“Not me. I work because I enjoy making money. The more money I make, the more power I gain,” Malcolm explained.
Staci didn't agree with that assessment.
“I have enough money to make you forget all about that little dentist salary,” he said once again, referring to her husband's deficiency.
“I wouldn't exactly consider a dentist salary little, but it doesn't matter. I didn't marry for money.” She took a sip of her drink before bluntly stating, “Malcolm, you don't have enough money to buy me. I am not for sale. There's nothing you can do for me that I can't do for myself. There's nothing you can buy me that I can't buy myself. In fact, I won't accept any gifts from you because I don't want you to think I owe you anything.”
Malcolm's jaws flinched. Never before had a woman insulted him like that. Women usually worshipped him after he told them how much money he made, but not this one. She'd basically told him he wasn't good enough for her. He wouldn't use the word
confident
to describe Staci.
Arrogant
was more like it. Malcolm didn't like arrogance in anyone, other than himself, but he'd tolerate it from Staci since she was the sexiest woman he'd been with in a while.
“Staci, I wasn't trying to buy you,” he finally responded in an even tone.
“Then we have an understanding.” The cocky smile lacked warmth.
“Is it acceptable for me to pay for dinner, or would that be considered an attempt to buy you?” he asked when the check came.
Staci laughed and tilted her head to the side. “It would take a lot more than a chicken Caesar salad to buy me. I'll allow you to pay for dinnerâthis time.”
He placed enough money on the table to cover the bill and a hefty tip.
They stepped out into the plaza as the sun was setting. “I'm not ready to go home,” Staci announced, then turned to Malcolm. “Are you in a hurry? I would love to catch a movie.”
Malcolm's feelings were still hurt, but the thought of sitting next to her in a dark theater excited him.
“Sure, Miss Simone. I'll take you as far as you want to go.”
Â
Â
“I don't believe it!” Rhonda exclaimed.
“What are you talking about?” her sister asked.
Rhonda pointed toward theater twelve. “That's my boss's wife over there with that man in the tan suit.”
Her sister looked in the direction. “I assume the man she's with is not your wonderful and fine Dr. Garrison?”
Rhonda waved her hand at her sister. “Girl, please, Dr. Garrison is much bigger and more gorgeous than that Martin Lawrence look-alike.”
Rhonda observed how much attention the man gave Staci. For sure he wasn't her brother or close relative. The look in his eyes said he wanted her, and the smile on Staci's face said she didn't mind his affections. After Derrick's “I'm so in love” speech that afternoon, Rhonda thought it best to leave Dr. Garrison alone. Based on what she observed now, Mrs. Garrison didn't share those amorous feelings for Derrick as he had for her. “There's a chance for me after all,” Rhonda told her sister.
Chapter 18
Staci caught the phone on the fifth ring after checking the caller ID. “Hello, Mom,” she answered and dropped her jacket and briefcase on the bed.
“I didn't wake you, did I?” Alaina asked.
“No, I'm just getting in.” No sooner had Staci said those words she wanted to take them back. It was nearly midnight, and her mother would want to know what had kept her out so late on a weeknight.
“It's not the end of the quarter, is it?” Alaina questioned. Normally, at the end of each quarter, Staci worked longer hours, but that wasn't the case today.
“No, Mama. I went and saw a movie.”
On the other end of the phone, Alaina remained silent. Staci just knew her mother's discernment was about to kick in. “How did it feel to go the movies alone?”
Staci stuttered. “I didn't go alone; I went with a friend.”
By the time Alaina started her speech, Staci had stepped out of her clothes and was ready for the shower.
“Staci, I know you're a grown woman, and I know I raised you right. So I know you know better than to go out on a date while you're married.”
“Mama, it wasn't a date.”
Or was it?
she thought. “He's just someone I met the other evening at the new Mexican restaurant near the store.”
“You shouldn't be starting new male friendships while you and Derrick are separated.”
“It's okay, Mama. I told Malcolm I'm married.”
“That doesn't matter. How would you feel if Derrick made new female friends and sat in a dark theater next to them all evening?”
At the moment, Staci didn't care what Derrick did. Like Malcolm had said, Derrick was a fool for leaving her.
“Mama, why don't you have this discussion with your son-in-law? If he hadn't walked out on me, I wouldn't have this problem,” Staci snapped.
“No, if you had listened to me and waited until Derrick was healed before you married him, you wouldn't have this problem!” her mother snapped right back. “Staci, you're wrong, and you know it.”
