Flaw Less (22 page)

—
Reginell Kerry

 

 

Following a long day and visit to Charles at the hospital, Reginell sought solace in the form of one of The Lady and Son's flourless chocolate tortes, deciding that the decadent delight was worth the extra time she'd have to put in on the pole to burn off the calories.

She put in her to-go order and sat down at the bar to scope the scene. The usual crowd of Paula Deen fans and Southern cuisine lovers were there; however, there was one familiar but unexpected face in the bunch. She spotted Garrett and, to her surprise, he was not alone.

Reginell stealthily strolled up to them. “Well, well, what do we have here?”

“Reggie?” Garrett's tone was a mixture of surprise and shame.

“Better me than your wife, right?” she asked wickedly. Reginell smiled in the direction of his companion. “Hi, I'm Reginell, Garrett's sister-in-law. His
wife's
sister, to be exact.”

“Reggie, this is Simone. Simon, Reggie,” introduced Garrett.

“It's a pleasure,” said Simone, extending her hand.

“Yes, I'm sure it has been,” snapped Reginell, disregarding the outstretch hand. She turned her attention back to Garrett. “Can I talk to you for a minute . . . in private?”

“Actually, they're about to bring our food out now,” said Garrett, nodding toward the waiter approaching the table with their orders.

“Great, it'll give Simone here something to do while we talk.” She yanked Garrett up by the arm. “Excuse us, Simone.” She dragged Garrett a few feet away. “Wow, moving on so soon?”

“It's not what you think. I'm not cheating on your sister.”

“Hmm . . . We have a dark, romantic setting and a woman sitting across from you in her brand-new freak'um dress. You're right—how could I
possibly
think you're cheating on my sister?”

“Simone is just an interior designer I'm working with.”

Reginell rolled her eyes. “Spare me, okay? Did you forget what I do for a living? I know a lonely man and a desperate woman when I see one. If you're not sleeping with her now, you will be soon.”

“Does it even matter if I do?” he asked curtly. “My marriage has one foot in the grave anyway.”

“Garrett, don't say that! Things could still work out for you and Lawson.”

Garrett shook his head. “Your sister has made her choices.”

“Yes, she has, and she chose you.”

“Yeah, right,” he remarked with a bitter laugh.

Reginell exhaled and crossed her arms in front of her. “G, I know that you and Lawson have been together a long time and you think you know her pretty well, but there are a few things about my sister you may not understand.”

“Like what?”

“I don't remember my dad coming around more than two or three times when I was growing up, and I lost my mom when I just turned fourteen years old. At the time, Lawson was barely out of her teens and was raising Namon by herself. Despite that, she stepped up and did whatever she had to in order to take care of us, whether it was working two or three jobs or going without so we could have. She's always sacrificed her life and her dreams for other people, and never once have I ever heard her complain about it. She just asks God for strength and keeps moving.”

“I never said she wasn't a strong woman.”

“She's more than strong, Garrett. She's phenomenal, and she's my hero. You'd be a fool to walk away from her and your marriage.”

“Some people might say I'd be a fool to stay.”

“Those people don't know her like you and I do.”

“If Lawson wanted to be with me and truly wanted to be in this marriage, she wouldn't have betrayed me the way she did.”

“Cut the girl some slack! Lawson has been raising children and taking care of other people since she was twelve years old. All that time when my mom was battling cancer, it was Lawson who was right there taking care of her, making sure she got back and forth to the doctor and had her medication. After Mama died, all of Lawson's time went to looking after me and raising Namon. Now that I'm grown and she has Mark to help with Namon, she wants something for herself. I can't blame her if she's not in a hurry to give up work and school to have more babies.”

“It hurts like crazy that she doesn't want to have my child, but I can handle that. What I can't handle is the way she went about it, with all the lies and deception.”

“Look, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but she did it that way because she loves you.”

Garrett stared at her in disbelief. “You're right, Reggie. It sounds ridiculous.”

“Just hear me out, all right? Lawson loves you so much that she'd rather lie than disappoint you. My sister has lost so much already. It's killing her to think she's lost you too.”

“She hasn't exactly been fair to you either. Why are you going to bat for her?”

“I know my sister, Garrett. She gets very possessive about things, even people, because she's so used to having it all taken away. That's why she got so crazy when Mark was trying to establish a relationship with Namon, and that's why she lost it when Mark started dating me. It wasn't that she wanted him back. She just felt like she was losing her sister to him and the friend she'd found in Mark to me.”

“I hear you. It just seems like it's always something, you know? We'll be happy one minute, then it's all shot to hell the next. She's so independent and will shut me out when things aren't going the way she wants them to.”

