Full Figured 10 (18 page)

Once we were back in Chicago, I was still on a high. I hadn't told anyone about exchanging vows with Will, and I wondered how everyone would react once I announced I was married.

I quickly gathered a few items at my house to take to Will's place, and before leaving, I took a moment to call my mom. She was pissed that I had gone to Vegas, but she had already met Will, had instantly loved him like I did, and after an hour of scolding, she prayed with me on the line for God to bless our marriage.

After getting my mom, the super Christian, who had reminded me it was better to marry than to burn, off the line, I dialed my girlfriend Kenya to tell her and learned she had good news too.

Since Will and I were in bliss, I had failed to answer her calls when I was in Vegas.

“Oh, my God, Kenya. Congrats,” I said. She had informed me that her longtime boyfriend, Joseph, had finally gone down on one knee and had asked her to be his wife.

It had taken him only six years, but I had never once shared with her that I thought he was stringing her along.

“Never did I think he'd do it, L. And my ring . . . it is so gorgeous. I mean, it is way more beautiful than I could imagine. Joseph did good. I mean, I cannot stop staring down at this beautiful ring. I mean, I can't believe that he asked. I mean, I'm so elated, so happy, so excited.”

“I so understand. When you see this rock my Will laced my finger with, you just might cum as hard as I did last night.” I laughed; Kenya didn't.

“Watch your mouth, girl. I got you on speaker.”

“Then freakin' take me off of speaker,” I retorted and then heard what sounded like a phone being picked up.

“Okay. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing your ring, and I do hope this one loves you better than that last husband of yours.” Kenya paused, as if she was taking a puff of a cigarette. “I mean, you fought like a champ to stay as long as you did.”

“Hey, this is Will we are talking about. He adores me, girl, and you know that he is ten times the man Chez proclaimed to be. And now that we are married, I finally feel like I got it right. I mean, he married me as I am. A big and beautiful woman. He sexes me as if I was light as a feather, and to be loved by someone so caring, so romantic, so selfless is, like, surreal. Chez fucked up my self-esteem, had me blaming myself for things going south, but Will . . .” I paused.

Five seconds went by, and the right words came to me. “Will has just shown me what real love is about, and how real love is supposed to be, Kenya. I mean, for a long time I thought I knew. I mean, for a moment I really thought that love had to hurt to be real, but I now know better.”

“Well, Chez is somewhere now wishing he'd done right by you. I know no other woman is doing half the shit you did for him. I mean, a clean home, cooking two or three meals a day when he was in town, something I'd never do.”

I laughed and then teased, “That is why Joseph took so long to pop the question.”

She laughed with me. “Shit, you're probably right. I'm not domesticated. I know how to make reservations and budget my money so my housekeeper will always return twice a week. Hell, I can't help that my mama raised me this way. Clean a toilet? Shit, no thank you. I'll suck your dick all night long, but damn your laundry,” she joked.

I laughed so hard.

“No, I'm serious, and I'm so glad Joseph is a six-figure brother, because he already know.”

“Hey, I know that's right,” I said. “I'm not mad at'cha, sis. I just have never been comfortable with sharing my kitchen, nor can I allow some woman to wash my man's boxers. Now, a cleaning lady . . . ? I think this year I'll spring for one, but she cannot be some slim, attractive chick. I trust Will, but I'd never serve up temptation on a platter in my house.”

“Speak on it. Trust, my two cleaning ladies are not a threat. They are old enough to be both of our mothers, and Estelle is mean as hell. If you walk on wet floors, that is your ass. Norma bosses you around like she gave birth to ya, so I don't have anything to worry about.”

I giggled. “Well, you'll have to ask them for a recommendation. I will be putting my house on the market soon and moving to Will's.”

“Really? You're giving up your palace?”

“Yes. There are too many Chez memories here. Too many memories of how marriage is not supposed to be. Plus, Will's place is super gorgeous, and he's already revamped the kitchen for me, and, girl, I have three ovens, eight burners, a grill, and let's just say cooking is never a chore at his place.”

