Guilty of Love (22 page)

“
I only act like that with
you.” Parke took a swig from his can of iced tea.

“
Mmm-hmm. Well, I truly
hope you find a very special woman.”

“
Stop dogging yourself out,
Cheney. You’re special. If this Larry character had treated your
relationship right, you wouldn’t keep second-guessing
yourself.”

“
That was years ago.
Believe me when I say I have nothing to offer.”

“
Cheney, you’re
wrong…”

“
You won’t win this
argument, Parke.”

“
I probably could, but I
won’t even try. How about a night of fun, games, food, and plenty
of loud and crazy people?”

“
I’m not getting on a
gambling boat.”

“
I’m talking about my
family, not a casino.”

“
I’d rather
gamble.”

***

The Chef’s Kitchen was a large
classroom located behind the kitchen of the Neighborhood Grill. It
was also the place where local culinary students vied for a spot.
It was no surprise that all ten workstations with connecting
kitchenettes were occupied. Parke called in a favor from a client
whose now lucrative investment was once a worthless portfolio.
Andre’ Valroy had bumped a student down to create an
opening.

“
Did you notice we were the
only ones coupled off?” Cheney whispered.

“
The only thing I noticed
was you. You look pretty tonight with your hair piled on top of
your head. It’s sexy.”

She was about to remove the hairpins
when Parke stayed her hands. “Don’t.”

“
Okay, let’s get started,”
Andre’ began after his introduction. “This is a three week course.
Each Monday, you’ll try dishes from around the world. . Some of you
will create a Vietnamese dish of peanut sticky rice, roast chicken
balti, and fish korma from India. The rest of you will prepare
Cambodian eggplant with pork and shrimp, and Japanese new potatoes
with sesame sauce.”

“
Let’s try the eggplant. I
like pork and shrimp.”

“
I was hoping for the fish
korma,” Cheney countered, not surprisingly.

“
Pretty lady, I’m cooking
the fish korma. I don’t mind letting you taste test,” a
dark-skinned, clean-shaven and bald-headed brother commented,
flirting.

“
Why, thank you.” Cheney
grinned.

“
No, thank you,” Parke was
quick to reply. “We’re cooking the fish korma.”

The man boldly checked Cheney’s ring
finger, then shrugged. “My name’s Tyrone in case you change your
mind.”

“
She won’t,” Parke
snapped.

“
I will, Ty,” Cheney
thanked him, probably just to irritate Parke.

So as she concentrated on following
the recipes, Parke kept an evil eye on Tyrone and three other men
who approached their table, offering Cheney a taste.
What was it
with the male species?
They insisted on getting her opinion
since the other two women in the class were tipping the scales,
evidence they liked anything, including the mixing
spoon.

A dude named Shabazz made himself too
comfortable at their work station. To keep from asking him to step
outside to break his bones, Parke did the next best thing when the
guy wouldn’t take any more hints. He kissed Cheney on the forehead
and whispered loud enough for two nearby work stations to
hear.

“
Sweetheart, I’ll cook any
dish you want after we get home and I’ll give you your back rub
tonight, but we need to learn these recipes. You know how the
triplets don’t like to eat the same thing twice.”

Cheney’s mouth dropped open as the
predators scattered. Later that night, before she slammed the door
in his face, she chewed him out. “What was wrong with you back
there? Those guys were having fun. They weren’t serious about
me.”

“
Well, I am.”

“
I suggest you tone down
the testosterone. I’m not interested in them or any man.” Then
unexpectedly, Cheney slapped him silly.

Despite the sting, Parke retaliated by
kissing her silly. A truce was finally called when Mrs. Beacon, who
apparently was eavesdropping, got tired of them
bickering.

“
Should I get my popcorn
and a folding chair?” her neighbor asked.

“
That won’t be necessary,”
Parke told her. “Cheney and I were finishing up our
negotiations.”

Cheney agreed to help him prepare a
dish for his upcoming family game night, but she wouldn’t
stay.

“
Deal.” With fingers
crossed behind Parke’s back, he promised not to kiss her
again.

Hallison had been spooked since her
mother’s long and drawn out prayer that night with Malcolm. She
attempted to read her Bible regularly again, but a verse was all
she could tolerate. Of all nights, why did she read the entire
first chapter of Psalm?

“
I don’t care about the man
being blessed because he didn’t walk in the counsel of the
ungodly.” She didn’t want to meditate on God’s laws day and night,
“And I don’t want to hear about the ungodly perishing. I haven’t
seen it yet.”

Tossing the Bible on a chair, Hallison
rubbed her eyes, craving the taste of nicotine. “Why did I stop
smoking?” She started the rebellious habit as soon as she left the
church years ago. She quit after her mother’s last long
prayer.

Shaky fingers fumbled to turn off her
lamp as her mind blocked out the scriptures. “I don’t want to save
myself.” Malcolm would be her second major step of independence and
rebellion. Her lids drifted as her phone rang.
Please don’t let
it be Mama.
“Hello?”

“
Hi, sweetheart,” Malcolm’s
rich, deep voice tickled her ears, calming her storm.

She whispered his name. “I didn’t
expect you to call. Didn’t you work late?”

“
I couldn’t miss hearing
you say my name with those gorgeous lips of yours. How did your day
go? Anybody messin’ with my baby?”

Yeah, God is nagging me. Nothing
you can do about that
. “It gets better when I talk to
you.”

“
I think I’ll kidnap
you.”

“
I’ll be your willing
captive.” She conjured up of all sorts of naughty
thoughts.

“
Then I’ll sweep you away
for a romantic weekend getaway after Parke’s get-together tomorrow
night. Pack light for the Ritz-Carlton.”

She was ready. Hallison’s heart
slammed against her chest as words stuck in her tightening throat.
She needed a cigarette, patch, or pill.

