I Want Candy (27 page)

“OK,” Eric said dryly. Then he rolled his eyes and finished going down the steps. “I’ll be back for the rest of my stuff later in the week.” He exited through the garage door, got in his car, and drove away. Candy stood at the top of the stairs, her knees threatening to give out. The tears finally came, rolling down like huge waves. She sobbed uncontrollably, screaming and shaking. The doorbell rang. She wiped her face and greeted the officer at the door.

“Ma’am, we had a call here regarding…”

“Yes, it was me. I was the one that called. He’s gone now.” Candy sniffed and wiped her runny nose.

“Well, we have to be certain, so I need to search the premises,” the officer explained.

“I understand,” Candy said as she allowed the officer past her. Ten minutes later the police were gone and Dallas and Jasmine were on their way to console their fallen girlfriend.

* * *

“I didn’t expect you to ever take me up on my offer,” Gabriel said as he drove Candy into his gated community. Candy observed the magnificently manicured, evergreen lawns with interestingly shaped shrubbery. Many of the homes had lavish, gold-trimmed and stained glass front doors. The scent of burnt leaves and cinnamon swirled in the air. She watched as Gabriel entered his security code, allowing two impressive wrought-iron gates to slowly open. Behind them sat two menacing stone lions and a winding driveway that led up to a house of almost unimaginable size. Candy tried not to appear too mesmerized. Gabriel slowed down and waited for one of his garage doors to open, revealing a collection of boy toys including two Harley Davidson motorcycles, one cobalt blue and the other black, and a small white sailboat with the name “Popped Cherry” written in China-red. There was also a shiny, black Toyota truck, a sparkling white Mercedes Benz, a candy-apple red Porsche, and a deep blue Lexus. Tonight he was driving his fire-engine red Lamborghini.

Gabriel got out of the car and immediately opened the passenger door. Candy stepped out, her emerald snakeskin, sling-back stilettos hitting the concrete of the expansive garage. He took her gingerly by the arm and led her into the house. She dabbed her bloodshot eyes as she seated herself in a silver chair that was ornate enough for royalty.

“I’m so embarrassed,” she finally said. “I never expected you to find me like that.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed,” Gabriel said as he poured himself a glass of wine. “Would you like a glass?” he asked, lifting the vintage bottle of Larue Le Trezin Puligny Montrachet.

“Yes,” Candy answered between sobs. “I thought the door was locked,” she continued. “I feel so ridiculous. Then when you asked me what the problem was, I just blurted out everything like some crazy woman. I wish I hadn’t burdened you with this.” She took the glass of wine and immediately took a sip. Gabriel shook his head sympathetically and lit a fire before sitting next to her in his den.

“For the past month you’ve been very withdrawn. Had I known that you and your husband were estranged, I would’ve demanded that you take some time off. How long has he been out of the house?”

“Thirty two days. I didn’t know I’d miss him this much. He took me through so much, you know? You’d think I’d hate him, but I don’t. I just know I can’t…I can’t…” Candy dropped her head. “I can’t do this with him anymore. I’ve been unhappy for a while. I shouldn’t even be surprised. I kept hoping he’d change or that things would at least get better.”

“I’m in no way a psychologist or an expert on marriage. Look at me,” Gabriel chuckled, “I’m no one to talk. However, you have to know your worth. Everyone has a price, and if you’re giving yourself away and getting nothing in return, you’re running up a tab that can never be repaid. We can’t change anyone. We can only change our own outlooks, surroundings, and how we react to the circumstances we encounter.”

Candy took another sip of her wine, her hand slightly trembling. “What do you mean ‘everyone has a price?’” she leaned her head back lazily against the buttery chair leather.

“We can all be bought and sold. Some can be bought with promises of everlasting love, others with money, literally. In arranged marriages, it’s the promise of financial stability and unity between families. To our parents and grandparents, it’s a matter of getting what they want and trying to fulfill their partner’s needs. That’s how long-lasting relationships survive. Most of the time, both people are getting what they want. But when you stop getting what you want, things just don’t work out anymore. Let me give you a case in point. My ex-wife felt she didn’t have enough of me. I worked too much, but that wasn’t the only thing. She wanted to know everything. I’m a private person, too private at times, and I’m changing that because it hasn’t served me well, but she felt I was too guarded and cold. That’s just who I am, or was. It was how I was raised. In my world, boys don’t cry or show emotion. My father instilled that in me and my brothers. He was a very unemotional man – at times cruel.” Gabriel crossed his ankles and took another sip of his wine by the crackling fire. “Anyway, I had to change myself and evolve, but I couldn’t make my wife be the person I needed. I’m not blaming her. I wasn’t mistreated as you were, but we just stopped seeing eye to eye. Actually, we never did. We loved each other and got married without considering the fact that we were quite incompatible. We saw the world differently. I recognize that now and know what I need in a woman. I won’t settle for less because I take marriage seriously. I plan to remarry one day and stay that way. Eric and your situation is different. What you described was emotional abuse. You mentioned at least two physical altercations when he’s been under the influence. He obviously has a substance abuse problem. He has abused your trust on more than one occasion by being unfaithful, and he blames you for everything he did. He made a choice to become intoxicated, which later made him belligerent. He made a choice to avoid accountability. Eric’s problems have nothing to do with you. He chose all of that. We all make choices, Candy.”