She did know it, but what was she to do now? She and Malcolm had plans for Thursday, and tonight they had decided to drive down, on Saturday, to Monterey to the aquarium. How was she supposed to cancel without hurting Malcolm's feelings? To be honest, she didn't want to cancel. She enjoyed the company and attention.
“Mama, you're right,” she sighed. “I shouldn't be spending time with Malcolm.”
And after this weekend I'll stop,
she added inwardly.
“You do want your marriage to work, don't you?” her mother asked.
A month ago, even earlier today, Staci would have immediately said yes. But at this moment, she wasn't so sure. Her emotions were in such turmoil, she couldn't think straight. She'd once prided herself on her ability to make sound solid decisions. But today, the combination of hormones and a broken heart had her brain twisted like a pretzel.
“I want whatever the will of the Lord is for my life,” she finally answered.
“Then don't complicate things by involving an unnecessary third party.”
Staci half-listened to her mother lecture a few minutes more before saying good night and ending the call.
Following her shower, she was too tired for her nightly Bible reading. The next morning, she did say a quick prayer before leaving. She didn't notice, but she didn't mention Derrick in her prayer.
Derrick,
Â
I'm sorry if I crossed the line yesterday. Please accept my apology.
Â
Enjoy.
Derrick placed the card on his desk and opened his refrigerator. Rhonda had stocked it with his favorite snacks. He hated to admit it, but Rhonda did know him very well. She knew what he liked, and she was a good listener. He could talk to her without her asking too many questions he didn't want to answer. She didn't hold him accountable for anything, unlike his wife. Staci wanted his soul.
He picked up the phone and called his office manager. “Phyllis, can you bring me fifty dollars from petty cash?”
“Be there in a minute.” Phyllis was always extraperky and efficient. That's what made him hire her in the first place. “Here you are, Dr. Garrison.” The middle-aged woman's smile showed nearly all of her teeth.
“Thanks.” Derrick retrieved the cash from Phyllis. “Will you send Rhonda in, please?”
“Not a problem,” Phyllis answered, but instead of leaving, she added, “Dr. Garrison, I think Rhonda likes you.”
“I know she does,” Derrick responded with a shrug.
“I can talk to her, if you want,” Phyllis offered.
“Thanks, but I'll handle this one myself, but for potential legal reasons, I need you to stay and witness this.”
Phyllis disappeared, and Rhonda entered a moment later wearing a big grin. “You wanted to see me?” she asked and helped herself to a chair, not realizing Phyllis had come in behind her.
“Yes,” Derrick began. “I wanted to pay you for going shopping for me. In the future, that won't be necessary.” He watched her smile vanish. “Here is fifty dollars.” He held the money out to her. “This should cover the bill and something for gas.”
“You don't have to pay me, Derrick,” Rhonda started to protest, but stopped when she heard Phyllis clear her throat. She suddenly turned, and Phyllis gave her a warning stare.
“I mean, Dr. Garrison,” Rhonda corrected.
“Yes, I do. Shopping for me is not part of your job description.”
Rhonda's face distorted, and Derrick wondered if she wanted to scream and ask if having lunch with him and listening to all that crap about how much he loved his wife was part of her job description.
“And Rhonda, no more lunches either. From here on out, Phyllis or I will handle my lunch plans and my shopping.”
“No problem, Dr. Garrison.” Rhonda left without another word.
Chapter 19
“This is so good,” Staci said after biting into her Cajun shrimp, while seated at a table overlooking the bay. She loved Bubba Gump's as much as she loved the movie
Forrest Gump
.
“I'm glad you like it,” Malcolm said.
After talking on the phone every day and dinner at Skates, they were spending the day in the beautiful seaside town of Monterey. Monterey was a beautiful, historical town, where sea and land literally kissed. Monterey was once a thriving seaport for the sardine-packing industry. Now it was home to world-famous restaurants and specialty shops, along with world-class wines.
The first part of the morning they toured the two-story renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium overlooking the clear blue peninsula and the California coastline. While strolling down the waterfront district on Cannery Row, Staci browsed the art galleries and boutiques and purchased a few items for her home. She even treated herself to some saltwater taffy, something she hadn't had in years.
Malcolm's eyes bulged when she purchased a sculpture with a $5,000 price tag and a painting that carried a $10,000 tag. He didn't like it when she asked him to wait outside before placing her credit card on the counter and giving the store owner the shipping address.
“You were right, Staci, there's nothing I can buy you that you can't buy yourself,” he said when she joined him on the sidewalk. “Are you sure Dr. Simone won't mind you spending money like that?”
