking you to Hawaii. You ever been there?” I asked her.
“Hey, the door just opened.”
There was no way Madison was getting into the limousine if she saw me. I flopped on the seat. Precious looked sexy in her tight white shirt, black jacket, and black pants. The chauffeur hat and dark sunglasses gave her an undercover stripper look.
I whispered in my sexy, scratchy voice, “I got hard wood.”
“Well, I’ll have to do something about that after we drop her off. Be quiet. Here she comes.”
“Don’t forget what I told you.”
“I know. Smile. Open the door. Congratulate her. Help her with her dress. Then close the door. Now shut up,” Precious said, getting out on the driver’s side.
I couldn’t see Madison or hear what she was saying. I bet she was wearing nothing under whatever she had on. The big surprise was that she was getting married today.
To me.
CHAPTER 40
Madison
“Hurry, please. I’m late enough.”
The photographer took photos of me getting into the limo.
The chauffeur stared at me like she’d never seen a woman in a wedding dress.
“You are so pretty,” she said.
I’d just taken two painkillers and I was feeling good. I did not have time for complimentary delays. I’d sat inside debating on whether or not to cancel. I realized I could find another fiancé, but not another Roosevelt.
His mother would rejoice, while he’d cry if I was a “no-show.” I refused to give Helen, that evil witch, the satisfaction. She wouldn’t care. Her family wouldn’t lose any money. The main reason I was going through with it was to please my father and not to embarrass my man.
“Wait. Can you lower the divider, open the sunroof, let me get into the front, and take a few last snaps of the bride from inside?” he asked the driver.
Her eyes shifted toward the ground. “Um,” she hesitated, then looked at the photographer. “It’s against company policy to allow anyone to get into the front. Sorry.”
Objecting, the photographer said, “I always get that angle. It’s one of my signature shots.”
“Time is money, but you probably wouldn’t know anything about that. Listen, I’ve got to go. But you are going to let him take this picture. Call your boss. Get permission. If I have to have my husband call your supervisor, you’ll be fired. Now close the door,” I ordered.
Women are always hating on me.
“Why don’t you get in the back and sit at the opposite end,” she suggested.
“You do have some sense,” I said, then told the photographer, “Hurry up.”
I raised my gown to my hips, crossed my legs. Reclining a little, I thrust my breasts forward. I’d chosen a strapless gown with the longest train I could find. The cleavage was a tad more than I should’ve exposed; but if I had to part with my twins, I wanted lots of memories. I even had the photographer capture a nude spread.
He’d gotten up close and personal with my inner and outer lips, my boobs, and my butt. I was in a bubble bath, the shower, my bed, and my garden. With my new security system, I wasn’t worried about Granville.
The pictures the photographer had taken hours ago were my priceless centerfold moment and my gift to my husband. What man didn’t want sexy, naked photos of his wife? The problem with most brides was they were too conservative. Some hadn’t seen their pussies in a mirror, let alone in a picture.
“Thanks, I’ll see you at the church,” I told the photographer. When he got out, the driver closed the door.
I phoned Loretta.
“Madison, where are you?”
“I know. I just got into the limo. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. For real, this time. Thank you for being a—make that my friend. I love you,” I said, ending the call.
I was getting married in a church. How about that? Glancing around, I didn’t see any alcohol. “Excuse me,” I called out. “Where’s the champagne?” I knew the mayor didn’t take it off the bill. I’d ordered twelve bottles, four for each limo.