“That means there is a dinner invite for Joseph and me in the works to celebrate your marriage and my engagement.”

I took the hint. “As a matter of fact, there is. Let me decide on a good night with Will and get back to you.”

“Okay, love. I must go now. A judge is never off. I have several search warrant requests on my desk as we speak, and if I want to put the bad guys away, I need to get to signing.”

“You mean rubber stamping?” I teased.

“Yeah, that.” She laughed. “Still takes arm strength.”

“Okay. Bye, girl. And again congrats. I will call you later, after I talk to Will.”

“Okay, darling, and please put red velvet on the menu. Your red velvet is to die for.”

“So says my husband.” I snickered. We hung up, and I immediately dialed Will.

“Hey, you,” he sang.

“Hey, husband.” I had a huge, uncontrollable smile on my face. I smiled so hard, I knew my face should hurt or become stuck.

“Yes, my wife? What can I do you for? I am in the middle of something right now, baby.”

“Oh, okay.” My smile diminished. “Nothing big. I can talk to you later, my love.”

“No. I have a couple of moments now, but only that. The city is down here, and they are combing my project like they are searching for a cure for cancer.”

“Aw, baby, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that Kenya got engaged while we were in Vegas, and I want to have a dinner for her and her fiancé at the house. I know this project is behind schedule because of our trip, so I wanted to know when you think you'll be free. Maybe invite Lance and Yvonne, a couple of your employees. I want it to be a little celebration.”

“Well, I can say a Sunday will work. I know my Saturdays will be full, but no matter how far behind schedule a project gets, my love, Sunday is a day we don't slang a hammer.”

“Okay, love. Not this Sunday, but the following one. Kenya is going to be so thrilled.”

“I'm sure. Babe, I gotta go.”

“Okay, baby. And that thing with Lance . . .” I had tried to squeeze the topic in, but the line had disconnected. “Hello?” I repeated three times, and then I tossed my phone and went back to gathering things from my house. It had been only a week since I'd said, “I do,” and we'd been home only four days, and so there had been no talk of the issue with Lance.

I knew I was out of line....
Maybe
I was out of line. I took stock of the entire situation. Lance might have made a lot of money, and Will and I hadn't sat down and opened bank accounts just yet, but I still thought it strange that Lance was living like he was Jay Z and my man was living like Trey Songz. Trey Songz was popular and was doing well, of course, but we all knew that Jay Z's money was a lot longer than his was.

I made it to my new home, and after unloading my truck, I saw it was still early enough to shop for dinner. Since my bakery was open as early as the roosters crowed, we closed by three, leaving me time in the late afternoon to run errands. Now I hurried out to get some fresh fish, clams, wild rice, and veggies from the market. Since I got in a lot earlier than Will, dinner was and probably would always be my chore. Will made a mean, hearty breakfast for me on Sunday mornings at my place or his, so being his dinner maid made me happy.

Hours later I looked at the clock and wondered what was keeping my husband. It was close to eight, and I was ready to greet him with wine, food, and lovemaking. Hating that I couldn't keep late nights because I had the bakery, I decided not to call him. I left the food on very low on the stove and put the white wine back into the fridge.

I closed my robe, which hid my sexy satin nightie, and got on the sofa. Grabbed the remote, and within minutes I had dozed off.

Sometime later I felt a soft kiss.

“Baby,” he whispered.

I opened my eyes. “Will, baby,” I said, blinking.

“I'm sorry I'm late, baby. The city gave me hell, and there was a lot of electrical work that had to be redone.”

I yawned, covering my mouth. “It's okay, baby. What time is it?”

“Close to eleven.”

“Damn. That late? I cooked. I hope nothing dried out.” I rose and headed to the kitchen.

“Me too, because I'm starving.”

As I went into the kitchen, I thanked God that I had made another trip there to turn everything completely off before dozing.