“She's not used to having someone she can lean on. It's going to take her awhile to get used to that. Of course, you don't do anything to help the situation when you keep running out whenever she needs you the most. You've got to be patient with her.”

“I've been patient with her, Reggie! I waited ten years for her to marry me. If that's not patient, I don't know what is. The problem is that Lawson takes me and this marriage for granted. I understand Namon taking top priority, but everything else? If it isn't school, it's work, or church. If it's not church, it's her friends. If it's not her friends, it's Mark. There's always something that has more of her attention than I do. On top of that, now we're dealing with this birth control issue. I'm an afterthought to her, and I refuse to be in a marriage like that.”

“Oh, cry me a river, Garrett! You think Lawson takes you for granted? What does that even mean? Shouldn't she take for granted that her husband loves her, and he'll be there no matter what? Why shouldn't she believe that you ain't going nowhere regardless of how real it gets? Isn't that what marriage is supposed to be about?”

“It's not that simple.”

“You do still love her, don't you?”

“I'll always love her.”

“Then fight for her, G. Fight for your marriage and your family.”

“I feel like I've been doing that my whole life. At some point, you get tired of fighting, and you just have to accept that things will never change. I can stay in it and be miserable.” He glanced back at Simone. “Or I can move forward and see what else is out there.”

“Lawson likes the scripture that says, ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.' Maybe you should try being still before you rush to move on.”

“Reggie, you just don't understand . . .”

“Maybe I don't, but I don't understand how a man can walk out on his wife and child either.”

“I'm not
that
guy, and you know it.”

“Really? Then prove it, Garrett. Forgive your wife and go back home. Lawson needs you, so does Namon. Believe me, I know what it feels like to be judged and not accepted for who you are and not be loved in spite of all the flaws, the mistakes, and the screwups. Lawson thought she had that in you. We all did.”

“I just don't know if I can keep putting myself through this, Reggie. I love your sister, but sometimes love isn't enough.”

“Are you kidding me? Love is
always
enough! When it comes down to it, love is all we have, the only thing that matters anyway. Lawson makes me mad enough to strangle her sometimes, but that's my sister. I love her, and I'd die for her, and I know she'd do the same for me. I'd never totally abandon her. Surely you, the man who claims to be so in love with his wife, loves her as much as I do.”

“Look, Reggie, I've got to get back to my table. Simone's waiting.”

“Yeah, well, so is your wife!” fired Reginell before stomping out with her torte.

Garrett returned to his table and sat down. “I'm sorry about that. Reginell can be a little intense, to say the least.”

“Is everything okay?”

“It will be,” replied Garrett, eager to put the conversation with Reginell and his marriage to Lawson behind him.

—
Angel King

 

 

As she had started to do every night after Duke had drifted off to sleep, Angel crept downstairs for a virtual liaison with Channing. The guilt that plagued her the first few nights had subsided. Not only did she indulge in these erotic fantasies with Channing, but she was starting to look forward to them. She had the best of both worlds. Her open, loving family and church life with Duke and her exciting, unpredictable, virtual life with Channing.

Channing's grinning face appeared on her monitor. “Do you miss me?”

She smiled. “Don't I always?”

Channing blushed into the camera. “Stand up, let me see you. What are you wearing?”

“My scrubs, what else?”

“Go put on something sexy and let me see it.”

“You're crazy!” replied Angel with a laugh. “I'm not doing that!”

“Why not?”

“Because . . . It's inappropriate.”

“Having phone sex the other night was inappropriate as well, but you still did it.”

“I was tricked into it,” she insisted.

“Maybe at first, but you became a willing participant shortly thereafter.”

“I shouldn't have, though.”

“Why not? Why do you keep second-guessing everything like that?”

“I'm getting married, Channing, to your cousin, I might add.”

“I'm well aware of that, ma'am. You and Duke will get married and live happily ever after just like you'd planned. We're just playing around—no harm done to that sexy li'l body of yours.”

“Maybe not to my physical body, but the spiritual one is another story.”

“Speaking of bodies,” he went on, “did you get the picture I sent to you?”

“Yes.”

“What did you think?”

She blushed, a little embarrassed. “I think you're crazy. That picture was the definition of inappropriate.”

“Well, what did you think aside from that?”

“I thought it was kind of sexy,” she admitted.

“How did it make you feel when you saw it?”

She smiled seductively. “Don't make me answer that.”

“Come on . . . How did it make you feel?”

Angel cleared her throat. “Like I wanted to do some things to you.”

“What kind of things?”

“I'm not going to tell you!” she shrieked.

“You don't have to tell because I already know,” boasted Channing. “You want to do all of the things to me that I want to do to you. You've got me excited just thinking about it. You don't want to know what I'm doing underneath this desk.”

“I can just about imagine . . .”

