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“William, I called you back into my office because your PSA score came back a bit high. I don’t want to alarm you, but I don’t want to let this go either. We need to run more tests.”
The doctor standing in front of William continued speaking, although his words went unheard. William didn’t need to listen any further; he already knew the results in the file carried in by Dr. Thomas was terrible news. He was right. His prostate-specific antigen – or PSA as the doctor called it – alerted the physician that there was a potential problem with his patient’s prostate.
“So, what does this mean, Doctor?” asked William.
“I’m going to order more tests from here. Once I get the results from your blood work, I want to do a screening for prostate cancer along with a digital rectal examination.”
Once again, words drifted around the room without being captured by the intended recipient.
William Lee Majors Sr. is a business owner in Anchorage Alaska, a widower of twelve years, and a loving, protective father. After his wife, Jean, died from a brain aneurysm back in two-thousand-one, William and his son, Billy, have been on their own. Jean took her last breath when her son was only five-years-old, leaving him and her husband behind to mourn her death. William made Jean a promise that he would take care of their boy – a promise he’s made good on. He also vowed he wouldn’t take-up with any other woman until after Billy was a grown man and could take care of himself. He didn’t want to start a new life with a new wife attempting to raise his child, so he opted to live as a single man.
William owns and operates Anchorage Lumber Company, a thriving commercial lumberyard in the heart of Alaska. He’s put everything into his business with a profitable return; however, in the past year, William’s company hit rock-bottom with him working around the clock to turn things around for his son’s sake if nothing else. He’s always wanted to be certain Billy would be well taken care of even after he’s gone – a vision he’ll work to make a reality.
“William, I would like to get testing done as soon as possible. Are you free this afternoon?”
“I can’t do this today. I, uh, have a lot of work to finish. We’ll have to do it another day.” He stalled; he was in no rush to hear those words: William, you have cancer.
“William, as I said I—”
“As you said, Doc, you don’t want to wait too long.” William was smug when he finished the doctor’s sentence. “I got it, but I’ll have to reschedule...”
Four years later, William is a prostate cancer survivor. After his biopsy read positive, his doctor immediately started treatment.
Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, vaccine treatments, and lots of prayers were all ordered to ensure William’s recovery. With his son right by his side, William Majors made it through what he now considers the toughest time of his life.
With William’s body in remission and his son turning twenty-one in less than a month, his needs for a female companion were increasing by the day. He’s looking for more than just a friend or a dinner date though – he wants a wife, someone he can share his life with. William is ready to open the quaint cottage he built from the ground up to more than some random bedfellow; he’s ready for love, real love.
William is an attractive, brown-skinned debonair gentleman, standing an even 6-feet-tall. His salt and pepper coils were trimmed to fit the shape of his smooth face, without a hair ever being out of place. He weighs a solid one hundred ninety-eight pounds – in good shape for a man of his years. His soft, dark, bedroom eyes and full lips made women find him alluring, especially the women around the Anchorage area, but William keeps them and their advances at bay. He made sure their lonesomeness – and lukewarm casserole dishes – never made it passed the front door. He dismissed them over seasoned, home-cooked meals, and dry pastries, with nothing more than a pleasant, thank you for the meal he nor Billy had any intentions of eating.
Over the years, a variety of women have tried and failed with William, no matter their efforts. He just wasn’t ready . . . until now. The only problem is, he doesn’t know where to start. He surely doesn’t fancy any of the desperate, flabby, tired selection of women that was constantly trying to feed him and his son. He’s a fifty-one-year-old father, so clubbing is completely out of the question. He’s never attended a church service, so meeting a good ole’ church girl wasn’t going to happen either. He doesn’t trust anyone off of the Internet, so his future wife, in his words, would have to come and find him, which is exactly what happened the day Jennifer Payne walked into his lumber company.
Jennifer was doing a small remodeling job to her condo and needed to pick out just the right materials for the project. Her contractor gave her a card for Anchorage Lumber and told her she should go check out some of the marble samples the lumberyard offered. When she decided to take the contractors advice, Jennifer’s tall, thin frame swayed into Anchorage Lumber and the rest, as they say, is history – history William Majors Sr. would someday wish he could rewrite . . .
“Aww man Dad, I love it! Thank you so much.”
“Well, you only turn twenty-one once, son, so I thought I would do something extra special for you.”
Billy took his eyes off his brand-new Honda motorcycle long enough to hug his father. “Dad, this is exactly what I wanted.” Billy looked back at the bike. “But it’s so expensive. Are you sure we can afford a bike like this?”