“Go on up and shower, baby, and I'll get your dinner,” I told him.

He paused and came close. “It's not always like this, baby.” He kissed my shoulder.

“Will, bae, I know. Work is work, and I'd never complain about your duties at work. I know what I signed up for.”

“That's my girl. I love you.”

“I love you too. Now go. Dinner will be served when you are cleaned up.”

My husband dashed up the stairs, and I set about reheating our dinner. I knew I'd be crying in the a.m., but I didn't mind. I made a decision at that moment to find a person to open the bakery in the mornings, or to promote one of my employees and have him or her do that task, so that I could relax and not think about opening. So my new husband and I could have late nights together, if we had to. Hell, Chez had always been away, but now I had a husband who came home every night and who was in love with me, so I had to make some changes.

I sat at my desk in my office, staring into space. I wondered how to begin to investigate my friend. Lance and I went way back, boys from the hood, and I knew he had a history, but, hell, so did I. But I had to admit I was living a BMW lifestyle, while he liked an Aston Martin lifestyle.

I mean, I had the finer things and could afford top-notch things, but I'd never throw my wife a party like the one he had thrown for Yvonne. Not that I couldn't afford it. I just thought it was not smart. When I added up all the vacations he went on, versus me barely having a moment to breathe, it was clear that the numbers weren't adding up.

As hard as it was, I made that call—the call that I had thought for a few seconds should not be made. But Lynn's voice had replayed over and over in my head. “Baby, it never hurts to just check. I mean, just check. If there is nothing, there's nothing,” she'd said.

“Hey, Royce. This is Will. How are you, bro?” Royce was my accountant, and I also considered him a friend.

“Well, I'm doing well, Will. What's up? How is the married life? I hope you guys got my and Tamia's gift.”

“We did, as a matter of fact, and thanks. Marriage so far is wonderful. I mean, Lynn is a breath of fresh air, the best thing that could have ever happened to me.”

“I hear ya. . . . Tamia is like my lifeline, and I couldn't imagine life without her.”

“I now know what you mean, man.”

“So what prompted this call? I mean, we meet only twice a year, and we are nowhere near review or tax time.”

“I know, and I normally would have never called. I'd let you and Lance do what y'all do. I know you two have been keeping this company running without a hitch, and you know since the numbers and the business side are foreign to me, I barely stop to survey what's going on.”

“True, but whatever you wanna know, I'll be happy to tell you or show you. Your records are up to date. Is there something wrong?”

“No, well, no . . . Well, let's just put it this way.... Lance has been splurging a bit more and more lately, and I just want to make sure he's still on the straight and narrow. I mean, this is my business, and my pops worked too hard for me to fuck up and lose it, you know, so I think I should see more of the financial parts, more than just the labor.”

“Well, you are the boss, and whatever you want, I will be happy to show you, explain, and provide for you. I mean, your company has quadrupled since you and Lance took over.”

“Quadrupled?” I questioned. I knew we had increased our profits, but
quadrupled
was a term that I wasn't aware of. But thinking back, I knew he was about right.

“Yes, plus some. I'll be happy to go over every number with you, Will. I mean, at midyear and year-end, I e-mail you the numbers too. I had no idea you had questions.”

This was a kick in the head. Not being able to read and comprehend the facts was my reason for not even opening those e-mails, and now that I had Lynn to help me, I'd have to go back and let her read and explain the reports to me.

“I know, but I have been so busy and have let Lance handle that. You know I'm a hands-on man,” I said, making an excuse. Truth was, I wouldn't know what I was reading.

“That I know, so I'll go ahead and forward you the e-mails from the past five years, since you've been my client, and if there are any questions, just please don't hesitate,” he said.

“Thanks. That will help, and I will give you a call if there is anything that I don't understand.”

“Great. And congrats again on your new marriage. I'm happy for you, man.”

“Thanks. Take care and send Tamia a hello.”

“Will do.”