“You don't have to imagine because I'm going to tell you.” He proceeded to go into graphic detail describing it all to her.

“How long do you think we can keep this up before someone finds out?” she posed to him.

“Nobody is going to find out unless one of us tells, and my lips are sealed, baby,”

“God sees all,” she reminded him.

“Then let Him worry about it. We're not hurting anybody. I'm a war hero. I think I'm entitled to share a few fantasies with an incredibly beautiful, sexy woman, don't you?”

“So what's my excuse?”

“You're a hardworking nurse, stepmother, and fianc ée. You need a break from the monotony sometimes.”

Angel agreed but could feel the battle being waged in her spirit. She knew by giving in to Channing, she was allowing sin and lust to take a stronghold in her life. She knew that her secret lusts grieved the Holy Spirit.

At first, she'd told herself that after the first night, she'd only go to the site to talk to Channing. A few days later, he'd talked her into looking at pornographic pictures. Now, it had progressed to cybersex and lewd acts.

Angel brushed off the condemnation. After all, there were far greater sins than the ones she was committing. This was just fooling around on the computer, and who didn't do that these days?

—
Sullivan Webb

 

 

Charles had been home for a week, with Sullivan tending to his every need around the clock just as she said she would. It didn't matter to her that he'd lost his ability to speak and the movement in his arms. She was just so happy that her husband was alive. The only time she left his side was during his occupational therapy sessions. Even then, she was never more than a stone's throw away.

“You're looking mighty handsome today,” remarked Sullivan, brushing his hair as Charles sat virtually motionless in his wheelchair. Though he couldn't speak, his eyes followed her everywhere. She often caught him staring at her.

“Why are you always looking at me like that?” she asked playfully. “Are you as shocked as everyone else to see me playing Nurse Nightingale?” She stooped down in front of him. “You know you're the only person in the world I'd do this for, right?” She touched his hand. “But it's an act of loving service. You've been taking care of me from the moment I met you. It's my pleasure and honor to be able to return the favor.”

Charles was still staring, boring holes into her with his eyes. Sullivan became concerned. “Are you trying to tell me something, sweetie? Are you in pain?”

His expression didn't change.

“Knock, knock,” ventured Angel, peeking into Sullivan and Charles's downstairs guest room. “Everything is set up to start Charles's therapy session.”

“Okay, thank you.” Sullivan kissed Charles on the cheek. “I'll be right here when you're done.”

The occupational therapist nodded and wheeled Charles out of the room and down the hall.

“Stop looking so worried, Sully. Ann's a pro. She knows what she's doing.”

“I just want him to get better, you know? It has to be frustrating to him to be in this state. I can tell he wants to tell me something but can't get the words out.”

“He probably wants to tell you how much he loves you,” surmised Angel. “What about you? How are you coping with all of this?”

“But by the grace of God go I,” she quoted. “I'm fine as long as Charles and the baby are okay.”

“I must admit, I didn't think you had it in you, Sully,” Angel confided, helping Sullivan make up the bed.

“Didn't have what in me—a heart?”

“Yeah, that too but mostly this nurturing, caring side to you. I've been very moved by the way you've been taking such good care of Charles.”

“Trust me, I'm just as shocked as you are!” They both laughed. “Being pregnant seems to have brought out the maternal side of me. You know what else it's brought out? My boobs!” She pulled her shirt tightly against her chest. “Aren't they fabulous? And to think I was considering breast implants at one point. I just hope it lasts. Charles has always been a bit of a breast man.”

“There's the self-absorbed, shallow Sullivan I know!” joked Angel. “You'll stay in the double Ds for a while if you decide to breast-feed. Do you plan to do that?”

“I'm thinking about it. It'll definitely save her daddy and me from having to get up every five minutes to hunt down a bottle.” Sullivan referencing Charles as the baby's father made them both a little uncomfortable.

Angel held her tongue and fluffed one of the pillows before setting it down on the bed. “So are we going to talk about it?”

Sullivan smoothed out the comforter. “Talk about what?”

“The proverbial elephant in the room, rather in this case, the proverbial mountain.”

“You mean Vaughn?”

“Sullivan, you know that truth is going to come out eventually, as in seven months when this baby comes out looking like Vaughn!”

“Can you say that a little louder, Angel?” hissed Sullivan and rushed to close the door. “Discretion, please!”

“Sorry, but I'm serious. You can't keep this secret of yours forever.”

“First off, Angel, there's still a chance that Charles could be the father of this child.” Angel shot her a side-glance. “Well, there is!”

“Whatever,” mumbled Angel. “Okay, so assuming he's not . . .”

“This will be my husband's baby in every way that matters. Charles will be the only father my child ever knows.”

Angel shook her head. “Sully, didn't you learn anything from Lawson trying to keep this same kind of secret from Mark?”