William put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Billy, this is my gift to you. Don’t you worry about how much it costs or if I can afford it. It’s yours. All I ask is that you be careful, so you don’t get yourself hurt.”
Billy gave William another hug. “Dad, thanks again.”
William Lee Majors Jr., or Billy as everyone calls him, is finally a man. He was raised without his mother, but his father provided for him in the best way. Even after Anchorage Lumber Company threatened to close its doors more than once, Billy still never wanted for anything. William made sure his son had the best world he could give him regardless of the circumstances.
Billy now attends Alaska Pacific University, a small liberal arts college not far from home. He’s always dreamt of going to a bigger school in a bigger city like Los Angeles or New York but didn’t want to leave his father. Billy knew his dad would always take care of him, but he wanted to make sure he could take care of himself. He plans to finish school so he could be more of an asset to his father’s company than a burden. He isn’t a rich kid, nor does he pretend to be one. He knows the value of hard work, and it shows.
At Alaska Pacific, Billy is majoring in Business Management with a passing grade with damn near every girl that crosses his path. Like his dad, females flocked to his feet. His long 6-foot-3, brawny statute is adorned with deep dimples in both his cheeks, nice lips, caramel skin, brown eyes, and natural curly black locks he keeps cut nice and neat. His tight body and smooth, sexy face kept the chicks in the area panties wet.
“So, which young lady are you bringing to your big birthday bash?” asked William.
Billy’s cheeks turned red. “Dad . . .”
“Don’t be embarrassed, son. These girls around here are nuts over you. That’s why that phone of yours is buzzing all day, every day. I know wassup.” William grinned as if he was a proud Papa when he said, “You’re just like your old man, son.”
Billy started to read a text message as he and William chatted.
You should come over again tonight Billy. I have
something sweet I want you to taste 3:17 PM
“Dad, I’m not sure who I’m bringing to the party yet.” Billy put his phone away, knowing exactly where he was headed after he showered. “I was thinking of asking Ashley or Teyana, but I’m also thinking about asking Shay, Miranda, or Raina. I’m not sure, though.”
None of the names Billy just mentioned belonged to the horny female from the nasty little text message.
Billy had so many girls on his dick; he was starting to lose count. Women couldn’t resist him – a trait that will prove to be dangerous for more reasons than one.
William chuckled. “Well, at least you have it narrowed down.”
“Dad, you know, you really don’t have to go all out for this party. Instead of that expensive club, we could have something right here at the house. I know how tight money is. Besides, you’ve already done enough.”
William’s face turned serious. “Billy, you’re my son. I want to make sure you have any and everything your heart desires. You told me when you turned eighteen you wanted your twenty-first birthday party to be at Moose Run, so that’s where it’ll be.”
“Dad, you remembered that?”
“Of course, I remember son, and I’m going to make it happen for you. Billy, I know you’re a man now, but I’m still here for you. I always will be. I promised your mother I would take care of you.”
“Thanks, Dad. Not just for my party, or this bike, but also for the life you’ve given me. You’ve always taken good care of me even if it meant deep sacrifices for you.”
“Now, don’t you concern yourself with my struggles and sacrifices; I just want to make sure you’re happy.”
“I know Dad, and I appreciate you for that.” Billy’s face lit up. “We can hoop at the club, go swimming, get massages . . . I swear my party is going to be so turnt up.” Billy hugged his dad again. “You’re the best! Thank you for letting me get your club membership for my B-day.”
“Whatever I have belongs to you, son . . .” William Majors would regret those words.
Chapter Two
“William, that was some party you put together for Billy the other night. I haven’t seen so many young people under one roof since that boy graduated.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to do something special for my son for his twenty-first birthday.”
“And you don’t think a fifteen-thousand-dollar bike was special enough?”
“Epatha, that’s enough . . .”
“No, Ronnie, he needs to hear this.”
William is having brunch with his brother, Ronald, and his brother’s opinionated, bigmouth wife, Epatha. They are an attractive, middle-aged couple – a freakishly close resemblance to the Harrington’s from The Haves and the Have Nots.
“Epatha, it’s none of our business.”
“It’s okay, Ron, let her speak her peace. Her thoughts aren’t going to change anything, but it’s always good to hear an opinion from someone who shouldn’t have an opinion on the way I spend my money on my son for his birthday.”
Epatha put down her glass of clamato juice before taking a sip as if William caught her off guard with his sarcasm. “Oh, William, please. Chile, save that kind of talk for Billy because you know it doesn’t faze me. Honey, I’m always going to have an opinion.”
“But, do you always have to speak your opinion is what I’m wondering,” asked William.