“Not at all.” That was true. Derrick had always encouraged her to buy what she liked, as long as they could afford it, and they could. Despite the separation, Derrick still made his deposits into their accounts as if he was home.
Malcolm watched her devour the shrimp and became more fascinated with her. Who was she, really? Never before had he met anyone like her. She was beautiful and had more independence than he liked. Would she be able to walk away from the obvious life of luxury her husband provided? In the past, his women were needy and gullible. All he had to do was show them his platinum card or a wad of cash and they would do anything he wanted, but not Staci. She wouldn't even tell him where she lived and wouldn't exchange her home number. But he did manage to get her cell number after dinner on Thursday.
She wouldn't let him touch her either. Whenever he reached for her hand, she'd ignore it. If he placed his hand around her waist, she'd step away from him. Right now, he wanted to reach over and kiss her lips. That's what a good friend would do, he smirked.
Staci, too engrossed in her own thoughts, didn't notice the smirk on Malcolm's face. Her mother's words warning her not to get involved with Malcolm bombarded her thoughts. She'd planned to end communication with him after today, but there was something about him that wouldn't let her. In a short period of time, she'd gotten used to his company and conversation. In fact, she'd gotten so relaxed, an hour ago, while walking along the beach, she confided in him about how unfulfilling her sex life had been. That was a definite no-no, and she knew it, but the more she talked to Malcolm, the easier it became to divulge Derrick's shortcomings.
It also became easier to talk negative about her husband. That's something she'd never done before. In the past, she would cover Derrick no matter what. Now, she found herself referring to him as sorry and pitiful, much to Malcolm's agreement.
Derrick had been gone for five weeks. At first she thought she wanted and needed him. She'd prayed for him and tried to understand his need for space. But after one week of knowing Malcolm, she wasn't sure she wanted Derrick back. In fact, she wasn't sure she still wanted to be married. Malcolm constantly made it clear to her that Derrick didn't want her. At first, she didn't agree with his assessment, but the more she heard it, the more it made sense.
“Staci, when are you filing for divorce, or have you already?”
She stopped eating. Filing for divorce had never crossed her mind. If there was going to be a divorce, she wasn't going to file for it.
“I'm not divorcing my husband,” she answered frankly.
“Why not? You can't stay separated forever. You have to go on with your life.”
Her father had told her the same thing; he just didn't mean go on by spending time with another man.
“I am going on with my life, but my husband is very much part of my life,” she answered.
I can't believe I said that!
“But he's a lousy husband, and he left you,” Malcolm retorted.
“Can't argue with you there, but he's still my husband, and I love him.” Staci's declaration of love surprised both her and Malcolm.
“How can you still love him after he's made it clear he doesn't love you?”
Was it clear? Staci wasn't so sure. True, Derrick hadn't told her he loved her in months, but the thought that he really didn't love her anymore was too much for her to consider.
“I'm not sure my husband doesn't love me. If he doesn't, he'll serve me with papers. Until that happens, I'm not doing anything.”
Malcolm started to leave her sitting in Monterey, but remembered he didn't drive his car. Staci had insisted on taking her car, thinking if Malcolm turned out to be crazy, the authorities would be able to locate her because of the tracking device in her Benz.
Again, recognizing his inability to control his environment, he exhaled deeply in frustration. He had to figure out how to remove her absent husband completely from the equation. That, or get Staci in bed with him. Malcolm liked the second option.
Â
Â
“Girl, where have you been?” Lashay asked upon stepping into Staci's living room.
“I think a better question is, what have you been doing, and with whom?” Shannon corrected.
“Whatever you've been doing, I hope you've been doing it with Derrick,” Lashay added with a raised eyebrow.
Staci loved her girls, but sometimes they acted like her mother. Staci was a grown woman and didn't owe either of them an explanation.
“What are you talking about? I've been around,” she replied to Lashay's and Shannon's questions, knowing full well what they were referring to.
“You've been around where? We haven't seen or heard much from you in three weeks.”
They were right. Staci had been spending most of her time with Malcolm. When they weren't physically together, they talked on the phone.
“And you've missed church and Bible Study two weeks in a row.” Lashay narrowed her eyebrows. “Please tell us you've been having private study time with Derrick.”
Staci smacked her lips and simultaneously waved her hand. “Please, I haven't seen or talked to that sorry half Negro in weeks.”
Lashay and Shannon looked at each other, then back at Staci. “Then
who
have you been spending time with?” Shannon asked.
Staci walked over and sat on the couch. “He's just a friend.”
“He?”
the two women asked in unison.
“His name is Malcolm, and he's just a friend.”
