Rose for Rose: Book Two in the Angels' Mirror Series (6 page)

Five

Arthur grumbled as he pulled into Rosemary’s driveway.

How could Andrea be so stupid? Surely, she didn’ think I’s goin’na be lettin’ her get away with all her nonsense and have no consequence come down on her. It’s not as if I’s really… naw, best change the thoughts. Rosemary perceptive. Who knows what she pick up if I keep thinkin’ o’ that…

With a shake of his head, he exited the Cadillac, proud of how the deep plum interior made the shiny ivory shell gleam all the more. He pulled the Club out from the back seat and attached it to the steering wheel, locked up, and headed up the macadam drive, then the brickwork pathway, to the front door.

From what he could tell, not a lot had changed in terms of the yard; a few new rose bushes, maybe, and the yard didn’t look quite as healthy as when he’d seen it last, but that had been years ago.

Maybe his memory wasn’t totally accurate.

Just before he reached the door, he sniffed at his hands again. No vomit smell, and he’d washed enough times, there shouldn’t be evidence of blood… good!

Quickly raising a hand to knock, a smile on his face, the door opened.

“Take care, Rosemary,” he heard the petite African American woman in the entry say. He noticed her red-brown hair was relaxed into a minimal wave.

Who was this?

There was something familiar about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on, but did it really matter right now?

The woman turned, nearly bumping into him as she exited. With a harrumph, he scowled. “What’s the big idea, lady?”

“Oh, Arthur. Hi,” Rosemary said cheerily. “You’re here early.”

Was he?

He looked at his watch as the young stranger carefully inched around him “I’ll see you later, Girlfriend,” she called to Rosemary.

His watch read seven seventeen.

He’d been able to clean up, get Andrea settled, and over here in record time, and he wasn’t even trying to be early. He smiled, impressed with himself.

He was usually late to everything.

“Guess I’s early, afta all. You right. Guess it’s dat it’s jus’… it jus’ been a long time, and I been meanin’ t’ come see ya,” he said, trying to take his mind off the woman taped to his bed. “I appreciated the invite fo’ dinner. Long time since a real woman done cook me up somethin’ special-like. ‘Cept Iris, but she don’t count.”

Rosemary had been the one steady pen pal from when he was behind bars. Steadier than his mother, his brother, his sisters. Steadier than Uncle Dabney and Aunt Clarice, God rest her weary soul. Steadier, even, than Mark Jeffries.

Quickly taking a step closer to Rosemary as her friend called goodbye again, Arthur thought of how the woman’s heart was too soft for her own good.

Not that he was complaining; that ran in his favor.

Man, she be gull’ble. Can’t resist me no free meal, though, an’ pretty comp’ny. May’s well. Andrea ain’t goin’ nowheres no time soon, an’ she ain’t got nothin’ I want, no how
, he thought. Rosemary stepped closer and he thought she was going to hug him, but she stepped around. His insides chilled to ice.
How dare she step arou’ me like I ain’t even standin’ here? How ‘bout some respet!

“See you later,” Rosemary called after her friend.

Odd. He’d never seen the other woman around, had he? Yet… there was something vaguely familiar about her…

Well, I gots ta think on dat one fo’ a minite…

“Please,” she in-waved her hand in welcome then as she turned back to him, “come on in. I hope you still like barbecued chicken.”

A smile played on her lips, and his heart thundered. She nodded her head for him to walk inside ahead of her, and he did so, reluctantly.

He’d much rather have followed behind, if only to keep his eyes on her.

How had he forgotten just how beautiful she was? Andrea was gorgeous, but Rosemary… she was like the sun and moon and stars together.

She moved him.

Even when she was disrespectful, it didn’t come off as intentional, like with some other people.

Andrea, well, she was just a… distraction from his true goal and the potential of a great relationship with Rosemary. Five seven instead of Andrea’s five eleven. A good solid size sixteen rather than a puny ten.
And at least three cup sizes bigger than…
he smiled.
My, my, my…

Once they were inside, Arthur nodded. “Sho I do. You know me too well, Rosie. Always did, probably always will, I ‘spect.” He bowed a little, suggesting she lead the way.

As he followed her curvaceous form toward the dining area, he surveyed the surroundings.

Were those
reindeer
antlers for lighting?
Never seen them before
, he thought, trying not to laugh.

The rest was pretty easy to identify: deep red rugs over pine flooring, just as they’d always been. Her white and navy striped couch and loveseat had been moved, but they were still the same, save some throws over their rounded backs.

“Hmm… new dining set. What kinda wood’s that?”

He gently placed a hand near one of its corners and smoothed his dark tapered fingers over it.

It reminded him of that creepy, strange dust-covered old mirror he kept meaning to move out of his room; the one that made him feel like he was being watched.

Ken said it was his favorite, and one of the oldest he’d found, so he’d have professional movers move it, even if it was going just a few feet. Something about its “fragility,” he’d said….

Whatever that mean
, Arthur thought, smirking.

“What? Oh, sorry… my mind was elsewhere for a moment. It’s made of repurposed wood. Mostly mahogany, but some other dark woods, too. But I had to choose a single stain, so… You stay here,” she interrupted herself, pointing at the piece to emphasize her words before turning toward the kitchen.

“I’ll go check the chicken and grab the rest of the meal fixings.”

“Can’t I… want any help?” Not that he wanted to help.

He loathed manual labor, but if it got him into her good graces… well?