When she hesitated, he softly called
her name, “Talk to me, baby. We can wait.” Tenderness and
understanding saturated his words. There was no hint of
disappointment.

Her voice broke with emotion. “I’m so
ready.”

“
Me, too.”

“
Thank you.”

“
Why are you thanking me? I
should be thanking you for being my woman.”

“
Thank you for being that
man I’m crazy about.”

“
I’ll pick you up around
six-thirty tomorrow.”

“‘
Night.”

“
Good night,
beautiful.”

When Hallison hung up, she beat the
bed with her heels in a blissful mood. “I hope Mama doesn’t pray
for me between now and Saturday!”

Friday morning, Hallison hummed as she
danced across her bedroom floor. That night, she’d meet Parke’s
mystery neighbor, and then on to her rendezvous. Opening her
window, she could feel the lingering summer heat in the fall air.
“A change is comin’.”

Hallison was applying lip liner when
her phone rang. In her three-inch heels, she leaped from the
bathroom like a ballerina.
Malcolm
. “Good morning,” she
almost sung.

“
Good morning to you,
sweetie.”

“
Oh.” Her body slumped into
a nearby chair. “Hi, Mama.”

“
What’s the matter,
baby?”

“
Oh, nothing.” Hallison
gritted her teeth, lying and hoping her mother wouldn’t pray for
her, not today. Things always happened when her mother
prayed.

“
Well, I’ll pray that you
have a better day.”

“
No!” Panic spread through
Hallison’s body. “I mean, I’m fine.”

“
Good. A package came for
you yesterday. You want me to drop it off?”

She had ordered shoes from a catalog
to wear that night. How had she mistakenly given her mother’s
address? “I’ll swing by after work. I have to go. Love you.
Bye.”

Late afternoon, Hallison realized she
had spent most of her workday gazing at the clock instead of
reviewing résumés. She dreaded the idea of stopping by her mother’s
house, but Malcolm was going to love those shoes with her
hip-hugging jeans. The phone interrupted her musing. She answered,
“Hallison Dinkins, Director of Personnel.”

“
Malcolm Jamieson, the man
who is planning to love you senseless this weekend,” he cooed into
the receiver.

Hallison smiled. “Promise?”

“
Yes, and I’d never break a
promise to you, baby.”

“
Good to know.”

“
I’m calling to see how
your day is going and throw some kisses your way.”

Ridiculously happy, she giggled.
“You’re silly.”

“
One of my many
qualities.”

“
I’ll see you
later?”

“
Nothing can keep me
away.”

I sure hope not
. “I’m stopping
by Mama’s on my way home.”

“
The lovely Mrs. Dinkins,
tell her I said hi.”

Wrinkling her brow, Hallison held her
breath.
Not on your life.
“Okay.”

Hours later, Hallison parked outside
her mother’s white brick colonial house. “In and out, go in, grab
the package, and dash out,” Hallison coaxed herself as she followed
the winding brick path to the emerald green front door that matched
the window shutters.

“
Hi, Mama,” Hallison
managed to choke out as her mother squeezed her in a bear hug at
the door. “I can’t stay long.”

Addison patted her cheek. “I know,
baby.”

She relaxed. “This means I don’t have
time for a prayer right now.”

“
Honey, I already prayed
for you this morning.” Her mother waved her hand.

Hallison cringed as she walked to the
sofa table and scooped up the package. Kissing her mother’s cheek,
she was ready to bolt. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“
Sure, baby. Remember, I
love you.”

“
Okay. I know, and I love
you, too,” Hallison said hastily as she tried to get out the door
in record time, but her mother’s grip stopped her.

“
Hali, I know you’re in
love with that young man.”

Uh-oh
. Here it comes
.
Nodding, Hallison held her breath.

“
You know, we’ve had many
talks through the years. Not once have I suggested you use any form
of birth control because you’ve always cherished God’s Word for
what it was and followed His instruction on how to live holy.
Something happened and you never told me what, but saints don’t
leave God overnight, it’s gradual.”

“
I know, Mama,
but—”

“
Just a reminder, sex
outside of marriage is fornication. The Bible doesn’t treat it as a
light topic. To indulge in it has consequences. I’ve got too much
conviction to say if you engage in sex, take the pill, use a
condom, or another form of protection. It’s like knowing you were
going to rob a store, I’d say, I wish you wouldn’t, but if you do,
use a knife instead of a gun—either way, it’s wrong. God would hold
me responsible for bad counsel.”

Hallison stared into her mother’s
eyes. “Mama, I’m not going to rob—”

“
Sin is sin. I didn’t make
up the rules.” She tightened her grip on Hallison’s hands. “The
point is, a person always gets caught with the Lord.”

Beads of sweat lined Hallison’s upper
lip, but she remained quiet.

“
All, I’m saying, sweetie,
is if you sin, be prepared for the fallout—pregnancy, HIV/AIDS,
venereal diseases, and spiritual death.”

“
Yes, ma’am, I’ll
remember.” Hallison opened the door and hurried to her car.
A
prayer would’ve definitely been better than her words of
wisdom.

Back in her apartment, she blocked out
her mother’s words as she dressed enticingly. It wasn’t as if she
didn’t believe the Bible, she just didn’t believe
everything.

Her friend, Tavia, didn’t let the
Bible, pastor, or anybody keep her from loving and marrying David,
the man of her dreams. Her former pastor had the nerve to advise
Tavia against marrying David because he wasn’t ready spiritually.
That minister had crossed the line! We have no control over who
we fall in love with.

That day was the catalyst for them
walking out of church and never returning. Hallison didn’t want the
pastor dipping into her business, either, all in the name of God.
All she knew was Tavia and David were happily married.