Preaching to the Choir (5 page)

              “Well, you know I work at the beauty salon right?” he started, putting his hand on his hip. “…one of my clients came to get a pedicure earlier, and she was really upset.” He paused for a reaction.

              Michael raised an eyebrow, not liking where the story was going already.

              “Long story short, she started telling me how she had found out her man had a whole other life and how hurt she was, how much he had put her through…and how he was pastor at New Faith.” He finished, making eye contact with Michael.

              Michael was completely floored, but he kept his composure.

              “That’s some story, Willie. Let me buy you a drink, I’ll explain everything.” He replied, hitting the unlock button on his keys.

* * *

             
He undressed silently, hoping not to wake her. It was past midnight and he was late. He gently pulled the sheets back and slid into the bed behind her, covering his naked body. He then placed his hand on her hip, her skin feeling like velvet under his fingers as they trailed down her thigh.

              "You're late." she whispered.

              He had awakened her.

              "I know baby...I'm sorry." He said as he kissed the small of her neck.

              "Mike…this is the second time this week." she said a little louder.

              He was silent for a moment as he caressed her smooth flawless skin.

              "It won't happen again. I promise."

              "Is that what you tell your wife when you leave me?" she said, turning to face him. 

              The question took him aback until she finally smiled. She was joking. He relaxed a little, kissing her full lips and running his fingers through her messy hair.

              "I see you're quite the jokester today." he said, tickling her. She laughed and climbed on top of him, pinning his arms to the bed. He looked up at her beautiful face as she smiled down at him, her long hair falling around her face.

             
"I was only half joking. As much time as you spend away from me I'd swear you were off with some other woman." she said, frowning a little before laying her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

              "Milan, you'd be silly to think that I would even want someone else. I mean...look at you." he said, rubbing her hair. "Who could compete with you, baby? You're perfect."

              That answer seemed to satisfy her because she kissed his lips and rolled over to go to sleep. Michael lay awake, staring at the ceiling, realizing that something had to give before his perfect life came crashing down around him.

              7 am came all too quickly in Michael’s opinion. He climbed out of the bed and staggered to the bathroom, the sun temporarily blinding his vision. After pissing out his boner, he walked to the kitchen of the one story house he shared with Milan. After drinking some OJ out of the container, he decided to surprise her with some breakfast. After he grabbed a bowl and the carton of eggs, he cracked about 3 of them before he realized he had more shell in the bowl than he had egg. He hopped up on the opposite counter and stared at the bowl in frustration. Looking around the kitchen, Michael wondered how he was gonna pull this off.

              “Awaken the dragon!” he said in his best Chinese warrior voice as he set the tray on Milan’s nightstand. Her head popped out from underneath a pillow, hair standing wildly on her head.

              She scowled at him angrily.

              “Do you have any idea what time it is? Seven-fucking-thirty!” She screamed.

              Michael held up his hands as if shielding himself from her.

              “Babe relax…I made breakfast.” He said as he gestured to the tray.

              Her eyes followed his gesture. On the tray there was a plate with two frozen waffles that were slightly burned, and fried bologna. There was a glass of vodka and OJ along with a flower he’d picked out of the garden in the front yard and a cheesy note that said “I Heart Ur Freakin’ Guts!” She stared at the tray for a moment before her lips curled into a smile.

              She held out her long arms for a hug. Michael leaned in and she wrapped them around him, kissing his pierced ear. He shuddered from the sensation it brought on.

              “I’m sorry boo-boo.” She said in a baby voice. “You know how I get when I don’t get my sleep.” She pushed him flat on the bed and straddled him, placing his hands on her plump backside. “Forgive me?” she asked sweetly.

              All Michael could do was nod. She was so intoxicating and he couldn’t fathom why. They made out for a few minutes before his eye caught the clock. He hopped up, absentmindedly throwing her to the side.

              “I’m late!” he said as he hurried around the room getting dressed. “I have that meeting with the church board today.”

              Milan lay in bed smiling, watching her flustered fiancé scramble around the room.

              “Baby! Milan, hello??” she was suddenly snapped from her pleasant flashback at the sound of Michael’s irritating ass voice.

              Rolling her eyes, she turned in her seat at her dressing table and stared at the man she loved and hated with the exact same passion.

                            “I asked you if you planned on putting any makeup on today.” He said as he fastened his tie.

              Madison’s cries on the baby monitor interrupted before she could cuss his shallow ass out. Slamming down her foundation brush, Milan grilled him as she walked out of the room and down to the baby’s room. Maddie was standing in her crib screaming her head off, bouncing up and down on her tiny fat legs.

                            “Shh, mommy’s here…shhh..” Milan cradled her daughter to her chest as she headed back to the bedroom to continue getting dressed.             

                            “What’s wrong with her now?” Michael asked as he sat on the bed to put on his shoes.

              Milan rolled her eyes and ignored him as she laid Maddie on her side of the bed and gave her a bottle.

                            “I don’t know what your problem is, and I really don’t care. Just hurry up and get dressed.” Michael said before walking out of the room.

              After Milan hurriedly applied her makeup and got dressed in a form fitting casual dress, she gathered Maddie’s things and met Michael in the car.

              “Took you long enough.” He said as she strapped Maddie in her car seat.

              “I suggest you stop talking to me, right now.” She said before climbing in the front seat.