“Nonsense. Just have a seat. Feel free to find something on the radio, if you wish, while you wait. It’s there,” she pointed to a matching wooded piece that reminded him of a dresser, “on the buffet… er, the sideboard.”

That’s what a sideboard is?

“Awright. Fine. I will. Thanks.” Then. “It’s so good to see ya, Rosemary. Wish I’da come a lot sooner.”

“It’s good seeing you again, as well, Arthur. I know things can’t have been easy when you were…” She looked down, then over her shoulder.

“Um… I better check that chicken. Shouldn’t be long.”

Quickly folding his napkin like he’d seen Rosemary do, Arthur smiled in appreciation. How long had it been since he’d had such a great meal?

Had he
ever
?

“Thanks,” he said.

He hated that the dinner conversation had, at best, been stilted… but what was he gonna do about it?

“Oh, you’re so welcome. I just figured…”

“Yeah,” he said, wanting to get out of there. In moments, he was yawning.

There, that should do it. She should get the hint now, right?

Overtly checking his watch, Arthur cringed.

Uncle Dabney would be back at the house in less than an hour, and the sky had already grown dark. Thankfully Dabney and Ken had some conference or another they were leaving for in the morning, but… what was he going to do in the meantime?

He just had to figure out what he would do with…

“I’m sorry. I should have realized you might be tired,” he heard Rosemary say, his thoughts now refocused on Andrea.

What was he going to do about her?

“Aw, it’s awright,” he said, standing.

His head knocked into the end of one of the overhead lights, and he cringed, putting a hand to it.

“Wow, are you alright? I should have… sorry I didn’t warn you the lights were… but you’re so much taller than I am, I didn’t even…” She stopped for a few moments, as if to gather her thoughts. With a slow shrug, all she did was apologize again, then stand.

“Well, it’s been real,” he said, taking a few steps toward the door. She followed him, and they made their way to the front door.

Arthur opened his arms wide. “Can I have a hug?”

Though she looked uncomfortable, she acquiesced.

“Sure.”

Rosemary hesitantly walked closer toward him, and he encircled her in the length of his arms, pulling her as close as he was able. He wanted to feel every possible inch of her available.

What he wouldn’t give… and what he wouldn’t do… if only this could last, and she would agree to be his. Then, everything would be perfect once his plan…. Arthur smiled as he moved his hands into her hair as he began to ponder what the future would look like, just the two of them, alone in a cabin in the woods somewhere.

Away from society.

Away from all the nosey people, and his PO, and anyone who reminded him of all he didn’t want to think about.

It was a delicious thought, indeed.

“Arthur!”

“Huh? What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I asked you to let me go. You’re hurting me…”

Immediately, he released her.

“My bad. Sorry. I jus’… missed ya so much, I…” he refused to finish the sentence, considering where his thoughts were already taking him.

“Anyways,” he said finally… “I’s gotta get outta here anyways, so…. Need to talk wit’ Uncle Dabney befo’ I go fo’ some sleep t’night. But um, it’s been real. Really um… real. I ‘preciate it.”

“It’s been… good to catch up,” she replied, a confused look on her face. “Thanks for stopping in for a while. I agree… it’d been too long. I’m glad to hear things are… better.”

“Yeah, no prob, girl, but, uh… ya know, we should get t’gether again soon, dontcha think? Maybe meet up wit me at Ol’ Dabney’s tomorrow afternoon, say… um…” He glanced down at his watch, trying to calm his nerves. “Maybe three thirty or four? We could go, ya knows, like fo’ a walk or sumpthin’.”

“Well…” she began. “I’ll consider it, Arthur. Thanks for the invite. If I can make it, I’ll be there. I just don’t know yet how much of my day will be free, since I have classes and work and…” She paused a moment. “You understand, right?”

Though she smiled, but Arthur wondered… did it reach her eyes? He wasn’t sure. There was something that just seemed… off.

“Sure, whatever. If you can make it, cool. If not, it ain’t no skin off my nose, girl. I ain’t gonna trip over it or nothin’,” he said a little too gruffly, running his hands through his hair.

His heart pounded in his chest and he forced himself not to curl his fists up into balls when he returned them to his sides. He pocketed them, instead.

“Thanks for being so understanding,” she said. “I’d like to, I just… I don’t know how…”

“Look, no worries. You make it, you make it; you don’t you don’t, alright?” He smiled down at her, thinking how easy it would be to fall in love with her, but knowing it just wouldn’t work.

Why would she ever love a man like him?

Besides, after what he’d done today, no woman would want to be with him, would they? Let alone a beautiful one.

Finally deciding to just leave, he shrugged as he turned, opened the door, and walked outside, slamming it lightly on the way out. Quickly, he hopped into his car to head for a phone booth.

He had some calls to make. People owed him, and Andrea needed to pay most of all.

Rosemary may not be in his back pocket yet, but he was pretty sure if he played his cards right, she’d be the one having his baby.

Maybe then Andrea would understand she didn’t stand a chance with him. Maybe then, he thought, she’d finally get the picture once and for all that all she was good for was to be thrown away, after all she’d done to him!

A smile came over his face as he brought to mind all the plans he’d put together behind bars.

With a little help, it could all be pulled off, no sweat.

The only real question was how long it would take, and if he’d have the help he wanted. Either way, he was more than ready to just get on with his life… without all the distractions keeping him from the destiny he was sure awaited him.