“Eric and I loved each other,” Candy said gloomily. Gabriel looked over at her and gently reached to touch her fingertips. He grazed them with his own and looked deep into her eyes. The fire cast a light upon his face, chiseling out his jawbone. His eyes lit up, turning various shades of amber with sparkles of green and gold.

“Sometimes love just isn’t enough. You need mutual respect, admiration, friendship, passion, communication, and honesty.”

“I should be going, Mr. Justice. I shouldn’t even be here.” Candy stood up slowly, looking down as their hands left one another’s.

“For the hundredth time, don’t call me ‘Mr. Justice’ or I’ll start taking it out of your salary,” Gabriel smiled. “This is exactly where you should be. When I found you in your office today, I know you had rejected other people’s offers to speak with you. Everyone could see something was wrong, and you, Candy, are one of the few people in the office who doesn’t have an enemy. You’ve been distant for over a month. You have a heart of gold and are always there for others. When I walked in, you lowered your wall and showed me your heart. I was finally at the right place, at the right time. You were ready to start talking because you were ready to start healing. Nothing we discuss goes anywhere. It stays between us,” Gabriel assured. “I tried to stay out of your personal life, especially since you were still taking care of your professional duties, but enough was enough. I’ve never seen you so distraught. I knew it must have been terrible, if someone as strong and resilient as you was falling apart. You have the right to cry, curse, and yell. Someone you loved very much betrayed you, and now you’re trying to figure out your next step. You stay here as long as you wish.”

“As wonderful as you’ve been, including the talk here and your comfort to me right now, I really should leave. I promise to have my reports to you by the due date. Don’t worry yourself, I’ll just call a cab please.” Candy looked around the room anxiously.

“Forget the reports. Please take some time for yourself,” Gabriel said calmly as he pulled his cell phone out. “Yes, I need a driver to my house as soon as possible.”

BIG-BOSS COOKIES

2 cups of a lot of nerve

1 heaping scoop of serious sexiness

1 teaspoon of honey

2 tablespoons of tears

3 cups of salt, power, and prestige

4 melted butter sticks of “OOOH GIRL! WHAT ARE YOU DOIN’?”

Bake for 15 minutes in 325-degree heat.

* * *

“He’s cute for a white man,” Jasmine stated blandly as she sat in the cafe with Dallas and Candy. She turned the page of the company newsletter, then flipped back to the small 2” x 3” photo of Gabriel, with his message of the month written below it.

“It doesn’t matter what he looks like,” explained Candy as she smirked and rolled her eyes, “he’s my boss, so he’s off limits. I’m still married too which you seem to have forgotten.” Candy took a timid taste of her hot cocoa with a splash of mint and a cloud of whipped cream. Jasmine rolled her eyes as she continued to review the dog-eared newsletter.

“Speakin’ of which,” Dallas said as she reached into her billfold, “here are the divorce papers you wanted.” Dallas gingerly handed them to Candy. Candy took them slowly and placed them on the table in front of her. She set her cup down and solemnly studied the legal contract. “I know you said don’t rush, but I had some time so…”

“No, this is fine,” Candy said in almost a whisper.

“Back to Gabriel – from what you’ve told us, I think he’s interested in you, and you should find out for sure,” Jasmine smiled deviously. Dallas and Candy shot her a look. “What? Look Dallas, Candy should be datin’. Her marriage to Eric was over before it began and…”

“Not now, Jasmine. Cool it!” Dallas warned, her dark eyes narrowing into threatening slits. Jasmine digressed, looking slightly injured as she retreated to the newsletter and her cup of iced caramel coffee.

Candy sighed and took an ink pen out of her brown and tan Coach purse. The pen was a gift from Gabriel. Candy smiled as she looked at the limited edition number etched on it. Only a few employees received them. It was made of gold and silver, and the company logo was engraved on the side along with her initials. She took another deep breath and signed the back of the divorce papers then quickly pushed them to her right, back into the hands of Dallas. Dallas looked at Candy, who now stared out the window. The soft rain fell against the pavement. People walked hurriedly to their cars, gripping their newspapers, laptops, and beverages as they tried to dodge the raindrops. Dallas nodded with a silent understanding of her friend’s feelings as she put the papers back into her billfold. Dallas and Jasmine began to converse about a new eatery that was opening downtown. Candy’s thoughts drifted once more as she wrung her hands. The light mark around her ring finger was becoming less prominent with time. She looked down at her finger and shook her head in disbelief before returning to looking out the window. This time, she saw a beautiful young lady with long locks. Her skin glistened like black diamonds against a starlit sky. She had two glossy red shopping bags in tow and legs that went up to Heaven. Her upper thighs were wrapped in a black miniskirt. She wore a teal silk blouse that probably cost more than your average Joe’s salary for an entire week. Taken by her radiance, Candy didn’t initially notice the man standing beside the woman. He had parked the car and joined the woman, placing a large, clear umbrella over her head like a transparent halo. His blonde crew cut and crisp shirt was paired with a dazzling smile and intense, dark-brown eyes.

‘They look happy,’ Candy thought. ‘I wonder if she loves him.’

DIVORCE-PAPER PARSNIPS

1 1/2 pounds of parsnips, peeled and cut into 2 1/2 inch slices of pride

4 teaspoons of extra virginhood for a new start and swagger