“This situation is totally different.”

“You're right. This is so much worse!”

“Can you refrain from being Debbie Downer right now?” Sullivan cradled her stomach. “Stress isn't good for the baby.”

“Oh, now you're worried about what's best for the baby?” Angel asked with sarcasm.

“This child always has been and always will be my top priority, Angel! My baby will grow up loved, safe, and secure. I refuse to put this child through the kind of childhood I had. That's why Charles has to be the one raising this baby, not Vaughn. DNA doesn't have anything to do with it.”

Angel squeezed her friend's hand. “I'm so worried for you. I just know that it's all going to blow up in your face.
Be sure your sins will find you out
.”

“I know that's what the Bible says, and I know one day the truth may reveal itself, but Charles will be so in love with me and our child by then that it won't matter,” predicted Sullivan.

“What about Vaughn?”

“What about him? The last thing Vaughn wants or needs right now is another mouth to feed. He can barely feed his own! I'm doing him a huge favor.”

“I know you have to tell yourself that to go through with this but—”

“But what,” cut in Sullivan. “The truth shall set me free? What does it benefit anyone to tell the truth—this child? Charles? Vaughn? No one wins if the truth comes out. Plus, there's still a chance that it could be Charles's kid. I'm not going to risk my baby's future for the sake of the truth setting me free.”

“Have you ever considered that you may be underestimating Charles? He forgave you before. Who's to say he wouldn't do it again and gladly raise this child as his own?”

“Angel, my husband is a good, patient man, but I don't even know if I could forgive me under the circumstances. If Charles ever found out that I slept with Vaughn again and that this baby could be his, it's over. He'll leave me for real this time. I can't even say I would blame him. I can't do that to him, Angel, especially not after all he's been through with the stroke and having to relearn how to live his life. He saved my life. I'm not about to destroy his. He's been too good to me to do that. You remember how messed up I was when you met me. I was so selfish and self-centered.”

“And you're not now?” asked Angel, baffled.

“Even you have to admit it used to be much worse. When I look back over my life, it makes me eternally grateful for my husband. I thank God for him. I literally don't know where I'd be if it hadn't been for Charles and the Lord.”

“I remember when we were in college how you never wanted to go home, not even during the holidays. When you finally broke down and told about everything you'd gone through with your mother and how bad things were at home, my heart went out to you.”

“I was pretty much a train wreck back then. All that changed after I met Charles. God sent him into my life at just the right time. He was the first one to believe in me and actually saw something in me that was good. He gave me a home. I never had that growing up. Vera wasn't exactly the paradigm of stability and motherhood. Going away to school was the best thing I ever could've done.” She cracked a smile. “Besides, it brought me to you, didn't it?”

Angel smiled. “And, ultimately, to the Lord.”

Sullivan nodded. “And to Charles. I really do love him, Angel. I don't know where I'd be without him.”

Angel rested her hand on Sullivan's shoulder. “I know you love Charles, Sully. Charles loves you too. He'll make sure this child knows nothing but love.”

“That's why it's so important to me that Charles raise this baby. I know I can be self-sabotaging,” she admitted. “In my defense, my schemes always seem like a good idea at the time . . .”

“That's because the ways of a man seem right to him,” quoted Angel from Proverbs. She hugged Sullivan. “Aw, baby girl, you'll be all right. I believe there's hope for you yet. No doubt about it, you definitely keep things interesting around here! I have no idea how you're going to pull off this Charles's-baby-Vaughn's-maybe situation, but you're a tough cookie. If anybody can make it work and look fabulous while doing so, it's you.”

Sullivan squeezed Angel's hand. “I've got to do this right, Angel. This baby can't be one of the millions of other things I've screw up. She has to be my legacy, the one thing people remember me doing right.”

“I didn't realize being a good mother was so important to you.”

“Being a good mother means everything to me, especially after this last visit with Mommy Verest. I hate that she's even my kid's grandmother.”

“Maybe having a grandchild will encourage her to make some changes.”

“Girl,
please!
I doubt that Vera changes this child's diaper, much less her life for the better.” Sullivan thought for a moment. “Do you know what fear keeps me up at night?”

“What?”

“Being afraid that I'm going to end up just like her.”

“God won't let that happen,” vowed Angel. “Neither will Charles or any of us. Even if you did, love is strong enough to conquer all.”

“You mean like you and Duke?”

The comparison made Angel uneasy. “Don't compare yourself to Duke and me, Sully.”

Sullivan sighed. “You're right. You'd never cheat on him or do any of the things I've done to Charles. Why can't I be more like you, Angel? You know, boring and wholesome and faithful.”

Angel smiled a little, wondering why she couldn't be
less
like Sullivan.