“I sure do. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just like that Wendy Williams, honey, I say it like I mean it.”
The couple tried for many years, but Epatha and Ronnie didn’t have any children of their own. They didn’t stop trying until Epatha had a hysterectomy last winter. Even after a specialist told them they had less than a ten-percent chance of carrying a baby to term because of Epatha’s hormonal disorder, they still didn’t give up. They dreamed of having a son of their own, but, when their dreams derailed, helping to raise Billy was a welcoming responsibility they both accepted.
Even with the enormous support from his brother and sister-in-law, William and Epatha didn’t always see eye-to-eye when it came to Billy. Epatha felt William spoiled his son. She also made it known that she didn’t think William should have given up his love life for Billy. She thought he could’ve still been a good father even after taking a new wife, but her views were ignored entirely since William never listened. He dedicated himself to Billy, and his sister-in-law couldn’t change that.
Epatha looked across the table at William. “So, Will, Billy is twenty-one now. He’s all grown up, probably thinking about a family of his own.”
“Epatha, what are you getting at?” William asked before putting a fork full of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
“What I’m getting at is, you said when Billy turned twenty-one, you would start to look for a wife.”
William laughed when he threw up his hands and shook his palms toward the ceiling. “Whoa, where is this coming from all of a sudden?”
“Will, you know it’s time. Hell, we all know it’s time. I want to see you happy.”
“Who says I’m not happy?”
Ronnie jumped to his brother’s defense. “Epatha, let’s not do this today, okay? I’m sure when, and if William is ready for a companion, he’ll make that move without you hounding him. It’s all in his time. Let the man breathe.”
“Oh, Ronnie, you take everything to the next level. I wasn’t suggesting he goes out tonight and find a wife; I was merely reminding him it’s time he—”
“I’ve been seeing someone.” William jumped in.
Epatha and Ronnie stopped their word-match long enough to look over at William, who was still working on the plate in front of him.
William’s words were casual. His demeanor was relaxed. He took a sip of juice, wiped his mouth with the cloth napkin from his lap before feeding himself a piece of wheat toast.
Epatha came back with, “Did you say you’ve been seeing someone?”
William answered, “Yes, I did.”
“How old is she?” That was Ronnie.
“When were you going to tell us?” Epatha.
“Does Billy know?”
“Is she pretty?”
“Does she have any kids?”
“Has she ever been married?”
“Is she married?”
“Does she want to get married?”
“How long have you been seeing her?”
“Where did you meet her?”
“What does she do for a living?”
“Does she have good credit?”
“How old is she?” Ronnie came back to his original question.
William continued with his meal. He didn’t let his brother or Epatha’s mountain of questions throw him off. Instead, he simply said, “Her name is Jennifer.”
Epatha and Ronnie both appeared on the edge of their seats as they waited for more.
“That’s it? ‘Her name is Jennifer?’ What’s her last name? Where is she from?”
Ronnie asked a third time, “How old is she?”
“Epatha, you and Ronnie will both meet her in due time, and Ronnie don’t worry, she’s not a grandma. Actually . . . she’s quite the opposite.” They both watched as William spoke of his new lady.
“Well, Will, how about we make tonight due time? I’ll cook. Eight o’clock. Bring wine.”
William wiped his mouth for the final time before putting his napkin into the empty plate sitting in front of him. “Epatha, I’m not bringing her over tonight.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want to talk to Billy first. I don’t want to get Jennifer’s hopes up by letting her meet my family only to have her crushed if things can’t work out.”
“Can’t work out? William, are you listening to yourself? Billy is a grown man. It would be great if he liked your new lady friend and the idea of his dad having someone special in his life, but even if he doesn’t, you shouldn’t let that stop you. William, it’s time you took your life back. You’ve raised your son. Now it’s time for you.”
William stood up and reached for his wallet. “There you go again, Epatha, with your goddamn opinions. You just never quit, do you?”
William placed three twenty-dollar bills on the table. He said, “Ronnie, I’ll see you on the green at three o’clock,” right before he excused himself and headed for the exit door.
****
Five minutes till three, William was cruising down O’Malley Road to meet his brother for golf. He knew he would be rushed with questions about Jennifer – per his sister-in-law’s request – but he’ll discharge all inquiries. His family will meet the new woman in his life soon enough if it’s meant to be.
William thought about his son as he drove. He didn’t know how he would tell Billy he’s been seeing someone. He could blurt it out the same as he’d done with his brother and Epatha, or he could try a different approach like taking his son to his country club for a lovely Sunday dinner. He could order all of Billy’s favorites, a bottle of the club’s best wine, and anything else that could prolong a father trying to tell his son what’s on his mind.