“Then why is he taking up all of your time?” Shannon wanted to know.
“We have a lot of things in common. He's single. I'm single, so we hang out together,” Staci answered, shrugging her shoulders.
“Staci, you're not single. You're a married woman,” Lashay reminded her.
Staci jumped up and walked around the living room, then the kitchen. “Do you see my husband around here?” she asked, looking around. “Of course, you don't. He left me, remember?”
“What happened to you giving him time to work through his issues?” Lashay asked.
“I am giving him time; I'm just keeping busy in the process. Besides, he could have changed his mind about wanting to be married. Or maybe he's found him a friend to pass the time with.” Staci used two fingers for quote marks to emphasize the word
friend
. “For all I know, he could be living with a woman.”
Inside, Staci prayed that wasn't the case, but like Malcolm had said, it made sense considering Derrick hadn't called her in weeks, and he never told her where he moved to.
“Staci,” Shannon shook her head, “in your heart you know that's not the case.”
“No, I don't!” Staci screamed. “All I know is that I was a good wife to him and he left me!”
“Cuz, what you're doing is wrong, no matter how much you try to justify it.” When Lashay tried to touch her shoulder, Staci jerked away.
“Lashay, what do you know? Has Brian ever left you? Have you spent one day or a minute, for that matter, wondering if Brian still loves you?” Staci didn't allow her to answer. “Or course, you haven't. Your husband acts like he can't use the bathroom without you!”
“Staci, don't say that.” Shannon attempted to calm her down.
“You don't know anything either, Shannon. My brother worships you. All he talks about is âShannon this . . .' âmy baby Shannon . . .' âI love my boo.'” Staci imitated Marcus's voice. “You don't know what it's like not to remember the last time your husband said he loved you.” Staci wiped the lone tear that managed to escape.
When Lashay placed her fists at her waist, her stomach looked even larger; like she was overdue. “We don't know that because we had enough patience to wait until our men were developed before we married them.” Lashay's words slapped Staci smack in the face. “Instead of criticizing what we don't know, you need to ask God to deliver you from that impatient spirit that controls you before you create a bigger mess!”
“You said yourself you married Derrick because you didn't want to wait,” Shannon added. “Now you're willing to break your vows because you don't want to wait for him to get healed. That doesn't make any sense.”
“I'm not going to break my vows.” Staci slid back on the couch. “Malcolm knows I'm married.”
Shannon waved her hands. “Rewind. This man
knows
you're married, and he
still
wants to spend all this time with you?”
“Yes, I told you we're just friends.”
“Just how often do you see each other?” Lashay probed.
“At least three nights a week and the weekends.”
Lashay wouldn't let up. “How often do you talk to him?”
“Every day.”
“Friends, nothing. You are in a full-fledged relationship with his trifling behind,” Lashay said before positioning herself in the chair. “And you're trifling too for having a boyfriend on the side.”
“How many times do I have to tell you, we're just friends!”
“He is
not
your friend. He's a void filler for you. You're using him to fill the emptiness left by Derrick,” Shannon plainly stated. “And he's waiting for you to get lonely and weak enough to invite him into your bed.”
Staci disagreed with that. Well, at least the last part. “I've told him repeatedly that nothing is going to happen between us.”
“It doesn't matter what you say if you keep spending all of your time with him,” Lashay explained. “If he wasn't trying to get you into bed, why do you have to keep repeating it? You would only have to tell a legitimate brother once.”
“And a legit brother would encourage you to talk to your husband and not to him,” Shannon added.
Staci remained quiet. Her girls were right. Malcolm constantly threw sexual innuendoes. Like the other day when he said he had a taste for something sweet while looking at her breasts. She always ignored him, but she had to admit it felt good to know that she was still desirable to someone. He also never corrected her when she spoke negatively about her husband. Malcolm still didn't know his name, but what Malcolm did know from Staci was that her husband was lousy, both in and out of bed.
“You're right,” Staci finally conceded. “I am in a relationship.”
“You've got to end all communication with him. That is, if you want your husband back.”
“Lashay, I don't know what I want,” Staci admitted. “Some days I want him back, other days I don't know. I wish he would talk to me.”
Shannon arose from her seat, rubbing her belly. “He will when he's ready, but, girlfriend, you need to talk to God about this. You need to ask Him for direction. Most important, you need to pray for Derrick. Pray for his healing.”
“You're right, and I will.”
Before she went to bed that night, Staci started to pray, but her cell phone rang. It was Malcolm. She didn't pray that night or any other night. Neither did she stop communicating with Malcolm.