              Michael narrowed his eyes at her as he threw the car into gear.

              “When we get back from dad’s house, we need to have a very serious discussion.”

              Milan turned the volume on the radio up a little louder and buckled her seat belt, staring straight ahead. Michael couldn’t help but to chuckle when he got really angry, and he was chuckling hard as he backed out of the driveway.

              “Hey baby girl, look at you!!” Michael Matthews Sr. said when he opened the door and laid eyes on Maddie. “Come to pop-pop!” he said, taking her from Milan and showering her with kisses.

              “Hi to you too, daddy.” Milan said as she stepped into the house behind the tall, handsome man who could easily pass for Michael’s big brother.

              Setting Maddie down, he hugged Milan tightly, followed by embracing Michael before they walked together to the den that he commonly referred to as his “man cave”.

              “Your mom is in the kitchen finishing up, so we’ll eat soon.” He said as he sat down in his favorite recliner.

              “I’m gonna go say hi, I’m sure Maddie found her way up there to ‘Gam-Gam’ already.” Milan said, leaving the two men to drink beer and watch the football game.

              “Hey, mama.” She said as she stepped up the couple of stairs into the kitchen.

              “Hi baby.” She said, stirring food on the stove with Maddie on one hip.

              Mrs. Diane Matthews was a beautiful woman with hazelnut skin and a tiny frame. She had big curly hair and green eyes, giving women half her age some serious competition.

              “Where’s my baby boy?” she asked as Milan poured herself a glass of the white wine that sat on the counter.

              “In there with his twin.” She responded, sitting down at the kitchen table. “What are you cooking?”

              “Honey baked ham and baby back ribs. I got some greens and cornbread going, and there’s some macaroni and cheese and some sweet potatoes.”

              Milan’s stomach growled as she sipped the wine.

              “Did you make deviled eggs too?” she asked as she watched her feed Maddie some ham.

              “You know I did, baby.” She said as she finally sat down across from Milan and put Maddie in her lap. “What’s been going on, daughter? You look thin.”

              Milan hated the fact that Mama Matthews could see right through her, although it made sense since she’d literally known her her whole life.

              “There’s just been a lot going on, mama. Maddie’s been sick lately and just…a bunch of other stuff.”

              “Is it that no good, jailbird husband of yours again?”

              Milan held up a hand.

              “Don’t start, mama. Not today.”

              She looked at her sternly, but decided not to pry.

              “We’ll have to do lunch sometime next week and catch up. But right now, I need to visit with my beautiful grandbaby.” She said, bouncing Maddie in her lap.

              Milan looked on sadly, wishing things could go back to the way they used to be with her and Michael.

* * *

              Alana awoke to an empty bed with an upset stomach and a screaming child. Michael had been gone for almost a week, and it made her feel worse now that she knew exactly why. Climbing out of bed with a yawn, she trudged down the hall to Michaela’s room and opened the door. Michaela crawled out of her Disney Princess themed bed and ran to her mother, crying the whole way.

              “Come here, what’s wrong baby?” Alana said, feeling her daughter’s head for a fever.

              Deducing that Michaela was just fussy, Alana stripped them down and hopped in the shower. Afterwards, she dressed Michaela in a sundress and sandals and then herself in the same thing. Once she put Michaela’s hair into a perfect bun, she gave herself a high messy ponytail.

              Checking her reflection, she didn’t like what she saw. She looked haggard and skinny. She was not juggling the stress of Michael’s bullshit and her unwanted pregnancy very well. Grabbing her purse and keys, she loaded Michaela into Michael’s second car and climbed in, dialing a number on her phone.

             
“This is Willie, I’m busy beautifying the world one hot mess at a time. Leave a message and I’ll call you back. Maybe. Peace.”

              Alana smiled at his voicemail, and then became puzzled. Willie never let the phone ring all the way to voicemail when she called; they’d become fast friends. He usually answered with “Hey bitch, what’s poppin?!” every time she called. Frowning, Alana backed out of the garage and was headed to the end of the driveway when Michael swung in, blocking her exit.

              For some reason, she was terrified as she watched him climb out of his Cadillac through her rearview. She had all the reason in the world to be mad at him, but she had to admit he looked damn good in his slacks and tie. She rolled down the window as he came to the door.

              “Where you headed?” he asked, touching her chin lightly.

              Alana hated how he made her drunk with love every time he touched her.

              “To get some things for Michaela.” She responded, rubbing her sweaty palms on her dress.

              Michael stared into her, biting his bottom lip.

              “Hurry back. We need to talk.” He said, walking back to his car to let her out.

              Alana was shocked, confused and terrified as she backed out of the driveway. She hadn’t expected him to let her leave, and she didn’t know what to expect when she returned. Michael’s behavior was truly an enigma.

              After calling Willie three more times, Alana decided to stop by the salon and see what was going on. Maybe he was extremely busy. As soon as she pulled up, she knew something was wrong. The salon was closed and there were a few women she recognized as Willie’s faithful clients waiting at the door.

              “Lola, come here for a second!” she called out to one of the older ladies she knew by name.

              The woman walked up to her car window wearing a worried expression.

              “What’s going on? It’s after 11, why isn’t the shop open?” Alana asked.

              “Girl, I wish I knew. I had an appointment at 9 and Willie hasn’t shown up or answered his phone.” The woman said.