William thought dinner at the club would be perfect! He even reached for his cell to phone Moose Run to make reservations, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to wait until tomorrow night after dinner was served at some impersonal country club. William had to get what was on his chest out now.
Instead of calling for dinner reservations, William dialed his son’s number. He turned the volume down on the radio as he waited for an answer.
He hoped Billy would pick up before he lost his nerve.
When Billy answered on the second ring, he sounded out of breath. “Hey . . . What’s up, Dad?”
“Hey, son, what are you up to?”
“I just finished working out. What are you doing? And Dad, don’t say you’re working; it’s a nice Saturday afternoon.”
“No, no, son, I’m not working.” William kept himself collected as he spoke. “I’m meeting your uncle for golf here shortly, but there is something I want to talk to you about first.”
Billy hurried into the locker room. He sat on a bench across from the steam bath as the gravity in his father’s voice startled him. “Dad, is everything okay?”
“Son, everything is fine.” William pulled into the first parking spot he came to at the golf course. “I was going to wait to mention this, but I didn’t want your aunt or uncle to beat me to it.”
“Dad, please tell me your cancer isn’t back.” Billy’s stomach dropped.
“Billy, no. God, no, I’m fine.”
“Okay, that’s a relief.” Billy paused for a second. “So, what are you worried Unc or Auntie will tell me before you have a chance to?”
“Billy, son, you know you’ve always heard me say that I wouldn’t take up with a woman until after you were a grown man. I didn’t trust anyone to raise my son except me.” Billy listened. “Well, you’re all grown up now, son, so I’ve decided I would think about dating. I met a woman some time ago. Her name is Jennifer Payne. She’s single, no kids; she’s never been married, she’s independent and beautiful.”
William caused a break in his words to allow his son to speak even though he didn’t know what Billy would say or how he would react. Would he hang up on him? Would he throw a tantrum right there in the middle of the locker-room? Would Billy forbid his father to see this woman? William didn’t know what was coming next, so he waited. He wouldn’t interrupt. He would allow his son to speak without any interjections no matter what Billy’s response would be.
“Dad, this is great! When do I get to meet her?”
William smiled as he exhaled. He thought the worse would happen when he told his son of Jennifer, but he was wrong. Billy’s voice, and enthusiasm, told William just how wrong he was.
“Uh, how about tomorrow night? We could have dinner at the club and maybe a nightcap back at the house.”
“Aww, cool, Dad, I’m there.”
“Moose Run, six o’clock, tomorrow evening.”
“Six it is.”
William’s beam shot through the phone. “Son, I’m going to let you go. Your uncle just pulled in. Have a good day. I’ll see you at home later.”
William tucked his phone away in his pocket after he ended the call with Billy. He sat in his car even after his brother pulled in the parking spot beside him. He had to assemble himself before he greeted Ronnie and control his urge to shed a few tears of joy.
Jennifer made William very happy. He didn’t want to lose her, but if his son showed any signs of disapproval, she would be dismissed even faster than the barrage of outdated galloping gourmet cooks he’s sent packing in the past. Billy came first, second, and last, and William planned to keep it that way.
Chapter Three
“Will, this is nice. I’m enjoying my time with you. I always do.” Jennifer caressed the back of William’s head as his tongue feathered around her neck. They kissed, touched, and kissed some more with William’s manhood showing he reveled every minute spent with this woman.
William had become overtaken by Jennifer and her natural beauty. Her cocoa-colored skin was as velvety and pure as virgin milk chocolate, soft to the touch. Her jet-black, straight hair hung just beyond her shoulders without the help of extensions. She carried her one hundred forty-one pounds impressively on her 5-foot-8-inch frame. Her high cheekbones and smooth lips made her a strikingly likeness to the beautiful Jennifer Williams from Basketball Wives.
William sought to undress Jennifer to get a better view of what was under her designer clothes, but he tried to control himself even though his fantasies took off without him. He wanted to start by taking her plump breasts out of each cup and put them into his mouth, one after the other. He then wanted to tease Jennifer’s nipples as she moaned in his ear. Next, he wanted to let his fingertips glide down her flat tummy, strumming her bellybutton until she flinched. He could almost feel himself moving down even further, wasting no time stirring around her playland he’d hoped was reserved just for him. William planned to let his fingertips hit the right spots to get her all hot and bothered. Once he was inside of Jennifer, he would slowly glide his erect member back out of her sodden womb to caress the little man in the boat. When William’s fingers were all moist and sloppy, he would enter her again. This time he wouldn’t stop. William wanted to make love to the woman he knew as Jennifer Payne. He didn’t want to fuck her like they were on the set of some Vivid Entertainment production; he wanted to make her feel like a woman is supposed to feel. Make her feel like she was needed in his world, which she was.
With his dick rock-hard, William eased back before he started to act on his hormones, thinking of all the nasty things he wanted to do to Jennifer. He’s wanted to get in her panties since they met but agreed they would wait to have sex until they were both ready. In William’s case, that meant they would wait until they were married.
William not only wanted to make love to Jennifer, but he also wanted to love her. He wanted to fall for her with the hopes of her falling in love with him too. They were moving fast, but William just couldn’t help himself. She was so beautiful, smart, and talented. She could sing a love song that could make even the strongest man weak in the knees. Jennifer was more than just a great songstress or a pretty face, though; she’s also an independent woman. She owned her exquisitely furnished condo, held the title to her late model Mercedes drop-top, bought all her own clothes, and paid all her own bills, which meant she made her own money. William knew she wasn’t out to try and get him for what she thought he had; Jennifer Payne could take care of herself. At thirty-four, she held her own, which drove William Majors Sr. wild!
“So, what are your plans for the rest of the weekend?”
Jennifer kissed William’s lips before she answered. “I don’t have any plans besides being with you.”
“I’m glad you said that because there is someone I want you to meet.”
Jennifer looked at William, almost as if she couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth. He was always so private when it came to any of his family or friends. The six-month anniversary of their first date passed two months ago, and she has yet to meet anyone close to him. As for Billy, William was honest with Jennifer about how guarded he is when it comes to his son. After hearing the promises William made his dying wife, Billy, and God, she was okay with taking things slow . . . very, very slow.
Unbeknownst to William, Jennifer was already in love with him, so she stayed around even after her mother begged her not to. Her mother, Holly, thought William was hiding something like a wife, a husband, or both, but Jennifer didn’t listen. She trusted William and felt he wasn’t keeping any secrets from her, which he wasn’t.
“Did you hear what I said, Jen? I have someone I want you to meet.”
Jennifer smoothed her long, black hair behind her ear. “Okay, William, who is it?” She was anxious.
When William said, “My son,” Jennifer froze. She’s heard so much about William’s son, Billy, but didn’t think she would ever get the chance to meet him. No time soon, anyway. She hoped the day would eventually come, but she wasn’t prepared.
Jennifer started buttoning her shirt as if Billy had just entered the room.
“Jen, baby, what’s wrong?”
She nervously smiled at William. “Nothing is wrong.”
“You seem uneasy all of a sudden.”
“William, this is just a big step for us. I’m really excited to meet your son, but . . . but what if he doesn’t like me? What if he thinks I’m too young for you? What if he doesn’t like my clothes? What if he thinks my skirt is too short or too tight? What if he thinks my top is cut too low? What if he just doesn’t like me? What if William? Huh . . . then what? If your son disapproves of me, where does that leave us?”
William looked right into the eyes of the worried woman sitting next to him when he said, “If my son doesn’t approve of you, then there is no us. Billy means everything to me, and if he’s not happy with you or anything else in my world, then I’m not happy. I pray my son supports us, but if he doesn’t, you and I are finished, end of story.”
Jennifer waited for William to come back with a playful, I’m just kidding, but he didn’t. His face muscles were tight. His usual light almond complexion was whitewashed. His dark brown eyes were piercing. Jennifer didn’t know what to think. She didn’t know how to respond. How could she respond with the golf ball in her throat threatening to cut off her air passage?
“Wow, thanks a lot, William; that makes me feel so much better.”
Suddenly, William was back. His soft eyes were back. His rich complexion returned as well. “Jen, I stand by everything I just said regarding Billy, but you shouldn’t be worried because I’m not. I meant what I said earlier . . . there is no us without my son’s approval, but when he sees the woman I’ve chosen, and how happy you make me, he’ll fall in love with you just as I have. And so will my brother, his wife and the rest of my family. You’re the one, Jennifer. I know in my heart you are, and it’s time for us to move to the next level.”
Jennifer hugged William so tight he held his breath. He could tell she was happy. He was too. William was about to make a life with a new woman and thought nothing would go wrong. He had prayed for a wife and believed God answered his prayer when He sent him Jennifer Payne.
William wrapped his arms tighter around Jennifer as tears of happiness gathered in her eyes. He whispered, “The Lord sure does answer prayer.”
For William Majors Sr., Be Careful What You Pray For is more than just an expression pinned by some cackling southerners back in the 20th century. In this case, that phrase couldn’t have been truer . . .